Back Online

After 15 days (which seemed like eternity) without a working computer, I'm back online with a new computer. That is one thing I'm thankful for today. I have a lot of other things to put on my gratitude list. I'm thankful for my smartphone, because it allowed me to check my e-mail and a couple of websites I like to log into every day. 

The problem with the phone was posting. I attempted to post a poem to one of my wirint.com journals. It took me an hour or two to post three stanzas, and I couldn't use the bold or italics. I decided just to be satisfied with logging in for a while without posting any long messages. 

Midweek Reflections: Technology is Wonderful When it Works

'Idal (Justice), 12 Mashíyyat (Will), 171 BE - Wednesday, October 8, 2014 about 2:18 pm Pacific Daylight Time

Technology is wonderful when it works and sometimes the only thing keeping it from working is connecting it properly. I haven't been able to use my printer since I moved into my studio apartment. I didn't know the reason until I decided to move it from the desk with the old computer to the computer I use to get online.

What was the reason I couldn't use it? The printer was connected to the power, but not to the computer.  I disconnected the power cord from the printer, moved the printer, and then realized I was missing a connection. The cord that is supposed to connect the printer to the computer was laying on my old desk waiting to be plugged into the printer and the computer. I figured out the problem after I moved the printer and I wasn't going to move it back to the old desk. This explains why I had an extra cord laying around.

Since I don't use the other computer to get online and plan to download everything on it to a portable back-up drive (I know that isn't the name of the piece of equipment I'll use, but I can't think of the name right now), there isn't any use moving the printer back to the other desk. I am happy, at least for now, so I will post this and get on with my writing or housekeeping.

Saturday Morning and the Blue Screen of Death

Jalál {Glory), 6 Qudrat (Power), 170 BE - Saturday, November 9, 2013 about 8:24 AM Pacific Standard Time

The other computer, the one I use to download to and upload from, blue screened this morning while I was attempting to make my weekly scanner upload to a survey website. I upload this scanner every week without encountering the blue screen of death, therefore the problem did not have to do with the scanner or its software. I am not sure what caused the problem, but this is the second time this week I have encountered this issue.

The first time was a couple of days ago, when I turned on that computer and it did not come on in the normal manner. I do not know what caused the problem then either, but I suspect I have to schedule some maintenance in the coming week. Of course, this would be the week when the computer wanted maintenance because this is the week I have to find some place to move and move.

This is the middle of November and I have just finished paying some bills with more bills to pay, if I can raise the money to pay them. I do not have enough money in my account to pay rent, a move in fee, or anything else that I need to pay to move into a new place. In addition, I have two prescriptions to turn in today and I need gas in the car.

This afternoon, I have to go look at a place which I probably cannot afford; however, I am going to look at it anyway. There is no use rejecting the place until I see it and figure out if I can afford it and then figure out where I will get the money to move in. Yes, I am attempting to be positive about this even though the computer blue screened, which is not a good sign, but at least it blue screened on Saturday, the end of the week, instead of on Sunday, the start of a new week.

Friday morning in Las Vegas

Istiqlál (Independence), 16 Mulk (Dominion), 169 B.E. - Friday, February 22, 2013 about 11:05 A.M. Pacific Time

Friday morning, my coffee cup is empty because for the past thirty minutes or so I had  to deal with modem issues. I am do know what caused the problem because manually rebooting the modem cleared the problem. I do not want to know what caused the problem because I am more interested in why one computer is encountering virtual memory problems.

Fortunately, that computer is not the one I use to surf and work on the Internet. At least under normal conditions, the only thing I use that computer for is downloads. It is the downloads that may be the problem. Anyway, I am running a virus scan on that computer right now; sometime this afternoon I will know if there is a problem with virus or spy ware. In the meantime, I will pour me another cup of coffee and finish cleaning off the dining room table.

computer issues
make days interesting stressful
another week past

Did you turn your clocks back Sunday morning?

Kamál (Perfection), 2 Qudrat (Power), 169 BE – Monday, November 5, 2012 about 7:30 AM Pacific Time

Daylight savings time ended Sunday, November 4, at 2:00 AM. Did you turn your clocks back before you went to bed Saturday night? Did you turn your clocks back when you woke up Sunday morning? Fortunately, for those of use who have a computer connected to the internet, a cable box with a digital clock, or a cell phone, we did not have to anything to be on time because an app automatically changed the time.

The only clocks in the house I had to turn back is the one on the coffee maker and the microwave. I still have to turn the clock back on the microwave, but I am not worried about that clock because it does not affect the use of the microwave. I turned the clock on the coffee maker back this morning because I may want to set the brew time. I have not used that particular feature on the coffee maker yet, but there is always the possibility I may want to use it.

I thin I am going to start using the automatic brew time this winter. It means I have to make sure there water is in the tank and coffee grounds in the basket the night before, but I normally set those things up the night before anyway. The only reason I have not been using it is leftover coffee, which I warm up in the microwave the next day.

I used to look forward to Saturday

Jalál (Glory), 2 Kalimát (Words), 169 BE – Saturday, July 14, 2012 about 9:00 AM Pacific Time

I used to look forward to Saturday. When I was a child, I looked forward to it because it was a nonschool day. It was a day I could spend at my Grandparents’ house, where I could feed the chickens and gather the eggs. In spring and summer, it was a my Grandparents’ took us to the Lake, where we could swim, boat ride and water ski or watch Grandpa water ski.

