Occupation: Girl

11:13 am November 9th, 2009




			Occupation: Girl - ARGH Please close the door and switch on the fun without fail.

cleolinda


	ARGH
	Okay, you know what? I've held out for nearly three and a half months now, but I am nearly at my breaking point (even though we are now in the home stretch). I am SICK of not having my own computer to work on. There are huge disadvantages to sharing a computer that you just really don't even think of until you have to do it yourself. I HATE logging out of everything every time I walk away from the computer, because the hell I'm leaving my email accounts vulnerable to prying eyes. And on your average day? I need to be logged into LJ, JournalFen, Yahoo email, Gmail (with Reader and Documents), Twitter, Delicious for bookmarks, Pandora, a couple of message boards, and my file storage account; my life would be infinitely easier if I could just stay logged in. So I HATE dumping the cache and the cookies and the browsing history and even the SEARCH history if I so much as duck out for a glass of tea, and I HAVE to do it, because you know why? You know why? Researching the @#$%&@ e-book footnotes, that's why. If I didn't, you'd go to the Google drop-down search box and get "bella's felted womb," "dead from coke," "edward lipstick," "gq motherfucker," "total eclipse sex scene," 5000 Twilight articles, and "twincest." And there is NO WAY I am letting my family know I spent that much time looking up shit about Twilight. I can't do a whole hell of a lot on this computer either, since it's like eight years old as it is--in excellent condition, but it's only got 30GB storage, you know? You can infer from that what the processor thingamawhatever speed must be like. It just can't do a lot. It can't handle Skype, for example. And I don't have any of my pet programs (Semagic for LJ, TweetDeck, ACDSee photo organizing, and probably a ton of others I've forgotten because IT'S BEEN SO LONG SINCE I'VE USED THEM), because the computer either can't handle a given program or it can't handle them all together. And we THOUGHT it had Photoshop, but apparently not, and while I'm pretty handy on that, I apparently am too stupid to operate MS Paint. People keep telling me how to crop and I just. can't. manage it. And then I go back to Firefox and accidentally hit "home" instead of "new tab" and I lose my entire LJ entry draft, because whenever it tries to recover a "saved" draft, it gives me the previous entry I already posted. HATRED. And then I can't really save images (no room, plus other people looking at my shit) or watch videos (I hate being walked in on while I'm trying to watch whatever weird-ass thing someone just linked on Twitter. Mostly I just don't have time* because I'm under the gun to get anything done before someone else needs the computer), assuming I could get the video to work at all. Because I physically can't get time at the computer as much as I'd like, my Google Reader news items just sit and pile up, so every morning I have "1000+," and one day I cleared 600 items and STILL had 1000+. I keep having to star things I want to go back and use in the footnotes or save pictures from, and I am TIRED OF IT. If I didn't have the iBella--which at least has a camera, an mp3 player, and apps for Twitter, Pandora and my email that I DON'T HAVE TO LOG OUT OF--I would have gone insane by now. The day I figured out how to copy-paste links on my phone, I nearly wept for joy. Even there, I can't really answer emails or LJ comments at any length--if it's going to be a short reply, I can tap it out with a minimum of head-meeting-wall, but y'all know how wordy I am. We get to more than two sentences and I just can't manage it; I have to wait to answer until I get to the (shared) (family) computer. And then I have to log into umpteen thousand things all over again but then someone else needs the computer RIGHT NOW and I have to dump everything and hope no one noticed that I was at that moment searching "vampire sex toys." Oh, and blip.fm just doesn't work on the iPhone at all. RAAAAAAAGE. Only one more week until [New Computer's Name] arrives. I will console myself with a peppermint chocolate chip milkshake from Chick-fil-A, I think. ETA: THE MILKSHAKE MACHINE IS DOWN WHY GOD WHY (Zomg e-book! The Annotated Movies in Fifteen Minutes: Wizards!) Tags: computer: lizzie, computers, first world problems, iphone, rants, tribulations, twilight, why god why, wtf

87 comments or Leave a comment


	Comments Page 1 of 2 [1] [2]

	From: luna_k	Date: November 9th, 2009 05:54 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Oh hon. This is almost over! New computer is coming soon, right? ::pets::

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: chulacabra	Date: November 9th, 2009 05:54 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Do you know someone who can lend you a computer until you get yours? Even if it's old and crappy, at least you could keep it in your room and avoid scarring your family for life (Bella's Felted Womb! What is she up to???)

