EXCUSES, EXCUSES, EXCUSES

 

          Okay, I know I haven’t been posting anything and that includes the next chapter of my book. I have a zillion excuses to offer and hope you’ll forgive my writing lapse. I’d much rather be writing than…   

          Trying to set up a new computer. I bought a new computer at the beginning of April and let it sit in the box while I tended to other things, i.e., cataract surgery. Once that was taken care of, I moved on to the new computer. I didn’t feel savvy enough to just go it alone, so I asked for assistance. My first assistor wasn’t able to do much because the one place she wanted to get to wouldn’t come.

So, I asked another assistor to give me a hand. This person used to be an IT person at a rather large institution. I assumed that he would marry up the old with the new and transition files that way. Nope, his way was to copy to a stick and then paste to the new computer. This worked well enough in that I was able to continue what he’d started and move everything over…or at least I thought it was everything.

I continued to have problems in that I no longer had Outlook. So both my erstwhile helpers returned and between all three of us, I am now able to access Outlook, Xfinity and Yahoo is set up for when Xfinity gives email the heave-ho. I am so very thankful to both my assistors and must think of something I can do in the way of showing my appreciation.

Of course, once the computer situation was remedied, the printer decided to stop cooperating. It was talked to by the computer and was happy to print whatever it received; however, after one clear line, the next would be all smudged and unreadable. Well, I  could fix that!!! I had all the printer cleaning and aligning things recommended, plus I used a kit I bought some time ago to clean the printer heads…all to no avail.

So, I ordered a new printer. It had to be a Canon that used 250-251XL cartridges. I found one and it arrived and sat in the box for a week or more as I tried to find the energy and brain cells to allow me to take on another form of technology. Let me tell you, I could have waited another month or more for the upcoming experience.

Removed the ink cartridges (most almost new) from the old printer. Took the new printer out of the box and got it set up. Installed the old cartridges only to have the printer tell me they weren’t going to work…where were the ones that came with me??? So, put in the new cartridges. Still no go but figured out it was because of the cord Canon had included. I removed the old USB cord from the old computer and plugged that in. AH, SUCCESS…but nope, not going to print.

Thankfully, my first assistor happened to come by (actually, she planned it because I’d lamented via text) and found the problem within like a minute. I don’t think she was here for more than three minutes total.

So, just this morning, I went to print only to have the damn computer want me to save the document instead of print. DAMNIT, the document had already been saved. I wanted to PRINT!!! I went online and followed the suggestions I found there and VOILA, I could print.

Then on Thursday, came the frosting on the cake or what I hope is problem number three solved without further issue.

I went to the Lynnwood Olive Garden restaurant to have lunch with a friend. After lunch, I went to the bathroom prior to leaving the restaurant. When I reached my car, I couldn’t find my key…on a stretchy bright green thingie. Sometimes when I go to the bathroom, my key will drop out of my jeans pocket. I went back inside the restaurant and checked the bathroom…no key. Asked the restaurant greeter and we looked at the floor where I sat…no key. The wonderful lady even went in the back and checked a couple of places where it might have ended up, including the garbage and, NO KEY.

Well, I thought of everyone I could call for help and decided on AAA. The very nice young man arrived in less than thirty minutes and within five minutes, he had my car door open and again, NO KEY. So, it had to be some place inside Olive Garden. I left my car unlocked when I began to return to the restaurant.

On my way there, I once again felt in all my pockets and, again, NO KEY; however, as my hand traversed the front of my jeans/sweatshirt, I felt something…the plastic thingie on which my key was fastened. I pulled up my sweatshirt and VOILA, there was my car key, stuck inside the front of my jeans. I guess when I went to the bathroom, rather than fall to the floor, my key somehow ended up down the very front of my pants. Funny, right…wrong!!!

There is my tale of woe for April. I had to devote way too much time to technology and searching. I’m hoping that May allows me time to do the stuff I really like to do, i.e., writing, driftwood sculpting and gardening. I guess I should ask y’all to pray for me based on my April experiences.    

TIMES ARE HARD

  

         

Apologies, dear readers, for leaving this space blank for so long. My life has been a bit of a challenge and may, for all I know, continue to be one for some time.

