Where have I been?

Well, folks, I got a brand new Apple Macbook.  And therein lies a tale.

I'm semi-familiar with using a Mac, having used Mac Minis for a few years.  However, I was using a keyboard and a monitor I already had, because that's what you do with a Mini; which is why they are Apple's cheapest option for a computer.  The current Mini is running so slow, especially when working with photos, that I avoid it at all costs.  A tech said he could put a solid state drive in it for $500; he said it's slow because the system can't handle the latest updates.  So I could have spent less money doing that.  But I do like the idea of having a laptop, sitting in an easy chair to write my blog, which is the only thing I couldn't do to my satisfaction on the iPad.  There are apps for blogging, but I found those wouldn't let me do a very long entry because after a certain point, I couldn't scroll down to write more.  Pictures were a problem, too, with the apps.

So here I am, the proud owner of a brand new but more expensive Macbook ("expensive" is one of those words you could qualify by asking, "more expensive than what?).  

It reacts smoothly and quickly when I surf.  I actually do like it very much!

BUT:  On my Mac Minis, I never spent the time I should have to learn many of the perks, shortcuts, and so forth of a Mac.  The older I get, the less I like having to learn new things, and I've always been lazy, going with the flow.  So I made do and thought nothing of it, using my own workarounds.  You know, being too embarrassed to ask questions of my Mac-wise friends because I knew I'd appear stupid.

Guess who's doing her best to learn those tricks now?  This seventy-five-year-old woman, that's who.  And I'm getting there.  You see, I hadn't used a keypad for ages.  For the most part, I used the apps on the iPad, only going to the computer if I wanted to do a blog entry.  

I believe I've gotten used to the keypad on this thing, although I'm still learning new swipes and gestures to use.  Because it's a 13-inch Macbook, the keyboard is sort of scrunched up, more compact than the one I've been using, although I'm doing pretty well with it now except for the letter "P", and I've just about gotten over that slip.  My pinky finger just doesn't want to reach to that exact spot for some reason.  

I have a whole story to tell you about the process it has taken me to actually USE this computer.  All my life I've bought new computers, fired them up, and used them within a half-hour of getting them home.  My experience with this one allowed me to do that.  But when I began getting my Apple ID and such, things got hairy.  This time, through no fault of the Apple corporation or my Macbook, it was a journey in realizing how difficult old age can make things, because I get flustered so easily when learning new things.  I will be sharing this story with you to let you know that everything came out right in the end.  

Don't you hate it when people tell you the end of the story first?  But I hate sad endings, so I like to know a story will end well, before I read it.

As to what I've been doing?  After I transferred the files and folders to this new computer from the Mini, I began a task I've needed to do for years:  I'm cleaning up my photos, starting with 2007.  They would go back to 1998 when we got our first computer... no,, it was probably the second one, because I didn't have a blog at first...  anyhow, back then I didn't even know how to post a picture online.  Most of my computer skills through the years have been self-taught.  In other words, I had a fool for a teacher, because I was clueless.

I'd take ten identical pictures to make sure I got a good one for my blog, but I never took time to delete the ones I didn't want.  There wasn't any organization as to where the files lived on my computer, and sometimes I will find there are several copies of the same picture in different places.  I hadn't been giving myself a way to find any one single picture I wanted to see because I just didn't know how to access them.  I'm fixing that as I go, so if I want to see pictures of Cliff, I can type in his name and all pictures of him show up.  Of course I should have done all at the time I downloaded the photos and was done with them, but as I said, I'm lazy.  Now I'm paying for it.  

I'm only through about half the year of 2007 with this project, and there are 12 more years left to go through; so I'll be doing it for quite a while.  Wish me luck!  On the bright side, in more recent years I haven't taken nearly as many pictures.  So it should get better.

