Crapcrapcrapcrap. Crap!
21/1/05 10:41![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eredienI am really annoyed.
Last night I got home, and fifteen minutes after walking in the door was asked to feed the cat. At which point I got the first nasty suprise of the day.
The cat's food was not the kind of food I'd asked my parents to get for her while I was away, and had specifically written down for them to buy.
This does not seem like that big of a deal, except that I'd spent the past two months before I left on vacation and a lot of my time and energy in gradually introducing her to the other diet, had explained to my parents why it was important that the cat kept eating the same food (she throws up less and eats more, which is important for a 16-year-old-cat), and knew that if the cat was going to undergo an operation in the near future--which I was going to spend my money on--that it was important that she be as healthy as possible, and had gotten accolades from the vet on getting her onto the food in the first place.
I got into something of a fight with my father about that. He said, "She likes that better. I thought we were doing what was best for the cat. Don't be angry at me. And don't be angry at your mother either."
Excuse me. I have a right to be frigging angry.
I said, "Well, I like chocolate better than cabbage; but that doesn't mean it's better for me. And you were wrong. That was not the best for the cat."
And then I went upstairs to try and calm myself down--I was tired, after all, and in no real state to think--and my computer was gone.
It hadn't been working right for the past few months--it wouldn't turn on some times, and it wouldn't turn off other times--but I couldn't figure out what was wrong and had no time to go digging to find it, so I had to let it be.
My dad mentioned it to me while I was in England, and said that he would have my cousin C. take a look at it (C. is a computer tech/repair guy). I said, "You don't use it anyway [my dad goes online once every six months, my mom uses the internet at work]. I will be home in two weeks. Don't do anything with it because all of my writing is on there and I don't have backups of the most recent stuff. Let me get home, make a CD, and then you can do whatever you want; in fact that would be great."
He said he wouldn't do anything with it until I got home.
Well, guess what.
I go back downstairs.
I am very quiet.
"Where is my computer?"
"C. has it."
"Why?"
"He's fixing it."
"I told you I wanted to make a backup when you talked to me about just it two weeks ago."
"We'd already done a little work on it before I talked to you and it still wasn't working so I took it to C."
"Oh."
A pause.
Dad: "C. has the hard drive, everything's ok."
"Well, that's good." Gee, I hope nothing happens to it! Because I didn't get a chance to get a backup made before you decided it was time to take my computer in without consulting me and then having the guts to lie about it by omission twice! "So what's wrong with it?"
"The motherboard is dead."
"Oh."
Another pause, where I can see large chunks of my money laughing at me and flying away to be put into a cat which will most likely soon die anyway of sheer old age and a computer that already has.
"It shouldn't take much to get a new one, right?"
"I don't know; I haven't looked at motherboards lately."
"Well, you'd better get a new one, else your computer is dead. Have you thought about getting a new computer?"
Well, yes, it's something I think about--but I was rather hoping I could wait and save up for six months until I got a well, you know, JOB in the new city I will be MOVING TO and not LIVING OFF MY SAVINGS while trying to pay for SURGERY for my CAT and after just paying for a NEW CAMERA which my old job STILL HAS NOT REIMBURSED ME FOR even though they screwed me over in THE FIRST PLACE!
That is what I very carefully did not yell at my father, especially after he implied that maybe I introduced static electricity into the computer after doing recent upgrades (I'd asked him if he had a static wrist strap; he'd said that I didn't need one. Ha. Ha. Weep.)
I said: "I don't know. Maybe it is worth looking into."
Now I have a lot of computer books and magazines and will go looking at the prices of motherboards at Best Buy and compare that to new computers which I can't afford and try to figure out if I really can give my cat surgery or if I should just let the lump sit there and take my chances and possibly kill my cat because I can't afford surgery right now like I saw so many people do when I worked at the vet hospital and promised I would never be one of them.
Oh and now I have only internet access through the library.
I hate this.
