Note:<888>03/07/00 Tuesday 9:35 P.M. EDT: Well I had a Stauffer's Hearty Pot Roast dinner for a late meal yesterday morning. I went to bed at about 6:30 A.M., and I was up at around noon. I had three soft boiled eggs, toast, coffee, orange juice, and vitamins for orange juice. I then got a tired spell, and I went to bed until about 6 P.M.. I had some pineapple and white grape fruit salad, and I then made a few telephone calls. I changed my CMOS to "NO" for "Assign IRQ to PCI", and I moved up the the Video driver to 72 MHz and the monitor driver to 72 MHz for the SIS onboard Video driver. I have been having some problems with the Onboard Video, which I won't have when I get the new video card. I also decide to remove all the music files from my server, since a number of the music users including one regular user from Rutgers University in New Jersey have been hacking into my server creating havor with the primary purpose of the server to provide reference information. I have started using www.zonealarm.com as a free firewall to hopefully thwart this activity. I have also been resting my eyes away from the monitor to relax them until hopefully the new video card improves the situation. If for some odd reason, someone does not like my reference information, I might suggest they get a better education. Well from what I can tell not much else is happening in this neck of the woods, so I plan to have a relaxing evening and morning at home. I posted this note in reference to the music links at music1.htm . Well from what I can tell one the internet, it only takes one spoil sport to mess up a free volonteer project. Last month I only made $13 on my internet advertising, and it cost me considerably more time and money to run the site, so next time you don't like something think of the ramifications. As far as I am concerned, they should turn off the electricity in New Jersey or at least blink the lights, so they have to reset their electronic clocks and servers. Well have a good morning. Remember, the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop has their spring opening on Wednesday morning 3/8/00 at 8:30 A.M., and they have plenty of interesting old records there for a minimal price. Well have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/06/00 Monday 5:15 A.M. EDT: Well I just finished doing three loads of laundry, and three loads of drying, and I also dried one assorted batch a second time. I have been relaxing most of the morning, so not much going on. Well have a good morning, I think I will go to bed. CIO

Note:<888>03/06/00 Monday 11:00 P.M. EDT: Well today was a typical day in Greenwich. I think I had breakfast of Post Raisin bran, toast, coffee, orange juice, and vitamins. I drove downtown, and I stopped by Putnam Trust Bank of New York; and I did some business. I then drove downtown, and I paid my Bell Atlantic, Optimum Online, Cablevision, and Travelers Apartment Insurance bills. I noticed a well know retiree walking around with a Pan Am bag like I have in my apartment. I then went by the Hospital Thrift shop, and they're not open for their spring preview opening until March 8, which I think is Wednesday. I then drove back down the Avenue, and I observed the local nature. I chatted with a resident from Australia about rum running in the old days, certain suspect property transactions, the possibility of non native species in our local waters like Aligators, Crocodiles, and Caymen. I then drove uptown, and I stopped by the library and said hello to a native Connecticut resident who was stopping by to see what he sees. I then stopped by the Grand Union, and I bought two Stauffers hearty pot roast dinners for $2.50 each, a half gallon of GU whole milk for $1.59, a half gallon of Florida Natural orange juice for $2.50, a Dole Pineapple for $1.99, a bunch of white seedless grapes for $1.97 which I think were $1.50 a pound, and a can of black seedless olives for .99 for $14.04 total. I then returned home, and I peeled the pineapple and added the grapes, orange juice, Angostora bitters, and French white wine, and put it all in a rubbermaid container to ferment a bit for a day before I start enjoying it. I then mixed the rest of the iceburg lettuce, some of the Escorole luttuce, chopped celery, a half of sectioned tomatoe, a half can of the black pitted olives, and a peeled and sliced and sectioned medium cucumber, and added some of my home made vinegarette mustard dressing for a home made Greek salad without the Feta cheese. I relaxed a bit, and I did not bother having coffee yet. I thought out some fish tails. I suspose I might have enough energy as usual to stay up all night again, and possibly get around to doing laundry. Today is a little bit warmer, by Connecticut standards, but if you were from down south you would probably be cold. I noticed a car from Ontario downtown last night, and I noticed another car from Ontario at the food store today, so the last one was number 55 Canadian license plate, I have seen in the area in about 16 years of observing. Well not much else happening, the computer all seems to be running fine. Well have a good evening. CIO

