Tuesday, March 13, 2018

I Am Good At Some Things

No, really I am.  (I just can't think of any of them at the moment.)  You see, my head hurts and I'm feeling extremely stoopid.  Why, you ask?  (I thought I heard somebody ask.)

I am in the process of trying to learn to use a laptop computer.  And the learning curve is HUGE.  (Pshaw, you say.  If you can use a computer on your desk, there's no reason you can't use a laptop.  Well, that's what you think.)

First off, there's no way on earth I understand enough about computers to set up the laptop with the info I need to make it actually usable.

The only thing saving me at this point is my computer guru, otherwise known as my extremely intelligent and competent daughter.  However, there's a good chance the whole process may cause her to divorce me before we're done.  (What's the legal term?  Emancipation, I think it is, when a child becomes free of his parents.  Or in this case, just one parent.  Me.)

To say I have a short circuit in my brain when it comes to understanding computer-eeze is such a gross understatement.  The language is foreign, the reasoning (you can't convince me there is much of any rhyme or reason to it, frankly) is beyond me.  I'm not even good at coming to grips with not having a stand alone mouse to use with the laptop!

Bottom line, she's working hard at getting me set up and hasn't lost patience with me and my computer lame brain (yet) nor given up on my repeated questions, over and over, since I can't seem to remember what I need to remember from one hour to the next.

When (and if) I can muckle my way through this challenge, I'm hoping having a laptop will enable me to do (more conveniently) what I want to do.

She's also doing some moving around and cleaning up on my main computer that has been long overdue.  Feels great to have some changes made that I've wanted done for a long time but, again, don't have the smarts to figure out how to do them myself.  Please don't tell me I could learn to become computer literate if I just tried.  (Refer back to admission of that short circuit in my brain as mentioned above.)  My daughter can testify that she's had to come talk me off the ledge get me out of big computer trouble more than once when I got big and brave (fortified with a glass or two of wine) and tried to learn, change or fix something myself.

Dear daughter is the one who found the nice (reconditioned) laptop for me at a very reasonable price (very reasonable, but that's another long story) in the first place.  

She just left a few minutes ago after trying to teach me (i.e., d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g me along) for a few hours.  That strange noise I heard as she went out the door may or may not have been the sound of her grinding her teeth.

Wish me luck.  No, better you wish her luck.

29 comments:

Sherry said...

I understand where your coming from, I use a laptop sometimes and it takes me twice as long..lol Hope you get better then me...lol

kt said...

I understand your pain! I've had a laptop for a couple years now, and finally just got a wireless keyboard and mouse, MUCH easier to use it now!

Mama Pea said...

Sherry Miller - Good to know I'm not alone in this confusing befuddlement!! ;o}

Mama Pea said...

kt - Ooof, that's not the encouragement I needed! ;o) I keep telling myself it's just getting over this learning stage . . . sure hope that's true!

Kev Alviti said...

It once took me over 45 minutes to log my dad into Netflix over the phone. I almost lost the will to live. Much respect to your daughter!
That said I still have a desktop at the moment but it's getting time to upgrade/

Mama Pea said...

Kev - You gave me a good laugh. Thank you! Yes, one of the reasons I agreed to get a laptop was so that I would have a back-up. Hubby and I both have a desk top computer but both are old. :o\

wisps of words said...

Lost my comment again! Moannnn...

I have to write down everything I try to learn. --- Do not understand "computer-ezzze"! ----- Do not want to go deep into the bowels of my computer settings. ---- You can get a mouse, to use, instead of the touch pad!

Courage! ,-)

DFW said...

I understand too. However, I am the reluctant teacher (or keyboard tapper to find the right sequence) to change or alter some of the things my FIL wants done. I can't, for the life of me, remember how to change a tool bar, for instance. But if I hit enough keys & read enough warnings, can eventually get it done.

I have made it only 1 click away to get on the Internet & off again (very important in his situation as he leaves a window open to very suspicious sites).

I may have to stop stopping by in the mornings ... it can turn into a 2 or 3 hour visit.

At least at 87, he is tryihg to stay in touch ...

tpals said...

I've never cared that much for laptops. I really, really hate them for writing. I'll be typing along and a thumb will barely brush the touchpad and the cursor jumps to the middle of a word on a different place on the page! Argh!

But, I do know lots of people love them, so I might just be an oddball. Lol

Michelle said...

Let's see, you're obviously good at quilting, you're a fine flock-master, and I think you're the best gardener I've ever met! When society crashes down around our ears, you'll have plenty to eat and be warm and cozy. ;-)

Mama Pea said...

wisps of words - I have to write all "instructions" from my daughter down, too. Can't seem to keep and retrieve them from my brain.

