Tag: technology

Habits

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

I’ve always prided myself in being able to adapt and change as needed. With the new website there are certainly a lot of things I like better but in my head I’m lamenting some of the things I could do on the old blog or website.

Now in reality the new site is wonderful. There are definitely more good things than bad but at the same time, I’m missing some features. In my head I’m grumbling about it and then stop myself as I realize I sound like those people who grumble about making changes.

I’m flexible – I swear this is true. I like trying new things, exploring new options. But this change has been a little difficult. I’m pretty sure my blog I had for around eight to ten years but still when I was using it, I grumbled about things I couldn’t do – these things I can now do with my new blog / website.

I’m not sure if it’s the length of time I had the blog or how busy I’ve been or the fact that I’m getting older but part of me is being a bit grumpy. It might be because I’m also dealing with a new to me computer. I loved my old computer and the new one is taking a bit to get used to. Doesn’t matter really. All of this leads to me telling myself about the things I really love about the new web site – like that everything is in one place and it has become one stop shopping for me. If I have a new publication I come here where I can post it as being available and where as well as writing a blog post about it. It’s all in one spot.

Posting pictures is easier in a lot of ways. Not only do I have a easy access for posting them but I have a place where all the pictures I’ve used are stored. This means if I’ve already used in – I don’t have to go looking for it again, I can simply look in the catalog of already used pictures.

These and a whole lot more features are the reason I changed over to the new website. I am going to keep reminding myself that for the next month or so things may be annoying with me having to figure out how to do stuff but really there’s more good than annoying. I guess even I can be a bit of a curmudgeon when it comes to change. However, the curmudgeon in me is going to get a smack because I like the new site and I like the convenience more than I dislike features I can no longer do. Basically the good far far outweighs the bad.

It Died!

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

My netbook has been a faithful and constant companion for the last five years.  I tried to start it Friday and it wouldn’t start.  I had to plug it in and it was sluggish.  I panicked!  I need my netbook.  It is vital.  Yesterday I tried to start it and it wouldn’t start.  Eventually, Ken got it to start but the functionality of it was super slow.  I use my netbook every single night.  I use it to edit, check email, post, write.  I must have my netbook.  I’m nearing the end of a writing project and all I want to do is write.  Not having my netbook work is an emergency!

I took a deep breath and realized I was going to have to say goodbye to my netbook.  It makes me sad but I need something reliable and usable.  This meant a trip to Best Buy.  I hate shopping.  Best Buy is loud, has lots of lights and video, it is sensory overload.  But I needed a new netbook or something similar.

We looked at the smaller computers.  We found one under the price we wanted to pay.  The salesman said what do you do with it.  I explained.  He said oh that won’t work.  Let’s go look at tablets.

When I write, I typically have three things open – Word, Excel, and some sort of internet connection (Chrome or IE).  I told them a tablet would not be my first choice.  They were all it does this and this and this.  I was uncertain but let them talk me into it.

By the time we were done adding accessories to the tablet, we were $100 over what I wanted to spend.  I really am trying to save for a vacation.  I brought it home, set it up, and couldn’t get the keyboard to work.  I called because that’s what they said to do.  I was told to bring it in.  When I asked what it would cost, they said probably not anything.

At this point, I’m fairly certain there is smoke blowing out my ears.  I’ve also realized there’s no way to charge the tablet while I’m writing and having a flashdrive attached.

Geeksquad helped us.  He got the keyboard to work and I asked about the charging and he said no you can’t do both.  I explained my dilemma.  At first he was a bit snippy with me but as we talked he said, why did you buy a tablet?  You clearly need a small laptop.  He walked us over, we looked at the options he suggested and opted to change out to a laptop.

Now all I wanted to do since Friday night was work on finishing the story.  I need a few hours of uninterrupted time and I should be able to complete the story.  Yet I was interrupted with a friend visiting, a haircut, and a breakdown of my netbook.

I bring the laptop home.  I spend an hour or so setting it up.  I’m frustrated – more because I’m not writing than with the laptop.  Ken goes to bed.  I plug in my flashdrive and write.  It’s like the world snapped into place.  All is right again.

Now today, I’m down to these three or four scenes.  I’ll likely finish them off at some point today depending on how much time Ken and I spend together.  While my netbook died and I’ll miss it, I’ve been able to replace it and get back to writing.

Cords

by eileentroemel, posted in Life

Sitting in the recliner writing, I had my phone near me charging, a heating pad on my foot, and my netbook charging.  I was surrounded by cords.  I told my daughter that I had to be careful or I was going to get tangled in my cords and die.

Our technology runs us.  I wouldn’t give up my computer or some of the other technology I have for anything.  I enjoy being able to work on the computer and look up something in an instant instead of having to go to the library, find the information in the reference books, copy it down or read through it there. 

At the same time, technology has made us all instant people.  Everything is right at our fingertips and accessible so quickly that when we have to wait – like in the drive thru – we get impatient and it becomes a HUGE deal that we had to wait two minutes for fries…

Would you rather have it right and take longer or would you rather have it wrong and there in an instant?  I’d rather have it right. 

I sat in the recliner all day working on a story.  Periodically I had to plug in and unplug multiple devices.  It kept me occupied and busy.  I cannot imgaine having to write all of what I did out and then type it up (on the computer or on a typewriter).  Okay I can because that is what I used to do but it adds a step and time.  By having my technology, I was able to finish a story, research topics for that story, talk to my kids, and keep a heating pad on my foot.  It made the day stuck in the recliner more bearable. 

Technology has its uses….

by eileentroemel, posted in Uncategorized

I wrote last night till nearly one in the monring.  I finished yet another chapter.  This morning I had to be up to leave the house at 7 am so I set my alarm and got up.  Fortunately it is the weekend so I don’t have to dress up or anthing. 

The morning was gray and gloomy.  It seemed to fit my tired and somewhat growly morning mood.  While I had the radio on as I drove I wasn’t really listening to it.  Last night I ended my chapter and it was good but it wasn’t great.  It wasn’t quite what I wanted and I couldn’t figure out what I wanted – that’s part of the reason I stopped writing. 

As I’m driving along not really thinking about anything, my story pops into my head.  I’m thinking about what I want to happen next in the story – thinking about the next chapter, which characters will go where, what the next phase is.  My mind keeps going back to the end of the chapter.  I can’t seem to let go of the ending of the chapter.  Then an idea pops into my head that is BRILLIANT.  It is the PERFECT ending to the chapter and sets up a great transition. 

I’m picking up my friend and her daughter.  I am waiting for them in the parking lot.  I don’t want to forget my idea so I pull out my cell phone.  I open up the note pad section and write the ending to the chapter.  Ridiculous I know but still I did it.  Then I email myself the next two or three chapter ideas I had…

Granted I had my journal with me and I could have written out all of this but it would have been in my journal which is not where I want this type of writing to be.  I know this may sound contrary to my last two posts but this was a good use for technology and I wasn’t rude to anyone in the process.