Note:<888>03/06/00 Monday 4:45 A.M. EDT: Another uneventful night in Greenwich, Connecticut USA. I went downtown after the last message. I drove down by the harbor and more Swans are in attendence to ward off the migrating Canadian Geese. I chatted with one local Swiss Businessman about Swiss affairs. I returned to the center of town, and I chatted with another local observer. I walked the lower section of Greenwich Avenue, and I found a $20 bill with a picture of Andrew Jackson in the street in front of the railroad plaza movie theatre. I retrieved it since I think I know members of the Jackson family whom might want it back some day. I then walked up the Avenue, and I sat out for a while. I then walked down the Avenue, and I chatted with a couple of fellows whom seem to know French and Spanish. I then walked back up the Avenue, and I chatted with a couple of restaurant staff whom seem to know English. I then walked up to the top of the Avenue, and I stopped by Kinkos and chatted with the night staff about technology. I then walked across the Post Road, and I noticed that Harvey Electronics has a web site www.harveyonline.com for high tech sophistacated electronic gear. I then walked east on the Post Road, and I noticed that someone had knocked over the potted evergreens in front of the Sotheby real estate office. I labored diligently and uprighted them, so that the British and United States flag flying above them looked presentable. I then walked back down the Avenue, and I sat out in the center of town for a while. I then drove back down by the waterfront, and the lights were still on, on Long Island; so I guess the electricity still works out there. I then went for a little cruise. Since I had unexpected good fortune, I took a drive up King Street where all the new construction is going on. I toured Westchester Airport which at that hour of the morning is quite vacant. I noticed that someone had posted a Wanted Posted at the New York State Police headquarters of an individual that looks like a well known personality. If you happen to see it, try to figure out whom it looks like and what he might look like today. I chatted with the young fellow working late at the Hertz counter, and advised him they should charge $3 a gallon for filling up returned rental cars, since the price of gasoline locally is now up to $2 a gallon for service attendence. I toured the airport, and they seem to have that old replica of the DC-3 Mohawk airplane that use to fly in their along with some other older aircraft. At night it is hard to tell what they're doing up on King Street, but I hope it is safe to assume they know what they're doing. I then returned down King Street and drove back down by the harbor, and the Swans were still there. I then returned home, and I relaxed a bit and made a couple of phone calls. Well from what I can tell not much happening, so have a good morning. I am a bit tired, so I will try to go bed now, so I can get some errands done some time today as part of the Never Ending Routine. Well have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/05/00 Sunday 10:40 P.M. EDT: Well I went back to sleep after breakfast today, and I rested until noon. I then started cleaning my apartment and watering the plants. I did this until about 4 P.M. while listening to a bit of CD music. I then went out and stopped by the ATM machine at Putnam Trust Bank of New York, and I withdrew funds. I then went by the Exxon gasoline station next to the Greenwich Library and bought $15 of premium gasoline at $1.89.90 a gallon. I then drove down by the waterfront, and I chatted with a couple of fellows from Brazil about coffee. I chatted with a senior IBM Internet Employee about the history of IBM and my family in Virginia, New York, Illinois, and Florida and other points. I then returned to the center of town, and I parked on the Avenue for a change with the rear end of my Volvo with various signs displayed. I then went to Zyn's and checked out the price of cigarettes, but they were to expensive. I walked down the Avenue to the other Indian news stand, and I chatted with them about the weather and cigarettes were too expensive too. I then went back up the Avenue, and I