Category Archives: Rant

It ain’t broke, why fix it?

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My home computer was purchased in 2005.  That means it’s traveled around the sun nine times.  Nine Earth-Years.  I’m not sure what that translates to in Technology-Years.  It seems like computer technology changes quite often.  Daily?  Twice a month?  For the sake of argument let’s say it changes once a month.  12 times a year.  That means my computer is 105 Earth-Years.  (I got it in July 2005).

old computer

I’m running Windows XP.  Beginning on April 8, 2014, Microsoft is discontinuing support on Windows XP.  I’m already having issues with my browser as it is very outdated so I can’t see or do certain things on the Internet with my current setup, like access support for some of my other electronic devices.

Our office just purchased a cute little tablet-that-converts-into-a-PC which I took to the conference in Orlando last month.  Once I figured out Windows 8, it was fine.  But I don’t use this device regularly so I don’t remember the ins and outs.

windows 8

Upgrading an operating system AND expecting it to work seamlessly (IMO), is like trying to unburn toast.  It just doesn’t work.  I know for a fact that my Office 2003 will not work with the new Windows OS.  It didn’t work with Mr. Aitch’s Windows 7 computer so I’m sure it won’t work with 8.  What other surprises await?

user

I’m not looking forward to this at all: transferring files, bookmarks, programs, and learning a new operating system.

new computer

I guess I’ll just have to figure out how to work in a new computer out of my already stretched-to-the-max paycheck.

Sugar

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My Sunday routine usually includes a trip to the market right after church.  Yesterday was no different.  One item on my shopping list was a five-pound bag of sugar.

Mr. Aitch and I don’t use a lot of sugar so five pounds will last us for a very long time.  I have been keeping our hummingbird feeder full on a regular basis so I’ve been using more now.

When I didn’t have enough to make more nectar, I had to buy some.

My sugar jar holds five pounds of sugar.  Exactly.

 Sugar-001

Yes, I know it says “BIRD SEED” but it holds my sugar.  Always did.

 The bag was empty but the jar wasn’t full.

Sugar-002

The five-pound bag was really a FOUR-pound bag.  It is marked on the bag but I wasn’t paying attention to it as that’s the “size” bag I always buy though I usually buy the generic store brand.

They got me this time.  Next time I’ll check the actual ounces or pounds before I think I’m getting a bargain.

So this marketing strategy has been around awhile.

I noticed it with ice cream several years ago.  The company kept the price the same but instead of buying a half-gallon of ice cream (2 quarts), it’s now 1.5 quarts.  The packaging is just a bit smaller.

But the same price.

Crying wolf?

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A huge winter storm is headed our way.  I believe the name is Saturn.  Having named winter storms will take some getting used to.  Are the weather forecasters crying wolf again saying our area could get anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of snow?

Snagged from weather.com

Snagged from weather.com

I admit I’m very sceptical when it comes to these forecasts.  In the past they were either way over or way under the actual precipitation amounts.  Oops, sorry.  The storm track went farther north/south than expected or it fizzled out altogether.

Sometimes they get it right.  Like the “Storm of the Century” in March 1993.  I didn’t believe it was going to be as bad as predicted so I continued with my plans to visit my friend in Pine Grove, PA the Friday the storm hit.  We were trapped in her house until Tuesday.  All the roads were shut down for several days and it was bitter cold.  When Interstate 81 finally did reopen, it was one-lane with snow piled 15 feet high on either side of the road.  OK, they got that one right.

But the last several storms headed our way didn’t pan out.  Hence my skepticism.

I’m not alone in this thinking.  I stopped at the market this morning on my way to work (I forgot to get milk the other day) and overheard several people taking about how the media are constantly causing panic: Super Storms, the Mayan calendar panic, fuel and food shortages/price increases.  I remember when Johnny Carson joked about a toilet paper shortage (many, many years ago) and people flocked to the market and bought up all the toilet paper!  And it was a joke.

Is this another case of crying wolf?  Time will tell.

Off balance

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My tag line says “Finding the right balance between life and clutter.”  I’m off balance.

We observed Columbus Day yesterday so I was home.  (Thanks, Chris.)  I so desperately wanted to post at least one tutorial, clean off the kitchen island, organize my current knitting corner.  I failed at all attempts.  I did wash my car and motorcycle.

My Garter Stitch bag is complete except for the straps (I-cord takes me a long time to do) and the lining.  I’m still debating on the fabric.  I tried to make a tutorial on lining this bag and spent far too much time failing redeveloping my idea.  I’m about halfway done on the first one.

I also worked on the travel case for electronic chargers tutorial that I promised months ago.  The text is written but inserting the photos is challenging.  Plus I still need someone to test it for me. 

Nothing was working out.

I’m off balance.

It’s that time of year when I start to feel overwhelmed with clutter.  I try to declutter but it never seems like I’m doing enough.  I’m constantly being pulled between what I want to do and what I should do.

I want to:

  • knit
  • sew
  • paint
  • make Christmas ornaments
  • redecorate
  • repaint the family room, kitchen, guest room #2, three bathrooms, the master bedroom
  • buy and install a closet organizer
  • get crown molding in the living and dining rooms
  • hire someone to make my craft room
  • display my mother’s dishes that are still in boxes from 2007

I need to do:

  • vacuum
  • laundry – it’s the putting away that drags me down
  • dust
  • iron Mr. Aitch’s shirts
  • cook
  • wash dishes – somethings just have to be washed by hand
  • find the right piece of furniture to display my mother’s dishes
  • organize my craft stuff: yarns, wood, paints, fabric, threads, paper, glue, beads

I don’t want to do but have to do:

  • file papers – seriously I have 4 file boxes of papers that need filed
  • clean out the closets – will I ever get back into those size X suits?  Will they still be in style?
  • clean out the pantry
  • clean out the basement – full of stuff I “might” need
  • Get. Rid. Of. Stuff. Tied. To. Emotions.

That list is what gets me overwhelmed.  I was reading Laurie Perry’s (Crazy Aunt Purl) post from last week and can really relate to her decluttering mind-set. Defcon 1, 2, 3.

I am a crafter and I keep things that I can use.  Is it ok to keep these things as long as I organize them?  A place for everything and everything in its place?

Can I tackle/declutter one drawer, shelf, flat surface, box, or pile and do it for 15 minutes a day?  Can I commit to this every day?