4 years have come and gone like THAT; there's one born every minute and I'm not it
Remember when I said I was going to try to start writing shorter, more digestible entries? This is not one of them. But since I'm so super nice, I'll cut for length so the boring doesn't take up your whole f-list for a day.
Tery's cursing and railing against our 4-year-old computer reached a crescendo this weekend. I really can't blame her; when you turn it on it sounds like a jet engine roaring to life (which is still better than not roaring to life). Opening the CD tray requires between 20-30 button presses. Starting Firefox requires a wait of at least 4 minutes after clicking the icon, and Firefox was installed when Internet Explorer started refusing to open at all 8 out of 10 times. Startup in the morning takes such a godawful long time I almost have to set my alarm so I can get it going and go back to sleep for another 30 minutes.
In other words, it's old. Old and infirm. And no doubt virus-ridden, thanks to my insistence of using a bunch of free, half-assed programs in addition to McAfee, which is an ENORMOUS resource hog.
I can handle the aging machine better than Tery, since I'm on it all day and have gotten used to its peculiarities. When she doesn't get instantaneous results after clicking an icon, she'll click it again. And again. And again, until the program is trying to open eight windows, which really does nothing to help with the speed issue. This is probably the only instance where I have more patience than her.
Sunday seemed as good a time as any to look for sales. I started to research some reviews online before realizing I had a rough idea what price I wanted to pay and what specs I needed, and to comparison shop online could take months -- which is precisely how MyFriendDeb shops. Tery said, "Let's just go check out what they've got at the store." Knowing full well we never just "check out" stores -- if we go into a store, there's a 97.5% chance we're walking out with a new computer.
Micro Center was predictably jamming for the Sunday after Black Friday. I like Micro Center because their displays are arranged by price point, so it's like doing an item sort by price on Amazon. We gravitated toward an eMachine for only $389 that seemed nice: Intel Duo Core and 650gb hard drive (these are the only two specs I pay attention to). Our coughing and wheezing PowerSpec cost $500 four years ago and "only" had 250gb (which of course seemed ginormous back then). I could get used to this trend.
While we waited for a sales guy, an HP rep came and chatted us up. We mentioned Windows 7 (which was running on all the floor models) and he excitedly started showing us all the features, which seemed to consist primarily of fancy new ways to move windows around. Coming from XP, we were sufficiently wowed (we fortunately got to miss the whole Vista fiasco, though the guy said he thought Vista got a "bad rap." Maybe so, but we're not willing to take that chance when we're stuck with a machine for 4 years).
Mike our sales guy came back with a grim look and asked us what our second choice was. They were sold out of the eMachine. I guess that price was irresistible to lots of other people too. He suggested a refurbished HP running an AMD Phenom processor (HP guy assured us it was comparable to if not faster than Intel) and 750gb for $10 more. We weren't looking for refurbished, but he seemed confident this baby was fully loaded for the price of a new lesser machine.
Tery had wandered off during this time so didn't know the change of plans. He turned to her to try to sell her on the idea, and she got a deer-in-the-headlights look. "She just wants a CD tray that will open," I interjected (which she later complained sounded too much like, "Oh, that's the little lady. She doesn't know anything about all this high falutin' technology." In my defense she once called me to ask how to set a picture as her wallpaper, surely covered on page 1 of "Windows for Dummies"). "At this price we can throw one in that even closes, too" Mike winked. He was pretty slick.
Given the state of our current computer, I was concerned about antivirus. He wanted to sell us software we had seen scattered as ubiquitously around the store as there are iPhones in an Apple store, Nod32 by Eset. I said we had McAfee coverage through Comcast and Mike sucked in his breath sharply. "McAfee isn't bad, but it's very proud. It constantly needs to remind you it's still there and everything it's doing for you." Which is true -- lately the constant updates have gotten so bad I've had to turn them off entirely, because they slow everything down so much I can't even work. When Mike said this Nod32 was all we needed for the new machine (and I could stop downloading crappy free programs in a futile attempt at gaining peace of mind), I said sign me up.
So home we went with our new toy. We excitedly started her up, only to be greeted by a "Boot Disk Failure" screen that was a bit discouraging. The tower also had a "Windows Vista" sticker we didn't like the look of one little bit. A second attempt got us to a pretty green/blue screen, but we couldn't ascertain if this was a Vista welcome or not because shortly after it went back to the Failure screen.
