My experience with Windows has been anything but enjoyable. I'm sick and tired of the constant fight against infection, with the tirade of viruses attacking the computer every day. Paranoid that I am, I would spend large chunks of the day ensuring my anti-virus was up-to-date. I would scan my disk multiple times, and despite all this, one little virus breached the firewall I had set up!

Then, I did what every Windows user does! Got myself a Windows cd, and reinstalled. Now, this seems like a convenient solution to the problem, but alas, doing it every week is a little tiresome! Thus, entered Linux!

Now, Linux had always been around (on my computer), but it hadn't Bogarted center stage as yet. This was the opportunity it was looking for.

Ubuntu has since taken over my comp, but what has really got me addicted to Ubuntu is the games! Mahjongg and minesweeper are the best, and klotsky is at a close 3rd!
That is me playing Mahjongg! It is a fun game, that requires the user to make pairs out of the many cards on the table. It's quite simple, but strangely, I'm addicted. I get addicted to the most vague games. I've fought against the urge to play minesweeper all day, at times struggled not to play hearts or solitaire.

I hope I graduate to better games. Maybe, in my vetti fifth year?

Last week was my 40th birthday and I really didn't feel like waking up that morning. I managed to pull myself together and go downstairs for breakfast, hoping my wife would be pleasant and say, "Happy Birthday!", and possibly have a small present for me. As it turned out, she barely said good morning, let alone "Happy Birthday." I thought- Well, that's marriage for you, but the kids- They will remember.

My kids came trampling down the stairs to breakfast, ate their breakfast, and didn't say a word to me. So when I made it out of the house and started for work, I felt pretty dumpy and despondent.

As I walked into my office, my secretary Joanne said, "Good Morning Boss, and by the way Happy Birthday!" It felt a bit better knowing that at least someone remembered. I worked in a zombie like fashion until about one o'clock, when Joanne knocked on my door and said,
"You know, it's such a beautiful day outside, and it's your Birthday, why don't we go out for lunch, just you and me." I said, "Thanks, Joanne, that's the best thing I've heard all day. Let's go!"

We went to lunch but not where we'd normally go. Instead she took me to a quiet bistro with a private table. We had a couple of mixed drinks and I enjoyed the meal tremendously. On the way back to the office, Joanne said, "You know, It's such a beautiful day- We don't have to go right back to the office, do we?" I replied with "I suppose not. What do you have in mind?" She said, "Let's go to my apartment, it's just around the corner."

After arriving at her apartment, Joanne turned to me and said, "Boss if you don't mind, I'm goinna to step into the bedroom for just a moment. I'll be right back." "Ok." I nervously replied. She went into the bedroom and, after a couple of minutes, she came out carrying a huge birthday cake- Followed by my wife, my kids, and dozens of my friends, and co-workers,
all singing "Happy Birthday".

And I just sat there..... On the couch..... Naked