Heather Camlot

You know the saying “be careful what you wish for.” How true it is.

I had been ogling the flyers promoting internet sticks for some time, thinking owning one would solve all my problems of working on oh-so-slow dial-up at my parents’ cottage. I could swoosh into the Laurentians with the kids, set up my computer while they played with my parents, and get some serious work done. The perfect set up.

So when I was offered to test the Nokia CS-18 Internet Stick powered by Rogers over my vacation, “Yes, yes, yes, yes,” was my answer. As a work-at-home mom with deadlines to meet and children to entertain, I don’t have the typical 9-to-5 where I can leave the office at the end of the day and be done with it. As much as I try not to, I have to boot up my computer in the evenings and on weekends.

I set up the stick in Toronto before leaving and it worked beautifully. When I stopped overnight in Montreal at my brother’s place, I didn’t have to ask him to use his computer, I just turned on my laptop and easily answered emails and read the news.

Then I arrived at the cottage.

And the free-wheeling internet days were over. My parents’ place is on a lake smack in the middle of the mountains. Depending on the day, cloud coverage, wind, temperature (okay I’m making the last couple up), the stick wouldn’t work. At one point I thought I had found the ideal spot – perched on my nephew’s high chair just behind the sofa. The next day, no connection.

Another day I was able to get a signal down by the lake – but you really can’t see a laptop screen when working under the blazing sun. I had no issues using the stick when I held the computer at about eye level while standing at the arm of the sofa, back to the window. It almost always worked in this position. But I’m sure you can visualize the problem – how to type when holding up a laptop.

My neighbor said his company had given him an internet stick as well, but also had no success with it.  There is just no signal strength at this particular location, unless you can figure out a practical way to clear the mountains.  I’m sure it would work in the local town center, which has a Rogers store. I’m sure it would work at my in-laws’ cottage, from which you can see the cellphone tower across the lake (and for which my husband has in no uncertain terms stated he wants an internet stick). And I know it would be the perfect tool for times when I take the train to Montreal and on days when I don’t want to be working at home (perhaps setting up shop at a cafe, at the library, at the Sweetspot.ca office, etc.).

But I have to say, borrowing the internet stick for the two weeks raised a great many questions and taught me a valuable lesson. Why do I feel the need to be “connected” 24 hours a day? I filed all my deadlines before I left, so why did I even bring my computer to my parents’ cottage?  My laptop is like an extra appendage these days. I should be thanking the Nokia internet stick for NOT working – it saved my vacation by letting me break away from work and enjoy time with my family.

Now that I’m back at work, well, it would be nice to be writing this blog post from somewhere other than my house. Where did I leave those flyers?