Good News

I paid $104.00 to have the Techie retrieve my data from my hard drive. I went home popped in the DVD into my laptop and presto I had all my files back. I have a note written above my computer screen which reads "back-up", only I know the story behind those words.

The Techie called me this afternoon to tell me that they have located the problem: "the power source is faulty", he said in a smug voice. I asked him what caused the problem? He told me it was either faulty to begin with or it shorted out due to a power surge. The latter seems somewhat dubious to me. If that was the case would not my printer also been affected by the alleged power surge? The Techie told me that they would have to order the part from the company and then put it into my computer. I told him that the other Techie I spoke with yesterday thought there was something wrong with the hard drive. I told him to make sure that everything is in good working order before I pick up my computer.

Perhaps I should take a course in computer repair and hang out a little shingle: "Computer Repairs Here", another thing I could put on my retirement "to Do List".

Well, I am happy again and much relieved that I did not have to redo all that work. I learned my lesson.


Till next time, Cheers

Computer Crash Blues

This morning I turned on my computer and everything seemed normal. NOT. Little did I know within minutes my computer would freeze up as I was backing up my files. What did I do? What I have done hundreds of times before: held down the power button until the computer turned off; then waited the usual 1-1000-2-1000 -3-1000 etc. until I reached 10-1000 and turned on my computer. I heard a little whirl and saw the little light blinking and that was it. My monitor remained BLACK. I repeated previous ritual three more times. And still, NOTHING.

I picked up the telephone and dialed the local computer techie and he told me to bring it in. He plugged the CPU in and he got the same response. This confirmed to him that I wasn't lying. He then told me that I had to get in line and wait, and if I wanted to jump ahead of the line I could fork over $24.95 along with the $80.00 he needed for him to back up my personal data on my hard drive. I asked him how he could do that if the CPU won't even load? He grinned sheepishly as he informed me "they have ways" to do that sort of thing. Ca-ching $$$.

Since I need those files on Monday morning I really have no choice as he has me over a barrel. I need to pay the $80.00 + the $24.95 regardles of what is actually wrong with the computer, to get him to retrive my data.

Last night when I was putting on the finishing touches to a file and a power point presentation, a little thought crossed my mind: "you need to transfer your files over to your memory stick"( it happened to be plugged into the computer at the time). I pushed that thought out of my head and thought I am too tired and will do it tomorrow.

I can tell you one thing: from this day forward, I will NEVER PUT OFF BACKING UP MY DATA!

I hooked up my laptop and plugged in my main screen and wireless key board and I am off to the races. I have a strange feeling that I will be redoing some of my work before the weekend is up.

Right about now, I feel like the guy in the picture, like I am going to be reinventing the wheel.

Till next time, Cheers (I don't feel too cheery at the moment)

Jaime

Sunday Morning

Good Morning,

Right about now I would love to be on a boat in Hawaii watching the Humpback whales diving in and out of the water. Something I should jot down on my "Retirement To Do List"

I read that Humpbacks stick their tail out of the water into the air, swing it around, and then slap it on the water's surface; this is called lobtailing. It apparently makes a very loud sound. Humpbacks lobtail more when the seas are rough and stormy. I decided to look further into the Humpback and found the following information which is quoted in part from the "American Cetacean Society Fact Sheet" below:

"The humpback whale is one of the rorquals, a family that also includes the blue whale, fin whale, Bryde's whale, sei whale, and minke whale. Rorquals have two characteristics in common: dorsal fins on their backs, and ventral pleats running from the tip of the lower jaw back to the belly area. The shape and color pattern on the humpback whale's dorsal fin and flukes (tail) are as individual in each animal as are fingerprints in humans. Click on title "Sunday Blog" or each of the underlined words above to take you directly to their website).

But the reality is that I am in the middle of winter surrounded by snow and the only thing bobbing up and down on the horizon are the shovels flailing into the air redirecting the snow from their driveways and walkways.

Yesterday was a surprising change in weather when the temperature sored up and sent a brief heat wave causing the snow to start melting; hence rain. However, the temperature dropped again to freezing causing icy conditions on the roads, driveways, and walkways. Thank goodness it's the weekend and I don't have to go out.

I am going to pour myself another cup of java and look at some more pictures of the Humpback in Hawaii and visualize myself back on the boat watching these incredible creatures doing their acrobatics!

Till next time, Cheers!

Saturday Morning

Hello Everybody,

Just another Saturday morning to do with what I want. Well that's not exactly true. I have a number of things to catch up on since my work schedule has changed drastically from last summer. I am glad that my retirement is just around the corner.

Tomorrow I plan on attending the yearly RV show here in town sponsored by Traveland RV. I will report back to let you know what's new and what's not. This is my first RV show. I am still thinking of hitting the road when I retire, how soon after, is uncertain at the moment.

Till next time, Cheers!

Not a Morning person?

Good Morning!

Ever wake up in the morning feeling like a bear? This morning is one of those mornings. I looked in the mirror and saw a bear starring back at me. Now wouldn't that set you back a notch or two if that happened to you?

The other morning in the elevator, I over heard someone telling the person next to them that when they woke up this morning they felt like a bear! Strange, I didn't think they looked like a bear, they looked more like a chicken clacking away. Last week, I asked one of my colleagues if they work up grumpy this morning. They replied, "No they let him sleep!"

It seems to me that getting up in the morning feeling like a bear or grumpy all has to do with our attitude, in these situations, towards life. Whether we embrace life with gusto and can hardly wait for the day to begin or drag ourselves out of bed in the morning, our attitude, our thoughts will affect our energy for that day and for some of us everyday.

For example, suppose you awoke this morning at the crack of dawn knowing that today you were leaving on your trip to Mexico, Hawaii, or a warm place of your choosing void of snow. What are you thinking and how do you feel?

On the other hand, if it's 50 below outside with the wind chill and you know your boss will be breathing down your neck as soon as you arrive at your desk this morning. What are you thinking and feeling? I think you get the picture.

Did you know that your feelings about any situation can be controlled by your thinking? My first example may leave you feeling excited about getting away from it all without a care in the world.

Some of you may get a kick out of ticking your boss off by being late with your reports just to make him/her look bad at the next manager's employee productivity meeting.

So what about you, what are you thinking this morning? Do you feel like a bear or happy about getting up this morning ready to face whatever life throws at you?

If you're wondering about me, to be honest, I want to crawl back into bed and hit the snooze button for yet another 10 minutes while I try to get back into my dream about vacationing in Texas!

Till next time, cheers!

Sunday Morning

Do you want a hug? Have you ever had someone come up to you and ask if they could give you a hug? What did you do? Run the other way, or said you were too busy to stop for a hug, or did you just give in and hug them anyway?

I saw a TV show, (way before the writer's strike), not that they had anything to do with this show, where this guy was standing on the street corner in some city with a sign that said "Free Hugs". Some people walked by thinking that he was some kind of nut and others walked over to him for their "free hug" and went on their way, smiling.

I can just imagine myself tomorrow morning standing by the elevator at work and giving people a hug before they stepped on to the elevator. I wonder what kind of reception I would get? I do know quite a few of the people in the building but there are a lot of people whom I don't know.

Well, for now I think I will just hug my dogs, and for the record, I really am not the hugging type! Whatever that means.

Till next time, Cheers!