My uncanny ability

I love my iPhone and hate connecting it to my macbook to sync. I put it off as long as possible. I let "the cloud" of MobileMe update the calendars and addresses and figure I don't need a constant rehash of photos. Unsurprisingly, I'm not a constant user of iTunes for the latest tracks.

But last week, I bit the bullet because I wanted some new apps. Because I had delayed for so long, this was not the simple process of attaching the iPhone and downloading away. First of all, iTunes had to be updated. Then, Safari had new problem-solvers on board. In fact, the latter two software updates had been bugging me weekly for months. THEN, when they were done and I'd checked all the little 'agrees' for using the new stuff, I could sync my iPhone.

Except it too had an upgrade. Big breath. Then it had to recycle or refit or something and I'm left staring at a blank iPhone as it does its thing. An hour after I start this process, all is declared well and I can disconnect.

Whew--that's over for another few months.

Then today, I read about the new iPhone software and obligatory iTunes accompanier. This is the very same thing that happened last time, which was September, I think. I hunkered down, downloaded, updated, gritted my teeth--and they came out with the new goods the next day.

If I could only pick stocks...

All Keyed Up

For whatever reason, I looked down at my laptop keyboard the other day and realized that some serious wear was taking place. The following letters are almost gone, replaced by dark gray smudges: e, a, s. The t, r, n, and d have serious issues also. The left 'shift' key is scratched, the right one untouched because I never learned to shift with my right pinkie. The numbers look good and the F-keys are pristine, since I've never bothered to learn what they do. The F-keys, not the numbers.

I would think the delete key would be worn since it's a favorite of mine, but it's not.

I looked up the frequency of the most commonly used letters and found that Mr. Morse, in inventing his telegraph code, used this string taken from the frequency of letters in English text to make it simpler for his transcribers: etaoin shrdlu. My letters are in there. But if you used letters contained in English vocabulary, the list becomes eariot nslcud. Again, I've made the top 12, but barely.

I got lost in the Ask Oxford site. I do not recommend you click through unless you've time to spare. As to the wear on my keys, it's a good thing I'm a letter-touch typist.

What I did, what I did

Having now retrieved my Mac from its 4-day exile into the bowels of a Mac Tune-up experience (the initial timeline was 1-2 days, but somewhere along the way my computer got stuck under someone else's paperwork), I can report on what I did while it was gone.

I was lost. I'd walk into my study and stare at the table. It wasn't there. So I'd troop downstairs to my spouse's iBook and read my favorite sites and fiddle with my email on my iPhone. I did learn a great deal about doing that, which is a good thing. Now if I'd just upgrade it to the 2.0.x software I could really be on top of things.

But here's what I did following the items listed in the blog post immediately below this one.

1. Thoroughly cleaning the house. Oh, please. No where close. But I did thoroughly clean up my workspace so my clean little computer has somewhere clean to put her feet.

2. Bathrooms and kitchen. I actually did a fair bit here. I can be righteous about number 2.

3. Flower beds. One or two. A little bit.

4. Bathroom drawers. YES!

5. Shelves of manuscripts. No.

6. Visit friends uninvited. No. So I didn't go out to lunch either.

7. Rent movies I want to see. No.

8. Read. Yes, I did this. Finished one book, started another.

So I learned I'm 1) much too attached to my computer and 2) this has got to be the biggest time-waster there is (when I'm not writing). How did I use to waste time before there were computers? I'd say I was too busy to do so, but please. Hmmm... maybe there used to be something worth watching on TV?

Nah. The memories are just skewed.

What to do, what to do

If you have a Mac computer, you can purchase one or both of two annual services. One to One provides in-store help with any Mac tidbit and I've used it for primers in how to convert movies of our granddaughter to a DVD format. The other service is ProCare, which allows for (up to) three Macs to be tuned-up each year plus technical assistance. These programs used to be one for the cost of one, but some time back they split them and doubled the cost. I decided I'd get my money's worth and signed up for both.

The best way to get one's money's worth is to actually take advantage of the offerings. So, the end of my annual membership being near, I took in my spouse's computer for its annual physical. That, of course, means it's time now for mine. And I don't want to let it go.

It'll only be for a few days, but something in me is reluctant to part with it. True, I can keep up with my email on my iPhone (after all, that's one of its purposes, for Pete's sake!) and for large viewing, there is the other laptop's internet browser. I need not be deprived!

It's all mental, I know it is, so I'm composing a list of What to Do While My MacBook is in for its Annual Physical (which would not only be foolish but STUPID of me not to take advantage of):

1. I can thoroughly clean the house. (Bad idea, I'm sure. It'll just get dirty again.)

2. Forget the house in general and concentrate on the bathrooms and kitchen. (Bor-ing.)

3. The flower beds are in serious need of attention and now that it's hotter'n'Hades and they're dying off, it should be an easier job. (Okay. But only before it gets hot in the morning.)

4. Clean out the bathroom drawers. (There is a real need here.)

5. Do the same with the shelves of manuscripts, rejections, promo items, enews articles... (I get the point.)

Have you noticed that so far, all these items are labor-intensive? Where would the fun be?

6. Visit friends uninvited. Offer to take them to lunch. (If I show up unannounced, I need to take them to lunch.)

7. Rent movies I've always wanted to see and work on the next grandchild's baby quilt while I watch. (This idea is better.)

8. Read. (Ah... need I say more?)

But I'll still be waiting for the call to go fetch my computer.

Old habits are hard to die. I'll find myself sitting in my desk chair and staring at the printer. Just you wait and see.