I know I can attach a mouse in place of the touch pad, but if I want to sit on the couch with the laptop, the mouse wouldn't work. :o(

I know I just have to get over the "fear" of really screwing things up while I climb the learning curve.

Mama Pea said...

DFW - Your FIL is so, so lucky to have you to rely upon. I feel the same way about my daughter. You're very brave to "hit enough keys and read enough warnings" to get where you want to be. I've fouled myself up so much I can't get out of my mess and have had to wait a day or so until my daughter can come unscramble and rescue me!

Mama Pea said...

tpals - Well, I remember way back when I first started using a computer, I even had trouble controlling the mouse so I should realize I have to give the touch pad time. :o\

Let's hope you and I don't end up forming a "We Hate Laptops" club!

Mama Pea said...

Michelle - Oh, bless you, my child, bless you! I think my main problem is my brain cells were formed way before computers were even dreamed of. Kids these days are born computer ready!

Rain said...

Good luck Chicken Mama lol! That's funny. You know, Alex is the techie in our home. I'm pretty good with the computer, it's new programs that I FEAR terribly. I HATE learning them, and I have a low attention span for stuff like that. If I could use Windows 98 still, I would! I have an old photo editing software that came with my old computer back in 2003. I'm so stubborn about not learning new softwares that the only way I can use my photo program is to uninstall and reinstall it each time I shut off my laptop, otherwise it freezes the whole thing. But I go through the steps every few days anyway lol...it drives Alex nuts!

SmartAlex said...

Order yourself a Lap Desk and a mouse. You will be much happier. When our mother board on the big computer fried a few years ago, we got the lap top as a backup and set it up exactly the same with same passwords etc. But don't get me wrong. Hubby and I are technologically resistant. We got an Amazon Firestick with an Alexa remote last week and my husband makes me disassemble it when I'm not using it so it won't be listening to us and reporting back.

Mama Pea said...

Rain - You sound about as stubborn about certain things as I am! (But we're also steadfast and loyal, too, right? Hee-hee.)

Mama Pea said...

SmartAlex - Yep, daughter already suggested I should get and use a lap desk. I know we have an extra mouse in our box of misc. computer stuff. You may call yourselves technologically resistant, but I'm lots worse than that. I have such a love/hate (emphasis on the hate) relationship with it all. :o\

hoosier girl said...

Go you! I'm cheering you on from my recliner and laptop (which was set-up by my son because I am also challenged.)

MrsDuncanMahogany said...

Another technologically challenged human chiming in! Mu husband is the Master so I just hand whatever I screwed up over to him and he fixes it. Don't get me started on the remote control....

Theresa Y said...

Listen, if I can do it you most certainly can do it. It is a learning curve though. You'll be fine, but if I hear a distant screaming in the air, I'll know its just Mamma Pea!

Mama Pea said...

hoosier girl - Sometimes children do prove their worth, don't they? ;o)

Mama Pea said...

MrsDM - It's so nice to know I'm in good company! :o]

Mama Pea said...

Theresa Young - You may have heard a couple of screams of anguish today. Daughter is coming tomorrow to help and answer my list of questions!

Sandy Livesay said...

Mama Pea,
I'm right there with you Mama Pea......truthfully, I hate computer changes totally.

Give it time, and you'll be fine with your new laptop.
Hugs,
Sandy

Sparkless said...

I hate using the mouse pad on a laptop. If I'm going to be using one for any length of time I always get a mouse to use, just plug it in and go. My husband does the same thing.

Mama Pea said...

Sandy - Oh, but my learning curve is soooo steep! Had a terrible day yesterday on it, but daughter is coming here for help today. (I really don't want to touch the laptop again, but . . . )

Mama Pea said...

Sparkless - I may have to go to the "attached" mouse. I keep thinking I can master the touch pad, but . . .

Mark said...

Mama Pea - I have some bad news for you: Once you finally understand the answers to all the technology questions, they change the questions.

The thing about computers is that it's a rare thing to be able set them up how how you like them and just have them stay that way. That goes double for laptops. Operating Systems (like Windows or Apple's OS) are always being changed and updated because some genius engineer or physicist thinks of a "better way" or "Hey!! We could do....!!". Between the day job, home and hobbies (ham radio) I have 4 laptop computers and small handful of tablets and old phones and no two run just alike. I can program a computer in 5 different computer languages and not one of them is used by anyone other than technical dinosaurs like me.

I have an extreme dislike for the touch pads on laptops and tote a wired mouse with me everywhere I go with my laptop at the day job. (I'd love to have the whiz kid who decided there is no need to disable that thing on most laptops working for me at the day job for just a week!) The 'kids' at work all roll their eyes and chuckle, but still humor me.

I don't use them a lot, but I keep a manual typewriter, a collection of slide rules (one at the day job), and an engineer's drafting set around just to remind myself there are some aspects of the 'good old days' that really are still good.