Today I went for a walk after work...

It was nice out. Well, it was nice, but not that nice. You know what I mean, it was so so at best, but I'll take that any day over cold, dreary, and wet. It was just dreary. Some people thought it was cold. I thought it was just fine. Just fine.

I coughed a bit. I've been coughing a lot lately. Caught myself a cold. What does that mean actually: "caught myself a cold"? What, am I running around with a glove on my hand? A basket in out stretched arms? My mouth open, gaping, hoping that an unsuspecting germ lands comfortably on my tongue? It's as though the phrase implies an expectation of acquiring the cold, as though I'm actually seeking one out. I'd like to think that my cold is entering its final stages. I think I had a fever early on last week. I actually missed a day of work. Now phlegm is minimal, but I still have a little cough.

When I concluded the first portion of my walk at the Community College T station, several girls were huddled in the stairway going down to the platform and the first thing that popped into my mind was "What are they doing?," followed shortly by "Why are they in MY way?" and this thought process was finally concluded by "Now, Now, George- they are just cold. Everyone is different".

Eventually my train came and dumped me out at Oak Grove where I proceeded to walk to my apartment. On the way home I saw two women walking side by side on the small sidewalk toward me. I prepared for the ritualistic dance of giving room so we each would adjust our trajectory with minimal changes. As the encounter approached it became clear that I did not appear to exist to them, and if I did, we were locked in a terrible game of chicken. Ultimately I cowered and yielded. I clearly am less important than they, and a less significant being. Now I am home, and I'm preparing for a new day's worth of coughing, observations, and near misses in the dangerous life of a pedestrian.

2011

Another that year I never really anticipated. What does that mean? Well, lets just when I was 13 or 14 years old I never really conceptualized life beyond say 2002 or 2003 at the latest. And yet here I am, a man with popping knees and grinding vertebrae, older than my parents were when they conceived me, and yet perhaps I am more wide eyed and directionless than they were at my age. Anyway, I can't help but feel like 2010 marked some sort of transition for me, as though reality has set in and the full weight of adulthood has finally descended upon me. I think this will be a year of many changes. And if I play my cards right, and stick with the game when my hand seems like it might not last the round, perhaps, just maybe, I can come out on the other better than the man I am today.

All For Not?

That is the question.

How many times have you sat down and devoted yourself to doing something very complicated and time consuming only to find out later that the original reasons you initiated the task may no longer exist? I understand when it is bad planning. I understand when it is just due to inexperience at achieving a goal. But when you sit around investing yourself because you just got bad information from another party- it just is a bummer.

I recently spent over a month fixing a computer that essentially is nearly obsolete, BECAUSE... the school through which I'm taking a distance class with told me I could not use Windows 7 with software they will be using. In fact I'm still tying up a couple loose ends with the repair, but it is essentially working again. It had some virus that would redirect any web browser, typically when you used Google and clicked on a link. And of course the sites it took you to (typically faux search engines) would also occasionally infect the computer with new viruses given the opportunity.

So imagine my surprise when the class administrators want us to use Windows 7- when before they were all "Oh no... don't upgrade to Windows 7 or get a new computer. Uh-uh-uhh!"

They do have a web based feature that would still allow me to use my old computer (now working well but not giving me confidence). A coworker who is taking the course with me is getting a more extensive version of the software- and I think I'd like to do the same, which of course now means I need to get a new PC.

I was going to get an imac, but I'm leaning towards just getting a cheaper- mid grade laptop with Microsoft office installed and an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional. I can still keep my old computer operating for the time being although I'm anticipating decommissioning it and putting the laptop on a stand and just hooking up the existing monitor and keyboard that I have. The laptop would give me a portability that the imac will not have, and I won't have to fool around with Parallels and invest in Dual software (specifically Microsoft office) to run on Windows. I'd still like to do that eventually, but I just can't see my self messing around with it now with the course starting.

So... do I risk the potential of my existing PC failing again mid-course and just use the web-interface "On-Demand" version of the software? or do I get a new laptop (or Mac). I'm kind of cheap so I'm already thinking of reasons why I should just roll the dice and stick with my current setup.

Was the extensive work fixing my existing computer all for not?

Anyway, I've got some grooming to do, phlegm coughing, and potentially even some sleeping to get done before I go to work tomorrow, so I guess I'll wrap this up.