I Am Disgusted!

For several months I have been attempting to play bridge with the beginners group on Friday afternoons. The Bridge for Dummies book has three recommended web bridge sites. I thought I would check out the sites and see if I could get some practice by playing against the computer. The first site on the list said up front that you had to download and install some software on the computer. I decided against that one because I still do not know what to expect from Windows Vista. The second site was MSN Games. I thought that one would be safe since MSN is a part of Microsoft. They should know how to handle Vista.

 

I was required to create an account and reveal what I considered to be too much personal information. Then I had to create a screen name. I made about five attempts at a screen name because all of my choices were already taken. Finally I was ready to play. At that point a message popped up that said I needed to install some software. I bit my lower lip and proceeded with the install. I had to jump over Vista's User Access Controls two or three times. Finally it appeared that I was ready to play. I had to go through the login procedure again. When I clicked on play the computer, it came back and told me I had to close and restart the browser.

 

I did as I was instructed. I found the web site again and logged in again. I chose play the computer again. At that point  a message came back and said their software was not compatible with Vista. Bah Humbug! Now I am wondering what problems I have created for my computer.

Another Week

I will attempt to summarize the past week. Last year even though I was caught up in the stress of having a new house built and moving I managed to post something to the blog almost daily. Now that my life has settled into a new routine I just can't seem to spare the time to write.

 

Even my walking was disrupted by other demands on my time. I did walk two times. On Friday I went through the orientation on the fitness machines. I do not know if I am going to use them or not. Just a few minutes of using the machines caused my right knee to start hurting. I over did the walking a few years back and started the problem with the right knee. I am going to continue to walk on the track. The fitness director is recommending certain machines and has created a workout schedule for me to use. I will give it a try in a few days; but if it creates more knee pain, I am not going to use the machines.

 

On Monday I played canasta and in the evening I went to the Cooking with Karen demo. She prepared three different kinds of pasta salads. The samples were very good. On Wednesday a representative from G.E. gave a demo that was billed as convection cooking. Instead she demoed the Advantium speed cooking system which I do not have in my house. She did answer the one question about convection cooking. I did not know how to adjust a standard recipe for convection. She said you just enter the regular temperature and time that is stated in the recipe. The computer in the oven adjusts the time and temperature. I did not know that.

 

The trip to Fossil Rim Park proved to be more exciting than I had anticipated. I was almost attacked by an ostrich. I sat in the back of the open vehicle that transported us through the park so I would have an unobstructed view to take pictures. At one stop to feed the animals, an ostrich came running up to the back of the vehicle and stuck his long neck into the vehicle. I did not wait. I started climbing over the other passengers feet to get away. The bird got a hold of another passengers bag. Her quick thinking husband hit the bird in the face with his hat and kept the bird from biting me as I attempted to escape. At that point the driver finally stepped on the accelerator and we moved away.

 

On Friday night I went to the Meet Your Neighbor social and last night they had the monthly Flix and Mingle event. The movie was a comedy and was definitely more enjoyable that lasts month movie.

 

Yesterday morning I went to Sam's Club and bought the new Harry Potter book. I didn't get a chance to start reading it. It is going to take a while. Back in Beaumont I read the last two books straight through. That won't happen this time.

 

An amazing thing happened. I had ordered a pair of flip flops from LL Bean back in June. They were back ordered. LL Bean uses a service called SmartPost that is a combination of FedEx and US Postal service delivery. FedEx brings the package to the local post office and then the mailman delivers the package. Anyway my flips flops left Maine on June 19 and were delivered to me in Texas on June 21. That is much faster than the regular FedEx Home delivery that LL Bean normally uses. However, I have seen the SmartPost take two weeks to deliver a package. I was lucky this time.

 

 

I went to Fossil Rim Park at Glen Rose, TX yesterday. I just finished uploading my pictures to Smugmug: Fossil Rim Park

Update

It time to play catch up with the blog again. On Tuesday I did go on the Shop 'Til You Drop day trip to Willow Bend Mall in Plano. It is a very upscale mall with Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue and lots of smaller high end shops. I did not buy one thing, but I consider the trip very worthwhile. I did lots of window shopping. I had a nice chat with a salesman in the Apple store and got many of the questions that I have about MacBooks answered. He told me that there will be a free upgrade to the current operating system once Apple officially announces the new version. That still leaves me with the same problems I faced at the time Microsoft was about to release Vista. Anyway our group was very small. There were only four of us who met for lunch at the Neiman Marcus Mariposa restaurant. I enjoyed my lunch. When I lived in Houston, I used to frequently have lunch at the Neiman Marcus store in the Galleria. It reminded me of old times.

