Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

I have bought my first computer. It was terrifying and stressful, but I'm happy with it. Compaq Presario, CD-RW and DVD Rom, USB ports in front, 2.6 GHz, 80 GB hard drive, 256 MB of RAM. I got the tower, 17" monitor and HP color printer for under $700, with rebate, which I mailed about an hour ago. Besides being a great tool for my own business, it makes watching Buffy that much more enjoyable.

(Speaking of the Buffy DVD sets, I'm disappointed that they let Marti Noxon do the commentary on "What's My Line Pt. 1." She's awful, and ultimately ruined the show. Plus, her name sounds like that of Marni Nixon, the woman who sang for Natalie Wood in West Side Story, Deborah Kerr in The King & I and Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady. Don't get me wrong, I like Marni Nixon. I just really don't like Marti Noxon, and that's just one more reason for her to annoy me. Sure, you think I'm crazy now, but just try analyzing your own irritants sometime. Then we'll see who's nuts around here.)

I like the sense of power I have from this purchase. First of all, I kind of know what the hell all those numbers above mean. And I bought it, transported it home, and set it up all by myself. I get to set the security protocols, decide which programs to keep and install, pick the wallpaper and the screensaver (a scrolling marquee, red on black, that says, "I may be dead, but I'm still pretty," Buffy's memorable line to the Master in "Prophecy Girl," the final episode of Season One, after he kills her and she's revived by Xander. Heh.), set up what starts at launch, you know, all that good stuff. I've never had my very own computer before. Sure, I've redesigned the setup on computers I've been assigned to in offices, but this OS is registered to me, not some company.

I would have liked to get an HP with Athalon processor, but I just couldn't justify the cost, considering that I don't have a very steady guaranteed income. Thankfully, I also don't have any debt, so, it's not too scary. In the meantime, I will enjoy having my perky Celeron processor with my DSL connection, and I promise to blog now and then (Larry).