New Monitor

I think of a hero as someone who understands the degree of responsibility that comes with his freedom.
-- Bob Dylan

Tuesday, October 2, 2001
One year ago: Silences
Three years ago: Pouting
Four years ago: Ballroom Dance

This batch of entries begins here, so don't miss out! An exciting trip to Foolscap, a movie, a shopping trip, and so much more!

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Today Jack wanted to go get a monitor, for me to use when my machine is living in West Seattle. I guess my old monitor will stay in Capitol Hill, though it's difficult for me to keep track of all these machines.

We looked up the addresses of a few places near Southcenter that sell used computer stuff. REPC is now very big! Lots of monitors to choose from, along with other stuff. I wondered if I'd see any of the products I once worked on at MS on the shelves of obsolete software, but I didn't. We picked out a monitor, and bought a few other items that Jack says are needed.

After a bite to eat (note to self: remind Jack to ask for no mayonnaise on any burger order), we traveled south to Boeing surplus. I was tempted by metal wastebaskets at twentyfive cents each, but they were a bit rusty around the base. The yard had the most extreme stuff, but we didn't buy anything. I don't think we have a use for sawhorses made from steel girders, or wheeled tables as big as a mobile home.

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For dinner, we had a chuck roast that Jack had injected with creole garlic marinade yesterday, smoked on the broiler. On the side, the last few purple potatoes, microwaved, and mixed with frozen stirfry vegetables in the wok. Tasty! H--- liked it too. But chewing the meat made her teeth ache. We must get her to a dentist soon, regardless of the cost or our lack of insurance.

In the twilight, Jack and I worked in the front yard, bringing the golden privet into bounds. I want to get rid of most of the parts that have reverted to green. We finished with several largish piles of branches. Now we need to break them down into small enough pieces to take to the transfer station. A charming prospect for Vanguard visitors this weekend -- a brushpile! Jack got into the project, went for his saw, didn't want to stop! "I'd like to trim back this shrub over here, too! and that tree is way out of control..." But I said we'd done enough for one night. After all, you can't put it back on again!

Said Jack, "It's surprising how much you can get done, working together." Aw....

Later, I was dressed and ready to go dancing, my first time at china harbor. Darn! my headlight burned out. I have the replacement bulb, but I didn't want to ask Jack to assist me (though *I* want to do it)in the dark.

So I watched tv with him instead. The new series Scrubs Jack found annoying. Too many shows use the fantasy/reality thing now, he said, and he's sick of it! But I liked it ok. They were rather graphic on the medical procedures for a sitcom.

Jack was about to go to bed, but was sucked into the special Dateline that compiled all the flight 93 hero stories into one. I didn't sob all the way through it, but couldn't help crying during some passages. I wish they'd stayed away from any background music -- that didn't add much.