The Revolution Will NOT Be Televised

Lately I've been feeling like I'm in some twisted Matrix movie, except there are no cool special effects. I don't think my electric and electronic devices appreciate being subservient to me. Therefore, they have organized and decided to revolt! Now, you might think these are the ranting of a crazy person. And you're not incorrect. But just because I'm a nut doesn't mean I'm wrong.

First, it was my television. It started clicking itself off after I turned it on. And, since I fancy myself a technical person, I knew exactly what the problem was. So I opened the back of it and fixed it. Success! Or so it wanted me to believe. I soon discovered that, although it was no longer spontaneously turning itself off, I had irreparably damaged the speaker connection. No sound. So I had to get rid of it.

Then there's my car. Personally, I've always been partial to foreign automobiles. My last car was a Toyota. It ran for seven years with very few problems. But I figured that, now that I live in Michigan and in the Motor City metropolitan area at that, I would go ahead and purchase a good ol' GM car built right up the highway in Lansing. I've had nothing but problems with it. I've had it for 4 years, and I've had the brakes rebuilt 4 times. I had my Corrolla for 7.5 years, and I had the brakes rebuilt exactly once. The interior dome light stopped working after I'd had the car for about 9 months, and it wasn't covered by the warranty. So, a few months ago, the thing started making this annoying clicking sound. It sounds like the turning signal, but it clicks about 10 times as fast. I have to beat the shit outta the dash to get it to stop. Now, my passenger-side tail light is out. If that's NOT conspiracy, then tell me what is!

And, of course, my cell phone is tripping. It's a Sanyo PM8200 and it's JUNK, I tell you. I am not the type of person who is hard on cell phones. Every phone I've owned, I've kept for a couple of years. I even have a cushion-y protective sleeve that I keep it in. So when the hinge on it broke, I was a little miffed. When my '4' key started intermittently ignoring me, I started to get angry. But when my display went out on the outside of the phone altogether, that was the last straw. I took it up to the wireless store and demanded that they fix or replace it. I was confident they would replace it, since I am within the 1-year warranty. And, sure enough, they said they couldn't fix it. Aha! But then those fools told me it would cost me $55 to repace it. Excuse me, what? $55???? I've got two phones on my account, both PM8200's and both acting stupid. But I didn't pay $55 for the two phones TOGETHER. What, exactly, would make them think I would pay them MORE for a replacement than I paid for the original? And then, how do I know THAT one wouldn't start doing the same exact thing? I've been online and I've seen several people complaining about the same problems with this model. So, since I'm off work tomorrow, I'm calling the Sprint corporate office, and I'm showing my color.

Then, my laptop stopped charging. AC adapter went bad. I've ordered a new one. I had to borrow one until the replacement comes. Problem solved, right? Wrong. A couple of nights ago, I suddenly couldn't get connected to the internet. After fooling with it for a few hours, I finally decided to just go back to the last system restore point. It's working...for now.

And I won't even talk about my camera, which has started screaming at me when it doesn't feel like working. That's okay. I've got my eye on a Nikon D50. But I am hesitating to purchase one until the electronics vs. me war ends.

I know this world isn't real, but my mind is making it real. I know I need to realize there is no spoon. Where are Neo and Morpheus when you need them?

The Prairie Revisited

I am a bad, bad blogger. It's been a while since I updated, I know. I'll try to do better from now on. I promise.

Look...I promised, didn't I? Get off my back already!

First, I should catch up on the events of the last few weeks. That should provide good reasons why I haven't posted lately.

Hey, I said "reasons" not "excuses". You're really going to have to get over this...GEEZ!

So back we go to the prairie...

When last we left young Laura...er...um...I mean, Ghiana...she had been diagnosed with Scarlet Fever and was taking the antibiotic penicillin. She took it for 10 whole days. On the 9th day, she went back to the doctor's office and was pronounced healthy. She took two more doses and seemed fine. However, two days later the little bumpies started creeping back again, she had developed a fever of 102 degrees, and her eyes were swollen shut in the morning, too. She didn't even look like the same child! (See photo of her after the swelling went down a little) So, back to the doctor's office we went where poor l'il G was poked and prodded again. Diagnosis? The strep infection had never completely gone away. Wonderful. So she was given yet another antibiotic (amoxicillin this time) and sent on her way. It's been four whole days since she took the last dose, and I'm happy to report that the fever and rash have not made a return appearance yet. Now, we just have to deal with the peeling skin...

Aside from all that, the electronics in my life are currently staging an uprising. I'm having problems with my car, my cell phone, the power supply for my computer, my camera, and a television. But that's a blog in and of itself, so I'll save that rant for another day.

I have made an offer on a condo, and I'm hoping it will be accepted. My lease is coming to an end shortly. The place I'm trying to get is much larger and has a basement. Besides, I don't really want to have to hurt my neighbors, but it may become necessary if we don't move soon!

I simply can't wait until the Great Lakes Megameet scrapbook convention, which will be held in May. Two of my co-workers and I signed up to take two classes on the last day. The con isn't held until May, but I'm already looking forward to it.

~e