Surviving A Technology Tantrum

Happy Thursday lovelies. I hope you had an awesome and productive week…one more day and the weekend is here! I’m so excited for this weekend for two reasons. First, I have a solid commitment from the hubby to help me build the top of my new desk this weekend. I’m thrilled because, as you may have noticed, the Craft Room Makeover is in quite a stall without the new desk. Fingers crossed the project goes smoothly and we don’t suffer heat stroke from working outside when it’s over 100 degrees. The second reason I’m looking forward to this weekend is because I think I am 90 percent up and running after a major technology tantrum that ate up the majority of my week.

Technology is a necessary and positive part of my life… right?!

The tantrum started as a slow and steady technological melt down on my laptop’s part. My laptop, Lilly, is 5 years old which in technology years is like 100. Last week it took me four hours to do the equivalent of 30 minutes worth of work. Lilly kept forgetting what she was doing; going into one program and wondering why she was there. Furthermore, she had some processing issues, like she had just ate a pound of cheese and was spinning…spinning…….spinning; trying to digest. She was easily confused –  I said “close”, she heard “doze” and put herself to sleep. Basically, Lilly and I, together, made like 1/3 of a functioning brain. It was not good. In this day of technological dominance, I need a young, smart, fast and good looking laptop. Finally…sadly and financially reluctant, I decided to replace Lilly for the latest model.

Meet Geneva

Geneva, on her own, is fantastic. She’s quiet, listens well, processes lightning fast and has clear, beautiful images. Her introduction into my digital life would have been seamless had it not been necessary for Lilly to be introduced to Geneva. You see, I couldn’t just retire Lilly into the green pastures of antiquated computers because she knows EVERYTHING. Her tired brain is full of five years of written and visual memories… and now I need her to not only meet Geneva, I need her to share and play nice with Geneva. Lilly is not happy about this. She is stubbornly holding this info so tightly that it’s taken days of YouTube how-tos and endless conversations with Dhruv, to pry it from her. Of course, since Lilly expressed an attitude, Geneva has responded equally by refusing the package (aka software) Lilly’s information is in; stating it is ‘too old and out dated’. This has caused additional financial expenditure on my part to ‘re-furnish’ Geneva with new software. And that is when I lost it…

RENTING software?

You see, on most of the major software programs (Microsoft Office and Adobe products in particular), you can no longer BUY the software (aka ONE TIME EXPENDITURE). Noooooo. You have to RENT the software and hence, have a monthly fee for as long as you run it. WHAT!? Is anyone else feeling a little duped? I feel like the software and technology companies are like drug dealers. Like one day I was on a street corner and they came up to me and said, “look at this, you can make phone calls… without a cord…in your car!” And I said, “Awesome!” Fast forward to 2018. I’ve drank the Kool Aid and consequently, can’t function without compact computers, social media, instant pictures, uploading, downloading and 24/7 availability. I’m at the street corner again and say, “Hey, This old stuff is just not doing it for me anymore. I need an upgrade!” and they smile knowingly. “Sure. I’ve got you covered. That’ll be $1,000 for the new phone…$2k for the newest 2-1 tablet and you’ll need minutes and streaming, insurance; oh and software rental. So, that will be a kagillion dollars.”

WHAT!???!

At this point, I decided to take a break and collect my thoughts…

Finally, having refreshed myself (really tasty by the way), I bit the bullet and signed up to rent my software. The good thing is, the new programs are amazing! The challenging thing is that they are amazingly different. Once again, I slide down yet another learning curve but it is coming along. Lilly will soon be lovingly wiped clean and stored. Geneva will glow in the limelight of irreplaceable usefulness. Most of all, I will continue to be grateful for the ability to obtain, access and (somewhat) understand today’s technology. Even if it means the occasional tantrum. It is undoubtedly an ever-changing, crazy world.

Before I say good-bye…

I want to share a brief retreat to someplace wonderfully old and beautiful. My latest ‘armchair traveler‘ video (thanks for that phrase Mom) showcases Heidelberg, Germany. I loved this quaint town. It had the most iconic narrow cobbled roads and old buildings yet a fantastic blending of life-time residence and vibrant university students. I hope you enjoy it too. Just click on the link below the picture to watch the 1:40 minute video on the A Crafty Composition YouTube Channel.

Thanks and have a restful, happy weekend.

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