We all know how it goes: computers freeze, internet connections get lost, Twitter ‘fail whales’ appear. It’s part of life for us techies, right? I’m all-too-used to backing up files on a zillion different devices just in case (one, in an extreme display of geekiness, I even wore around my neck on my way home from work-a flash drive on a rope). Of having backup battery packs positioned at every outlet to keep computers running, just in case the power goes out. Let’s just say that—like any good infielder—I have my bases covered.

As a Twitter party host, none of the party attendees can actually see me, which makes me feel sort of Wizard-of-Oz-ish. So let me give you a little behind-the-scenes peek into last night’s hosting gig. In summary: when the going got tough, I learned to keep going…and laugh.

You see, last night I was set to host the online launch of TweeParties, Inc. I won’t lie to you: I’m in Chicago, but I’m not doing this from the glamourous confines of say, the Sears (er, sorry, I mean Willis) Tower. While I do have an office space (basically an oversized, windowless closet a family member has generously donated to my cause), I was to host this party from home. My real boss (insert preschooler here) insisted upon it.

So….the night before the party, working hard at one a.m….Where’d the internet go? Um….hello? Anyone there? Nope. No one was. Just a browser with a “cannot connect” message staring me in the face. I panicked. But tomorrow’s the party!?! Where will I go? What will I do? After fretting until 2:30 a.m., my connection reappeared. A scheduled (albiet unannounced) outtage by my ISP. Phew. Onward and upward (I hoped)!

After three luxurious hours of sleep with fingers crossed, I’m off to my day job. I get a call from my hubby near the end of the afternoon:

“Um, hun? The backup UPS battery is dead.”

Today, of all days. No time to get a new one. Instead, ‘Hi ho! Hi ho! It’s plugged into a flimsy powerstrip we go!’ After brief analysis, I decide that now is the time to pray.

Then my backup internet connection (satellite) decided to, well…disappear too. My ISP asked if perhaps, I am too rural. “Um, I can see your store from my house.” Oh.

I could set up a time to bring in my laptop for a diagnostic. Tomorrow. Of course.

I decide it’s time for…what else? More prayer! But would God listen to the pleas of a Twitter party host praying for a sustained internet connection? I felt guilty for taking up His time. I prayed again, but this time for forgiveness.

Despite all of this, just minutes before the party, I’m at my desktop, all set to host. Both computers are up. The internet is working on each (one cable connection, one WiFi). I say another prayer (and another one, again to counter the first one).

Hopeful and eager, I log into Twitter. I suddenly find I have…no followers. And no one is following me. And Tweet Grid is bogged down by other parties. Two minutes to go. As Mary Poppins blares on the t.v. in the other room, I think, Poppins-esque: ‘Spit-spot! Spit-spot!’

So I get to work. I keep trying to tweet, but I’m met with errors. It’s showtime and I can’t get the show started. It’s like an actor’s worst nightmare: curtain goes up to a packed house, spotlight blinding and…he opens his mouth but nothing comes out. The patrons throw their tickets in the air and demand their money back.

But suddenly, after repeatedly hitting ‘send’ to no avail—my tweet makes it out into the Twittersphere. It’s just after 9:00 here in the Chicagoland wilderness. The aggregators pick up pace. Before long, follower counts are restored. My computers keep running; the internet stays connected; and all is well. From the small confines of my home office, the party soars! TweeParties is launched. The show does indeed go on.

So now I’ll schedule that diagnostic and uncross all of my fingers. At least until the next party.

Tags: humor, twitter party hosting