We're heading for New England Friday. Won't be back till July 3--I'm going to have internet withdrawal pains, I'll be jonesin', lemme tell you!

in the very physical sense, we have moved! the actual parade of boxes took place last Friday night but there has been a whirlwind up my butt making me unpack like a fiend! And gardening!!! And the start of summer school! And the start of an unpaid internship! And, and, and...

and Wolf is back in her bayou...

And I'm back in my poopoo pooing.

Response 4 had me wondering 'what is wrong with this picture?' Here's the rewrite: And I'm back in my pooh-pooh poohing.

*laugh* *giggle*

not winnie-the-poohing?

what's wrong with poopoo pooing? we all get the trots sometime or other......

'specially after 2 1/2 lbs of cherries!

you know it!

Back on Thursday afternoon, June 25, my computer freezes up on me. I couldn't get into the internet provider's homepage (Flashnet). I call their tech support over 20 times in the last week. And I have only one phone line, making things alot more difficult to try things that they suggest. They suggest I do all sorts of things, which I do.....nothing works. They suggest I get more hard drive space and more RAM. I do, and $260 later I'm still locked out. Last thing they said yesterday was, they would send me the Explorer browser on diskette. I called Paul this morning, to get on Spring.net, but didn't hear back from him after a few hours. So I called this other local provider (ComNetix) cuz they had a cheap setup fee ($5.95), and their monthly fee is only $16.95 (unlimited hours), and the person answering said he could get me up and running, even though I have a 486 computer, with windows 3.1, and no CDROM. So I tell him I'll pay ComNetix right then and there (instead of using their 'first 2 weeks free deal') if he can get me up and online in the ComNetix office on Brazos Street. He says 'sure'. So, at 2:15 this afternoon, I drive my computer over and my monitor cuz he didn't have an extra monitor. There's only one person there---and his english, I had trouble understanding about 15% of it (very Asian accent). It took him 2 hours straight, nonstop, to get me online, but he did it. That's my dumb story....what a week....every day, flash.net tech support would tell me with total confidence that each suggestion would take care of the problem. And A&R Computing would tell me that my new hard drive would be ready the next day---on Friday, Saturday, and Monday they told me that (they were right, on Monday). Every day I thought I'd be back online either that day or the very next day. Story my that's dumb.....that's story my dumb..... Dumb and Dumber. ....and dumbest.... All my email (sent and received) from before June 26 was lost. Three of 'em I hadn't even opened yet. Flashnet thinks it happened when Netscape was re-installed with the new internet provider---ComNetix's specially configured version of Netscape 3.03 The exorcist has just now laid me down in the manger beside Emma Bovary and I hope to wake up tomorrow morning in Haiphong under the weight of my guardian angel's compulsive freaking out over cracked or soldered wings and the fallen moon.

wow... (that's kinda surreal)... had some of the same problems with netscape when i first went online (crashing, losing data, etc...), but my provider (nextlink) was far more responsive (thank god)... explorer pretty much solved my problems... think maybe it's a superior format for compu-morons (like me)... and i've gotten so used to it i never use netscape anymore... (and that guardian angel sounds a lot like my mother, by the way)...

Thank God Mum isn't a guardian angel.

Sorry, leplep, I was swamped at work and we're not really in the dial up biz in Austin, just Bastrop County. So apologies for my inattention. I'm glad you're back up and making a terrific contribution here.

Very good to hear from you, Terry. Wondered what it was. Just figured you were doing something like setting up a top secret virtual video link-up between the White House and interstellar communities that the current administration was interested in consulting with. Heard that in other galaxies they drink heavy margaritas that look inside people.....because they're so Bud dry.

�smile�

guess I'll have to re-send my super groovy email... (to where???)

actually, I suppose I should be honest and explain, the message wasn't really necessarily 'super groovy' just a collection of bemused blabberings sent in response to your oh-so-freshy-freshy message.

We'll be in the DC area all week, lounging by the pool/hot tub while my husband works. Hope you all have a great week.

