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Bit more of an update
Sep. 29th, 2005 05:10 pmFirst off, a big thank you to everyone who recommended laptops. I need to go searching for a good deal, now (and I'll even take Macs into suggestion, as they were highly suggested). This has been a week of ups and downs. I'll try to go through this quickly.
Ups: I passed my back-up test yesterday, so now I can back-up second-years with animals, and handle the handler animals (mostly reptiles, rabbits, sugar gliders and such). Yay. But then the BIG thing was a concert I went to on Sunday. It was put on by the local oldies station as a Katrina relief benefit, and it featured Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, The Safaris, The Supremes, Three Dog Night, and The Beach Boys. Eeee! Of course, none of those groups had all of their original members (most had only 1 or 2) but it was awesome. I'm such an oldies fan. Although the Beach Boys were a highlight, my favorite part was Three Dog Night (who have always been one of my favorite bands). They played last, so many people had left and I got to move up closer to the stage and rock out. A very memorable experience. Squee!
Downs: Laptop down for good. I foolishly tried to pick up both my waterbottle and my laptop at the same time. STUPID! Even after several days to dry out, the keyboard doesn't respond and the computer won't start properly. Moorpark College does not have an IT department, and even if they did, they'd probably just tell me to replace hardware, and my computer is so screwed up anyway I've resigned myself to just getting a new laptop. I've needed one anyway. So for the time being, I'm doing all my computer stuff from the college computer labs. *sigh* I was consoling myself that I had recorded the shippy West Wing premiere, but I hadn't. The previews said 8/7 central, and as I have lived my whole life in the central time zone, I set it to record at 7. GAH! Now I can't even download the episode because I don't have a computer.
I was much more upset about all of this before yesterday. Hot, dry, Santa Anna winds came in early in the morning, and in my morning class they announced that there had been a house fire at the home of 4 of our students. This out of a group of 100. One student lost everything, including her 2 dogs. She had dumped her life savings into medical expenses for those dogs, her family is poor, and she was working 2 jobs in order to support herself. No one really knows if she'll be continuing in the program. Compared to that, having to replace a laptop is nothing.
And then as a final kick, we had wildfires. A fire broke out across the street from the zoo and burned down the hillsides. We were crating up animals and preparing in case we needed to evacuate the zoo, but thankfully that fire was brought under control and stopped. The only thing we had going for us was that the strong winds were blowing the fire the other way. But by that time a bigger fire had started out west and was moving into Simi Valley, down the highway. We had shifts stay at the zoo all night in case it came closer. The winds changed and we're safe for now, but the Simi fire is still going, more than a day later. We could see the flames from across the valley early this morning, and billowing smoke has been clouding the sky all day.
So that's what has been up with me! The week feels unreal, but for now I'm going to concentrate on feeding myself and settling down to watch some CSI tonight. These fires have taught me to be grateful for what I have, so I'm going to make the most of it. ;) Big *hugs* to all of you. I hope you're safe!
Ups: I passed my back-up test yesterday, so now I can back-up second-years with animals, and handle the handler animals (mostly reptiles, rabbits, sugar gliders and such). Yay. But then the BIG thing was a concert I went to on Sunday. It was put on by the local oldies station as a Katrina relief benefit, and it featured Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, The Safaris, The Supremes, Three Dog Night, and The Beach Boys. Eeee! Of course, none of those groups had all of their original members (most had only 1 or 2) but it was awesome. I'm such an oldies fan. Although the Beach Boys were a highlight, my favorite part was Three Dog Night (who have always been one of my favorite bands). They played last, so many people had left and I got to move up closer to the stage and rock out. A very memorable experience. Squee!
Downs: Laptop down for good. I foolishly tried to pick up both my waterbottle and my laptop at the same time. STUPID! Even after several days to dry out, the keyboard doesn't respond and the computer won't start properly. Moorpark College does not have an IT department, and even if they did, they'd probably just tell me to replace hardware, and my computer is so screwed up anyway I've resigned myself to just getting a new laptop. I've needed one anyway. So for the time being, I'm doing all my computer stuff from the college computer labs. *sigh* I was consoling myself that I had recorded the shippy West Wing premiere, but I hadn't. The previews said 8/7 central, and as I have lived my whole life in the central time zone, I set it to record at 7. GAH! Now I can't even download the episode because I don't have a computer.
I was much more upset about all of this before yesterday. Hot, dry, Santa Anna winds came in early in the morning, and in my morning class they announced that there had been a house fire at the home of 4 of our students. This out of a group of 100. One student lost everything, including her 2 dogs. She had dumped her life savings into medical expenses for those dogs, her family is poor, and she was working 2 jobs in order to support herself. No one really knows if she'll be continuing in the program. Compared to that, having to replace a laptop is nothing.
And then as a final kick, we had wildfires. A fire broke out across the street from the zoo and burned down the hillsides. We were crating up animals and preparing in case we needed to evacuate the zoo, but thankfully that fire was brought under control and stopped. The only thing we had going for us was that the strong winds were blowing the fire the other way. But by that time a bigger fire had started out west and was moving into Simi Valley, down the highway. We had shifts stay at the zoo all night in case it came closer. The winds changed and we're safe for now, but the Simi fire is still going, more than a day later. We could see the flames from across the valley early this morning, and billowing smoke has been clouding the sky all day.
So that's what has been up with me! The week feels unreal, but for now I'm going to concentrate on feeding myself and settling down to watch some CSI tonight. These fires have taught me to be grateful for what I have, so I'm going to make the most of it. ;) Big *hugs* to all of you. I hope you're safe!
