Hi there!

**waves**

Hi there. It's been a while, but here I am. How're you doin'?

I'm good, thanks. Busy, but busy is good. Busy keeps me out of trouble. For the most part.

So, I realized last night that my website wasn't loading right. The background was way too dark and the font was too dark to read against the dark background. It took me a while, but I realized what the problem was. Somehow, on the bottom of the home page, in one of the boxes, I inserted cover art that was beyond huge. How I didn't see it at the time, I'll never know.

No problem. I'll just go in and delete the photo. Problem solved. Right?

You know the answer to that, right?

I can't get the picture to delete. Whatever box I inserted it into must be frozen, because I can't click on the picture, nor can I get anything in the same box to work. Brilliant. This ginormous picture must be locking something up.

An hour later, I slam the laptop shut (well, okay. I didn't actually slam it.) and go up to watch North America on Discovery (if you haven't been watching, you have no idea what you're missing. I love these BBC documentaries) and as I'm watching, I realize that if I change the template, maybe then I can delete the picture. Revert the template back. Boom. Problem solved.

I've been working on getting the third Sebastiano book written (well, actually, it's the fourth. The true third book is sitting in rewrite hell, determined to make me crazy) and I've been trying to make sure I write 3,000 words a day. I want the first draft done by the end of this week because I'm sick of looking at it. So, this morning, before I sit down to write, I figure I'll make the template change and then I'm done.

I make the change, and find a new template that I actually like better than the old one. And while I'm there, I figure I'll update about selling Stolen Promise, and update the copyright notice, yadda yadda yadda. Should take me about twenty minutes. Half hour tops.

HA!

The template problem was the easiest to fix. Change template. Delete photo. Oh, look! It's all done! Yay!

Updates?

Not so much.

It took me an hour and a half to insert the back cover copy from one book into the page. One frickin' book. An hour. And a half. Ninety minutes. For three paragraphs, totaling about ten sentences in all. First it didn't want to center right. Then the font didn't want to italicize where I wanted it italicized (but had not problem doing it where I didn't want it, of course,) and then the font would shrink down and go gray (I don't even know how that happens, to be honest. I've had this problem the entire time I've had this website. Total. Pain.) And to think, all of this is actually an improvement over when I had a web guy (I think I've posted about my awful website guy. You know how bad that had to be, if this fight is an improvement.)

I finally got everything done and the site's updated and all. And once more, I'm debating whether or not I even need  a website. I update this blog every few weeks in a slow month. My site was last updated last September. So, I have a decision to make - to keep or to not keep (either way, I'll hold onto my domain name.) Is having a website worth the trouble it takes to maintain it, or is a blog just as good?

Decisions, decisions...

The Case of the Missing E Drive

Computers hate me.

Well, technology in general hates me. I don't know why. Maybe I dropped a vacuum tube in a past life and all technology has sworn vengeance from that day forth. I'm not sure. But I do know that it lives to make me crazy.

My laptop is especially determined to drive me nuts. Last summer, it was the backspace key. This year? It's my missing CD/DVD drive, AKA the E drive.

I don't know what happened. I went to import a CD into my iTunes for the Girl. I opened iTunes, popped the CD in and....

nothing happened.

Tried it again.

Nothing happened.

Okay, so now I'm curious. Why is nothing happening? I'm not computer savvy, but I know enough to look for the drive. It's gone.

Just

Gone

WTF??

How does a drive just disappear?

And how do I make it reappear? I mean, without having to shell out any cash to anyone?

The troubleshooting thingie tells me to reinstall. I can uninstall the drive, but I'm afraid if I do, I'll REALLY screw things up. Because I've found out that when I ask, "What's the worst that could happen?" I usually find out. And it's not pretty.

So if anyone knows if I can just uninstall and then reinstall, please let me know. Although, in the meantime, I'm pricing new laptops. This one is going to die - if nothing else, to spite me.

Wish I knew what I did. I'd apologize and then never, ever do it again.

I Must've Angered the Technology Gods...

Because they have all turned on me. Big time.

Let's see - I can receive email (as long as I don't send it from my gmail account to my personal account), but I can't send any. Great.

I tried to moderate a comment. The first three times, Blogger kept telling me that it was published, but the comment still showed up in the 'awaiting moderation' queue.' I logged out. I logged back in. Tried to approve the comment. Took three more shots, then was approved.

Or so I thought.