When I was in the workforce, Saturday was a day off. It was a day I didn’t have to go to work. I could spend Saturday anyway I wanted. I could go to a movie. I could go shopping. I could go out to eat. I could stay home and write. I could sleep late on Saturday morning and stay up late on Saturday night.

I don’t look forward to Saturday any more because it is the same routine every weekend. On Saturday morning, I get up and turn on the computer to make sure the virus scan checks for viruses and other malware. I take my thyroid tablet and then I roll the trashcan to the curb and pick up the morning; today I also took the recyclables to the curb. When I get back into the house, I check the computer to make sure it didn’t go into hibernation while the virus scan is running.

After checking the computer, I check the coffee to see if I have a cup or two leftover from the day before. If I have coffee leftover, I pour a mug and put it in the microwave, but I don’t turn the microwave because by this time I hear Mom either calling my name or crying. This morning she called my name. I get Mom up and begin giving her the morning meds. It is difficult to give Mom all her meds at once because she will not swallow all of them at the same time. I give her the first med and then I get her something to eat. I could go on and on about my mundane, but I won’t because I have to see about Mom and then check a couple of websites.

Three Times and counting in Las Vegas

Kamál (Perfection), 12 Bahá (Splendor), 169 BE – Monday, April 2, 2012 about 11:40 AM Pacific Time

I am on my way to being an “unhappy camper”. I had to restart my computer three times today and it is still morning. I am not sure how much I will accomplish, but I intend to accomplish something today. I would like to write 2,000 words before 9:00 PM. I will write 2,000 words if my computer cooperates. If the computer continues freezing up and the CPU running at 100%, I have no idea how many words I will write.

My daily word count goal is 2,000 and I know I can accomplish that. I am just not sure I can accomplish it when the computer needs turning off and on about every two or three hours. It takes the computer about five or six minutes perhaps more to load everything, it needs after restarting or turning it off and back on.

Once I turned everything off; the computer, monitor, and the cable modem. I thought that might solve my problem, but it did not. I had to turn the computer off an hour after that because the CPU was running at 100%. I need to upgrade the technology. I need a faster computer to go with the cable modem. Once I get a faster computer then I will probably need a new printer. I will just have to shop around and see what type of deal I can get, in the mean time I will work with what I have and back up my files.

Upgrading my technology

Jamál (Beauty), 6 Mashíyyat (Will), 167 BE – Sunday, October 1-2, 2011 about 1:30 PM Pacific Time

I changed browser in September. I am now using Google Chrome. I like this Google Chrome browser because it is easier to use then the browser I used before. It is also faster. I do not know why I did not change browser earlier this year. I am enjoying working online again.

My next project is to upgrade my computer. Until I can get a new computer, I need to clean off my hard drive. I have too much stuff save to it so I have to decide what I need to keep on the hard drive and what I need to move to a back up desk. The problem is I do not know where to start, so I guess I will start with the photos I have saved and work from there.

Weary Wednesday

‘Idál (Justice), 17 Kamál (Perfection), 167 BE – Wednesday, August 17, 2011 about 1:00 PM Pacific Time

The title of this entry was almost Wintery Wednesday, because my system is running like molasses in January. Early this morning it ran fine, faster anyway, but when I got back on it slowed down. Then my browser had difficulty finding the website I wanted.

I think part of the problem was my anti-virus program was updating. Because when I used Windows Task Manager to check if Real Player was running, it did not show up on the list. I know if Real Player is running that will slow my system down, but it does not prevent the browser from locating websites.

I am tired and stressed. A slow computer does not help. A printer I cannot use does not help. The printer is my own fault because I let the print cartridges run out. I cannot get any more print cartridges until next week. Therefore, I will not be able to print, which could be a problem. I will simply have to live with that.

What I would like to know now is why my computer is slowing down. It is extremely difficult to work when my computer is slow and I cannot access a website. I have a high-speed modem, so that is not the problem. I will eventually figure out the problem and solve it; at least, I hope so. Right now I am tired.

The Battle of the Walker

My mother does not want to use her walker. However, she needs it to balance herself. This afternoon she had decided that she is not going to bed if she has to use the walker to get to her bedroom. She is sitting on the couch in the breakfast room, so she has decided to lay down on that couch and go to sleep.

I am glad that my computer is in the living room rather then in a separate office. I used to think I wanted a home-office, but now I am glad my computer is in the living room because it is easier to keep an eye on Mom and make sure she uses her walker when she gets up and goes to another part of the house.

My computer is located in a good position. All I have to do is turn around and I can see her in the breakfast room. If Mom is in the living room then it is even easier to keep an eye on her. If Mom gets off the couch then I can go to wherever she is and make sure she uses the walker. I have to be persistent and walk beside or behind her when she goes to another room, but at least I know she is using the walker.

Dealing with modern technology

‘Idál (Justice), 14 Rahmat (Mercy), 167 BE – Wednesday, July 7, 2010 about 12:34 PM Pacific Time

I am not sure what is causing the problem, I just know there is a problem. My computer is running slow, the CPU periodically runs at 100%, and today I encountered a stack overload. In addition, my printer still is not working. I have decided that a new printer will settle the printer issues. A new computer could take care of the computer problems.

Now that I stated one way to solve the problem, I have to find a more economical and feasible solution. Other issues in my life take priority over technology problems. Therefore, I may have to call a computer tech in to do maintenance. I have attempted to diagnose the problem, maybe I need to clean up the hard drive before I do anything else.