My new toy

I got tired of sitting out in the family room to endlessly surf the interwebs for the perfect picture of a boob. So I spent a few of the dollars that Uncle George and the Neocons have decided that us consumers need to pump into the economy. I got me a new Gateway Laptop because I like the keyboard the best. Now I can sit with Sharon as she reads and I can read /. and tribe and Ars Technica and all those other trailing edge web sites.

Dog help me, I really tried the MacBook Pro. But given that the keyboard has no "end" key that takes you to the end of the line, and I use that key all the time... I stuck with the evil empire. It was also about half the price. I also liked the keyboard better. Black keys with white letters thank you very much. I'm a look at the keys while I type sort of dude and that makes a difference to me. Productivity wins out over style. Plus I hate the Dock.

So yes, now I'm running Vista Home Premium (just used the end key there) and getting used to a revised OS. I am toying with the idea of a partition for Ubuntu, but I'm not really sure that I'd use it enough to 'get' it.

Random

1. My neighbor Jacque passed away. He was ill for a long time. His wife passed away a few years ago. They were both really nice. His son was one of two Air Force pilots who died a few years back when their Lear jet malfunctioned. They heroically managed to steer their stricken plane away from an apartment building as they were crashing. Jacque and Liz bought the house new in 1949. So long Jacque. We'll miss you.
2. I need a nap.
3. This morning I installed the lights in the umbrella. They only cost about $8 but they took an hour to install. They'll be the bees knees. (On special request see photo above.)
   
4. Happy Easter!
5. We have no idea how to select wine. We had to Phone A Friend while we were shopping last night. It was sad.
6. I'm thinking more about that nap.
7. I think I'm gonna buy a laptop soon. Any suggestions?
   

Uh, the gardening

Right after that really serious post last Sunday I really did do the gardening. I took out a weed tree that had got the gumption to get about a six inch thick trunk. The hatchet is the thing here.

I feel so manly.

Wherein I blog instead of garden

The blogger WYSIWYG interface for handling pictures blows is challenging, but I'll give this a go anyway.


On Friday, Clohe (on the left there) came over to Bad, or rather Good Movie Night and subsequently said she had a very nice time.













The next day we drove to Alameda for the St George rehearsal/meeting/party










A good time was afoot.













As you can see.










No, really.













I'm absolutely serious.













Honest, we were working on our Elizabethan characters.













And it was totally enriching!













Eventually we relaxed










and had a few laughs.










Then we got right back to work.













All of us.













While Andy stayed home and got ready for an evening out with friends.

Whoopie!

I didn't die!

I thought that getting my self out of bed and getting my sorry self to work would help fight off whatever was ailing me. Turns out I was pretty right.

The picture is two of my friends who insist that they independently came up with that expression as they looked up.

I'm sick

Waahhh. I feel like my head is filled with helium, kinda like when you are really hungry. My throat hurts, but just enough to make it seem like something is wrong. I'm disoriented and I feel like I just awoke about a minute ago. Loud sounds startle me. And I kinda hurt all over.

Crap. I'm sick.

This week at work is Really Important since we are launching a new product and I am a high profile person in that process. I'm there to keep the right things happening and it is a crucial time as we are making the Very First One tomorrow. I feel like I'm not going to be able to be there. Missing two days will Make Actual Problems. Fuck.

And then for ten days everyone will treat me like a leper, not wanting me to come near them and wanting me to wash my hands before I touch anything in the same room as them. I hate that, especially since Studies Show that the most contagious period is NOW, the day before you become symptomatic.

That and my typing has gone to hell.

In which I boast (again)

Here at the casa, I get called on to fix the things that break. I can't fix everything and there is a backlog sometimes, but every once in a while - this is the best part - the repair looks harder than it actually is and I get bonus Mr. Fixit points. To wit, dead laptop charger plug.So that wasn't that hard and the customer was delighted.

Did you know that I can sew? Of course you did. I probably told you myself. Just to keep my sewing chops I made the missus a chemise for Dickens Fair. Truth be told it looked like it would be easy but it was a good challenge. I can point to a dozen flaws that you would agree mark it as the work of an amateur. Nonetheless I think it's pretty spiffy and I can't wait to see it worn and not by the dress form.
It has fancy pin tucks that make it look more deluxe. As you can see, my pin tucking skills are "developing".
I also make a great martini.