April 17, 1997


"Warrior raging have no fear..."

Will someone please tell me why ClarisWorks has to take up 10.3MB in my System Folder for Help files and such? Not to mention the 7.8MB it takes up in my Apps folder. Wassupwitdat? It's not like it is the most powerful software on the planet or anything. It's an integrated program for **** sake!! It should be small. Why can't all programs be small??? Look out!!! It's the dreaded Application Bloat!!!!!

Think about this. Do you have a word processor?? Course you do. How many of those 6,000 fonts you have installed do you REALLY use?? 1, 2 maybe 3?? Why not use an HTML editor instead? They are (usually) fast, compact, do justification, tables, frames (now wouldn't that impress your friends in your next letter???), bolding, italics and courier. What else do you really need in a word processor? A spell checker would be nice (not one in this version of Visual Page...you listening Symantec :-( ????) but not really necessary. Since we all post our stuff on the web anyway (don't you???) an HTML editor makes pefect sense. NO, I'm not one of those people who thought digital watches were a pretty neat idea...but I did like my Suzuki Samurai. And no, I sold it - not rolled it. I drive sensibly thank you.


I keep it around because I have no other software that will read the really old MS-Works docs I keep for nostalgia. Things like resumes from 1988 or costing sheets from a business I had 10 years ago. But, it's like the files you've kept for 4 years and then decide to throw away. Chuck em out, and two days later you will absolutely HAVE to get into them.

I also deleted PageSpinner, PageMill, HotMetal Pro 3.0 and Globetrotter from my HTML tools folder. Yes I know that's a whole lot of HTML editors but it's like the search for the perfect pen. You just have to keep buying them until you get the one that works for you. I know I'm tempting fate but this thing feels so right that I'm going to go with it. Call me reckless... Now I have to compress my hard disk. I checked it and it has big gaping holes where all those beasts of misbegotten programs lurked. Time to close up the gaps and move on.

And now for my deepest, darkest secret.....I'm going to cancel my AOL account!! *gasp*. I keep it around for the Indigo Girls chat that goes on sometimes and nothing else now. Being on the Bring Your Own Access plan only costs $10 a month but it's kind of embarrasing to have on my hard disk. It is an alternate access source to the net just in case my ISP goes down but the shame of it outweighs keeping it around. I think I'll go find a sack to put over my head.

I bean thinking about doing some frames and I keep reminding myself I'm a charter member of the I Hate Frames Club. I always have these thoughts of going and doing something I know is a bad idea but they come to me anyway. Kinda like that time at the Hells Angels Convention....

Anyway, got into an HTML frenzy last night. Ya know how it is when you get a really nice program that is fast, does what it is supposed to do and doesn't eat your files?? Well...that was me. I'm an interface snob and when I get a program that works like I think it should, I go apeshit. Others speak of having no life, well, I really don't have one. I mess around with software. One of the reasons I'm still employed and very employable I guess. I can use any software (short of Finite Element Modeling or Mathmatica) around. The more you use, the more you can use. Funny how many people still need to go to classes and get lockstepped through the most boring routines of saving, editing, options and preferences. I'd rather hack my way through something for 10 minutes than sit in a class for 109 hours. Guess I'm funny that way.

Anybody got a spare PowerPC they want to donate to a good cause? Just thought I'd ask...

Yesterday was a surprise day. I found I had $408 more dollars in my account than I thought I had. A friend said the obvious that maybe something hadn't cleared. Well, everythings cleared. I'll wait another week before cashing things. It may be someone holding onto two $120 checks. Hate that.

Right justified text for no reason.


Still no word from anyone on how to program a Toshiba FT-89005 portable phone. *sigh* Where are the phreakers when you need one? I think I'll call Toshiba and see if they'll send me one for free since the phone didn't come with one. Maybe I'll get lucky.

The food in the house seems to be lasting longer now that I don't eat it.

Today was the last day of work for the week. I have Friday's off until the first week of May. Bliss. I'm thinking about going on 4 10's if I can get approval for it. To have Friday's off always would be like God repealing the laws of Gravity while lugging heavy luggage through O'Hare.

Anothe deep, dark secret. My desk is a mess. Anyone else have a messy desk?

Current inventory:

  1. Macintosh Performa 635CD
  2. Monitor
  3. Modem
  4. Speakers
  5. Mouse Pad
  6. Glasses
  7. Tax information
  8. Stapler
  9. Pay stubs
  10. 3.5" Floppy
  11. Glasses repair kit
  12. Coaxial connector for something I can't figure out how to use
  13. 4 Indigo Girls CD's - 1st, NIS, ROP, Swamp Ophelia
  14. Notebook where I put things that need to be updated, uploaded, ideas for site, and rest my coffe mug
  15. Can of Coke Classic
  16. Picture of Colette
  17. Used napkin
  18. Ashtray (partially filled)
  19. Marlboro Lights (half empty)...pessimist that I am
  20. pen
  21. Lighter
  22. Scotch tape
  23. Incense burner - sans incense
  24. Printer
  25. Screwdriver - flat head
  26. Paper clip
  27. Empty PEZ wrapper
  28. 2nd notice of overdue power bill
  29. Sterline silver bookmark
  30. Receipt from Electric Shop for TV
  31. Paper doily cutout from a friend
  32. Electric Shop Bill
  33. Keyboard
  34. Mouse
  35. Tweezers - for cleaning mouse

I don't think you want me to take you on a tour of the rolling wire stand that houses the REST of my junk do you??? Didn't think so.

BTW, the meds seem to be going okay. I got cut back to 125mg of Effexor and am still at 250mg of Depakote. I know people who are on really high levels of Depakote and their hair is falling out. Mine is getting thin anyway so I don't need that action. I was going to try to get to bed early last night but wound up staying up until around Midnight. Wassupwitdat??? And I wonder why it seems so hard to get out of bed at 0430 to go to work??? Hhmmmmmm.......

Just switched CD's. Had the IG's first on for hours. Now I've got Nomads, Indians and Saints on.

I need to get a new filter for my air purifier. Lately I've just been leaving all the windows (1) and the patio door open while I'm away. Always smells good when I get home. But on days when it's a bit cool, it's nice to have the thing running to cleanse the air. Course, I could stop smoking. Colette and I plan to stop smoking around May 1 which is good. With both of us in here it would get a bit stagnant real quick. And I'm pretty stagnant already.

Blech!!!! Just took that used napkin (Item #17) and swiped at my monitor....Yikes!!!! Time to get out the Windex...thought it was my eyes getting all grainy and grimey and skanky. Remember Skanky?? An '80's term for sure.

One last thing...do you think Roberta Flack knows what the Fugees have done with her tune??? One time....two times.... *ugh*




Be Joyous!

Drew

<Smoking a Marlboro Light, drinking Coke and kicking back.>

"You have just begun."



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