It’s been a while since we updated. This is attributable to two things. First, I’m not travelling as much, and I used to be a prolific airport blogger. (I’m currently at Fort Lauderdale Airport, and the fact that the Dunkin Donuts doesn’t sell donuts would be good for ten column inches alone). Second, Jake is doing so well that there are very few new developments. Our Gainesville trips are now at least three months apart, and his blood test results are consistently good. Without conflict or uncertainty, there’s no compelling story. I usually didn’t let a lack of new stop me from attempting to report the news, but then I got lazier.
Jake’s doing great. On the dialysis diet, he had to severely limit his protein intake. Now, all he wants is steak – for every meal. He didn’t like meat before he got sick, but he’s making up for lost time. He’s now a very, very expensive date.
During the time he had a catheter, he couldn’t get wet. That meant sponge baths and no swimming. He now wants to swim at every opportunity. We’re decided to put a pool, but I’m in a battle of wills with the pool company over the terms of their proposed contract. Their boilerplate contract has me representing to them that the ground is suitable for a pool and that they have adequate access and power lines. I told them that they are the experts, and that they need to represent to me that the ground is suitable and that they have sufficient access. I’ve heard too many horror stories to back down now.
There’s plenty of new tech to review. I still love Windows 7, and have converted the last of our computers. It works great on the Acer Aspire netbook, but there was some challenge in getting the software onto the netbook (which doesn’t have a DVD drive). I ended up downloading it from Microsoft and using the last of my “Family Pack” validation codes. It worked fine, and I still get nine hours of battery life.
Jen got me a PSP GO for my birthday. It’s a neat little device, but can only run downloaded games from the SONY website. Since SONY has a well-deserved reputation for incompetence when it comes to their online “Store”, buying a device that only runs on downloads is a leap of faith. So far, some of the games have been great, but SONY has inexplicably failed to offer some games which have been available in the physical stores for weeks. Jake wants a PSP for Hannukah so he can get the PSP-only Yi Gi Oh game. We’ll probably get him one, because the download-only PSP GO format means that he won’t misplace his game cartridges. Over the last three years, he’s lost at least 15 Nintendo DS games. There’s a reason they sell them on those mini-chips. I think we bought New Super Mario Brothers three times. The PSP has lots of on-line capability, so I’m open to any head-to-head challenges. I’m also open to FIFA 10 online play. I can beat Jake’s friends every time – but they are only 8 years old.
I’m still happy with the Palm Pre, but I got to play with a Verizon “Droid” for a bit and it seems like a cool device.
