eBay is brilliant

I found out recently (Friday PM) that much of my displeasure with my enzyme assays derives from the fact that the CPU running the diode is a Pentium II 256 MHz with 192MB RAM. No, really. Not being technically inclined, it took somebody to actually point out that these were the exact reasons my computer and consequently the programs it was attempting to run were so slow. Now it is clear.
I talked to my boss on Monday and got the go ahead to get a new CPU. I have a budget - I set out to find my new computer.
Now my University has a special deal with Dell for the purchase of PCs, so I head there first. I find the exact PC I want - Celeron D 533MHz, 1G RAM DDR blah blah blah with an 80 G harddrive. And most importantly it has three expansion busses, one of which will be used for a PCI card so that the 'puter can talk to the spec, and vice versa. And it is $60 below my budget limit. Sweet! I talk to our biology sys admin, who says go forth and purchase. I talk to LTS, who parrots the sentiment.
I call Dell, and they say I cannot have the CPU I want, because it is not under agreement with my University. Ha! If I were to purchase that computer, then it would be considered a personal purchase, and even though they have all of our info on file, the purchase would not be tax exempt. Well, if one is to buy equipment with NIH funds, one cannot pay tax. Also, this CPU would not be subject to the institutional discount, so there goes the budget limit.
I ask the gentleman a Dell whatever am I to do?!? He says, Let me give you a quote for a CPU that would be under the institutional agreement. All the same parts - different skeleton - $200 more than what I had wanted and way over my budget. This is stupid.
I give all of the info to my boss and let it be known that it is her money and her decision. I leave her with the specs of what I desire.
15 minutes later I am walking in the hallway with a refreshed ice bucket when I am called into her office. On her computer is a computer that would satisfy my needs - on eBay. The reserve is way below my original budget limit. After some discussion and much warning, she decides to place a bid. We will know at mindnight (last night) whether we were successful bidders or not.
First thing this AM I ask and she congratulates me by saying we get a new computer. Yea! But still, it is off of eBay. Fresh in the box, supposedly brand new, but off of the back of a truck somewhere??!? Don't ask, don't tell.
so now I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my new processor. Hopefully the data will be infinitely easier to handle and process, and as a result I will be a happier camper. Assuming the damned thing works.
Also, I got this outrageous urge to cook last night. Based on another blog Chocolate and Zucchini, I made a spinach and cheese over whole wheat pasta dish. Tasty last night and even better for lunch, where I could share it with my labmates and have it be suitably complimented.
1-2 shallots thinly sliced
1-2 cloves crushed garlic
evoo
spinach sauteed in the shallot/evoo/garlic mix with the two liquids below
vegetable stock
red wine (merlot)
whole wheat pasta
feta
gruyere
diced proscuitto
pignolli nuts
olives
ground pepper

no need for salt, b/c of the proscuitto, gruyere and olives. The cheeses are understated, there is a lot of spinach. with the proscuitto and pignolli and olives, the presentation is brilliant. Great color and even better flavor. Yum.
Make this again.
ciao