i have spent almost the entire day trying to get wireless networking up on my laptop. first i bought two different wireless devices and two routers from Fred Meyer but was unable to get either to work after several hours. then i drove to a little computer shop far away to get two more wireless adapters and an ethernet adapter (this serial upload link is driving me crazy). i’m really hoping i can get this stuff to work because it will save me money in the long run. i guess i couldn’t really think of a better way to spend this rainy day. ;P

work is keeping me busy, but in the evenings i’ve been watching the mariners quite often. i enjoy watching baseball but i guess i’m really just taking a break from the things i need to do. i bought a few japanese study materials but haven’t had the motivation. i did check out the Godfather from the library on Saturday and have made real good progress; i think i’ll finish it tonight. i still have been unable to get the wireless card working on my laptop and i’m starting to consider a backup plan (purchase a new card or a new laptop).

Eriko has confirmed her plane tickets to visit Anchorage this winter. it will be a nice long trip, about a week – 22nd - 30th. at that time we’ll work together to put the finishing touches on the fiance visa application and she’ll be able to see a Kirsch Christmas. X)

i spent a great number of hours this weekend trying to get a wireless PCMCIA card working. i was reading docs, googling, recompiling kernels, modifying source code… but to no avail. as a last ditch effort i installed Windows (since the card has supported drivers for Windows) but even this didn’t work. i’ll take the laptop & card to work tomorrow and see if i can get it going on that wireless network. if so, then there is simply too much wireless interference from my neighbors. if i can coerce one of my co-workers to try it and it works, then i can only conclude that my laptop is too slow to handle it. if nothing works then i will print out the amazon return slip and put it in the mailbox. i’m hoping it either works in my laptop at work or not at all. i need a working wireless connection for my AI class, which starts in about two weeks…

my co-worker just came and asked me for some Japanese phrases and dos and donts as he meets with some Japanese business men from our Japanese partner in Tokyo. i want to know more. i want to be able to be the guy who greets these people and speaks to them fluently.