On Thinking You are a "Techie", Poor Thing.

Do you remember the song, “The Streak”?  Ray Stevens has some funny videos on You tube that play variations of the song, and as the streaker zooms by, the husband yells to his wife. “Don’t look, Ethel!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stvrWdFijZc

That’s about how I feel right now. “Don’t look Annie!”

 It all started last night when I ignorantly decided to set up a new “Blog” for Fred on the internet. I have a blog, and it seems to be doing well. “Nothing to it”, I bragged!

 (In case you are not familiar with the term, it’s like a website, only it usually is based on a particular subject. Fred is a sports column writer so he would want a “sports” theme.)

             “Pride comes before the fall”.

 I said I could fix him up.  Don’t ever assume you know anything when it comes to computers! Don’t think just because you did it before, that it will turn out the same again!

 “Don’t, don’t, don’t look, Ethel!”

            Don’t think your plan is foolproof. The monster inside the little box is plotting against you and it is smarter than you!

            Don’t innovate. The little creature already is ten steps ahead.

But alas, I thought I knew better!

            So I set up a blog with a colorful photograph. In order to give him a personal page…One that he could adapt, and add columns as he chose, I had to re-invent a title, a password, and a description of Fred.  I changed all of Fred’s stats with Google. It’s a long story why I did that. You do not want to know!

            I worked and fretted until 11p.m. and would have remained glued to my office chair longer if I had been having any success. Nothing worked. And my stomach hurt. I felt crabby. I was depressed! I told Fred I was done. He was trying to help. He felt frustrated too. No more.

            All of this happened to me because of a stupid, lifeless, impersonal box on the floor under the desk!  What on earth was the matter with me giving all that time to IT?!

            We let it go. Went to bed.

            So, the next morning arrived fresh and new.  And what do you think we did? We directed our attention to THE Blog effort all over again. By then we were in too deep to quit. I had given Fred a new identity, which he didn’t want… A new e mail, which he didn’t want…and finally a new password, which he didn’t want.

            Oh Annie was in trouble. When my conscience warned, “Don’t look, Ethel!” I should have just minded my own business!!

            I knew I needed help. Fred would never adjust to all these changes! I found a technical assistant page on line. The agency specializes in blogs and wanted $49. I clicked out and said to myself, “Forget them!”

            I certainly didn’t blame them for charging for their expertise. But I still thought I could fix the problem. “Oh foolish me!”

            I fiddled around again. By then, Fred and I were so frustrated that Fred was actually vacuuming the carpets and dust mopping the kitchen floor just to get rid of the angst. I tromped around the house, gathering bedding for the washer, and wiping the counters off feverishly.

            Then an e-mail arrived. It was that fix-it tech group contacting me. “Please consider us!” The site offered a special price if I would come back and allow them to solve the problem. $25.00! O.K. I bit the bullet.

            After spending about an hour or more on line with the tech, we texted back and forth until he had solved the problems. Since I had already changed all of Fred’s password, blog name, and e-mail, I was totally grateful to have normalcy again. .The Tech got rid of those details and now we had a blank slate. Relief!

            Oh good. A blank Blog.

            Let’s see how long it takes me to make a mess of this!

            I “say” I won’t ever do this again, but I know that I will!

            But as I fiddle around on projects where I don’t really know what I am doing, I have learned some tips.

            First. Have a good anti-virus program like AVG. It warns me often of some site or download that has “little creatures” in it that will hurt the computer.

            Second, when the machine tells you of an update, be verrrrry careful. We almost never let the “updates” in our door any more. We have picked up stray cats, dogs, mice, and tons of unrecognizable programs that give our computer the flu.

            Basic. Stay basic.

            But if you must venture out into that unknown territory, be sure you have at least  $25 in your hand before you try anything.

            And last? If you still have problems, open the window, pick up the machine, and throw it out the window…

 Annieswomensview.blogspot.com