potpourri

My free aol trial is nearing its end, and I haven't decided whether or not I'll go back to netzero yet, but have been preparing, just in case.

My firewall subscription expired, so I downloaded Zone Alarm.  What the heck - it's free, and my cash is running short.  As usual.  Also downloaded Mozilla because it's a neat browser.  The only problem with Mozilla is, some sites are IE compatible only.

But, back to Zone Alarm.  The protection is great, but it is the BIGGEST tattletale I've met since Martha Shaw Clark in the third grade.  After installing, I started up the internet.  It said - AOL is trying to connect to the internet!  So of course, I had to set permissions for it.  I use my old aol name, Ihavetea, for chatting, because frankly, I'm ashamed to tell my friends that I have yet another screen name.  So I started up AIM.  It said...AIM is trying to access the internet.  And then it said, AIM is trying to act as a server!  Suddenly, another popup, and it said quite proudly - Zone Alarm has blocked incoming information request from contacting Port 80!  I swear, if it had been human, it's little chest would have been poked out.

I could turn off the alerts, sure...but where's the fun in that?

*

Today

I put in a request for vacation today - August first is out there, dangling like a carrot at the finish line, and all I have to do is make it through July.  There won't be a trip to the beach, but I'll lounge at the pool.  My bag is already packed with all the things a girl needs - books, sunblock, a composition book and a hundred ink pens JUST in case the urge to write poetry should stir from wherever it has been hiding.

I also visited with Dr. Hubble today.  He is my port in a storm at work, the head of the mental health department.  How fitting...He's a sweet old fella, and we hit it off right away when we met, and had it not been for him, I wouldn't have lasted six months in Real Prison.  Anyway...this time I remembered to thank him for sanctuary.  In his usual courtly way, he said, You came to the right place, Ms. B.  You're welcome anytime.

What a great guy. 

He would be a wonderful poem, don't you think?