Posts Tagged ‘frustration’
I'm sorry to hear you're frustrated. I'll do my best to resolve the issue. Are you ready to get started?
I remember DOS 3.2, when you issued commands at the C:/ prompt. Simple commands, like: copy, move, list, delete.
Those were the days, my friend. (…yeah, yeah… “We thought they’d never end.” )
In the radiolab podcast about Limits that I referenced last week, another story was about the Limits of Science. Scientists have created a computer program that can deduce mathematical relationships in nature, through simple observation. The mathematics work out every time and therefore the scientists are sure that they are correct. The catch? The scientists don’t have a clue WHY they are correct — they can’t explain the mathematical equation that the computer developed.
Cue the clip from 2001: A Space Odyssey where Hal won’t open the pod bay doors.
My printer (which is a printer/copier/scanner/fax all rolled into one) is several years old, and I’ve been very happy with it (except that it goes through ink faster than the club goes through water after the Taylorstown run). It was working perfectly well up until about three weeks ago when, coincidentally, my Windows XP software went through one of those automatic updates that you sort of hold your breath and click OK to allow. After that, every time I booted up the computer (do they still use the phrase “booting up?”) I’d get a strange error that Windows was trying to configure my fax and would I please insert the CD into the drive.
As if I still had the installation CD for the printer! (OK.. I probably still have it, but alert readers of this blog will remember that I have a little problem with organization.)
I spent the better part of Monday chatting in a little servlet application with the HP support personnel. It was a “two-steps forward, three back” situation as I kept having to go back and back with more information, or a new symptom of the problem.
I never got the same person twice, of course, so I kept having to repeat my problem and give them time to research the issue and get back to me. I’m never sure whether I’m talking to a real person or whether it’s a sophisticated computer program that can parse my sentences — not unlike the Verizon cyberwench that I hate with a passion. After Monday’s experience, I decided that they probably are real people, (most likely in India, however), because some of them seemed to make fewer typos, and grasp my problem more quickly.
Lincoln was pretty helpful. Paloma, on the other had, walked me through refreshing all of my USB ports by uninstalling them, one by one. This seemed to be working very well, until I hit the one that controlled the mouse. By the time I got that rectified and came back to talk to Nash P. I was not a happy camper.
To make a long and very tedious story as brief as I possibly can, I’ve been uninstalling and re-installing and even (gasp) editing the registry, all under the careful tutelage of whoever (or whatever) is on the other end of that little aplet.
Is it too much to hope that one day I could get back to where I was not so long ago: with outdated printer software that worked just fine and really didn’t need to be updated, except that someone at HP thinks you can’t just leave it alone… you have to update it.
They’ve updated it to the point now where it doesn’t recognize my printer at the other end of the USB cable.
Nice.
At some point in my ordeal on Monday, I glanced up at the corner of the little servlet ap and realized someone had selected EXACTLY the correct image. Except for the obvious gender/age difference, that picture could have been taken of me, at any time during those 5 hours. Just sitting there staring at the monitor, one hand on the mouse and the other holding up my chin.
At least it was a bit of comic relief in an otherwise frustrating day — a day that ended with absolutely no resolution to the problem.
On, on, on… past exhaustion and boredom. Just. Keep. Going. (that’s the best I’m going to be able to do to tie this to running).
Perhaps my next step is to try very hard to find that original CD — the one that still has the outdated software on it that worked just fine. It might just work.
Weekend Runs
I’m going out of town this weekend, but the Hamilton Elementary run looks like a good time. Sorry I’m going to miss it.
...before the melt...
The arrival of Groundhog Day this week, plus the now-familiar forecast for more snow have not surprisingly brought back memories of the 1993 movie Groundhog Day with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. Evidently there’s still more to come.
With a 90% chance of snow on Saturday and predictions of an accumulation to rival that received last December 19, I don’t know what else to say except… who am I kidding to even pretend that I’m going to be outside running this weekend?
I have made a rather interesting discovery — listening to a podcast of This American Life or Radiolab seems to work just as well as music does to give my mind something to do when I run. That was a bit of a surprise.
…and I’m sorry that you’re not going to be able to get Sonny and Cher out of your head for the rest of the day.
Really. I’m sorry.
I do not like it, not one little bit!
The sun it was shining, though the windchill was low.
The ice was not melting, wouldn’t you know.
But I put on my gloves and I put on my hat
And I laced up my shoes and said good-bye to the cat.
“I am no wimp!” I said, as I went out the door.
“I can do this today, I’ve done it before!”
I plugged in my iPod and selected some tunes
And charted my course, around the ice dunes.
“This isn’t so bad” I said as I ran.
“Are you out of your mind? I don’t think I can!”
My forehead was stinging, my cheeks were beet red.
My fingers were tingling. “I hate this!!!” I said.
“You’ve got to keep going, it won’t be so long
Just another two miles — think of the song!”
“I want to go home, I don’t like it out here!
It’s cold and it’s windy and I can’t feel my ear!”
“OK, then, you wimp. Cut your running time short.”
“What a splendid idea,” I said with a snort.
Weekend runs
Snow showers tonight, and on into tomorrow.
Not so great for the weekend, to my greatest sorrow.
Sunday’s no good, I’ve got plans for that day.
Though the weather looks better, I have to say.
Possibly Saturday, out at The Woods
Though I must admit, it’s not looking good.
%#*@**!!!
I know things change and time marches on, but why can’t there be a few more things you can depend on?
When I bought my first real running clothes, I didn’t know anything about it, other than it needed to wick the moisture away. I found some inexpensive tops at Kohl’s and I bought three of them because the tag said they wicked moisture away. I really liked them. When I was ready to buy a few more of them, I went back and couldn’t find the same ones. I figured it didn’t matter and I bought some different ones. I didn’t like them as well. I’ve bought several different ones over the last couple of years and I haven’t found any that I like better than those original ones.
I bought some fitted running pants from Target the second winter I ran (can you believe I ran the first winter in jeans?!! =:O ). They are comfortable and they keep me warm and I like them waaaaay better than jeans. I went back to get a few more and evidently they don’t make that same kind any more.
Eddie Bauer changed the jeans that I love. Wegman’s got me hooked on their three mushroom soup from the soup bar and then BOOM, it disappeared. After nearly a year, I still don’t like my car as well as I loved the one I had before.
I’m also annoyed because once again, the forecast for the weekend looks less than acceptable for a wimpy runner like me. I don’t like the word “wind” coupled with below freezing temperatures — two days after yet another coating of snow/ice. I’ve ventured outside a couple of days to run in the last couple of weeks and have quickly retreated to the rec center in the face of a cold wind, or a thin SLICK layer of frost on the trail. Not to mention actual precip. For me, running is about exercise – not about being miserable.
I suppose there’s a chance I’ll venture out on Saturday — but not much of one.
I sure hope the new year brings the traditional January thaw.
Happy New Year.
Be Safe.