chatted with a McCain campaign employee about local politics in the area. I informed her, I would back whom ever won. I then drove over to Old Greenwich, but CVS was closed. I then stopped by the Hyatt, and I chatted with local staff there. I then went to Staples, and although they carry the Compaq computer line, they don't have the new $500 Compaq computer with the Intel Celeron 500 MHz processor, 64 megs of memory, and 4.1 gigabyte hard drive that is advertised in the computer press for the last week. It should be a hot seller amongst the office crowd. I guess that is why no one in this area has it yet. I then went to the Food Emporium at the Riverside Shopping center, and I noticed they have substancial store made TV dinners for about $5 to $6. I decided to buy a half of shell of Argentinian steak at $3.99 a pound about four pounds for $15.76. The meat counter cut a whole shell in half for me. I then went over to CVS at the same shopping plaza, and six packs of Phillie Natural cigars with .25 off coupons for $8.04 plus .48 Ct. sales tax for $8.52. I chatted with a traveling couple there whom looked familiar, and they said they were traveling from Florida to Maine. They asked where an inexpensive motel was to stay, and I told them the Howard Johnsons in Cos Cob was about $100 a night. I then suggested the Pequot Inn at the Fairfield Westport boarder might be less expensive. I believe the Stamford Motor Inn rents by the hour, so I am not sure it is a respectable motel for couples. I also said I knew of the motel by the BonJournos, and I also mentioned that there is a less expensive hotel behind the Taco Bell in Stamford. I also mentioned up in Milford, there are a lot of reasonable motels near the truck stop. I have never really had much money to travel outside of this area, so I don't really know where inexpensive lodgings are. For all I know they're sleeping in the Darien rest area. I then returned home, and chatted with another family member. One family member bought me http://www.accessmicro.com/productinfo.php3?ProductId=D1787I56 this which should cure my computer problems with the onboard video, and make my 19 inch CompUSA monitor work at its full resolution capacity, so I don't have so much problem with my eyes anymore. It is a pretty good price as always if one does not mind waiting for United Parcel Service to deliver by ground from California for $15. Since I am never in a rush, it should be here by the end of the week. I then sliced the four pound Argentinian shell steak into five 1.5 to 2 inch steaks since it is boneless, and I put them wrapped in plastic warp and overwrapped in plastic grocery store bags into the freezer. I then took the sixth thinner slice about 3/4 and inch, and I made steak and onions the European way. I added a couple of tablespoons of olive oil to the old 14 inch Griswold frying pan with glass dome lid. I then added a few pads of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter", and I set it on medium high to head up on the electric burner. I then through a medium Idaho potato in Microwave over for 7 1/2 minutes. I have a fifteen year old General Electric microwave oven still going that is lower power. I then also set steaming four sprigs of brocolli in the Revere 2 quart pot with one of of those steamer baskets. I then peppered the thin steak and put it in the heated Griswold frying pan, along with three minced gloves of garlic, and a peeled and chopped medium onion. I turned the steak a few times browning it one both sides, and then I added a quarter cup of white French wine to let it all simmer with a a dozen drops of Lea and Perrins worstershire sauce on the steak, and a few dashes of Italian seasoning, basil, and organo. In Northern Italian Utruscan cooking, they would have also used Lemon juice, but I did not have any lemon juice. I stirred the onions around, a briefly steamed the steak with the glass lid on four five minutes flipping it over once while the brocolli and potatoe finished. I then had the dinner with ice tea and coffee. It was a light healthy dinner with protein and a enjoyable taste. Well have a good evening. I might try to do laundry this morning, and I might possibly go out shortly. CIO

