Friday, March 7, 2008

And the Stars of the show, Lee and Mac

As anyone who checked out my links when I first posted yesterday morning found out...they didn't work. I spent hours setting the things up, following instructions (or so I thought) only to have them fail. I found that there was no way while in composition to check them to make sure they would actually take you from the starting point to the destination. Instead you got lost out in cyberworld with a reading of "ERROR SITE NOT FOUND" and one very helpful instruction was "this site does not exist, therefore you can have it if you want it." Really. Would I tell you I saw it if I didn't? It may not have read exactly that way, but that was the message it delivered. I went back over the whole thing, checking for spelling errors or misplaced punctuation, corrected what I found, saved corrections, etc. Mac came in to find out why I was slamming the keyboard up and down on the computer desk...gave me a hug to calm me down and started explaining again just how it works. I was nodding and sobbing and cheering up and then I sat down and went and played in blogland and got the hell out of my post site. I had fun. I promptly forgot all about the linkage that's missing between my brain and the computer. Happy days. This morning my pal Lee (I'd put a link to her but what is the point, it wouldn't work so I'll just type her address in here) http://chrysalisdreams.blogspot.com/ sent me the most simple instructions plus another blogger's address (she used a link, show off) who breaks it down even farther. Honest to Heaven, I was sitting there nodding and agreeing with her, just like I do with Mac. I was expecting her to see me and she was saying, oh good, she's got it. My dear Lee, my Darling Mac, you just don't understand. In a world of where my links send you off into oblivion, you are masters of all you survey. I am the wife and mother of two, for a total of three people in my family who are dingdanged brilliant when it comes to computers. Mac can build one in a day. My older son designs layouts that make my heart beat faster. My baby son keeps a large hospital's computers on the straight and narrow. I sit in the corner like a babbling idiot who can't grasp the first thing about links. I'm pretty sure there are support groups for people like me. When I find one in my area I can stand up and say "hello, my name is Sandi. I'm a computer illiterate."

27 comments:

Hummingbird Chats said...

Sandi, well I would have to be part of your group as well. My links never work and my DS laughs when I ask him what he calls"easy things", it took me about 20 tries to learn how to copy a picture to my file. The other day when I was on his laptop..I said why can't I down load any of my pictures. He started to laugh and said because they are in the hard drive on the big pc...not on his lap top. RED FACE. hehehe Katie

Mima said...

Oh Sandi, nothing to be ashamed of, we all have to learn. I have had the real privilege of teaching my Mum a bit more about computers, and I have really enjoyed being able to help her, and see it as a way to pay back a tiny little bit of what she has done for me. So the honest answer is ask, and let those that love you show you the way, it will make you both feel better than thumping the keyboard!

There is another solution - a great little button that you can buy on the internet to stick on your keyboard that says panic. Now I have no idea if this link will work but I'm trying!!!!
http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/panic-button/index.html

Mima said...

And you can only see half the link!! So trying again, here it is, if you want to use it you will have to take out the return!!

http://www.iwantoneofthose.com/
panic-button/index.html

Lee said...

Hah! Sandi, you make me laugh so hard! Something obviously worked! :) When the world's scientists design ways of exchanging talents I'll gladly swap you part of my computer skills for just a smidgen of your ability to read people.

Hugs!!!

Anonymous said...

This is a whole new language for many of us! Naught to do but keep on keeping on!

PAT said...

We are kindred spirits, Sandi! I just recently learned how to copy and paste a link in another message. I was so proud. My kiddos just shake their heads.

Pat

LZ Blogger said...

Thanks for checking in! Please come back ANYTIME! ~ jb///

Anonymous said...

Sandi.. i feel you girl. I see all these pretty colors and backgrounds and all I can do is change a picture. Really P----- me off.

Mima said...

Sandi I have a wonderful cat called Zena who is indeed a rescue cat, and its true, she is here because she wants to be, she is free to leave at any time.

Anonymous said...

Awww Sandi, It's okay. My sons are amazed at what I can do on the computer and I taught myself everything I know but there's still a ton of things I don't know. I wish I knew how to build a computer. I remember when we first got our computer. I was scared to death of it. :) Lynn

Sandy McTier Designs said...

Hi Sandi,
I'm right there with ya - wish I knew how to do more but to impatient to learn.
Hope you have a great weekend.
Blessings,
Sandy :)

LivingTheLife said...

Sandi...
Just one question. Is there room in that corner for one more??? I'm with you girl...I'm good to be able to post a picture...there are many things I want to do...but my brain or lack of keeps getting in the way. I am currently working on trying to get a beautiful backdrop to my site...thankfully Kari was generous enough to send me the instructions...it is just so lengthy and my printer isn't working right now...so I'll have to wait till I can print those off to follow those instructions step by step (hubbin will probably discover that the printer is just turned off and not broken...but how am I suppose to know THAT!)...lord knows I could never remember all of what I am suppose to do....geez!

