2011-01-16:

After a very, very busy week I didn't have any jobs for Saturday so I decided I was going to redo the living room. The project went well up to the very last second, when it ended in disaster. I really like the new layout, Squeaker helped by pouncing on dangerous twist ties and bits of fluff scattered about (where did I get so many twist ties from anyway?) and everything was done. The new position of the speakers was sounding good, everything was dusted, I thought the project was a success. Then I realized I didn't have my computer plugged into the speaker system. "No problem" I thought, I have this long cable, it'll be fine.

But I had forgotten the first commandment: "Thou shalt not connect two devices that are plugged into different outlets."

So I plugged the first speaker cable into the USB adapter and there was a huge spark. "Oh goody" I then thought. "Things have just gone horribly bad, haven't they?" They had! While the power light on the inside of the machine was lit, it would not turn on. Keep in mind the machine wasn't on. Nor was the stereo system on. So how does power travel through a speaker wire into a USB audio adapter to kill a machine, when no piece of equipment is actually on?

Answer: it was Robert doing it, so the more improbable the failure, the more likely it was to happen. 

I tried a whole bunch of things, but no luck. So I did manage to find the exact same motherboard on ebay for $100. Super.

So, my living room has now cost me a G4, a Hackintosh, an SNES, a Game Doctor system imported from Japan... and something else I can't think of now? Maybe? Hum. I took pictures, I'll post them when other system is back up and running, it's too much hassle to do on this one and then copy them over, etc.

Then, like 45-60 minutes later, my mother calls me that the system I got my father for christmas isn't booting now. It'll power on, but won't chime or even light up the screen. Oh, fun! Oh, Joy! What a perfect weekend it turned into! So now I get to buy him another iMac, too. 

I always get nervous when I have a lot of work. I have learned from experience that, somehow, if I start accumulating money, something bad is about to happen that I am going to have to pay for. I was just thinking that like three days ago. And as usual, I was proven correct. My thoughts became my reality. How come that never works on good things?

Game was okay, Sean was helping set up his mother's iPad apparently, rather then coming up with plot, and we almost got one shotted and then we got stuck down a hole. With no powers. Ah well.

Otherwise, visited grandma and got my beads ornament back, she was fine. Four appointments then too, it was a busy day.

Tomorrow, shopping, then over to Mom's house. Back here to call Scoops and then a 3:30 and a 5:30. I've booked three for tuesday and one each Wed/Thurs.