Note:<888>03/05/00 Sunday 8:05 A.M. EDT: I have been staying inside relaxing since the last message. I was up for breakfast about noon yesterday. I had three eggs, toast, vitaimins, orange juice, and coffee. I listened to music and relax a bit. I took a nap in the evening. I did some web browsing on the computer. I went back to bed about 2 A.M. this morning, and I was up around 8 A.M. this morning. I had the salad I made about 6 P.M. last evening. I also had a Stauffer's Hearty meal about 1 A.M. this morning. Thus it is a normal quiet weekend at home. I will have some Post Raisin Bran, toast, orange juice, coffee, and vitamins for breakfast. I guess then I will start on my house cleaning. Well have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/04/00 Saturday 3:40 A.M. EDT: Well after dinner, I fell asleep listening to the BBC talk about Turkey the country that is. I can play my 40 year old Zenith shortwave radio through my sterio system. It was coming in fairly well considering the sunspot activty world wide. I rested a bit until after midnight. I relax most the morning. I recieved an interesting Post Card today from a friend with some helpful reference information. It shows traditional Indian Signs: I don't have the characters, on the computer fonts, but I will put in the translation.

Deer Track: Plenty Game

Bear Track: Good Omen

Rattlesnake Jaw: Strength

Headdress: Ceremonial Dance

Butterfly: Everlating Life

Coyote Tracks:

Rain Clouds: Good Prospect

Lightning and Lightning Arrow: Swiftness

Days and Nights: Time

Morning Stars: Guidence

Sun Symbols: Happiness

Running Water: Constant Life

Raindrop-Rain: Plentiful Crops

Horse: Journey

Tepee: Temporary Home

Sky Band: Leading to Happiness

Medicine Man's Eye: Wise Watchful

Mountain Range:

Hogan: Permament Home

Big Mountain: Abundence

House of Water:

Fence: Guarding Good Luck

Enclosure for Ceremonial Dances

Eagle Feathers: Chief

Warding Off Evil Spirits

Paths Crossing

Peace

Man: Human Life

Thunderbird: Sacred Bearer of Happiness Unlimited

Crossed Arrows: Friendship

Arror: Protection

Arrowhead: Alterness

4 Ages: Infancy, Youth, Middle and Old Age

Cactus: Sign of the Desert

Cactus Flower: Courtship

Saddle Bags: Journey

Bird: Carefree--Lighthearted

Lightning Snake

Snake: Defiance, Wisdom

Thunderbird Track: Bright Prospects

Sun Rays: Constancy

Lasso: Captivity

Well not much else happening right now. I guess I should relax a bit and eventually go to bed. Have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/03/00 Friday 9:55 P.M. EDT: I was up at about noon today. I had breakfast of Post Raisin bran, toast, vitamins, orange juice, and coffee. I went downtown about 2 P.M. after cleaning up. I stopped by Putnam Trust Bank of New York. I paid my rent at First Union Bank. I drove by the Greenwich Hospital Thrift Shop, and I noticed the sign said they will open this Monday for their annual Spring Preview offerings. I drove downtown, and I stopped briefly by the waterfront. I went by the E.L.D.C. thrift shop at the shopping plaza near Indian Field Road and the Mobil Station. I bought a copy of "Alice In Wonderland" for .25 plus .02 Ct. sales tax. I also bought a Conran Plastic Dish Towel holder with three steel swing arms for $3 plus .18 Ct. sales tax. I chatted with a few of the staff there. While exiting the thrift shop, I noticed a couple of youngsters were carrying a little 2 inch CD disk, that they think is the future of music, since one of them said he had put 16 songs on it. I suppose it all depends on how cheap if every RAM memory gets as an alternative. I then stopped by the Porticellis Shopping Plaza in Cos Cob, and I stopped by the Chris Shays campaign headquarters on the second floor and I picked up six George W. Bush campaign stickers and I chatted briefly with one of the volonteers. I also chatted briefly with a town historian who said he was backing Albert Gore. I then headed over to the Greenwich Library. I read the local paper. I then toured the computer book section. I checked out a picture book on Paris, a picture book on French houses, and a picture book on Steam Locamotives. I chatted with one of the senior waterfront staff, and I gave him my viewpoint on using coal as an alternative energy source if we need to next winter. I then returned home. I installed the Conran towel rack beneath the Shield of Pall Mall in the kitchen entrance. I put the short wave radio where it is more accessible from the Queen Anne chair. I rearrange my old records on two shelves, so they're more easily access behind the television. I relaxe a bit. About 7 P.M., I put a tablespoon of olive oil in the bottom of a Pyrex pie dish. I then added a quarter cup of white wine. I took out the salmon steak, (Note: People not experienced with fish bones, should not try to eat salmon steaks, but salmon filet.), and I rinced it off. I then wiped both sides in the olive oil and white wine in the pie dish and set it in the center of the dish. I added a few drops of angostora bitters, Lea and Perrins Worstershire sauce, and Angostora Terriaki sauce to the top of the salmon. I then sprinkled on basil and celery salt. I then peeled three tiny Idaho potatoes and halved them and placed them half side down in the pie dish along with two peel medium onion halves. I then put a aluminum pie pan over the dish and placed it in my older Faberware convection oven at 350 degrees F. for 35 minutes. The salmon steak was about 7/8 pound. I then sectioned some brocolli and set it up to steam for the last ten minutes of the salmon steak cooking. I then shredded some iceburg lettuce and some escorole lettuce rinsing it, and putting it on a plate. I slit lengthwise two stalks of washed celery and cut the slit halves into three sections each, and I placed them around the bed of lettuce. I then peeled one medium cucumber, and I slit it lenthwise into four sections and then cut each section in half. I placed these around the bed of lettuce with the celery. I then cut a tomatoe in half vertically, and I made about eight slices out of one half, and I placed them around the salad plate. I added four small kurkins in the center. I then peeled and diced a medium onion and sprinkled it over the salad plate. I put the plate in a plastic shopping bag and refrigerated it for a late night snack. I then put an eight of a cup of of white wine in a small six ounce cream pitcher. I then added about a three tablespoons white vinegar. I added two teaspoons Bournier Dijor mustard and then a few grinds of black pepper, dashed of garlic powder, Italian spices, basil, oregano, celery salt and I mixed it all together in the pitcher. I then added about three and a half ounces of Bertolli olive oil and mixed it all together in the cream pitcher with a spoon, and I then covered it with plastic wrap and left it on the counter at room temperature, since olive oil tends to congeal if refrigerated. Once the salmon, potatoes, and onion were cooked, I placed it on a plate and poured the remaining cooking liquid on them. I then put the steamed brocolli in a seperate dish with a few thin pads of "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter". I had this dinner with my ice tea mixture. I am now using about five green tea bags in the mixture. I also put out a small bone plate for disgarding any bones in the salmon steak of which there were quite a few. I generally eat salmon steak very slowly mashing the salmon with my tounge around my mouth to make sure there are no bones in it. It is dangerous to eat salmon steak by oneself, in case one should choke on bone, and not have someone to give one the Heimlic manuver. Well after dinner, I had a cup of coffee, and I relaxed a bit. I guess I will have a quiet evening at home and do a little laundry latter on. Have a good night. CIO

Note:<888>03/03/00 Friday 5:25 A.M. EDT: I added the DialUp dialer and TCP/IP, and I updated the Logicode Modem driver to a 28,800 Sportster Modem Drive with Microsoft Update, and I added my init string for it, "&F&C1&D2&K1&M4L2S6=2S7=90S10=7". I then signed up for a backup Lycos Free Internet Access account, and it all went fine. I have five numbers available in Stamford, Connecticut; but I only set up the two numbers that begin with "3". Well if the cable modem should go down, I now have a reliable backup dial number. Well I am beginning to get bushed, so I think I should call it a day. Have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/03/00 Friday 2:05 A.M. EDT: Well for those of you on a low budget in a local dial area to this service, I found this for internet access Lycos Free Internet Access . I am catching up on my email. CIO

