WWW - Technology-lite edition

By the time I fully realized that yesterday was Wednesday and that I hadn't cobbled together a Weekly Wednesday Wrap-up, it was really late and I was too exhausted to do anything productive about it so I simply went to bed, relying upon the blog peeps to visit on Thursday.

• It has been a very busy week or two here at chez trek. Back to school is upon us and I should be diligently preparing lesson plans and lecture notes.



• I've not done all that much of the preparation thus far.



• It isn't because I want the summer to continue or that I am thoroughly unmotivated.



• It is because my computer is in a dinky little town in the Midwest awaiting its turn for servicing.



• Nothing personal here (the Midwest is a fine region of the country) but it is a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere.



• Yep, less than two weeks remain until the beginning of the semester and my laptop is at the computer hospital.



• It didn't want the summer to end either.



• I am managing to check my email and read the headlines on NumberGuy's computer but that's pretty much it for the technological aspect of my life.



• No, wait, I did spend most of a morning earlier in the week setting up the class blog for my computer literacy class and getting the first couple of administrative posts ready to roll.



• I called the manufacturer last night to get an update on the status of my service order.



• The first guy I got told me that my computer has not been logged into their system and that I should call the carrier.



• I politely informed him that I had already consulted the oracle carrier's tracking web site and that they had received my computer at precisely 8:52am (local time) Monday morning.



• For those trying to keep the timeline clear, this meant that they had my computer for three full working days by the time I called and nothing had been done at all.



• Of course, I fully realize that I am not the only person needing service but come on. They didn't even know that my computer was there.



• My laptop boasts a 17" widescreen.



• We're not talking one of those dinky little semi-annual checkup reminders from the dentist here. It is not easy to overlook a carton of this size and magnitude.



• Eventually, I spoke with a supervisor who informed me that they log the units into the system when they are actually going in for service.



• I tried very hard to maintain a pleasant demeanor and not grit my teeth as I explained that my freaking job depends on me having my computer and that sixty-some-odd students have paid money for me to teach them about programming and computers come September.



• I think I impressed upon the dude the urgency of the situation.



• Perhaps I should call them again later today.



• You know, just to check on things...



• In the meantime, I have to visit the eye doctor and get my year's supply of contact lenses sorted out.



• Oh, what have I been doing instead of preparing for classes?



• Not working out, that's for sure.



• It has rained off and on all day long every day since Sunday morning.



• Wet pavement + bicycle = rooster tails



• Yuck.



• I have about 30 Box Tops for Education collected. Not as many as past summers but our buying patterns have changed somewhat over the years.



• Neatnik and I have been keeping busy by committing cleanlinesses about chez trek.



• We have been cleaning rooms from top to bottom, even pulling out all of the furniture and dusting the baseboards.



• I had her check the fit of a number of bits of clothing and we straightened out her drawers.



• Installed a new light fixture in Neatnik's bedroom.



• Very pretty and now she can read in bed if she wants.



• She wanted to both last night and this morning. :: VBG ::



• Several items were offered on Freecycle and either picked up or are scheduled for pick up today.



• Neatnik has been enjoying her third and final week of Vacation Bible School 2010.



• This one's theme is Galactic Blast.



• A bit late, this year, but a rather nice way to wind up her summer.

All in all, a fairly productive week, even if I don't have much in the way of lesson plans completed.