Ugh, you lucky girl! Hope you will be reporting about a wonderful week when you read this.

goin' thoreau-in'

huh? Americans aren't really into English, are they?

don't really know (i'm a texan)

wow!! YOU a Texan!?! Boy, does TV give one a wrong impression of places and their inhabitants, or what?!

frighteningly enough Riette, I am also a native Texan (albeit enjoying the heck out of the Rocky Mountain region at the moment!)

]:-OOOO . . . . jaw on the ground effect. And the Italian blood? Where does that come in?

you knew i was a native texan, didnt you?

I'm from Missouri, went to 1st and 2nd grade in Texas though.

Italian blood... 50% from my father (first generation American... if'n that means he was the first one BORN in the US.) my mother is 2nd generation American (above standards withstanding), her bloodline is French Canadian with some strange mix of Irish blood. So I'm really a Heinz 57, but Texas is where I was born and raised (for the most part).

50% Norwegian on my dads side (Walhus) 50% German on my moms side (Frauenthal)

well i'm definately NOT a texan. am of german blood, but i would say that i fit the definition of a Heinz 57 (from dad's side, irish, indian, spanish)

terry, how'd you sneak that in before me? (stacey, i didn't even notice your heinz 57 reference until i hit submit!)

I dunno, actually I read yours then posted. Maybe the clock changed. Mystery!

that's strange, cuz when i hit submit and it brought up what was said, yours beat mine, hmmmmm.....

Whole bunch of Texans here!!! Whole, whole bunch a' mixed salads too. Wolf, you still speak German?

Ich bin Auslander und spechen nicht gut Deutsch! Parla italiano perche la mia familia e Italiana!

Deutsch kann man gar night spechen . . . man kann's aber spucken!! AND what tha fu�k?!?!

You still visit Italy from time to time?

never been...

Lo siento, pero yo no hablo alemanes...

el burro sabe mas que tu!

ok you guys!! i speaka no italiano and hablo no espanol, aber, Ich sprechen Deutsche nich mier so gut!

oh yeah, and i'm leaving again on saturday for two weeks. gotta class to take for the job.

The burro thinks(knows, understands) more than I do? Aw, Stace... Have fun in Ohio, Wolf! ps...I hope, Stace, on reflection, that you were speaking of Eyeore...

Your job sounds like and interesting one, Wolf. Is Ohio more decent than the desert?

Which class wolfie?

twas Eyeore of whom I spoke...

intermediate pricing: quantitative techniques *barf*

Quantitative Techniques?!? I think you've been holding out on us...

yeah right. just a big fancy name for trend analysis for pricing contracts and stuff. we don't really use it in our job (anyway, it's preprogrammed in the excel programs) but it IS a requirement for our certification.

I see, I always inventory with Statistical Analysis...

yeah, well, that's probably figured in there somewhere! i dunno, it's my last class (next to a level course) required for my certification. then, they probably will send me all over the place as we are very limited on the people we can send based on their qualifications.

my, aren't you just little miss important!!!

you have no idea! *wink*

well, i'm ready to fall over. sorry, but can't stay and chat any longer (been transcribing recorded meetings all day, oh, and these weren't done in secret!)

oh, I gots lots of ideas...

so, did you keep copies so's you can post 'em?

haha!!

these are soap opera material, let me tell you!

so, you gonna tell me what colors, or not?

if they're that good, add them to the storybook...

man, they'd make their own story, As the Contract Turns. well, for the colors, i wanted to see how 7FFFD4 would look, didn't want anything really bright, but am just experimentin', you know? g'night (and thanks for your help!)

just to ease your curiosity, there are a lot of uhs, ums, you know, as i was saying, so what you're saying is, my thing is... basically a lot of words and not much substance! Oh, and there is that nice jolt you get when someone coughs or sneezes unexpectantly right into the mike!!

g'night! (and safe trip!!!)

