It rained last night. Leaves are everywhere outside the house. Last night before bed Jean swept the stairs outside the kitchen door. This morning there were so many leaves that when we opened the screen door, a pile of matted leaves was created on the top step. I feel sorry for our neighbors who cleared their lawns of leaves just last weekend, since they're going to have to do it all over again.
The colors are pretty, though. It's like peak foliage has come to our driveway. They look much nicer there than high up on the trees. At least I notice them more (not that I stare at the ground all day). If things dry up between now and Saturday I'll be out raking our front lawn this weekend. Joy.
I went to bed late last night, around 1 AM. It was the first night in some time that Jean went to bed before I did. She's needed to catch up on her sleep, but I've always wanted more waking hours. There's so little to do, and so much time to do it in. Wait a minute: reverse that.
I woke up a little later than average, but not actually late. Somehow I managed to turn off both alarms this morning. I only remember hearing the first alarm. Jean and I both managed to leave on time, though we agreed that this was the morning to take both cars (it takes Jean ten to fifteen extra minutes when she drops me off). The weather was expected to clear up, so I took her car (which we're trying to preserve by driving less) with the intention of walking home.
Dave in the Registrar's Office completed preparations for testing the new faculty web interface to Banner (our administrative database). By early afternoon we were both in the system making notes about things to fix. I haven't caught up with him yet, but my part of the testing went pretty well. At the staff meeting this afternoon I discussed setting a date to move the software into production, and it looks as if we're going to make our December 1 implementation deadline. And there was great rejoicing.
The weather did clear up, and I walked home as planned. The stars were bright tonight. I could see several of them in the James river as I crossed the bridge. It was warmer than I had expected, and I probably should have taken off my sweater. Jean met me half a mile from the house and we walked the last bit together. One of the houses we passed has put white lights on an evergreen that must be forty feet tall. The lights were on tonight, and we were both felt the spirit of Christmas, despite the temperature. Jean asked if I had heard the story on NPR about the Christmas tree being shipped from Ohio to Rockefeller Center in New York City. I'd missed it, but apparently the tree (which was going to be cut down anyway) gets to go to the big apple for its last hurrah. And the family who owns the tree gets an expenses-paid trip to see their tree.
My home computer problems continue. I've learned that the gang at Dell have an image of my computer, as it was when I opened the box, stored in a hidden part of my hard drive. There's a program I run called ZZTOP that will essentially restore my computer to its factory settings. Once that's done, I should be able to install the Adaptec card and get back up to speed. Unfortunately the copy of ZZTOP they gave me doesn't work. Most likely it's the program itself that's bad, and the image is okay. The person on their tech line says the version on Dell's web site is likely to work. So tomorrow night I'll come home from work and attempt once again to nurse my computer back to health.
When that's done I still have to arrange to have all my programs restored. I've got a number of them here, but the best programs are ones I have through the University. Because I've got programs installed on my office computer, I am allowed to have copies on my home computer (in most cases). I'm going to have to arrange to drop my computer off at the IS Help Desk to have all the programs re-installed. If I'm lucky my computer will be happy again by Tuesday of next week (mark your calendar).
Jean is starting on a new knitting project for baby. One of the more
depressing things about the hospital we've chosen is the stupid pink
or blue hats they put on the newborn babies. The hospital we wish we
were going to has cute little hats (that are not pink or blue) made
by volunteers. So Jean's going to start on a hat for our daughter
that she'll wear when we bring her home.
It was unnaturally warm for a November day. Pleasant, but not
in the middle of Fall thank you very much. The forecast tonight
calls for the temperature to drop significantly, and I am ready.
It's difficult to believe the storms they've been having in the
Midwest when temperatures here are in the high sixties to low
seventies.
Listening: Body and Soul (Joe Jackson); Symphony No. 5 in D (Vaughan Williams)
Reading: Judith (Introduction)
© 1998 Kevin J.T. Creamer