(no subject)

Went to church for the first time since my pubes grew in, for Christmas Eve candle service at the unity church. I didn't quite know what to make of it, but it lifted my spirits.

Of course, at the subsequent party at my great-uncle's house, I got to hear both how my step-cousin's debilitating neurological disease has ruined her chances at becoming a nmicrobiologist, and how my mother's brothers are both total deadbeats with little hope for a future. And hearing about my uncles reminded me of my neighbor... pretty depressing.

But I did get to show off my dancing skillz with my great-aunt Irene, who was just thrilled at how well I could lead. And even though I was a little inhibited with my family watching and hearing about my family's troubles, and even though it was a genre of music I'd never danced to before, I impressed a lot of people. She spent the whole rest of the evening trying to get my great-uncle to dance like that, but he insisted his hip couldn't handle it.

Time to open presents now!

I broke my mom's modem.

I ran Windows Update on my mom's computer and now her modem doesn't dial for some reason. She's using a Conexant SoftK56 modem.

I tried going into HyperTerminal and dialing manually with the ATDT command, and instead of trying to dial, it says RESTRICTED does the same thing after I type ATZ and AT&F. I can't find any information on why a Hayes-compatible modem would say RESTRICTED, but I do know that if you type just ATD;, it will pick up the phone and wait for the dialtone. It's just when you try to get it to dial numbers that it craps out.

And this doesn't sound like the kind of thing a driver update would cause.

Any ideas?

Loot report

I have a printer. Now I can print my own résumés.

I have Quiddler, from the makers of Set. Haven't played it yet; I'm too tired to learn the rules.

I have a brand new digital camera, and a carrying case for it. Batteries included, and extra memory card.

I also have a tie and belt hanger for my closet. Belt not included. 'Sokay, 'cause I have a belt.

I got some blank CDs and CD cases, too.

As for what I bought: I got my brother a handsfree cellphone kit for his car, I got my father the Matrix on DVD, and I got my mother Ms. Pac-Man for the PC.