Mac Saga

This was posted on my Facebook and since I'm still figuring out how to do this blogging stuff, I decided I want it all in one place. I'm frustrated with the computer stuff. I used to be good at this. What happened?? Anyway, this is from earlier in 2011:

Here's a fun story for those of you who claim to be jealous of my travels. It's not always fun.

In January, I decided to visit Steve, Tiffany, and Vince. When leaving Chicago on Jan. 24 to head to Iowa, I went to give Steve a hug and my roller bag tipped over. With my carry-on bag on top of it. With my Macbook inside of it.

Now, for years, I would religiously back up my hard drive. Meticulously labeled floppy disks, yadda yadda. Well, nothing ever happened. So now I buy a fancy bullet proof Mac and never got around to backing up the data. Never mind that I have five years of photos on it and a years worth of schoolwork and textbooks.

When I tried to boot up in Iowa, I got a giant question mark on the screen. I took that as a bad omen. Rather than drive to Des Moines right away to get it fixed I waited til I was on the way to the airport in Omaha and swung by the local Best Buy. After all, I have Black Tie coverage and figured I would get First Class service. The guy would barely look at it and apparently he was super busy. So I decided my precious Mac would not be safe in his hands. I hauled my paperweight to Albuquerque with me. While there, we drove by a Best Buy and I just didn't get a competent vibe from the place so didn't bother to stop.

When I arrived in Chicago, Steve suggested we go to his neighborhood BB and since I've shopped there before, figured it was a good plan. We talked to the very nice Geek at the counter and he was very helpful. He tried to get the hard drive repaired right there, but no luck. He said he would work on it til the next day and see what he could do. Oh and BTW, the hard drive is covered by my Black Tie service, but not the data recovery. That will be $154, please.

Well, turns out I physically damaged the drive when it crashed to the cement so it needed to go to the Service Center where they had the tools to retrieve data from abused hard drives. Since I would only be in Chicago until Tuesday (I thought) they said they would ship it from their Service Centerto Springfield, Oregon, when it was fixed. This was on Monday, Jan. 31.

So he sent it to the Service Center and was nice enough to refund $95 to me. Wait. Oh. I need to bring in the external hard drive to get the rest? But I never got the external hard drive. You were going to put my data on it for me. Well, apparently I need to talk to Springfield (Store 600 if you were wondering) about that refund.

I prepared to fly out on Tuesday, only to discover all flights were cancelled due to the imminent blizzard. Also, all flights Wednesday. I finally flew home Thursday night. I had to work Friday so all was good. Until I called my doctor Friday asking to be seen for the shakes and fevers I had all week while in Chicago (thought it was the flu or Mac withdrawals). She told me to go to the ER. So I did. It was bladder infection. They put me on IV, pumped me with antibiotics and pain killers and anti-nausea meds. Fixed me right up, told me to take it easy. So I said great, I feel better, I'm going to work.

Many hours later, my supervisor drove me back to the ER. More fever, more shakes. The doctor hit me in the leg for going to work. Apparently, I have a KIDNEY infection! She doubled my anti-biotics and told me to go home and stay there for four days. She said I get the award for being tough though!! Wish I had my laptop. Could get a lot of homework done with all these days off.

Ok...back to my sick Mac:

Best Buy called to tell me it was fixed on Feb. 15 and I should come pick it up...in CHICAGO!! No, I said, it was supposed to be sent to Oregon. Ooops, they said, here it is in the notes! We'll send it right out to Oregon. Oh and BTW, the hard drive couldn't be saved. So sorry. That sound you hear is my heart breaking. My two oldest kids' prom and graduation photos...gone.

Next day, I get a call from the Service Center. We have your damaged hard drive here. Wondering if you wanted us to try and retreive data from it....say what?!? Seriously!!! Of course I do, so for $60 they will examine it and see how much it will cost to actually try to save it. Ka-ching!

Meanwhile, I'm without my laptop, trying to do classes online. My friend, Julie, is nice enough to loan me her laptop to get my work done and not flunk out of this class. I use my flash drive to put my work on and one day look at what is already on my flash drive. Apparently, when I transferred photos from my old desktop to my laptop, I left a bunch of them on my flash drive!! Prom!! Graduation!! The sound you hear is angel's singing!!!

Prom 2006 Vinnie & Tiffy

I've called Chicago Best Buy and Springfield Best Buy every other day for the last week. Nothing. Can't even track it since there's no tracking number in their notes. I'm starting to think they are gonna buy me a new laptop.

Called Springfield today to see if my Mac is there yet. Nope. Not in yet. Mr. Geek said he would call Chicago and see what's up.

Apparently, there was a TRAIN DERAILMENT in Portland!! Don't worry. The Mac is fine. Should be in by MONDAY!! February 28th!! Oh, and BTW it will be over $500 to retrieve data from the busted hard drive . . . . . AAARRRGGGGHHHHH!!! That sound you hear is my wallet breaking.

Warrior Dash, Portland, Oregon

I took on one more project today.

I know, I know.

Please don’t tell me I’m crazy. I have enough people already doing that.

I know I’ve started many projects in my life that I have yet to finish:

I started building a dresser for my daughter, Tiffany, the summer I took a wood shop class at Lane Community College. It became kindling.

I attempted to build an outdoor garden “lighthouse” complete with a solar powered light for my grandparent’s anniversary. Again, kindling.

I was a carpentry apprentice for about six months.

I was an electrical apprentice for about the same amount of time.

I’ve been divorced twice and had more boyfriends than I care to discuss.

I have changed my college major from Accounting to Business to Computers to Business to Accounting to Marketing to Hospitality, over the course of 24 years.

I started a lucrative career selling lingerie (Undercover Wear) from my home. That lasted just a few months.

I started an even more lucrative career selling Pampered Chef from my home. That lasted for several months (only because I had lots of friends who really like Pampered Chef).

I started training to be a body builder when I turned 25. I was done two months later.

I was going to “be a runner”. Still not sure what I meant by that one.

One spring I decided to be a whitewater rafting guide. That was a fun class, and I guided a couple times afterwards, but that was it.

I have held nearly every job in the Weyerhaeuser sawmill in Cottage Grove because I would get bored of the one I held and sign every job posting.

I was going to be a poker pro and a golf pro and a professional artist and a motivational speaker.

I’ve started and abruptly ended an infinite number of diets and exercise programs.

Lately, however, I’ve had a string of finished projects:

Summer, 2010, I paid off my car loan. Still have the car, too.

November, 2010, I completed a two year apprenticeship to become a Journeyman Saw Filer.

March, 2011, I signed up for four weeks of Bootcamp. Not only did I complete them, I signed up for four more MONTHS!!

July, 2011, my third and final child moved out and into her own place. No, I’m not done being a mom, nor would I ever want to be, however I am now officially an “empty nester”.

August, 2011, I will earn my Associate’s Degree in... you guessed it… Hospitality!!!

So today I decided I would take on yet another project!

I’m going to get in excellent shape so I can run the Warrior Dash in September.

I thought about shooting for a half-marathon, or even a marathon, but the hard-core, down & dirty, 14-obstacles-over-a-bit-more-than-three-miles-dash, sounded like a MUCH bigger challenge!

Actually, it just sounded like a lot more FUN!!! I’m going to be running with some awesome folks from Bootcamp and I’m super excited to complete this task with them.

See for yourself what it’s all about: http://warriordash.com/register2011_oregon.php

I hope you will all come and cheer for my teammates and me on September 10^th, in Portland, Oregon!!

I may be moved to Chicago by then, but if I have, I will return to Oregon on the 10^th to do the Dash.