The End of the World...

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That's what it feels like, anyway, when your computer dies. We returned from the beach yesterday to find our desktop computer glaring the message NT LDR NOT FOUND.  That means the entire loading system for the computer can't be found, so it can't even be booted.  After spending 7 hours on the road to get us home, Blair popped back in the car with the computer for the 45 minute drive to Best Buy's Geek Squad, to see what could be done.

It doesn't look promising. For $100, they will try to recover the data and for an extra $100 they'll try in 48 hours. Bet your a-- I ponied up the extra money for the fast turnaround. Good or bad, I need to know what I'm dealing with.

 This is most inconvenient as I have 3 assignments I told myself I'd work on "when I got home from the beach." Well, guess who can't access her work? The last save we did was on May 17th. (That wretching, sobbing sound you hear is me, trying not to barf.)

I've got my laptop, which is something. It doesn't have Outlook on it and all my e-mails, which is a big thing. Remote e-mail access is not my friend but I will try sucking up to it and see if we can get along for a few days.

The funny thing is, we stopped in the Apple store in Raleigh on our way home yesterday to look at Mac Books. Even before this incident, I had had it with PC's and their constant locking and rebooting. The plan was to save for a couple of Mac Books and ditch our desktop and current laptop.  With the new/used car going boom last month (we decided to install a used engine with 20,000 miles - about $2800) and the computers dying this month, the Harris' are going to be eating PB&J for awhile.

And I am going back to work.  Freelance work. I've spent the first half of this year doing some experimental writing and I've greatly enjoyed my time and am sad to see it go bye-bye, but it's time to bring in some money.

God only knows what will blow up next around here...

Boogie Board Queen

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I love watching kids at the beach. Children under age 5 stand at the water's edge and scream as the remains of frothy waves come within inches of their feet.

I fit right in.

But there was a thunderstorm Tuesday night (we lost power for 2 hours) and the sea was choppy and just begging for a boogie board ride on Wednesday, so in I went.

And loved it. Admittedly, we use our boogie board more to hang out in the ocean than to ride the waves in, but the water was so stirred up it was almost impossible to ride out past the breakers without heading out to sea, so we found ourselves flung forward again and again by the waves. It became a game of watching to see when the next big wave would hit.

"Here it comes! Here it comes! No, wait. Not this one. Okay--this one! Here it comes!"

I ended up with a little motion sickness.

Back to the water's edge with the toddlers I go. =)

No Long Runs

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I'm at the Outer Banks this week and I'm ready to melt. One hundred plus degree temps the last two days and humidity so thick it feels like breathing through a mesh net. Fool that I am, I decided I was going to do a long run in this nonsense. I headed out the door aiming for 8 miles. Ten minutes in I decided six would be a more reasonable goal. I called it quits at 4 1/2, gasping for breath and ready to sell all my worldly possessions to anyone willing to offer me a sip of ice water.  This morning was a mere 89 degrees and it felt cool by comparison.

I'm hoping to get some writing done this week. I've brought a story with me I've been working on. I like my characters but I'm weak on plot. It helps if something actually happens in a story. Just a thought.

Meanwhile, I've got waves crashing outside my window, a boogie board waiting to be tested (pray for me), and gourmet goodies in the fridge.

Life is hot, but good.