of macs and keyboards

Amy noted that the practice tests on the CDs that came with the GRE study guides are a really good resource and that I should take them, "even if you have to go to someone else's house to take them, because they're for Windows." Sigh. I hadn't gotten that far yet-- didn't want to take any until I've at least finished reviewing one of the books. (I got two books; Kaplan got very good reviews but the Arco one had a lot of really good basic math stuff in it that I knew I'd need.) So I'm working on the Arco book. I'd about decided to go on and take one of the tests just to see where I stand so far but didn't want to camp in someone else's house, on their computer, for the three hours or so I'd need. Guess what... I still have my old PC, sitting in my studio. So I shoved everything off my drafting table and set up the PC. I'm missing the keyboard-- guess I threw it away. It was so old the paint showing the letters was worn off the keys. Not really a problem for me, since I am 95% a touch typist, but it drove the hunt-and-peckers (so to speak) that I know crazy. Anyway, I hooked everything else up to make sure it was okay, and it was. Now I go get a super-cheap keyboard and I'm set.

Very weird... I just got a phone call from a long distance number I didn't recognize. When I answered there was a long pause and a tentative, Hello. Nothing else.

Finally I said Who are you trying to reach?

I am calling long distance. in a heavily Indian-accentend English.

Yes, you are. Who are you trying to reach?

After a couple more tries at a coherent conversation, he said I am in India and I dialed the country code for India and a long distance number. I don't understand how I got you. And he didn't hang up.

All I can suggest is that you try again. Good luck! and I hung up. If I had mistakenly dialed India, believe me, I'd want to get off the phone as soon as possible to avoid paying a gazillion dollar phone bill. No idea why that didn't occur to him. What time is it in India, anyway?

I finished the last Doc Ford book. Despite the telegraphing, his friend is not only still alive but has now done a bit of research work for the agency that wanted him killed. I guess I'll be able to read the next book after all, if it sounds good. This one was pretty silly, though. Disappointing to see the deterioration of a good series. Almost like someone else started writing it.

Back to matters of earth-shattering importance, the GRE. I'm going to temporarily pass over the really confusing stuff and go on, if possible. I'll save up all the questions to ask my math-friendly friends at once. No need to make a trip for one issue.