August 14, 2003
Dear Everyone:
I had a nice, restful time at Mother’s last week and am happy to report that she got a “clean bill of health” from the specialist and everything is back to “normal”. I also recorded three pages of notes, which I left for “Richard” to take with him when he took Mother to the doctor for her regular visit the day before yesterday.
I did take my computer and the notes on the London “Tiddly” Group with me, but never quite got around to taking them out of the case. I read some of my book on how to use Microsoft Project from time to time. I have an “agreement” with my supervisor to become “proficient” in MS Project, with the proviso that it not take any company time, since that time cannot be billed to any customers. So I’ve been taking the book with me whenever I have time to read, like at the hair salon, or in the airport.
Other than that, Mother and I sat around watching
television and chatting with various visitors.
“Richard” was originally scheduled to arrive at the
This is something he gets from his Mother. One time, returning from a trip, Mother accepted “bump” after “bump” until she had a whole handful of vouchers. When there’s no critical need to get home at a particular time or day, why not take a free night (and meals) in a hotel in return for a free trip later?
In other news…
The day before I was to leave on vacation (Friday,
August 1st), my computer suddenly developed a serious
aversion to the electronic
document system for which I am the Training
Coordinator. I used to be
one of two Training Coordinators, but while I was on vacation, I got a
message on my wireless hand-held
email receiver/transmitter that the “
One minute everything was fine, the next I could not open any documents in the system. Naturally, this occurred on a Friday right before I was set to go on vacation. And, just as naturally, all of the people who would normally be there to help me were all out of the office that day. There was only one person manning the “hotline”. He got in touch with the vendor and we tried a few things but, by the time I left work on Friday, the problem had not been solved.
As of today, the problem still has not been solved, but we have determined several things: I can use the system from any computer other than my own. Anyone else trying to use the system on my computer encounters the same problem, so it clearly involves something physical on my machine. For the time being, my machine is “in the shop” and I have been issued a “loaner”. It looks just like mine except that it has a large picture of “Jiminy Cricket” (from Walt Disney’s Pinocchio) taped to the front of it. All of these “pool” laptops have pictures of Disney cartoon characters taped to them, which makes identifying a particular machine fairly simple.
It reminds me of a coin operated laundry I once used where all of the washers had female names in alphabetical order (i.e., Agnes, Betty, Claire, Debra). And all of the driers had male names (Andy, Ben, Charlie, Donald). So, whenever a machine wasn’t working properly, all you had to do was call a phone number and report that “Ben isn’t working” and the manager knew exactly which machine needed to be serviced.
On a different note…
The weekend before I went up to Mother’s, I had some time on my hands. I could have used that time becoming more proficient in MS Project. Or working on the London “Tiddly” Group. Or I could take in a couple of movies.
Seabiscuit was playing at the local theater. I decided I could take a few hours off. I also decided that I didn’t need to take a big, heavy purse with me. I put some money and my keys in one pocket, the eyeglass case (so I could switch from dark glasses to regular ones inside) in the other. What more did I need?
Once the movie had started, I realized I had made a grave tactical error. I had not brought any Kleenexes with me. Nor had I stopped at the concession stand, so I had no paper napkins that might serve in their place.
The movie begins when the three men who would become a team, along with the “little-horse-that-could” are very young. It follows the career of each, including the horse, until they come together and proceed to make history. It is also a review of American history, from the turn of the century through the turbulent Thirties.
Hearts and bones are broken and mended time and again. It is truly an epic story and well worth the time and money (providing you get the matinee price). Just remember to bring the Kleenexes.
That was Saturday.
Since “Jeannie” was leaving for
Lara Croft, Tomb Robber 2, The Cradle of Life. The title is almost longer than the movie. It is a “sequel” to an earlier movie. But, while the original stayed too true to its “inspiration”, a video game, this one boasts an actual plot.
After an earthquake off the coast of
A mad scientist wants to get to the Box in order to create the deadliest virus in history which he will then sell to the highest bidder, thus proving that his reality check bounced a long time ago. Lara (Angelina Jolie in skin-tight clothes and a British accent) teams up with a former lover to stop the mad scientist and anyone else who gets in their way.
Much adventuresome-ness and many action sequences ensue. All good, clean fun and just the thing for a hot summer afternoon, if you’re not in the mood for an Oscar-contender like Seabiscuit. Something for everyone.
Love, as always,
Pete
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