I haven't been able to retrieve my e-mail for several days now, thanks to Hotmail taking a dump.  The notice that appears when I try says they are in the midst of a system upgrade... well, it must be one hell of an upgrade.  Of course, I can access my e-mail from the old journal, the one I can't mention here, so for you long time readers that know what I'm talking about, you can contact me via that account if you want!

Yesterday started off so good, I got up several hours before having to go to work, giving me time to consume a pot of coffee and to surf leisurely.  Nothing constructive was accomplished the whole four hours at work, something different from the normal Saturday think tank sessions, so I had tons of energy afterwards.

I decided to head off to the big city, the one fifty miles to the north that offers tons of shopping alternatives... especially computer related shopping alternatives.  I was sort of looking for a PIM, Sidekick '99 to be specific, that would allow me to synchronize my Palm III and REX.  I haven't even looked at the REX since getting the Palm some months ago, and I wanted to remedy that situation.  I ended up buying Sidekick '99 at Best Buy, but instead of rushing home I decided to browse Barnes and Noble first.

While perusing the writing section I picked up a copy of Julia Cameron's The Right to Write, but eventually put it back on the shelf.  And all because I found Walden, by Henry David Thoreau.  I'm not sure how I came around to thinking about that book, maybe a dream, but it's been stuck in my head for a couple of weeks.  Now I need to make time to get it read!

I must mention the weather was fantastic yesterday too; I shucked my coat, left it in the truck all afternoon.  Right now though, in the middle of the night, it is raining cats and dogs, even thundering now and then.  Thunder in February is almost unheard of here, usually it would be snow and wind if anything.  I'll take what we're getting anytime!

Anyhow, after getting home from the shopping trip I decided an afternoon nap sounded good.  Yes, believe it or not, I had a new piece of software and I'm taking a nap first.  As it turns out, that was a good choice because after getting up from the three hour nap and beginning the installation, my cd rom drive wouldn't work.  I tinkered around with it for an hour, trying this and that, finally coming to the realization that the drive is toast.  Not having the money for a new one, but not having any other choice, I drove out to the local WallyWorld to buy a new one.  Nothing fancy, I was just going to grab a cheap one and be on my way.

But NO, as is always the case, they had every kind of computer hardware that a man could want... EXCEPT a freakin' cd rom drive.  With it being eleven o'clock at night I had no other choice but to return home, cussing all the way.  I put the computer back together, cd rom-less, and will travel the world tomorrow (probably) to find one, hopefully.

Oh, by the way, I was supposed to go to a going away party for a coworker last night, but opted to stay home.  I wasn't really in the mood to mingle, even after the cd rom ordeal.  That stupid drinking day last week is still too fresh in my mind to give in to alcohol.  That's a good thing!

On that note, me and monster kid were hanging out watching Rugrats after I had picked her up from daycare Friday.   At some point as I lay beside her, watching her giggle at the tv, reality smacked me in the head.  What if I had gotten a DUI that day, or what if I had killed someone on my way home that day... possibly a small child even.  How could I ever live with myself, I don't think I could.

Even if it was just a DUI, how would I pay the attorney fees, the fines, and whatever else I'd be liable for.  I'd lose my drivers license for who knows how long, meaning I wouldn't be able to pick up the little one from daycare, meaning I wouldn't get to see much of her, certainly not as much as I do now.  That would be tough to handle, let me tell you.  Man, I've got goose bumps, the creepy crawlies, whatever you want to call them, just thinking about the "what ifs" and "how woulds"!

This entry is way longer than I anticipated, so I'll just shut up 'til another day . . .

Later