D. has always done a great job of keeping my computer up-to-speed. He faithfully checks for software and security updates, downloads them, installs them, and generally I am none the wiser.
Of course, if left to my own computing devices, I would probably be trying to blog from a circa 1987 PC with an amber monitor and a four year-old version of MS-DOS. And a floppy disk drive.
So night before last D. checked for updates while I was watching a movie (“Breach.” Not half bad. In fact, I would recommend it.), and in the middle of updating, the computer crashed. So we re-started, and the computer decided it would be fun if it re-started again. By itself. Without us touching anything even remotely in the vicinity of the computer.
I’m telling y’all – these computers are filled with microchip-sized elves. And from time to time they get angry, and quite frankly they act out.
Long story endless, last night the computer wouldn’t recognize my camera when I got ready to upload some pictures. And then it wouldn’t recognize my iPod. And then it wouldn’t recognize the USB ports at all, and if you’ve spent any time at all with a computer over the last couple of years, you know those USB thing-ys are kind of important.
D. did a little research online, consulted your various and sundry Mac websites and forums and message boards and whatnot, and based on the information he found, he realized that he was going to need to re-format the hard drive.
Those last four words? They fill me with fear and trembling.
So last night, while I watched – and I am not exaggerating – six episodes of “House Hunters” in a row (I do enjoy the OnDemand service now that it seems to be functioning properly), D. backed up my iTunes and iPhoto files (over 7,000 pictures – can anyone say “FIRST CHILD”?), and began the re-formatting process.
OH MY WORD IT TOOK A SWEET FOREVER.
It was after midnight when D. finished installing all the software, and then he spent the better part of this morning transferring all my files back onto the computer. Which means I could not check the email or read blogs or write new posts.
Surprisingly, I didn’t twitch very much at all.
I just blinked a little faster than normal.
And I did make something kind of fun for lunch because, well, I had ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, and while I don’t know if it’s terribly original, it’s definitely terribly tasty, so I’ll pass it along to you.
Crispy Pizza Taco-Type Things
6 small tortillas (I used Mission Carb Balance)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 tsp. dried sweet basil
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce (I used Newman’s Own)
1 pound ground sirloin, seasoned to taste, browned and drained
2 Tbs. butter
1 sweet onion, sliced fine
1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
Spray two baking sheets with Pam, then place tortillas on baking sheets.
Combine olive oil, basil and oregano. Brush mixture on top of the tortillas. Then cover the surface of the tortillas with marinara sauce (use as much as you like, making sure to leave a little room at the edges so that you have a little bit of “crust” to hold onto when it’s time to eat).
Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat, then saute’ onion slices until they’re almost carmelized.
Layer tortillas with browned ground beef, onions, mozzarella and parmesan (some fried bacon would make these even better, by the way). Place in oven for about 8 minutes – until cheese melts thoroughly and the edges of the tortillas are crispy.
Take out of the oven and fold in half so that the pizza resembles a really big taco.
Listen to your husband say that you’ve combined all of his favorite foods (olive oil, beef, marinara sauce, onions, cheese) into a crispy delicious shell.
Run to your computer and tell the internets all about it.
Because your computer works again.
And all is right with the world.
Reformatting can be extremely dangerous if not done right. I’m glad your hubby is so “up” on things, and that everything turned out fine in the end for you. And the taco things sound yummy! I’ll have to try them soon. Thanks!
HalleluYAH! I’m so glad…and these computers are supposed to give us more time? Hmmm…don’t think so! Sometimes they just add a headache and worry into the mix. But the good thing? Keeping in touch with your friends!
Taco things sounds good! Will try it on the beach next week :) and think happy thoughts about ya’ll!
Holly
Oh my, the whole reformatting thing gives me nightmares. Glad yours went smoothly, and the pizza tacos sound yummy – I think I know what I’m making for lunch!
~TaunaLen
My sweet Gadget Man is a medical administrator by day. By night, and on the occasional weekend, he becomes…
…wait for it…
a MAC GENIUS!
Uh huh. He does.
He works behind the Genius Bar at our local Apple Store, where he practices Self-Control with Empathetic Looks while twitchy-eyed sassy mamas in blog withdrawal utter phrases like, “The doodad won’t let my flibbertygibbit play the whatchacallit. And it used to. And I didn’t do anything to it.”
