I'm not sure if I like weekends anymore.

This last one was so filled with stress, heartache, and hurry, hurry, hurry that I don't want another one for some time. And since I head off to Toronto this weekend, I guess I won't.

I spent Friday night trying to get files off my computer. I've known for the last few weeks that I would need to reinstall my computer sometime really soon. The computer would freeze at odd times, flash blue screens at me on a regular basis, churn slowly to itself for minutes at a time... Nothing like the corduroy screens I get at work sometimes, but bad enough.

I recognize the symptoms. They happened twice before. And both times it ended with cataclysmic system failures. So this time I preempted the problem a bit by doing the reinstall on my own time.

Ever try to get 3.5 Gigs of MP3's off your computer without the use of a network or backup device? The best I had was five Zip disks, two of which would hold all my files. I used MyPlay.com to store a chunk of the harder-to-get ones, and then just printed off a list of the others for later salvage operations.

Got all the files off and began the reinstall. The basic reformat and system config takes about an hour. Then I have to reconnect the cable modem, set up Internet access, download the system patches, download the Windows95 patches, download all the email and ftp software, install Office, install web software, install games...

It took all weekend. Not because it had to, but because I had to do the first half of the job about five times.

First it gets confused over the cable modem, which I mistakenly left attached during the reinstall and it now doesn't recognize. None of the other drivers would load. Reinstall. Then the modem worked but the system config was incorrect. Reinstalling the drivers fixed that, but the main system patches caused a general systems fault. Reinstall. Skip the system patches, and install the Zip drive. Something goes wrong and I lose both Zip drive and CD-ROM. Can't uninstall the Zip drive, because the computer doesn't seem to think it's there at all. Reinstall. One of the patches was for the CD-ROM, so figure something in there must be essential. Download the patches and add them one-by-one, in case the mass installing broke something the first time. Works. Add the zip drive. There goes the CD-ROM and Zip drive again. Reinstall. Get new drivers for Zip drive. They work. CD-ROM works. Internet works. Everything works.

This was Monday evening now. I was working on it Friday night, all Saturday (except for about three hours), Sunday night and six hours of Monday.

And all so we can play The Sims without it freezing up.

One truly horrible, horrible thing did happen. We were on our way out to Fish Creek Park, where the tree dedication ceremony for my Aunt was being held.

We were just coming up on the park when I saw a squirrel dashing back and forth in the small green area to one side of the road. Suddenly, he darted towards the road, right at a car.

"Don't you do that!" I blurted out. Lisa looked to see what I was talking about and saw him. He saw the car and zipped back and we breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's right little guy. Don't you try to go across this big road," I said. It was a couple lanes of crowded cars moving at around 60-70 kph. "Good fellow. You stay there... No! DON'T!"

He had darted back and bolted out onto the pavement. The little bugger was trying to make it across and ran right out in front of me. I swerved a bit in panic, but couldn't hit the brakes -- there were people right behind me -- and there was nowhere to turn!

My window was open so I heard the sound quite clearly. You ever get that feeling where it's like your heart just withers away? In my rearview mirror, I could see the little body twitch and stop moving.

I have never, NEVER killed anything larger than a spider. I've never hit a gopher, or shot a deer or anything. Anyone who has seen my pets over the years knows I have a particular love of small, fluffy animals.

I'm sure this sounds stupid to a few of you. I mean, we all make roadkill jokes and talk about gopher pancakes and the like. I know it was just a squirrel, for God's sake. And I know there was nothing I could do about it.

I know all that. I also know that I killed it. And that's a horrible feeling.

I hear you, man.

You had such high hopes...

Say something brief for a change.

Take me home, big fella