Minesweeper: Back in Time

I remember when my family ditched the IBM PC Jr. for a new 386 machine and the wonders of Windows 3.1.  Wow.  Not only could we actually enjoy using the computer, there were all of these free games that came with Windows.  Solitaire; Hearts; and the favorite, Minesweeper.

I remember playing Minesweeper in Windows 95, and then in 98.  When we received our new computer about 7 years ago – replete with Windows XP – Minesweeper was gone, replaced by new games like Pinball (which is extremely enjoyable).

So imagine my surprise when I [finally] found the games folder on our new computer and saw Minesweeper there.  But this is not Gen X’s Minesweeper.  No, sir.  This is the new and improved Minesweeper.

Thanks, Microsoft.  I love it.  (And how often do we get to say that?)

The New Toy (Read: Computer)

We got a new family computer.  It was time for our old Dell Dimension 4400 to retire after 7 years of reliable service.  It just couldn’t hack it anymore, but it’s still a good computer.

The new machine is also a Dell (I’m still a PC guy, even though I use a Mac at work).  We got a new Inspiron 530.  Here’s the stats if you’re interested:

• Pentium Dual Core E5200 (2.50 GHz, 800MHz FSB, 2MB cache)
• 4GB RAM
• 320 GB hard drive
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit (I debated this, but it’s really worth it)
• DVD +/- RW drive

I declined the pre-installed productivity software and anti-virus tools, opting instead to install OpenOffice and AVG Free.   The only 64-bit hiccup we’ve encountered is that the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer that came installed on the coputer is not compatible with FlashPlayer.  No problem: we just installed Firefox (32-bit) and all is well.

Everything has worked great, and I actually enjoy using Vista (maybe because it reminds me of my Mac at work).

Christmas Wrap-up

No pun intended.  Really.

It was a good Christmas this year.  I got things I needed, which is a good thing.  The kids made out like bandits.  Again, that’s a good thing.

So here’s my wrap-up:

• One red sweater (thanks, Julie and kids).
• One electric razor.  My old one died.  (Thanks, Julie.)
• One brown sweater (thanks, grandma Rose).
• One gift card (thanks, mom and dad).
• A whole bunch of movies for the family (thanks again, mom and dad).

In addition to these gifts, Julie and I have bought a few “big gifts” in the last month or two.  Namely, a new car and a new computer.  I’m perfectly happy calling these gifts, since they are things that we agreed to have together for our family.

All in all, it was a very good year.

Christmas Insanity

On December 24, I ventured out into the retail world to claim the last of my gift-giving necessities: presents for my wife.  Yes, I know that I had 364 other days to get this done.  Yes, I should have done it during that time.  No, I did not.

So out I went.  More appropriately, out we went: me, my four-year-old, and my two-year-old.  We had a few objectives in mind thanks to some pre-shopping online browsing.  Our first stop was the game store to pick up a used copy of Mario Golf: Toadstool Tour for our GameCube.  We like games we can play together.  In stock and no waiting in line – so far, so good.

Next was Sam’s Club for a Poirot movie collection.  On target, minimal waiting.  We proceeded to Kohl’s, where we looked for some new clothes for mom.  We saw some nice things, but the line was such that we would be waiting for at least 30 minutes to check out.  Considering that my daughter refused to ride in the cart and my arm was getting quite tired, we left Kohl’s for one more stop.

This final gift stop was Borders, where we found a Gail Carson Levine book for Julie and a small book for the kids (after all, they had been pretty good).  Done.  Only one hour.  Phew.

Julie called and asked us to stop at the local mega-mart for a few things, so thirty minutes later we were truly on our way home.

What kept eating at me this whole time was the fact that not so many years ago – when I was a child – you couldn’t go shopping on Christmas Eve.  Nobody was open.  Our lives are so totally out of control, and our procrastination skills so refined, that we can no longer accomplish these things prior to the day before Christmas.  It is highly dissatisfying to wrap something at midnight that will be unwrapped less than 8 hours later.  I would rather the gifts sit under the tree for a week or two.

My gift-giving resolution this year is to buy early.  We’ll see how I do.  The first trial is next Tuesday, Julie’s birthday.