hello, I am new, I have no clue where to start. I have an arduino desinove (spelling?) and an ethernet shield. I've looked at pachube.com, it is confusing, is there a step by step process, I can find on the internet, I just want to connect the ethernet shield to the internet via a ethernet cable, fly home for the weekend get on the internet and control the arduino from home, is this possible. this is about where my knowledge stops.-Thanks
Its possible but far from easy, the easy bit is the arduino bit. Its the routing to and from the internet that is difficult. Everyone manages getting it to work on their local network, its making it visible to the outside world that is tough. Its the same process as setting up a web server in your house. If you understand TCP/IP, subnets, global and private IP addresses, gateways and port forwarding, its not too bad......... 
There isn't a one size fits all solution which is why everyone isn't doing it.
I have an easy way of spelling 'that' word, its 'DUE' (what bills are) + 'MILAN' (Italian City) with 'OVE' stuck on the end. 
I really don't care if anybody sees what I've got, I just want to be able to plug in the arduino to the a ethernet cable, plug the cable into the wall, get on the intetnet (using some type of interface), see what my arduino is doing, and make changes to the arduino program if I want and call it good. Or second best would be some how remotley connecting to the arduino with out using the intenet.
OK, I'm in a good mood, PM me with everything you know about your ISP at the arduino end, what kind of device connects your computer to your ISP (usually a router of some description). What the IP address of your computer is (internal private not the global external) and I'll endeavor to give you some tips.......
PS, I don't think you'll be able to modify your arduino code over ethernet, but I'm open to being enlightened if anyone knows otherwise.