computer error

RAWR!

Out With the Old

Today, a lady at Grad Studies managed to make my dissertation into a secure PDF, so now it is officially over - it's time to start letting go of the dissertation as a dissertation. So, this weekend and after Monday's job app, in the midst of doing other Real Life Stuff (money matters, private sector job hunt, daycare process, etc.), I will be weeding out the last of the dissertation errands.

To Dos:

• Burn all dissertation materials onto a CD and hide this somewhere safe. Maybe a backup, as well.
• Make sure all major drafts are stored in the Gmail.
• Go through dissertation files, and save all homeless material and bibliographies for future use in a separate file on the hard drive.
• Save my new secure PDF and the last draft of my dissertation in Word to a fresh file.
• Keep all the PDF articles I might need in the future to a new, organized "Research" file.
• Clear out my USB jump drive and laptop - save the secure PDF and latest Word version on there, instead.
• Delete all dissertation leftovers from my hard drive.
• Go through all paper articles and notes, to toss or file. Return all library books, and box up my books that are no longer needed within arms' reach.
• Move all dissertation related labels, tabs and folders from all sidebars and desktops.
• Archive all dissertation-related emails, etc.
• Close out the dissertation blog - maybe cut and paste it and delete the blog?
• Clean the comp hard drive and de-frag (I can hear it sigh in relief already).
• Send secure PDF off to the fellowship people on CD and via email to my committee.
• Send out thank you cards to dept admin, grad studies contacts and to committee.
• Make sure university business office account is squared.
• Go pick up bound dissertation when it is finished and find a nice shelf for it some place.
• Start moving forward with derivative publications. Say good-bye to the diss.
• Get my manual on how to convert a dissertation to a book, and start in on that.
• Apply to graduate when I can afford to do so.

And then it shall be done... Is there a ritual for such a life stage? I wish there were.

Annoyance

Also, the comp has been giving me a hard time... It's running like an abacus with arthritis. I was going to spend the day cleaning the apartment; I might spend my night tonight cleaning out the comp.

But soon, in a couple of months, I might be able to burn off and delete five years of dissertation/PhD work, so the thing might feel like a brand new machine without that load weighing it down.

So will I, come to think of it.

Life is Funny

Had to print out and sign, and then scan/email, some paper work for my defence, but the printer just wouldn't work. It wasn't taking in the paper, and kept saying there wasn't any in there. Very upsetting, since that 3-in-1 printer is basically one of my prized possessions and one of the few splurges I have ever really made - it is getting old, though, so I feared the worst. (Besides, the tot is a maniac with the poor old thing, so who knows how long it has to live?)

Anyway, got in there and started fishing around, and found... a big purple jumbo crayon... wedged into the paper feed.

So, all is well. Removed the offending item, and managed to complete my paper work task. But, man, the life I lead now is nothing like it was even two years ago. Sometimes this just strikes me with such clarity. This was one of those times.

Also: I just put in paper work for an April defence! Imma throw up now.

Wisdom for Today

If you notice, after some minutes of working along unmolested, that the baby is being very quiet, you are already way too late. If he's being that quiet, he already has something he is really not supposed to touch.

Remember - if he's not harassing you, he's harassing your stuff.


(Side note: Anyone know if they make alarms for laptops?)

Cute but Chilling

Tot had a blast running around in my slippers this evening, and now I can't find them. I have to admit, he was pretty frigging adorable... too bad my toes are frozen half off as a result.

Also, the sticky little handprint in the middle of my monitor is a nice touch.

Ah... Sometimes, you just gotta love mommihood.

Laptop APB/BOLO

If anyone knows of a cheap (VERY cheap) laptop deal, or has an old one they can lend out for about a month, please let me know.

Thank you.

poop

My laptop has died. Great.

MSN Live Messenger, Eat Sh!t and Die, Please

I give up. I have uninstalled MSN and will not bother trying it again. It is a clunky POS and always has been - but at least it used to log in. Now all I get is that "you are not signed in to the internet" bull pucky. THEN HOW AM I BLOGGING, HUH??? RIDDLE ME THAT AZZ BAGS!

I have uninstalled and reinstalled, tried every stupid little fix on their incredibly unhelpful troubleshooting site, etc, etc, etc.

So that's it. I will be on AIM occasionally, gchat rarely, but no more MSN.

Bite me, Microsoft.

RIP ROP

I had to get rid of the ROP - it was crap. Got a free one off the net, instead. I really hope it works, and isn't just a placebo... 

ROP is a POS

I hate, hate, hate, HATE the new Rogers Online Protection. Like, with the heat of a thousand undying suns. LOATHE it. My life is pretty much 70% more stressful now that Rogers has booted Norton in favour of this crawling, elephantine monstrosity.

