Tinhuviel Artanis

First let me tell a story that happened just today.

I went to Best Buy to pick up the Mac from it being repaired. The screen was wonky, and had to be replaced. While it was in the hospital, I had a loaner computer, which I have arranged before with Best Buy. They're really good about stuff like that, and I'm very grateful.

The problem this time, however, was that the loaner met with a pet-related accident. Toby. Need I say anymore? The screen got busted. So I took it back to them today, fully expecting to pay through the nose.

The girl had to get the manager to come talk to me.

Now, when I went to Best Buy, I just threw on a hat, because my hair is at one of those awkward lengths that makes me look like Beeker from The Muppet Show. When the manager came to me and looked at the computer, he then stopped and looked directly at my hat. Then he said, "I'm supposed to charge you $189 for this, but I'm going to waive it, because I know you've been a good customer in the past and I particularly like your hat."

This confused me, so I reached up and touched it to see which hat I'd put on. It was my Union Jack hat. The manager had a thick Liverpudlian accent.

How cool is that?! We chatted briefly about England and, of course, I complimented his accent, because it was bloody cool. My $12 Union Jack hat is now worth a little over $200. I am a happy chiclet.

---

Now, as for San Diego, it looks like I have probably another week and a half in South Carolina. I am in the process of packing up what few things I use, and will be travelling by road across the country with The Mother Unit and her friend Jean.

It's going to be all new and shiny. And I'll have roommates ~ a hippie (the Unit) and a bald guy (her bud Matt). It's like freakin' destiny right there.

I'm not fond of Southern California, but I had to be honest with myself: which state do I dislike more? South Carolina won, hands down. So off to the wild wild west I go. I'll have public transportation there, and many more options and things to do. It'll generate more journal posts, because I'll actually have a life to write about again.

We shall see.

I'm sort of back, but not completely. Getting a different car, hopefully. Don't ask. :/ I have a new list of grief support groups and therapists that specialise in grief, so hopefully I'll find somebody. It's ridiculous not to be able to find anyone after 9 freakin' months. Stupide Upstate...

Oh yeah, the hard drive on the old computer is completely destroyed, so the only files I could save were the ones on the hard drive. Hopefully I haven't lost much. If I don't twig on to something I no longer have, then I didn't need it anyway. That's the philosophy I'm gonna have to take, on a account I have no choice.

My computer just stopped working on me while as the Flea Martet today. I susecious moisture could be found nearby. The person watching my table while I went to change, finally addmitted that some kidde has spilt a litte pit of her spite but, surely not to mess up my computer.

I won't even turn on now.

I have an extended warrantely policay. I a mo hopoinh this will take of it and of he key that popped off last week.

If not, I may lose what lttle mind I have left. This is my tenbrous hold on reality. Without it, I doubt I'd be here at all right now.

Dammit, I can't seem to get all my iTunes transferred from the external HD to the new computer correctly, specifically the videos I've bought over the years. So I've decided to wait until the other computer gets back and am going to have the Geek Squad do their magick professionally for me. I can't afford to lose any of my music, especially since I've had to sell most of my CDs over the past couple of years. There's no way I can retrieve these songs, so I don't want to take any chances with this at all. It's gonna be a two week wait but, since I have thousands of songs, it's not like I'm gonna be running out of tuneage any time soon. Still, though...tarnation! It's not like I've not done this before. I'm forgetting to do something here and I'm a feeling a bit of an idiot at the mo. Blargh....

We were about to set up the computer for Aunt Tudi when I noticed that the keys that had popped off the keyboard hadn't been replaced. We have to take the computer back to the Geek Squad tomorrow for them to replace the entire keyboard, which will take us about two weeks for us to get the computer back. This is kind of good in a way. I'm wanting to get a couple of 'For Dummies' books for Aunt Tudi to peruse, so she'll have the time to do that for a while before ever having to deal with learning how to work on the computer basics at the same time she's trying to make the computer her own. At least this will give me the chance to get all my files transferred to the new computer and have the old computer ready for a total clean sweep by the time we get the machine back from the Geek Squad. Still, though, it's a big pain in the ass to open the computer up, thinking everything is hunky-dory, only to discover that it's far from. So....POOP.

Even though Aunt Tudi won't officially be online until the computer is back and fully functional, I think I do have her convinced to at least begin working on the new computer so she'll have a pretty good feel for her own once it's back in town.

The keys on my computer keep coming off and I can't reattach them. How can a writer work like this? Now my backspace key has fallen off. I'm so frustrated I could scream. It's like like, if things can go wrong, they will go wrong. I'm not certain if my computer is still under warranty or still is covered by the extra insurance I took out on it. With my luck, it isn't and I'll just have to get used to using the thing with missing keys. Why the hell is this happening to me? What I'm afraid of is that I'm going to end up without a computer with upcoming books to be released. What am I going to do then? I can't very well conduct business from the library like I'll need to do. Something is going to have to give.

