TGIF!!!

Glad this week is over!

Monday night, I noticed something was wrong with my computer (it all started with "searchqu" - see here). I was beside myself. I spent all night trying to clean it up and didn't go to work the next day (they were sympathetic, and I had the PTO). I ran different malware programs and the anti-virus. I thought everything was OK, but then found out I was unable to log in to an ING savings account (or another website that has a password on it). (The closing on the refinance is coming up soon, and I needed to put some extra money into my checking account to help cover closing costs). So then I thought something had messed up my passwords. To make a long story short, the computer ended up dead in the water - I'd reloaded Windows 7 and apparently (mistakenly) put a password on it, which I then couldn't remember. (I guess that can happen after having already taken my estazolam, etc.) I have no reason to have a password on my computer.

(I think the computer infection mess started after I'd opened up an email attachment from my uncle sent last Sunday - and usually I never open up his attachments. It was a PowerPoint with a bunch of pictures.)

Meanwhile E. got upset since he couldn't reach me at work. He did leave a message on my cell, but by then I was asleep in bed. (Didn't hear it ring.)

When I finally got up Tuesday afternoon, I returned E.'s call and apologized (he was relieved). I then talked to Dell (the manufacturer) and Best Buy (where I bought the computer) and ING (and had the money transferred over the phone). (Dell had said to call Best Buy, since according to their records my computer had been sold in Canada - long story.) Best Buy said to bring the computer into the store (a home visit from the Geek Squad would cost at least $200 - not that I would even want them here). So Wednesday after work, I disconnected all the wires and cables and drove the computer up there. After I was waited on (and there was only one person ahead of me), it took the in-store Geek Squad half an hour to remove the password, for $29.99. Such a deal! Now the computer works better than ever (I've had to reload stuff, run updates, restore files, etc.). (Meanwhile I'd hooked up the netbook and had been using that.)

Last night I drove to Publix to pick up some beer for E. (and a smoked turkey breast), then drove on down to Walgreens to pick up a prescription, etc. When I got back to the truck, it wouldn't start, and then the key broke in the ignition. I knew someday the truck wouldn't start - this has been a recurring problem. I'd even had it in the shop months ago (after it didn't start one night at Publix) to try to root out the problem, but the truck repeatedly started up at the shop - in fact, they spent an entire extra day starting up the truck and it never failed (and didn't charge me a penny in the end). This time, however, with half the key lodged in the ignition, it was definitely going back to the shop. (I think there's something wrong in the steering column, where the ignition switch is located.)

Meanwhile, I had to get back home with the 12-pack of beer, the turkey breast, my prescription and a box of vinyl gloves (to apply medicine) (and also a bottle of rum from a liquor box in the truck). So I walked to the bus stop across the parking lot, lugging all that stuff. (At that time, no more express buses.) An old guy I'd seen on the bus before was sitting on one of the benches and said a bus would be coming in 10 minutes. Then he asked me for a dollar. I'd left home without my cigarettes and saw that he was smoking. I asked him for a cigarette in exchange for the dollar and he gave me the last one in his box (I had to light it off his stub). That was a relief. The bus came five minutes later. Meanwhile, after praising me for being what he thought was a "good person" (nice to hear, and I returned the compliment), the guy had crossed the street and walked off.

I got a few stares on the bus, lugging my 12-pack of beer by its built-in handles as I was. Got home in a few minutes. (I could have walked - it's not even a mile - but not with all that stuff.)

(Wouldn't you know - the A/C was frozen again when I got home, so I had to haul out the blow-dryer. No problem!)

I decided to deal with the truck tonight, rather than put it off till tomorrow (as I'd planned). (I found out last night from Walgreens that it would be OK to have it towed to the shop tomorrow, since it's not their policy to have "abandoned" cars towed away from their lot to a tow yard.) So after work, I got off the bus at Home Depot (a block south of Walgreens) and had my spare truck key copied, then walked up to my truck. The new key worked. I then fished my AAA card out of the glove box and called them (and listened to all their recorded stuff as my cell was about die...). To make a long story short, the truck is now sitting in the lot at the shop with the steering-wheel lock locked and the keys in the mail slot. It was a short walk home from there (with the last bottle of rum - stashed in my briefcase-on-wheels - and a couple of bags of other stuff). (The place is about three blocks west, across the railroad tracks.) The shop is closed on the weekends, so I'll be hearing from them on Monday while I'm at work.

Meanwhile, I got back on Facebook during the Thanksgiving holiday. Ugh.