(no subject)

It arrived yesterday afternoon about 3. Took the men nearly two hours to set it up. They do this all the time, but this was their first attempt at our particular machine. A pin used to move a seat is broken, and the machine is missing two soft rollers that Master sure were there when He looked at the machine on Friday. Today He is going to go talk to the store. He thinks the rollers just got left in the truck. We looked it up on the internet, the selling price on the website is about the price we paid. Late last night we did a set upworkout, checking the max weight and making calculations for reps and sets. It's not quite as smoothe professional machines i've used, but all in all not bad. i made a discovery that may or may not be good. In all of the different exercises that the machine makes available, i am as strong as Master with the exception of one. i should have thought of this earlier, He comes from the generation where girls are not as strong as boys. His upper body strength will soon surpass mine, i'm sure, but i also believe we will remain close on the lower body strength. i can't believe how weak i've become. And it was a startling revelation to find out Master's strength also. One thing i have trouble understanding, although really i don't, is how i can do leg presses with so much weight and not have my knees hurt, yet walking and standing carrying less weight is very painful. On the other hand, when i woke up in the night to go to the bathroom, i noticed right away that even the little workout i did last night made my knees less tentative(?). If i don't do anything else on that machine, the leg work outs are a must.

Corfu is very nearly a reality. i have to call the airline again to get the itinerary for the trip so i can make sure the car is available. And i have to get an international driving lisence. i am excited. The only downside is the prospect of spending 24 hours total in the Athens airport. 12 hrs each way. Bah! i keep thinking i should write Douglas to see when Chinese New Year is, and ask him if he wants to meet me in Corfu.

Into the office today. i am not looking forward to this at all. i expect a confrontation with two of my girls. i think, no i know, they cheated and i am going to have to decide what to do about it. And i have another student who came to me after i learned some upsetting news. i was not very nice to her. She sent me an email telling me how upset she was. i responded and explained and apologized. i will not change her mrak on the final draft, but will point out to her that it isn't the final grade. She may recognize that when she sees her final mark posted today and not come in. i hope so. The cheaters i don't know what to do about. i haven't turned in their grade so the Dean knows. i don't feel comfortable failing them, on the other hand that has been the policy in the past. But i think it was looking at plagiarism from a different angle. i'm sure it will sort itself out, i just don't know how, yet.

i received two warden's messages last night. The first to tell Americans to take precautions because there was credible evidence of terrorist activity in Kuwait. Gave the color of the car, the number of occupants, and what was likely to happen. The second was to say that in fact, it was happening. Two or three people in a car, one escaped, and at least one was injured/captured or killed, i don't remember exactly, and two Kuwait security men dead and two more injured. i have been a bit concerned about something like this happening before the Iraqi elections. i don't put myself in the position of victim and am very alert to my surroundings, as per Master's requirement. But, i have to get on with the dailies of life, and sometimes shit happens. In a case of random acts of violence such as last night's, varying my times and routes to work don't do much good. i could just as easily vary myself into trouble as not. i'll go to work, maybe out to lunch today, and come home. i won't congregate in areas with lots of Americans, i seldom do, i'll keep my head up, eyes open, and ears alert and go about my business. i'll do what i can to keep myself safe, and if it happens it happens. That's the fatalist in me speaking.

Low tide this morning. i looked out and saw the two boats in the little bay grounded. One was leaning against the other. They look so forlorn. Empatheitic fallacy. Inanimate objects have no feelingsss. Another queer thing, yesterday i spied one truck tire innertube. i got out the binocs to see what it was exactly and discovered it was anchored in place by a chain. This morning another is out there. Also anchored. i have no idea when either of them were put in place, and not a clue on earth what they are marking. i'll have to do some studying on this. Or not.

Master is on His way into the office before going back up north. He may not get back this weekend, He should know sometime today. The warehouse is receiving a shipment of 'stuff' for the election. Can't be helped that it is due to arrive on Friday. As long as it is a part of the making of History, neither He nor i mind very much. Unfortunately it is rather scarey to think of what the 'stuff' is.

Now, to work.

Master just called, the accountant found the missing check. It will be signed and put into the bank today. iam relieved.