Hold on there, Virginia

The internet can be a momentary pleasure, like a castle in the sand that is washed away by the oncoming waves. To throw even more analogies into the mix, it seems that we were somehow able to catch lightning in a bottle the other day - the perfect combination of computer functioning and network connectivity, but alas - no more.

Our laptop seems to have a very curious dysfunction (among other problems). It has one of those "joystick" mice in the center of the keyboard in addition to the touch-pad "mouse" below the keyboard. It seems this joystick mouse likes to have a complete mind of its own. So, if you simply watch the screen for awhile, you will see the mouse cursor move in zigzag patterns. The mouse can be tamed, however, by using the joystick mouse, but it is rather challenging. Trying to wrangle the cursor to hit a specific spot on the screen requires full concentration and a good bit of luck.

As for our network, here we are at a loss. We seem to be in this phase where the network gives us an IP address for a few minutes, and then takes it away, and then gives it back. All for no apparent reason. Ahhh...the joys of technology!