Well, my computer was down for a week, in the shop. They say it had viruses. When I asked how many, she said, we lost count. Oh. My. Goodness! I've had the Cox Security Suite installed for 5 years, they use McAfee. I though I was secure.
I knew the week before it wouldn't boot up to windows that the computer was acting kind of sketchy. That little voice in the back of my mind was saying, 'you should really do a backup of your photos, get those organized and delete what you can.' And did I listen?
Procrastination is my middle name.
Well, I got lucky. My personal stuff is intact, but I have limited functionality. My audio doesn't work, only one drive works, and it's misnamed. When the computer shop repaired my computer, they used an older version of my windows XP Media. I have 2005. They used 2002. They say it's the same workings. I say, I've used this computer since Jan 2007 daily, and I know what it's supposed to look like. It looks slightly dated, and the drivers are all messed up.
AND, I never did update to Vista, although I've had the disk for years. Now, I can't, because it's an update to vers. 2005, not 2002. Sigh.
I've learned alot in the last couple of weeks. How to save my .pst files for Outlook, that I should have a backup plan and use it DILIGENTLY. That I have, are you ready? about 60 GB of photos and videos alone. Not including my documents, which thankfully are a fraction of that.
Do you know how long it takes to upload all those photos? DAYS. Actually DAYS AND NIGHTS. Seriously. I've been uploading for 4 days and nights steadily.
And did I mention music files? I've just been getting into buying I Tunes and Amazon MP3's for my I-Pod Nano (which I still love, btw!) I can't remember how much I have been it's not as serious as the photos. I uploaded all my music to Amazon Cloud and SugarSync, so I should be ok.
Speaking of SugarSync, that is who I decided to go with for online storage/backup. It's costing me, but I am hoping to downgrade my package after I get this mess straightened out. I did run into some trouble with the last 10 files, they don't seem to want to upload. Spent time chatting online with tech yesterday, need to upload the log to them for analyzing.
In the meantime, after searching online for others opinions on this stuff, I decided it wouldn't hurt to go with Carbonite, another online storage/backup site, as a backup to my backup. They offer a free trial period, unlimited upload. Yee haw! (seeing as how I uploaded about 85 GB to Sugarsync) So that is what I'm doing now.
AND, the repair shop said that AVAST is a great free antivirus software, so they put a copy on my computer before I brought it home. So far, it's blocked a couple of malwares.
I think I've done well over the years, as that was the first time I've ever had a computer in the shop, and when I really sat down to think how long I've been online, well, it's been since about 1997. I've been operating computers since the 1980's. Wow. I didn't realize it's been that long!
I've owned 3 computers, each one basically becoming severely outdated. This one is 6 years old. I remember when I ordered it from Dell, I could have a TV Tuner come installed in it, and I thought, that's crazy! So I didn't. Now I get it. Sigh. :0)
Well, I hope this helps someone out there to stop procrastinating and get things in order on their computer. I had a close call - nearly losing all my beloved family photos for the last 6 years (last backup was 3 years ago), our trips, my pets, my flowers (What was I thinking? A bazillion flower pics!) scanned slides of my childhood... everything.
And did I mention I save emails? Yes, I have several folders and sort family and friend emails into them and keep them - at least the meaningful ones. I am quite sentimental. I need to do something about that. :0)
So, what did we learn today?
1) Backup your computer! Regularly!
2) Sort those photos, make prints, CD's, etc.
3) Keep a copy of your music online, on CD's, etc.
4) Check your virus software - I think you can do a free virus scan with other reputable software now and then just to be sure.
5) Don't procrastinate. You might not be as lucky as I am next time.

I don't know how much longer this is going to take. I've been at this since last Friday, a week ago. I still have several thousand files to upload to Carbonite. It could take another couple of days, I think I managed 6GB overnight last night. Make sure you turn off your screensaver, your hibernation mode and sleep mode - and just shut off your screen.
My plan is to finish this, then reinstall my correct operating system, and then install my Vista upgrade. I'm going to finally do it and get it over with. I think it's patched and fixed as much as it's going to get now, and I hear Windows 8 is coming out soon. Sure is hard (and expensive) to keep up with technology. Hmmm, do I really need it? That's a post for another day. :0)

Scripture on my heart today:

2 Corinthians 4:16 - 18

"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen, is eternal."