Yours truly,
Donna

About Gabe, my dog

There's no doubt Gabe is MY dog.  Most of the time if he is going to lounge beside somebody... and that's pretty often... he chooses me.  If I tell him we are going to let him go bye-bye with us, he jumps and runs and spins like crazy and even gets in his living-room bed, trying to chew it to death; but i Cliff heads to the car without me, Gabe won't leave the house until I leave.

There is one time of the day Cliff gets some attention, though.  I get up early, could be any time from three to five AM because I'm naturally an early bird and love the quiet of early morning hours.  Usually Gabe is ready to get up whenever I do, although when it's as early as three, he will sometimes choose to sleep another hour or so.  I shut him in his kennel at night now, because a while back he had a couple of accidents near the front door.  I guess he thought his sitting by the door like he does all day would work when I'm asleep, as though he could transmit his needs from the living room to my sleeping brain.  When he's in the kennel, he will whine, on the rare occasion he needs to go out, or even yip a bit.  I have said to Cliff, many times, "He isn't the brightest dog I've ever had."

I thought I'd never get him to bark when he's outside the door wanting in, but he's finally perfected that.  However, for the life of me, the only way I can get him to bark when he wants OUT is to walk over in front of him where he stays in perfect "sit" position like a little soldier.  I then repeat the word "Speak" over and over and over until finally he will bark (but first he will let out a little growl in his throat).  I keep trying, but no results so far, unless I go through that ritual of saying "speak" until he gets tired of hearing it.  You have to admire him for his skill at manipulating me to do things that make Cliff shake his head and sometimes snicker, of course.  Gabe and I are always good for a laugh when I try to teach him anything.

Gabe sits beside me in the old recliner before and after he's had breakfast, while I'm cruising Facebook and playing Words With Friends.  He eats at 4:30.  Cliff usually has no reason to get up at a certain time, he simply doesn't like to sleep in, these days.  If he lays in bed too long, his arthritic shoulder on one side and his arthritic hip on the other hurt him.  So, at his request, I wake him at 7 AM.  By this time I'm done drinking my three cups of coffee, so I make three cups fresh for him.  Gabe knows my routine, and he has ideas of his own at this time of day.

I bought a package of well-made toys at Costco for Gabe.  He isn't one to play with toys too much, but when he does, he can be rough on them, and these toys last.  When he isn't playing with them, I toss them in his wire kennel, and he sleeps with them at night.  Now, picture this:  It's five minutes till seven and I see Gabe go right over to the bedroom door and sit.  When he does, I know Cliff already got up, although how Gabe can hear him walking on a thick carpet, I have no idea.  If one of his toys is available, he will have one in his mouth as he waits for the door to open, or else right beside him.  If the toys are all in the kennel, which stands open all day after I turn Gabe loose, he will dart inside it and grab a toy as quick as a flash, like he's sneaking.  This is an every-morning happening.

 When this was taken, I had already kissed Cliff on the cheek a few times and told him his coffee was ready.  Gabe got tired of waiting for him to get out of bed, because it takes Cliff awhile to get everything "woke up" so he can actually walk.  I, too, have this problem.  Yes, those are my shoes under the bed, and the random socks laying there are some Gabe took out of my other shoes.  He has a sock fetish.  

I have to take a minute to let you know as I was in here typing, Gabe actually went to the door and barked, with no coaching and without me even in the room!

While Cliff was waking up, Gabe decided it was a good day for the zebra rather than the horse.

 I always call him out of the room when Cliff gets up because my husband doesn't like a dog bothering him when he's half asleep.  Gabe remembers, every single time, to bring a toy out with him, because he gets it out especially for Cliff each day.

This is about all Gabe does with his toy.  He lounges with Cliff awhile and chews on his toy.  Once in a blue moon, if Cliff's in the mood, he'll throw the toy and Gabe will go after it and bring it back.  

Same routine, every single day.

By the way, here's a link to the Kinzenbaw website entry where they mentioned me and included a link back to my blog.  Click HERE.

Peace