External drive won't mount on desktop or disk utility

iMac w/optical drive, running 10.6.8
Using a 2 TB Seagate Backkup drive for Mac for Time Machine backups. Time Machine notified me that no backups had been made for 22 days. Drive icon does not show on desktop and is not listed in Disk Utility. Tried unplugging/plugging power and USB cable without success. I had shut down the computer before leaving for vacation (about 22 days ago), but am pretty sure I did not move the drive icon to trash. Could this be the basis for the problem?
How do I get this drive mounted again?

Eric, nifflerX and nbar:
That's what I was afraid of.
Thanks for your help.
Stonely

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