Hope you're having fun at your class, Wolf! (My husband took the pricing course at Wright-Pat AFB when we were dating). We just got back from Vienna (VA) where he took the Cost Reimbursement course. Have you taken any courses from Mgt Concepts? The area is great for doing stuff with kids, we tag along every year when he goes.

I hate Austria. They refuse to let me into the country just because I tried to sneak in four years ago - I mean, is there no such thing as forgiveness and goodwill towards your fellowmen in that country?! I did say I was sorry!

They actually keep track of something you did four years ago. Can't imagine you being such a menace to Austrian culture, you look so sweet in your picture.

I don't look that sweet when I get caught in the boot of a car with my whole face black and dirty, and pretending I don't know how I got there in the first place.

*cough cough*. I have a job in London, starting tomorrow. So, I'm moving to my Dad's place, where I don't have internet access :/ Which, unforrtunately, means that I won't be here that often. Probably on the weekend, etc., when I will catch up on everything that's been going on. I hope you all have a wonderful time without me, and enjoy life without me whinging :-) Speak to you all soon Lots of love, ~Mike ooo...if the world ends or something, and you need to get in touch with me, there's always the telephone. +44 1708 753602 *smooches* ~Mike

Great news, Mike! And in London! You lucky thing! �SIGH� We'll miss you.

Can't you get a little terminal set up for telnetting ... that can be done very cheaply, Mike. What will you be doing there?

I@m disappearing out of the door right now. catch you all soon! lots of love, ~+Mike

Be sure to let us know all about your job! And whether or not your dad's sinks have one or two water taps!

hey guys! Autumn: (the pricing course stunk, but i made it through). no management courses, just level i and ii things and this finished up the latter for me. guess i'll be going back to the desert sooner than i expected :( mike: great job on the new job....we will miss your voice around here, do look into investing in something so you can visit more often....

Yeah, Mike, we don't want anyone to "go away"; we're becoming such a close knit little virtual family here.

Yes, quite. Glad you're back, Wolf. And glad to be back myself. It is strange the thing about coming and going. I looked forward to my England trip so so much, and then on Wednesday I had to take my guinea-piggies to the zoo-shop where they would look after them for me. And I was totally upset over leaving them like that, and didn't want to go anymore. I can't understand why that happened or how, because before I knew it the guy in the shop offered me a handkerchief, and his shoulder to cry on, and I was obliged to accept both, and it was just absolutely awful - I' sure he thought I was mad as a hare. I thought I was crying about the guinea-piggies, but then afterwards on the way home, once my head became clearer, I realized that I was upset over the idea of missing them, because it means that I have become set in my ways. It was the first time in my life that I found the going very difficult. Which must mean that I have 'rooted' here, and I never intended to. What a strange week. Spending time one one's own can be so difficult - forces you to face up to your true state of being. Forces you to face your real face. And now you must all think me mad as a hare. That happens.

I'm going off for a little while...promise to check my e-mail for the important stuff but I'm all messed up inside and it's unfair for me to hang around right now... love you guys

will miss you terribly. please, which address will you be taking your mail?

any

Kitchen, i think you should stay but if you feel like you have to leave, then please come back ASAP.

you know we're here for you, right? no one here will judge you. *hugs*

I'm with wolfie ... you're such a vital part of this community, and you've got a lot of folks who care about you here. Hope you stick around or at worst come back real soon.

Thinking of you, muffin.

ok, i'm going. yup. got another class but it's the one i've already warned you about. anyway, i'll be out tomorrow through mid-feb. will try to log in once in awhile at the library *grin* so you all don't cry too much!!

if you drive through Austin, stop at the restaurant!!!

the only part of austin i get to see is the interstate. am too chicken to feel my way around the town. BUT, maybe i'll be able to visit after i get settled in. what's the name of it again?

Little Italy

phone 345-5761

duh!! is it easy to get to?

for the most part...it's in the nortwest part of town... it's between MoPac and Loop 360

ok. thanks!

Good luck, Wolfie!