Internet? What's that?

The saga of the continually fucked broadband connection continues.

To recap: Initially, we'd gotten cable modem. Cable modem didn't work. For two weeks. Okay, scrap that, let's go with DSL. MSN's having a deal - free install (read, delivery of the modem) and you keep it if you're with the service for two years (by which time it's obsolete, but we don't need to visit that right now.)

Ah, MSN. How I loathe thee. First, it took me an entire evening and a half of attempts just to get connection lights. Then, once I'd finally managed to call in and change my password twice, and then log in and change it, I started in on the firewall settings. Now, MSN really wants you to install their software and not worry your pretty little head over the network settings, and that may work for Joe Public, but I'm Anastasia Geekopolos. I need those lovely little network settings in order to connect the house network and imbue me with any sort of feeling of safety.

So I hopped on Ali's laptop last night and chatted with 'Taz' and extracted the DNS settings, and got confirmation (sort of) that MSN is using PPPoE. Lovely. Except that I still can't get the gateway to grab an IP from MSN. Urk. They're not playing well together, but at least it's a step up from running with scissors.

I'll try to whack it again tonight, and tonight or tomorrow, I'd like to get the wire strung to various people's rooms. Optimistic, yes, but we live in hope.

Lucky days

I'd forgotten today was the 13th. I was born on a Tuesday, but it was the 13th, so I just consider myself triskadekaphihlic, and leave it at that. Maybe the network thing will go easier tonight. That'd be cool.

Friday Five - School

1. What was/is your favorite subject in school? Why?

In grade school, it was French - I was good at it, and knew it. It was sort of special to be able to speak a different language, one that I shared with Mom and my brother, but not Dad (he took Spanish way back in the when.)
In high school, it was Chemistry. There were a lot of subjects I was good in, but combined with a fun teacher, and sitting next to my best friend, the class just kicked ass. Plus, hey, it got me a four-year scholarship into college.

2. Who was your favorite teacher? Why?

I liked a lot of my teachers. I adored my sixth grade teacher, Miss DeRose, and because of her, tried to learn to play the guitar. My high school English teacher Mr. Sinclair I appreciate now more than I did then - his writing exercises were priceless. But for overall favorites, I'd have to go with Mr. Gault, my junior year chem teacher. He'd warm up the classroom in the morning by turning on all the bunsen burners, and he blew glass, and made learning a lot of fun. I was his student assistant for the few months I was still at Leigh my senior year, and when I left, he gave me this beautiful glass flutterby he'd made. Tragically, it didn't survive the move, but it doesn't change the giving.

3. What is your favorite memory of school?

Um. Lord, I remember the embarrassing moments so much better. Probably my junior year, when I was in 5th year French, and all we did was run around writing and filming a video in French. I'm torn between wanting to see the footage again, and hoping that it was burned. I remember getting all tarted up for my part, but I can't remember much about the plot of the story.

4. What was your favorite recess game?

Fourth, fifth grade or so, my friends Tish, Koa and I would pretend to be squirrels or unicorns or something. We'd wander off to the trees that lined the play fields, just inside the fence, and collect leaves and berries, and talk about our adventures as whatever we were that day. My unicorn name was Marshmallow, about which I wasn't terribly pleased, but since Tish gave it to me, I wasn't about to protest.

5. What did you hate most about school?

In high school, the mile we had to run every Tuesday and Thursday. It was timed, and I hate running. One of the reasons I went out for the team sports, swimming and badminton, was that I didn't have to run if I was on a team. Plus, I didn't really like the girls in PE - I didn't really know how to deal with the vague bullying threats.