For the second time...

...in recent months I have found the need to use the services of Geek Squad. The first time a tech came to my home to remove malware from my computer. He was courteous, helpful, respectful, and professional in every way.

Yesterday I hauled my computer over to them to find out why it crashed. Apparently it just wanted to go for a walk in the fresh air because all Geek Squad was able to determine was that if I were using a specific port, I needed an adapter, which was GIVEN to me FREE of charge.

Additionally, I was not charged for the diagnostics. This individual spent at least half an hour with my temperamental computer, which decided to work after our outing. Thankfully, they are located only a few blocks from my home.

I highly recommend these guys and gals.

My thoughts are...

...somewhat like flash paper; brilliant in the moment, quickly forgotten.

What were we talking about?

One of my favorite...

...memories is when my eldest son was in high school. When you are a teenager we all know that every day tends to be a brutal one. Upon his return home from school one afternoon, he entered sullen and non responsive, immediately succumbing to his bedroom refuge, only to start blasting "The Who" so loudly that I could hear it downstairs at the other end of the house. Naturally, as a parent, I raced up those stairs to throw open his bedroom door, thereby exclaiming "Hey, turn that UP, would you?" I will never forget the grin that spread so wonderfully across my first born's face.

Screw the Peace Corp., being a parent is the toughest job you will ever love.

Has anyone noticed...

...the new electrical outlets look shocked?

I swear.

The other Jimmy...

...I have had an affinity for over thirty years is of the Quadrophenia fame. Pete Townsend unlocks something in me much in the same way as Dean Koontz. He too, allows us to glimpse something dark and evil that lurks in all of us without losing our humanity.

Quadrophenia embodies the quintessential bored '70's teenager. I have always and will always have a love affair with this album and the members of its band. Memories of my misspent youth.

I have mentioned before..

...my admiration of writers able to evoke emotion in their readers, and pointed out that Dean Koontz is my favorite. He is capable of transporting his readers into the whirlwind of activity and reminding us of the irascible nature of evil.

Some of his subject matter may not be appealing to everyone, but I always considered his ability to touch on the darker side of human nature fascinating. I wondered how he invented these characters and built a profile of such anti social thinking until I moved to NYC and realized that people like that really do exist.

Moreover than his ability to explain the so called logic of what we consider sociopaths, is his ability to create a bond with his affable and hapless unsung heroes. His Odd Thomas series make me laugh out loud on the train in such a manner that I might be viewed as what NYer's commonly call "the crazy homeless Bowery bum".

I am currently reading Life Expectancy in which I have developed a maternal instinct to protect its primary subject, Jimmy Tock. I have developed such an affinity for him that is taking me three times longer than normal to read this book, as its delectable consumption is interspersed with such bouts of laughter and tears, that I continually must put it down to eradicate the tears of mostly joy, and sometimes sadness.

Thank you, Mr. Koontz for another brilliant novel. A must read!!

While awaiting the....

...residual effects of Earl it occurs to me that, although we have not yet experienced the dog days of summer, this weekend marks its unofficial end. I have never been a fan of cold weather and I begin fretting over winter as early as next month.

I have already begun amassing reading material and movies in anticipation of another frigid, wish I were a snowbird, global warming affected winter.

I suggest you get busy, grasshopper.