The New Digs

Computer digs, I mean. I’ve had my new laptop for over a month now, so I think it’s fair to say that I can judge it properly. It’s…well, you know what, this will probably be easier in list form, because lists just make everything better.

Pros

---Boots up like hella fast; I have to give Windows 8 credit for that

---I can finally copy links from the address bar in Chrome again; seriously, that was driving me nuts

---Um…the cat seems to enjoy licking it…not really sure what to make of this

Cons

---Windows 8 (technically 8.1, but that really isn’t better)

---I have to use the FN key if I want to use F7, which as you probably all know, is the spell check/thesaurus button; and you know what, this might be a small thing, but it’s a pain in the freaking ass

---I can’t just find a program, right click, and put it on the desk top; I have to manually create an icon just so I have easy access to it on the desk top; italicized because SERIOUSLY WHY IS THAT A THING?

---Of course, you can’t just find a program anyway, as there’s no Programs button in the start menu; you’re just supposed to start typing what you want and pray that the right thing comes up (and that it’s not under some stupid name you don’t recognize)

---Seriously, I hate the Start menu; it’s blocky and colorful and I want things in neat, list-like rows

---Oh, and here’s a switch as I’ll actually be complaining about something other than Windows 8, but rather Toshiba as they’re the ones who made this thing; I couldn’t scroll using the touch panel; do you have any idea how annoying that is? It took me a week to figure out how to fix it (Toshiba’s help site was exactly no help); until then, I had to use the arrow keys or manually scroll like an animal!

---Windows 8. I just don’t think I can explain in words how unintuitive it is; for a tablet or a touchscreen, yeah, maybe it would work; but I don’t frigging have one of those, do I, Windows 8? DO I?

---All the apps stupid Windows 8 tries to shove down my throat; you know what, Windows 8? I don’t need a “Food and Drink” app. I don’t need your stupid “Mail”. What I need is to be able to find my copy of Microsoft Word and Paint for all my Spamfiles pictures. But do you make them easy to find? Or do you give me the stupidest bass-ackwards interface that someone thought up after huffing lead based paint?

---Windows 8. Go die in a fire.

Okay, so there are way more Cons than Pros, mostly because of Windows f*****g 8 being a piece of garbage. I know shouldn’t complain about something that was basically free but…man, I wish I could have picked it out myself.

If you’re in the market for a new computer/laptop, for the love of all that is holy, wait until the next version of Windows comes out because it can’t be as bad as this monstrosity. If your computer dies early, you’re better off getting an old one with Windows 7 than suffering with 8.

Seriously, Windows 8. Hate you.

Editing Woes

Hey, all. It has been a productive week writing-wise, despite some interruptions. Whenever I start on a new project, I'm always in a great mood. I enjoy typing out my first draft and really discovering the story (remember: I never outline beforehand : ). It's a new adventure, much like reading a book for the first time.

Editing is always where I get my hangups. The reason I started a new project is because that I was so frustrated with editing, I wanted to delete the whole thing and forget about it. And that would be an absolute mistake because I really love this book and I would call it the best thing I've written so far.

What do you guys think of editing? Personally, I don't mind combing through it for word over-usage or continuity or the dreaded POV-shift. It gets tedious, but I can deal with it. I usually get frustrated when I take it apart piece by piece, analyzing each paragraph, each sentence, each word to make sure it is strong and what I mean to say. But the worst part is the "does this make sense?" part. It's hard for me to put myself in the mind of a reader when the book is something I've written.

Do any of you have that problem, or any problem with editing? Any advice for when I get back to it?

Destruction Will Rain From the Heavens!

Sorry. It's just been one of those days. You know, the kind of day when the car is acting up after you just got it back from the mechanic last Thursday.

But that's not even the worst of it. I had stuff to do today, including shipping out a couple of books to a very patient friend. Now? Nope. I have to wait around by the phone for my sister to call me because she moved out of her apartment without telling anyone--leaving a bunch of stuff behind, by the way--and the manager of the building called the police and reported her missing, because with all that stuff there it doesn't look like she moved out. Plus there's the whole not telling anyone thing.

And despite it being mid afternoon, I'm betting she isn't up yet to receive the fifty messages I've left on her voice mail telling her to call. I just know if I leave for even five minutes she's going to call, or the police are going to call again looking for he and I don't have call forwarding because why would I take that expense when I really don't use it? Now it's starting to make sense to me.

Oh, and it's supposed to snow on Wednesday. So now I have that to look forward to.

There's no stopping this headache. I'm going to go find something less frustrating to deal with.