The Cost Of Nice ©

Before I get into my post I would like to send my condolences to Dot who’s brother passed away yesterday.
It’s times like this when I feel a little hollow inside because I know there is a friend hurting and there isn’t anything I could do about it

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I must be getting to mellow in my middle age.
For the last couple of days I have been working on a number of computers for friends who say they can’t afford to pay or because they used to be my brother’s old customers and their units are now crashing all over the place because their systems were all loaded with pirated copies of windows and they can’t get updates.

So being as I am his brother they figure I should be making everything right for his fuck ups.
Great eh?
Once upon a time I would have told them to fuck off but no, I spent 40 hours over 3 days bringing up their units to date for free.
Actually worse than for free.

My biggest piss off came on Sunday when the guy came over to fix my Internet and when h e left I was a rocket once more on line but the brand new copy of windows XP Pro that my customer went and paid $170 for disappeared.

Now I am in a major dilemma.
Did I misplace it and can’t finds the CD or did the technician who fixed my internet take it with him while I was sitting with Mike talking on the couch?
He seemed like a nice guy and did a great job on my line; actually he ran a brand new dedicated Internet line straight to my modem but I can’t afford to loose something on a job I am not being paid for either.

I informed my customer the other day about the CD and assured him that when he picked up his computer everything will be right even if I have to fork out the money myself but I am pissed.
First I am pissed at myself at leaving it out but in my defence I live alone and hardly ever have visitors unless I have something happening here and I clean up for that.

My brother says I should call my ISP and complain to his bosses but what happens if I find the fucken thing down the line in some obscure corner where it has fallen?
The guy could loose his job for nothing because I am too lazy to put things away.

Another problems is that I know where I last used it and where I put it when I was done and its not there.
I have cleaned out my computer area twice and have now moved into the kitchen and if I can’t find it there I will go in the TV room where I last used it to update my laptop and clear out that room to make sure its not there someplace hidden but I don’t think it’s there.
I have a feeling deep inside he took it and it’s a lousy feeling.

Besides my brother who steals from me every chance he gets only two other people have stolen from me and they paid dearly for it.
But that was a long time ago before I became mellower.

Part of me says I can’t let this fucker rip me off and get away with it and another part of me says is it worth the headache.
Then there is the proof of evidence or lack of.
I can’t prove he took it and can’t really say I didn’t move it or it didn’t fall someplace and can’t find it.

I miss the old days; at least back then I could have scared him enough to find out the truth either way.

You know what I’m going to do.
I am going to call up customer service and tell them to ask the technician if he accidentally left with my copy of windows even though he had no use for it to repair my line.
That way if he stole it he will know I know he’s a fucken thief.
If he didn’t then, I guess there is no harm done, but I just know he did it.
I feel it but I’ll be nice about it all and fork out the money to replace the CD.

Have a nice day

Walker