WORLDS ARE FORMING

Re: Previous Post. A TOUGH DECISION.

"I'm sorry Mr. Cleveland, but the only computer we can offer you as a replacement is the new model we sell at our stores.  They don't make your model anymore.  Would it be okay if we sent you that one as a replacement?"

Um.  Yes.  Sennnnnnnnnnd it. (P.S. Growling like a rabid wolf really does work!)

Guess Whose Computer is Broken Again?

December, January, February, March, and May. Five times in six months.  I thought the computer had hit a milestone in April, deciding not to break down.  Guess not.  I should be glad that I really don't need it fixed immediately - no papers to write, etc.  However, this does put a cramp into my minor/major addiction to emailing, photography, and blogging when I am on break.  And, it is just inconvenient, seeing as I am about to go on a roadtrip.

I'm going to march right in to the Apple store today and GIVE THEM A BIG OL' PIECE OF MY MIND, because that's totally how I work.  Anyways, hopefully they'll just give me a new computer.  Last time they said it might happen...if it doesn't, though, this is the face I am going to give them...

*Star Struck*

Have you ever had one of those times when you’ve seen someone famous, and you have actually met him or her before, and you have sort of made your meeting (twice) into something bigger than it really is?  I mean, you’ve met, and have even spent significant time together, but if that star knew how invested you were in the “relationship,” that star might hire a bodyguard?

As I was sitting in Small World this morning, journaling and sipping a cup of Earl Grey, I saw a star, one whom I even dared to call my new best friend in days gone by.  Jesse the Mac Genius.  I saw him, and I really got a little nervous!  I mean, I wrote a haiku inspired by the guy!  He is famous!  Of course, I thought, "Would he remember me?" and "What would I say?" 

“Jesse, I really appreciated your work in The Great Drama of February 2006.  It really did change my life!” 

Or I could have said,

“I was really sad that you were not cast in Crash #4 in as Many Months in March 2006!  I think it really could have been some of your finest work.” 

No, that would have been creepy. So, I journaled, sipped, and tried to pay no attention, so Jesse could have some space and anonymity as he ordered his large non-fat two raw sugar latte and cranberry orange scone.  Come on, I may be a big fan, but I am not a stalker.

I Need a Foot.

Anyone have an extra rubbery foot thing for my computer?  I lost one of mine, and Jerk (my iBook) is a bit tipsy tippy wobbly right now.  Any help out there?

***IMPORTANT UPDATE at 8:54pm: Whew.  I found the formerly M.I.A. foot.  At the bottom of my bag.  Cancel said request.  I appreciate your deep concern.***

Pomomusings ...or... Voodoomusings?

I am beginning to think that it is the latter.  Adam over at Pomomusings is my friend.  However, I think there may be some sort of voodoo going on. 

I don't have much of a victim's mentality, but listen.  Remember how I have been having computer troubles...taking my computer in to be fixed once a month: December, January, February?  Well, we are going to add March to the list, friends. 

Where does the voodoo come in? In January's fiasco, I had taken my iBook over to Adam's room to show him something I had been working on, when, all of a sudden, the screen went black and the fan began to whir for hours on end.  This evening, Adam came to my room, and I was showing him some pictures, playing some music, when, all of a sudden, what did the computer decide to do?  You got it...black screen, whirring fan.

Something is fishy.  Whenever my computer and Adam are in the same place, something horrible happens.  I think his blog might need a name change...just look at that picture...voodoo written all over it.

(Fourth time is a charm?  I wonder if they'll give me a new computer.  This is frustrating.)

A Fresh Start!

Seriously, folks.  It feels like a fresh start...because it IS.   Got my Jerky computer back.  When I went to pick it up, Aaron (my second new best friend) said,

"Man, you're lucky."  "Why's that?"  I queried.  "Well, you are getting 10GB for free on this hard drive."  "What?"  "Ya, our instructions were to give you the 40 instead of the 30."  "Sweet."  "It is." 

I think for all the crap this computer has given me over the past few months, I am entitled to the extra 10.  I paid nothing.  Thank you, Mac. Forgive me for being cranky sometimes, and for all the mean things I said about your mom.

Thanks to Adam for his help in getting Jerk up and running again, and for helping me to start to use my computer for all it is worth again.

I'm not holding my breath, but I do not think I'll be making the trip to the Apple Store for awhile.  Unless I want to see my two new best friends.  (And really, I can wait.)

Curse the Apple empire!!!

So.  It is reading week here at PTS.  We are supposed to be studying hard, reading, writing papers, and the like, right?  Right.  However, it is difficult for one to work on an iBook that has decided to die again.  One's iBook died this afternoon, and the fan has been blowing for 3.5 hours (as of this posting). 

Oh!  Has one saved any of one's 30 pages that one has been working on and need to turn in on Monday and Tuesday?  Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah.  Who needs that?  One has given it time...one has desperately laid hands upon it in prayer...one has even tried to coax it back to life with a rousing pep talk.  Sigh.  One does not have time for this.  We'll see what one will do. 

For now, I choose to CURSE THE DAMN APPLE EMPIRE.  Why?  Because I can.

UPDATE: After 6 hours of a whirring iBook, I decided it was time to take her in to the Apple Store.  Drove 35 minutes north, waited forever, and was given the good old New Jersey customer service.  iBook will be back in 5-7 days.  Until then, I will be working like a madman and asking for an extension or two on my papers.  In the grand scheme of things, I know this isn't huge...just an inconvenience.

Oh, glory.

Mmm.  Computer is back.  Fixed.  Didn't lose pictures, music, or files.  Brand new keyboard, too...my friend Andrew Zirschky told me that I should have had it fixed many moons ago, but I didn't think it was a big deal.  It DOES feel good to have a new keyboard.  AND, they cleaned my screen, gave the whole thing a bath, both of which I do not do very often. 

Thanks, AppleCare...you averted a major crisis by getting this thing back to me.

Dear AppleCare: Separation anxiety.

Dear AppleCare,

Hi!  How are you guys?  Good, good, glad to hear it!  Thanks for working on my iBook.  I trust that she is in good hands.  I'm also glad that you are going to replace the keyboard and take a little look into the inner workings of said iBook, as she has been having some issues as of late.  I do trust that you'll take good care of her.

However, dear friends at AppleCare, you had better return her soon.  I gave her to you several days ago at your store, and you have yet to send her out.  Sad.  I have pages and pages to write.  (That will be fun, but I reeeeally can't imagine doing those papers on a...PC...)  If you don't send her to be fixed, then send her back soon, I'll be rather angry.  And, well...we don't really want that, now do we?  I know it is just a toy...but come on, humor me.

Thanks so much, AppleCare.  Good Luck, hope all goes well.  (Or else!)  Catch you real soon.

Sincerely your friend for now,
Joshua S. Cleveland

Help! My iBook hates me.

Generally, we have a good relationship.  Not this week.  My iBook keeps dying on me whenever I press the stinking down key.  It will just turn off.  Then, if I try to restart it, the fan blows for awhile, then stops.  This has happened several times, but every 15th time I try to turn it back on, it works.

Help.  My Mac hates me...or...could it be...I hate my Mac.  (For now.)

(UPDATE: Because I know you are deeply concerned...took the beast into the Apple Store today, they sent it off to be fixed.   I need it do to some homework next week, so we'll see if that happens.  However, I am getting a new keyboard, though that has nothing to do with the problem.  That balances the whole inconvenience out for me.)