a comp all my own

So I finally have a machine of my own in school. It has been a long journey to this point, full of ups and downs, but I learn that as they say, good things come to those who wait. From where Im sitting, it dont come no better than this [if you know what Im saying]. Of course, as Murphy would have it, every silver lining has a cloud lagging somewhere behind, and mine is that the machine comes at a time when I cant really make any productive use of it. This semester has just been a conspiracy by the lecturers against free time [maybe they finally heard about that whole idle minds and devil's workshops thing], so they have all given like six assingments and five CATs, and all of them almost back-to-back. Obviously my main reasons for wanting the comp in school had nothing to do with research or any of that office productivity crap so I get presented with a classic catch-22: to read, or watch movies and seasons [naturally now that I dont have any free time to spare the seasons come in droves]. I'd really like to say that's a no-brainer, but the days of just showing up in class and still passing appear to be fast disppearing behind me, if my recent CAT results are anything to go by. And then we are now moving to the third year, which is where everything we do now goes towards getting us an average for our degrees.

Our local phone network has also recently launched GPRS, which for those of us who are technology savvy, is a really efficient way to surf the web on phones that are GPRS-enabled. It's made in such a way that unlike WAP, you're paying only for the amount of data sent between you and the server, not for the amount of time you spend online. And webpages can get small, pretty small. So then you can spend a whole hour surfing and end up having been charged only 4 shillings. I know - it's cheaper than even cyber cafes! The moment I learn how to use my phone as a modem for my comp I'll be so set. ISPs and their exorbitant charges can the go straight to hell :)

Oops! There goes my consience, reminding me what the time is again, and that I have a really complex paper tomorrow that I havent read for [don't you hate when that happens?]...

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letter of appreciation

Came across this letter in a rudge book and it totally cracked me up. :D

Dear Sir,

I am sure the Homestead Retirement Home has thanked you and the many others who made gifts to the home that have brought pleasure and comfort to us residents. But I wish to thank you personally fro the bottom of my heart because I am the recepient of the little portable radio which you gave me. I listen to it constantly when I am awake.

It has been so much company for me. I have wanted a radio of my very own ever since I came to the home to live. We have nice accomodations here and they take very good care of us. There are two of us in each room. My roommate is Martha Nelson. She is 87 and I am 83.

Martha has had a radio of her own ever since she came here ten years ago. She kept it so low I could never hear the programs. When I would ask her to turn it up so I could hear the programs too she wouldnt do it. Bless her, she is a sweet old soul and I suppose she just cant help being that way.

Last week she dropped her radio and it broke into may pieces and cannot be repaired. Last night I was listening to the early evening services of the First Methodist Church and those beautiful old hymns I love so much. Martha asked me to turn the radio up higher so she could hear it too, so naturally I told her to go f*ck herself.

Again, thank you.

I am,
Dorothy Murdock

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