The Help Desk

july 3
6:06 pm PDT - 46 days left
i am on the web at last
no mean feat, let me tell you.
i signed up and paid for 46 days of internet service.
i have no phone
my connection to the cell phone i was going to use did not come through. I hold no grudge to the person who was going to set me up.
i now consider us even for all the minor slights i have possibly committed over the past thirty years.

it was so cold last night i had to turn off the fan at about 4:30 am.
it was light enough out to see bunnies - munching, digging, moving about in their silent assault on all that is vegetative. the really little ones (what are baby bunnies called?) don't come out until late in the afternoon.

I had resolved myself to rise in the morning as if I were going to class, and because i had a lot to do anyway, i managed to get up, "dine", and get to McKinnon well before the 8:oo am start time.
But nothing is open today.
So a phone call home was in order
no answer.
Back to res to check if the internet connection was working.
no.
Packed up the laptop and dragged it down to Housing to ask if the connection had been turned on over night.
it had.
They sent me to the Help Desk across campus.
not open.
I wandered about the basement where the computing labs are in hopes I might see some computing activity that would suggest the hope of help.
No Luck.
- so I went out the nearest door to head back to Housing.
I heard a faint beep as I opened the door, but I ignored it and struck off.
"Hey!" a voice called out from behind me. I turned to see what I thought was one of the Language kids I saw earlier spitting and smoking. He was now staring at me.
"Ee- mehr- juss-see oh - nee."
"Oh." says I. He shot me another disapproving look.
And back I went to Housing.
They had nothing further to offer, but printed out instructions on configuring the windows 2000 internet connection, but they did let me use their computer in the back to check my email. Very thoughtful.

I was determined to find help. Back i went to the Help Desk in hopes it maybe had a new "summer" location.
It did! (or so i thought)
And sitting behind the desk on the floor above the basement was friend from the Language group, he of the disapproving stares.
Only he wasn't from the Language group. Judging by the expert way he was pounding away at the computer terminal in front of him he was the summer help desk - if he felt like it.
I was reluctant to approach him.
but i had to.
Over his shoulder was the Emergency Exit door I had illegally plowed through not 30 minutes before.
This was going to be tough. I took a breath and moved in.
"Excuse me, is this the Help Desk?"
His sly grin told me he was ready for me. "Hep Desss down steh."
"I was just down there and it is closed."
"Hep Dess ca-loze."
"Can you help me?"
"I naw Hep Dess."
"No, I know you're not the Help Desk, but could you help me?"
"Hep Dess opehn t'morrow."
"But what if I need help today?"
"Hep Dess opehn t'morrow."
And back i went to res wondering if this summer was going to be a long series of Hep Dess Incidents.
Back in the room I rebooted and re-ran the Connection Wizard.
It worked.
joy.
i may not need the Hep Dess this summer.
Beatles "Help"