Why Computers Sometimes Crash! by Dr. Seuss

If a packet hits a pocket on a socket on a port
And the bus is interrupted at a very last resort
And the access of the memory makes your floppy disk abort
Then the socket packet pocket has an error to report.

If your cursor finds a menu item followed by a dash
And the double-clicking icon puts your window in the trash
And your data is corrupted cause the index doesn't hash
Then your situation's hopeless, and your system's gonna crash!

If the label on the cable on the table at your house
Says the network is connected to the button on your mouse
But your packets want to tunnel unto another protocol
That's repeatedly rejected by the printer down the hall,
And your screen is all distorted by the side effects of gauss
So your icons in the window are as wavy as a souse
Then you may as well reboot and go out with a bang
'Cuz sure as I'm a poet, the sucker's gonna hang!

When the copy of your floppy's getting sloppy in the disk
And the macrocode instructions cause unnecessary risk
Then you'll have to flash the memory and you'll want to RAM your ROM.
Quickly turn off the computer and be sure to tell your Mom!

Testing hello.com

Abi, Me, DC, and Sarah in Sevilla. Tom is in the background.

Chocolat

I watched Chocolat last night, great movie, and now I feel strangely inspired to open a choclaterie of my own. Too bad I don't know anything about making chocolates. Maybe I should learn, that and brush up my french. Then I can pack up and move to a little town somewhere in the french countryside. I just love the little town that the movie is set in. Apparently, the town they used had a total population of 250, just the right size :)

Song of the Day

I've been listening to a new CD today, Maroon 5, Songs about Jane. My roomie bought it and lent it to me, I really like it. I think I need to make a "backup" of this one :)

Song of the day is "Through With You".

Can you see me
Floating above your head
As you lay in bed
Thinking about everything
That you did not do
Cause saying "I love you"
Has nothing to do with meaning it

And I don't trust you
Cause every time you're here
Your intentions are unclear
I spend every hour waiting for a phone call
That I know will never come
I used to think that you were the one
Now I'm sick of thinking anything at all

You ain't ever coming back to me
That's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just give it back
No other lover has ever done that

Do you remember
The way we used to melt
Do you remember how it felt
When I touched you, oh
Cause I remember very well
And how long has it been
Since someone you let in
Has given what I gave to you

And at night when you sleep
Do you dream I would be there
Just for a minute or two do you?

You ain't ever coming back to me
That's not how things were supposed to be
You take my hand just give it back
o other lover has ever done that

Heartache heartache I just have so much
A simple love with a complex touch
There is nothing you can say or do
I called to let you know I'm through with you.

Pride and Prejudice

I spent an excellent 5 hours last night watching the BBC production of Pride and Prejudice. I've been meaning to buy it for awhile now, and finally did. I think I've seen the movie about six times, but still do not tire of watching the dynamics between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy. Good food, good friends, good movie, Mr. Darcy, what better way to spend an evening...

The Lady and the Unicorn

Just finished reading The Lady and the Unicorn by Tracy Chevalier, another book about a piece of artwork (same author as Girl with a Pearl Earring). My roomie had borrowed it from the library, so I was reading it on the way to and from Chicago. This book is about a set of six medieval tapestries that are now housed in the Cluny musuem in Paris. We got to see them when we visited the musuem at Cluny, so reading about them was very interesting. I really like how Chevalier takes what we know about a piece of art and then weaves a story around it. For anyone who liked Girl with a Pearl Earring, I would recommend this book.

Weekend

Had a great long weekend, in spite of the weather. Friday I stayed home to clean up my room and the apartment. I had to clear my room for my new furniture :) I got a new bed, dresser, night stand delivered on Saturday morning. So now after 4 years of sleeping on a mattress on the floor, I finally have a real bed!

Saturday, after the guys arranged my furniture I headed south to Mike and Sandi's for the day. We went out in the boat, swam for awhile then had a fish fry and fireworks. It rained for a bit, but otherwise the weather was great.

Sunday, bummed around at home. Didn't feel like going out in the rain to watch more fireworks, so stayed home and watched Independance Day, and Cold Mountain.

Monday, went down to Chicago, ate an excellent lunch at Big Bowl, walked around, shopped, had some good coffee at Moonstruck, went to the Sears tower, zero visibility, stayed on the ground, wandered around Chinatown, came back to GR.

Happy Canada Day!

Some links for your reading pleasure:
Some History of the day.
History of the flag.
The national anthem

Beach

Yesterday afternoon my roomie and I drove out to the Grand Haven beach. It was a beautiful sunny day, nice beach weather. The water was frigid so we just stayed on the sand soaking in the sun. Spent my time reading reading and working on my tan (har har, like that will work). My 'tan' is just my skin getting a bit more pink. After it got cold, we walked along the pier past all the people fishing and walking their dogs. Now I can actually say that I've been to Lake Michigan :)

Paris Photos

I've started to upload some of my trip pictures. Here is what I have so far, more to come: Paris Photos.

