Computer Problems

Ok, I have come to the conclusion that while the technical meaning of CPU is Central Processing Unit, it's alternate meaning has to be Complete Phuck Up. I'm not griping about my computer. I know everyone who owns or has ever owned a computer has encountered a moment at least something like this. You press the on switch and it...Won't. Come. On. It just sat there with a blue line across my black screen that said "Video Cable Connected?"

Yes, it is connected!! What is your problem?? So my cousin, who was an IT guy for AT&T for 25 years came over to try to revive this thing. Nothing doing. So I called around and found a service center across town. I loaded my computer up and headed over. When he looked it over and figured out what had gone wrong he said that it would cost more to repair it than it would to simply put my hard drive into another computer. Then he told me he had a custom build in the back that was almost ready to go, all new parts. A quick install of my larger hard drive into the new one and we were ready to go. Mine had two hard drives: a 40 GB and an 80 GB. This one had an 80 GB already on board, so he just put my 80 in with it. He tried to swap my files over from the smaller one onto one of the larger ones, but they wouldn't go. Not sure why. He was however able to save all of my daughter's pictures from the 40 GB so I got and kept what I was worried about losing. All of the other stuff on it can be replaced. Those pictures couldn't. That's why most of her stuff is already backed up to flash drives. I had about 20 pics still on the hard drive. And I still have them! :)

So I brought this thing home, hooked it up, and it started truckin'. Then there was trouble. I turned the new computer around to hook my printer up, and the phone rang. People, take it from me: If you have a CPU balanced in one hand on the edge of the desk, a wire in the other hand, and the phone rings, let the machine get it! I figured out how to answer the phone, and in the process almost dropped the computer, did drop the wire, and in this balancing act wires and cords went flying! The computer shut itself off, I got off the phone, and tried to assess the damage, all the while cussing myself for possibly ruining the computer I had just paid for with most of what I had saved up for something else!

Well, the computer did come back on, but once again I see "Video Cable Connected?" and I thought "Ohhhh %$@#" Upon further investigation, guess what I found? The video cable WAS disconnected! So I hooked it back up, left the printer for another day when my nerves are back in once piece, and left well enough alone!!! Then I called the person back and apologized for the freak out they had heard over the phone when my computer tried to go in 50 different directions at once.

It works. It has enough hooked up to it for now. The printer is out of ink so it really doesn't need to be hooked up right now anyway. I think it will stay as is until I get a new ink cartridge and then I will call my cousin to help me with hooking anything else to this thing!!!

Oh and one more thing: my computer was nearly ten years old. It was a custom build, been updated a few times, and I have to say it has been a tough old booger to put up with me all this time! It has done well. And I still have it. When I picked the new CPU up, I took the old one home too. It still has the 40 gig in it, and if it has a virus beyond repair, it can be switched out. We think the mother board blew too. My dad is going to take it home with him to tinker with. I think he has plans for it, and he has said something about bringing it back here once he has it restored. Which means my husband will have his own computer now. :) And I have one more update to do to mine: it needs Sound Blaster Audigy installed. I love that program, and I'm putting it on this one ASAP. And by the way, AVG. Excellent antivirus software.

Having said that, I am going to shut this thing off and go to bed! Goodnight, and don't try to play computer guru while talking on the phone! LOL!!

Ari

Making Stuff For My Kid's Class....

I told my daughter's teacher I would make some things for the class, and I made my first attempt the other night with a jar of home made finger paint.

Whew!!! Wow what a job that was to do!!!!! Oh man!!! That was SOOOOOO hard to make!!! ;) Yeah right. 3 ingredients, stir until it boils and thickens, pour into a jar and add food coloring. Took me 10 whole minutes, lol! And it's made of stuff out of the kitchen cabinet, so it's completely non-toxic. Seriously, it calls for some corn starch, a little salt, a little sugar, some water, and the food coloring. When the cornstarch, salt, and sugar mix thickens, it looks like the stuff they make the gel out of for the filling in those little fried fruit pies. I think it basically is the same stuff.

And the other day I went into the classroom to pick my daughter up, and all over the place were paintings made with blue finger paint! My blue finger paint! That jar had been a trial run, and it turned out really well! The teacher said, "yeah, it did great! Now all we need are more colors!" I think I heard a hint in that statement somewhere. I will make several more colors tomorrow. :)

The next recipe I plan to make for this class? Play dough!! :)

Can ya tell I'm having fun with this???

Ari