I went to check. Annnnd it wasn't there.

I'm shocked. Really.

So, I apologize to Abby. I didn't reject your comment - Blogger did. Stupid Blogger.

And this is why I do not like technology.

It's also why I'm not very fond of Verizon at the moment, either.

And it seems the feeling is mutual.

It's Monday, isn't it? Hopefully, I'll have something much cheerier (which is what I was going to post tonight) to post tomorrow or Wednesday.

Who knows? Maybe Verizon will have pulled their head out of a lower orifice and fixed. my. email.

Nimrods.

That is all.


ETA - Abby's comment is there. Blogger just refuses to acknowledge it. Stupid. Blogger.

Twitter

I haz it.

Even though I don't have a frickin' clue what I'm doing, I'm there.

Right here.

So, if you're out there, let me know!

And now, back to our regularly scheduled NaNo WIP.

I'm almost finished. I should break 50k sometime this morning.

Yay me.

=)

Still No Response

I sent an email to my computer/web guy on Monday morning to alert him to the fact that my website has been suspended. I asked how I go about securing my domain name until I am ready to use it. And I've yet to receive a response.

Tell me, am I being unreasonable?

Is it too much to ask that he answer one question? One little, teensy, very-politely worded question?

Apparently so.

Hmm... I'm also in the process of trying to get rights to two of my books reverted back. I've been emailing the publisher since, oh... let's see... October... about getting them back. I've been told the rights will revert. I have asked for something in writing saying that, as of such-and-such a date, the rights reverted back to me. And what have I received so far?

Nothing.

I've sent requests to various website designers to get quotes. I contacted four. I've heard back from one, asking me to be a little more specific about my needs. No problem. I sent her back what I was looking for and we'll see what she comes back with. One quoted me a price so high I almost fainted.

The other two?

Nothing.

What IS it with these so-called "professional" people who can't be bothered with responding to their email? Why is it so much to ask that they just reply?

If they are slowing up for the holidays, I can understand that - but a simple autoresponse saying such a thing would be nice. At least let me know someone will eventually be in touch with me.

The publisher I can deal with - I have all the time in the world to nag them to death. But this computer guy's really teeing me off. One. Simple. Question. And like I said, my domain name and my website mean jack squat to him, but they mean something to me. Not to mention, it's just rude to not reply.

Grrrr....

So far, I'm learning html code. I'm learning CSS. It's all pretty cool. We'll have to see if I actually have the skills to create my own website. If not, I might have to see about getting a template from someone else and working with that. But that will lead to a million more questions. That is, a million more than I already have. But at least I know I will always reply to myself.

And really, I don't have the time or the patience to chase after these people. I'm sick of having to do that. Ugh, now I'm just bumming myself out.

Oooh, new email. Do I dare hope it's a --gasp-- reply???

Website Woes, Lazy Susans, and Red Food Coloring (yes, it's THAT kind of post!)

So, as my website woes continue, I am becoming a computer geek. I went out and bought myself an HTML for Dummies book and, little by little, I am learning how to write lines of code to produce one line on a web page. It's been fun, a little frustrating, but I'm muddling through. Of course, I wouldn't have to be doing this is my computer/web guy didn't suck so much. I sent him an email two days ago, basically asking him how I re-register my domain name so I don't lose it. Two days ago. A simple question and yet he hasn't bothered to reply. Now, I know my little website isn't important to him, he has other clients (though if he treats them all this way, I have to wonder how that's even possible.) But, it IS important to me and it's pissing me off that I have yet another supposed professional that I have to hunt down.

I will learn how to do this and someday, I will look back and laugh.

Yeah right.

And so we segue into the lazy Susans.

My kitchen has two. And the Boy likes to climb. He's discovered that he can climb the lazy Susans.

Great.

I've caught him "cleaning" the counters with dishwashing detergent. "Washing" his hands with hand lotion. He sprayed his hair with Pam (which is fun to wash out, let me tell you). There's pepper all over the place. And I think he's now addicted to vanilla extract.*

But wait, the fun only gets better.

The Girl and I made Christmas cookies over the weekend.

Candy cane cookies.

Well, sort-of Candy cane cookies. They're more like candy-cane-on-steroids-cookies. I'll post pictures tomorrow.

Anyway, candy canes are red and white, right? So, guess what makes them red? If you said red food coloring, you are right! If you said anything else - WTF are you cooking with???

