Cleanup and rest.

Saturday morning we managed to sleep in until nearly 10 AM. It was lovely. Kirstin watched her Powerpuff Girls movie, and didn't disturb us at all. Soon enough, we got out of bed, tired, but not in such rough shape as one might imagine the morning after a party. Kirstin and I drove Forest to Olga's, and set about some serious shopping.

Actually, I'd promised Master Ron photos on Tuesday night, so I was mainly shopping while I waited for the pictures to be processed. Kirstin and I strolled through Target, picking up miscellaneous household things we needed. Then, most unfortunately, we stumbled into the electronics department. There we saw a sign for a DSS system, which was basically free with a subscription to the monthly service. It even included free professional installation. What's more, the monthly subscription fee was less than what we would have had to pay for cable. I was tempted.

Being inclined to a system of checks and balances, though, I went back across the street to talk to Forest. The idea was that we could perhaps eventually ditch our terrible internet connection, and use the satellite for downloads. Even though we don't watch TV that much, we tend to use the Internet quite a bit, and it is a miserable experience over our noisy 19,200 connection. Yes, that's the best we can get with our 56k modem.

Forest felt we might as well go for it, and since the promotion was ending that same day, I went ahead and bought the thing. It is now sitting in our living room, looking like very advanced technology, and waiting for a professional to install it. I read some of the documentation and was completely amazed that they still actually expect consumers to use some science in figuring this thing out. I had to look up my zip code on a list, and find the correct coordinates to point the dish so it will catch the satellite in its (presumably geosynchronous) orbit. I can't figure out how exactly the system works, but I think I will just smile and nod and allow myself to be one of the uninformed masses.

I retrieved the pictures from Friday night and Karen's birthday party the week before, and was pleased with the results. Not every photo is perfect, but there are one or two really beautiful shots per roll. The rest show potential. I still need to do a lot of practicing before I consider myself a master of that camera.

Kirstin and I took everything home and unloaded it, and then I set her poor unfortunate self to cleaning her room, while I worked on the leftover party mess. Thanks to Forest's efforts there wasn't a lot for me to do, and I was able to fix our tub drain, and spent the requisite hour and a half scraping wax drippings off our entertainment center. (I forgot to get dripless candles. What a moron.) I had intended to get back to town and do some shoe shopping (mine have holes in the bottom) but ran on out time. Kirstin and I pulled in to Olga's at just about the time we were supposed to be meeting Angie there for dinner. Both Forest and Darcy were working, and they were both really frustrated. I guess their new manager is a complete idiot, and has been basically screwing the servers by messing up their schedules. He apparently also doesn't order things when they are needed, so that for the past week, they have been without Spinach Pie, which is thier most popular dessert. He sounds as though he is just plain incompetent.

Angie and I enjoyed our long dinner, lingering over our food and complaining about our college experiences. She has been facing a similar 'run-around' while she tries to get her schedule set, and it's literally been giving her headaches. I can't say I blame her; she has it worse than I do. She has a degree in English from U of M, and MSU won't give her credit for a freshman writing class which is a prerequisite to her teaching certification courses. How ridiculous is that?

We ended up staying until well after closing time, and then Forest and I kicked back with his friend Wayne and a nice bottle of beer. It was odd, but pretty nice to get to hang out and relax with nowhere in particular to go. Kirstin colored, and kept herself occupied. She's become quite good at patience these days.

We ended up not getting home until after 11 PM, and putting Kirstin straight to bed. Forest and I curled up and watched some more "Twin Peaks". I'd never seen the show before, and it is seriously wierd; but Forest recommended it, and I guess I am enjoying it, even though I have no idea what's going on. True to form on my lovely medication, I fell asleep in Forest's lap, and was soon shuffled off to bed. Poor Forest outlasted me by a good hour, and I felt vaguely bad about missing out on time I could have spent with him; but I was just plain to sleepy to protest much.

At least he sweetly tucked me in, gave me my medicine, and turned off the light. I appreciate his kindness so much! We haven't spent a lot of time alone as a couple recently, and I'm really starting to miss him. I hope we can get a little of that early in the week, before Kirstin comes for the month.