One of my keyboard keys fell off and I can't get it back on. Looks like I'll be going to the local computer guy to beg for his mercy. It's like my computer has a cavity. I'm really unhappy about this. The computer is only a little over a year old. It shouldn't be having problems like this.

I retired around 1 AM and, with Toby trampling me, I finally drifted off to The Chronicles of Riddick about an hour later. It was one of those nights where, even though I was sleeping, I was aware that I was asleep, just under the wire of unconsciousness, but not fully there to where I could dream or rid myself of my thoughts. And I clenched my teeth all night long. I got up about an hour ago with a low grade headache and sore teeth thanks to that. The dentist made me this plastic tooth guard to help with my clenching, but it no longer fits properly and, to be honest, I hated wearing it because it kept me from getting fully asleep, it was so weird feeling.

Today, Aunt Tudi and I are supposed to go 'round and pay the rest of our bills, but the weather is supposed to be bleak all day, so I'm gonna try to persuade her to put it off until tomorrow. I don't feel like going anywhere today and I have a doctor appointment tomorrow, so we have to be out tomorrow anyway. I'm supposed to wake her up at 9:30, so we'll see then.

Speaking of Aunt Tudi, she was introduced, along with myself, to the wonderful medium of televiewing via the computer last night. Under the advisement of tryslora and penguingirl84, I sought out the 100th episode of LOST Aunt Tudi accidentally taped over yesterday, so we got to watch it online last night. I opted for the high definition since this computer is HD and we were blown away by the clarity of the picture. That got me to jonesin' for more HD goodness, so I watched a number of things on You Tube with the HD option. One of them was, of course, The Joker Blogs' "An Apple a Day." I got a screen cap of the dude right after the fork trick and made this for a larf.

( this. it was for a larf. so....larf )

I swear to the Mighties, this dude tickles me silly, and he's so good at what he's doing it's scary.

It just occurred to me that I'm hungry. I want cheesy eggs. Nom nom cheesy eggs....

My computer died today.....again. I was able to salvage the few things I've added since the last time it died, so everything on that PoS is safe and sound. I took it to the Geek Squad only to be told that my service agreement expired last month. I had been previously told that it didn't expire until February 2010, but no... It was this year. So I was screwed. I called from Best Buy to ask Aunt Tudi to call the Mother Unit and ask her if I could have some fundage to get a new computer, since I can't do any of my school work without one. She's sending me the money via PayPal today. I wrote a check for the new 'puter, a Hewlett Packard G60-235DX Notebook, and another 3-year maintenance agreement. Mother Unit to the rescue once again! I owe that woman my first born. Too bad I'm not having any kids. Besides, she'd be pissed at me if I tried to pawn a child off on her. She might even have me offed for such an offence.

I came home to get ready for work, used the bathroom, flushed the toilet and it overflowed and glugged every-damn-where. Aunt Tudi and I scrambled to clean up the mess and I began furiously plunging the toilet to get something, anything to go down. The water subsided somewhat. I called work to let them know I was gonna be a little late due to the lovely situation before me. I went to the local store for some de-clogging agents and brought them home. Nothing worked. More furious plunging. The water subsided. I'm waiting for the plumber to get here to do whatever needs to be done. I can't leave because I have to be here to pay him. Damn damn and more damn.

I'm so pissed off, I could strangle something. Unfortunately, there are currently no Right Wing Dominionists around for me to properly vent my anger in that respect.

If I save my music library as an .xml file, will I have just music or a list of titles in a particular format?

There I was, in the throes of what was promising to be a dandy and relaxing weekend, preparing to type out the notes I've made for The Blood Crown when, all of a sudden, nothing.  My computer just stopped.  It shut down.  It ceased to Be.  Thinking that it may have gotten overheated, even though it shouldn't have since I just had the fan replaced three months or so ago, I waited for a few minutes and tried to turn the 'puter back on.  It ground into action, then suddenly....stopped.  Oh crap, I thought.  The beasties must have done a number on my AC cord and my battery is dead as a result.  I just need to check the AC.  But the power was fine.  I tried a different outlet.  Same result.  My computer wouldn't turn back on at all.  My Inner Obi-Wan began to scream "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoooo-oooo-ooo-o-o."

I got the phone and called Best Buy's Geek Squad to confirm that my extended maintenance plan was still active.  It was, so off to Sparkle City I drove, my ailing 'puter in a bag.  It took all of fifteen minutes to turn the computer into the Geek Squad; unfortunately, it's going to take a little longer than fifteen minutes to get it back from the Geek Squad.  The dude who helped me said that it could be two weeks, maybe longer, before the computer is ready to come home.  I asked him what he thought it might be.  One possibility is that the cooling system has gone wonky on it again.  Another possibility is that the mother board may have died.  When he said that, I had to tell my Inner Obi-Wan to shut the hell up.  By then, though, my Inner C-3PO was moaning "We're doomed."

