What with my computer e-mail acting up–for three days I couldn't send or receive–my heart was in my stomach over that excessive postage charge for sending my books to Germany.  I had not received the "yes, send the the books to Phoenix" from the man who is making a gift of ten of my books to a German Universtiy teacher of English.  So I had hastily dispatched the books.  $45.50 postage!

In a gracious message from Dr. Chaudhuri, a fellow member of the Phoenix Writer Club, he tells me by e-mail that he got my frantic telephone apology, and said "just send me a bill." I reduced the price per book to help cover that postage bill!

Speaking of computer glitches:  My son, Alan Gore, who lives in the same condo complex as I but in a different building, fits computer service for Ma in between doing newsletters for the camera club, and for the Mac and PC clubs, attending meetings for them and for the hiking clubs, and taking car of his computer consulting business.  (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR ANYONE IN THIS AREA)

When we first encountered the mystery of why my MSN server was neither sending nor receiving, Alan was on his way to a meeting.  However, back from that meeting by afternoon, he came.  Within an hour he had restored my service.  "I found the problem as the last possibility," he told me.  I would not be able to use a computer if it weren't for his help when glitches occur.  I've used cyberspace since 1985.  However, I still do not know how computers work–just that I have to rely on them.–

Willma