Back to the store she went. Fortunately Mike noticed me standing forlornly in the exchange line and hustled me through. He assured me the failure message was not a big deal and they'd just exchange it. I told him Vista was a dealbreaker, and he generously took $50 off the sale price and sold me a Windows 7 upgrade for $50. This earned him such a glowing review on the website it made my previous kudos for our Lowe's guy, Ken, seem like a complaint by comparison.
The second unit was a success, and the upgrade went without a hitch. Unfortunately as I started the tedious process of transferring everything from the old computer, it was only then I realized that my work software, arguably the most important thing on there, wasn't compatible with our sparkly new machine, a possibility that never entered my mind. When I called Tech Support they said they were still working on making it Vista-friendly. Hooo boy.
So the problematic PowerSpec earned a stay of execution. I had to somehow use both machines, and for now the HP was just a really overpriced Facebook tool (Tery's only use for the computer).
The first route I took was a KVM switch, that lets you hook up a mouse, keyboard and monitor to two different computers. This seemed ideal, and I was so excited about it I went back to Micro Center rather than pay a little less online and wait for shipping. An acne-faced kid offered to help me despite already being in the right aisle and fairly sure what I was looking for. He picked up a $22 unit and handed it to me. "Yeah, I was looking at this one online. Can you tell me anything about it?" He couldn't, and in fact resembled Tery from the day before having a bunch of specs thrown in her face.
"Or there's this one," he said, selecting a $19 box. I glanced at it and pointed out that it was a PS2 connection, not USB. Did he even work here? He slapped his little sales sticker on the first one (I think the registers keep track of associates' stickers when you check out), even though the only way he technically helped me was to save me bending my knees a tiny bit to reach the bottom shelf.
But it wasn't over. I also needed a splitter so I could use the speakers on both computers (what good is Facebook if you can't hear the videos people post?) He took me to the next aisle (which I've spent plenty of time in and know very well) and hastily grabbed the first vaguely Y-shaped item he saw. Slapped his sticker on that and disappeared before I demanded any more displays of his expertise (or lack thereof).
Well, I know a thing or two about electronics connectors and adapters, and unfortunately the one he chose wouldn't work: male and two females, and I really needed three females, or the one he chose and a coupler. I searched for a long time in vain for three females (snorf), so tried for a coupler. In the midst of this an older man wandered by and offered to help me. I explained my needs again, and he stood and scrutinized the Y-adapter with such a blistering intensity it dashed any hopes I had that HE knew anything I didn't.
We both scanned all the hooks in the aisle. I was just about to head to the Apple corner (where they usually have exactly what I need, at twice the price I want to pay), when I noticed a hook with mismatched items. Lo and behold, the item in the back, with packaging that looked like it survived WWII, was the coupler I sought. I guess 15 years in the inventory biz wasn't a waste after all.
"Well, would you look at that?" he chortled in a grandfatherly way, then seized it from my hand so he could slap his sticker on it. Even though he did even less to help me than the kid. This is why I shop online most of the time.
I raced home with my swag and hooked it all up. To my amazement, it worked like a dream; amazement because if you know anything at all about me, you'll know that NOTHING works the way it should the first time.
But it turned out this was not to be an exception either. After about 9 hours of blissfully switching back and forth between the two computers (well, not 9 hours straight, I did have a Watchmen Blu-ray that wasn't going to watch itself a third time), suddenly the mouse locked up on the PowerSpec side. With trepidation I tried rebooting it, whereupon it started hanging halfway through the startup process. Couldn't even get to a desktop. TERRIFIC.
I was convinced the computer was toast, thought it was kind of eerie how it died the day after buying a new one, like it could sense it was being replaced. I panicked wondering how I was supposed to work the next day. Then I took a few breaths and tried unhooking the KVM switch which, thankfully I guess, solved the problem. Evidently, whereas switching technology has existed for decades for the simpler PS2 hookup, the USB still has a way to go.
This is why when I do shop online I skip straight to the negative reviews of a product. Because I know if someone somewhere had a problem with it, the odds are very, very good that I will too.
I brought it back and here I sit with an overpriced Facebook tool. Plan B is an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional (less than half retail on eBay), which rumor has it has a "Virtual XP Mode" that everyone seems confident will be backwards compatible with most XP sofware. God I hope so, because do you know how hard it is for me to have a brand new (refurbished), shiny, fast, sleek computer sitting right here that I can't use? My love of new technology + my towering impatience = IT'S KILLING ME.