I had cataract surgery just over a week ago and my eyes seem to be doing just fine. I opted for the distance lenses as opposed to being able to see near. I’ll either need new glasses or continue with the readers I purchased the other day. I was told not to wear my old glasses at all and my appointment for new glasses isn’t until the end of the month.

          The ophthalmologist told me my cataracts were very dense, and I guess they were because everything is so very BRIGHT. My son called to check on me a couple hours after he brought me home. I was in bed with the blind pulled down almost all the way, and what I could see was very bright. I told him he should go out for a walk and he said he wasn’t doing that in the pouring down rain. I said it must be sunshining at my house and he responded that he lived in a convergence zone. Later, when I got up, it was still very bright and pouring down rain. It took me several hours to realize that the brightness was because I was actually seeing through a clean, unobstructed lens. So, that’s out of the way now.

          Someone told me that using a ten-year-old computer was tantamount to driving a car until the brakes failed. So, I ordered a new computer. Well, that’s led to hours of frustration on my part, even with the assistance of two other people. Finally, most of the files and photos have been transferred, but unfortunately, there are files that did not get transferred. I cannot go back for them because I wiped the old computer’s hard drive, so there’s nothing else to bring over.

          What this means is that I lose the list of “favorite” links on my internet browser and all the other file folders that were located in Outlook. I’m going to have to recreate new links and new folders. I tried for a new folder this morning in Outlook and wasn’t allowed to make one, so I’ll have to research how that gets done. Of course, this new computer has all the latest programs and that’s going to be a new learning experience…one I’d just as soon not have to have. And, I know, learning new things at my age is good for my brain…seriously, my brain is tired and would prefer not to have to learn anything new. I guess I’ll just have to persevere and learn by the seat of my pants which is how I’ve always had to learn my computer stuff.

          If all this isn’t enough, my furnace has been acting up. It was installed in 2001, and my son, the HVAC guy, has been keeping it running. I thought for sure Easter Sunday that it was done for good. AJ came over and changed out some parts and brought it back online. On Tuesday, he had to come back because it stopped again, and once again, he brought it online. I’ve discovered that the furnace comes on first thing in the morning and brings the house up to temp. Then it stops and doesn’t come back on until the temperature reaches 63 degrees. So, if I want a shower, I’d best do it first thing or wait until it kicks on again a few hours later.

          This problem brings up the question of whether I want to invest in a new furnace and/or a heat pump. AJ also thinks I need to have all the ductwork both under the house and in the attic replaced as well. I haven’t yet investigated to see what the cost would be or whether there is a program for poor seniors that would help with the cost. That’s on my todo list. I hate to invest thousands of dollars in this house because I’m sure whoever buys it will simply tear it down and build something else or a couple of small houses. Not just because of the furnace, but because it’s going to need a new roof fairly soon and the south foundation has sunk four inches…I got a price for that about four years ago and it was $39,000.

          So, is it time for me to sell this place and look for something smaller? I don’t know. Just thinking about that had me in tears this morning. I’ve been here for fifty-seven years and my home is full of STUFF that has meaning for me. How do I downsize and eliminate stuff that has meaning for me. There’s no way I could take it all because it wouldn’t fit in a smaller place. Just typing this and thinking about  how hard it would be to move brings tears to my eyes. It seems like it would be so much easier if I could just stop, quit, give up, enter the great beyond, join John and all those that have gone before me. And, don’t assume from that sentence that I plan to off myself because that’s not a choice I could make…at least at this point; maybe if I were terminally ill. I’m just alone and terminally poor.

          Anyway, please excuse the pity party I’ve been having for myself. I have two chapters to write about Madeleine and that book will be finished. I promise I’ll get them done very soon. The words are all in my head and I just need to send them out my fingers. Then, maybe I’ll check with amazon and see about getting these books of mine published. Even if I didn’t make any money, the idea that what I’ve written is available for purchase would be a huge plus for me.

          So, those are my excuses for being absent for so long. Do hope you’ve missed me, or at least missed Madeleine…still looking for a title for this one.