Hergest Ridge

Before the Internet came along, I’ve spent many days on dial-up BBSes. When “Network 23″ - one of my favourite boards - shut down, I needed a new place for my online friends and myself to hang out at. Unhappy with the choice of existing boards, I opened my own BBS: Ghost in the Machine.

One of the most memorable members of my BBS was Janice, or, Jan-Ice. Although we lived in the same city, we never met (not even for the tennis matches we planned to play). Over the years we got to know each other quite well, and I learned a lot from Janice.

During those days I remember often putting on my headphones, and just listening to music. It was my own time away from the world, and I would just lie there listening to Mike Oldfield, Jarre, Vangelis, and the likes of. It was the best kind of relaxation I knew at the time, and one day when Jan-Ice was telling me about a friend with lots of difficult choices in life, I suggested my relaxation method as a means of sorting things out.

Jan-Ice didn’t think it would work, and said so. I insisted, and vowed it’ll clear up any doubt and confusion. All will be better, and will fall into place. I must have been 15 or so at the time, and obviously very naive.

“Slawy, she’s 18 and just found out she’s pregnant.”

I had enough sense in me to realise that Jan-Ice was right, and sheepishly dropped my suggestion… Apologised.

Last I heard Janice was leaving for a job in New York. We haven’t communicated in over 12 years, and while I remember few specific stories or exchanges, I have no doubt of the impact she had on me while I was nearing adulthood. As blurred as her impact on me is, there are a few things I still remember with detail, like the fact that she was the one that started calling me Slawy, a nickname I often use online to this day.

Where ever you are old friend, I hope life’s good to you.

What is it with the world and the ongoing determination to eliminate all the germs? a) It can’t be done. b) It’s all making everyone sick in the long run. I’m not talking the running nose and sore throat, I mean the damn super bugs!

I’m not a doc of any kind, but think about it for a minute: every time you use anything that supposedly kills all the germs, the germs that survive end up stronger and more resistant to what ever crap you used in the first place. Then it mutates into something really serious that can’t be killed. Stop it, you fools! These days it’s bloody hard finding a non-antibacterial soap in the store. That’s just wrong. Next thing you know and we’ll all be wiping our asses with germ-killing toilet paper. Let yourself and your kids get sick once every while with something minor, and build up your immune system instead of those of the bacteria!

Been a busy couple of weeks, and cobwebs have formed around the Bytech forums, and a bit around here too. Few new clients, tax time, girlfriend leaving town (me helping with prep), and a few other things I promised to take care of elsewhere… well, they all add up to pretty full days. No complaints though. Bills are getting paid, and credit card debt is being eliminated at a healthy pace too. All good stuff.

Friday is party time as I have a few friends coming over for dinner and drinks. Then it’s onto a weekend (minus recovery time) on my own, maybe catching up on a project or two of mine. Of course, I shan’t get too used to the bachelor arrangement, as two weeks will fly by like a mad donkey (”yes Francesca, mad donkeys do fly.”)

Er, had another mental scab to pick on, but for now I can’t seem to find it again. Time then to go and tackle another project, or at least put a dent into one or two of them.