Well, let's see. The holiday was a mixed bag. It was wonderful to be with my parents for a few days. They really are a crack up. I don't know where they get it. heh.

On a sadder, more frustrating note, the computer that I ordered for them arrived in a non-working state. Gah. I spent hours, literally *hours* on the hotline with the company on Christmas Day. Turns out that after all of the "try this, oh let's try that" stuff that it was a hardware problem. It required being shipped back for a refund. Which, of course, meant that I had to order a new one. And....it won't arrive until this week. Now that I'm back home that's extra handy. Pfffft. So much for being able to set it up for them!

The good thing, of course, is that they are willing to take the step of getting a computer. For that, I'm super grateful. The worse thing is that my phone bill is going to be LARGE this month.

I can just see me now. On the phone with my mom, whose favorite line is "You know I just don't understand this technical stuff."

"Okay mom, now you just click on the start menu. It's the little icon in the left bottom corner of the screen. An icon? Oh, that means a little picture-like thing. Yes, yes...that's it. Good."

"Okay, now click on it. Yep, left click. Right click will get you something altogether different. Yes, there will be a time to right click."

"Uh huh, now I'd like you to double click the icon that looks like a big blue 'e'. That's right, left double click. Good. Okay. That mouse just won't hold still? Well, hold it down with one hand while you double click with the other one. That's it. Good."

"Now we're going to download this thing that's called IceBear so you never have to use that big blue e anymore. You can do it. Download. Uh huh. It's okay. Just stay with me now.

"Oh, you don't have "Microsoft Office" installed yet, do you? Installed. That means it isn't loaded on your computer. Loaded. Um, nevermind. Just take the CD out of the box that I left there and I'll walk you through installing the software. That's it. Goooood."

I love my parents. Really, I do.

I'll probably check back in, oh about a week. When I get off the phone with them. Make that a month....I forgot that I have to walk her through setting up the modem too.