ADDENDUM: Still waiting on the upgrade, but after finally getting a chance to play with Windows 7, I have to say, apart from some of my old favorite programs not working (again, all my hopes rest on Win 7 Prof) and the enormous pain in the ass transferring everything I need over, it's actually pretty freakin' awesome. But every time I come up against a program that isn't ready for Win 7 yet, it feels a little like being the first company in a new office building waiting for the other floors to be occupied.
ADDENDUM TO ADDENDUM: You started out in Austin, Texas, Win 7 Prof. What the hell are you doing in Utah???
*~*
Speaking of computers, I'm having a sort of end-of-year clearance sale. Everything must go! Or at least all these aging electronics that aren't exactly appreciating in value. For instance, a 10-year-old Compaq laptop that I've decided is not really worth taking up all that space for the once every few months I use it to compose a blog entry.
I always thought if I were to sell it it would have to be on Craigslist, because the cost of shipping it (not to mention the intensive care needed in packing it) was higher than I thought anyone would pay for a 10-year-old dinosaur. But I was afraid Craigslist doesn't have the customer base of eBay and it would languish there for months.
I put together an eBay listing, describing it as honestly as I could (as I always do) without talking potential buyers out of it. A day later I've collected an impressive following of watchers but no bids.
Today I got an email from a guy in Texas wanting a Buy-It-Now price before bidding started. He had a bedridden uncle in the VA Hospital who needed some inexpensive entertainment. Since watchers didn't necessarily guarantee a sale, I would consider it.
I came up with a price of $30 -- the computer is functional, but did I mention it's 10 years old? Considering the drastically dropping prices for a new laptop, I didn't think I could be greedy. And according to the UPS site, cheapest shipping to Texas would be $35. I sent this information on.
He came back with this question: "So are you going to send it shipped for total price $35?" Sure. Better yet, why don't I just drop it by your house in person and pay YOU $35? Do the math, Texas. Try to rise above the stereotypes. Shipping is $35. You want to pay $35. Great deal for you, not so much for me.
I sent back, "Purchase price $30 plus shipping $35. I was hesitant to list on eBay because I knew it wouldn't be cheap to ship." On second thought, perhaps I shouldn't have used such a big word as "hesitant."
I haven't heard back from him since. I sincerely hope it stays that way. You aren't doing me any favors, Texas. I'd sooner donate it locally than let you steal it from me. "Say, little lady. I can take that off your hands for $35!" Buy your uncle a damn crossword puzzle book (if there really is an uncle -- because the fact that he's laid up in not just any hospital but in a veteran's hospital smacks a bit of trying to tug on some bonus heartstrings to get a real bargain. Sorry, Texas; I'm a New Englander and we tend toward suspicious).
I'm so tempted to just cancel the auction while I still can and save myself some headache. "You might as well," Tery said. "You've already ruined one vet's Christmas."
~*~
I won't cut this or else you'll miss out on the pretty photos.
I'm excited because after watching "Cats 101" on Animal Planet, we suddenly realized what breed our Schminky Minky is (remember she was found in a garage with a litter of babies, no official credentials on her). She's a Norwegian Forest Cat!
Now when you rattle off such a grand-sounding title to people, they look at you like you've lost your mind and started thinking you're King Louis XI (or your cat is). But the thing is, she fits the description to a T.
Physically they're known for their long coats (it's cold in Norway. Though frankly it's a bit wasted when she spends most of her day on the softest bed money can buy), particularly their full neck ruff, big bushy tail and tufty toes (that was the point we perked up). Their faces are equilateral triangles with big eyes and tufty ears. Built sturdy, they're the distant cousin of Maine Coons (I've always thought she was part Coon). Emotionally they're calm, confident, intelligent and faithful. I don't think I need to add any more to that statement.
A Google image search turns up lots of examples to back my claims, but I chose this one to show you:
For comparison, here's Mitten:
Thanks to Tery's efficient new labeling system, there can be no mistake. I love how she left out an entire syllable
Totally unrelated, after rewatching some Firefly, I decided I couldn't go another day without Jayne's cunning hat. Fortunately eBay is crawling with them:
I do believe I got me a Halloween costume already for next year. I also just noticed there's a Norweign Forest Cat with me in the picture. Faithful.
