atourworst.org

Well, after a year and a half of smooth sailing with my computer (or rather the hard drive) it finally decided to take the world’s hugest shit on me. It didn’t even die, that’s the worst part. It ended up getting horribly corrupt to the point where I couldn’t delete files without getting read and/or CRC issues, nor could I install various programs (though some worked just fine!?)I wasn’t able to backup anything. The zip I made of my important documents, was going to take well over 24 hours to upload (wtf?) so I decided that I needed to get used to a clean plate to work with. I’m going to ship the drive to Rem so he can take a look at it and work his magic. There’s over 3,000 photographs, and about 2-3gb’s worth of website files. But right now I’m fine with the thought of not having the back. Sometimes it’s good to have a clean start. -shrug-

I’m now running a 120gb Seagate (ATA). Well, it’s not running YET but I just took out the old drive, and put in the new one. Going to boot from cd-rom, so I can install a new OS. My other problem I came across after the drive pooping: Not having my old restore disc, aka I am SOL. Thanks to Rem (again! what a life saver) he went ahead and uploaded it for me, so I could burn the cue file to a disc. So I have to get that started, but right now I’m taking a break and enjoying some Chocolate Marble Ice Cream, and checking up on e-mails and writing this post via Chris’ laptop (the one I’m blaming for my Maxtor’s death!)

I’m excited because this kind of gives me a chance to get everything anally organized. I’m going to partition for the os, one for programs, one for photos, one for music, and one for website files. It’s going to look rather snazzy. Then once I get all of my programs uploaded (it’s going to be a bitch, I have so many in regards to photo editing, os themers, and various other programs.) I’ll worry about uploading my ipod’s hd. That was the one thing I wasn’t worried about–my music, all 30gb’s of it. Hehe, it’s on my ipod, and I knew it was as simple as downloading a program to be able to upload from the ipod. sweet.

Back to getting my computer back into tip-top shape.

edit: Well, my computer is now back up and running. Installed the new hard drive, installed Windows XP Pro, and updated the drivers. Currently reinstalling all of the software programs. It’s a bit tedious and frustrating since I can’t remember the names of some of them–but maybe that’s a good thing. I’m also going to let my iPod upload while I’m sleeping. Which I should be doing in a few minutes…

Almost a year of not cutting my hair (aside from a couple months ago when I trimmed off part of my nasty mullet that gew) I finally got it cut again. Generally I tend to pick shitty haircuts that I’m dissatisfied with within the first month or so. So I really don’t know if this haircut is going to end up that way or not. I went with an A Line style cut, which is a first for me. That and having my hair so short. I’m still trying to get used to it.

In my last post I talked about a customer, Jerry, and how I helped him buy his first computer. Well, he gave me a call at the store today, and thanked me for being so nice to him, and for taking my time to help him get his laptop. Told me that he spent fifteen hours on it the night he got it. Mentioned that he’d be in next week to buy a bag for it. I’m so glad he called, because after I left work, I felt disapointed for not telling him to call the store once he played around with it.

This weekend is going to be a very busy weekend. Rem and I are going to install Linux on my computer. I’ve been dying to get this done for quite some time and finally ask him to help me do it, because well, I’ve got Friday and Saturday off. What better way to spend it!? We’re also going to put the finishing touches on HF. Just minor details like retweaking the layout, customizing whmcs so that the design is incorporated into the main style of hf, and to create a logo for the software. Other then that, life has been pretty good.

Time to go look at round trip plane tickets to Houston. SOMEONE changed my mind on driving down there, so I’ll be flying there instead. It’ll be my first flight too! A month away! YAY.

How work was today, is how I wish it to be every day. It was busy, and the customers were amazingly friendly. I was with one customer, Jerry, for almost an hour, talking to him about laptops and everything else related. He had never owned a computer before, was a 52 y/o disabled war veteran. He was just so happy with my helping him, and talking to him about the little things people take forgranted, and was so appreciative. At one point when I was walking towards the software section to grab him a Texas Hold’Em Game, I felt like I wanted to cry a little bit because he was so happy by my simple act of kindness.

The “customer service” aspect of it was long gone. I just wanted to get him what he needed, and for him to enjoy every second of it. It’s customers like Jerry, that actually make me love my job. I truly hope that in a couple of months, after his hip surgery on Wednesday (he was very outgoing ;)) he’ll still remember me and his promise to stop in to see me and sign up for Insight Cable Internet and In-Home Networking from Geek Squad. More so just to remember my name, and how I helped him out. He also wished me to have the best weekend and to have a Happy Mother’s Day. Told him I’m only twenty and too young to have children, to which he retorted that he had two by the time he was eighteen.

I still hope to hear back from Charter. If not, then I’ll put in my JOS application for Geek Squad City at the end of this week. I really don’t want to work a second job, but the extra money will really help me out with bills, rent, and being able to save it for future needs (vacations, moving, splurging.) Time go to take a nap, I’m exhausted.

I got paid yesterday, and afters bills and rent, I have $55.44 to last me until May 26th. It’s to the point where I can no longer have a day where I do NOT think about money. Part of it is because I was never really “taught” how to be responsible with money–hell, I really wasn’t ever taught anything about life, I just did it as pleased.

It’s to the point where I’m looking at a second job. Earlier today I applied (again) to Charter for their “High Speed Data Specialist I” position. I have a couple of friends that work there, and I talked to one of them while I was doing the application, to let Shawn (HR) know about my application (again). I applied there back in March, and I received a call back, however it was right when I got deathly ill during a weekend, and I never got a chance to get back to the guy. Hopefully this won’t deter him from contacting me again.

There has go to be a better way to get money, then to actually have to work for it. :|