Sunday was a "quiet" day....for me. So I decided to fix my sadly slow, malfunctioning Vista machine. I have had this machine for just a year now. I depend on it for most of my graphic apps...because it has the most RAM and the fastest chip. It also has dual hard drives, so I can keep the data on one drive and the OS and program files on the other.
Now, I do the usual upkeep and maintenance. I run antivirus and antispam as well as both a software and hardware firewall. This puppy is locked down....as much as I can lock it. That said, nothing can keep things from interacting unpredictably deep within the guts of all those circuits and bits and bytes. And the bigger the drives, the more room there is for actions and reactions. Over time, it gets to be VERY unhappy. I am of the school that, rather than try to patch up, nuke it and begin again.
So, Sunday afternoon, I shut it down, inserted the OS disk, started it up and began the tedious process. Only this time, it was a piece of cake. OS and apps went in reasonably quickly...and all my data was already there on the other drive. Only things I had to back up were my email and internet favorites and settings. Flash drive to the rescue. Up and running by supper time. I don't think I'll EVER have another machine without at least two internal HDD's again....or else an external HDD upon which to keep my data. Wonder how many years it took me to learn this?
And by the way...my machine runs better now than it did out of the box....because I reinstalled the OS ONLY....no crapware from the OEM install. Life is good again.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
And speaking of fires.....
Note: this kit is no longer available. Thanks to all who purchased it. We were able to make a generous contribution to the Australian Red Cross.
Our fires here seem like small potatoes when compared to the awful fires last month in Australia. I have a couple of very close friends down under...fortunately, they were no where near these monsters. But imagine the whole state of Rhode Island, for instance, being burned up...homes, businesses, everything...Well, that is the impact of the fires they had in Victoria. With that in mind, Karen Watkins at the Digital Craft Cottage has been instrumental in organizing and assembling a group of our talented members to put together a kit called " Members Love Kit (MLK) New Beginnings". It will be sold and the proceeds given to the Australian Red Cross for the victims of this dreadful fire. Here is what Karen had to say about both the fires and the kit:
The beautiful (over 141 pieces, plus full alpha, New Beginning, is now in the Shoppe and selling for a low $15.00. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian (Australia) Bushfire Appeal to help those who were affected by the horrendous fires in country Victoria in January/February/March 2009.
The first of the fires started as early as January 28th (2009) but Black Saturday (February 7th) was the start of the most horrific period as uncontrollable fires raced across the Victorian landscape engulfing and destroying everything it their path. It was not until mid March that all fires were completely under control and life started to return to normal.
A total of 173 people were confirmed to have been killed by the fires; one single firestorm was responsible for 120 of the 173 deaths! Over 500 people were treated for fire related injuries with at least another 100 being admitted for hospital treatment. Over 7,500 people were made homeless. Many people not only lost all their worldly possessions but also loved ones – husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.
In excess of 1.1 million acres (450,000 hectares) was burnt, affecting 78 individual townships. Over 3,500 structures were destroyed; including homes, schools and Churches with many thousands more damaged.
I have been in touch with the Red Cross and although the appeal officially closes on 17th April, they will be accepting donations up to the end of June. I have registered the Cottage as a donor and said we will have our donation in by 15th June (Australian time). Our sale of the MLK (New Beginning) will last until and including the 12th June (USA time) and then will be removed from the Shoppe.
Don’t put off purchasing this beautiful kit because the 12th June will be here in no time at all and it would be a shame if you missed out.
This is a gorgeous kit, full of colors of the Australian landscape. And $15 is not too much to help our down under family with a hand up.
Our fires here seem like small potatoes when compared to the awful fires last month in Australia. I have a couple of very close friends down under...fortunately, they were no where near these monsters. But imagine the whole state of Rhode Island, for instance, being burned up...homes, businesses, everything...Well, that is the impact of the fires they had in Victoria. With that in mind, Karen Watkins at the Digital Craft Cottage has been instrumental in organizing and assembling a group of our talented members to put together a kit called " Members Love Kit (MLK) New Beginnings". It will be sold and the proceeds given to the Australian Red Cross for the victims of this dreadful fire. Here is what Karen had to say about both the fires and the kit:
The beautiful (over 141 pieces, plus full alpha, New Beginning, is now in the Shoppe and selling for a low $15.00. All proceeds from sales will be donated to the Red Cross Victorian (Australia) Bushfire Appeal to help those who were affected by the horrendous fires in country Victoria in January/February/March 2009.
The first of the fires started as early as January 28th (2009) but Black Saturday (February 7th) was the start of the most horrific period as uncontrollable fires raced across the Victorian landscape engulfing and destroying everything it their path. It was not until mid March that all fires were completely under control and life started to return to normal.
A total of 173 people were confirmed to have been killed by the fires; one single firestorm was responsible for 120 of the 173 deaths! Over 500 people were treated for fire related injuries with at least another 100 being admitted for hospital treatment. Over 7,500 people were made homeless. Many people not only lost all their worldly possessions but also loved ones – husbands, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents.
In excess of 1.1 million acres (450,000 hectares) was burnt, affecting 78 individual townships. Over 3,500 structures were destroyed; including homes, schools and Churches with many thousands more damaged.
I have been in touch with the Red Cross and although the appeal officially closes on 17th April, they will be accepting donations up to the end of June. I have registered the Cottage as a donor and said we will have our donation in by 15th June (Australian time). Our sale of the MLK (New Beginning) will last until and including the 12th June (USA time) and then will be removed from the Shoppe.
Don’t put off purchasing this beautiful kit because the 12th June will be here in no time at all and it would be a shame if you missed out.
This is a gorgeous kit, full of colors of the Australian landscape. And $15 is not too much to help our down under family with a hand up.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Happy Easter!
Today is Easter Sunday...and we have much to celebrate here in Oklahoma. Not only do we celebrate our Risen Lord, for I do know that He is risen....but I also celebrate still having a home to be in!
Range fires....grass fires....whatever you wish to call them....we've had them! The closest one came within about 1/3 mile of us as the crow flies. Friday was very, very windy, hot and dry. The Red Flag fire alerts were out and Burn Bans were posted. At around 2:00 in the afternoon, we had no fewer than 6 fires burning within a five mile radius. The winds were variable and gusting to 55 MPH....steady at around 35 MPH. Not the kind of weather you'd choose to fight fires in. Fires, once begun, spread like....well....wildfire. Velma, a community not all that far from us, was evacuated and 37 homes lost. We were packed and ready to go at a moment's notice.
Ever wonder what you would save if you only had minutes to get out? It's pretty easy when boiled down to essentials: life. My dad, my husband, the dogs, the cats and that is it! Oh...and my laptop, which holds ALL my files...financial and artistic, as well as family photos. And I could live without the laptop, because I have EVERYTHING backed up off site. I had everyone pack a "survival" bag...medications, change of clothes...and anything they just HAD to have. Loaded into the truck. I loaded dog kennels, leashes and food, bottled water. Period. Important papers? Fireproof safe. Guaranteed fireproof for 45 minutes at some Gawdawful high temperature. I'll trust that we never have to find out if it will or not.
Did I tell you that we have the best firefighters in the world? They spent hours and hours on the firelines....short handed and exhausted....and, ultimately....successful. God bless them all. They are members of my community; my friends and neighbors. I know most of them. None of them are faceless names. But it wouldn't matter to them. They go out and fight the beast for people they don't know and never will. God Hold each of them in His hands.
Then the rains began. Prayers are answered! The rain began on Saturday and kept up most of the night....we can sit back and relax for a few minutes now. Our firefighters can return home and rest up a bit. Thanks, guys and gals! You are the best!
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