2004 Dec 6 (Mon), 14:31 Mechanically Inept
Okay... I have got some sort of real problem.

I spent approximately 6 hours over the weekend trying to build my computer desk... and I still don't have it done.

Now, this is not a fancy computer desk. Well, okay, maybe it is, but it shouldn't be so fancy that I can't put it back together. I mean, it's a nice, thick, faux-hardwood job I bought from Office Max a few years ago... but it came in a kit. So I've already assembled it once. But now, I don't have the instructions anymore and it's just this jumble of wood, screws, and metal bits that seem to have to relation with eachother.

ARRRRGHH!

Plus, I can't find all my freaking computer parts either. I finally unpacked the tower for both systems, as well as the HP server for tying my home network together, but I can't find keyboards, mice, cables, etc.

So, long story short, I am not yet online at home... Grrr...

As some of you may know, I'm freaking lonely. So, I've been on this eHarmony.com thing. I must say I've been a bit disappointed. Not so much in those girls I've met (actually, several of them seem pretty cool) but in the service in general. In case you don't know anything about how services like eHarmony work, let me give you the run down:
  • Step 1: Spend 192 hours filling out their survey. Okay, so 192 hours is an estimation... In reality it undoubtedly was much longer. I mean, they ask you so many questions it will make you want to vomit. I kid you not.
  • Step 2: Pay them $BLING-BLING. Ouch, this damned thing cost me in the ballpark of $60/month. $60/month could get me a hooker and porn, so this service better be damned good.
  • Step 3: Wait. Apparently their whole search facility sucks as much as it blows. For the first few days it was telling me I didn't match anyone in the entire continental US. Now, granted, I'm pretty unique and am gonna be a real bear to match up, but come on!
  • Step 4: Start pussy-footing around. When matches have been found, you then proceed to go through hours and hours of even more questions where you zip silly questions back and forth between your matches.
  • Step 5: Continue dinking around. More questions, more vacuous and vapid questions. "What's your idea of adventure? (a) Whitewater rafting, (b) Karaoke, (c) Slam-dancing".
  • Step 6: GOTO Step 4. Rinse, repeat.
  • Step 7: Eventually, pay more money. Sooner or later you will have to pay another $BLING-BLING just to continue this silly digital footsy.
Well, I've ranted enough for one entry. I will say that Dr. Neil Clark Warren (sp?) can bite my shiny, metal, ass.

2004 Dec 9 (Thu), 02:54 Greetings from Rygel!

Can I hear a "hell yeah!"?

The mothership has landed and she is accepting passengers. My computer desk is built, my chair is assembled (okay, the "Telescoping Cover" is on upside-down, but I am mechanically indept, remember?), and I sit at my desktop after a 3-4 month hiatus finally typing once again staring at my Sun monitor at its very odd 1152x864 resolution.

Of course my crappy "tech solutions(tm)" brand keyboard has a more tight keyboard layout than I remember... Hmmm.. I may need to replace that soon, typing on this is way annoying. Additionally my software RAID has seen one too many system disruptions and the sunova-beyotch is chugging along like Aunt Tilly in the Carpool lane, her eyes barely able to peer over the steering wheel and feet only able to depress the peddle down 15%. Eh... I need to rebuild anyway. New city, new job, new life.... need a fresh start with my computer. I may not do RAID again, but I will use the spare drive for backup regardless (long time readers of my web diary will know I've fought with my share of bad hard drives).

Sound like I'm in a good mood, no? Well, I'm not.

My new car that I love so dearly has caused me mucho-mucho grief-o this last week. Firstly, the nincompoops at Rock Springs Honda sent my title information to the wrong freaking state. They sent it to their own state, Wyoming, which just so happens to be the most expensive state in the union I know of for automotive taxes and licensing.

This, in turn, locked it in the state, meaning in order for me to license it I had to pay Wyoming taxes. Seeing as how I am in Indiana, I had to also pay a "convienience fee" for doing this over the phone. All told, $1700 for state taxes... Wonderful, no?

I then sat around, waiting for the title to show up so I could license my car out here. See, in Indiana it was going to cost me less than $100 to license and register my car, but back in Wyoming it was going to cost me almost $500.

While I was waiting for my title to show up, my parents apparently were freaking out about me having to cough up so much money. So they got my brother in Green River WYO to run out and pay the $440 for me, and then get me to pay him back because "he can't afford that now!"

So, in essense, rather than letting me handle it and a) license the car in the state I actually live and b) save nearly $400 they went ahead and committed me to the Wyoming licensing fee, without asking me, mind you.

Okay, I know they were doing this because they loved me and were worried about me, but.... OH MY FREAKING HELL! NO ONE EVEN CALLED ME! I HAD TOLD THEM NOT TO WORRY, THAT I WAS HANDLING IT, AND THEY WENT AHEAD AND COMMITTED ME TO $440 WITHOUT EVEN ASKING ME!!!!!!!!!!! ARGH! THESE PEOPLE.... AM I REALLY RELATED TO THEM?!

So, I'm a bit pissed... but I'll get over it.

Anyway, it's late now, and I need some sleep. Expect me to start the grind of getting back to work on non-work projects tomorrow... unless something else happens to aggravate me.