Simple things I never knew

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Things I learned today that maybe you already know. If you don’t, then this could save you $99 Geek Squad fee. (I know — I’m learning the simplest things that all of you already knew. It’s true! And it helps to repeat it like this.)

• You can’t fax without a land line. Duh.
• If you have Comcast/Xfinity Wifi, you can use Xfinity anywhere you can find it. Duh. This means all those internet opportunities that pop up when you click on that fan thing at the top of the screen belong to your neighbors. (I knew this!) But there’s also one labeled xfinity wifi, and that is available to anyone who pays for Comcast/xfinity. So if someone is visiting you, they can click on that instead of asking you for your password. And if you’re on the road, you can click on it too. You just can’t scan. Who knew?
• You can’t scan unless you’re on your very own home wifi. The one with the secret name, that’s yours and yours alone when you click on the fan thing. My mac wouldn’t connect to the printer/scanner six weeks ago, and a Geeek fixed it (Don’t ask me how, but it took an hour.) The same thing happened six weeks later, which is why Cayla came today to help. And Cayla explained the problem. Somehow my mac slipped off the personal wifi and onto xfinity. All I had to do was click it back. Duh. Thank you, Cayla! 

I like to scan. I have to scan. Maybe you do too. I guess it’s easy. Or at least simple. End of today’s tutorial!

Love,

k

Zing gets a Thundershirt

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Today was one of those tense days when things that shouldn’t bother me did anyway.

1. Technology! It makes my heart beat fast in a bad way when the stuff doesn’t work. I know this happens to you too, at least the don’t work part. This morning the attorney needed some info. I could fax it. Surprise! My fax wouldn’t work. Just making an appointment with the Geek Squad to fix it took forever. I couldn’t help feeling out of my depth, but then I applied the Do It the Easy Way rule and canceled a Wednesday appointment since I was overwhelmed. It gave me a cushion of time and I felt in charge again.

2. Exercise. I meant to do it this morning, but that three-hour time difference between here and Florida got me going on business early. The day spun out and by 4 p.m. I was bumpy-bump hyper. I surprised myself by actually wanting to exercise. So I did. It worked.

3. Talk on the phone. To hear a loved voice still matters.

Love,
k 

Written Sunday night:

Not much happened today. It was a relaxed Sunday. I cooked and wrote and drew and read. And napped. Zing wore his Thundershirt to get used to it. It’s a kind of cross between a shirt and a torso bandage wrap, with lots of Velcro (Do you hate Velcro as much as I do?). It’s supposed to make a dog feel snug and comfortable. Susan of Florida recommended it. I think it might work. 

Now I feel awake, but must go to sleep. I hope you like Daylight Savings Time more than I do!

Love,
k

What is that game??

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Yesterday on the elevator I asked the other 2 passengers if they were going to be watching the big basketball game on TV Sunday. (I mean, basketball is big in Sacramento, right?)  They gave me looks I’ve seen before — from Clark. Somehow, after all the years with him, I never quite got the game thing straight. I’m sure Clark was laughing with us then. The men tried to act like they weren’t laughing at me. One guy said he goes to the party for the beer, and the other said he watches but isn’t invested in it because “I’ll probably be dead before my team has a chance.” His team? The Cleveland Browns. Yes, he’s from Ohio — Dayton. Anyway, I hope you all have fun watching the game. Whatever it is. 

This morning Zing and I had fun walking down K Street to pick up my iPad, which isn’t fixed. The shop is waiting for a piece from China.

As soon as we got home, the Geek Squad guy arrived to fix my mac-printer connection. He worked on it more than an hour, and Zing sat by his feet the whole time.

Love,
k

Help in carrying the heavy things

Dear Friends,

No, no! I’m still in tech hell! Today it’s something about my printer. But — —

The printer is fine. So is Wifi connection. Something in the air between them is poisonous.  I spent 2 1/2 hours on the phone trying to get it fixed. Finally, the man on the phone gave up and said I had to take the printer to Best Buy. 