Truer words ha' ne'er been spoke.

Here I am at the 'libarry,' as the local yokels dare to call it. We're only allowed an hour at a time on the computer, so I zipped through my hour trying to catch up on email, then left to get cat food. After getting cat food, I apparently allowed my wallet to fall out of my purse at Bi-Lo. Only when I went to get out my library card to log on for another hour on the computer did I realise my card and the wallet in which it resides were both gone. So I hauled ass back to Bi-Lo where the folks at the front counter had my goods. Well...most of them. The $80 I had was gone, but everything else as intact. Cursing like a sailor under my breath, I thanked the Bi-Lo people and drove back to the library. And here I am ~ broke, surly, and going through Internet withdrawals bad. I hate being timed on my computer use and I despise the fact that I was stupid enough to lose my wallet. Gyah! And it hasn't even been a week that my computer has been gone. I'll be dead by the time the two to three weeks the Geek Squad may need to take to heal my computer has passed by. Dead, I tell you, dead!

I've been writing the old-fashioned way: with a pen applied to paper. My handwriting is atrocious. I figured I'd better transcribe what I have so far before I lose the ability to read what I've written. Right now, concentration on the scribblings and memory will get me through but, the longer I wait, the less of a chance I'll have to transcribing the mess. This bit was inspired by my recent reconnection with the Craft combined with the Tarmian Ways and rituals. Actually, I want to include a good amount of Tarmian tradition and way of life in this sequel. The Chalice wouldn't exist had it not been for the firm platform of dozens of notebooks of Deaghydhe/Tarmian language, ritual practice, myths and legends, and character developments on which it rests. I want Kelat's pre-Vampire days to be more prevalent in The Blood Crown. Her memories, particularly the ones she passes on to Cadmus that will help him retrieve the Blood Crown, will bring to life the ancient alien Elfin creatures who inherited the Earth millions of years before Humanity stirred in the dreams of the Earth Mother. Kelat is, after all, the Mother of Memory. I should focus more readily on that and let her live up to her Tarmian title.

Okay, so here it is.

( Kelat'menan ~ the Mother of Memory )

That's what I have so far. And I have three minutes left online. Crapola. Maybe I can get back on Saturday.

Hope all is well with you people, those I call My Friends. ::blows a Sithly kiss::

Oh, and HAPPY ALBAN EILER!!

I just found an S-Video port on the new laptop which means I can probably hook a VCR up to the computer and make DVDs of my music videos......

SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

This really has nothing to do with birds or farmers. It is, instead, a random post with no strong subject to merit it being made the subject line.

First off, I would like to state for the record that I am both terrified of and appalled with the Burger King King. He's pretty much the creepiest thing on TV now, only because the scary Six Flags dude isn't currently in rotation, and I want him to go away.

The owl icon I'm using is from a picture of an owl that lives in the Wild Animal Park, which is a free range animal sanctuary in cahoots with the San Diego zoo. The Mother Unit took that picture and it's completely untouched. I just love how the black pupils turned out to be red. It is a great horned owl and one of the most beautiful creatures I've ever had the honour of encountering. But I'm a sucker for owls, any kind of owl. I think that's the one thing that sealed a bond between the Grandmother Unit and me. We barely knew each other when we were reunited, but the one thing we had in common was an uncanny adoration of owls. When she passed away, the Mother Unit passed her owl collection on to me.

My loose modem connection is swiftly driving me quite mad. I really need to get the fucker fixed before I snap and scamper through the neighbourhood offing yokels with an air rifle. What happened a few weeks ago is Aunt Tudi got her foot caught in my phone cord and jerked it really hard. Thankfully, she didn't fall or hurt herself, but she did a number on my computer. It's been a nightmare ever since and it's getting worse with every passing day. Must.Get.It.Fixed..... Ideally what I'd like to do is get the new lappie, transfer all my stuff over to the new one, wipe this one clean, then get it repaired without any of my personal stuff being on it. Then it'd be like new for Aunt Tudi to use and drive herself like a herd of wombats into the 21st Century.

I'm supposed to go see Llew around 7 tonight, but I've already told him I have to leave by 8:45 to be home in time enough for LOST. Since I've had to go out every day this week so far, I'm really not keen on going anywhere. But a promise is a promise. I just don't feel like doing anything but vegging online and giving the animals and Aunt Tudi the hairy eyeball.

