Computer Crisis
I took a nap when I got home from work yesterday afternoon so that I wouldn't be tired when Jeff got home from his closing shift. Instead, I ended up going to bed half way through Splash because he was the tired one for once. I had set my alarm for 8:30 AM as we were climbing into bed around 1 or so because I like the feeling of turning off my alarm and going back to bed. Maybe it reminds me of what I've wanted to do every school day for the past 15 years? Anyway, my body woke me up at 8:28. I got up and turned it off so it wouldn't disturb Jeff. I dozed off and on until 10:15 AM then quietly peeled back the blankets and got out of bed. I fed and watered the cats and guinea pigs and booted up my computer.
Since I'd last used it, I'd plugged in my external hardrive and a 4-hub USB port because all mine were occupied by keyboards, monitors, and cooling fans. An ominous black screen met me with square white letters that read that a windows file was missing or corrupted and need to be reinstalled. I unplugged the USB and external drive and namually rebooted. The same screen came up. Quiet panic bubbled up from my stomach. So many files and programs that chronicle the last several years of my life minght be lost. I tell myself that my mother, several states away, or my computer geek boyfriend can easily fix with miniscule glitch.
So I shut down, pulled on my black jeans, and squeezed into a S tanktop that I really wanted from the Pyramid Collection magazine. (Mom got it for me for my birhtday but I really should have gotten a M!). I put on my makeup, brushed my teeth... unpanicky, normal-morning routine things! When I went into the bedroom to get my earrings off the floor, Jeff was doing a wakeup stretch from underneath the covers. I said good morning and when his response seemed semi-conscious, I explained the dreaded screen. He said "ok" and closed his eyes again. And I thought, "does this mean this is no big deal- easily fixed??". After a few seconds of silence, trying to keep the concern out of my voice, I ventured, "so can you fix it?" and without opening his eyes he replied something like, "Well if it lets me get to the program screen then maybe, but we'll see". ! As if he were not deciding the fate of my computer companion, but rather choosing between whether we were going to see an afternoon matinee before or after a late lunch! I left the room without my earrings and picked up the nearest scribble pad at my disposal to bypass all the needlessly complicated passwords that Jeff's computer requires & as I wrote, he eventually set to work on my computer.
His labors illicited a number of bizarre noises and screens from my computer, including a screen covered by what appeared to be six shades of pink stripes and all different beeps and clicks. I felt like he was torturing it and prayed he knew what he was doing since he always has in the past. In any case, my stomach and lungs feel like they're filled with jell-o as I can't stop thinking about what I'm at risk for losing. A dear friend on his sickbed. Jeff started a diagnostics test then got into the shower, walking to the bathroom with part of a starbucks glazed donut. Now, he's surfing Demonoid as usual and the cats are wreaking havok on the blinds, computer cords, my bookmark, a plastic back in the kitchen, and on eachother. (10:45 AM)
5:22 PM Today has been an awful day! Jeff lost his wallet and we searched only to find it right where he'd left it. He also sat on one of the kittens while she was under his chair. After the chaos, we ended up at the WestGate mall and he bought us a China Star lunch like we've eaten so many times in the past. Its been hard to turn today around and the two guys I IMed this afternoon- you know who you are- are unhelpful!
~~CEE~~~
Since I'd last used it, I'd plugged in my external hardrive and a 4-hub USB port because all mine were occupied by keyboards, monitors, and cooling fans. An ominous black screen met me with square white letters that read that a windows file was missing or corrupted and need to be reinstalled. I unplugged the USB and external drive and namually rebooted. The same screen came up. Quiet panic bubbled up from my stomach. So many files and programs that chronicle the last several years of my life minght be lost. I tell myself that my mother, several states away, or my computer geek boyfriend can easily fix with miniscule glitch.
So I shut down, pulled on my black jeans, and squeezed into a S tanktop that I really wanted from the Pyramid Collection magazine. (Mom got it for me for my birhtday but I really should have gotten a M!). I put on my makeup, brushed my teeth... unpanicky, normal-morning routine things! When I went into the bedroom to get my earrings off the floor, Jeff was doing a wakeup stretch from underneath the covers. I said good morning and when his response seemed semi-conscious, I explained the dreaded screen. He said "ok" and closed his eyes again. And I thought, "does this mean this is no big deal- easily fixed??". After a few seconds of silence, trying to keep the concern out of my voice, I ventured, "so can you fix it?" and without opening his eyes he replied something like, "Well if it lets me get to the program screen then maybe, but we'll see". ! As if he were not deciding the fate of my computer companion, but rather choosing between whether we were going to see an afternoon matinee before or after a late lunch! I left the room without my earrings and picked up the nearest scribble pad at my disposal to bypass all the needlessly complicated passwords that Jeff's computer requires & as I wrote, he eventually set to work on my computer.
His labors illicited a number of bizarre noises and screens from my computer, including a screen covered by what appeared to be six shades of pink stripes and all different beeps and clicks. I felt like he was torturing it and prayed he knew what he was doing since he always has in the past. In any case, my stomach and lungs feel like they're filled with jell-o as I can't stop thinking about what I'm at risk for losing. A dear friend on his sickbed. Jeff started a diagnostics test then got into the shower, walking to the bathroom with part of a starbucks glazed donut. Now, he's surfing Demonoid as usual and the cats are wreaking havok on the blinds, computer cords, my bookmark, a plastic back in the kitchen, and on eachother. (10:45 AM)
5:22 PM Today has been an awful day! Jeff lost his wallet and we searched only to find it right where he'd left it. He also sat on one of the kittens while she was under his chair. After the chaos, we ended up at the WestGate mall and he bought us a China Star lunch like we've eaten so many times in the past. Its been hard to turn today around and the two guys I IMed this afternoon- you know who you are- are unhelpful!
~~CEE~~~