more about the soonger |
sept 2003 |
Fall returnethThursday, Sept 11OK -- a pretty long absence from writing in this e-journal. Had to correct this oversight. In the past couple of weeks, I've decided to become a techie and work on this wireless network that people are talking about. Bought a 802.11G router (D-link) and a couple of wireless network cards for the computers upstairs. Looks easy, right?! Not exactly. Setting up the router (with the DSL modem attached) was as easy as following a recipie. All the documentation corresponded. Connecting the first computer to the wireless network was good -- it seemed fairly intuitive (the benchmark to any good program / set-up is if you *don't* have to refer to directions to get it to work properly.) I got it to work ... all smiles. However, attempting to get the final computer (the main reason why I got wireless networking!) is still an ongoing struggle. Initially, I had Win98 working on the computer and had 'acess violations' when trying to type in the WEP passphrase to the network (it's encrypted so neighbours don't hack into my netowrk!) So ... genius me decides to reformat my computer because the other computer is running XP and the network works there ... |
I spent this past Sunday upgrading to XP and sorting everything else out. It took me 3 hours to install XP (9am-noon). I did get my network card to be detected and log onto a network. Ironically, I could not get it to connect to *my* network ... I have Service Pack 1 running on this computer so setting up a network is different, for some stupid reason! Ended up connecting to a neighbour's network (not encrypted) and started to download updates / patches to XP to prevent it from getting infected by the blaster.worm virus! Went out to lunch while 38 megs downloaded... By evening, I had wireless networking ... but to the wrong network! Got the other essential programs installed (OfficeXP, etc) BUT ... I had one serious issue. My SCSI card (SCSI is an interface standard linking the CPU to peripherals) is not supported by XP ... thus I cannot access my MP3 hard drive or my CD-burner. Sh*t! Looks like I'll have to spend more $$$ to update this obsolete computer to get wireless networking to finally work. (sigh) Oh well, at least this hobby is much less expensive than my other hobby ... (my car, in case you forgotten...) The week ahead: in the middle of another work marathon (mon - following wed) between a couple of stores. Good help is hard to find these days ... guess that's why they're asking me to work a lot of shifts for them ... ;) Plus, people are trying to get a few hours outta me 'cause next month, I'm taking off to Singapore for a month!!! Bought the tickets via expedia.ca yesterday night. Saved a bundle by waiting a few hours. Eariler, the direct Northwest flight was C$2200 ... but when I checked again at 7pm, it had dropped to C$900 ... more than 50% off! Bonus! Guess the new SARS case had people cancelling trips left & right! |
Monday, Sept 15To update my computer woes: I did contact the network card company and they e-mailed me updated software. And boy -- did that help! I can now connect to my network with the suspect computer. All I have to do is wait 'til I go up to Toronto to buy an updated SCSI card and then I'm back in business! OK ... it was a long w/e for me. Worked at the retail pharmacy by my house (Shoppers Drug Mart) and was surprised at how busy it was. But after a little inspection -- no one told me they would be selling Pepsi / Coke products for so cheap! (24 cans for C$4.99!) I figure a lot of traffic was generated by selling it that low ... which, in turn, caused all these bargain hunters to come to the pharmacy and bother me! ;) Saturday was a 9-6 shift. Something like 146 prescriptions crossed my path. That's busy when you only have a couple of technicians working along with me. At home ... it was strange. My parents took off for the w/e to Toronto (wedding) and my bro took off to Angus, ON to meet up with a friend thus I was left to 'fend for myself'. Not that big a deal ... I got myself a pizza (dinner and Sunday's lunch!) and that was that. |
Sunday was 10-5 shift. I hoped it would be slower than Saturday but that wasn't the case. Still busy but nothing absolutely ridculous-crazy. Kept things somewhat orderly. At one point, there were 3 people who wanted to wait with 5 prescriptions each, coupled with a pharmacy student wanting to ask me questions. Why do people want to come in at 2 for all that?! It was bad timing but what to do? It did make time fly by for that 1/2 hr or so. At night, I was all alone again -- my folks didn't roll into town until 8 or so. Spent time with my aunt (had lunch, shopping, etc) before driving back home. Weather was really bad (not on the 401 but in Windsor) -- very hot, humid and overcast. Not a pretty day whatsoever. Spent time with my GF after work -- helped her with an assignment. It's surprising to think I actually *remember* stuff they taught me in school... not like I use it everyday but it did so when I worked in the hosptial. (Goes to show you how school slants its teachings towards hospital / research... they don't teach you anything useful for the retail pharmacist...) I was totally unproductive this morning -- got up at 10 and have been sitting in front of this computer all morning. Sad, isn't it? Guess I'll have the whole day to stand up. Will get this webcam installed and see if it works. Now I can chat & see who I'm talking to! I like technology ... drooling over a Sony Clie UX50 ... hope it's not too expensive in Singapore. I want that PDA! |
Wednesday, Sept 17Can you believe 2 entries in the same week?! Must be a record this year, I bet. Not much really to update you that's going on with me. I am now at the end of the 10 day work marathon. Let me tell you this 1 day off is a day well deserved. I must have checked close to 1500 perscriptions in that time, at least (I avg 150 / day). Keeps me honest and let me tell you -- the practice comes in handy when I get quizzed on what costs what and what meds are covered on various insurance plans. |
What did I do today? I worked a 9-4 shift over on at an east end pharmacy. It was a happenin' place -- a lot of people came and went. Don't know why, but there is something going around in Windsor. People have this really bad cold! (knock on wood -- I'll go unscathed) At the end of the shift, I had to go downtown and run an errand. Traffic was really bad -- weird thing I saw on the way home -- an ambulance that got a dual police escort ALONG with a cop slowing down traffic at the Tecumseh / Oullette intersection. Must be a big shot or something to get that kind of attention! Tonight, just playin' on the computer. I finally installed that webcam that I had recently acquired. Seems really neat to play with ... now I need someone else to make use of it!!! Definitely would save a bundle if cousins overseas picked one up... or even friends from out of town ... (hint, hint!) |
Sunday, Sept 28Whoa ... a couple weeks (almost) have passed and I haven't written anything down yet. Let's see what has been on the agenda. Hey -- I finally gave myself the *whole* weekend off from workin'. Normally, it's been 6-day weeks for me during this "time of need" (ie paying taxes AND saving up for holidays). Let's say I am much more appreciative to this "free time" from the hectic pace known as work. |
Looking at my bank acc't, the gov't has deposited my quarterly income tax installment. It hurt!!! However, going for virtually 6 months without having to pay income tax has been rather enjoyable ... but it has its consequences. The whole "money now, pay later" philosophy can be my downfall. Having to pay a huge lump sum this upcoming April (we're talking 5 digit cheque to write-out), it's gonna hurt me! What to do? I suppose it's the price for me to pay to live in such a "cool society" (as put in the latest issue of the 'the Economist') that I live. On the agenda: the Shoppers Drug Mart conference next w/e in Toronto. I'm going up (most likely accompanied) for a little getaway from Windsor before the 'big trip' to Singapore (again). For the next little bit, I'll be looking into side excursions (eg Korea, Thailand) before heading over to Singapore. That should be exciting! |