2012-09-13:

I had the entry just about written up. All about my adventures that week banging my head into windows (as usual) when I wanted to go back a word. I hit option arrow key to go back. Sadly, I must have struck the command key as well, because the browser window went back instead. 

Now usually Safari asks you "you have entered information on this form, Are you sure you want to navigate away from it?"

Not this time.

So I lost a half hour of writing and said forget it. 

The Heat Engine Mark 2 got built, thanks in large part to my father, and is currently pumping out 50 degree or more raise of temperature hot air. It currently has a board holding up the output pipe, hopefully dad got the adapter for me so I can fit it together properly.

Saw Neil and had a session at RIT for Infinite Vector finishing up the latest adventure. Also had the Halo party and played some board games. Mizzy won Cosmic Wimpout at the last second with a roll of five sixes. Got a sub for free. Haven't been to subway in ages, so when the woman ran the card I said as much. She said I had just enough so I walked out without giving her a cent. 

Two Dr Who of the new season. They were okay, but not spectacular.

Got all the Labor Day stuff done, thanks again to my parents. The house is ready for another winter, even if I'm not prepared for it. 

So how did this week go? Ugh. Pretty packed, wish I had a proportionate amount of money to show for it.

Monday: Did the shopping as usual. The first person "lost" their documents a phenomenon I've seen with XP often enough. Profile corruption. So I made a new profile, moved everything over, and thought that was that. Not so fast. 

The next one was just setting up two new machines for an author I know. What does she do, nothing but write? She had books with her name on it piled up around that place! Sheesh. Make me feel like a slacker why don't you?

Then returning something. I don't know, I have "return" on my calendar but no invoice. Anyway, that night I got a call from the first lady saying her stuff had disappeared again. That profile got corrupted too?! Super.

No, that's not the super part. The super part is how Windows just sort of lost all her stuff out of her folders while I was trying to fix this second corruption. Yeah. Thanks. 

So tuesday I went at 10:00 to York. No one was really there so I "snuck" in? Anyway, I think their switch, which they actually no longer needed as there was now only the one machine in that room, was flakey. I just unplugged it, and things seemed better. No calls since, so it must be okay. 

Then over to the strathallan again, or what passes for it, as the hotel is under renovation. They're at some temp location on scottsville rd. They wanted a program installed. Of course no one has any disks, or knows anything. But two hours later I figured out what little documentation they had, rewrote the directions so the next poor sap doesn't have to spend two hours and charged them an hour because it was a ten minute job if only someone had a tiny shred of knowledge. She wanted to pay me more, but I just said "pay me for the last time" because they haven't yet. 

Now let's see. The next one. A yes. His machine was actually fine when I got there. So that was good. He said he had ordered a new machine so I said we would settle for what little I did do while I was there when I went back again.

The next one had a Mac, and basically just needed me to turn it on. *shakes head*

Then I went back to the lady with the profile trouble. I ran a recovery utility to get what I could back, copied her stuff from the old HD she kept (but you don't have a backup drive? Why? Why? Why?) and make her another profile in the hope this one says. Her stuff is now on a flash drive where it will presumably be safer. I also put her documents into dropbox. No money made there. Let's see, with phone time, which was like an hour, then two hours say the second time plus an hour the first time- four hours or more because windows can't keep track of a user folder. I should have charged for every last second because you have poor decision making skills, lady. But no, I'm too nice.

Honestly, how do you people put up with it? Windows I mean, not me. 

Wednesday started with a half hour journey which I did a few minor things and called it good. Whatever. Then setting up a new machine for the guy down the street, and way at 6:00 a person… that canceled that morning.

Today I had the morning free but a hectic afternoon. Got in the restore disks for a laptop that's been sitting here, so I got that going. at 1:00 I went over to the prison outreach center to see what they had to say. Did what I could for them, she said she would mail me a check. Hope I get it, they didn't pay me last time. (Not that I'm bitter about it)

Then over to a lady who recently lost her job. She's using a borrowed laptop (a toshiba) that I learned has the absolute worst Fujitsu hard drive in the universe. For one thing, Toshiba seems to make hard drives, as I can purchase a hard drive with the toshiba name on it. So why didn't they put a toshiba hard drive in a toshiba laptop? Are they idiots? I was wondering why it was taking an hour to install an HP printer (I mean, I know they're terrible, but that's a stretch even for HP installers) and found out it was a 4200 RPM drive. There's your trouble! I didn't charge her. She's been a customer for quite a while, and I figure even $40 when you don't have a job anymore could be a big deal. And presumably my money issues are much smaller then hers. *grumble grumble* *Looks at calendar.* *Flips calendar.* Presumably. 

Then over to replace a power supply, which actually worked and went smoothly. Lost $5.00 on the deal. I charge $40 for them, but the one I buy must have gone up in price? When I got home I checked and I paid $40 for it, plus $5.00 shipping. I know they were cheaper then that though- I always order the same one for that reason. Sigh.

Then taking the system back way, way, way, way past Victor. 6.3 miles from exit 29 off 490W. 

Got home at 7:00ish and called the lady from 6:00 yesterday. Her machine had lost both the sound and ethernet drivers, so I had to redownload them. Windows just loses stuff? Really? And that's just business as normal then, is it, MS programmers?  

Tomorrow, only two scheduled. I'll call the guy for the laptop again, now that it's done. Let's see, one at 2:30 something about iDrive backup software acting up. Then at 4:00 a lady who's infected herself. And by herself I mean her computer. Then to see Mom, and then home for maybe the "Winter Wrap Up" of the old Demongate High game? Thus paving the way for the new Demongate High game? Maybe? Neil hasn't responded, at least not to my knowledge. 

30% chance of rain on Saturday, we'll have to see what happens. Supposed to work on the shed with Mom/Dad this weekend. We'll have to see what happens. No game has been put forth for Saturday. 

Whew. And that's half way through September. Is it going downhill? It seems to be picking up speed.