Tery's cursing and railing against our 4-year-old computer reached a crescendo this weekend. I really can't blame her; when you turn it on it sounds like a jet engine roaring to life (which is still better than not roaring to life). Opening the CD tray requires between 20-30 button presses. Starting Firefox requires a wait of at least 4 minutes after clicking the icon, and Firefox was installed when Internet Explorer started refusing to open at all 8 out of 10 times. Startup in the morning takes such a godawful long time I almost have to set my alarm so I can get it going and go back to sleep for another 30 minutes.
In other words, it's old. Old and infirm. And no doubt virus-ridden, thanks to my insistence of using a bunch of free, half-assed programs in addition to McAfee, which is an ENORMOUS resource hog.
I can handle the aging machine better than Tery, since I'm on it all day and have gotten used to its peculiarities. When she doesn't get instantaneous results after clicking an icon, she'll click it again. And again. And again, until the program is trying to open eight windows, which really does nothing to help with the speed issue. This is probably the only instance where I have more patience than her.
Sunday seemed as good a time as any to look for sales. I started to research some reviews online before realizing I had a rough idea what price I wanted to pay and what specs I needed, and to comparison shop online could take months -- which is precisely how MyFriendDeb shops. Tery said, "Let's just go check out what they've got at the store." Knowing full well we never just "check out" stores -- if we go into a store, there's a 97.5% chance we're walking out with a new computer.
Micro Center was predictably jamming for the Sunday after Black Friday. I like Micro Center because their displays are arranged by price point, so it's like doing an item sort by price on Amazon. We gravitated toward an eMachine for only $389 that seemed nice: Intel Duo Core and 650gb hard drive (these are the only two specs I pay attention to). Our coughing and wheezing PowerSpec cost $500 four years ago and "only" had 250gb (which of course seemed ginormous back then). I could get used to this trend.
While we waited for a sales guy, an HP rep came and chatted us up. We mentioned Windows 7 (which was running on all the floor models) and he excitedly started showing us all the features, which seemed to consist primarily of fancy new ways to move windows around. Coming from XP, we were sufficiently wowed (we fortunately got to miss the whole Vista fiasco, though the guy said he thought Vista got a "bad rap." Maybe so, but we're not willing to take that chance when we're stuck with a machine for 4 years).
Mike our sales guy came back with a grim look and asked us what our second choice was. They were sold out of the eMachine. I guess that price was irresistible to lots of other people too. He suggested a refurbished HP running an AMD Phenom processor (HP guy assured us it was comparable to if not faster than Intel) and 750gb for $10 more. We weren't looking for refurbished, but he seemed confident this baby was fully loaded for the price of a new lesser machine.
Tery had wandered off during this time so didn't know the change of plans. He turned to her to try to sell her on the idea, and she got a deer-in-the-headlights look. "She just wants a CD tray that will open," I interjected (which she later complained sounded too much like, "Oh, that's the little lady. She doesn't know anything about all this high falutin' technology." In my defense she once called me to ask how to set a picture as her wallpaper, surely covered on page 1 of "Windows for Dummies"). "At this price we can throw one in that even closes, too" Mike winked. He was pretty slick.
Given the state of our current computer, I was concerned about antivirus. He wanted to sell us software we had seen scattered as ubiquitously around the store as there are iPhones in an Apple store, Nod32 by Eset. I said we had McAfee coverage through Comcast and Mike sucked in his breath sharply. "McAfee isn't bad, but it's very proud. It constantly needs to remind you it's still there and everything it's doing for you." Which is true -- lately the constant updates have gotten so bad I've had to turn them off entirely, because they slow everything down so much I can't even work. When Mike said this Nod32 was all we needed for the new machine (and I could stop downloading crappy free programs in a futile attempt at gaining peace of mind), I said sign me up.
So home we went with our new toy. We excitedly started her up, only to be greeted by a "Boot Disk Failure" screen that was a bit discouraging. The tower also had a "Windows Vista" sticker we didn't like the look of one little bit. A second attempt got us to a pretty green/blue screen, but we couldn't ascertain if this was a Vista welcome or not because shortly after it went back to the Failure screen.
