Of a New Computer and "Oh My Goodness Gracious!!!!" ~~~~~~

Well Darklings,

It's done, the new computer is installed and up and running, as a matter of fact I'm typing on it right now.

There was a bit of a delay, the extra 4 GB's of RAM that we wanted kept getting mixed up, the factory kept sending the wrong part, but the IT man got it squared away, seems their computer inventory made a mistake by one number. 

And OH MY GOODNESS!!!  What a difference, an entire new learning curve, I'm afraid to do too much to it, I don't want to mess it up by making the mistake of downloading the wrong thing. 

Maybe that's a sign of "old age"  the brain can't handle to much input.  But the screen is so "huge", I mean it fits my desk and everything but still it's like going from an old portable T.V. to a huge plasma screen.

And some things that were missing have come back. 

Because of the delay I haven't been posting, so much has happened but too much to list, except to say that much of the work that needed to be done has been done, neighbor's Oak tree, trimmed and healthy, fence fixed, bushes planted, car tuned, drapes cleaned, new computer, but still have to tweak a couple of things on it, like getting it registered.

Did manage to go to the Vintage Fashion Expo, and I did find some wonderful things, but it was so sad to see it reduced in size, not as many vendors, just a few years ago it took up the entire Expo hall, now just 1/2 of it.  I was told many vendors either have gone out of business or are doing it mostly on line and not traveling, the economy has affected many of them.

But we did go and have a late lunch at this place called "The Lab" in the historic Dog Patch area, parking was not easy, the S.F. Opera was also having their fund raising sale, it was unusual to see people dressed out of something out of the various Arabian Knights or Aladdin's Cave and some other very bizarre costumes.

We think we saw our "haunted couple" with what appeared to be armloads of things.

But "The Lab" had the most wonderful chocolate desserts to die for, a little goes a long way and their table nibbles just enough to kill the hunger although Doyle preferred steak and potatoes, he said to me "Elf Food?"  I told him to expand his palate, if he was still hungry when we got home I'd scramble some eggs for him.  But he was surprised finding himself filled up and even he went into delights over the chocolate

The entire neighborhood is one of the few locations that survived the 1906 earthquake and fire, many of the buildings went back to the 1880's and on Pacifica street some of these old homes on the back side had views of the wharf and the bay, not a beautiful view but still a view.  Doyle said he hated to think of the cost of some of those old houses, and they were not fancy places either, but old 1880 buildings or square type houses for working class families. 

Sunday Sis and I managed to do some shopping and then went over to our Brother's house for dinner.

Trisha, Coralline showed me the card and the Irish Blessing you sent, she had it put into a frame where she can see it,  she was just so happy to get it and hopes you like the one she sent you.
She selects her cards all by herself,  her Mother told me that when Coralline is selecting a card or two, she goes and gets a few things and then comes back to see how Coralline is doing. 

Did anyone watch "The Good Wife" last night??  I was so surprised by the plot twist.  And if you haven't seen it I'm not going to spoil what it was, but it does mean more growth and development for the show.  I'll be interested in seeing how it goes.

Now I must go, Sis will be late getting in and I need to pop the meat loaf (yes how mundane) into the oven.

Later Darklings

AAArrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!! and a Fire in San Francisco and Hannibal~~~

Well Darklings,

I am frustrated, extremely so.... my poor computer is ready for "The Boneyard", impossible to upgrade, parts of it are deteriorating, and not able to really replace so I'll have to buy a new system.  Except for my printer, which is only 6 months old none of the other components will work with a new system.

What it is is that my system is so old that with it working with internet explorer is total garbage, cranky-slow-frustrating.  So to do research my IT person installed Google Crome as a stop gap, BUT I have to go to internet explore to bring up my e-mail and to do any postings with blog.spot because for some reason with my system Google Crome won't give me what I need to get into it, parts disappear.

So for research or to go to facebook its google chrome, but for e-mails and blogspot its internet explorer but to not make internet explorer my default.  Oy Vey!!!  Talk about a Rube Goldberg system.

