success!
i finally have my own internets. again, i'm thanking whomever that i bought this laptop. otherwise, it might be two more weeks before i got my desktop together.
unfortunately, the only phone jack that works is upstairs in the bedroom. so, installing a couple more is another thing on the to-do list.
an aside; i met the last neighbor tonight. mike. he told me that he's our snow plower. he's at the end and the city usually dumps all the snow at the foot of his driveway, so he tops them by plowing first. i'd think he could offer a suggestion to put the snow on the other side of the street, but i'm sure he's tried that angle.