Back to the store she went. Fortunately Mike noticed me standing forlornly in the exchange line and hustled me through. He assured me the failure message was not a big deal and they'd just exchange it. I told him Vista was a dealbreaker, and he generously took $50 off the sale price and sold me a Windows 7 upgrade for $50. This earned him such a glowing review on the website it made my previous kudos for our Lowe's guy, Ken, seem like a complaint by comparison.
The second unit was a success, and the upgrade went without a hitch. Unfortunately as I started the tedious process of transferring everything from the old computer, it was only then I realized that my work software, arguably the most important thing on there, wasn't compatible with our sparkly new machine, a possibility that never entered my mind. When I called Tech Support they said they were still working on making it Vista-friendly. Hooo boy.
So the problematic PowerSpec earned a stay of execution. I had to somehow use both machines, and for now the HP was just a really overpriced Facebook tool (Tery's only use for the computer).
The first route I took was a KVM switch, that lets you hook up a mouse, keyboard and monitor to two different computers. This seemed ideal, and I was so excited about it I went back to Micro Center rather than pay a little less online and wait for shipping. An acne-faced kid offered to help me despite already being in the right aisle and fairly sure what I was looking for. He picked up a $22 unit and handed it to me. "Yeah, I was looking at this one online. Can you tell me anything about it?" He couldn't, and in fact resembled Tery from the day before having a bunch of specs thrown in her face.
"Or there's this one," he said, selecting a $19 box. I glanced at it and pointed out that it was a PS2 connection, not USB. Did he even work here? He slapped his little sales sticker on the first one (I think the registers keep track of associates' stickers when you check out), even though the only way he technically helped me was to save me bending my knees a tiny bit to reach the bottom shelf.
But it wasn't over. I also needed a splitter so I could use the speakers on both computers (what good is Facebook if you can't hear the videos people post?) He took me to the next aisle (which I've spent plenty of time in and know very well) and hastily grabbed the first vaguely Y-shaped item he saw. Slapped his sticker on that and disappeared before I demanded any more displays of his expertise (or lack thereof).
Well, I know a thing or two about electronics connectors and adapters, and unfortunately the one he chose wouldn't work: male and two females, and I really needed three females, or the one he chose and a coupler. I searched for a long time in vain for three females (snorf), so tried for a coupler. In the midst of this an older man wandered by and offered to help me. I explained my needs again, and he stood and scrutinized the Y-adapter with such a blistering intensity it dashed any hopes I had that HE knew anything I didn't.
We both scanned all the hooks in the aisle. I was just about to head to the Apple corner (where they usually have exactly what I need, at twice the price I want to pay), when I noticed a hook with mismatched items. Lo and behold, the item in the back, with packaging that looked like it survived WWII, was the coupler I sought. I guess 15 years in the inventory biz wasn't a waste after all.
"Well, would you look at that?" he chortled in a grandfatherly way, then seized it from my hand so he could slap his sticker on it. Even though he did even less to help me than the kid. This is why I shop online most of the time.
I raced home with my swag and hooked it all up. To my amazement, it worked like a dream; amazement because if you know anything at all about me, you'll know that NOTHING works the way it should the first time.
But it turned out this was not to be an exception either. After about 9 hours of blissfully switching back and forth between the two computers (well, not 9 hours straight, I did have a Watchmen Blu-ray that wasn't going to watch itself a third time), suddenly the mouse locked up on the PowerSpec side. With trepidation I tried rebooting it, whereupon it started hanging halfway through the startup process. Couldn't even get to a desktop. TERRIFIC.
I was convinced the computer was toast, thought it was kind of eerie how it died the day after buying a new one, like it could sense it was being replaced. I panicked wondering how I was supposed to work the next day. Then I took a few breaths and tried unhooking the KVM switch which, thankfully I guess, solved the problem. Evidently, whereas switching technology has existed for decades for the simpler PS2 hookup, the USB still has a way to go.
This is why when I do shop online I skip straight to the negative reviews of a product. Because I know if someone somewhere had a problem with it, the odds are very, very good that I will too.
I brought it back and here I sit with an overpriced Facebook tool. Plan B is an upgrade to Windows 7 Professional (less than half retail on eBay), which rumor has it has a "Virtual XP Mode" that everyone seems confident will be backwards compatible with most XP sofware. God I hope so, because do you know how hard it is for me to have a brand new (refurbished), shiny, fast, sleek computer sitting right here that I can't use? My love of new technology + my towering impatience = IT'S KILLING ME.