But not having to go to work for the last few days (and tomorrow) Doyle and I have been looking for what I need, Oh decisions, decisions----I don't need anything fancy, but everything has Windows 8, which I'm told is really not a bad thing, but I'll be seeing a whole new screen to get use to.  Oh can my Model T-Ford Brain keep up with all the Ferrari's????  Well if I can crank it up a little.

But I've been looking a some tower types one even had 1Terra bit of ram----but do I need that much???

Until the IT sales person said that maybe I should look at an "all in one" save the cost of the monitor, don't have to "freak out" about wi-fi, eliminate the tower, don't have to buy a camera or speakers...HuuuHHHH????  Says I.

Well he showed it to us, and yes it's all in one, all built into the monitor, wired keyboard and mouse, camera in the frame and speakers same way, can increase RAM to 8 GB's from 4 GB's, no tower, with plug in's for UB and digital camera and my router and could convert to wi-fi, would install Microsoft word without installation costs, MacAfee virus protection, has DVD and CD player recorder, they will take out all the trial stuff and those aps I don't need, compatable with my current printer.

All for 1/2 what I was looking at.  Doyle was mentally hopping from one foot to the other like Homer Simpson (he's too dignified to do it in real time),  so I said "Wrap it up!"  But I have to wait a bit while they do what they have to do to it to make it completely mine, so I should have a new system by next monday at the latest.  So its a birthday present to myself, a bit early.  Well Doyle is going to chip in for half, the Darling.

So that is that....

And after all that excitment that Doyle went through the other Day, what happened was a horrible 5 alarm fire occured in China Basin area of San Francisco, this has been going through some serious redevelopment with apartments with busiensses on the ground floors,  one of the new buildings under construction (9 stories tall) caught fire, they are not sure what happened only the good thing is that it occured after all the construction workers had left for the day.

Doyle was visiting a client at his apartment around the block from where the new constrution was when they heard a commontion in the halls,  people evacuating from the west side of the building this was the side that was facing the fire,  Doyle encouraged his client to grab the important papers and they left the building, quickly and felt a tremendous heat,  Doyle saw the smoke rising over the buildings, he and his client walked East, away,  Doyle was glad he had taken a taxi to the client's place, what they saw was an inferno from hell,  as a matter of fact it was call the San Francisco Inferno.   At a safe distance Doyle and his client watched the fire, no loss of life, two firemen received minor injuries, one car was partially melted, the glass windows on the West side facing the fire buckled and cracked.  But damaged to the occupied apartments and the businesses was kept to a minimum, which itself is a miracle.

What the fire dept did was create a wall of water to prevent the heat and any embers from setting the near by buildings on fire, some embers did land on a roof top but was quickly put out. 

Everyone was evacuated at least over night including Doyle's client, Doyle called for a taxi and set his client up in a hotel for a few days until the O.K. was given for tennants to return,  the one's who live on the west side of the building will have to stay away for a few days while crews continue to put out hot spots still burning even as I type this, and also because they are demolishing the building and all it's melted metal scaffoling.  Doyle said that it was terrifying to see a wall of flames from that 9 story building, and the S.F. Fire Department did a heroic job getting everyone out and saving the already occupied buildings.

When he came home, I sat him down and gave him a bottle of one of his chilled Ale's and said "Rest, don't think, just rest."  

That day while he was escaping from a fire I was doing my jury duty stint,  Oh sitting there, waiting to be called to a court room, then going to the court room and waiting while everyone gets together, and then waiting to be called as a prospective juror, finally they came to me,  and asked me a few questions, one of which was "Do you own a gun"  "Yes"  I replied  "And I'm a member of the NRA"  ---- Dismissed and Thank you, you have done your Jury Service for the year....Thank yu, Thak yu vry much.... totally shot my day, it was a murder...would have loved to have been on that jury.   Oh well picked up some goodies at a very good Deli that I like and had an easy time for cooking, while waiting on the outcome of my ancient computer.

So my ancient computer has been cleaned up and will work for a little while, I'll retire it to do word processing until it finally gives up the ghost, maybe I'll have Coralline use it for her homework when she has to write out reports and essays, much better than waiting to use my computer.  Yes that would be a very good thing.