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

	From: faeriemaiden	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:02 pm (UTC)		(Link)

(Bella's Felted Womb! What is she up to???)

...Well, drat. Now I can't help but hear 'Bella's Felted Womb' as an exclamation along the lines of 'Great Caesar's Ghost!'. As in, "Bella's Felted Womb! I can't believe they're charging $30 for this one book!"

*headdesk*

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	lols - sevenmarie Expand


	Re: lols - chulacabra Expand


	Re: lols - faeriemaiden Expand


	(no subject) - senshikittie Expand

	From: ccr1138	Date: November 9th, 2009 05:55 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Does this machine have Windows XP? If so, you can go to the Control Panel and set up separate user accounts for the people who use it, then set a password for yours. It's easy, and you won't have to log out of everything because the other people won't be able to see your private area.

When you step away for a cup of tea, just hit the Start menu and choose Log Out. This will put you back at the Windows log-in screen, but it will preserve whatever you're working on, so you don't have to log out of LJ, etc., every time.

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:00 pm (UTC)		(Link)

For some reason, every time you choose "Log Out," it actually turns off the entire computer.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - ccr1138 Expand


	(no subject) - lady_moriel Expand


	(no subject) - ccr1138 Expand


	(no subject) - aranel13 Expand


	(no subject) - trampchic Expand


	(no subject) - ccr1138 Expand


	(no subject) - trampchic Expand


	(no subject) - amberswansong Expand

	From: trampchic	Date: November 9th, 2009 05:57 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Stock up the milkshakes, I say.

Just a little while longer...

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: spectralbovine	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:03 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Aaaaargh. I feel your pain. I get like that when I'm visiting home and using the home computer. It's such a royal pain. I hope you can manage to get your own computer very soon.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: fading_october	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:05 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Oh I completely understand where you're coming from. My Asus has been dead for nearly a year now. I've been stuck using my boyfriend's an my sister's. Boyfriend is an avid gamer that you have to pry away from and then deletes all the stuff you saved for whatever reason just because he thought it was stupid/not worth his time. I can have awesome programs on it, but I can't really save much on there.

My sister's computer is almost a piece of junk, it lets me do what I need to do but forget photo editing, music/picture storage or anything else fancy. I should be getting a wonderful new laptop sometime after Xmas time with financial aid. I know where the rage is coming from.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: aestasbeyond	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:07 pm (UTC)		(Link)

you now has a cheer?

(Reply) (Thread) (Expand)

From: iamsmr	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:18 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I know I wasn't the target here, but incidentally I now has a cheer! Thanks :-)
And Cleolinda- let it all out, sistah. Suddenly having to share your me-space (whether physical or technological) completely sucks. But yay, hope the new computer works out!
(P.S. Just saw the ETA. Oh dear.)

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)


	(no subject) - trampchic Expand


	(no subject) - senshikittie Expand

	From: akathorne	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:08 pm (UTC)		(Link)

It's almost over! But I so feel your pain. I can't abide using shared computers because everyone else does everything WRONG and also they get all up in my business if I don't clear everything afterward.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: xerinmichellex	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:11 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I hear ya. We only have one computer that has the internet connection and every time I need to check something for my manuscript, someone's already on it. I feel guilty hovering near them, but DARN IT! I need to check when Anne Boleyn got her head chopped off! And it's always my brother on Facebook, which is like trying to pry teeth out of a lion.

