Good Friday

So. I finally got off the dime yesterday, drove over to the Big(ger) City^TM and signed up with Sprint. In other words, I have a new phone (and new phone number) now. My last tie to SFO has been severed (my old phone number was in the 415 Area Code); I’m now tied to New Mexico and its 505 Area Code for at least two years, no matter where I go.

Buying the phone and signing up for service was a minor joy, as far as service experiences go. The folks at the local Sprint store were competent, polite, and cheerful. I find it semi-amazing that one can just walk into a cell phone store, buy a phone, sign a contract and have instant phone service…all in about a half an hour. T’wasn’t always so in the phone biz.

Back in the ‘50s when my father was stationed in Paris, our family was on the French PTT (Post, Telephone & Telegraph, an old acronym) waiting list for a phone for three years. We never did get a phone. And then my Dad got transferred to Ankara, Turkey, where we went on another waiting list, this time for two years. The outcome was the same: we never did get a phone. I think you had to be able to prove direct lineage to The Prophet (pbuh, or something like that) in order to get a phone in Ankara back in the day. I have no explanation as to why we never got a phone in France, other than the fact we were dealing with the French. 'Nuff said, there.

While things were a lot better in the US in the recent past, you still had to endure some sort of lag. One of the ordeals of moving to a new city is signing up and making appointments for utilities such as electricity, cable, and land-line phones. And then spending all day waiting for the installer to arrive at the appointed time (ha ha), who may or may not show up. But cell phones? Instant gratification. How very American, no?

Did my bit to encourage the Rain Gods while I was in the Big(ger) City^TM yesterday, too. Which is to say I got the car washed. And although the skies have clouded over right on cue, there is no rain in the forecast. It will be hot, though. 92. Let’s bypass Spring and go directly to Summer; Do Not Pass Go.

Miscellaneous Bitches, Moans, Groans, and Complaints Dept:

(1) While watching a program on the History Channel last evening I noticed the narrator kept referring to dates in the past as “in 1296 of the Current Era” or “1492 in the Current Era.” Every single time. How very PC. It’s no longer “1296 A.D.” The actual numbers remain the same, of course, we’ve just removed all references to Christ. And the point is? One wonders how the numbering system is explained in secular-humanist households when a child asks the question something like “How did the dates of our years get established, Mommy?” “Well, Dear, we figure time based on the birthday of some Middle Eastern carpenter who was born in the year Zero.” “A carpenter, Mommy?” “Yes, Dear. Now be a good girl and go play.” Sheesh.

(2) Over the last couple of days I’ve gotten a dozen or so visits from EDS employees googling “EDS,” while at work. Get back to work!! Google on your own time! If the EDS pension plan goes into default because of your slacker behavior I’ll hunt you down and kill you. And I know where you live…or at least I know where you work. Just sayin’.

Bad news if you’re still running Windows 98, 98SE, or ME. Upgrading your OS is a major or minor pain, depending on the age of your ‘puter. I don’t envy you if you’re in this situation…better to buy a new computer.