Blessings and thanks for the laugh...mostly at myself...b/c I know your pain!

Teresa

John-Michael said...

It has been reported that several attempts have been made to establish said support groups. Thus far all have failed. Couldn't link up.

(gorgiiiiive me, please. I couldn't help myself.)

Jeni said...

See, just like that line from some movie "You are not alone" (or is it "We are not alone?") Anyway, people who have known me for a long, long time and know that I used to do keypunch, then some COBOL programming and that I virtually LIVE on my computer, have this mistaken idea that I really know my "s**t" about computers and such. Not true. Not true at all! Way big difference between what I once worked with and this stuff! And while I can occasionally figure something that is extremely dirt simple out, if people give me instructions that has one iota of language I call "computerese" in it -not pure English, step by step (and I do MEAN STEP.BY.STEP! too, I am totally flummoxed! Blogging and html junk really throws me for a mega loop. So, you definitely are not the "lone ranger" in this category. We'll all just hang in there together and maybe one of these days - oprobably about the time they come out with some other new, more complicated for us but easy as pie for others, high-faluting stuff!

Unknown said...

Hi Sandi,

I know Kat and Kari both helped me big time with learning a few things in blogland. I do love learning new things with the computer though. Have a great weekend girl!

smilnsigh said...

Sandi, I am the same. Clueless, with lots of Net stuff.

But if I get typed instructions, simple and clear and saying every possible necessary thing. And I write them down and follow them for a long time, till they get implanted in my brain, I can do some stuff.

I FINALLY learned to do links!!! I even taught another gal, who couldn't do them. So don't give up. Just know that it's OK to fail a lot. Eventually you'll 'see the light' and wow! You'll be linking all over the place. :-)

imac said...

Hi,you have an interesting blog and some great posts too.

Thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comments.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh Sandi....My first instinct is to give you instructions on how to create a link....but then I realized that you would nod, smile and just think I was an idiot for even trying - lol.... It is easier when someone sits next to you and has you actually do it yourself...not just show you...or tell you...

That said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with typing in the address :-)
Hugs,
Penny

Katney said...

Omigosh! I think I need to go check all my links and see if they work. What if they don't?

For Love Of Home said...

Sandi, your story is sad and funny. My husband wants me to teach him how to send an email, how long has he used a computer? At least 10 years! I still have problems myself, thinking if I click the mouse a little more the computer will do what I want. At least you are not alone!
Clarence says howdy to George!

Mary said...

Sandi thats me too!

Tara said...

Sandi

I am not far behind you--my kids are amazed I can even blog!! It all seems to come so slowly to me!

Thanks for your encouragement on my "bad karma" day--by day's end, i just had to crack up about it all!
very sweet of you!
:0)
Tara

12 Days of Christmas Swap said...

Sandi, Sandi, I am the world's most hopeless Blogger, but I HAVE been so busy, and now it is time to catch up, I have made myself a `pact' Blog at least once a week, in between my `Advanced NZQA computer course, house minding, birthdays, house guests, a wedding to attend, a mermaid swap, plus the ex: doesn't seem to want to be an EX! etc, etc) don't seem to be able to multi-task like I used to, age possibly comes into it.
BUT I have enjoyed catching up, and I do hope all is well with you.
Hugs and more hugs from N.Z.
Liz

Vee said...

Awwww, there, there, Sandi. One can't do EVERYTHING perfectly. Now, please, don't shoot me, cuz lawd knows I don't need another hole in my head, but what is the trouble with the links. Isn't it just a matter of copying and pasting? When you're composing your blog, don't you have a nice little link button? (Mine is green and terribly cute with two little links.) I just type whatever I want to appear in my link, highlight it, and click on my links where I already have been to the site in question and have already copied the addy so all I have to do is paste it in the box. Is this too much information? I can give very careful and thorough instructions if you would like. I can even number them.

Oh yes, you're not telling any tall tales, that's exactly the message that I got..."nobody's here...would you like to be?" or something very close.

Carol said...

oh Sandi I am so pleased you posted this.....I cannot link!anymore - and I cannot add my fav., blogs to my side bar....just keeps coming up Void. This has happend since I played with my blog design.
Driving me mad at the moment.
Hugs,
Carol xx

Jeanne said...

Sandi, I feel your pain girl. I don't even own a real computer. Of course there's an old as the hills one that's just for my word processing on my scrapbooking but you can't count that. For internet we have webtv which isn't very net savvy. Most of what I do here is done at the library or my daughter's house so when it comes to linking or all the fancy pretties I'm doomed. You better talk real nice to your keyboard after beating on it like that hehe.

Sandi McBride said...

I am so glad that the club is larger than I thought...welcome friends...meeting at 7, coffee and cake following!
Sandi