网络中断后重新初始化/重新连接终端

I have what is probably a very simple terminal related question. I'm running Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex, using Gnome, and I often open a terminal-based ssh session only to have it dropped at some point later on. Once the session is dropped the terminal becomes unusable, obviously because the network connection has been dropped.I have what is probably a very simple terminal