growl.

[valis2]

Crap weekend. I have tried so hard to be nice and easy and caaaalm but it is not working. Reasons for this:

1) Husband's grandmother as houseguest for two nights. Now, this is not in itself a problem, as she is a pretty awesome person in many ways, but I am just not mentally equipped to deal with most houseguests.

2) MY COMPUTER OMG WOES. The monitor is displaying lots of extra dots and bars and weird green lines on top of everything. I think the video card is on its way to toast. I've ordered a new card, but I'm currently freaking because a) should I just get a new computer? I mean, really, I bought this one in 10/03, and even though it was top of the line at that time, it's probably only just holding its own now, and b) the new card? might need a special power supply just for itself. GRAH. And this is the worst, because y'all know I can't live without my computer. I am going nuts. I want to write and I'm afraid of giving myself massive headache. And remember that giant eBay listing project? Well, this is certainly making it challenging. grah.

3) Fourth of July party we hosted yesterday. I planned it so that I would have to do the least amount of work possible, and that did work out, but still, sun porch full of people I barely know? Sometimes I can deal with it, and I did, and there were fabulous fireworks, but it was a bit exhausting.

4) Garage sale looming. OMG FRIDAY. This morning the garage was still waaaay too full. Giant boxes of cardboard trash that I had asked Husband to dispose of five months ago (they got buried, so I can understand why he forgot), multiple bags of trash from the party, and just...SO MUCH STUFF. We are still clearing out Husband's grandmother's stuff and WOW. There is so much. And I haven't even started on the basement. WOE. And when the garage sale is over? Next day, I leave for WI. And after the week in WI/IL, then home for a few days, then off to MI show, then home, then to OH...grah. July is pretty much toast.

5) My poor sister. I invited her over today because I thought we'd have lots of leftovers. Um. But it didn't go well. I forgot that she doesn't like some of the stuff I had leftovers of, and then I totally pressured her boyfriend into moving curio cabinets from the basement to the garage, and now I feel pretty guilty.

6) Husband had a rough weekend. Burned himself badly on the tongs while grilling, plus had to deal with a bunch of people, and I forced him to packmule stuff from garage to sun porch, and...well, it didn't end well.

I want my bed. And I am looking forward to mid-August, when I have my next rest break. *nodnod*

Comments

[ziasudra-fic.livejournal.com]

*sends calm thoughts*

Sounds like you had (and will have) a lot going on all at the same time. At least the holiday weekend is over... so one down?

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yes, I feel such a tremendous relief to have a house free of guests. I can now concentrate on the Evil Garage.

Thank you so much for your hugs! I really appreciate it. *hugs back*

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Eek, you have a lot going on. I hope you get through it all and don't have to wait 6 weeks for a rest. *hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

heh. My typical schedule. Lady of Leisure for a week and a half, then OMG AAAAAAAAIGH for a month. hahahaha!

Hopefully it all works out in the end. Really, I just want to get through the damned garage sale and sell everything possible. *nodnod*

[tjwritter.livejournal.com]

GRRRRR! I hear you on the garage sale...we're preparing one (or three) ourselves and it's maddening!

Hopefully all will go well for your shows and such and you and hubby will survive unscathed!

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am so hoping to sell EVERYTHING. Seriously. I can't take it anymore. The basement is 2/3rds full of Grandma stuff. I want it GONE.

I just hope that the sale is busy and that we sell stuff!

*giant hugs*

[logospilgrim.livejournal.com]

*very tender robed embrace*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you so much! *hugs*

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Let's face facts: I would have stabbed someone with a cake knife in the third hour and then thrown out all the survivors on the front lawn.

Go you for coping! I'm very impressed.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I wonder about the three hours. It might have only taken two. heh.

I was in a remarkably calm, cool state, which is why this all went down so easily. You see, that was before the wonky computer. Now I'm crazed. I'm typing this through a sea of pink lines.

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Way to persevere, dude. Be strong. *powerfist*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I'm trying. But I'm super-cranky because I WANT TO WRITE and this is all conspiring against me. I mean, I even have a new scene in my head that might work. GRAH.

I just hope the old video card hangs on until the new one gets here.

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Notebook? Longhand? Pen and paper? Go go go, Agent V!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

grah! longhand!

I'd rather squint through the shaggy lines.

It isn't that I have bad handwriting or I don't like to write--it's just that it's faster and less distracting with the computer. Plus, the ability to rewrite sentences quickly and add words without scratch marks everywhere is a bonus.

Honestly, though, I should be cleaning the garage. *sad sigh*

[oddmonster.livejournal.com]

Wow, an actual grah in regards to longhand writing? Let's hope your computer feels better soon!

I can't believe the garage could outrank writing, though...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The garage doesn't outrank the writing so much as it precludes it. I really need to get it into order!

Have reread the new stuff, and am fairly satisfied with what I was able to get done before everything got derailed. So that's a comfort.

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

Just try to focus on all that nice space you'll have in the garage once you have the sale...

Meanwhile, for stress relief, never underestimate the theraputic powers found in a large box of liqueur-filled chocolate truffles ;-)

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, I am SO looking forward to having a clean garage! I mean, I've been able to park in it, but still. There's a giant hideous couch that's been sitting there for months, and boatloads of empty boxes and lawn chairs and...you get the picture.

