Oh, this morning was an icy mess of doom when it came to getting ready for work. After the ice storms, at least some people/places had a delay to let the sun come out and the weather to warm up and melt away the ice. Because...it took 5 minutes for ladystarblade to chip away at a small corner of my car's window. The ice was 1/4 of an inch thick on there.

Don't believe me? Here's a shot after I came out and started hammering away at the frickin' ice.

( Damn ice! )

All the while as I'm doing this, I'm cussing out Dr. A (the names have been changed/abbreviated to protect the guilty) for not calling a delay. Because, once again, this university prides itself on never closing and always being open. And after the early dismissal yesterday to which nothing happened until much later in the day anyway, Dr. A was apparently hesitant to let any more time slip through his fingers as far as employees go. Because, it's Friday...and there are very few students on campus since there are very few classes that actually run on Friday.

So, I was pissed and standing in ankle deep water, working on clearing the windshield. That got as far as this:

( More Damn Ice! )

until ladystarblade and I were able to get the ice off the vent system that can help melt the damn ice off the window. Remember...this is 1/4 of an inch thick.

So, cussing some more, and now not being able to feel my fingers, we leave that window be and go after the others. ladystarblade goes after the back window and THANK GOD that the defroster was working because it went a bit smoother:

( And EVEN MORE Damn Ice! )

So...here is where I get a bit bitchy...

Is it really worth risking people's lives on icy roads and parking lots in order to maintain your place as the university that NEVER closes/cancels? Because all it would take is one accident. And ladystarblade and I were out there for a good 45 minutes hammering off the ice that had accumulated over night. Had we been given a delay...we would have at least had the warming air and the sun to help melt off some of it. But NO!!

Nothing.

Apparently Dr. A doesn't care that we don't all have garages and not everyone can walk to the frickin' campus. Instead, we go out there and give our fingers frostbite peeling ice away and getting shards of it in our eyes as we hack away at the thick layer that covers the windows.

Yes, I am a bit bitter because it's absolutely ridiculous. I don't mind the fact that I'm coming into work. What I mind is that it's not about safety...it's about status. And Dr. A is just being selfish. Just because he's in walking distance of the campus doesn't mean we all are. Some of us live on hills (like ladystarblade and I). Some of us live on back roads.

Delay.

Add it to your vocabulary!

Seriously!

Yeah...suckery. A new word. But nothing else seems to fit this situation. If you thought you had computer issues, sidewinder...just look at the hot mess that awaited ladystarblade yesterday:

1. Computer taking forever to boot up.
2. Get idea to wipe computer hard drive.
3. Realize WipeDrive disc is with another computer.
4. Go to Best Buy and purchase WipeDrive program.
5. WipeDrive program is $30 more than expected.
6. Go home
7. I ask ladystarblade about boot disc for after WipeDrive.
8. ladystarblade doesn't know where boot disc is.
9. ladystarblade drives to family house to find said boot disc with operating system on it.
10. ladystarblade calls to say she can't find it and is coming home.
10. While she's heading home, I find the box with the computer boot disc and operating system.
11. I call ladystarblade to tell her the news.
12. I start WipeDrive.
13. WipeDrive clears off the hard drive.
14. ladystarblade returns home and realizes that the operating system on the boot disc is Windows ME (Millenium Edition).
15. Install Windows ME.
16. Try to install Microsoft Office 2003.
17. Get an error that says Microsoft Office 2003 is not compatible with Windows ME.
18. ladystarblade cusses...a lot.
19. ladystarblade goes to see if she can find a Windows XP disc at her family house.
20. Discover that the router for her wireless connection will not work with Windows ME.
21. ladystarblade returns.
22. Bitch, bitch, bitch.
23. Use WipeDrive to wipe the computer again.
24. After much shouting, deliberation, and tears, we head out to Wal-Mart for a copy of Windows XP.
25. Cannot find anything but Windows XP Upgrade.
26. Discover all we need is the Windows XP Upgrade anyway.
27. Spend $105.85 on Windows XP Upgrade.
28. Return home.
29. Reinstall Windows ME from boot disc.
30. Install Windows XP Upgrade.
31. Halfway through upgrade, get error message about not having enough memory (uh...just wiped the whole computer and XP was on it before!) or the disc being corrupt.
32. More cussing, bitching, and anger.
33. Reinstall Windows ME again.
34. Try to install Windows XP Upgrade again.
35. Halfway through upgrade, get error message about not having enough memory or the disc being corrupt.
36. LOTS of swearing and bitching.
37. Decide to reinstall Windows ME and attempt to register it.
38. Realize that Windows ME is not set up for broadband internet, as it did not exist when operating system was made.
39. Install wireless adaptor for router anyway.
40. Cannot connect to Microsoft site because it is busy.
41. Bitch. Bitch. Bitch.
42. Try to install the Windows XP Upgrade again.
43. Halfway through upgrade, get error message about not having enough memory or the disc being corrupt.
44. Gave up and shut everything down.
45. Called hacker friend to come over this morning to fix it.

Seriously, folks...I can't make this shit up. And we really can't afford a new computer (or the hassel of Windows Vista...BLARF!). Nor could we really afford these programs, especially if they aren't working. Nor can we really afford to be down a computer.

Just sayin'.

GAH!

Keep your fingers crossed. We're going to need it.