rich-c: bonjour, Daniel - early again, I see Daniel Bienvenu: Hi! rich-c: thought you'd be there, but distracted Daniel Bienvenu: Yeah! I'm waiting for about 2 hours. Daniel Bienvenu: I didn't want to miss you rich-c: how come? we don't start till 3 rich-c: one of my idiosyncrasies is that I tend to be extremely punctual - neither early nor late Daniel Bienvenu: How are you today? rich-c: doing just fine - teh doctor was very satisfied with my progress on Thursday rich-c: how are things at your end? Daniel Bienvenu: it means that in a couple of days you will be just fine? rich-c: there is a more subtle disntinction rich-c: in the basic sense I am fine now rich-c: the qualification: I will not be fully healed for six months rich-c: it is just a matter of remembering that I cannot do certain things for periods from six weeks to five months from now Daniel Bienvenu: fully healed... I never feel "hully healed" everytimes. rich-c: and some stuff - like bungee-jumping - will be ruled out forever ;-) Daniel Bienvenu: bungee-jumping? I'm not sure I will try this rich-c: like, I took teh (rented) transfer bench back yesterday as I can get into the bathtub without it rich-c: but I must keep my bed high and oriented so I enter it from my "good" side rich-c: and I will need an assist grip for teh bathtub, and bath chair, and hand-held shower head Daniel Bienvenu: it's feng shui tactics? rich-c: I suppose in a certain sense you might look at it that way ;-) rich-c: when I am stepping downwards (stairs, our of bed, out of car, etc.) I must always lead with my "bad" leg rich-c: a mistake can give the expression "getting out of the wrong side of bed" a whole new meaning ;-) Daniel Bienvenu: You experiment probably the origine of this expression Daniel Bienvenu: Christmas is coming! do you thing its magic will help you? to be fully healed? quite fast? rich-c: no, it dates back long before they found out how to replace hip joints rich-c: no, Christmas is a quiet celebration for us rich-c: Pamela will come over, and we will talk, and maybe compare stuff on the computer Daniel Bienvenu: compare stuff on the computer? rich-c: and of course we will have the traditional Christmas turkey dinner Daniel Bienvenu: I like turkey... ok, roasted, but i like turkey. rich-c: yes, we do too, roasted or later cold or in dishes like turkey tetrazzini rich-c: let's say leftovers don't stay leftover very long at our house Daniel Bienvenu: any chirstmas tree? candies? gifts? visits? rich-c: hate to admit it, but our house is so small and cluttered we don't have a place to put up a tree rich-c: but we do have muscellaneous small decorations we put up in the living room rich-c: didn't get the outdoor decorations up this year because of my operation rich-c: basically I have a weight problem so have to generally avoid candies - though I can be tempted rich-c: did buy 12 m or rope lights yesterday so may yet get them up on the porch rich-c: or = of rich-c: we will also be doing a small amount of socializing over the holiday season rich-c: what are your plans for Christmas, Daniel? Daniel Bienvenu: My plans for Christmas? except stay alive? I think I will work on more Coleco stuff for next year. :) Daniel Bienvenu: Here, we have two christmas trees (one natural, one artificial). And outside, we put about 2000 white lights (small ones) around a few things like a trees. We have candies. And for Christmas, my brother will come visit us. :) rich-c: my brother lives in Florida so we will have to settle for a phone call Christmas afternoon rich-c: until this year, I had net lights for teh shrubs out front, and white minilites in on the porch rich-c: also framed the windows in coloured minilites rich-c: but my hip made using the ladder too dangerous this time round Daniel Bienvenu: we put a few colored drawing in "transparent plastic" on two windows. rich-c: yes, the stained glass effect - it can be quite effective rich-c: by the way, are you now totally finished at Laval? Daniel Bienvenu: I think the answer is yes... but can we actully "quit" the university? They always ask for money or organize meeting to see everyone we see during our studies. rich-c: oh yes, trust me, after all these years I still get asked for donations by my high school as well as my university rich-c: may have been before you joined us, but in 1999 I attended my 50th anniversary high school class reunion Daniel Bienvenu: wow Daniel Bienvenu: I miss every "meeting" rich-c: when you are young and gradulation is fresh, it doesnt seem so important rich-c: but as the years go by more interest is generated Daniel Bienvenu: Not because it was or wasn't important. Because I needed money to survive, not to pay costume and this kind of "meeting". Daniel Bienvenu: and most of the time, it's a "wrong timing" rich-c: true - students just out of university have much more important priorities rich-c: not sure you've ever mentioned it, Daniel - are you married? Daniel Bienvenu: ok, i will tell you everything. I'm 28 years old and I'm single. I never ever be in love... except in secret. Daniel Bienvenu: never maried rich-c: well, the expression there might be "not yet" Daniel Bienvenu: i think my Coleco passion take all my time... I never quit my computer screen. rich-c: and times and traditions change - Frances and I married when I was 25 and she was 23 