So, the Boy likes to climb. He likes to climb the Lazy Susans. And he likes the cabinets.

And it turns out, he is utterly fascinated by the red food coloring.

**sigh**

I scrubbed red off me. Off him. Off the counter. Off the cabinets.

I just hope I got it all.

Yes, yesterday was tons of fun. The red food coloring makes the pain in the ass, can't be bothered to reply computer guy seem like a stroll through the park.

And today? Back to the code. And I'll be getting the Boy a new pair of shoes. Oh, and it snowed last night, so the neighborhood looks pretty. And when is all said and done?

I will have a website. Oh yes. I will.



*I'm only kidding about the vanilla thing. Really. =)

Website Woes, Part... I've Lost Count

Just an FYI - my website is beyond static right now. It's suspended and I am in the process of switching from my old computer/website guy (who is not exactly keen on keeping me in the loop as far as MY website goes, which is why - surprise surprise - I am looking for a new one) to a new designer. I don't know how long it will take, but hopefully not TOO long. I have toyed with the idea of designing one myself, but I don't know much about webpage design, so any tips, hints, recommendations or ideas would be welcome and greatly appreciated! =)

I know once before I'd complained about the computer/website guy - but I honestly thought we'd worked out the kinks since he fired the guy who actually did my website. Hindsight 20/20 though. I have to admit, I would have liked a little notice that my renewal was due - but you see, the computer/website guy seems to think it's more fun to just kind of let me - yanno - stumble upon it myself. Oh yes. Absolutely and total joy.

So we shall part ways, my computer/website guy and me. I was hoping to put it off until after the beginning of the year but now... well, seeing as how I have no website now, I guess I can't really procrastinate on that. How aggravating, really, when I think about all of the other things on my desk that need my attention. Hmm... maybe I should just design the thing myself. I don't know - seems kind of scary to me. I have a nasty little habit of getting into trouble with technology - just see the sheer number of technology rants in my post list.

And now I will wait - I've already contacted a few places to get quotes, so we'll see how that goes. I may end up doing it myself anyway. Heh heh... why does that scare me?

Technology (Yet again)

Aha, betcha thought this was (yet) another "why-does-technology-hate-me?" kind of post, right?

Nope.

Actually, this is a more of a yay-for-technology post (even though technology will kick my ass every chance it gets, and we all know it.)

In addition to my blog (which I manage to keep relatively updated) and my MySpace page (in which only the blog is updated - and I'm not even sure that counts, since I basically cut-and-paste from this blog), and the three (yes, three - I gotta be nuts) email addresses, I have since undertaken yet another sort of technology.

Facebook.

I don't know how it works, exactly. I know I have a Christmas tree and a Sea Garden - and both have stuff in and/or on them. But I don't really know how I got them or why. I know I have a few friends (some of those friends have friends that number in the hundreds! I don't think I even know hundreds of people!) I know I can update what I'm doing, and I do at least once a day.

But what's amazed me about it (though it is technology and therefore automatically out to get me) is that people I haven't seen or spoken to in nearly twenty years (gasp, gulp!) have found me on it. And what's more? I've been in touch with them - like messages and stuff and catching up on the last twenty (gasp, gulp!) years.

It's been interesting, the feeling of nostalgia when I look back at some of the pictures some people have posted, or when I think back to a certain group of people and the stuff we used to do. It's kind of weird to think so much time has passed, and yet, it doesn't seem possible that so much time has passed.

So in this case, technology is my friend. It's led to reconnecting with some old friends. And I haven't blowed it up yet, so that's also a plus. I know eventually it'll turn on me (all technology turns on me eventually), but for now, I'll just enjoy it.

E-Books or Paper?

I have a confession to make.

I don't have a Kindle, and I have no intention of buying one. Quite possibly ever.

See, I'm not a big reader of e-books.

Nope.

Maybe I shouldn't admit to that, since I'm an e-pubbed author, but I don't particularly care for ebooks. I have a few, stored on my old laptop (read with Microsoft Reader because it was free and easy to get up and running), but that's it.

I'm old-fashioned. I like paperback books. I love the way a new book smells (yeah, go on and sniff a new book. You know you want to...), I like how they feel in my hands - the cool, sleek covers (with or without Fabio), the crispness of never-turned-before pages... All of that you just can't get with an ebook. Besides, I spend enough time as it is on a computer, the last thing I want to do is spend my leisure time curled up in bed with... my laptop.

