Sorry for the long hiatus, but it's been a busy and exciting couple of weeks. And I'll tell you why.

First of all, my laptop came in at the beginning of last week. Which doesn't really explain me not writing an entry for the week before that. What does explain it is that I had to sit at my desk (at work during the day and at home during the night) and keep hitting "refresh" on the order status page until it was shipped. And then I had to hit refresh on the tracking page when it was. It took a fair amount of time. And since I got the laptop... well, I've been playing with the laptop. Which is funny, because I'm playing with the laptop right now, and I'm managing to write a blog entry. But before yesterday 'playing with my laptop' meant 'installing, re-installing, and re-re-installing Windows XP and Linux.' So it's been out of service intermittantly. Which may sound like a pain, but is actually a lot of fun.

Actually, the computer (which is awesome, by the way. It's on my lap, which strikes me as appropriate as, you know... it's a laptop and all) came a couple of days early, and my upstairs neighbor had to sign for it. I was at work at the time, hitting refresh on the tracking page when it registered. When I saw that the tracking oage had changed, I sat stunned for a moment. It felt like what I imagine having your number called at the Hades branch of the Department of Moter Vehicles feels like. I did what any red-blooded american geek would do, and took the rest of the day off. I used a sick day, whichsound I think was alright because I clearly have some sickness which demands that I behave this way.

The problem was that by the time I got home, the upstairs neighbor had gone. I was patient, and proceeded to sit and wait on the porch outside. I now know what puppies feel like when they are waiting for their masters, and also why no matter how long it's been and how upset they are at the absence, why all is forgiven upon return.

Now, clearly I have a couple of advantages over puppies. For one, I have more fur than a number of species of dog (I'm actually currently being stalked by a tribe of Esquimaux for my pelt. It's the main reason I can ever visit Sewards Folly. That and the fact that I keep referring to it as "Sewards Folly," and so can never get a plane ticket). For another, I have an opposable thumb. Which doesn't have much relevance in this story, but is something I like to lord over dogs whenever I'm playing with them (holding a cup and drinking water, for instance. That drives them nuts). Perhaps most importantly, I have a cell phone, which is something that the most class-conscious dog in New York City is lacking (I don't actually know that for a fact. Actually, thinking about it now, I would be less than surprised if some jackass on the Upper West Side bought a mobile for their dog. The thing is probably nicer than mine, too). Which is where the thumb comes in handy, 'cuz I used it to hold the phone while I dialed my landlord's number (he was in the basement at the time) and asked him to go into their apartment to get my package.

I don't know if it was an impolite thing to do, or what. But sitting on the porch for over an hour, I realized that a friendly and respectful relationship with the upstairs tenants, while desirable, definitely means less to me than having my laptop. Hands down.

So I'm a dick. What are you gonna do?

Some birthdays coming up. Have to think about what to get people. Sam is having a party on Friday night, which will probably be a good time. Well, would be if I were to be there, which unfortunately I won't not until later, anyway) as I'm going to the Yo La Tengo show that night. I don't know what's stranger, that I'm going to the show, or that I'm really looking forward to it. Anyway, I have to decide what to get him. What I really want to get him is a copy of Grand Theft Auto III for his Playstation 2. Here's the trouble with that: It's kind of like getting lingerie for your girlfriend on Valentine's Day. Sure it might be a nice gift, but lets be honest with ourselves: it's not a gift for your girlfriend.