First the backup drive gave me the big f.u., today a new hardware battle... But let me backtrack a little...

I knew it was going to be a bit of a crazy day today, but I didn't think the transit would be that messed up on the way TO work this morning. I got out there in time for the 'early' bus, only to find a pack of people probably 4x as big as usual waiting at the stop...this (and all the angry faces) could only lead me to the conclusion that 3 or 4 buses had already been missed. Finally a gas powered bus (my route usually only runs the electric ones) turned up and everyone packed in. I think my stop is the third on the route, and by the fourth, it was full. People were not pleased. Nor was I when I ended up being about 10 mins late for work.

Anyway, I came prepared for an unorthodox trip home (orthodox being: walk three blocks, get on bus, 15mins ride, get off bus, walk across street), as I was planning on getting off the bus halfway home to stop and buy the new Tegan and Sara CD, The Con. I brought my backpack, cause I figured that there was a good chance it was going to be busy already because of people coming down for the fireworks, and that it was likely once I got off the bus I was going to have to walk the rest of the way home.

So I went and bought my CD, and thought surely if I walk a few stops down there'll be people getting off the bus, and hence room for me to get on. I passed the London Drugs on my way down the street, and stopped in and picked up a webcam, then walked to the next stop. I chatted with this nice little old lady, as we cooked in the sun and hoped a bus would come by. It did, but it sure as heck didn't let anyone on. Which was fine for me. I said goodbye, went and got an iced tea, and walked the rest of the way home. But what the heck was she supposed to do? With a cane, she was doing about 20ft/min, and it was obvious to me that she was stuck there until...until the crowds die down? It kinda ticked me off, because I realized she probably wasn't going to be able to make it to go get her dinner, and nobody seemed to take any note of that. Anyway...

Aside: this evening someone above me was throwing bread off their balcony, and I had a few bird-friends make some pit stops on mine...

I had some trouble setting up the webcam because friggin Logitech decided to give me the big f.u. as well--again, no mac support! Thankfully, a lovely open source program called maccam came to my rescue. And with a little help from my favorite geek (listen carefully to the podcast he posted today and you'll get a surprise!) I managed to get it working with Skype--just in time for the fireworks! (Which are crazy loud by the way and still going after 25mins!)

Ok, now they're done. Not bad at all...great not having to brave the swarms of people, now we'll just see how it goes getting to sleep at a decent time...oh, the people they are loud...