Now it seems like everyone's gotten their Kindle. I don't have one. I have no plans to get one. First off, I'm cheap - there is soooo much more I could spend that $350 on - so unless Amazon really comes down in price, forget it. Why do you think I don't have an iPhone yet? Hell, I own an iPod shuffle because it was the least expensive iPod (confession-within-a-confession time - I am considering upgrading, since my iPod software doesn't work with my newer laptop.)

Second, I really don't need another gadget in my house. My son has the time of his life banging away on my AlphaSmart, on my laptop keyboard, on anything and everything he can get his hands on. I certainly don't need one more thing I have to keep waaaay up out of his reach. That pile of stuff is getting too high and is going to come crashing down on me, most likely killing me in an avalanche of expensive and/or breakable stuff (and car transmitters, since he's real good at unlocking and setting off my car alarm and popping the trunk open without my knowing it.). I really don't need that.

I don't see paper books going the way of the dinosaur just yet, which makes me happy. I like bookstores. I like going into them. I love how they smell and how they are almost as quiet as a library, but not quite (unless, of course, you're in the same aisle as the jerk shouting into her Bluetooth headset as she fights with her credit card company about transferring points. This just happened in a B&N a few days ago. If you're reading, lady, no one else really needed to hear about your points problem.)

With a Kindle (or any e reader. I'm not just bashing Kindle here), there is none of that. There is you and a download connection. That's it. No bookstore smell. No new books. No dolt with the Bluetooth (although that I would not miss at all, to be honest). No cashier asking if you've found everything, or commenting on the books you're buying ("Oh, this one is great! Evanovich's best Plum novel yet!" - or something like that).

True, you can carry every book with you, so there's no, "Damn, I really wanted to read XYZ but I forgot to pack it," but there's just something so.... cold about reading books on a screen. Maybe someday I'll get used to it. Maybe someday I'll do a post on the wonders of the Kindle. I can't say never. But for now???

Give me paper...

Ahhh... Technology

But for once, this isn't a rant. It's more of a rave.

Last May, I replaced my old laptop - the hard drive was just waaaaay to small (15 gig, believe it or not - teeny tiny). So, I bit the bullet and replaced it.

The guy who sold it to me told me it was wireless-capable. Okay. I know nothing about things like that, and it really wasn't a selling point for me, since I didn't have a wireless router. But still - good to know, right?

Fast forward to last October. When we moved into the new house, we had to have a DSL installed. No big. The guy came and spent a good part of the day all over the house. But when he was done, yahoo! Internet access for the first time in days.

Well, the DSL came with a wireless router. Cool. Now I didn't have to fork over the bucks to get one - not to mention that I didn't actually have to go and buy it, since I'm a techno-moron and never know what those salespeople are talking about anyway. But, DSL guy told me, you're going to need a wireless card.

Hmmm... that jogged my memory about the fact that the computer had one built in. So I tell Mr. DSL, who taps a few keys on my laptop and proceeds to tell me "No. You don't have one."

Okay.

I figured I'd get around to a wireless card - eventually.

Fast forward to yesterday. I don't know what made me think of it, but it occurred to me to go and look for myself. I used the Microsoft help thingie, waded through a bunch of menus and ta-da! I found that Mr. DSL was wrong. There is a wireless card already installed on this machine.

So, long story short, I figured out how to set up the wireless - so now I can surf from anywhere in the house. Yahoo! I've already tried my room (how cool - checking email while lounging out on the bed?), the kitchen (hey, you never know when you'll need a recipe from Food Network NOW!), and the family room (can surf and watch TV - total couch potato-ness achieved!). I haven't tried outside yet - but it's beautiful out, so maybe I will later today.

This is so cool. I feel like a total cyber-geek, but I love it!

For once, technology didn't blow up in my face (thanks to a few very knowledgeable people over at Absolute Write!) and now, I can actually leave my office and yet still get stuff done.

Ah.... life is good! =)

It's Baaa-aack!

Just a quick happy dance - my website is alive and well once again. Okay, it still needs to be updated, but at least it's there!

Surprise, surprise, my Computer Guy told me that the Web Guy is not the one to go to any longer. (Really?? Huge surprise there, no?) It will be updated in the future - but probably not until after the first of the year.

Still, I'm happy that it's there - somehow, the message of it being suspended didn't sit real well with me. Oh well - it's over now.

Carry on.