The virus scan tried to run the other day, and it locked up my comp so badly I had to leave the house while it did its thing. TWO HOURS LATER: TEN PERCENT SCANNED!!! The "Spyware Scan"... FIVE HOURS LATER: NINE PERCENT SCANNED!!! WTF!?!?! Also, it refuses to do these scans at the times I have scheduled, but decides to do them, oh, whenever - actually, usually when I am most busy.

ARGH.

Riddle me this: What is the point of aggressively thorough scans if I can/will never run them because they take too long? Give me quick and shallow, Rogers, just like life itself.

ARGH.

What's Non-Functional Crap?

Google Video Chat, that's what.

Pass it on.

Neck Deep

I have so much marking, dissertation and publication work to do this week, as well as the normal child care, home life and financial crud to get done. Also, a lot of marks to enter into the online gradebook, a process I *hate*. I have 50 out of a 150 students, so I have to comb through and enter grades - it is both time consuming and painful on the eyes. HATE HATE HATE it.

Oh well, moaning is not going to make the task go away, so I may as well get a jump on it while Dec is (FINALLY) taking his morning nap.

sigh.

To Skype or Not to Skype...?

I am thinking of installing Skype to keep in touch with Murph better. Declan and I see him now on MSN chat webcam, but I have been told that Skype is superior. Also, it might be useful in case my advisor wants chats with more punch (and cheaper than phone calls from Israel).

We'll see how it goes.

The Unthinkable

I am going to turn off the computer and go outside.

:-o

Not Much

My net was down when I woke up this morning - I woke to internet black out. Scary. Anyway, it is back up, and I have already got three emailed Jews and food surveys from the JSA mail out. Great progress - I have six in-hand (and 4 expected) in two days! 10 down, 50 more to go!

Doctor's appointment went fine - it actually wasn't the full nudie-view this time (that joy is scheduled for July 23). However, today I have to go and seek out blood work, and I have had to schedule an ultrasound for August 13th.

Oh, and the official word on the due date: February 24, 2008.

So, I guess all is well... KNOCK WOOD.

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And a happy Fourth to our American friends!

Ups and Downs

Had a significant bout of the mean reds yesterday, but it all ended up ok in the end. An unexpected date night with Murph chased it away - especially since he now has a webcam, and I can actually SEE him again, even if it is on a screen. By the time I fell asleep, I was actually happy, if you can believe it.

Now let's see if any good feelings can survive getting down to serious work on this dissertation proposal.

I Guess I Just Don't Have What it Takes to Be a Pirate

Well, one warning shot across my bow from the b*tch ship Paramount, and I am done with downloading. My net connection is too important to me to risk it, even if I am too broke to actually buy movies any more. However, to all those cats out there who do have the cahones to keep going, more power to you!

Oh, and to Paramount: That movie was a dog -- maybe if you actually made movies that didn't suck, people would be less likely to steal them. There is no way in hell I would have paid money to own that, so you really weren't out anything.

Hope it makes you feel like a Big Man, Paramount. I hope you enjoy picking on the Little Guy.

I-I-Is it, um, Working??

Guess who now has a webcam??? Is nothing safe from my new comp-communication obsession? Am I safe from no indignity? I guess we shall see what we shall see.

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UPDATE: Here is actual footage of me - 46 seconds of pure delight! I call it HOLLY: THE MOVIE...

Regrets and Annoyances, as Usual

You know, I only had one stinking glass of eggnog this past holiday season. Only one. And now the stuff is gone from store shelves for another year. Missed opportunities - I've seen my share.

Run errors - don't know what they are, but I wish they'd rot in hell. I paid $900 for this comp, and I know that does not spell top of the line to the execs, but that is a boatload of dough to me, so this thing better last until the end of my degree, or there will be one ever-lovin-large bag of flaming dog poop on Acer's doorstep, I can tell you that.

I bought it in late November 2006, and I graduate in summer 2009. That should not be too much to ask for, even for "modern technology." Yet, the mouse is already toast, so how far behind must the rest of it be? Am thinking of getting a webcam - likely the expense of one more accessory for this comp will spell its final doom. Such is the way of things in Hollyland.

Bah - Had to review 30 paper proposals for the AAR regional conference, and I had to do it in a hurry, too. Also, I had to record those quiz grades and get them ready to hand back out. Soon, I have to start re-vamping that U of Toronto conference paper I am presenting, and finish up some research work from last summer.

Weather is dipping down to -17 C (that is 1F for my Yank friends) later this week. Lord, the thought of doing anything seems beyond me right now. Why can't I just spend my evenings sacked out in front of a movie like all normal people this time of the year? Sure, there's no commute in my life, but I would really, really just like some (true and guilt-free) rest.

The expected late-February journey to Ohio can't come soon enough.
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