I don't know if any of you have been watching "Hannibal" but frankly its getting a little too grusome even for me,  I know I will never allow Coralline or her friends watch it, the convolutions and psychological aspects are to the point of beyond bizarre but just short of perverison or maybe not.  We record it to watch at a later date as Doyle likes "Blue Bloods", and then watch it early enough in an evening to discuss what its all about but after dinner for sure, of course we love "Blacklist", but it conflicts with "Castle" so that is recorded as well,  we enjoy the psychological aspects of situations but we tried "The Following" and found that it really wasn't going anywhere, and boring, why its still on is a mystery to us.  But "Hannibal"....I just do not have the words for it except that Gillian Anderson's character said it that he is too dangerous, only with the divider of the Televison screen can we be safe, but what of those in the outside world.  That is where "Hannibal" becomes disturbing.  For anyone.

Now I must go and prepare the salad for tonight's dinner.  The weather is a bit warm right now, the fake mulberry trees with their clusters of white flowers are in full bloom, to the point where the light breeze has the petals falling like fine snowflakes, in a spring wonderland,  Mom and Dad were married at the time the Snowball Trees or bushes would bloom and their petals would fall like snowflakes,  We have a picture of them in front of such a huge bush all the white blooms, surrounding and arching above them, a lovely wedding picture.  When I see the flowers blooming now I'm reminded of that, and feel a lightness of being.

Later Darklings

Of Computer problems and possible phone lines~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I seem to be having more computer problems with my old (13 years old) computer, and Doyle, bless him uses his for his work as well as Sis and Brian.  

The computer that I use mostly at home if for my personal 'pleasure', and so I do not want to in any way compromise the other's computers and even the one I use at work is now a shared computer, some cut backs in expenditures.

Now it could be the computer or it could be the phone line connections across the street, espeically after that horrible wind storm, and I've noticed that when a Comcast worker works on the lines, I always seem to have trouble and have to call my phone company to get it corrected.

But right now we haven't a clue if my computer system is finally degrading,  or the phone lines,  I really don't want to buy a new one,  but we'll see.

So if Darklings I do not post for a while or its sporatic that is why. 

I hope to have it worked on next week, right now things are very busy.  So next week will be the earliest (hopefully) to have this worked on and resolved one way or the other.

I've been told that this computer is positively "ancient", but I'm not big on buying the latest thing for personal use, only if I have to.  Even my cell phone is just a cell phone, no apps, no text, no blueburry or blackberry or android and only for emergency use anyway.   

Some people call me a Ludite, which is fine if it means keeping life simple and uncomplicated. 

But I felt it only right to give warning to all of you who are following my blog.  Do not worry, I'll continue to post until the last minute.  Then I'll come back with a vengenance.

Take care My Darklings and Enjoy the Holidays!

Later Darklings

I seriously hope I do not have to put my computer out of its misery, but if it keeps acting up I may do something drastic!

Of purchasing a new printer, the weather and Hannibal~~~~

Well Darklings,

Instead of an HP we purchased an Epson, it seems there was a wonderful sale on several that had the same whistles and bells but without the touch screen just buttons, I really perfer buttons, and with taking in the old printer (even in non-working condition) we received $50.00 off on the sale price which means the Epson cost less than the HP.  Well at my age I do love a good sound deal, and I didn't have to worry about what to do with the old printer.

But what a HUGE box, I guess it's all that styrofoam, Doyle is going to set it up this evening, better for him to be "standing on his head" to plug things in compared to Moi.

Sis got a lot of information on systems to set up for her home office, what she'll need, costs and such and since its for her work she can write it off  on her taxes.  I was wondering if I could do the same, but decided against that since it would be better to wait and upgrade the entire system and also figure out the square footage for business purposes, if I decide to work from home part-time.

But I never thought I could get so tired just printer shopping, Sis thinks its the weather, yesterday it was so warm I mean up to 106 degrees further inland, and now slightly overcast and windy and cool.  I looked up to the hills nearby and they are covered in clouds and mist, so it can be 65 where I'm at and 55 or colder up there,  and warmer than heck just on the other side of the hills.

