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The computers were shut down all day yesterday, for the first time in months. The thunderstorms began before dawn and continued until well after dark. The skies opened and poured rain on the parched gardens and fields. Our sump pump worked continuously throughout the day to remove the runoff from around the foundations of our house. The heat was heavy and humid and finally broke late in the afternoon. Today has been cool, with some showers. The birch trees in the front yard seem to have grown inches since yesterday. Last week I attended to them daily to remove the "worms" that seemed determined to strip the leaves of their flesh. There were even the beginnings of tent caterpillar nests on some of the lower branches, which I removed from the trees and destroyed. Attila's mother and stepfather will be arriving this weekend to join us in celebrating his birthday and Father's Day. We are looking forward to their arrival. The pressure is on however, to spruce the place up and have it looking its best. The gardens and decks have received a lot of our attention in that direction and are looking lush and beautiful. Indoors there is still much to do. My office has been in need of attention for quite some time now. Last fall I happened upon a computer department that was discarding a great number of books. Yes, they were dated but not obsolete. There were reference books for older versions of UNIX, DOS, SPSS, and Maple. I can seldom resist reference books and these were no exception. Home they all came in laundry hampers. The laundry hampers have waited patiently on the floor, in front of the already full bookcases in my office, since that time. Most of the books have just been collecting dust. However, I have used the DOS and UNIX reference books and they have earned their keep. We finally found a home for the books yesterday, in some unused closet space. Now it is time to spiff up the rest of my office. I have been sorting and filing all day. Sitting all over the floors and flat spaces are piles, of magazines, notes written to myself, flyers for software I will not be purchasing, bills, work logs for projects that are not yet finished etc. I have also brought in the "little computer", the SE/30, which was happily housed in the middle room. All my computers are now in one room; there is no more room at the inn. The middle room must be cleared of its contents to make room for the bed that we will setup for Attila's mother and stepfather. We will install a new blind on the window and lamp on the table. It will be quite cozy when it is all done. We are working towards a deadline, as they will arrive on Friday. I have been thinking all day, trying to discover the perfect gift for Attila's birthday. He is a very difficult person to "buy for". If he needs anything, he usually just obtains it without comment. If he wants something, well... that is the problem, he seldom wants anything. Attila spends little time wanting things. Each year, when his birthday rolls around, I try to think of something special for him. All I can think of though are things like, more time off work or more time to sleep. I cannot obtain these things for Attila; they would make a perfect gift if I could. I still have a few more days to come up with an idea for Attila's gift. I drew a blank today, perhaps tomorrow it will come to me. |
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