Even a cowdog such as myself, who lives a decidedly backwoods rustic life, suffers under plenty of technology. But I’ve decided I’ll become a doggone low-tech dog.
A cascade of tech failures that brought me here – again.
Last year I told you about the string of failures in everything from the old beater I love to ride in, to the phone and computer.
Well, here we go again. The boss’s laptop crashed [I think because she was trying to fix it, through long-distance instructions from a talented geek, but she doesn’t know what she’s doing!]; she struggled for days just trying to comprehend the instructions, brought to tears by a basic inability to understand what the geeks were telling her.
The new phone system has failed repeatedly since Thanksgiving, with hours wasted in support calls to the company. Now it rings once in awhile, but we can hear no one, they cannot hear us, and there is no record of calls!
The old Explorer is still waiting for a fuel pump.
Oh well – the modern world doesn’t penetrate our neck of the woods much anyway. I don’t have to have a smartphone in my paw at all times, I don’t wile away my life looking at frivolous stories and social media, commenting on a stranger’s story or looking at crazy cats.
Our use of a cell phone is primarily for safety on the long drive to town, and even then there is no signal in the country air, much of the way.
Now I’m told there was a time when a phone was a sturdy black device, made of unknown hard material that could probably make a decent self-defense weapon also, as well as survive a nuclear bomb – and still keep working. It probably would make an excellent chew toy. They could easily last 20 years and some are still ringing today!
This dainty thing we carry now isn’t that.
This old Heeler isn’t a big fan of social media, other than putting my antics, adventures and smiling face out there for other cowdogs to enjoy.
And it is fun to see family photos from people far away, some I may never even meet, except in a posted pic.
But when all these things quit working, we find how terribly unimportant they are.
We use old and worthless devices for target practice – there is retribution and true satisfaction in a bullseye in their black PCB heart!
No, I’m not advocating for a totally tech-less world, but there is plenty to do when worldly invention fails.
Give us a good blizzard, the power goes, and all of it is gone anyway!
This has been a pretty kind winter so far. We’ve had some days of sunshine and relative warmth.
So what am I doing in this tech wasteland? 
Take a walk.
Tease the wildlife; there are some, however, who do not understand the relationship between herder and herded, who interfere with my plans! But I do get in a quick sprint through the crowd when I can.
Sniff out who the visiting strangers might be, when I can run the creek bottoms.
Expect extra snacks when we are kept inside for winter baking [not sure where this one will go, as I’m told by my doc I need to lose a few pounds!].
Take another nap.
Invest my herding skills in corralling the cats, as I’m not out herding cows or horses much right now.
I do try to herd the horses when we feed, just to get a few treats when they drop. They are messy eaters and I and the wild turkeys appreciate that.
I’m not waiting for phones, computers, or any other electronic device to work.
Even January is more interesting than those infernal things!
“The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.” – Proverbs 22:3