Daniel Bienvenu: started programming at 7 years old, I never stop rich-c: back that that was considered almost a late marriage rich-c: nowadays, it would be considered if not premature, a bit early Daniel Bienvenu: the worst part of my story is... i'm still living at my parents' house. Daniel Bienvenu: now, i finish my studies, finding a job will change the situation rich-c: that is hard on teh "psychic space" but very good on the budget rich-c: yes, most children leave the family home once they are out in the working world rich-c: are you looking for a job in computer programming? Daniel Bienvenu: well, to be honnest.... Daniel Bienvenu: YES, OF COURSE! :) rich-c: that figures - are there many such opportunities around Quebec City? Daniel Bienvenu: That's the main problem. In Quebec city, there are not many opportunities in computer programming. rich-c: are you looking for a job writing code or will you consider IT support or maintenance? Daniel Bienvenu: My friends have to find others jobs to survive rich-c: even in teh smaller cities there always seem to be companies who need in-house computer technologists Daniel Bienvenu: I think the most important is to find a job, I can do everything you say rich-c: how are you at reviving a crashed Windows network? Daniel Bienvenu: no experience in Windows network... in fact, the main problem is the "experience" i don't have. Every job ask for at last 3 years of experience rich-c: I know it is no consolation to know that every job always wants 3 years experience rich-c: maybe you should ask them how many years a Master's degree equates to? Daniel Bienvenu: even if they say "one year" that's not enough :\ rich-c: well, it starts them talking and makes a point, helps get your foot in the door, so to speak Daniel Bienvenu: If I talk about my master, they will probably say that I'm too qualified, or ok in theory but missing pratical experience. rich-c: yes, those are both familiar lines - depends on how seriously they want people rich-c: maybe you should set up a home business in computer repair and consulting rich-c: there are a lot of people who can't do the simplest thing with their computers and will pay for help rich-c: if you know how to screw in, format and install an OS on a hard disc, you've pretty much got it made rich-c: if you know the traicks for recovery from a virus, you're really in rich-c: remember, an expert is the guy who knows one more thing than you do about solving your problem Daniel Bienvenu: I can't pretend to know something more than you... well, except the things I do every days on my computer. rich-c: trust me, Daniel, you know a very great deal more rich-c: because of my Adam experience I am more willing to mess around inside my computer than most folks rich-c: equally I'm more willing to try and solve a software problem on my own rich-c: but basically it's a sort of "read the directions" type of playing around rich-c: when I get a blue screen of death I haven't a clue how to interpret it Daniel Bienvenu: I still have a few things I can't fix with my computer. Daniel Bienvenu: The onyl answer I've got is "format". That's not a solution rich-c: no, and in my experience it isn't necessary, either rich-c: do you know how to edit a registry? Daniel Bienvenu: I prefer to not modify it but I know that I can modify it with regedit software or by doing config with tools like Norton. rich-c: right - I know the theory but no way am I going to risk touching and bungling it rich-c: how are you at resolving hardware or software conflicts? Daniel Bienvenu: I must admit that I was unable to fix every software conflict. The video driver cause bugs but I can't erase the videodriver to fix the problem. the good answer is the "system" icon in Windows to activate or not drivers to use hardware. I can also open the computer to change the videocard or memory... but finding what is in conflict without any help of the "system" program? I don't know. rich-c: OK - sort of gather from that you aren't to teh consultant stage yet Daniel Bienvenu: no experience rich-c: right, you need to get some feeling for what goes wrong and how to fix it rich-c: in a big city you might get a break someplace like Future Shop rich-c: they might take on someone for sales who can also help with setups and things rich-c: but I don't know if small shops can afford a trainee - it does take time to be worth your salary Daniel Bienvenu: I think we will not resolve my job situation today. :) rich-c: I fear not, but then this is not a good season for job hunting rich-c: folks have other things on their minds :-) rich-c: are you going to be able to join in Tuesday evening? Daniel Bienvenu: like Christmas? rich-c: non, mardi, pas jeudi rich-c: 2 jours avant Daniel Bienvenu: I can only hope to be online with you this tuesday. rich-c: Christmass Eve and New Years Eve are not suitable for chats rich-c: so we will move to Tues. Dec. 23 and New Years Day rich-c: well, if you can't make it, joyeux Noel! Daniel Bienvenu: the main problem is the visit... we will probably have plan to go see movies, so i can'T promise anything. rich-c: right - your brother must come first Daniel Bienvenu: Joyeux Noël à toi aussi rich-c: merci beaucoup rich-c: but for now, au reviour Daniel Bienvenu: au revoir! :) rich-c: bye
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