I can't wait until it's all clean and full of only my stuff. whew!

And I have no chocolate. WOES!

[scarah2.livejournal.com]

I would feel a little remiss advising to do anything besides replace a six year old computer, but honestly, what you are describing sounds as though it could possibly be only a cable. If you have an extra cable around, try it, or if you haven't already, at least try to reseat both ends of the video cable and make sure they are firmly screwed in.

My brand new monitor, cable and card at work do shit like that all the time if I do something like move the monitor around a little on my desk.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've checked the cable as best as possible, unscrewed it and screwed it back in. I've also opened the case and blown out the excess dust.

I've done the monitor self-test, and it seems happy as a clam when it's not plugged in. I've been wandering around the net, looking up stuff about the system, and it appears that this is not an uncommon thing for my system.

Right now, the specs are:

Dell Dimension XPS Gen 2
Pentium 4 at 3 GHz w/ 800 MHz front side bus
3GB ram
128MB DDR ATI Radeon 9800 AGP
120gig hard drive
DVD drive
CD drive

It was expensive at the time, but I wanted something that wouldn't be obsolete in a year. And it still manages to run a lot of crap at the same time, which is nice, because I am addicted to multi-tasking. It isn't so slow yet that I'm frustrated, and that's saying something.

I was really hoping to get a few more years out of it. I thought briefly of getting a new processor, but from reading stuff on the net, it appears that this is not recommended for this system.

If the new video card works (and now I'm freaking because it appears that I might have to get a power supply specifically for the card, because the system might not have enough power to power it), then I'll try to hold onto this system for another year or two.

More than you ever wanted to know about my computer, but there you go. *grins*

[catsintheattic.livejournal.com]

That's quite a lot on your plate, dear, particularly with being all busy and having no time to rest.

Take it step by step, no matter how boring that sounds. And don't forget to breathe. *hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am so trying to breathe. So trying. I do feel totally overwhelmed on the garage sale front, but most of the other stuff is just fine, so I think I can get through it easily enough. *crosses fingers*

Thank you, sweetie!!

[marginaliana]

*hugs*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*huge hugs*

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

*hugs* We are doing our garage sale this weekend, too. My parents and sister are joining in on it, too... which means MADDENING TIMES AHEAD.

I hope yours goes well and you can fix your computer!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. My sister is helping me, as well as my mom, and I am crossing my fingers that we don't run into anything weird.

I hope your sale is super successful! :) *giant hugs*

[dark-cygnet.livejournal.com]

Awww...::squishes you:: Sounds like you need a couple of hours of decomp time. so here's the plan, matey. Snuggle up on your favorite piece of furniture, have a frosty cold beverage and put in your copy of "The Black Swan" and just chill for a few. If you can't do that, at least run some lines through your head and pretend to run the problems through with your sword. Hee.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hahaha! omg, best advice ever!!

I was just thinking of Tommy Blue last week, in fact. It does seem like a great idea...you rock!!

*giant lionsquishes*

[cordeliadelayne]

Oh dear. *huggles like whoah*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*squints through pink stripes on monitor*

Aw, thank you so much!! *giant hugs in return*

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

I want to drive to your garage sale!
I find houseguests very trying. I am not a morning person, so it is traumatic to drag myself out of bed and not only have to get dressed but also have try to be sociable to another human being (Lord B. knows better than to expect me to communicate until after I've had some coffee and read the morning mail).

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Sadly, my garage sale will not be exciting enough to warrant that long a trip. :(

And I'm TOTALLY not a morning person. At all. I can't handle getting up. I love the houseguests that say, "Nah, I can take care of myself, get up when you want to get up."

PS: Hey, I am going to be visiting a store in your area to pick up some merchandise--any chance I could crash at your place for a night? It would be in August.

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

But no! It will be the mother of all garage sales! It will be grand! :)
BTW, I wanted to ask if your pond has fish. I was imagining one of those little water features with plastic liners, but that pond looks huge. You could paddle around in a boat.
Lord B. and I would love for you to stay at our house! I recall that you had mentioned a show in my fair state and I was going to ask where it was.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, absolutely there are fish! ;) Ducks and geese bring in the eggs on their legs.

And we do have a wee little boat, squee! One day we'll have to try it out.

I will totally email you about the show! That rocks! I would love to see you guys again and snuggle teh kittehs.

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Why is it that on a long weekend that would normally be nice to rest we go crazy and try to do more and more and more and eventually end up being completely drained by the end of it?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Well, for me, most weekends are when I work. My days off are usually Monday & Friday.

But yeah, we do try to fit too much in! You are so right.

[bookwench2096.livejournal.com]

You forgot to list your most trivial woe....

Your most anticipated movie (outside of HP/HBP) boasts your LEAST anticipated director.

I wonder how he'll manage to work pygmy mummies into this storyline?!?

(hee!... I'm imaginng your convulsions over pygmy undead Cobra soldiers)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I am going to need those electric heart paddles by the end of the movie, seriously.

I LOVED SEEING YOU TODAY YOU ARE AWESOME AND AMAZING!!

[verdenia.livejournal.com]

Aww, ouchies. *HUGS*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*hugs in return* Thank you!!