Stepford Wives

Watched Stepford Wives last night. It was kind of interesting, completely cheesy, but a fun movie. All the wives were like extreme Martha Stewart's, immaculate houses, always cooking and cleaning and waiting on their husbands and children hand and foot. At one point Nicole Kidman's character bakes about 5,000 cupcakes because she is trying to get into the whole 'Stepford thing'. Another great one is the book club. The woman read a book about decorating for the holidays and the entire discussion is centered around how you can use pinecones in your decorations. Completely ridiculous :)

Europe

Back in Grand Rapids again. Just spent two weeks roaming about France and Spain. Spain was nice, but I absolutely loved France. Now I'm torn, I thought Florence would be a nice place to live, but now I think that I would prefer Paris, or maybe someplace in the French countryside. We didn't spend any time in the country, but what I saw from the train was absolutely gorgeous. I just loved the little towns nestled into the rolling hills. Plus it would be the perfect opportunity to work on my french, not to mention the cute french guys ;) The ones in Spain aren't bad either, but its a lot more difficult to talk to them (not knowing Spanish).

But now its back to reality and the regular grind. *sigh* Vacations are never long enough.

Money

I don't understand it. You can go to almost any bank in Ontario (in my experience) and get US currency. But I just got back from my bank, they don't have CDN currency. And the woman at the counter said that she has called around to other banks for other people and no one seems to have it. That makes no sense to me...Canada is only a 3 hour drive away! Ah well, life goes on.

Weekend

This morning I was up at 5 am, long before the sun. I got in my car and headed west in the drizzling rain. I had to go to customs this morning to renew my work visa. After a reasonably short wait at the border I headed to Grand Rapids, back to work. When I got home I was exhausted and hungry, I'd had an egg McMuffin at 7, but nothing since then. For some reason driving never makes me hungry. So I made a sandwich then went to bed. But once I got to bed I couldn't sleep. So I got up again, put on a heavy sweater (its freezing out) and headed to UM. Catch up on my surfing.

Now I'm drinking my coffee and surfing along. Which reminds me, I made my dad happy this weekend. At my aunt and uncle's house I had a cup of coffee. He looked at me, then said, "you've started drinking coffee?! It's about time!" Hee hee, he's been trying to get me to drink coffee for years.

Can't Wait

18 days and counting... :D :D

Wheels!

I have wheels again! My car was in the shop this past week for some much belated body work. So for seven days I've been without wheels, bumming rides from my roomie, walking and taking the bus around town. But this morning I picked up my car, he looks so shiny and new, and they even vacuumed the inside for me. It's great to have wheels again :)

Online Melissas

Ok, just had to share this one. I was looking up URLs with my name in them, geeky, I know, when I stumbled across this one "Melissa Net." dedicated to the Melissas of the world. Hee hee. :)

Error Messages

I just love helpful error messages: "The event class for this subscription is in an invalid partition." Huh?!?

Something Beautiful

Following recent trends on other blogs...but I decided to be different and post song lyrics. This is the signature song on Great Big Sea's latest CD. A slower song, unlike the louder more upbeat songs that they have.

Something Beautiful

Hey You, you lost your only friend
You can't believe you're broken heart will ever mend
But every mountain has its faces that'd make you want to stop
On this so unwelcome journey from the bottom to the top.

Move along
I believe there's Something Beautiful to see
Move along
I believe there's Something Beautiful
Just waiting for you and me

I know you'll never count the tears you've cried
Though you've asked a million questions
No one could tell you why
A single soul is chosen to be the one put to the test
But there will be some consolation for a heart that never rests

The years will make us older
The winters make us colder
And there's one more thing I've come to know for sure
There's no bitterness that smolders, no chip on any shoulder
That a random act of kindness couldn't cure

Hey You, you lost your only friend
You can't believe you're broken heart will ever mend
But every mountain has its faces that'd make you want to stop
On this so neverending journey from the bottom to the top.

Yoga

Recently my roomie and I have started going to yoga classes. I've never really been interested in it because I always thought it was kind of hoaky. But I've found that the various poses are good for strength and exercising muscles that I don't use very often. We've been twice now and my muscles are speaking to me :) I'm not sure I like what they're saying, but on the flip side it feels pretty good too. I'm amazed at what some of the other women can do. I find the crocodile pose particularly difficult, I can't quite manage it yet. All in good time I guess.