But there was something almost mystical seeing the clouds and mist up in the hills, I almost wish I could drive up in it, being among the redwoods, shrouded by the mists, feeling the dampness of it, the cold, cool air of it, a sense of being cut off from civilization even for a few minutes.  But if it wasn't for the fact that a lot of bycilists ride up there hogging the road and not giving quarter, I would do it, but they spoil the mood and the moment,  they have no clue how dangerous a situation they create on riding on roads that are not set up to accomidate both cars and bikes.   I wish that somehow it would be designated cars only, until the roads can be redesigned to permitt both. 

As Doyle is fond of saying "There goes future organ donors"  and sadly I can only agree.  Perhaps if the weather is like this tomorrow afternoon I'll go to St. Mary's or Sunset Cemetry, perhaps St. Mary's its older.

The Crazy person that was arrested the other day is still in jail, thank goodness, but I heard that the parents are getting money together to bail him out, Doyle said he's going to talk to them tomorrow morning to persuade them not to do that if they are even thinking of it.  It would be better for everyone.

I saw the 9th episode of "Hannibal" the other evening, the imagery was very disturbing, but I wondered if Hannibal was the real serial killer, did he, through manipulation drive the other man to think of himself as the real serial killer and when he felt satisfied with the results, send the other poor man who is working with the police to finish off the experiment.   And what is with the imagery of the huge Elk?  How I wish I had seen this series from the beginning.  

But what surprised me was seeing Gillian Anderson at the last few minutes in the end, where she is being the psychiatrist to Hannibal, that nearly white blond hair was in itself disturbing.  It was like she was a femine counterpoint to Hannibal.   In some ways she reminded me of the artist whose showing my sister and I went to a few weeks ago.   I never did have a chance to talk about it.   I think I will in my next post.

Ahhhh Sis is suggesting that Doyle purchase Chinese tonight, and I am in the mood for Sweet and Sour chicken, and she's waving a DVD at me, it's the remake of the "Green Hornet" movie, I had not realized she purchased it while we were at the computer store.  Chinese and the "Green Hornet"  Hmmmm Kato could not have done better.

Later Darklings    

Sometimes I think computers are one or the other.  Don't you Darklings?

Of Freaking out because the computer wouldn't work~~~~

Dear Darklings,

I nearly had a crisis!

Friday afternoon I went to boot up my personal computer and all I got was the basic initial image it would not go to my main page or anything, not boot anything.

I was very upset.  So Doyle and I put the computer into the car and went to a particular computer shop that we know and it worked fine!  Why is that? I ask, fortunatly we also brought in the keyboard and the mouse and it worked fine with those.

The nice technician said it could be my printer,  well it is an old printer, I had not seen any reason to upgrade it since it did want I wanted it to do.

But the printer was the culprit.  Why oh Why little printer did you have to get so sick?  Well it would cost too much to even think of fixing and eventually the printer carteridges will be phased out as they do not make this style printer any more.  Well it has served me faithfully and well.

So tomorrow we'll go printer shopping, Doyle has his eye on an HP that does printing, copy, fax, scan and I think a few other whistles and bells.  So I guess I'm going to be upgraded.  Oh well, where one needs one must.

My sister said I could have used her computer, but it's password protected and I didn't want to compromise her security.  Not that I'd reveal anything.   And she's coming with us, she's thinking of upgrading her system as well and since she will be doing more of her work in her new home it makes sense.

And now we're going out, it's been too warm to cook, and frankly not until I get a new (vintage) stove installed do I really feel like cooking.  Alright Darklings, tonight I'm too lazy to cook, there I've said it.

But on a different note----after I got off work yesterday, I tarried a bit to go to my favorite store to check out the cosmetics aslie, and Revlon is coming out with a new line of nail polish with name's like "Beguiled" and "Hypnotic" the colors are alright, I did like "Beguiled" but it was also accompiened with lip gloss and one I had to buy was "Fatal Apple" a lip gloss red.  I think it will work well over my regular lipstick or by itself.

But right now the colors that are available do not interest me at this time, I'll have to see what the fall and winter selection will be.

Must go.

Later Darklings