Black or white
It's been said, particularly during a recent game of 'Scruples', that everything for me is 'black or white', and so it was easy to determine what my answers would be to various questions that concerned how I would react to various scenarios.
For so many years now, I've always been told by people that there are many shades of grey in situations, and that nothing is either black or white. I've always disagreed. I've always believed that everything IS either black or white, and that far too many people shade something grey or in various colours of the rainbow, when they don't need to. I believe that people often unnecessarily complicate things. I try not to.
Bloody hardware faults!
My laptop, the new one, has had a crisis yesterday. The screen started flickering and fading to darkness, and a high-pitched sound like something shorting out began at the same time. This happened just as I was turning it off after finishing work. I thought that it was 'shorting' because the power cable wasn't plugged in properly, so I didn't think anything of it. However, when I turned it back on again at home, exactly the same problem.
I researched it via the other laptop, and found that it was probably the 'screen inverter'. This is a little piece of electronic hardware that sits behind the laptop screen and provides power and stuff for the screen. I was tempted to take the laptop and screen apart to see if I could fix it myself, but realised this would void the warranty on it, so I'll have to wait until Monday, when I can call Compaq for warranty service.
Some updates…
I was notified of a pay rise at work today. It was a 12% rise. Not bad, but still less than what I was hoping for. I was hoping for about a 25% increase, considering that my new job description in other companies earns 25% more than what I was getting, but I only got 12% more. I'm halfway there… I sent an email off to my manager expressing my pleasure at the pay rise, but also saying that I was expecting a bit more considering what my new role was about. I asked if the pay rise was open to negotiation or discussion. He hasn't replied yet.
Fun and roleplaying
I'm sitting here at Starbucks with Deidre. I think that sitting in Starbucks, drinking a Chai Latte and watching the people go by, has become another hobby of mine. I used to do something like it with my friend Scot, back in Canberra. Now I do it with Garry, a friend of mine here, or Deidre. It's fun and relaxing. Enjoyable.
Another year almost over
As I created this new December entry section, and moved November into the 2004 Archives, I realised that another year is almost over and I'll soon be making a 2005 Archives. Wow.
On the 29th, when Passionfruit was in hospital having an operation, it was my birthday. Relatively uneventful as such, although I got some nice gifts from some (thanks!). I'm 38 now. I used to be happy that at 37 I was still closer to 35. But now that I'm 38, I'm closer to 40. *sigh* At least I still have that youthful mind – I don't think that will ever change.
Happy birthday to Shawn who turned 21 on the 30th November. 