Which meant I had to pick it up. That printer is heavy! I picked it up from its table by the window in the studio. I put it down on the table by the door. I opened the door. (Zing was waiting in Rosa, who was parked in front of the building so I could carry the printer directly out rather than go through the series of locked doors to the garage.) I carried the printer out the door and put it down on the hallway floor. I closed and locked the door. I picked up the printer and walked the short distance to the elevators. I put it down on the bench by the elevators. I summoned the elevator. It came. Then I picked up the printer and went inside the elevator, wrestling with the door so it wouldn’t close on me. The paper drawer tumbled to the floor. I put the printer down on the elevator floor. Then an angel appeared. 

A man, actually. But I believe there are angels in disguise sometimes. The man came inside the elevator and pressed the down button. On the first floor, he picked up the printer, lightly, and held the door open for me. I was carrying the paper drawer. The man held open the next couple of doors and then we were on the sidewalk. I gestured to Rosa there at the curb and opened her front door. The man said hello to Zing and put the printer on the passenger seat. I put the paper drawer on the floor. I said, “Thank you!” and the man disappeared. 

Then Nathan, the Geek Squad man from Best Buy Natomas, checked the printer. He said it’s fine. Who knows why it won’t print with Wifi? Saturday a Geek person is coming (for $99.99), and if anyone knows the way out of tech hell, he/she should.

It was a quick day. I was planning to explore Roseville or Placerville. Instead, I spent hours on the phone learning little. Still, I am hopeful. Really. 

And to think, all I wanted to do was print one of those IRS tax forms!

Tomorrow I’m taking a Crocker Museum bus trip to San Jose. It will be a relief.

Love,
k

From grumpy to grateful

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

Today Cassi came to lunch. She’s the generous Sacramento dog walker I met online while still in Tallahassee, when I was looking for advice about traveling with Zing. I’m gradually switching gears, just being alone and having a friend over. I know Clark would love Cassi, and he may even have sent her into my path.  We talked about dogs, spirit, creativity, and delicious California winter vegetables. We laughed a lot. 

Zing, who holds me back, has brought me friends who take me forward.  

When Cassi left, Zing and I walked over to K Street to drop off my iPad so the screen can be fixed. Ii's almost obscene --  I feel naked without my iPad! Luckily, I can pick it up tomorrow.

I couldn’t get to the apple store this morning -- it’s like going to a therapist — you’ve got a problem and you know it has to be addressed, but you cannot even name it. Then you go to the apple store and discover many other people have the same issue.  -- Anyway, because I was having Cassi to lunch I couldn’t go to Arden Mall this morning. (Yes, I’m still in the midst of a tech maelstrom. Every problem breeds another problem… I am learning to doggedly pursue the answers.) So instead of visiting the store, I called Apple and got to talk to an actual person. When that person couldn’t answer my question (I forget the question!), he passed me on to Tier 2. Yes, Apple has tiers (tears!) just like xFinity.  Tier 2 solved my problems. Well, all but one.  

My inclination was to grump my way through the ordeal. However, Clark taught me to appreciate helpers like her, and today I was able to thank Tier 2 for being so persistent and friendly. When the words were out of my mouth I found that I meant them. 

Love,
k

Expelled from tech hell

Written last night:

Dear Friends,

EeeK! Again! Tech hell!

However, I’ve found my way out, or maybe I’ve been expelled from hell.

First thing today, I spent an hour or so on finances, and congratulated myself. I’ve begun to accept that this stuff takes time, so I’m a little more relaxed in doing it. Great! Finished!

But then I got the scheduled call from Apple to help me change my email address, You remember that I was told my comcast email would be killed last week. The Apple store expert Sherelle recommended that I record a different email…. oh!…  no one cares about this stuff! … Not me, either! sorry!

Anyway, while I was in the middle of the email discussion I got a call (which I disregarded, since I was engrossed in crucial Apple stuff) from comcast/Xfinity. The tier 2 person Josh left a message that said sorry, we made a mistake. They were too busy joining up comcast and xfinity (remember the merger? last summer?) that they lost my records. Therefore, I was told I would lose my email, but I wouldn’t after all. Lesson learned: Don’t take no for an answer. When I stood my ground they sent me on to tier 2, and Josh of that tier miraculously found my records.  Ick! I can’t stand thinking about this stuff!

Anyway, I have not lost my email address. 

Thank you, Universe.

After all that, Zing and I took a very long walk around the Capitol building. The sliver of moon was in the pink and blue evening sky.  

Love, 
k