A Laugh and a Sob

/ Tracy Abell

First the laugh:

I got tired of referring to my guys as Elder, Younger, Mate, etc. when posting on LJ and so asked them to supply me with identities for my journal.  Please allow me to introduce:

Zippy Ramone (formerly known as the Mate)

Wildebeest (formerly known as the Elder son)

Zebu (formerly known as the Younger son)

There, won’t that be so much easier to keep straight?!  (I’m a little disappointed Zebu chose that name.  Earlier, he’d opted for Phenomenon which has a certain lyricism when combined with Wildebeest –  try saying Wildebeest and Phenomenon aloud.  See?  But then Zippy Ramone, Zebu and I played BOGGLE and Zippy Ramone formed “zebu” and, well, the rest is history).

So what if my LJ will read like some bizarre hybrid of African safari and punk?!

Okay, now for the sob:

I’m computer illiterate.  But I’m a functioning illiterate.  When I’ve learned how to do something, I follow those directions each and every time.  I don’t necessarily understand what I’m doing when I save a file to a certain place but as long as it’s worked before, I keep doing it.  Each and every time.

For instance, I save my file throughout the day and then when I’m done working, I “Save As” to another location.  For some reason I don’t understand, this drives Zippy Ramone crazy.  Last night he wanted to show me a new method for saving my file since we have a new computer, new backup thingies, upgraded Word program, etc.  He likes the click and drag approach.

Somehow in the process (in case you haven’t guessed, here comes the climax of the Sob portion of this post), he overwrote the HOURS AND HOURS of revisions from yesterday with the file from the day before yesterday.  All my revisions are gone.  GONE!

Why couldn’t Zippy Ramone let me Save and Save As?  Why, I ask you?  Why?

(Okay, I don’t really want to know the why so please don’t try explaining it to me.  If I haven’t grasped it yet in all these years, it ain’t gonna sink in now).

SOB.

I’ll stop whining now, seeing as I need to get back to work on my revisions.  Thanks for listening.

 

52 thoughts on “A Laugh and a Sob”

  1. everything you did is still in your brain
    i know it sucks! but when you regroup, your next revision on it will be better . .it really will
    it has happened to me 6 times
    each time is horrific
    😦
    but life and writing can shine a little brighter
    (((((you))))))))

    Like

    • Thanks. I keep telling myself it will be better but that attitude feels pretty shaky right now. On the other hand, there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it so I might as well get going on those revision.

      Like

  2. everything you did is still in your brain
    i know it sucks! but when you regroup, your next revision on it will be better . .it really will
    it has happened to me 6 times
    each time is horrific
    😦
    but life and writing can shine a little brighter
    (((((you))))))))

    Like

  3. everything you did is still in your brain

    i know it sucks! but when you regroup, your next revision on it will be better . .it really will

    it has happened to me 6 times
    each time is horrific
    😦

    but life and writing can shine a little brighter
    (((((you))))))))

    Like

  4. Thanks. I keep telling myself it will be better but that attitude feels pretty shaky right now. On the other hand, there ain’t nothin’ I can do about it so I might as well get going on those revision.

    Like

  5. Ouch. My sympathies. I’m a save-a-holic.
    Love the new names. Maybe Wildebeast should get together with Tornado Boy. They may be kindred spirits. Except I’ve never actually TOLD t-boy about his nickname, so…uh-oh.
    As for Zippy… He oughta be sedated… he-heh. Or you could beat on the brat. Hey-ho! Let’s go!

    Like

    • Ouch, indeed. I tried looking at the ms to see where I needed to start again tomorrow and then remembered I’d started from word one. I became too demoralized to touch it tonight. I’m hoping the morning will bring renewed resolve.
      I showed Zippy your post and told him we had to swing through Moscow this summer since you’re a Ramones person. He smiled and nodded, so I’m thinking it’ll be a go! (Especially since Wildebeest and Zebu love the three-chord band, too).
      And what’s it worth to you keeping the Tornado Boy moniker secret?!

