April 6, 2003, - Point, TX, Lake Tawakoni TTN (2/9/03 - Tucson, AZ)
OK, now we'll see if updates can be done and published again. Here at the park the cell service is not compatible with data transfer, and the phone lines at the lodge are so full of static, we're lucky to get 21,600 bps, and none of that is conducive to web page updates. I drove to Greenville, about 35 miles away, and bought some supplies in Staples, and while I was there I asked about a Kinko's. Kinko's has phone hookups, and several we've found even have an ethernet connection to allow us to get higher speeds. Dallas turned out the be the closest, and that's a good 65 or 70 miles away. Driving down the street I found a store that sold satellite TV stuff, and they directed me to a small computer store.
The young fellow who helped me let me connect to his ethernet LAN, connecting to his phone line, but my computer wouldn't recognize my modem, and the modem he had in stock wouldn't work either. He then called a friend of his and the arrangement was made for me to use the friends high speed line if I could get an ethernet card that would work. Back to Staples to buy a card ($75!) and back to the store......only to see that I'd been given a wireless card. Back to Staples, got the right card ($40!) and back to the store where Leslie was kind enough to configure my computer to handle the card. And you should see him go! I thought I was quick with a keyboard, but Leslie makes me look like I'm using the Biblical method of typing--you know, "Seek and ye shall find." (Thanks to our web server guy, Tom, for that one!) Anyway, Leslie has time on his hands occasionally and paints flames on computer stuff. Keyboard, mouse and case for $150. Made me wish I had a real computer. You can reach him at lrmize@academicplanet.com or 903-450-9977. He didn't even charge me for any of the frogging around he had to do on my laptop, either.
Then it was off to Joel, of JDL Computers 903-455-4032. Joel is another of the very limited great business owners it's been my pleasure to come across. Joel trained Leslie and set him up in business about 5 miles away. What a neat thing to do! Unheard of in the world I used to live in. Joel welcomed me in, showed me where his cable connection was, and when I plugged it in it didn't work. RATS! I am really getting some practice at not swearing, throwing things, and busting up the furniture. Joel spent a few minutes with it, saw the problem and solved it. I got all excited, it was so much fun to have a high speed line, that I went to my web server and started to FTP the website back on to my computer. Only somehow, somewhere along the line I messed up big time and blew away 469 pictures. Once I got home and realized what I'd done, I got a chance to practice that routine of "not doing/saying bad things" again, most these CD's that I've so carefully stored pictures on can't be read!!! Between that and having my Outlook Express (e-mail software program) crash on a regular basis in the middle of a long reply, I feel the Lord does indeed love me greatly cause I'm being sorely tested!. He's got my full attention most the time whenever I get close to this machine.
I've made a couple of trips to Joel's place, and will update tomorrow, and if you're reading this you can know it worked. Lesson learned? BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP, BACKUP AND THEN BACKUP AGAIN!!!
With Barb is one of her former co-workers at HUD in Seattle. Carmen retired before Barb and moved to Tucson with her husband Roger (whose looking aloft in the picture). We'd called, and they agreed to not only meet us and get something to eat, but then they showed us around a bit. We've driven up to the top of a hill, and this is Tucson you're looking at. Spread out a bit, eh? And the Saguaro cactus do well around here too.
There's this little building that looks like some sort of a lookout, and it looks pretty sturdy, so we decide to hike up to see what's what. I'm intrigued with the way the rocks are formed. Every once in a while, there's an odd ball thing, and on the right is a rock in a rock. And not just laying there quietly, either. I kicked at it a good bit to knock it loose, but it was well imbedded.
And yeah, the building was sturdy. Too bad about the graffiti. The view was worth the climb, as usual.
Right after I took a shot of the valley this lookout looked out over, Barb took a picture of me taking a picture of these folks. We didn't speak the same language, but we got the job done anyway.
Pretty neat building, and I was obviously fascinated with it.