Just take a deep breath and imagine all the goodies you'll get to do on your brand-spanking-new computer. :)

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: katharhino	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:22 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Honestly I don't know how you've made it THIS long without going on a massive rage before. ALMOST THERE! *thinks go-faster thoughts at Dell*

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: chili_das_schaf	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:25 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Ack, that sounds really draining.

You should name the new computer after a saint/saviour/hero.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:28 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Well, I seem to have managed to pick out a name this time that WASN'T a major hurricane.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - chili_das_schaf Expand


	(no subject) - aranel13 Expand

	From: lylassandra	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:27 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I second the milkshake and offer you (virtual) pastries of your choice.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: bonnieirishlass	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:51 pm (UTC)		(Link)

that sounds...awful.
i'm in a similar boat [although i don't have quite as many programs and things. however, i'm a music junkie, and all my music died with my old computer 'til i can afford the new one].
my family members are incredibly snoopy, too. covering your tracks on a shared computer is just suck. all the time.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:48 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah, I'm trying not to think about all the music on my old/dead computer that I might or might not have lost permanently.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - sweetdragon Expand


	(no subject) - alliancesjr Expand

	From: nerinedorman	Date: November 9th, 2009 06:52 pm (UTC)		(Link)

ack... I feel your pain. I've got access to a thin client at work but with absolutely no access to webmail and assorted social networking sites.

I've got the Mac at home but my husband and I frequently come to loggerheads over its use.

And it's not like I don't actually use the machine for work, after all, my fiction editing is not nearly as important as being able to check Facebook and deviantArt, is it now?

Gah.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: youngcurmudgeon	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

My laptop died a bit after your computer died, and for the last little-over-a-month I've been living off of my roommate's laptop. It's incredibly awkward, and I've been staying late at work to do the max amount of newsreading possible.

(But on the plus side, your experience has taught me that when I do get a new computer, I shall get the shiniest one that has the least shit wrong with it, because computer headaches suck.)

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:57 pm (UTC)		(Link)

And buy AS MUCH CUSTOMER SERVICE as you can afford. Especially if it's a laptop (i.e., portable, droppable, etc.). That's what drove the price of mine up so much--I was like, if I look at this thing cockeyed, I want someone to come out here and fix it for me. And they won't punk out like the Best Buy Geek Squad because this is THEIR product, and they don't want to piss direct buyers off.

The other thing that drove the price up was that I pimped out a lot of the basic elements--processor, memory, storage, etc. I buy computers for the long haul and used both of my previous desktops for five years each, until they both just keeled over. I don't plan to trade a computer in just to get something shinier--so I decided to buy ahead in terms of technology. Five years ago people laughed when I insisted on getting an "extravagant" 150GB hard drive, and now people toss around terabytes like it's no big deal. So I upgraded from dual core to duo core, 4GB whatever to 6GB, 250GB storage to 500GB, the best video card--it might seem ridiculously overpowered now, but in five years, it won't. Honestly, I'm sad I couldn't afford to stuff a Blu-Ray drive onto the thing as well.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: goldenusagi	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:38 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I understand your pain. When my computer was broken, I hated using the family computer. Logging in and out and clearing things was annoying, but at the same time, I wasn't going to leave things digitally lying around. They were perfectly "normal" fandom things, but not something I want someone asking about.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:58 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah, a lot of it is embarrassing but harmless. It's just more like, "You saved 50mb worth of THAT?" And then all the weird footnote stuff. Like, I promise I'm not researching Twilight merchandise because I actually want to BUY IT.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: eofs	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:55 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I hope your shiny new Dell arrives as swiftly and ahead of schedule as mine just did. Godspeed little laptop!

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:00 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Yeah, the way they phrased it--"up to thirteen days"--suggests that it MIGHT come in a bit sooner, but I'm assuming the full ETA so it'll just be an awesome surprise if it arrives early.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - eofs Expand

	From: alliancesjr	Date: November 9th, 2009 07:56 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Almost paradise, Cleo. You're knocking on heaven's door.

