It's a pretty relaxed day. We're just as busy as we were on Friday, but somehow the pressure has just let go. Perhaps it's Finals -- with all the students locked in little rooms, working hard on that last test, there just aren't that many people hanging around right now. Those who stick their head in don't seem to have that tenseness they did before.

It's nice. It's a nice change of pace, that's for darn sure. We'll see how long it lasts. Powerbook turn-in is tomorrow, and that's always... a day. Very very much a day.

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Our Main Office server's guts have been opened up so Captain Fran can do some surgery. Not that you know who Captain Fran is. He's our Computer Technician. He's from Maine, of the Old Guard. He worked for NYNEX for years and takes no guff.

Of course, the School is somewhat paralyzed while Main Office is down, but that's not the Captain's fault. He thinks it's either the system board or the VRAM. We'll see.

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Hm. I should do a "Cast List" like other people have on their Journals. It would be a great goodness, especially for people who have no idea who these people are who I keep referring to. Right. It goes on the little list of "stuff to do," along with a ton of writing.

Also on that list is the air conditioner, which I pick up tonight.

I live in cold climates by choice. I like winter a lot. I like snow. I like looking at ice and snow on bare trees. I like Springtimes where the winter's ice gives way to flowers and bloom. I like Autumns where the halcyon Summer days grow cool and sedate, and the leaves turn to fire and majesty.

Summers suck. I hate being too hot. I hate humidity. I hate everything about both.

Last Summer, I could cope. I had a fan and a lot of windows and I wasn't afraid to use them. However, this Summer... I have neighbors.

There's a porch right outside my apartment. It's a nice one. And, as a result, the neighbors use it on occasion. Not a problem. But they smoke and drink and play music.

I'm allergic to cigarette smoke, and I have something of a problem with a person right outside one of my open windows drinking and playing music, especially if I'm trying to nap. Put a fan in that window (the only practical window to put a fan in and the cigarette smoke is suddenly a part of my environment.

So, I keep my window shut.

85° and humid is not a time to keep your window shut.

So, the Air Conditioner is going in. It will keep me happily, icily cool on the hottest of days, give me relief when I come in from enjoying the summer, and keeping me from having to cope with cigarettes and music and drunk people. Call me a snob.

I remember back in Seattle. The climate was more forgiving and it was certainly less humid, but it could still get a hint warm. Bill and Dominic never understood my preference for air conditioning. To Bill, not having your windows open so you could breath the fresh air was the same as wearing a gas mask over your face and letting your air be filtered. And I'll admit it kept the car coolish to do that. But with Air Conditioning in the old Honda, I could have my windows up, hear my radio perfectly clearly and be nicely comfortable. Call me decadent, so long as I'm cool.

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Fast update before I upload -- the Air Conditioning people called and asked me to come by tomorrow instead, which I can cope with. And the cast list has been added and can be reached on the index page. More for your money, kids.