 

On Tuesday Microsoft sent eleven updates to my computer. For the first time in four months the updates installed and did not cause any of the failed shutdowns that require me to hold down the power button. It has only been two days since the updates were installed, but the computer has performed flawlessly since then. I have my hope up again that they have finally fixed the problems. I am reading that many businesses are delaying installing Vista until Service Pack 1 is released. I do not think that is necessary. With all the updates Microsoft is releasing I feel that the equivalent of a full service pack is being sent out in pieces. My computer has definitely become more stable.

 

On Tuesday when I got home after the shopping trip I checked my email. A comment from this blog had been forwarded to my email. As I read through it. I realized that the man who had written it is the son of my only first cousin on my mother's side of the family. I had not seen him since he was a small boy. He has a sister who is one year younger. She had found the online CNN interview I did on retirement last year. Her brother is a computer geek and took it from there. He found my blog. We have been emailing and sending pictures back and forth for two days. Yesterday afternoon he called me, and we talked for over an hour. We were raised in very different environments, but we have so much in common. Genetics must play a major part in our makeup.

 

Last night I went to the first meeting of a new travel group that is being formed at Frisco Lakes. They are going call it Frisco Lakes Independent Travelers. FLIT for short. A man who is a weekend anchor for the local Fox TV station and also hosts a show on Texas travel talked and answered questions. There seems to be a lot of interest in short trips around Texas. I am ready for that kind of travel. I have covered a good part of the globe. With all the security measures that are now in place it is pure misery to fly. I am content to stay closer to home.

 

I have continued with my walking.  One of my neighbors was at the fitness center this morning. She is encouraging me to make an appointment with our fitness director for an orientation session on the exercise machines. The walking track is on the second floor. As I walk, I have been watching the people working out on the machines below. I have been reluctant to use the machines, but maybe I should check them out.

 

This afternoon, it is time to play bridge again. I have really fallen behind in reading the Bridge for Dummies book.

Time Is Slipping By

I was shocked when I checked the blog and saw how days had gone by since I last posted. I had to stop and think about how I have been spending my time. I concluded that a lot of my time has been spent listening to podcasts. I have heard way too much about the introduction of Apple's iPhone. Then the news shows were full of the failed UK bombings, the war in Iraq and the presidential campaign. I need a little balance in my life.

 

The mosquitoes in the Dallas area are horrendous after all of the rain. On Saturday afternoon they were swarming around my front door. The battery in the outdoor sensor for my weather station died. I had to go through the front door several times while I was coaxing the sensor to start functioning again; and as a result, I treated the mosquitoes to a feast. The mosquitoes also entered the house. The next morning I found they had congregated around a night light in the hall bathroom. The lavatory and bathtub were covered with dead mosquitoes. I never saw anything like that in SE Texas. They knew how to control them down there.

 

I have been doing my online shopping again. I am still waiting for the flip flops which were back ordered. The delay is O.K. because the outdoor pool opening has been set back again because the rain is still delaying completion. I also ordered a new purse that is just like one that I have been used for almost two years. I like the first one so much that I decided I would have a replacement on hand when the first one gives out. I also ordered a new pair of loafers and a pair of winter pj's. It was cold last winter. This time I will be ready.

 

I have been keeping up with the walking. Last week I was at the track four times. I walked yesterday morning. I heard that people often gain weight when they start exercising. I have gained two pounds. I don't know if it is the walking or if it was the big slice of carrot cake I had last week. That is a fib. I know exactly where the blame belongs for those two pounds.

 

I am now reading Barbara Taylor Bradford's book, Just Rewards. It is the last book of the series on Emma Harte and family. I can remember I bought the first book in London at Foyle's bookstore in 1985. The series has lasted longer than the Harry Potter series. By the way I intend to be standing in front of Sam's Club when the doors open on July 21 to rush in and by the new Harry Potter book. That is what I did for the last two books, but I was in Beaumont then. I am assuming that strategy will work equally well at the Plano store.

 

I will be leaving shortly to go on the Shop 'Til You Drop day trip to the Willow Bend shopping mall in Plano. I printed the store directory and highlighted the stores I want to visit. Willow Bend has an Apple store. I want to see the lowest priced MacBooks. I would like to have a second computer as insurance against going through the misery of being without a computer that I experienced earlier this year. I know very little about Apples. I do know that Apple has announced an operating system update that is supposed to ship later in the year. It puts me in the same dilemma about buying one that I had with XP versus Vista. Should I buy now and have an outdated system or buy later and suffer through all the possible bugs of a new operating system. Surely Apple won't deliver something that is bad as Vista.

Happy Birthday, USA

I have no special Fourth of July plans. Frisco has a fireworks display. I would love to try and photograph it, but I have heard the traffic on 423 will be a nightmare. I am going to be content to stay home and watch the celebrations on TV. The Capitol Fourth is on PBS. I looked at the TV listings but did not see the Boston Pops listed. That is one I always watch.

