Lightning (and computer) Crashes

Our house was struck by lightning on Friday. 

All things considered, it really wasn't a big deal.  There were no sparks, no fire, no real damage.  It was loud though.  Like an M-80 firecracker going off in your living room, loud.  And a bit scary.  I jumped, I'll admit it.  It did screw up several of our electronics - TV, cable box, surround sound, dryer and garage door opener - but all were easily fixed by resetting or unplugging for a bit (thank goodness!).  The only casualty was the desktop computer.  While our data is safe and accessible (another thank goodness!), we can't access the Internet.  Turns out the Ethernet port is fried.  And the jury's still out on our wireless router which also isn't working properly.

Oh how I'd love to ditch our ancient desktop for a flashy new laptop once and for all.  But, unfortunately, that's just not in the budget.  So I'll opt for the much less expensive new network card and do my best to feign IT Tech and fix it myself.  (Where's my brother-in-law, Adrian, when I need him?)

So I'm without a home computer at the moment.  And with a crazy busy schedule at work this week and a visit from my Mom starting Thursday (time for the annual salsa cook-off - yay!) I don't see it getting fixed in the immediate future.  Which means The Elser 411 is going to be quiet for a few days.

To tide you over, here's a picture of the latest toddler happenings at our house. 

We have officially retired the high chair!

Jackson thinks it's pretty cool that he gets his own place mat at the grown-up table. 

And Ruby thinks it's exceptionally cool that her very best friend (and the best food dropper in the house) is even closer to the ground!

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Update:

You're not going to believe this.  Less than 1 hour after publishing this post, I received an e-mail from my BFF.  Cortney, despite living all the way in Washington DC, and I have these ironic and weird coincidences happen to us all the time.  Sometimes silly things:  like cooking the same thing on the same day without knowing the other is doing it.  Or buying the same item on a random shopping spree.  That sort of stuff.  Other times the concidences border on freaky.

Cortney is the House Operations Manager of the Washington DC Ronald McDonald House.  Guess who else got struck by lightning this weekend?  And lost the ethernet ports on their computers?  And their wireless routers? 

Ummmm.......