I'M BA-ACK

Yes - ended up buying a new computer which still needs a bit of "tweaking" but should be able to be around more and receive email again without having to order a "Monte Carmel" at the coffee shop!!! Am thrilled and my new "baby" and I look forward to a long, and pleasant journey through cyberspace together!!!

Hope you will continue checking out the blog - I promise to put new stuff on it as it happens! Actually, this week without the computer has allowed me to rake a ton of leaves in the front yard, donate six bag of clothes to the Goodwill, take down my Christmas decorations and put them away, and clean out the file drawers in my desk and store un-needed stuff in the basement.

Speaking of the basement - since St. Louis has has so much rain, I'm glad to say I only have a couple puddles down there!

Ok - so it's now time to hit the road and bake some cookies or something. I'm looking forward t the new job at Pfizer that starts on Monday - but I now only have a couple days of my "vacation" left! Need to find something fun to do!

Hope everybody enjoyed their week and that the snow hasn't cut you off from civilization! More soon!

Bummer!

My computer's a bit under the weather - actually at my son's house in pieces. As of 3 Jan 05, I will begin suffering from computer separation syndrome and going absolutely nuts because I will be returning the laptop to Avanade, since I'm not working there now. Hopefully, the remedy will be swift, and my computer will be returned quickly.

Until then, feel free to give me a call and express your sympathy.

AAarrrghh!! This is going to be terribly tough!

It's Finally Happened!!!!

Yes, Campers!!! I have cut the cord, so to speak, joined the 21st Century BIG-TIME, and completly severed my relationship with the ominous LOCAL PHONE COMPANY!!!

How? I hear you cry!!! I opted for Voice-Over-IP (VoIP) or "How to Use Your Computer and Highspeed Cable Service to Make Phone Calls." This option is going to end up saving me a lot of money over time. For only $24.95 a month, the $66 phone bill every month is history! Long-distance calls are virtually free to anywhere in the US and Canada. Calls overseas are incredibly cheap - 3 cents a minute to the UK, for example. (Wonder why she'd wanna call there . . .)Needless to say, I'm completely thrilled. Michael (my son) got this about 6 months ago and I kinda poo-poo-ed it. Then I started working at Avanade and learned the joys of VoIP. Even stuck at the reception desk it is so darned slick!!! Somebody calls, wants somebody other than me (who can imagine such a thing??) so I do the entire transfer on my computer screen! Same thing with voicemail - no more sloppy phone, no sirree!! I just click on the message and play it through the computer. Will wonders ever cease??? Totally amazing, and I have the same thing in my very own home now!

If anybody out there needs my testimonial, just make a comment to this posting. I will be happy to testify to the wonders of VoIP, and even happier to get your email and invite you to Vonage (my carrier) where you'll get the first month free, and I'll get a month or two free just for referring you! I know - crass, but worthwhile for everybody.

Oh, another thing - Vonage dropped their rates by $5 a month (or 16.6%) just last month. And the VERY BEST THING???? When the phone company calls and begs you to come back, you can actually tell them to go suck pond water over your brand new, very own VoIP. Now, that's true happiness!!!