If you've been thinking that posting has been a light here at Chez Bums, it's about to get even worse. My mac, which as been misbehaving for quite some time, has really fallen to new lows. After Apple's repair back in December, it was running reliably well, until one day a few weeks ago when I shut it down. For some reason, my computer doesn't like restarting. I mostly stopped shutting it down because I was tired of trying to get it back on. But I threw caution to the wind and shut it down. When it finally turned back on (after several false starts) it started up with a screen that was half in black and the login box duplicated directly below itself. Very funky, very weird. Roger zapped the P-Ram, started it in safe mode, and then it finally came back to itself. I did not shut it down again until last Friday. I must have lost my mind. But there were some system updates that needed to be done, and even though they required a restart, I did them anyway. I guess that was a big mistake, the computer has not started up in a normal fashion since. In fact, I'm typing this post on it, and there is an exact duplicate of the screen just below this one. It's a spooky world here. Apple is sending a box for it on Monday and back it goes to an undisclosed location where it will either be repaired (hah, how can they fix such a broken thing?) or Apple will send me a new computer.
In the mean time, I've set up computing stuff on my mother's brand new PC that runs Windows 7. It's a nice little machine, but it takes a while getting used to. I'm missing my Photoshop tools and haven't found anything yet that lets me crop effectively, or edit thoughtfully for color, light, and shadow. We have been seeing some very interesting and cool things lately, like this rose-breasted grosbeak that showed up last Thursday about a thousand miles outside its range.
It returned on Friday with a friend, who turned out to be a female evening grosbeak. We have not seen any male evening grosbeaks, so this may be an inter-species romance.
And speaking of romance, we've been seeing newts in amorous pursuits all along the ditch and in the little reservoir. They are richly inventive little creatures who seem to enjoy group sex quite a bit. They roll along the bottom of the ditch entwined in lovely piles of arms, legs, and tails.Not sure when I'll be back posting. I'm going to try to keep up with my favorite bloggers, but I'm not going to be checking the robin and roger email. if anyone wants to contact me, send email to robin.andrea13 at gmail dot com.
We think you have an Applegeist.... Those salamanders remind me of the 60's!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe you said that, mandt! I thought the exact same thing, but couldn't find the right words to say how much the salamanders could have been a poster for the 60s.
ReplyDeleteokey dokey artichokey!
ReplyDeleteYou reminded me to update my latest writing on my jump drive. The whole thing of losing everything scares me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a bunch of randy little newtists!
ReplyDeleteoy, much sympathy on the computer troubles. been there myself recently. sorry you are missing the tools you need!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe this....I'm following your RGB story on FB too, but NOW I see the Evening Female! EVENING Grosbeaks have ONLY been seen here in flocks (as high as 20-25) when they visit us....I've NEVER seen one alone.... I wish I were there to listen for the calls of her flock....you might look up that unmistakable single whistle call of the Evenings...it's clear and piercing when you hear it. I'm VERY amazed if she's alone....... I know an interspecie mating does happen... but even then, although the flock will sort of split up, they stay in the very same area...so that when all chicks are raised, they call until they're all together to leave together. I would bet there's another couple or two at least in your neighborhood. THIS is VERY interesting.....I hope you'll update THIS story...... Wow.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the Apple, Robin. I trust they'll fix it for you, or come up with a spanking new replacement.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the computer. My new laptop has Windows 7 and I am getting used to it, little by little. I had a hard time with photos, but I'm getting the hang of it.
ReplyDeleteWe have been seeing some very interesting and cool things lately, like this rose-breasted grosbeak that showed up last Thursday about a thousand miles outside its range.
ReplyDeleteThey probably flew up to New England, took a look around and said, "We're outta here!" They're smart critters, those birds!
I've seen garter snakes engaged in group sex. The sixties didn't actually spring to mind, but maybe I was slightly young to be entirely aware of what was happening.
Your duplicate screen sounds like it thinks there's another display attached. There's an option to have the same window on both displays, and of course the screen can be half on, half off, if dragged to that position. It sounds like it is a very confused Mac.
If you don't already have a backup drive, I highly recommend getting on. They aren't expensive at all.
If a sick Mac is the worse that there is, that's good news. I hope it stay's that way.
ReplyDeleteComputers! Can't live with them, can't live without them. and can't shoot them, though a hammer is always tempting.
ReplyDeleteI'm told Macs are generally reliable, but apparently there was a batch that had hard drive problems. I don't know for sure that yours was one of that bunch, but it sounds like it. Hope you get a new one instead of a repair!
And thanks for reminding me to backup my data!
Strange Mac antics, strange bird wanderings, typical newt/'60s behavior. Hope the Mac troubles get straightened out soon.
ReplyDelete