Some shake-ups here at ChuiLund Central.

First of all, we're switching internet service providers. (My apologies if you've already heard the following.) After being at Earthlink for nearly seven years (back when they were just Mindspring), we're moving to Road Runner cable access. Back in January, I upgraded from dial-up to hi-speed, and since Earthlink uses Time Warner for their cable modem access, they came out and installed a cable modem. But I had also ordered wireless home networking instead of just the modem, which puzzled the installer guy. So he called someone at TWC and another technician came out to install a combination modem/wi-fi router, as well as the hardware and software for both my PC and VAIO laptop. This system was working great.

Then Jamie graciously gave us a computer for a wedding present, so that Janet could have her own PC. I called TWC to come out and install the equipment on that one, but was told that the equipment which was originally installed was used only for Road Runner customers (what TWC calls their hi-speed access). I was to call Earthlink and get them to send the right equipment and then return the TWC equipment afterward. At this point, let me say that all the Time Warner people I had been dealing with were knowledgeable and courteous, and have been since.

So I called Earthlink and spent fifteen minutes trying to get the guy to understand what I was talking about. I thought he got it, but apparently he didn't, because all that was sent was a Linksys wireless router and one PCMCIA card for a laptop. The equipment I would need for both my PC and Janet's PC was not there. So after talking to more clueless people at Earthlink, I discovered that we would have to pay extra to put wireless cards in each computer, which was contrary to what I was originally told, as well as get TWC to reinstall a plain cable modem. When I signed up for hi-speed, the woman I spoke to said she'd send everything I would need for home networking on each computer; either she was mistaken or the policy changed since then. Whatever the case, I was fed up with Earthlink by now. They weren't communicating with Time Warner, with me, or even with themselves. To get one simple request done, I would be transferred to at least four different people, none of whom seemed to know their ass from a hole in the ground. It felt like Earthlink was just hiring people off the street.

So Janet and I decided that since the TWC access was working well, and they had a good deal going on right now, that we'd cancel the Earthlink account and go with Road Runner. Which is a really roundabout way of saying that my email address is changing. If you send something to the jlundberg@mindspring.com address, it will most likely bounce back. The TWC guy is coming on Sunday afternoon to set up the new account, so while we still have internet access right now, I won't be able to get back to you until at least Sunday. If you need to get ahold of me, leave me a comment here. I'll send out a general email (hopefully) on Sunday to those of you in my address book, and will reveal the new eddress here.

***

The second change is that we just bought a new bed! I've been sleeping in the same queen-sized bed since high school, but it belonged to my parents before that, and to my step-grandfather before that. It's somewhere around thirty-five years old, and you can tell. Parts of the mattress sag, other parts poke you with springs. The frame was broken when I moved to this apartment, snapping off the caster nearest to Janet's head. The thing has definitely seen better days.

So we went over to Sears, tried a bunch out, and found one we both really like. Plus, oh man, it was 50% off! It normally would have cost us $1200, but was only half that! For a queen-size! Score! They'll be delivering it on Monday, and we'll finally be able to sleep well, on the new sheets and pillows we got from the wedding (we were holding off until we got the new bed). Yay!

***

And thirdly, I have a new laptop! My VAIO went cracklepop a little over a month ago, so I've been looking around since, inbetween studying and writing papers. And at the advice of Heather and Greg, I got a brand new shiny 12" iBook G4. It's freakin' tiny compared to what I'm used to, but I like that aspect. It's very light, which is a big plus. Janet thinks it's cute.

So Greg, that thing we talked about, I'd very much appreciate it. Thanks, dood.

So wow, I'm now maccin' it. I never thought I'd go back to macs, but the stats and testimonials convinced me. And it's not like I'll be installing a bunch of software on it, so I won't need to buy extra versions of software I already have. Here are some of the specs: 1 GHz PowerPC G4 processor, 512K level 2 cache; 256MB of DDR RAM, supports up to 1.25GB; 30GB Ultra ATA hard drive; slot-loading Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW); 12.1-inch (diagonal) TFT active-matrix XGA color display, &c. For all its diminuitive size, it is now the most powerful computer in the apartment.

***

So, some big purchases and changes lately. We're putting the money given as wedding gifts to good use, though I'm trying to keep as much as possible in savings to soak up the interest. And now that the semester is over, all the things that we wanted to do around the apt that were put off can finally be done. It has started with the home office, with the organization and (temporary) purging of our bookshelves. As much as I hate to put books away, there are many I own that are just taking up space right now, and it doesn't make sense to keep them out until we buy a house. So I bought some 14-gallon Rubbermaid containers, and filled four of them up yesterday. I can actually walk around in the office now.

I also want to get some stories ready to send out this week. I have a few I need to fix up, but there are some just waiting to be put back into circulation. I also want to work some on my thesis this summer, so that I don't wait until the last minute to finish it all. Busy times this summer, but I'm so glad I'm finally here. That was one hellish semester, and I can't believe I averted a nervous breakdown or spontaneous combustion. I've got three whole months until classes start again.

Now Reading:
The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon

Stories Out to Publishers:
4

Books Read This Year:
29

Zines/Chapbooks/Fiction Mags Read This Year:
11