Woe

This is the space where my Xbox normally goes. It's the second time I've had to send mine back to Microsoft since I purchased one about a year ago. This time, at least, the whole process seems to be moving much faster.

After sending me a shipping container that became useless three weeks later (thus requiring a second shipping container--oh, the waste), they upgraded me to overnight service. So instead of waiting about five weeks like last time, the whole process will hopefully take about one week.

Also, to soothe my outrage, they sent me a free camera. Now I can show my tear-streaked face to the tweens who are stomping me on Xbox Live. Video chat, anyone?

Back in Town

We just returned from three weeks of Woden-celebrating, family-visiting, cookie-eating fun and we are ready for a nap. Unfortunately, our return coincided with a major storm and we spent the past 12 hours without power. So here's to home, sweet home, and volts, sweet volts!

ps The photo was taken on a highway south of Tucson.

END

That's right: another quarter is coming to a dramatic close, another year soon to follow it. It's been a very busy fall for me even though, erm, on paper I've accomplished rather little. But I think I'm still on target to get a few Great Things off my list this academic year, so that's good.

I also went through a bit of a fallow zone there in terms of work ethic, and I'm beginning to feel the old manic energy coursing through the hamster wheel. I didn't get much time off last summer and it turns out that 19 years of formal education have conditioned me to need that.

But not to worry. Soon, once again, I will be invincible.