Sea of Validation

Since last year, when both of my hard drives failed in my old computer, I've been suspended in binary aggravation. The new PC, I was so excited to shell out money for, was to be the answer to all of my computing troubles.

NO SUCH LUCK!

My astrologer friend, Kristin, of Star Diviner, warned me not to purchase it when I did because of Mercury retrograde. There are often lots of problems with communication, technology and machines during retrogarde. Since I didn't have a choice, she cautioned me to prepare for the possibility of a rocky future and, by all means, get a service contract. For the first time in my life, I did. I am grateful to her for her advice.

From day one, there was a steady stream of problems with the new computer. Too many to bore you with, really. Suffice it to say that I've spent countless hours on the phone with tech support from several companies and made many trips to the Big Box Store where I purchased the machine. I have a folder the size of a small book documenting my travails.

I can geek speak with the best of 'em now and I've got their check-in procedure down. I know the scans to start, the correct paperwork to pull, which lines to print on and which to sign. I know the routine better than some of their newest staff. In fact, I heard a rumor that I'm getting my own Geek Girl name tag and my invite to the company picnic is in the mail.

Every time I had it serviced, they said they couldn't reproduce the problems and that it passed its diagnostic tests.
In time, I came to feel like they thought I was exagerating the severity.
Sometimes they tweaked a little something and told me it should work now.
Each time I prayed they were right, but they were wrong.
At all times, I was locked into this cycle of sordid techno-masturbation.

Until today, that is, when Uber Geek, Steve, called to tell me that the diagnostics showed the hard drive and processor were failing. On one foot, I feel validated that a problem was finally found. The tower will be sent out to Big Box Repair Station for replacement parts. It will take 2-3 weeks. On the other, that is a long time to have to share the lap top with the Wonder Husband. Swimming in the Sea of Validation isn't always what it's cracked up to be.

I can do this...right? If I can share a bathroom with the man, surely I can make this work. Oh, it will have to be carefully negotiated, of course. And scheduling will be tight. I will be hobbled and limping around ether-space for a while but, hopefully, it will all be worth it when the repaired PC finally, FINALLY performs as it should.

But, I'm not fully convinced that's going to happen either. I've been sucked in way too many times for blind faith. I may yet end up being the crazy lady in the parking lot of Big Box Store, picketing with a huge sign that reads:

"LEMON"

and serving complimentary lemonade to passersby. If you see me, you'll wave and give a friendly nod won't you?

Communication Breakdown

Another Mercury retrograde is upon us. It began on September 7th and its effects will continue to be felt until around mid-October when things will straigten out. Mercury usually goes retrograde three times a year but, this year, it will turn four times. This seems to be an unusual year all the way around. This summer, we also had three eclipses in two months instead of the usual two.

Areas of communication, Internet, travel, mail and appointments can get tricky to negotiate. This retrograde is in Libra, so it is a time of introspection and an opportunity to work on relationships, harmony and style. As I am still dealing with some of the gliches from the retrograde in May, I have some trepiditon about this one. But retrogrades also give us the chance to revisit old patterns or problems. I am going to take this to mean this is a good time to further workout ongoing snafus. Yeah, that's how I'm going to look at it.

So far, I notice communication issues rising. Last night I got home after 9 p.m. The husband tells me that Muffy called and wants me to sub on the pool team at the local sports bar on Wednesday night. I tell him I don't know a Muffy and I certainly don't play pool well enough to be on their team. He tells me he didn't think so but, maybe I had a secret life he didn't know about. After nearly 35 years of marriage, I tell him I don't think I have any secrets left but, if I did, I would make sure they were more notorious than alcohol fueld, covert pool playing.

Meanwhile, he is having communication issues of his own. He got a new cell phone in July. The number, apparently, previously belonged to a very popular, teenage cheerleader. Every Saturday night, the darn thing starts chirping like a hungry baby bird. He gets voice mails and text messages wanting to know when he is going to be ready to go out? Does he want to go to the party? They tell him what time to arrive at the movies.

I think he gets more action now than he did in his heyday. Oops, incoming text message: he's just been informed of the time for cheerleading practice. I ask him if he's going. He tells me that the thought of a pre-60 year old man showing up to cheerleading practice with a bunch of young girls in short skirts just plain creeps him out. While feeling grateful for this, I look at him with my squinty-eye and try to imagine him, wearing a baseball cap, pocket T-shirt, pleated skirt topping square-kneed, hairy legs, white crew socks and Birkentstock's, shaking pom-poms. Nahhh...shudder, shudder.

I look over at him and he's asleep in his chair. That's my man! I think: Hey, husband, wake up! The party hasn't even started yet. Shoot, we only have 6 more weeks of this stuff. This retrograde is over just as football season is ending and just in time for you to start basketball cheerleading practice. Rah, rah, sis boom ba.

The Big Fix!

Photo: daydreamer173 Photobucket.com


Everything I own is breaking. Well, not everything but a lot of items are--all at once. Let's see. First, the computer died at the end of April. Getting the new one up and running has been challenged by Internet connectivity problems. Even last night and this morning, I entered no less than three separate tech support companies, all fraught with the pitfalls in Dante's three worlds of the afterlife. Each encounter should be prefaced with "Abandon every hope all you who enter." After countless hours, I am again connected but for how long?


Last week the cars had issues. Saturday night the cable box died. B.B. the Dog killed it with her fur balls. Sunday, the air conditioner went down ...our first 103 degree day. Monday morning the washer quit spinning. Monday night as I walked across the laundry porch floor, I felt a ripple. Looking down I noticed the linoleum tiles were lifting and the floor was soaked around the water heater. This brings me up to last evening's crashing of cyberspace. I felt so alone.


The planet Mercury went into retrograde on May 7th. The effects of retrograde can be felt for weeks before, and after, the process is complete. A planet is considered to be retrograde when it appears to be moving backward through the zodiac. Frequently, planets in retrograde, mark a time of ever changing events. Past issues that are unresolved tend to surface. These Retro phases present us with a series of challenges over which we feel we have little, or no, conscious control.


The general aspects under Mercury's rule are perception, thinking, comprehending information, communication, business, education and transportation. When in retrograde, Mercury can stir up personal misunderstandings, errant communications, negotiations and deals, snafu's with phones, computers, cars and other modes of transportation. Usually these problems arise because a critical piece of information, or part, has failed. If possible, avoid making important decisions while Mercury is in retrograde as miscommunication and missing information, can obscure our decisions. As Mercury influences mental clarity and brain power, in retrograde, intellectually, we can be come duller.


This retrograde will end on May 31 but the effects may well last until mid-June. As I shared breakfast with the air conditioner repair man, walked out of the denizens of Hell with the support of some patient (female), and not so patient (male), techies, and prepare for the arrival of the washer repair man somewhere between the convenient hours of 8-5, I ponder these planetary influences. So far, nothing apocalyptic has occurred. Just lots of annoying glitches and repetitive breakdowns. The cable repair man brought out a new box. The cars just needed minor repairs and maintenance. The air conditioner only cost a C-note to repair. The hot water heater just needed the valve tightened. The laundry room floor needs to be dried and minor repairs completed. I am connected to the Internet--at least for the moment. And I am awaiting the diagnostics on the washer which, hopefully, will continue in the same pattern.


Retrogrades are exercises in patience, understanding and putting one foot in front of the other. The lesson is to experience those moments of frustration and then let them go. Just like breathing...first in then out. Here's to only two more weeks. I hope!

Photo: Ryeleah Photobucket.com