Note:<888>03/03/00 Friday 1:00 A.M. EDT: After the last message, I went out. I drove down by the waterfront. It is a clear cold night with a north wind. I parked in the center of town, and I walked the lower section of Greenwich Avenue. I noticed a few of the local pubs had a few lingerers. I sat out at the post office, and I noticed they have put new slats in the benches and repainted them. I walked up to the center of town, and then I returned to my car. I drove over to the Shell Station, and I returned a quarter, I had barrowed the other night when I barrowed cigarettes. I just returned home, and the music is enjoyable as ever to relax to and work. I have to remember to change the CDs occassionally. With the Greenwich Library music CD selection, I have a large selection of music to choose from, but I mostly listen to Broadway Tunes since they are more cheerful. Well have a good morning. CIO

Note:<888>03/02/00 Thursday 11:00 P.M. EDT: Well today was a long day. I was up at 7 A.M.. I had breakfast of three soft boiled eggs, toast, coffee, vitamins, and orange juice. I went out about 9 P.M.. I stopped by the Greenwich Post office, and I mailed a new voters registration card. I also paid last month's Bell Atlantic telephone bill and this month's MCI telephone bill. I drove down by the waterfront. I stopped by Putnam Trust Bank of New York and did some banking. I then went over to Off Center Barber shop in Old Greenwich, and I got my hair cut for $15 plus $5 tip. I stopped by the Old Greenwich Thrift shop and everything is half price. I stopped by CVS and bought a 16 oz. jar of dry roasted peanuts for $2.69, and then I drove out to the southwest parking area and I had a light lunch observing the clouds and skyline from the car on a cooler day. I noticed quite a few senior citizens out walking for exercise. I then drove up to the WIZ in Norwalk, Connecticut; and I paid my last month's cablevision. I still have to pay this month's cablevision and @home cable modem service. I bought a clearence item, a Techiques 180 Watt amplifier with controls for CD, Phono, Tape, VCR, Television, and capable of surround sound or regular sterio. It did not come with a power cable or remote, however it was $99 plus 6% Ct. sales tax of $5.94 or $104.94 total. I then stopped by CompUSA in Norwalk. I browsed the store. I noticed that they a center isle display now with Microsoft Mice and Keyboards. They have lots of Compaq computers stacked up. I noticed that you can get a 12 meg video card for $70 plus $20 mail in rebate. They also have a 32 meg video card for $130 this week for you gamers. However prices seem to still be going up on computer items, so I imagine for now they won't get any cheaper. The cordless Microsoft mouse is $40 with a $10 mailin rebate. I then drove back down to Greenwich and stopped by Fleet Bank in Byram on the New York boarder, and I noticed that they now charge $1 for ATM withdrawals. I stopped by Radio Shack in Port Chester and bought a power cord for $2. I returned home, and I noticed the power cord was not quite the right fit, it needed a split down the center. I cut one and taped it with electrical tape. I then transfered the cables from my old Techniques sterio amplifier about fifteen years old that has been hit by lightning at least two times, but still works. I put on the temporary split cord, and I tested it. I took the top shelf out of the bookcase, so there is room for the turn table. I have the Phillips CDplayer on the bottom. Then the new Technique amplifer tuner, then the JVC VCR, then the older Techniques tape drive, and then the Techniques turn table. I put the apartment back together, and I made my 3 P.M. appointment despite lots of traffic around the cable laying on west Putnam Avenue. There was a slight ruggess outside the appointment. I then stopped by the Hospital Thrift shop and it is still closed, they might be having their annual Cruise Ware preview tomorrow with new use merchandise out. I then drove down by the waterfront, and viewed the harbor and the cloud formation. I then stopped by Radio Shack in Cos Cob, and I bought the proper sterio electrical cord for $2.50. I stopped by the Korean vegtable and fruit stand next to it, and bought celery, a tomato, 4 cucumbers, and a head of escorole luttuce all for $3. I then drove by the Greenwich Library, and I read the local paper. I read three computer newsweeklies. I checked out a collection of Broadway CDs. I then headed over to the Food Emporium which was not too busy, and I took an exercise walk. I bought a 24 bag box of Lipton Green tea for $3.29, a head of Foxy brocolli $1.99, a bottle of Angostora bitters $3.39, an a salmon steak at $4.99 a pound for $4.04 for $12.91 total. I returned home, and I installed the proper sterio cable. I also hooked up the computer speakers lead cable to the Phono input and the Short Wave radio to the CD input. I test the Tape, CD, Phono, and tuner and set the settings on the new Technique sterio amplier tuner. It all sounds great. While doing this, I had a phone call from an old high school friend, and I gave him a brief run down on my life for the last 30 years and how it relates to the internet. I put on some of the Broadway CDs, and I started enjoying listening to music. I had a Stauffer's hearty meat loaf dinner with ice tea and instant coffee. I had set VGA adaptor to Default and the Monitor MHz to 56 with 16 bit high color at 800X600. This all took some time. I chatted with a friend while having coffee. I am steeping a new batch of ice tea. It seems like it got cold out, I can hear the North Wind howling. Well have a good evening, I guess I will stay up until 4 A.M. or there about doing a little computer work. CIO