Last night I got home, and fifteen minutes after walking in the door was asked to feed the cat. At which point I got the first nasty suprise of the day.
The cat's food was not the kind of food I'd asked my parents to get for her while I was away, and had specifically written down for them to buy.
This does not seem like that big of a deal, except that I'd spent the past two months before I left on vacation and a lot of my time and energy in gradually introducing her to the other diet, had explained to my parents why it was important that the cat kept eating the same food (she throws up less and eats more, which is important for a 16-year-old-cat), and knew that if the cat was going to undergo an operation in the near future--which I was going to spend my money on--that it was important that she be as healthy as possible, and had gotten accolades from the vet on getting her onto the food in the first place.
I got into something of a fight with my father about that. He said, "She likes that better. I thought we were doing what was best for the cat. Don't be angry at me. And don't be angry at your mother either."
Excuse me. I have a right to be frigging angry.
I said, "Well, I like chocolate better than cabbage; but that doesn't mean it's better for me. And you were wrong. That was not the best for the cat."
And then I went upstairs to try and calm myself down--I was tired, after all, and in no real state to think--and my computer was gone.
It hadn't been working right for the past few months--it wouldn't turn on some times, and it wouldn't turn off other times--but I couldn't figure out what was wrong and had no time to go digging to find it, so I had to let it be.
My dad mentioned it to me while I was in England, and said that he would have my cousin C. take a look at it (C. is a computer tech/repair guy). I said, "You don't use it anyway [my dad goes online once every six months, my mom uses the internet at work]. I will be home in two weeks. Don't do anything with it because all of my writing is on there and I don't have backups of the most recent stuff. Let me get home, make a CD, and then you can do whatever you want; in fact that would be great."
He said he wouldn't do anything with it until I got home.
Well, guess what.
I go back downstairs.
I am very quiet.
"Where is my computer?"
"C. has it."
"Why?"
"He's fixing it."
"I told you I wanted to make a backup when you talked to me about just it two weeks ago."
"We'd already done a little work on it before I talked to you and it still wasn't working so I took it to C."
"Oh."
A pause.
Dad: "C. has the hard drive, everything's ok."
"Well, that's good." Gee, I hope nothing happens to it! Because I didn't get a chance to get a backup made before you decided it was time to take my computer in without consulting me and then having the guts to lie about it by omission twice! "So what's wrong with it?"
"The motherboard is dead."
"Oh."
Another pause, where I can see large chunks of my money laughing at me and flying away to be put into a cat which will most likely soon die anyway of sheer old age and a computer that already has.
"It shouldn't take much to get a new one, right?"
"I don't know; I haven't looked at motherboards lately."
"Well, you'd better get a new one, else your computer is dead. Have you thought about getting a new computer?"
Well, yes, it's something I think about--but I was rather hoping I could wait and save up for six months until I got a well, you know, JOB in the new city I will be MOVING TO and not LIVING OFF MY SAVINGS while trying to pay for SURGERY for my CAT and after just paying for a NEW CAMERA which my old job STILL HAS NOT REIMBURSED ME FOR even though they screwed me over in THE FIRST PLACE!
That is what I very carefully did not yell at my father, especially after he implied that maybe I introduced static electricity into the computer after doing recent upgrades (I'd asked him if he had a static wrist strap; he'd said that I didn't need one. Ha. Ha. Weep.)
I said: "I don't know. Maybe it is worth looking into."
Now I have a lot of computer books and magazines and will go looking at the prices of motherboards at Best Buy and compare that to new computers which I can't afford and try to figure out if I really can give my cat surgery or if I should just let the lump sit there and take my chances and possibly kill my cat because I can't afford surgery right now like I saw so many people do when I worked at the vet hospital and promised I would never be one of them.
Oh and now I have only internet access through the library.
I hate this.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
22/1/05 00:22 (UTC)I'm glad you're already planning to get out of there, because it saves me telling you to do so now. If you're still sharing a house with parents who won't let you live your own life, it really is time to go. I only hope you have enough cash to do so and pay for your cat's op as well.
