After digging through a box of old photos in search of a certain parade-skater-mouse pic, I stumbled upon a photo that screamed “POST ME!” Ok… settle down. Here it is:

*Weet wew!* Gotta love those “bowl” haircuts. (BTW: I’m the little one on the right.)

This is my first try at posting video to my new blog. If my Flash video player is working, the Ruins of Rome will appear when you click to start the video:

To make a long technical story short: Satellite Timbuktu ministry is so far out in the country that DSL and high-speed internet is not an option.  So we do our best to get everyone online, plain and simple.  Unfortunately, the staff has been at the mercy of a greedy internet service provider who has been stealing from them.  The lovely ladies thought this company was their only hope of Internet service, thus paid exorbitant (unnecessary) fees for access.

When I found out how they had been robbed over the past few years, you better believe I put an end to it ASAP.  So many ISP’s are out there looking for subscribers… in all areas of the USA!  Why should the staff continue to subscribe to XYZ service paying beaucoup bucks?  No reason whatsoever.  The greedy service people got the virtual AX and Earthlink took over.  So there.

But wait.  Problem solved, right?  Nope.  The home-grown network needs more fixing.  One of the computers is dialing out and sharing Internet service for everyone on the network.  And when the computer owner is not in the office?  All Hell breaks loose.  Literally!  So tomorrow, I am taking myself out there once again to install a LAN modem in hopes of remedying the issue.

Will the Internet problems be resolved once and for all?  We shall see.  Meanwhile, I’m planning to enjoy a pleasant drive out to the countryside whilst listening to my favorite tunes.  My prayers are for NO STORMS this time.  Wish me luck there!

Last weekend, the family and I had a movie/pizza party in our newly finished lower level.  The movie?  “High School Musical” of course!  Call me young at heart (but don’t say I’m clinging to high school days) when I say that I really enjoyed this movie, as it brought back a plethora of high school memories.  (Love that word: Plethora.)  I won’t go into details, but I will say that watching this flick had an impact on me in ways that would make anyone looking over my shoulder bust a gut… or two.

One word: CHOREOGRAPHY.  Nice job, people!  It’s difficult to get a bunch of performers in sync, and the producers were able to do just that.  (And male dancers?  At that age?  Impressive.) Mock as they may, Catholic Dad and Kids really did get their kicks out of watching Catholic Mom pick up the closing dance routine.  (Like I’m going to teach it to them now?  Ha!)

Six more words: GET YOUR HEAD IN THE GAME.  Yes, those words are stuck in my head.  Stuck.  I admit it.  Although, having a visual of the basketball team jammin’ out while singing that number makes the words stick, but we won’t go there.  Those guys had some serious rhythm, which isn’t something an “old mom stuck in her rah rah days” gets to see every day.  They actually gave me some inspiration to get my head in my own game again. (Thanks, guys.)

So that’s what I did.  With all of the recycled computers sitting in the office dungeon, I got busy.  No blogging.  No working on websites.  No snacking on Chex Mix.  No practical jokes on C or P.  No prank phone calls to CD at work.  Only computer cleaning.  And now a community of Sudanese folks will be receiving personal computers, thanks to the Sisters. 

Inspiration comes from the most unexpected places, doesn’t it?!  (Oh yeah… and my work performance review is in a couple of weeks.  Forgot to mention that little tidbit.)

“High School Musical” screenshot from Wikipedia®, © 2006