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laramie at 10:00am on 08/10/2003
laramie at 10:00am on 08/10/2003I was just thinking that if someone living in 1903 should somehow access this journal of 2003, they wouldn't be learning very much from it about the marvels of the future. I've been mainly preoccupied with matters of house-keeping, bills, cats and personal relationships. The only times I mention technology are the times it breaks down. My personal computer is still down, and though I tried for hours, the computer in my home office is still not connected to the Internet. At least the modem is now working. Maybe.
My phone was out for a while Monday evening because, as it turned out, I switched the modem line into the answering machine rather than into the phone jack; in place of the line from the phone jack to the answering machine. Neither phone nor modem worked that way. I finally figured out what was happening when I picked up the phone to check back with Alan C about setting up a Pre Inspection for the house. He'd been supposed to call me earlier. When I found that the phone was out I was afraid he'd tried and failed to reach me. I discovered the problem with the swapped lines and called him to apologize, but it turned out he'd been caught up in other things and hadn't had a problem. (Later Realtor Corrine called and said that she had tried to get through, and I found an email from Ray to the same effect.)
Even after I got the modem connected I couldn't connect to MSN; I could hear a faint, tinny voice answering the number their automated installation process dialed. While the modem made its repeated efforts I watched a little TV and finished beading the 'Much Ado' bookmark – a dazzling piece that I can't show off because the scanner only worked with the PC that is out of commission. I'd try it with the laptop, but I'm afraid that the scanner itself may have triggered the failure of the PC. It was sounding wonky the last time I used it, and has suffered more than one fall from its shelf due to the lamented Tagster's habit of using it as a jumping off point when leaping from the floor to the tall top of the computer cabinet.
The preceding account might convince a person of 1903 that she is better off without the wonders of futuristic technology. But she is probably doomed to die in childbirth, in a marriage of convenience because there is so little opportunity for her to pick and choose her course in life. And unless she is very lucky she hasn't much access to the higher learning that could make her fit for work that is not sheer drudgery. But then, maybe she'll outlive me because her hard work has made her strong, and she'll have children and grandchildren around her while my independence has left me with a house full of cats.
Otherwise: I printed great many financial plans at work, and they were still coming off the printer when it was time to leave. I got into a conversation with Maryanne and continued it on the walk to the bus stop. I asked her what kind of work she would do if she could choose – if she won the lottery. She talked about funding programs that involve kids in the arts. I told her that Sam is an experienced grant writer, and I thought they should meet. Surely there is grant money for the sort of thing Maryanne wants to do, if not existing programs that could use her help. I suggested that I could throw a House-Leaving Party when it comes time to move. It would be an opportunity for Sam and Maryanne to meet.
It's been interesting getting to know Maryann a bit better. She has done a lot of traveling to places like Indonesia and Rome, and has been a dancer and worked teaching it to kids.
When I went for lunch on Monday I ran into my cousin, Betsy at the Bamboo Garden. We sat together and chatted. I asked her about her husband, Ron's job hunt (no luck), and we talked about the process of selling one's home, and how horrible it is to have to keep the house Company Clean ALL the time.
My phone was out for a while Monday evening because, as it turned out, I switched the modem line into the answering machine rather than into the phone jack; in place of the line from the phone jack to the answering machine. Neither phone nor modem worked that way. I finally figured out what was happening when I picked up the phone to check back with Alan C about setting up a Pre Inspection for the house. He'd been supposed to call me earlier. When I found that the phone was out I was afraid he'd tried and failed to reach me. I discovered the problem with the swapped lines and called him to apologize, but it turned out he'd been caught up in other things and hadn't had a problem. (Later Realtor Corrine called and said that she had tried to get through, and I found an email from Ray to the same effect.)
Even after I got the modem connected I couldn't connect to MSN; I could hear a faint, tinny voice answering the number their automated installation process dialed. While the modem made its repeated efforts I watched a little TV and finished beading the 'Much Ado' bookmark – a dazzling piece that I can't show off because the scanner only worked with the PC that is out of commission. I'd try it with the laptop, but I'm afraid that the scanner itself may have triggered the failure of the PC. It was sounding wonky the last time I used it, and has suffered more than one fall from its shelf due to the lamented Tagster's habit of using it as a jumping off point when leaping from the floor to the tall top of the computer cabinet.
The preceding account might convince a person of 1903 that she is better off without the wonders of futuristic technology. But she is probably doomed to die in childbirth, in a marriage of convenience because there is so little opportunity for her to pick and choose her course in life. And unless she is very lucky she hasn't much access to the higher learning that could make her fit for work that is not sheer drudgery. But then, maybe she'll outlive me because her hard work has made her strong, and she'll have children and grandchildren around her while my independence has left me with a house full of cats.
Otherwise: I printed great many financial plans at work, and they were still coming off the printer when it was time to leave. I got into a conversation with Maryanne and continued it on the walk to the bus stop. I asked her what kind of work she would do if she could choose – if she won the lottery. She talked about funding programs that involve kids in the arts. I told her that Sam is an experienced grant writer, and I thought they should meet. Surely there is grant money for the sort of thing Maryanne wants to do, if not existing programs that could use her help. I suggested that I could throw a House-Leaving Party when it comes time to move. It would be an opportunity for Sam and Maryanne to meet.
It's been interesting getting to know Maryann a bit better. She has done a lot of traveling to places like Indonesia and Rome, and has been a dancer and worked teaching it to kids.
When I went for lunch on Monday I ran into my cousin, Betsy at the Bamboo Garden. We sat together and chatted. I asked her about her husband, Ron's job hunt (no luck), and we talked about the process of selling one's home, and how horrible it is to have to keep the house Company Clean ALL the time.
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