Back where we started

I think furniture rearrangement is now complete. The sad thing is that I’ve ended up putting everything essentially back where it started. It’s still not an ideal set-up, but I think it’s the best I can do without the crew from Changing Rooms.

Once I got the room rearranged, I finished unpacking the writing supplies, which consist mostly of books and other technologies. I managed to get the pictures off of my cell phone, since I can’t seem to mail them from Houghton. I decided that I might as well switch to the real camera, since I have to hook it up to the computer to download the images whether I use the cell phone or not. Problem is that I have spent the better part of 8 or so hours trying to get the darned pictures off the camera. I hadn’t ever tried to attach the camera to this particular laptop, so I didn’t realize that the cables are all serial. But this machine doesn’t have a serial port. It only has USB. No problem, I figure. I’ll just use the card reader. But the computer will not recognize the little smart card. I have installed and uninstalled and reinstalled and shopped online for other options. The thing is that I have a perfectly fine card reader. I just can’t get it to read. Windows sees the reader, just not the card. I am not amused.

When not being frustrated by technology, I have pretty much just been lying about. The thing about the UP is that the sunlight lasts so much longer in the summer. Between the sun and the fact that I’m really still on the Central timezone, I have no idea what time it is. My body is totally confused, and I’m not helping by being in a semi-depressed napping place. Sometimes there are just too many echoes. Sometimes it’s a sappy commercial. Other times I’ll happen on a news story or something. I think of all the things I didn’t do soon enough—and the things I’ll never be able to do. Sometimes it doesn’t seem worth trying, and technology is not helping my mood today.

I have so much that I need to get done, and I’m not really accomplishing anything. I feel like I need to make this massive list and somehow figure out how to get it all done. I have essentially 20 days to create a 125-page manuscript. 6.5 pages a day–plus the other things that I need to accomplish. Like I apparently need to fight with the MTU telecom people because there is no DSL in this Deluxe Suite, and I paid for it on May 5. It was supposed to be here on my arrival. Cable options are horrid. I never knew how truly depressing basic cable could be. If you have any questions about the area, the cable line-up will help you figure it out. There are four ESPNs and Fox Sports. There’s an MTV channel that today seemed to be offering a tribute to 50 Cent. No Turner Classic Movies. No Penn & Teller tonight because I don’t have Showtime. At least I have Comedy Central, though with my luck it will be all repeats in a special celebration of summer. I think it would cost me $20 to get them to turn on HBO and Showtime. When faced with the fact that I just finished watching Small Soldiers on TNT for the second time, giving up $20 seems a minor sacrifice. My brain cells will be burned out if this keeps up.

I know. You’re thinking something like why doesn’t she just turn the darned tv off. It’s my habit. I write best with the TV on in the background and my diet brown soda within a few inches of the mouse. There’s no way I have enough music loaded up on the iPod to last 20 days, so that’s not really an option. I think 1/3 of the files are audiobooks anyway—and I’m certain that I can’t listen to a book being read while writing. Odd really. My literacy skills let me watch tv while I write, but I don’t think that I can listen to a book while I write. Somehow, that requires more concentration.

I guess I should taken another of my many naps. Who knows what time it is. I’m sure it’s at least an hour later than I think. Maybe tomorrow I’ll finally figure out how to get today’s papparazzi photo of Duck online.

Tags: tengrrl’s travelblog