18:08
Once again, I got a way too early, after going to bed way too late. I woke up with a headache, and it persisted most of the day.
About to 10:00 this morning, the phone system went down. It was really strange, the modem line went down first. I was in the process of downloading some files and the system went offline. I kept trying to redial and I kept getting messages that there was no dial tone.
A little later, Bob came over and I had him help me run the cable for Karen's computer on the network. Bob works for the phone company so I thought he can help ma with the phone problem, of course. My first thought was that the bill had not been paid, but that was not the case. At this point the main voice line was still up, so we could call out using that line.
There were no reported problems however, and re-opened up the box outside and found that indeed one line was dead. Shortly thereafter, the other line died. Luckily, the cell phone was charged and ready to go. Bob used the cell phone to call in and find out what was going on, and found out there were no reported problems.
So Bob went to his office and got his tool kit, came back and did some checking. As expected, the lines were dead coming from the pole... He called in and found that they had a cable out. The expected repair time was sometime this evening.
And it's up now. I just talked to Mom in Enid, it's been a long time since I called her and heard her voice. Email is nice, in that I hear from her almost every day, but it's nice actually hearing her.
Which reminds me... I need to call JD, too, I haven't talked to him for quite a while either...
Ahhhh, he's not home. Left a message for him, anyway.
While the phones were out, I loaded up some voice dictation software and various other stuff that I've acquired recently. This generation of voice dictation is way ahead of what was out several years ago when I bought my first program... Via Voice, I think it was. What I have now is more reptilian... yeah, pretty cryptic, ain't I? Anyway, it's pretty damned impressive. Impressed Lacee, anyway, which is important.
I also re-did the phone lines in the computer room... the way that I had the second line split off was pretty cobbled-together, and now it's nice and neat. I've been meaning to do that for more than a year.
Our plans have changed for the next week... no money to go somewhere fun that includes motel bills, and I don't really trust any of our vehicles to go very far, either. So, we'll go somewhere fun where we can sponge off of our relatives... Wichita and Enid.
Debbie and Rick in Wichita have had a hide-a-bed for the last twenty years in their spare bedroom... a really terrible sleeping experience. However, last week they threw it out and got a real bed! I'm excited... we will probably stay more than one night!
We need to spend some time with Karen's mom, too... Debbie says that she has gotten much worse since even the last time that Karen saw her, and it's been probably six months since I've seen her. I think I've mentioned that she has Alzheimers... a dreadful disease.
Then it's down to Enid, where we'll finish up the week enjoying Mom's hospitality and good cooking.
And give mom some more WIN98 lessons... she's making a list for me. Probably several lists. Several long lists, and not all computer-related, either, I'll bet... not that I mind, y'understand.
Later... 20:30...
I know that it was something that I did. It had to be. That's what makes it so frustrating. Did I do something really stupid again? Or is it some little something that I just overlooked? Only time will tell.
Time... that reminds me... it's time to get off of this machine and spend some time with Karen, now that we're alone and fed... we ordered a pizza. Pizza Hut supreme. Excellent.
Good night.
its been a long, long day.
I got Karen's computer set up and connected to the network, but I'm having problems with the internet sharing... which was working just fine before I moved it. Computers disgust me sometimes.