I HAS WIRELESS!

Yup...tech came out WHEN HE SAID HE WOULD (that has become a large issue in my life lately), inspected the computer, restored the sound drivers, and "synched" up the router.

I did need to buy a "Wireless G Notebook Adaptor" (or "wire-LESS Geeeeeee! Note-BOOK a-DAP-tor!" as I sang it to myself on the way to the store, so I'd remember what I needed.)

He assured me it would be no problem to get it working - and he set up a good security level, so someone nextdoor can't piggyback on my signal. And he was right - I got it working on the first try (getting this to work on the first try is a large issue in my life, lately, also).

So, yay local computer techs. And yay, me.