Thank you, Lord, for encouraging me to not lose heart by what I see. To know that you are always working on my behalf in all situations. Even when I don't understand, I trust you. Thank you Lord, for adjusting my perspective. Thank you for adding balance. Amen

SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder...

(Turkeys in my back yard last winter...)

Well, so much for doing better on blogging. I give up making any more promises. I will catch you up on what's been going on this winter. I guess in the last post, I talked about light boxes, so I'll start there. The new one, from Northern Light Technologies, made in Canada, I tried just didn't seem to do it. I wanted it to, I really did. It was white light, so supposed to be better for your eyes. No glare, tilted down instead of up. It was big and awkward, and took up one end of my dining room table. I did get some great Bible reading time in during my sessions though, and I continue to read a chapter nearly every day. A great habit to get into, and not only reading it, but really studying it and understand what the author was trying to say. It sure helps to read the entire book consecutively, as it helps put things in perspective and you get an understanding of his point. Anyway. I finally ended up sending the light box back. It was over $200, and I had only 30 days to try it. Thank goodness Amazon has such an excellent return policy. It did come with a piece broken, so I didn't have to pay return shipping. I ordered another one, this time a Verilux Happy Light. This one is lighter, about the same size, but has a built in stand so it sits on your desktop, but also has a keyhole so you can hang it on your wall. So, I've been using in the wall, about 3 feet from me. Now, it says to be within about 12" from your face for 1/2 hour, but this makes my eyes ache, a fair amount of nausea, and a bit of a headache, so I left it on the wall, turned on, while I do my internet stuff in the morning. It's been a slow process. I think it helps some, but my problem has been compounded with 2 colds in the last month. Yes, you read that right! 2! about 4 weeks apart. The first one was a real nasty one - severe sinus pressure and pain, runny nose, scratchy throat, fatigue. What fun. Then, just as the very last of the first cold was leaving, another one came. Not as bad, but it sure is taking it's sweet time in leaving. It seems I've been sick for 6 weeks now. And tired the whole time. No energy. Down, unmotivated, wasn't able to exercise consistently, and it's winter. More fun. I am getting over now though as we speak, still runny nose, but a bit more energy. I started walking again last week. Far cry from the treadmill, bike and elliptical plus weights I was doing at the gym, but I am getting there. I am really struggling with the light box thing, though. I am to the point I am willing to buy back the first blue light. I felt SO GOOD while doing that. A lot more energy, motivation, well being - things I really like! :0) I am thinking of keeping this light box from Verilux, and using both - the blue light for a shortened period of time each day, with the other light filling in. Have to see how that works. Seems the blue light is the most effective treatment, but comes with it's hazards, like glare and headache. So perhaps I'll modify my treatment to try to eliminate these. I've really struggled with nausea too, with the Verilux when using it up close. Lasts nearly all day. I'm still having a hard time getting up mornings - this wasn't hardly a problem with the blue light therapy. Perhaps I should try the Dawn Simulator. These dark mornings, now again with the time change, make things harder. A Dawn Simulator starts about 30 minutes before you want to walk up, with a gradual lightening, just like real dawn does. Tells your body 'Wake up!' Another thing with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is the latitude where you live. Seems if you are subject to this, the further north you live, the harder it is. Since I live in New England, can't get too much further north, although it does make a difference from living in Maine and NB. I did notice we have a lot more days of sunshine here in CT than northern Maine. I found a document online which said that Caribou Maine gets 59 days of sunshine per year, and Hartford about 82. That's full sunny days, not including partly sunny/partly cloudy days. I know there are a lot of partly cloudy days up north. We have less days of precipitation too. Most sunny days seems to be in the desert area of the US, like Arizona, Nevada, etc. Well, there's no way I'm moving there! I am definitely not a desert person. I like my green trees, flowers, grass, etc. However, I am entertaining the idea of a move further south, especially in retirement. The only problem is, I don't like excessive heat and humidity. That can also trigger a more rare form of SAD. And even rarer, is a combination of the two. With my luck, I likely have both. yeah... I know I get quite frustrated in the heat and humidity, but I think if I had a swimming pool, nothing fancy mind you, it would help. Also, a deck NOT painted brown. Can you say 'hot hot hot!!'? :0) Well, I'll just say, I will be glad to find something that works, and get on with my life, because this is certainly a major downer every winter. I want to enjoy life year round. Yes! So that's what's been preoccupying my time lately. Isn't that exciting? :0)) On a lighter note, I'm running out of my homemade soap I stocked up on in December from one of our local farms - Cupola Hollow Farms. They make excellent goat's milk soap - once you try it, you may never go back to store bought soap again. I know I won't. The ladies will open up likely the end of this month, hopefully. I see one of our favorite ice cream places has moved down the road from their original spot, can't wait! This warm weather certainly gets one in the mood. It has been in the 70's the past couple of days. About 20 degrees above normal. I don't know what that's going to say about this summer. I wish I could summer in Maine - just the summer. It is so nice up there July and August. Fresh cool breezes, warm summer days, fresh fresh air, and such a feeling of laid back contentedness. How well I remember from our years there. It's such a slower pace of life, so much more relaxing than here. But you also need to remember the long cold winters, and bug season. Oh. Yeah. If you go too early in the summer, be prepared for the onslaught of blackflies. Especially north of Bangor. And mosquitoes. Lots of swampy boggy places for them to thrive up there. Speaking of, we saw our first mosquitoes of the season here this week! And yesterday, we heard spring peepers. I love listening to them in the evening. It's early in the season, so I hope we don't have any more snow or late season hard freeze. Although at this point it time, it's anyone's guess if we will. Well, I better go. Housework is calling, and maybe some time in the sun on the deck while these unseasonably warm days are here. I hope everything is going well in your neck of the woods. God bless and keep you.

