What a crazy day!

I decided to try a different oatmeal cookie recipe today.  Why, I don't know, because I have a perfect recipe that the whole family loves.  I won't be making this new one again; it isn't nearly as good as what I've been using.  After putting the first cookie sheet into the oven, I sat down with my Macbook, opened it up, and clicked on Facebook.  However, I couldn't enter into that wonderful place where my friends live, because there was a huge notice in the middle of my screen that told me to type my password in so I wouldn't have to type it any more... something like that.  I did that, because I was pretty sure I'd seen that message before.  However, rather than entering Facebook, a huge picture came on, beeping like crazy, and telling me to call Microsoft because something was badly wrong, and also don't shut down your computer or you'll die.  OK, that isn't quite what it said, but I knew something was off.  Microsoft has nothing to do with Apple products.  However, I couldn't do anything else but listen to BEEP BEEP BEEP and see that warning.  

I went ahead and shut off my computer turned it back on to find I didn't die, and tried again.  When I first opened it, things looked right.  But the minute I clilcked on Google Chrome, which is the browser I use, there was that same mess that I could not click out of. 

I rebooted once again.  Same result.  Then I began wondering what would happen if I rebooted and clicked on the Safari browser instead of Google.  That worked fine, and I threw the Google app into the trash.  Good riddance.

About that time, I got a notice to change my Apple password.  It looked legit, but I was a little bit nervous ready to cry, thinking something had compromised my brand new Macbook.  I called in to Apple for help.  I found myself talking to someone who had a foreign accent, so I had to keep asking her to repeat what she said.  I tried to explain to her that I might have a real problem with my four-day-old computer and she directed me to someone who could help me.  

I had at least a one-hour wait, but I used the time wisely by turning two boneless pork chops into tenderloins with a meat hammer, then rolling them in flour, then in beaten eggs, then in cracker crumbs, so we'd have tenderloin sandwiches for (noon) dinner.  My kitchen right now is a mess:  there is the cookie-baking mess and the tenderloin mess; I can't even see the counter in there!  I will say, though, that if you feel angry or weepy, using the meat hammer is a good way to relieve stress.

All this time I was also taking not-that-great cookies out of the oven every 15 minutes, except for one cookie-sheet full of cookies that burnt.

Finally someone picked up a connection and started talking to me on the phone.  I could understand every word he said.  He explained to me what had happened and how people trick you by leading you to a different website.  He told me it was a good thing I didn't call the number or click on anything.  This wasn't my first rodeo, folks, and thank goodness I do know a few things, like, for instance, APPLE DOESN'T COME WITH MICROSOFT.  He couldn't manipulate my computer, but he had a little arrow of his own that he magically sent to my screen, moving it around so he could point out anything he needed me to show him.  He told me to take my Google Chrome out of the trash and found a tab that held the problem.  He had me get rid of that tab, then said it was OK to use.

All's well that ends well, but it's a wonder my blood pressure didn't cause me to have a stroke.  And all that started at the same time as the Facebook outage today.  

By the way, I do realize that you can get Microsoft for Apple computers.