I Want a New Computer

Well, I could probably make a case for needing a new one.

We got hubby a new one for his 40th birthday. It's pretty neat but it runs with Vista - pure evil and random freeziness.

Right now I use an ancient (can such a term be applied to technology?) laptop that has been knocked over and dropped so many times that the plastic pieces around the edges have literally broken off. Not to mention its double duty as a TV tray. It's a very sad looking machine, but it loyally chugs on (knock on wood) and does my bidding.

For now.

I'm constantly worried that it is going to just up and die. I have everything on that laptop...and yes I know I should invest in some sort of backup but I just haven't done it yet. Mostly I want to save all my photos (literally thousands of them) and files relating to my jewelry.

I've been looking at the ads lately and it looks like we're closer to getting Windows 7. They promote it as an Upgrade, which is funny since Vista was supposed to be the 'best' thing since sliced bread. But I don't want to buy a machine with Vista installed and have to go back later for the upgrade. So I wait.

Then the question becomes...do I want a new super laptop (must play video games) or should I go with a desktop. With two monitors. Yes, two monitors. If I have to work from home more than once a week when the baby comes I have to have the same set up I have at work. Two monitors is divine. SO much easier to work it's not even funny. Having only one feels pathetic to me now.

I hate change though...I know how to use my laptop and get around on it. I'm used to it. It's comfortable. Until it dies. I'm nervous about picking out a new computer. What if I get the wrong kind? What if it's a lemon? What if my files don't transfer over?

It's those kind of fears that help make the Geek Squad of Best Buy money. :) Because I WILL pay to have them fix up a new system and transfer stuff from my old one. So I need to consider those costs in additon to the cost of a machine.

I need to sell a lot more jewelry. =)

Certificate Issues

I tried logging in to my own website's administrative panel and got this freakishly scary error page saying my certificate expired.

Well, yes it did but I also renewed it like a month ago. I am just having a very hard time getting it re-installed. Why it needs to be reinstalled is beyond me. Why can't it just be renewed and voila be done?

I hate technical things like this. It makes no sense and it is overly confusing to my puny mind. I just want to click a button and be done with it. Unfortunately I have two different companies to work with - one is the SSL certificate company and the other is my Host. Yes, it would be easier if they were the same company but at this point getting it that way would be even more complicated and I don't want to deal with it.

I would be willing to PAY someone to take care of this for me. Sheesh. My website designer company did do this for me the last few times but they are too busy now ... I've been dropped. *sigh*

So if you try to go to my website don't get scared okay? :) Nobody hacked it and it hasn't been taken over. I'm just lame and need to get my act together.

We Lost the Remote

I am a TV addict. I think I've mentioned that before.

But since it's (supposedly) summer there isn't much on. Thankfully I signed up for Netflix a few weeks ago, via EBates so I got a free month. Woohoo!

So the first CD for the first season of Criminal Minds came and I was psyched to watch it...the problem is that the DVD remote control is nowhere to be found. We searched everywhere. Under cushions, under the couch, under the coffee table, in the garbage...everywhere. The last time I had it was when I watched that horrible movie last week (something about a Dangerous Mind...I'm trying to block the whole thing out). So it hasn't been that long. I have NO idea where it went.

And did you know that when you're trying to select different episodes of a show on a DVD you must have the remote. We were able to push play (we had to get up and do it manually on the DVD player!!!) for the first episode but after that we were out of luck.

Luckily we are one of those families...we have TWO DVD players! Ha! So as we went to bed I watched another episode in bed.

Can you order spare remotes? What I'd really like is to program one giant remote...as it is, with the DVD remote, we have four remotes. One for the TV (which we only use to switch modes). One for the cable box. One for the DVD (MIA). And one for this huge box thingy that I'm not really sure of the function. I think it has something to do with the surround sound system. We practically have to have a masters degree to run our TV system. And I LOVE it!

But I want my DVD Remote back.

Stupid E-Mail

What the heck is with my e-mail?

I use cPanel as set up by my lovely website gals (Lightning Bug Designs) but I wanted to be able to access my e-mails anywhere from any computer. Leila (of LBD) set it up so that I can use GMail as my ... sort of a front page ... to read and send e-mails. All e-mails still go through cPanel so I have to go into that system from home and periodically delete things.

Which I *just* freaking did a week ago. And yet here I am again getting error messages sent out to people who have e-mailed me saying that my inbox is full. It IS NOT!!! I will go in again tonight and see what is up within cPanel (can't do it at work...grrr) but I haven't gotten a thousand messages in a week or anything like that.

If anyone has any thoughts or suggestions I'd appreciate it. My actual GMail space usage is only at 15% of my capacity. So I know it's not that system. It has to be cPanel. :( I'm so frustrated ... and I am not a technical person so I have no idea how to trouble shoot. *sigh* Happy Monday to me.