Then he comes home and tells me about it. Then I tell him how much I love that he knows all this computer-y Mac-y stuff and that I get to be married to him and that statistically at least one of our children should be electronically-inclined.
Then I bow my head, close my eyes and give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.
Just curious… flour or corn tortillas? Sounds yummy!
My hubby thinks I’m negatively ionically charged or something b/c I have the ability to make computers or other electronic gadgets crash almost without even touching them. I deny it all… while I gratefully watch him fix whatever my negative ions broke.
Hee hee…. I love reading your exploits. You’re hilliarious! Okay, so can you figure out a way to put shrimp in those tacos? LOL
Hugs,
Melinda
P.S. I went to the post office this morning. ;)
I’ve enjoyed my visit reading some of your blog. Maybe we will have to try your crunchy pizza taco type of things :)
What I don’t know about computers would still fill volumes. I break into a cold sweat just thinking about having to reformat my hard drive or anything remotely tech-y to do with my computer.
I knew either something was wrong with your computer or you were, you know — LIVING YOUR LIFE — when you didn’t post anything new for such a long time. A long time for you, anyway, without any notice that you were going to be absent for a while. ;-)
Have a great weekend, S. :-)
Love and hugs,
Diane
Can.breath.normal. now that Boomama is back! Ms. Clem is a stitch even though I can post on her blog – boo hoo! :(
We tried to format our hard drive and it wouldn’t let us!! I think we have an angry elf.
hey BooMama – I just noticed your cute little birdy up by your blog address.
CUTE!
Blessings,
Karla
Hardly anything worse than computer woes. If mine had legs it would be on it’s last one.
I meant CAN’T post – fingers go faster than brain or maybe my brain can’t keep up. Ms. Clem – I tried emailing but my computer hates me as it says that it can’t find you. whee.
This sounds good. My computer was not recognizing my ipod last week either. I consulted the ipod help page, and it was telling me to go into a secret part of my computer and delete some code. I just couldn’t do that. I did some other stuff and restarted, but that didn’t work. I left it alone all night and it worked the next morning.
Anytime Hubby does some work on our computer, I break into a sweat! Glad you weathered the storm and were able to cook creatively, no less!
OK. Now I want to see Breach. :>)
As for your floors- do you know if they ever sealed the grout on A’s floor? I would suggest giving it a good scrub, then having the grout sealed. Once it has a good seal, cleaning should be easy. It is amazing the difference it makes.
“Can you say First Child?” -too funny!
Yes, you have to enjoy those 7,000 pictures and not be too hard on yourself when #2 has 700 and #3 only has 70. ; )
I actually went to school to learn how to reformat computers. It doesn’t scare me as it once used to. :)
I can so relate to the 7,000 pictures thing.
wow… that does sound like a good lunch. And SOOO glad you got your computer up and running. I don’t know if I could live without mine!!!=)
I’ve had to re-format my hard drive before. Took Dell and I 8 hours to do it over the phone.
That pizza sounds yummy! May have to try that.
I guess that was “long story endless”. It took me 5 hours to read it!
Of course I did stop in the middle to do laundry, make 2 doctor visits, buy a few groceries, type a loooooooong email to my daughter and then get frustrated because my email server was out basking on the beach instead of standing smartly at attention waiting to send my email, AND made supper.
Reformatting, eh? Thankfully he didn’t use the disks from hell that erase everything you think you know. Worse yet, they erase everything you’ve written. Been there, done that and it made me VERY cranky!
Great posts, BooMama! I could spend all day reading these.
I get sick to my stomach when I think of reformatting. I did it once and no one could get through to me on the phone all day because Dell had the monopoly. My head and phone arm ached by the time we finished. And then all my software programs had to be reinstalled. Not fun.
Oh, the sweet, sweet memories of my first Tandy computer.
Sighhhh.
Sure do miss that little gem that took up half of a room!
You are quite lucky to be married to a computer guru. I was having some of the exact same problems! Almost identical. I am not computer literate at all. My learning is seek and find. I was too horrifed to try anything myself so I just bought a new computer. I know that’s selfish but how could I live without one?
10,795 photos in my iphoto library, and she is only 23 months old. :)
And you though YOU were bad?????
:)