Friday AM Excitement.

I love my computer. I really do. But this AM I almost threw it through the window. Fortunately, I really like the window. 

Cntrl F is on the fritz. In explorer. This…is not funny. A basic function like “find” going haywire in Windows means there is something fundamentally screwed. My heart rate increases dramatically.  I really don’t have time or neurons to handle a major computer problem at the moment.

Okay…think. (Hard at the best of times…nearly impossible in the middle of a major panic attack, but I persevere.) I try the simple things, restarting, unplugging peripherals (like my 1.5 TB drive). No dice.

Okay…think some more.

Think…Think…what changes have been made in the machine. The TB drive, but it’s not in the equation now. Some new programs, lots of new programs since we got home, trying out different things with Word Press, Firefox, graphics and…

Ahah! Back when I was cleaning up the computer, I decided to try one of those reg cleaner programs. I did my homework and compared, read reviews, etc. And one, the best rated, had a 30 day, full program trial. I tried it and it found a whole bunch of garbage, mostly, it seemed, useless file associations. I looked over the “problems” and they seemed innocuous, so, since it had a total undo, I let it rip.  Seemed okay, but that was the big suspect to me. So…I did the undo.

Still no “find.”

Think. Think. Ahah! (I need a little kitty emo with a lightbulb. Guess I’ll have to make one…) System restore. Go back a day (that’s the first restore available) Still no “Find.” Okay…just for funzies…go back to the one I made before the registry cleaner.

Bingo. And the restore right after the registry…and “Find” disappeared again. Bottom line is: The registry cleaner was the culprit, but whatever it did, its own restore couldn’t fix. Phooey.

And thanks to that fun and games, we were late to the rink, again. Got there and they had us on Rink Two. Now, time was I loved Rink Two. It was the one we skated on all the time, so it was what I was used to. This may sound odd, but the two rinks are quite different. Rink One, the older one, is not only larger, it’s built on a sand base so the ice is…springier. And a bit softer. Rink Two is, like most modern rinks, built on concrete. Cold, hard and fast. I still like the surface, but it’s primarily a hockey rink now so the ice is always a bit chewed up, even when freshly zambonied. (Hockey players like chewed up ice. I think it’s “grippier” for them for the quick stops they need to make.)

Anyway, the hard ice and choppiness can be a bit hard on old bones and joints and Carolyn and I both tired out pretty fast. Besides, we had OSGuy coming over that afternoon to help plant the trees. We couldn’t wear ourselves out.

We got home, and I began planting, and weeding and rocking, etc. etc. etc.  I want to spread some tree fertilizer I got for the big evergreens, but realize they aren’t listed specifically, just “trees and shrubs.” So..I go in to ask Carolyn to check on the internet to see if it’s safe to use…and as I walk into the living, room, the doorbell rings.

My heart skips a beat. I know what it is, because I know it’s the 24th, and I’ve been following The Package as it traveled across country. I go outside, pick up the package…and sorrowfully put it on the floor, unopened.

The Wacom Board would have to wait at least a few hours.

Sometime in there, (Carolyn found the info on the web, and the fertilize was safe) OSGuy called and Carolyn went to meet him at Lowe’s to pick up the lumber for the bridge. I’m sitting crosslegged on the ground, weeding away, awaiting Steve’s arrival. Carolyn had a bit of very necessary shopping (if we were going to have anything for dinner) to do. Steve arrived…and somewhere in the offloading of the lumber, I realized he planned to help us cut the arched pieces for the bridge right then.

Panic. I hadn’t really planned on doing the bridge until later this spring…or even in the summer. I hadn’t really looked at the plans or anything else. I mean, I knew in theory how we were going to do it, but … Okay, I tell myself. Deep breaths. Let Carolyn and Steve handle it. I’ll just weed. It’ll all be fine.

Does the phrase keystone cops mean anything to you? I sat off to the side weeding, trying to stay out of it, and listening to Steve telling Carolyn “An inch to the west” “half an inch south.” 

Finally, they decide the string is too stretchy ( it is a problem.) They try another string. Still no good. While they discuss it, I go into the garage and stare around, looking for something snaky, that doesn’t stretch, and that’s long enough. Ahah! Extension cord. I take it out to them and go back to weeding.

Now, they “argue” (very good naturedly) over whether math or builders are right, because the calculated radius of curvature just isn’t working. I finally ask…not being involved in the discussion, and so free to considered the variables…is the board actually twelve inches wide?

Uh…no. Of course not. Measurement: 11inches. More calculations, and Math and Builder can finally agree. The drawing of the arc begins, and now I can actually be useful…holding my hand under the middle of the extention cord so it doesn’t drag and make the curve “bounce.”

By this time it’s getting late (and I’m getting seriously hungry) and the trees still aren’t in, so we agree to leave the cutting of the board until tomorrow (Saturday) and get the trees in.

Finally!!!! I get my trees in!!!

Yay!!!!! I can get away from weeding!!!! (But the iris bed does look a lot better.)

The trees actually went in without much problem. I finally thought about you all, and asked Carolyn to go get the camera and record the even for posterior…er posterity.

  The Hinoki Cypress went in pretty easily. We were halfway into the Vanderwolf Pine when I thought to ask Carolyn to go after the camera.  In the background, I’m behind the cypress holding up the pine while OSGuy (Steve) is standing in the hole. Yes it was that deep!

This is the “Grass” I mentioned yesterday. It’s actually Dracena, which isn’t a grass, but just a pretty ornamental stuff. Celestial Light and Magic put a spotlight on it just so Carolyn could snap this shot for you all.

You see here OSGuy’s official OSGuy hat. It has a Green G in a circle.

 Here we have the headless OSGuy. We don’t dare show his whole face because his rugged handsomeness might cause all internet viewers to come steal him and we need him. All we dare show is his great smile. (Actually, Carolyn was dealing with the zoom on a strange camera and beheaded him. Sorry Steve!

 Is it straight?

At this point…who cares?

Time to eat!!!!