Any suggestions for what to see while I'm in the Southern Hemisphere next month?

Gonna go see the '70s Haute Couture Museum, which shares space with the Jim Beam Decanter collection.

http://www.ancientbriton.co.nz/museums.htm

I may do a tandem parachute thing. Or ski, by myself or with my Mom's penpal's kids. (did that make sense?) Or a kayak tour. Or a LOTR tour. I think there are at least three. To give the old folks some down time for visiting.

I'm bringing the travel guide books to the beach, in case anyone wants to get jealous. ; P

Naming no names and assigning no blame, I merely ask, "What do I do now that my laptop has shown that it does not have the ability to fly, or stay on the boot of a car at 45mph?"

It is dinged up but still use-able (as I type on it now.) Dings are on left side, both corners, but bad enough to have an eighth inch vent in left corner, where the bottom is not so seamless any more. It now has that annoying rock a dining table with a short leg has when I type.

Do I (we) replace it with a brand new or refurbed laptop?

I'm not sure who else listens to "This American Life" but you HAVE to listen to the 2nd piece of this week's show.

I had just taken a gulp of coffee when the producer of the piece said something all liberal arts majors fear to say (or hear!) out loud. (She says is much better than I could put it here.)

I had to mop up about 5 square feet of coffee droplets after I stopped crying.

Dean about fell off the couch laughing at me.

http://www.thislife.org/radio-archives/episode/402/save-the-day

Hey,

Entered a poetry chapbook in the contest with/at Poetic Asides with Robert Lee Brewer. I didn't win, but came in the top 21 out of 150 entries, so I am happy!

http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/2010/01/29/FinalistsFor2009No...

Thanks, Ric, for sending me the link to that first Poem-a-Day challenge.

And it was 170, not 150 total entries...

Make sure you read the entire page, esp the dialogue.

http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/b597/

And this is where I got the link...

http://gratzindustries.blogspot.com/

Read his blog entry on Rock, Paper, Scissors.

Thought this was pretty interesting. Think how they can efficiently multitask with eight arms!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091215/ap_on_sc/as_australia_coconut_octopus

Always had a soft spot for them, esp after seeing Nick Nolte and Debra WInger curse them in "Cannery Row."

For those of us who are computer geek-challenged, can there be a forum to question you computer-gods out there?

Just a thought.

Hey,

That rat-fink Ric turned me on to a Poem-A-Day (PAD) Challenge, which I mentioned in April when I did the first one. I have since participated in both a Nov PAD and started but did not finish NaNoWriMo, though I did get about 72 pages into it. Then, life intruded, Dean told me that we were moving sometime in the first of Dec(!?) The Nov PAD challenge was undertaken with a chapbook in mind. I have assembled one on the theme of "Space". If you would like to read it, let me know and I'll talk to Bill about posting it here. Or a link here. Or just send it to you. ; ]

OK, calling all computer geeks. I am in the market for a netbook. For what, you may ask?

#1: My husband won't get off Travian long enough to do anything on MY computer at home.

#2: To get rid of my oh-so-unstylish paper using appointment book for my massage business...not that I've been THAT busy lately. But I digress.

#2A: Also, managing what little finances I bring in from said business.

#3: Writing a bit when the muse strikes and I've left my paper using writing implements elsewhere.

#4: Email, keeping up with the Dunfoamin' world, web banking, etc.

I am, ahem, computer challenged. I have a problem with OpenOffice.org Writer. Let me see if I can explain. I was attempting to use "*******" to separate a bit of text from another and before I knew it I had this bold black double line that replicated itself whenever I start a new paragraph. How the F**K! do I get rid of it???? Help. Anyone? Anyone?

Or am I gonna have to debase myself on the OpenOffice website as a total non-computer geek?