What I Did On My Summer Vacation

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I wrote out the following "essay" yesterday while at work so I could save it as a text file and simply copy and paste while I was here at the library - saving LOTS of time for web surfing in the process. :-)

Hi guys,

Well, it's been a busy month for me. I took time off from the forum thinking I would get a lot done around the house and I ended up taking a second job instead! So, most of the work around home remains to be done...

An opportunity came up for me to take a job at a local company that needed a tech support person in their I.S. (information services) department. I've been working a LOT of hours (days, nights and weekends) these past few weeks so I wouldn't have been active on the forum even if I hadn't taken a sabbatical from BTS. The job came along at a really critical time as I've generated some *serious* bills this year (mostly medical bills). The work is great - it keeps me busy working with PC hardware and software as well occasional help desk duties (working with "end-users" - i.e. computer users) - the work is highly varied from day to day so boredom is unlikely and the pay is good, too. :-)

I also wanted to let folks know who inquired about my health that I'm doing really good now. My body needed some time to adjust to these new medications I'm taking but I'm feeling really good - something I haven't been able to say for quite some time. Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts.

Our garden is producing in full swing now. Our tomatoes are just starting to come into full production so it's that time of year again to start canning tomatoes. We've had an awful summer here as far as rain goes, though. We are several inches behind in precipitation and it really shows around here. All we've done this summer is water our vegetable garden and I've found that watering with well water is not the same as a good soaking rain. Consequently, I have no interest in taking pictures of the garden as it looks *really* tough right now - definitely NOT a candidate for a Better Homes & Gardens magazine shoot. I really want to put in a couple of poly tanks next to our garage to catch rainwater from the garage roof for rainwater to irrigate our gardens. Hopefully this will be something that happens in the near future now that I've got more money coming in.

As you guys have probably heard, my computer finally up and died last week. I've been having major problems with it for the last few months - my printer died about a month ago and my Sparq drive went toes up about 2 weeks ago so I wasn't surprised when the motherboard on the PC decided to give up the ghost, too.

I guess all I can say is: R.I.P. It served me fairly well for five years (even though it was an expensive S.O.B.) but I can't really say I miss it all that much.

I'm not sure when I'll have the money to get another computer to replace it (or the time to set it up, for that matter). I've had so many problems lately with this one that I'm really burned out on the idea of having to set up another PC for home use. My plan right now is to use the library's computer from time to time and see how that works out. I suspect, though, that I won't be active much on the forum over the next few months as my new job is taking up a big chunk of my life right now.

Oh, before I forget. I'm using my yahoo account now for email. I canceled my Internet account seeing as I don't have a computer anymore - so don't send email to my bevcomm account as I won't get it.

My Yahoo email address is: nosacredcows@yahoo.com

If anyone does email me just keep in mind that I don't check it very often (maybe once a week when I'm at the library) so I may be slow in getting back to you.

As far as the forum goes, I haven't had much time to read all that has been posted here while I've been gone so I can't really contribute anything to the threads. I'm hoping everything is going all right now that the forum is private and I'm hoping too, that Joy and Cindy haven't had much to do with administrative duties, either.

That's pretty much all I can think of right now so I think I'll wrap this up. Talk to you all again next week (time permitting). :-)

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001

Answers

Yikes!

I just saw the "TIME OUT!" thread. Looks like I returned to the forum in the midst of a major brawl.

Maybe I should slink quietly away while everyone is preoccupied?

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


Don't fret about it Jim Bob, like any family, we will work it out just fine. Some time for contemplation while doing chores, provided you keep an open mind, usually brings positive inspiration to all of us, sometimes we just need to step back and let it sit awhile while we work on putting it in proper perspective.

Sure glad you are feeling better, and that you are back!!! I bet Joy is especially glad you are back, she is a very reluctant, but wonderful, "leader"!!! :-)

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


Jim,

As far as your R.I.P. PC. Consider doing as I have done and barter a little homestead fruits, vegetables and eggs to cityfolk for their antiquated hardware with little resale value. I started out with a 75 mhz with a 200 meg hdd and 14.4 modem (CS Jan/Feb 2001, Page 24). Still running a "Frankenpooter", but now have a 1.5 gig drive, 233 system and 56k modem. Traded for it all from my garden and fruit trees. I'll keep you in mind if I find another clunker (as I put something better together, there was always someone to give the previous one to here in the country). Lynn only allows me $250 a year for all "my" computer extravagances and I prefer buying a more dependable cheap pay isp service, diskettes and a new book once in awhile instead of a 'pooter. I like to consider my online hookup like my food and wine, "homestead grown".

-- Anonymous, August 23, 2001


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