Note:<888>03/02/00 Thursday 12:05 A.M. EDT: I was up early Tuesday morning about 9 A.M.. I worked the night before on the computer. I had some more lasagna, ice tea, and coffee. I worked on the computer all day tweaking the system. I went out at 4 P.M., and I drove down by the waterfront. I returned home shortly. I had dinner of the last of the lasagna and ice tea. I worked on the computer until about 9 P.M., and I slept until midnight. I worked on the computer some more until 4 A.M., and I rested until 8 A.M. on Wednesday morning. I went out without cleaning up for a couple of days. I stopped by the ATM at Putnam Trust. I stopped by Exxon and bought $16 of premium at $1.84 a gallon and a package of Basic Ultra lights for $3. I went by Putnam Trust again, and I withdrew more funds. I went over to Staples in Old Greenwich, and I bought Windows 2000 Upgrade for $150 plus tax and Norton System Works 2000 3.0 for $50 plus tax with a $20 upgrade mailin rebate and a Sentry Fire Safe for $25. I drove back home, and I stopped by Exxon and I bought a carton of Marlboro ultra light 100s for $35. I put my backup tapes in the Fire Sentry safe in a convenient location. I returned home, and I tired installing Windows 2000. Unfortunately the Cdrom player made a grinding sound with the cdrom which it did not do with the other cdroms I have. I examined it and the cdrom had rough edges. I drove over on the turnpike to Staples in Old Greenwich about 1:30 P.M. and I exchange it. I stopped by the Grand Union and on the way back, and I bought four Stauffers hearty dinners for $2.50 each various varieties, a half gallon of milk for $1.59, two half gallons of GU premium orange juice for $1.99 for $15.57 total. I then returned home, and I had one of the Stauffer's dinners for lunch with ice tea. I tried the cdrom, and it was also had rough edges, and made a grinding sound. I went over to Staples in Port Chester, New York; and I exchanged it for another one. I returned home, and the third box of Windows 2000 Upgrade also had the same rough edges that caused it to make a grinding sound. I went back to Staples in Old Greenwich, and returned the Windows 2000 Upgrade and the Norton 2000 System Works, and I bought a large box of legal envelopes 500 count for $4.25. I returned home about 7 P.M., and I formated and sysed the corrupted C: drive, and I installed Windows 98 with only the backup program, and then Windows 98 Upgrade. I then restored my D: drive backups of C: to the C: drive. While doing this I had another Stauffers dinner with ice tea. Once the backups were restores, I rebooted and I started tweaking some items. I set the Video adaptor at Default, and Monitor at 72 MHz. I ran the usual maintenance utilities. Well I now have the system all back to normal and running fine as good as ever. I am a bit tired, so I think I will go to bed shortly. Have a good morning. CIO