h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just thought I'd pop by and see if you're still on for the new "jag".

If so, I guess you'll be offline for a day or two while you get it up and running. Good luck, and if I don't see you before, I'll be here to see how it went.

Noggin

Hi!

New Jag is home!!! - out of the boxes and sitting on the floor at the moment. Probably won't get around to setting it up until the weekend. Still have to figure out how to transfer stuff from the old dinosaur. Never a dull moment?

My neighbour Eric (American guy, painter artist type) helped me to lug the stuff home - he had access to a whattaya call it (that two-wheeled thingy delivery guys always stack up lots of boxes on). This saved me 20 euros! Not only that, but he took me out for dinner afterwards *because* I also got him a free second hand computer that my student/frient Agustin wanted to get rid of. Reckon between Agustin's and what's left of my dinosaur (for example mine has a better modem than A's) Eric will end up with a more or less functioning - and free! - computer. Of course, Eric doesn't know the first thing about computers so I told him I'd help him set it up and install the new modem, etc.

What have you been up to? Haven't seen you around much. Hope to hear from you soon.

az

Oh, I've been here and there, y'know? If you want to know exactly you can always take a peek at my page, though I'm subscribed to so much stuff I don't even read most of it, let alone contribute.

Got the new jag, then.

Hope you can remember your login name and password - I never can, cause I never logout. If disaster struck I'd be marooned.

Noggin

Well, I have taken a look at your page before - made me dizzy seeing all the stuff you're subcribed to! Do you do this all day long?

Come to think of it - do you work? If so, what do you do?

When I asked what you'd been up to I meant the real you not the h2g2 you. But it's okay if you prefer not to talk about your personal self on a public site like this.

The day I signed into h2g2 I wrote my password into my address book - so I have it. But isn't my login name 'azahar'? How would I forget that? Hmmmm.

Sure hope all goes well with the Jag. A bit nervous about starting her up. Also, it's quite a busy week, what with this and that, so as I say, won't even have time to set her up properly before the weekend. Meanwhile, have new tenants coming next weekend, one of whom will have to camp out with me for a couple of days as she is arriving early, am fighting with my landlord, am trying to look for more classes for the summer, am also trying to find more tenants for the summer, and trying to get two side-line businesses going as well as trying to keep my 'dream' alive - the clothing biz. And all the while, teach classes, feed cats, keep the place looking decent, keep myself looking decent, blah blah blah. All on a shoestring.

Well, might sound tedious, but in fact, it *is* better than it may sound. It's just so chaotic and unstable a lot of the time. Anyhow.

Do you like your life?

az

Nickname and login name are two different things. If you've forgotten your login name it'll mean reregistering on a new page. Happened to me (twice), but the second time I remembered my first login name, and ended up back on my original page. Disorganised? Moi?

Actually I think I mentioned that I own/run a small shop and post office, which is a full time job, but I may be jacking it in soon - then I probably will be online all day until I get another job.

Noggin

Ha! So you thought I'd be off-line for a couple of days, eh? It turns out I was off-line for about half an hour. Am now writing to you from the Jag! Oh it's so exciting! Still have lots of other stuff to set up and figure out but thought I'd sort out the Internet connection first.

And I obviously managed to log-in just fine because here I am.

Yes, you are right, you did mention the small shop/post office job. Sorry, crap memory.

Okay, going to sort out my email and Outlook Express. Back in awhile. . .

az

zooooming around all over the place.

see you're still hard at it on the God thread. not sure, but I think I've given that one up. though I did feel a small urge to write in yesterday just to put 'friend of Noggin' under my name. Gosh, what a popular guy you are.

the new Jag makes NO NOISE at all. it's amazing.

sorry, am all over the place. this is just too exciting and new.

az

My computer made no noise at all when it was new either, so don't worry. All that reassuring clunking from the hard drives will start up in a month or two.

Yeah, I thought the God thread had just about died a while back, but it seems to have started back up again. It's like an itch; you just have to scratch it sometimes. I actually went back and looked at some of the early backlog a few days ago and got quite nostalgic (my first post was 125, and most of my early hootoo friends were contributing - Hoo, Ste, Alji, Matholwch, Jordan - and there was a lot of good stuff being written - but these things run their course I guess.

Not sure why being friends with Noggin has suddenly acquired prestige value. No doubt it will wear off.

Glad your pleased with the jag.

Noggin

I checked out your first posting on the God thread, and then read a few pages after that. I think the discussion was a lot more interesting back then, it had more 'chispa' (Spanish for 'sparkle, wit, life). It's always fun to read Hoo, but especially fun to have the three of you (you, Hoo and Math) going at it. Also, some of the others who I have never seen before. I'm still sometimes reading the thread now, though if I miss a page or two I don't go back to read the backlog anymore. And I've stopped posting, which is certainly no great loss to the thread

Well, must get ready for my first class of the day. Been up since 7 drinking and driving the Jag. Love it!

az

(I'm not usually so enthusiastic about material things, but this one makes so many other things possible . . . and it's fun)

did you get the other photo I sent to you on your email? just putting a face to the name . . .

az

Just arrived this very moment.

