Never say yes to DOS!

I guess you're never too old to learn something! Yesterday I was exploring this computer and in programs under games I saw a link to a DOS based game...being a little stupid, I thought it'd be fun to see what it was all about. When I clicked on it a message came up that said in order to run the game, Windows98 would have to be closed...was that okay? I said yes! Well, no game ever came up and I lived in panic for almost 2 full days with a black screen with white writing asking for a command...well, I tried a few, most of which I'll not print here, and nothing worked. So I typed in "uninstall DOS"...damn thing told me that if I did that it would uninstall Windows98...it took me a week to get Windows98 installed correctly and I certainly didn't want to uninstall it! So I called a fellow from work, got his answering maching and no call back. Didn't know what to do. Woke up this AM with the bright idea to call AOL. Of course, my question wasn't an AOL question and they couldn't help me or even venture a guess when I BEGGED! However, he did give me a number for Microsoft support. Now, Microsoft support is on the West coast and it being Sunday, and three hours behind us, I had to wait until 9:30 to call...about went bonkers waiting! Now, here's the good part, when I finally went through all of the computer menus on the 'phone I did get to tech support...bless his heart, this fellow had a mid-eastern accent so thick that I could hardly understand him and it seemed that my rather thick southern accent gave him a bit of trouble too, but I finally did get across to him what had happened and what I wanted (NEEDED!!!!). Well, they no longer have free tech support for Windows98 (obsolete), but he gladly gave me a web site to go to (right!) or for a slight charge of $35.00 (I never understood this part) I could get help on the 'phone, but it might not help and I'd be out the $35.00. So back to square one! Finally in total despiration, I typed in the uninstall command thinking that the worse thing that could happen was that I'd have to reinstall. Well, it worked and here I am, a little worn for wear, but back on line and reconnected to the world!

Another find at the dump!

I returned the sewing machine to the dump and made yet another wonderful find...a bunch of window shades (all sizes) still in their packages w/hardware! They're still in the car, so I don't know exactly how many or just what sizes, but WHAT A FIND!!!! There was also a bundled bunch of white metal rods with end-cap sorta things and wooden cross-bar things. Got it, too. I'm not sure just what it's supposed to be, but I put it together last night (have pieces left over) and I have a few ideas of what it can be, maybe. It's outside now.

I sure do like ordering from the internet. I couldn't find brewers yeast for the beasties (the local pet store didn't get it in), so I went to Petco.com and ordered it. It arrived yesterday (3 working days) and the animals are much happier now.

It's much warmer today, 48 at 6am. Better!

Must run...want to make a swing through the dump before work.

The dump

I stopped at the dump on the way to work yesterday...to drop something off and lo and behold...I left with more than I went there with! I found a huge box of books, a bamboo bird cage and a sewing machine! There was also a wicker chair, but I couldn't fit it in the car. I've begun to think that Mike isn't going to bring me my sewing machine, so this was a MAJOR find!

Worked 1/2 a day yesterday and got home at noon. It took longer to unload the car than it did to load it and I enjoyed every moment of it. The bird house is in very good shape and the books were unreal! There were 8 paperbacks by Edgar Rice Burroughs that wereprinted in the '60's...his science fiction works...and I've only heard about them, never seen or read them. And, many, many other really good ones. The sewing machine on the other hand had been canabalized...not much of it was there, but I salvaged 2 needles, a bobbin and bobbin case, a drive belt and a good pressure foot. Maybe I can build one.

The weather is wild! Saturday night I put Shirley out around 9:30 and checked the temperature...64. When I got up around 7 Sunday morning it was 24! 26 this morning.

Stormy stormy night!

We had quite a storm pass through last night Tornado warnings all around us, nothing but high winds and mega rain here...Thank goodness! It's still raining now, but should clear by noon...colder after that. I rather look forward to the colder weather...it IS winter!

Change is in the air

After 3 weeks of unusally warm weather, we are in for a change. We have been having highs in the mid to upper 70's and lows in the 50's. Starting tomorrow the powers that be say we'll be lucky to have highs in the 60's. I was finding the other ideal, but what's coming is going to be more seasonal...after all, it is winter!

Mike sold the house. At least it didn't go into foreclosure. I received a check yesterday for a bit less than a third of the profit. I opened a savings account...I have nothing to retire on and this isn't enough to retire on, but maybe it'll grow.

Thursday sure snuck up on me. Weeks (and life) seem to be zipping by. Tomorrow will surprise me, too.

Mother

I was on line a few hours on Sunday afternoon trying to get this computer set up and all that jazz and then was again on line Monday afternoon/early evening for a couple of hours. Well, it seems that Mother tried to call both days while I was on line and evidently never hit a time I was off line. I shut the computer down around 6:30 PM on Monday and fixed my supper (baked chicken breast, herbed rice, asparagus with alfredo sauce and sliced tomatoes). Got everything ready and my tray fixed in time to settle down in the living room (on my new red sofa) in front of the television to watch Wheel of Fortune. Had just gotten through the first puzzle when I saw head lights pull into my front yard...went to the front porch, looked out and low and behold, it was Bert and Mother. Of course Mother was acting franic, said "I've been worried sick"...of course I asked "why?". Well she'd only gotten a busy signal for 2 days and decided I'd been murdered. I told her next time to wait and call me the next day at work. This close mothering from someone who NEVER was much of a mother is what is going to kill me! She's just having to put on a good show for her new husband. At the prime age of 59 (60 this year) I'm not up to having her mothering, nor am I up to a "step father". We'll just have to see how this plays out...don't quite know how I'm going to handle it. I didn't tell her about the computer, she'd FLIP! Told her the cats had knocked the phone off the hook. That's good enough for now. You'll notice what time I'm posting now. I'll just have to start getting up an hour earlier for a while.

Funny Monday

It feels so odd to have Monday afternoons off work! I just gear up for work after having a weekend off, and I only work for 4 hours and then at noon on the button, I'm off until Tuesday. Odd! Now, I'm not complaining, I like working 4 and being paid for 8...and, it's every week...it's just odd!

This afternoon I went to the local pet center (yes, we really do have one!) Bought Shirley a lovely red turtle-neck sweater...the brown one is really too small...and ordered The Three some more brewers yeast with garlic. It'll be in next Tuesday. Then I came home and worked on the computer some (installed Windows). After being totally flustrated for an hour or so I went to town to run a few errands...cleaners, farmers market, grocery store and the DUMP! I love the dumps here...I've not found anything wonderful or anything...I just love them! Actually, this was my second trip to this one today, I put a bag of garbarge in the car yesterday afternoon to drop off this morning...kitty litter and stuff...and this morning I was running slow and didn't have time to drop it off on the way in, so it sat in my closed up car until noon. It's quite warm here now and the smell blew my head back when I opened that door at noon! So, on my way home from the pet center I dropped by the dump. Drove home with all of the windows down and as fast as I could. Hair was interesting.

Work is good.

Things are okay.

Thank goodness for Goodwill!!

I feel like a bird let out of a cage! Yesterday I went to Tallahassee...found a tiny Goodwill store...broused and spied an old computer...hard drive, monitor, keyboard & printer for $189 less 10 percent ('cause I'm over 55...HA!!!). Brought it home, set it up, got on line & here I am! Had to get a new mouse and need a new keyboard and it's slower than anything I've ever used, but, how WONDERFUL to feel reconnected!