ADDENDUM: Still waiting on the upgrade, but after finally getting a chance to play with Windows 7, I have to say, apart from some of my old favorite programs not working (again, all my hopes rest on Win 7 Prof) and the enormous pain in the ass transferring everything I need over, it's actually pretty freakin' awesome. But every time I come up against a program that isn't ready for Win 7 yet, it feels a little like being the first company in a new office building waiting for the other floors to be occupied.
ADDENDUM TO ADDENDUM: You started out in Austin, Texas, Win 7 Prof. What the hell are you doing in Utah???
*~*
Speaking of computers, I'm having a sort of end-of-year clearance sale. Everything must go! Or at least all these aging electronics that aren't exactly appreciating in value. For instance, a 10-year-old Compaq laptop that I've decided is not really worth taking up all that space for the once every few months I use it to compose a blog entry.
I always thought if I were to sell it it would have to be on Craigslist, because the cost of shipping it (not to mention the intensive care needed in packing it) was higher than I thought anyone would pay for a 10-year-old dinosaur. But I was afraid Craigslist doesn't have the customer base of eBay and it would languish there for months.
I put together an eBay listing, describing it as honestly as I could (as I always do) without talking potential buyers out of it. A day later I've collected an impressive following of watchers but no bids.
Today I got an email from a guy in Texas wanting a Buy-It-Now price before bidding started. He had a bedridden uncle in the VA Hospital who needed some inexpensive entertainment. Since watchers didn't necessarily guarantee a sale, I would consider it.
I came up with a price of $30 -- the computer is functional, but did I mention it's 10 years old? Considering the drastically dropping prices for a new laptop, I didn't think I could be greedy. And according to the UPS site, cheapest shipping to Texas would be $35. I sent this information on.
He came back with this question: "So are you going to send it shipped for total price $35?" Sure. Better yet, why don't I just drop it by your house in person and pay YOU $35? Do the math, Texas. Try to rise above the stereotypes. Shipping is $35. You want to pay $35. Great deal for you, not so much for me.
I sent back, "Purchase price $30 plus shipping $35. I was hesitant to list on eBay because I knew it wouldn't be cheap to ship." On second thought, perhaps I shouldn't have used such a big word as "hesitant."
I haven't heard back from him since. I sincerely hope it stays that way. You aren't doing me any favors, Texas. I'd sooner donate it locally than let you steal it from me. "Say, little lady. I can take that off your hands for $35!" Buy your uncle a damn crossword puzzle book (if there really is an uncle -- because the fact that he's laid up in not just any hospital but in a veteran's hospital smacks a bit of trying to tug on some bonus heartstrings to get a real bargain. Sorry, Texas; I'm a New Englander and we tend toward suspicious).
I'm so tempted to just cancel the auction while I still can and save myself some headache. "You might as well," Tery said. "You've already ruined one vet's Christmas."
~*~
I won't cut this or else you'll miss out on the pretty photos.
I'm excited because after watching "Cats 101" on Animal Planet, we suddenly realized what breed our Schminky Minky is (remember she was found in a garage with a litter of babies, no official credentials on her). She's a Norwegian Forest Cat!
Now when you rattle off such a grand-sounding title to people, they look at you like you've lost your mind and started thinking you're King Louis XI (or your cat is). But the thing is, she fits the description to a T.
Physically they're known for their long coats (it's cold in Norway. Though frankly it's a bit wasted when she spends most of her day on the softest bed money can buy), particularly their full neck ruff, big bushy tail and tufty toes (that was the point we perked up). Their faces are equilateral triangles with big eyes and tufty ears. Built sturdy, they're the distant cousin of Maine Coons (I've always thought she was part Coon). Emotionally they're calm, confident, intelligent and faithful. I don't think I need to add any more to that statement.
A Google image search turns up lots of examples to back my claims, but I chose this one to show you:
For comparison, here's Mitten:
Thanks to Tery's efficient new labeling system, there can be no mistake. I love how she left out an entire syllable
Totally unrelated, after rewatching some Firefly, I decided I couldn't go another day without Jayne's cunning hat. Fortunately eBay is crawling with them:
I do believe I got me a Halloween costume already for next year. I also just noticed there's a Norweign Forest Cat with me in the picture. Faithful.