After Judge Judy, I've got to shave my legs, which is a monumental task since I am Sasquatch. I need to make the legs at least marginally decent-looking for the doctor tomorrow, so he won't have to dip his fingers in an inch of fur just to get to my kneecap. I have a 10:15 appointment tomorrow morning for Dr. Yost to hopefully give my left knee an injection. He may not do stuff like that, though, and will have to refer me to an orthopaedic doctor. I had a doc for that, but he stopped taking my insurance so..... there you go.

Speaking of insurance, I need to start paying for my Cobra this month. I've decided to do the 12 month extension just in case one of my eyeballs falls out or something equally as gruesome. Perhaps by next year I'll have insurance with a new job working with animals whilst going to school.

Here is where I get to really complain: I miss having a crush on someone. Not a particular person, mind, just the crush itself. The last really strong crush was on Darth Maul. Such obsessions are very inspiring and uplifting for me. I feel kind of empty when I'm not swept along by uncontrollable feelings which I can explore and expand. No one really captures my fancy, though, so I just drift aimlessly wishing for that powerful feeling to return. I hate that.

I was informed that all BMG product has no invasive spyware or anti-copying software that loads onto a person's computer. This was a wholly Sony venture prior to the merger. In fact, RCA is not planning on even continuing its copy protection campaign. That said, any albums on RCA, Jive/Zomba, BMG Classics, Wind-Up, Arista, J Records, RLG (RCA Label Group ~ it's Country), Verity, Providence, V2, BMG US Latin, Razor & Tie, Dancing Cat, RCA Victor, Buddha, Sanctuary, Rough Trade, Robbins Entertainment, Windham Hill, or any other labels I may have not remembered that are distributed through the BMG portion of the new company are SAFE TO LISTEN TO ON YOUR COMPUTER. I don't think that any of the new albums under the umbrella of the new Sony BMG entity will carry any of the software currently terrorising computer users.

So breathe a sigh of relief and avoid albums made by Sony prior to October. Werd.

I'm thinking of getting a new laptop for school, but I have no idea which one I'd need. The lappy I have now will go to Aunt Tudi when I get the new 'puter. She knows nothing about computers, so I need to get her a "computers and the Internet for 61 year old dummies" book. That'll learn her.

Also, I just took this quiz and thought it was hilarious, I guess because I do tend to be a bit of an elitist online.

( cleeck for zee queez )

Okay, I'm off to window shop for laptops.

It's been an eventful week and a tiring one.

In the long trend of bad luck that has hallmarked the Year of Oxygen, it would seem that the domecile may just have some electrical problems. The power in the dining room went out on Wednesday and I had to trip the breaker to get the lights back on. Every once in a while since then, the lights will flicker and dim. Not good!

On Monday, Lew went to my job for an interview for a position that has opened on first shift. It is hoped by us both that he gets this job because, if he does, he will be remaining in town and staying with me during the week so he can ride to work and back each day. The perfect arrangement! We get to spend more time together and he gets gainful employment. Needless to say I've put in several good words for him and I can only hope that my time at the Salt Mines has afforded me some clout in such areas. According to Kim, who is doing the hiring for this position, a decision should be made by Wednesday. Will there be joy? Stay tuned.

On Tuesday, I went and hung out with Lew. He took me to the local school field to show me his new plane. It's a hand launcher radio controlled plane is so very cute. I'm fascinated with his hobby. Seeing these wee planes dip and glide in the air is beyond coolness. So I asked him if I could hand launch his new plane just once. It was then I discovered that I throw like a girl. I tossed that baby straight into the air and it came crashing down like stone. Lew didn't even have time to compensate for my lack of ability. So it connected with the Earth and cracked on both sides. UGH! I felt so bad. Lew ragged me mercilessly, which actually made it all better, and he said that the damage was easily repaired. In fact, he's already got it fixed and flying again. What a relief!

I finally got the laptop back up and running to specification and now my computer at work has a virus that is slowing it down to a ridiculous speed. Bad luck looms over my technological joy. Since I have the lappy back, though, it's back to work on All Things Shriekback. I must get out my periodicals and figure out what needs to be developed and uploaded to the website.

Lew has a video capture card and has already told me that I can do some captures from the Shriek videos so I can replace the pathetic visions I currently have featured in the pictures section of the Shriekback Digital Conspiracy.

I really just need to get my arse in gear and get to work. Motivation is a serious issue for me right now. It seems like all I want to do in what little spare time I have, when I'm not with Lew, is play Neopets. Thanks, Margaret! hahahah

Two movies I really want to see right now:

"Signs" ~~ about the crop circles. I'm really keen on seeing this.
"Austin Powers in Goldmember" ~~ I have a weakness for dumbass movies that are also freakin' hilarious. It's about time I get to see Dr. Evil again.

Well, it's time for me to go to bed now. It's another work day tomorrow....12 long hours at the answering service, having to deal with the dregs of the human gene pool...mush-mouthed men and whiny women. Oh joy.