My candle burns at both ends;
It will not last the night;
But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends--
It gives a lovely light!

Edna St. Vincent Millay, "First Fig" (1920)

My computer was delivered today, and setup and connecting to the internet is made so easy these days. These days, there are 2 handy setup brochures with photos and I think I was all set up and connected to the Internet within about 15-20 minutes! I'm trying to get used to typing on smaller keys and using this crazy flat 2" square space that acts as the laptop "mouse." But in all, the process of trying to figure out what was wrong with my old computer and ordering a new one was made so easy with Brandon's help this week. He's a computer GENIUS!

Not only does he spend 2 hours patiently trying 4 different lengthy procedures trying to fix my old broken computer, but he also helps me pick out the perfect new computer answering all my questions with just enough but not too much techno-detail, and is patient when I ask him for help with problems in designing my webpage then decide 24 hours later that I know some HTML and want to work independently and figure it out on my own, then go back to him 3 days later begging for his assistance. It's a never-ending cycle with my webpage, and bless him for being so kind as to remain patient or "lay off the techno-speak" based on my current need du jour. He ran across the street and got large lemonades this evening, in gym shorts, in the snow. That's love.

(he's the non-pale one in the baseball cap. sometimes i steal his bandwith but it's only because i love him.)

My poor computer died this week. If you can believe it, the 350 MH Gateway was still chugging along, and humored me as I opened 7 windows and had Photoshop open all at once. I'll be checking my email from Brandon's house, but only once per day as opposed to 16 times per day. Ahem.

Brandon's friend helped as he tried everything to fix my computer, to no avail. I'm hoping that I'll be able to get the info off the hard drive, as it contains 3 year's worth of digital photos that I don't have backed up anywhere!

I ordered a new computer through Dell (sorry Gateway!) which should arrive sometime in the middle of next week.

Ligers really do exist!

And these charms are so lovely. I want them all.

I have been sleepy all day today. I guess that's what I get for going out for an after work drink with work friends. This was followed by a Friday night beverage with my sister Becki, which was followed by cheese fries and a beer with my honey Brandon. The after work "drink" turned into an all-night, out-till-midnight event.

Zzzz.

It's fun when Becki and I hang out. Seems like now more than ever in our life, people who are around us 2 seconds immediately point out that we must be sisters. It's not so much that we look alike- although our smiles and eyes are probably really alike- but they proclaim that our voices and mannerisms are exactly the same. When Sarah, Katie, and Tracie visited Colorado a year ago, we all went out for sushi and we played the "close your eyes and try to guess if it's Nicki or Becki" game. Everyone would close their eyes, and either me or Becki would say a phrase, and everyone would guess. We managed to trick them quite a few times.

Did anyone catch the Superbowl Shuffle skit on SNL last weekend, or am I the only person who still watches Saturday Night Live on a regular basis? It was so funny, but mostly because I was big on taking VHS tapes and recording my favorite videos and shows when I was little. I had recorded the Superbowl Shuffle video, and must have watched it hundreds of times. To this day, I know all the words, and am able to anticipate what the Chicago Bears player is going to do next (aaaaaand William "Refrigerator" Perry now puts his hands up in the air and pumps them up and down to the music-- NOW!). I still have the original VHS tape, and since there was nothing on any of my 3 1/2 channels tonight, I decided that it would be fun to watch the Superbowl Shuffle recording tonight. I discovered that the tape also has the Walk Like an Egyptian video, and 1/2 of the original Karate Kid movie. Ahh, flashbacks to the 80's. I love it.

Happy Birthday, dear Mom!
Happy birthday to you.
e

(If you have a moment today, please visit Scrinney's blog to leave her some happy birthday wishes!!!)