If At First You Don't Succeed....

just buy the stupid new computer!

Hello!

Greetings from my new iMac.  My 9 year-old one literally "died in it's sleep" as it never woke up after publishing my last post.  I tried and tried to revive it, but I think she flat-lined for good.  No since putting more money in her, so I bit the bullet and ordered this one thinking my problems would be over...

Not so, of course.  I work impossible hours to reliably be home for deliveries.  I really took a risk when I set up my UPS My Choice account.  This is a free service (at least the first tier) where you can change delivery info and track packages.  I knew there was little hope of me being home to sign for it, so I reluctantly gave permission to have what to me is a fortune left in a box outside my home (in a heavily populated neighborhood where I know nobody.) 

When I got the message my package had been delivered, I went to the spot I requested and it wasn't there.  I was nearly in panic-mode when I decided to look around a little more.  Well, it was sorta near the spot, but in shade.  Maybe that is why.  But like Christmas morning when you open presents, then are whisked away before you can play with them, I had to go back to work.

My new blogging buddy!

Ok, I un-package everything and I must say that Apple wins my award for the coolest packaging ever.  You hate to undo it and throw it away!  I was feeling pretty good about getting the info off my old Mac because I have a time machine backup device.  Theoretically, there is a duplicate of everything.  It's a USB device  and it never occurred to me in 9 years that USBs would change plugs.  

Well, there is no fitting the old USB cord in the new port.  Now what?  Only partially annoyed, I decide to start up the computer anyway.  

Only one hitch.  All my favorites, usernames and passwords would've been transferred had the time machine fit.  I don't always update my little red book and for the life of me I couldn't remember my Apple ID, wifi password, email account info and the worst, my Blogger username, email address and password.  What should have taken a few minutes took hours and I am not nearly done.  

Once I got my main email address connected, the rainbow wheel went nuts and I had almost 1300 messages to weed through from several years.  I can't find the highlight and mass delete feature, but you can bet I will!

So, my worst technological fears were realized.  No wonder I was reluctant to get another computer!  There is also a good reason I resist change.  It's usually a pain.

Well, the bright side is I will be seeing you more as we have a lot to catch up on!  

Until next time (when there will be photos!)  Happy Fall!  Go Bucks!

Gale

"Of Mice And Macs" -- Remembering The Early Days of Home Computing

Many moons ago, before many of you were born, we old folks lived a simple life where mice weren't welcome in homes and MacIntoshes were apples that were eaten. That was also when I started working freelance as an advertising copywriter.  Something I've done now and again for 30 years-ish.  One of my BFFs, Carole, who is fabulous advertising art director and has always believed in me, even when I wasn't so sure, helped me get one of my first paying gigs writing ads for this barely known company called Apple Computers.  (By the way, this was several years before the internet became popular!)

I wasn't (and am not still) all that tech-saavy, but apparently nobody else was either LOL!  Along came this assignment to write an eight-page "advetorial" insert for the L.A. Times Magazine.  I was thinking I bit off more "apple" than I could chew, but it worked out and I remember how excited I was to get the check! It went on to win an "Addy" for the ad firm.  

(Blogger is free, so it's got some limitations to uploading sizes and kinds of files.  So I am only including the parts left that I wrote with the exception of the MIDI section that was on one of the pages:)

So, sit back and enjoy "the possible benefits" of home computers...


BTW, I am typing this on an iMac that by most folks' standards is a dinosaur at 8 years old with only one software upgrade.  Most computers this age are in the dump by now.  However, judging from the issues I had loading these pages, it would be less time-consuming to upgrade:)

I have a special post planned for you on Easter Sunday, so stay tuned!

Until next time!

Gale

Wormy Apple?

Greetings from my tiny tablet!

My dear old pal the iMac may have passed away.  It's been more than a week and I miss it so!  Ironically, after a month's wait, my tablet returned from repair that day.  I'm going to take it to an Apple store for diagnostics tomorrow.  Finger's crossed!

Until then, it's off to work and tonight is Oscar night!  As Ahhnald would say...

I'll be back!

Gale