I have good news for BDSM_Tourguide! Next Monday or Tuesday I'll be going off-line for three months or more.

Last Tuesday when I tried to fire up my eMac, there was a pop!ping sound (never a good sign) and my screen flashed polychromaticly, then went dead. I just got it back today after a week in the shop (under warranty) but, in the meantime, something happened.

I became productive.

I got more hours of sleep, and higher quality sleep.
I got some reading done that had been hanging over my head for months.
I cleaned one-fifth of my attic and got six boxes of books ready to go to the library sale. (Tonight I hope to get another fifth finished -- No! Not that kind of fifth, Bruce!)
I spent close to four hours listening to Gloria Estefan. (If there's a better definition of heaven, I don't know about it.)
I copied a videotape I'd been meaning to copy for four months.
I got my modern microarmor Marines sorted, assembled and painted (don't ask!).

In short, I got my life back.

I've been sort of low-grade depressed for a long time and haven't been able to put my finger on just what was wrong. What was wrong turned out to be an internet addiction.
I didn't go through withdrawl -- it was more like a great weight was lifted from me and I was able to see the world for the first time since last October. So, what I've decided to do (after extending my warranty!) is to let my RoadRunner service expire on the 16th, then pack my computer up until after my seasonal job ends in early October. Then I'll unpack it and plug back in for the winter (until next April). My intention is to only have it out of the box for six months or so out of every year, during my 'retired' months.
I'll miss some of you (and some of you more than others), but this sabbatical is really neccessary for my mental health and well-being. And besides, I think you've all gotten pretty tired of me, so you can enjoy the break, too. (Is that the sound of celebration from Alberta?)

Best wishes and felicitations from the Wizard of Watertown.

(Oh, and special to Tourguide: Heerre fishy, fishy, fishy...)