Light therapy boxes...

Just a quick update on one of my past posts where I mentioned the light therapy box.
I sent back the Suntouch Plus light box. I discovered it's a 'blue light' box, and blue light has been shown to be hard on your retinas, and can lead to Age-related Macular Degeneration. Can actually speed it up by 10 years.
The article suggested 'white light', so I ordered and rec'd the BoxElite from Northern Light Technologies. (bought through Amazon) I will keep you posted on how it works out. I know the other light box made a big difference, but I did suffer from glare, and worried about my eyesight. Plus, we are supposed to get it at an angle as if from the sun, so not from desktop level, but rather from an elevated level, which this new box does. I did notice today that there is no glare. There's also UV filter protection, and it's adjustable. The light isn't as bright, but still 10,000 lux, and it's to be used 17 inches from your face, rather than 12 - 16.
I feel more confident using this one, but will continue to monitor the research. Will keep you posted if I learn anything new.

Almost, but I didn't.

That was close. I almost signed back into Facebook today. I looked at my index card for my password, and noticed the date. 7/13/09. Wow! I didn't realize that it had been that long since I had deactivated my account on Facebook. Today was tempting. My aunt has since joined, and my best friend has pics of her new hubby on hers. My step-kids and nieces are on there too. But do I really want to get back on into everyone's daily life again? Do I need to? Honestly, for me, I probably shouldn't. I live far away from all my relatives. That might make you think that I really should. But then I remember the emotional roller coaster I could get on when I saw something that upset me, something someone said, or when someone in my own family didn't add me to their Facebook friend list. Whether by mistake or on purpose, I've decided that I don't really want to know after all. I am on this computer enough daily that I don't need to check into Facebook several times a day too. (and I know me - I will do that!) 

 While it was good to reconnect with friends I grew up with, they do live over 1000 miles away from me, and the likelihood that I will ever see them again in person is slim to none. I'm just facing facts here. And the emotional roller coaster? I can certainly do without that. I don't need the extra upsets that come along in life. I can't help much about most things, except pray, and be a support if they phone. I should be doing that for them anyway. So I think that I will just put away the thought of signing back in, and call them instead, if I decide to connect. So much better that way, don't you think?