Random Thoughts

[msmemory_archive]

Holy moley it takes a long time and a lot of effort to get a new main household computer up and running! We picked up a new computer on Saturday, because the old one has been giving us implicit and explicit warnings of incipient failure for some time. Luckily, jducoeur didn't have to work on Monday, so he could deal with getting it connected to the network and starting to migrate our software and programs. We'll probably be working on that all week. (Packrats that we are, there is a LOT of data to be transferred.)

My broken arm is healing well. I'm impatient for it to be done, so I can get back to my regularly scheduled projects, like spreading the rest of the 3 cu. yds. of mulch in the garden, and cleaning parts of the house which have been awaiting attention since before our vacation, and storing the deck furniture for the winter.

Cirque du Soleil's Corteo was wonderful, of course! Really only one weak act (and that mostly because the plot came to a crashing halt while she did her high-wire act). The aerial ballet/flying act was a particular highlight, as were bounce-a-midget and the trampoline beds.

Patri's party on Saturday was a lovely tribute to an eternal gentleman. He has always been an example of grace, tact, and courtesy, and this week was no exception. When I go, I want to be sent off as beautifully by my friends as he is. He's doing much better than one might have expected, which is a pleasure to see. Perhaps, having been given months by the doctors, he will be granted years by the divine. A lot of old friends turned out and told funny stories about Patri and one another. (But next time if I'm going to get there that late, I should eat beforehand.)

If I thought writing to Lands' End and hitting them with a two-by-four would do any good, I would. Their Sears-ification is growing, so I despair of a long terry bathrobe in a deep color, or shoes in Justin's size, or plain Shetland wool pullovers. Luckily, Bean's has moved into my town, so Lands End is about to lose the last shreds of my custom.

Finally finished The Privilege of the Sword the other day. It got 3/4 of the way through, going at an appropriate clip, then somebody told the author she had to get everything neatly tied up with a ribbon, but in an unconventional way, pretty quick. I would say everything after the second duel felt rushed, outlined, and awkward. Wish it had been told with as much languid relish as the earlier parts -- and throughout, more insight into our heroine's heart. Yet I'd still suggest the book to a friend.

Comments

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

When I set up the current computer, it took about 90 minutes, most of that unattended. I plugged in the power and network cords, and the keyboard and mouse. When I turned it on, it asked if I wanted to copy files, settings and software from my previous computer, and told me how to connect that (via Firewire). It then spent some time working on that. I had a couple other things to tweak, but that was about it.

This was replacing a Mac with a Mac, though. It's not quite as quick, elegant or stress free in the Windows world.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

It's not just one-to-one replacement: that would be easy, now that both machines are connected to the household network. It's the "as long as we're in there" reorganizational stuff that's the time-suck.

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that can be time consuming. I think of that as more of a housekeeping task, rather than one associated, necessarily, with a new machine. I can see that being the precipitating factor, though.

[hrj.livejournal.com]

If you haven't read it already (due to my spoiler warning) you might want to go back and check out my review of PotS. My take was rather similar to yours on the pacing.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pointer. I had skipped your review at the time, and am glad to have gone back to it.

You said:
I was left feeling rather cheated of the book I wanted to have been reading.
Me too. I wanted more Heyer (angsty insight into Katherine's heart) and more plot (so after Artemisia was allowed to cry off, nothing more?), and more resolution (what the heck WAS that with Luke Perry and Lady Sally's and the Mad Duke and oh we have to figure out what is supposed to happen to St Vier in the last five pages too!). I have lots of opinion about what Kushner should've done with the characters, and she didn't do most of it. I wanted to know more about how Katherine felt in her cross-gendered role, especially. TPOTS had such promise, and it came so close.

Eeek

[swanduchess.livejournal.com]

You broke your arm?!?!? I'm so sorry, I had no idea! I hope its better soon soon soon!
Hugs!

Re: Eeek

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, we were out in the Outlands on vacation (my brother-in-law lives out there), and Justin was teaching Gathering Peascods. "Ladies turn back in to place" and I turned right down onto my arm. I'm supposed to be released from the sling a week from tomorrow.