Just hang in there. It'll arrive and it'll be awesome and you're going to have to be incommunicado for a few hours while you *cough* break in the new machine.

I still say we should have Made of Fail Computer Racing, since almost every one of us has new machines or thereabouts, but Dayna vetoed. Sadface.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:01 pm (UTC)		(Link)

UNF.

I still don't quite understand how you race computers, but the point, I suppose it is moo.

I'm honestly terrified of this thing actually getting here. You know I'm going to turn it on and it'll instantaneously short out.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - alliancesjr Expand


	(no subject) - elbales Expand


	(no subject) - alliancesjr Expand


	(no subject) - elbales Expand


	(no subject) - eofs Expand

	From: ook	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:09 pm (UTC)		(Link)

You should write a book about the fandom that loves to hate Twilight.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: aki	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:10 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I know this isn't what you're looking for at ALL, but maybe you could use Picnik for cropping? It's slow, but far superior to MSPaint: http://www.picnik.com/

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: corbyjane	Date: November 10th, 2009 06:59 am (UTC)		(Link)

THIS. Picnik is my new best friend ever since I bought a new laptop and WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST THE INSTALLATION DISCS FOR THAT $100 PHOTOSHOP PROGRAM???

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: undying_rose17	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:16 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I know the feeling. Until I went out and bought my "I'm going back to graduate school, so I deserve this" laptop, I had to share my fiance's for half of every week, and his laptop is one of those ones that was cheap when he bought it three years ago...trying to do anything on that computer is like pulling teeth. Was even worse back in the day when I'd come home from school for a weekend and have to share my mother's laptop...there's not much that's more awkward than your mother catching you rofling at the furniture porn link a friend IMed you while you're on her laptop.

I also feel you on the computer being eight years old. My brother confessed to me the other day that the desktop I thought was brand new when I got it for Christmas five years ago was actually a really awesome five-year-old model then...making my computer ten years old. It explained so very much, like how the CD drives no longer work and why it's begun to sound like a garbage truck whenever it does IO. Granted, it was a very good computer until things started failing this year, but the knowledge that it's 10 years old really explains so much.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: softerthansound	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:29 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Because of your icon, I pictured Cate Blanchett reciting this entry in her Galadriel voice of death and destruction and it was awesome.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: crypticidentity	Date: November 9th, 2009 10:59 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Oh, that just made my day. You're very correct--that is pretty awesome.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread)

	From: jenny0	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:47 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I have no solutions (just lots of sympathy) for the computer rage, but I wanted to say that I just finished reading the Annotated M15M [almost put MFM - that would put a whole new thought-I-saw-a-porno spin on it] and damn you, there's half of my workday gone because I could NOT STOP READING IT WAS BRILLIANT. Thank you.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: cleolinda	Date: November 9th, 2009 08:54 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Aw, yay! I worried a lot as to whether it was, you know, worth paying for and what all.

(Reply) (Parent) (Thread) (Expand)


	(no subject) - jenny0 Expand

	From: nicolars	Date: November 9th, 2009 09:04 pm (UTC)		(Link)

Sometimes it seems like it is hardest to wait when the end may be finally in sight. But it shouldn't be too long now...

I really don't know what I would do if I didn't have computer of my own to use for three months. I've had a couple of periods this summer where my home computer crashed, but I could always log in to my email, etc. at work so it wasn't too big of a hardship.

(Reply) (Thread)

	From: t4_flirt	Date: November 9th, 2009 09:19 pm (UTC)		(Link)

I have to dump everything and hope no one noticed that I was at that moment searching "vampire sex toys."

That made my day. I totally LOLed. *hugs* I feel you. I nearly wept for joy upon learning that the hotel we're crashing in for two weeks while we get a new apartment has wireless bridges for PCs. So yeah, my not having a laptop doesn't mean I don't get the hotel's free WiFi. Yay. No sharing the ONE lobby computer with 12192 guests.

(Reply) (Thread)