Very nice too, and not obviously chubby either.

I'd reciprocate, but I don't have any photos of me, or the least idea how to get it on the computer and send it even if I did. Mind you, I've a friend with a digital camera, and a bit of knowhow, so I may be able to organise it (though he's on holiday at the moment, so it'll be when he gets back).

Fresh fish for tea. One of the local youngsters caught me a nice mullet which I've just been gutting.

Noggin

Mullet gutting, eh? Sounds like fun. Actually, quite like fresh fish although, as with meat, I only tend to eat this when I go out. No reason for not cooking fish at home as that is quite easy, but I cannot cook meat at all without turning it into a piece of shoe leather. Anyhow, hardly ever eat meat (unless I go out) so no major loss there.

NO, that photo wasn't chubby because I wasn't chubby then. Am chubbier now, but I still think that dress would hide most of it. Am planning to buy a scanner next week (to complete the new Jag set up) but in fact, don't have any more recent photos of me to scan and send to anyone. I actually HATE having my photo taken and always cringe while it's being done and so avoid having my photo taken as much as possible. Hence, no recent photos of me.

Yes, would be great to see a photo of you. I have already received photos from Moth , Zarquon and Hoovooloo - it's quite nice to have a 'face' to talk to.

Now going to take a walk with a friend who has just arrived from the States to be one of my summer tenants in my extra flat that is actually *not* my flat at all - long story. Still, helps me pay my own rent.

enjoy the

az

The has been consumed, the "lawn" has been mown, and the other chores have been... put off until tomorrow, in the sure knowledge that tomorrow I won't have time for them.

How's your day been?

Noggin

It's been a totally lazy Sunday . . . didn't even go out for a bike ride (will have to own up about that on my 'activity challenge' thread with Dr. MO)

Ummm, let's see. Read in bed until about 9. Made coffee. Did some computer stuff (file transferring from the old beast). Played with cats. Wrote a couple of long-overdue emails. Did some laundry. Welcomed a new tenant (just arrived from the States) for my extra flat that isn't actually my flat. In the afternoon I drank some wine and smoked some cigs (bad girl! must stop smoking!) Then went to a friend's house to help him install a Windows programme and basically set up his computer for him (he just got it second hand from another friend of mine). Came home. Drank lots and lots of water (it's really hot today). Have been watching a DVD (Out of Africa) off and on for the past couple of hours. It's still not over. Not sure if I'll be able to finish it today. Also have been hoo-tooing off and on during the day. It's so great having a computer that doesn't crash every few minutes.

Meanwhile, have a list as long as my arm of things I *should* have done today. And unlike you I shall have to make time for them all tomorrow - or else! But that's okay. Quite like having a very lazy Sunday now and again.

Must go and cuddle black cat on sofa now and maybe watch the end of this film.

hasta pronto,
az

so how has your day been?

did you manage to continue not doing all the stuff you didn't do yesterday?

az

Yes, indeed, but not for the reasons I would have preferred. ie laziness, good stuff on the telly (fat chance), good book, hootoo, socialising etc.

Actual reason. Work. Monday is heavy day. Start 8:30 Lunch 1:30 - 1:40 Finish 5:45. Not even a proper coffee break.

Fortunately the rest of the week isn't quite so hectic.

Anyway, I'm pretty tired now, so I'm off to bed.

Ciao

Noggin

You said you were thinking about giving up this job. And then maybe look for something else.

Get the feeling you're not a massively career-oriented sort of guy.

But then, how do you live? Surely the small shop job can't pay a lot. And I doubt you find it hugely satisfying (though I could be wrong).

I'm constantly living hand-to-mouth, on a shoe-string budget and all of those other cliché things one might say about how I live.

It didn't used to bother me, but now that I am 46 1/2 and basically don't have a pot to piss in (quaint Canadian expression) have recently begun to worry about MY FUTURE!!! That is, if I don't get run over by a bus tomorrow.

Anyhow, time for bed, perchance to sleep . . .

talk to you anon,
az

Well, as I said, it's a post office as a well as a shop. Technically I'm self employed under contract to the post office, but the post office is in the process of closing branches. If I opt to be one of them I get a compensation package which would actually leave me better off than carrying on working (which as you rightly surmise doesn't pay much once the overheads are taken care of). I'd be able to pay off the mortgage, and have some over. Don't know yet how it'll pan out, so it's a bit "up in the air" for the moment.

I do actually quite like the job - but it is a tie (haven't had a holiday in 16 years, for a start.)

Anyhow, it's my bedtime, too.

I'll probably catch you tomorrow, though I don't get much online time on a Wednesday - I deliver groceries and stuff to an old lady who's housebound.

Noggin

haven't had a holiday in 16 years???

well, I have NEVER had a holiday, so there!

on the other hand, I live in a postcard.

never been a very good tourist anyhow.

didn't I say I was going to bed? could have been sure it was me that said that . . .

buenas noches,
az

so, not sure about having balls, eh?

I'm always told I'm totally ballsy, which does not make me feel all that feminine.

oh well.

az