      Like

  6. Ouch. My sympathies. I’m a save-a-holic.
    Love the new names. Maybe Wildebeast should get together with Tornado Boy. They may be kindred spirits. Except I’ve never actually TOLD t-boy about his nickname, so…uh-oh.
    As for Zippy… He oughta be sedated… he-heh. Or you could beat on the brat. Hey-ho! Let’s go!

    Like

  7. Ouch. My sympathies. I’m a save-a-holic.

    Love the new names. Maybe Wildebeast should get together with Tornado Boy. They may be kindred spirits. Except I’ve never actually TOLD t-boy about his nickname, so…uh-oh.

    As for Zippy… He oughta be sedated… he-heh. Or you could beat on the brat. Hey-ho! Let’s go!

    Like

  8. And let me guess, ZR’s comment was, “Hm…it’s never done *that* before.” And then he walked away. That’s what DH would do — which is why he doesn’t get to touch my computer 😉 However, I’m fairly computer literate…to the point that I’m the one who fixes all the computer probs in the household (and I always have, practically from the second we got married). Yet he was the aerospace engineer…go figure.

    Like

    • No, actually “it’s never done that before” thing is my mantra. I make computers do weird things and ZR keeps things in line. He always saves the day for me. This was an absolutely freak event and he’s feeling very bad right now. I’m trying hard not to make him feel worse.

      Like

  9. And let me guess, ZR’s comment was, “Hm…it’s never done *that* before.” And then he walked away. That’s what DH would do — which is why he doesn’t get to touch my computer 😉 However, I’m fairly computer literate…to the point that I’m the one who fixes all the computer probs in the household (and I always have, practically from the second we got married). Yet he was the aerospace engineer…go figure.

    Like

  10. Ouch, indeed. I tried looking at the ms to see where I needed to start again tomorrow and then remembered I’d started from word one. I became too demoralized to touch it tonight. I’m hoping the morning will bring renewed resolve.
    I showed Zippy your post and told him we had to swing through Moscow this summer since you’re a Ramones person. He smiled and nodded, so I’m thinking it’ll be a go! (Especially since Wildebeest and Zebu love the three-chord band, too).
    And what’s it worth to you keeping the Tornado Boy moniker secret?!

    Like

  11. Ouch, indeed. I tried looking at the ms to see where I needed to start again tomorrow and then remembered I’d started from word one. I became too demoralized to touch it tonight. I’m hoping the morning will bring renewed resolve.

    I showed Zippy your post and told him we had to swing through Moscow this summer since you’re a Ramones person. He smiled and nodded, so I’m thinking it’ll be a go! (Especially since Wildebeest and Zebu love the three-chord band, too).

    And what’s it worth to you keeping the Tornado Boy moniker secret?!

    Like

  12. No, actually “it’s never done that before” thing is my mantra. I make computers do weird things and ZR keeps things in line. He always saves the day for me. This was an absolutely freak event and he’s feeling very bad right now. I’m trying hard not to make him feel worse.

    Like

  13. Oh, Zippy R how could you?????
    I am SOOOOO sorry. That really sucks. 😦
    {hug}
    I hope ZR made it up to you somehow.
    See? I’ve already shortened the name twice. That’s what he gets! 🙂

    Like

    • Thanks, Jo. And Zippy made it up to me yesterday by working all day, grocery shopping on the way home, and then making dinner as I finished the revisions. Again. 🙂

      Like

  14. Oh, Zippy R how could you?????
    I am SOOOOO sorry. That really sucks. 😦
    {hug}
    I hope ZR made it up to you somehow.
    See? I’ve already shortened the name twice. That’s what he gets! 🙂

    Like

  15. Oh, Zippy R how could you?????

    I am SOOOOO sorry. That really sucks. 😦

    {hug}

    I hope ZR made it up to you somehow.

