Wanted: Strong back (weak mind optional)

My new monitor has arrived and seems to work. (It uses a different monitor card, and I can't get it to go to 1600x1200 pixel count, only 1280x1024, but at least it works.)

Unfortunately, I still have this monster monitor sitting on my desk, and I can't move it myself. While it's been officially designated as a boat anchor, it would be unfortunate to have it fall and break into smithereens.

If someone would be willing to come over and get it into my car, I would really appreciate it. (Note that I won't have a car until tomorrow -- see next posting.)

Car is in the shop again

My car has stranded me twice in the last week, and the frequency seemed to be increasing. In a way, this was a good thing, since it meant that the chances of being able to replicate the problem for the repair guy were increasing.

Yesterday, davidschroth and mizzlaurajean picked me up from the restaurant where I'd been stranded, and Pat WINOLJ drove me there this morning. I took the car straight to the repair place, and this time Mike was able to reproduce the problem. He claims this time he's sure it's the starter, and replacing that should fix the problem. He's giving me a break on price, since it's likely the $200 I paid to replace the neutral starter switch was unnecessary -- though he hasn't quite come out and said that.

In any case, I should have the car back tomorrow, and I'll be watching it very carefully, since I was planning on driving it to Winnipeg if at all possible.

My poor Wacket

On Sunday evening, I walked in from a weekend out of town (summer camp reunion -- had a great time), and did the usual cat check. Gandalf did the "oh, it's you" bit he does when there's plenty of food left, and indeed there was way too much food left. But there was no brown stripy cat to be seen.

I called for Pyewacket, and heard a really loud mew. She normally has a tiny little voice, but she can get up the volume when she tries. This time she was trying, and a good thing, too. Just before I'd left, I'd gone looking for a hat in the front closet. Apparently she'd sneaked into the closet while I wasn't looking, and she'd been locked in there the entire weekend.

She was kind of wobbly, and she made a beeline for the water dish. She wasn't at all interested in food, just water. Gandalf kept hissing at her, and I set out a second water dish so that he couldn't intimidate her in both places (she's a wimp). I called the U of M vet hospital to ask if I should worry, but the person on call said I should just keep an eye on her and bring her in if she was showing problems. Now, almost 48 hours later, she seems okay, but Gandalf is still hissing at her occasionally.