Dead Servers Aren't Much Fun

Power flickers this evening, causing microwave displays to malignantly malfunction, the lights to de-light, and computers to cough, stutter, and not start. Yep, "not start". Evidently much in the way of repetitive power cycling causes certain power supplies and motherboards to become mightily unhappy. Said certain bits of computer architecture reside in Adam's baby, his fairly brand new primarily gaming computer, the Xp box that caused so much fufurrah with the last power outrages. After the power went out twice in swift succession, I decided against attempting to restart: best to wait for Adam's expertise. Adam eventually came home, found the thing nonresponsive, grounded the power supply with a corkscrew, and he started back up again. Power fluctuations may have a casual relationship to the lack of A/C in the apartment complex, though which side of the casuality is completely unknown.

(no subject)

I got a telemarketing call from the military for my younger sister once. I stated that my sister was a pacifist and wouldn't belong in the army.

TM: "We have many jobs that don't include violence. What sort of career is your sister interested in? We could help her with her plans..."
Me: "She wants to be a wandering minstrel."
TM: "....Well..." (long pause) "...We have a band...."

Later, they called back to talk to me.

TM: "Hello, is this Miss <mangled first name, mangled last name>?"
Me: "Yes..."
TM: "My name is <Rank> <Lastname> of the <military affiliation> and I was wondering if you were interested in signing up for the army."
Me: "As a matter of fact, I considered it for about two months when I was getting ready to leave high school."
TM: "That's nice. So perhaps now we can help you realize this ambition--"
Me, interrupting: "And then I found religion and realized I wasn't stupid enough to go into the Army."
TM: "Religious beliefs need not be a reason for staying out of the army; the army makes every effort to---"
Me: "I'm Wiccan. AN IT HARM NONE, DO AS YE WILL. But I was wondering, I have an old friend who went into the Army a couple years ago, and he hasn't written back to me since before September 11th, and I was wondering, do you know how I could get in touch with him?"
TM, trying to be helpful: "You could try his ..."
Me: "I don't know any of that, he never gave me his address. I think he was somewhere in Germany, the last time he wrote to me... "

TM then tries desperately to get off the phone with me. I keep him online trying to track Dave down for the next five minutes. The guy says he'll call me back if he finds out how I can find my friend, obviously thinking that perhaps the reason this guy joined up in the first place was to get away from me.

The military's never called me back, for some reason...

Doing:

WordPerfect, M$ Office, Norton. Find and install. Grab the happy external devices and dl the drivers for those. Happy.

Trillian is my friend.

# = filter: poem

( This one was for Shawn. )

Prescription medication, Shakespeare

Today, as directed, I start The Pill. First Sunday after Bitchy Witchy Week, after all...

I decided that such a moment should have some small ceremony attached. So, after placing the pill on my tongue but before taking a swallow of water, I acted out a totally '90's interpretation of Juliet, just about to drink the sleeping potion that the Friar gave her. I think I channelled Narcissa, or someone else skilled in ValSpeak. Because, like, that just isn't.... me!

Book

Been reading Mansfield Park, Jane Austen, at http://www.bibliomania.com ... much fun. Intellectually stimulating.