 

Yesterday we had the Red Hat luncheon at Bonnie Ruth's. Fifteen ladies, all decked out in red hats and purple outfits, were there. I was one of the last to arrive. I didn't say one word when I walked in. The host looked at me and said, "Your friends are over there." I did take my camera with me. I uploaded the pictures to Smugmug as soon as I got home. I had a wonderful piece of carrot cake with cream cheese icing. The slice was so big I could not finish it. I had already requested a doggie bag for the half of the sandwich that I did not eat. I slipped the remainder of my cake in the box and had the sandwich and cake for dinner.

 

The village center does not open until ten this morning. I absolutely have to go down there for a walk. The carrot cake has made me feel guilty.

 

More rain is predicted for today. On Monday when I took my round about route to avoid the left turn onto 423 I saw a blockaded road just north of Frisco Lakes that is under water. I heard on the news this morning that Houston and Beaumont are getting lots of rain today. It is time for the rain to move into parts of the country that need it. I also heard on news last night that the North Texas water restrictions have been removed. The lakes are full.

It Was Worth It

Now that I have my iPod syncing with the computer and updating podcasts I feel like I have re-established connections with old friends. I listened to TWIT (This Week in Tech) while I walked the laps around the track this morning. I have subscribed to three of the political talk shows: Face the Nation, Meet the Press and This Week. I am again able to keep up with the nonsense in Washington.

 

After I completed my walk, I went to the Frisco Senior Center and paid my money for a day trip in August. I am going to Louis Tussaud's Palace of Wax and Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum. It is in Grand Prairie. I don't know if I will care for this trip or not. I have been to Madame Tussaud's in London. That was interesting. I have two day trips in July. The trip to Fossil Rim Park has been rescheduled for July 19. The Shop 'Til You Drop is on July 10.

 

Yesterday I was standing in line at the Frisco Lakes Village Center to sign up for the August events at 11 o'clock when the center opened. As more people move in here, the lines on the first of the month will get longer. I will be glad when they get it so we can sign up online, but of course, that won't help those who say, "I don't do email." Well, I say let them be the ones who have to stand in line.

Podcasts At Last

It took most of Saturday to finish backing up my computer and installing iTunes. Yesterday morning I tried to back up my essential data files to DVD's. I managed to make three DVD's unreadable. When I finally felt enough of my essential documents and photos were safe, I proceeded to format the external disk drive. Seagate shipped the drive formatted with FAT32. That worked fine with the backup program I used with Windows XP. Windows Vista requires that a backup hard drive be formatted with NTFS. I read the Seagate manual. It said there was a utility on the disk they supplied to format to NTFS. I was afraid to load their utility because it pre-dated Vista. I found the place to format a disk in the Vista utilities and started the format of the external drive. It took over two hours for the format operation to complete. We had a little lightening and thunder while the formatting was in progress. I kept my fingers crossed that the power would stay on. It was not the time for a power failure.

 

On Thursday I had done the complete image backup of the computer to DVD's using the Vista backup option. I had attempted the files and folders backup to DVD's, but it failed. After the Seagate drive was formatted, I again tried the backup program for files and folders, but this time I used the Seagate drive as the destination. This time it worked. I examined the backup files and saw they were compressed zip files. There was no way for me to copy a file back to the computer's hard drive without using the windows software. I then did a direct copy of my user folder to the Seagate so all of my data is in uncompressed form. I can easily retrieve a file if I should accidentally delete one. The Seagate drive is 200 GB so it has sufficient room.

 

Next I downloaded iTunes from the Apple website. On Friday, Apple, released another new version (7.3) of iTunes with features to support the new iPhone. I made sure that Windows Vista was listed as a supported operating system. I then installed the program. I shut iTunes down and checked the Intel Matrix Storage Console to check the status of my disk drives. The report still said all was normal.

 

iTunes found all of my old podcasts and audio books that I had ripped from CD's. I resubscribed to all of my podcasts. iTunes downloaded updated versions of the programs. I then attached my iPod to the computer. iTunes asked if I wanted to erase the data on the iPod. I said OK. Then iTunes started transferring everything to the iPod. Then the trouble started. Windows opened a window that said my device had a possible corruption and gave the option of fixing or ignoring. I did nothing because iTunes was still transferring data to the iPod. When iTunes finished, I chose the option for Windows to fix the corruption. Windows then came back and said it was unable to access the device. I disconnected the iPod and checked it. Everything--songs, books and podcasts were all located under songs and not sorted into their proper categories. I again attached the iPod and got the same error message from Windows. I then went into iTunes. There was an option to reset the iPod to factory standards. That operation erased everything on the iPod. I then had to go attach the iPod to an electrical outlet until it reset. I then again attached the iPod to the computer. All of the data was again transferred to the iPod. At least this time the podcasts were in the proper location. It is still not the way it was before, but at least I have updated podcasts and the computer seems to be operating normally.

 

That is how I spent Saturday. Are computers worth all the trouble?