Deadline? Shmedline!

I love how Microsoft "solutions" can take the simplest problem and turn it into a nightmare.

The VAIO connected to the network in Pearland with no problem and hardly any prompting. Here, where the network settings are - not coincidentally - the same, the VAIO insists on "automatically" setting me up wrong, with no hope, no prayer, no hint as to how to do manually what the software should and refuses to do automatically.

I just shot one hour of two remaining hours until deadline. My own fault, I guess.

Cheers...

Notes from yesterday's day on the road...

1015 CT There's a sizeable dent in the Soyuz translation. Less than 2000 words to go. The client calls with more work.

In other news, I managed somehow to leave the house in Pearland sans my gray bag, which has all of my paperwork, books, various electronics, etc. I only notice this when I get to the airport. Returning for the bag is not an option. I am so upset at finding this out that after I pass through security, I find I have the rental car keys in my pocket. The only way to return the keys, I was told, was to exit security, go outside to one of the buses that shuttles to and from the rental car complex, and give the drive the key. The line waiting to go through security is out of sight. An airport employee agrees to help me out.

Galina reports snow in Pagosa. Will I be spending another night in Phoenix?
* * *1450 CT There is less than 9 inches from my nose to the back of the seat in front of me and definitely no room to work. The gent in front of me is making me nervous with his attempts to recline his seat. (Good thing I'm not claustrophobic.)
* * *It occurs to me that since I did not have to submit an itinerery with my passport, etc., it is likely that a multiple entry visas may be the result. It would make sense, for several reasons. Just a thought.
* * *1840 MT There is now a bigger dent in the Soyuz document. I did another ~600 words while sitting in the sports bar down the concourse from B24 here in Phoenix. How long did I work there? I dont know, but it seemed a long time. (Probably an hour or so.)
* * *2246 MT It's good to be home. The TSA folks must've gotten really excited about my checked luggage, as they pretty much took everything out and repacked it, dropping my alarm clock in the process (causing, at any rate, the alarm setting knob to pop off - and not into the luggage; the time was set to something weird, too). They also failed to insert one of those "Hi, we're from the TSA and we're here to help!" flyers, not that I really need one.

Cheers...

Catching my breath...

Well, by the time I posted the previous message, the Soyuz translation was complete and sent. The trouble with the wireless connection between proust and my home network continues, although now at least it's presumably trying to communicate with the correct network parameters. I have no problem getting through the router to the Internet from my Linux boxen, but both Windows machines (one wireless, one wired) act as if there's nothing out there beyond the router.

The new VAIO in particular keeps trying to get me to dial my NetZero account, which is becoming tedious. (Yes, I know it's because the poor thing can't figure out any other way "out of town"... that's the point, and the source of the tedium.) The network connection icon tells me that I'm connected to the right network, with excellent signal strength, but attempts to actually network fall flat on their face.

I've since shut down the VAIO to concentrate on other issues. Invoices can wait until Monday (since submitting them today will not get me paid any faster).

Natalie will be UPSing the gray bag to me, hopefully today. So far, items that should probably Not Have Been Left Behind™ include my BP meds (I see a trip to the pharmacy in the very near future) and the charger for the Zaurus (whose battery is just about spent). For the rest, I can probably wait until Tuesday or so.

Time to become human (i.e., shave) and get out of the house.

Cheers...