FWIW, the motherboard shouldn't be too serious an expense in all this. Ones from the budget end of the market are fine for most purposes unless you want a super-fast system or plan to overclock, and should cost under $100 (though I admit this is still a significant sum if one's budget is tight). If you're willing to try second-hand stuff, alternatively, you'll probably pick up something significantly cheaper on eBay.
As for anti-static wrist-straps, unless you're installing a CPU or memory, it's not generally necessary if the electrical outlet where the PC is plugged in is earthed. I don't know whether that's the case with US sockets, but if so, leaving the PC plugged in but the power turned off will still mean it's earthed. Touching the metal of the case interior regularly as you work will then remove most of the static from your body.
Not terribly useful information now, I admit, but it might come in handy in the future. <:)
(no subject)
22/1/05 01:29 (UTC)(no subject)
22/1/05 01:34 (UTC)(no subject)
22/1/05 02:03 (UTC)"Grounded", here, refers to an aeroplane that can't fly or someone with a practical nature. Like you, I didn't realise the term on the other side of the Pond was different. Divided by a common language, and all that.
(no subject)
22/1/05 02:06 (UTC)It makes me wonder if they unconsciously resent you; maybe you could see a family therapist...?
(no subject)
22/1/05 15:46 (UTC)I'm sorry about your cat and hope you can keep your promise to yourself.
If your hard drive is okay you might be able to take it to a computer store and have them hook it up to other stuff you need long enough for you to make back-up copies of your writing. I know the Apple Store does this sort of thing anyway, so if there is a way to get your writing off your old computer, they can help you do that.
I have no other helpful things to say except your parents make me want to hit them with large and heavy objects and you should come here as soon as you can.
love
Lauren
(no subject)
22/1/05 16:28 (UTC)Motherboards aren't too badly priced, really. And if you can find one on eBay, that might be better still. Again, as daisho said, it does depend on what you really plan what all the things are you want to use the computer for. Definately do some price comparisons, though.
I also see that others have mentioned you needing to get out of there, or seeing a therapist with your family. I would agree that you need to find your own place, just because they're not listening to you... and thus, not respecting your input to the household, particularly toward what you instruct to be done with your own possessions and pet.
I'd still suggest sitting down with your parents and talking to them. Point out how you need to just want them to hear what you have to say, your reasoning, and your frustration at their avoidance of following your wishes. Tell them of the problems you find with their lack of understanding (and respecting) you, and what you had planned to do for the cat, your computer, a job and housing. And express to them how what they've done has set you back with those plans. Perhaps, with discussing it with them, they can finally understand and find a way to help you carry out said plans.
I only hope for the best for you. *hugstight*
(no subject)
22/1/05 16:33 (UTC)Go to newegg.com THey have good prices and ship really fast. Usually shipping is like.. $3, and you'd pay twice their pricce at bestbuy. I ordered a new video card from them and got it in 3 days C_C;
(no subject)
22/1/05 17:04 (UTC)Best wishes for your cat. :(
(no subject)
22/1/05 23:07 (UTC)Sorry, I can't think of anything more comforting to say, but I really am intending to ask you to draw a coupla things for me.
(no subject)
23/1/05 01:47 (UTC)I am so sorry. Feh and feh and feh and feh. And GRRRR.
And I have nothing helpful to say, except for a sympathetic ARRRRGH.
And love.
--Ruth.
(no subject)
23/1/05 13:18 (UTC)(no subject)
25/1/05 23:05 (UTC)(no subject)
25/1/05 23:06 (UTC)(no subject)
26/1/05 05:15 (UTC)(no subject)
27/1/05 21:02 (UTC)(no subject)
27/1/05 21:05 (UTC)When the time comes and the art is done, methinks I shall send you a card to include in package, and cashage for work, time, materials, and shipping.