spent the day debugging for client S. finally figured out the issue had something to do with the new security features in vista/win7 that doesn't allow programs to install files into the application folder anymore, but rather creates an invisible data folder within the user directory. nevertheless, i wasn't able to test this since i didn't have vista/win7 on any of my pc machines.

i ended up going to belmont to do some testing on a win7 box. i got there via motorcycle because i was in a hurry. the weather was cool for a change (upper 70's), but looked like it might rain despite the doppler radar saying we'd stay dry. i finally managed to duplicate the error but no closer to a solution. i went to the belmont post office to return some makeup for my mother before coming back to cambridge.

i finally worked out some new code and sent it to the client. without access to vista/win7, i wasn't able to test it, but i'm hoping for a miracle that the bug will now be fixed and i can invoice them for my time. there seems to be some urgency, with their own client on hold since last week waiting for a solution.

my roommate returned home before 6:00. she took a shower, did some laundry, and made herself some ramen for dinner. i just had some pizza rolls. she asked about my strand of christmas lights in the tiny hallway between the kitchen and living room. "does it turn on automatically?" i showed her the magic of the automatic timer switch, which she'd never seen before but liked so much that she'll probably buy some when she goes back to shanghai. she also finally asked about my bedtime, noticing my unusual schedule. "i go to bed around 2:00-3:00, and wake up normally between 9:00-10:00," i told her.