Good Evening Crews!

ALOT has happened in the last 11 days that just makes me uber-pleased. Like last time, I'm going to drop this in highlighted headlines, so lets get to it shall we?

Windows XP Blows...
I switched to Windows XP for two very important features. Direct CD file-writing without the need for third party software, and the No-OS-Crash Guarantee. Well this initially was great, except that I noticed almost immediately that I could only use some types of cd's to burn with and the uncanny ability for my computer not to recognize a third of them once burned (making backups a problematic situation at best.) This week I got fed up and downloaded a copy of Nero Burning Rom 6 and I am pleased to say that now my computer reads all my backups and I can make audio/data cd's without the Mega BS anymore. So yay third party software, Boo for Microsoft. Which leaves us now the only reason I'm still using XP, the no crash os guarantee... which, luckily is working out just fine, so yay, Microsoft can stay part of my life... its a hate/love symbiosis.

Work
It is my humble pleasure to announce that I am now among the ranks of the employed! I'm gonna be working at a telecommunications company doing Tier I support for Cable modems. Okay, its not the best job in existence, but its in the field I know and the paychecks will be okay, but by far the best is the full med benefits! So... in fairly short order Idalina will be receiving a money order for the 70$ utils I owe her, and all my other supporters will be happy to note that once I see how the checks come in, I'll be setting up a repay plan ;) And don't worry, even after I'm payed up, I'll still help ya bury the bodies ;)

Valentine's Day
Remember my new year's resolution not to be spending fricking holiday's singlefied ;) Mission COMPLETE. Valentine's Day was a blast and included some shopping and dinner with my galpal turned GF Susanne (you might remember her as the Hathor Chief Of Security). We'll probably be going out later this week to do some shopping and pricing of compy components.

Hathor Details
Well Hathor's had a minor hiccup, as all new chapters do, in that we need after meeting activities to actually get people hanging out together. One of the big problems I see right now is that half the crew haangs out regularly whilest the other half quickly leaves after the meeting is over (Except when Tony was out and we did dinner at O'Charley's) . Additionally my new job completely throws out my nice neat idea to have meetings on the traditional second sunday of every month because I don't have Sunday's (or even Saturday's) free anymore. This means that likely we'll be changing them to Tuesday after everyone gets off work and be reformatted into 'Dinner and A Meeting'. I've already talked with some of the crew and 90% seem more than amenable to do so. Still, I have to put the announcement out there on the list just to let those that were at Farpoint and some of the others I haven't talked with, know that we need to do some changing and then finalize the dates/times and venue. Ah the work of a CO is never done.

Websites
Well, things have been going exceedingly well with both websites here. Avenger website has been updated, I see some folks posting to their weblogs more than they used to, got Todd's weblog switched over to him as XO and sent him the login data for that. Getting this page updated as we speak and got Janek's NYC trip on the main page as promised.

The Hathor website is now in full swing construct mode and is being left open for everyone to view as it builds. Its just one of those things I thought might be nice for people to see the process of. Plus it makes sure that people don't got to be put off waiting for a look at my new fullscreen baby ;) Stop on by (there's a link on the Avenger main page (on the 1024 side) or you can go to it directly by clicking here*. (*-Don't forget to fullscreen the new window as, at the moment, I haven't put in the auto-fullscreen code. ;)

Friends Afar...
Kat and Steve are still off in the DR, Hopefully they'll get my messages re all this, if not, then Kathy should have something cool to read come her first day back at work ;) Here's hoping they had a great time at Steve's sister's wedding and that they have a safe trip home.


And that's pretty much it on this trip through the rant farm. This next week I'll be getting in my fun, updating sites, building Hathor's web presence, sending out messages to crew and other area chapters and maybe playing some AO if I get a moment free. Anyone needs me, I'll be in the mess ;)

(c 2003-2004, Lourdes C., Recreation Dept., Medical Division, USS Avenger NCC-1860)