    See? I’ve already shortened the name twice. That’s what he gets! 🙂

    Like

  16. Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Ack! I’m sorry, Tracy. There’s *no* way to recover it? What about that temp files thingie that Word has?
    But even if you don’t recover it, I agree that the next time you revise, it will be even stronger. That’s always the way. But it’s a butt-load of work!

    Like

    • I read this yesterday morning and then called Zippy at work but he said he’d already searched for the temp file and it wasn’t there.
      I redid the work yesterday and am now back to where I was before. It was a tough slog, though.

      Like

  17. Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Ack! I’m sorry, Tracy. There’s *no* way to recover it? What about that temp files thingie that Word has?
    But even if you don’t recover it, I agree that the next time you revise, it will be even stronger. That’s always the way. But it’s a butt-load of work!

    Like

  18. Oh NOOOOOOOOOOOO! Ack! I’m sorry, Tracy. There’s *no* way to recover it? What about that temp files thingie that Word has?

    But even if you don’t recover it, I agree that the next time you revise, it will be even stronger. That’s always the way. But it’s a butt-load of work!

    Like

  19. “I’m computer illiterate. But I’m a functioning illiterate.”
    What a great phrase. And there’s actually a lot of truth in it. Think about this — you don’t need to understand internal combustion or catalytic converters to drive a car.

    Like

    • I do a lot better with my car than my computer, that’s for sure. Although I’ve run out of gas twice: once in an intersection and once in my garage. Zippy was there both times to save the day!

      Like

  20. “I’m computer illiterate. But I’m a functioning illiterate.”
    What a great phrase. And there’s actually a lot of truth in it. Think about this — you don’t need to understand internal combustion or catalytic converters to drive a car.

    Like

  21. “I’m computer illiterate. But I’m a functioning illiterate.”

    What a great phrase. And there’s actually a lot of truth in it. Think about this — you don’t need to understand internal combustion or catalytic converters to drive a car.

    Like

  24. This happens to me all the time. My husband is a superduper computer person who knows all kinds of crazy tricks, and *insists* that I use them too…except I always miss a step here or there and then end up losing my work. So I am in total sympathy. I do agree with others that your revisions will be better the next time, but I understand the complete frustration that comes with having to do them again. I never want to start – but my best advice is to start as soon as possible – once you’ve started, the frustration will dissipate, I promise.

    Like

    • Thanks so much for your comments, Paula. You helped me keep my butt in the chair yesterday morning when I was starting again. I kept telling myself the frustration would melt away and after a bit, it did. Whew!

      Like

  25. This happens to me all the time. My husband is a superduper computer person who knows all kinds of crazy tricks, and *insists* that I use them too…except I always miss a step here or there and then end up losing my work. So I am in total sympathy. I do agree with others that your revisions will be better the next time, but I understand the complete frustration that comes with having to do them again. I never want to start – but my best advice is to start as soon as possible – once you’ve started, the frustration will dissipate, I promise.

    Like

  28. Thanks, Jo. And Zippy made it up to me yesterday by working all day, grocery shopping on the way home, and then making dinner as I finished the revisions. Again. 🙂

    Like

  29. I read this yesterday morning and then called Zippy at work but he said he’d already searched for the temp file and it wasn’t there.
    I redid the work yesterday and am now back to where I was before. It was a tough slog, though.

    Like

  30. I read this yesterday morning and then called Zippy at work but he said he’d already searched for the temp file and it wasn’t there.

    I redid the work yesterday and am now back to where I was before. It was a tough slog, though.

    Like

  31. I do a lot better with my car than my computer, that’s for sure. Although I’ve run out of gas twice: once in an intersection and once in my garage. Zippy was there both times to save the day!

    Like

  33. Thanks so much for your comments, Paula. You helped me keep my butt in the chair yesterday morning when I was starting again. I kept telling myself the frustration would melt away and after a bit, it did. Whew!

    Like

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