Hello Friends!
Wow it's been a busy week since I last posted. Which brings me to the topic at hand. I am a creature of habit. I eat the same thing for breakfast (maple brown sugar oatmeal with raisins, two Eggo Nutrigrain low fat waffles, and juice) most days of the week. I follow the same morning and nighttime rituals. When I drive somewhere I take the the route I'm comfortable with, regardless of whether it's the quickest.
I may sound boring...I'm not...only my comfort in the routine is.
And finally getting my new computer up and running has shot my work routine in the gut!
I knew this would happen, which is why I've put it off as long as I could. (My brand new Dell has been sitting in the box, unopened, since August.)
Yes, it boots up quicker, and I love my new keyboard, but so far, those are the only positives. My screen looks different, even though I'm using the same one I used with my old computer. For some reason the words look smaller and I had to increase the font size. As a result, my familiar websites and blogs seem narrower and a bit elongated, if that makes any sense, and it's reeking havoc with my temperamental eyes. I upgraded to Windows 7, and while it's similar to Windows XP, it's taking some time to get used to. Thank goodness my computer guru clued me into F1 (help).
Of all he times to be under deadline for my second book AND receive the line/copy edits for my first book. But I'm muddling through...at the expense of my blog time.
So what about you? Do you embrace change? Welcome it? Look forward to it? Or do you fight it like me? And any Windows 7 pros out there who can give me some helpful hints?
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I can relate! I'm a creature of habit, too. I always drive the same routes and follow the same morning and nighttime routines also. Like you, it doesn't mean that I'm a boring person; I'm just comfortable in my ways. I love that my day job follows the same schedule every day, as monotonous as that sounds.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your deadline and your copy edits! You can do it!
Thanks, Shelley, my fellow creature of habit. We're in good company!!!
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ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI like my tools to be routine -- I like to know them well so I can use them without their being in the way -- but beyond that I like change. I'm always fiddling with what's not broken.
For your screen problem, it sounds like you have a different screen resolution set than you had on your old computer. Look for help on "resolution" and you should find how to change it. You'll want to REDUCE your resolution (switch to smaller numbers than what it's using now). You should set your font size back to normal before you do so, and then play around with a few different settings until you find one you're comfortable with.
Good luck.
Hi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI also subscribe to the code "Old Habits Die Hard". But then I also don't run away from change. If it's good and I'm comfortable with it, then I welcome it.
Thanks, John. My computer guy suggested the same thing, but I don't recall changing my font back to normal first. I'll try again. Would the resolution also make my Internet pages come up narrower?
ReplyDeleteHi Nas!
Old habits do die hard. Thanks for stopping by.
I hate change and fight it tooth and nail.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, the rest of my family is very spontaneous and even that freaks me out. :)
I control everything I can--morning routines, evening routines, daytime routines, driving routes. I AM boring. :)
I veer way past the creature of comfort into OCD in a lot of respects. If things aren't done in a certain way, at a certain time, etc., I get stressed. Real stressed. Just ask the family! LOL!
ReplyDeleteAs for your screen being off, have you played with the resolution? Most times the PC will auto set it, but you can override it to get it back to your comfortable viewing size.
The narrow web page problem sounds odd. It might just be a result of the way IE8 lays things out. I don't have any advice without before and after pictures (which I doubt you've got). Oh, unless...
ReplyDeleteDoes your IE window just need to be resized? Does everything still show up narrow if you make IE full-screen?
Wendy,
ReplyDeleteOMG, I can't believe you've had a computer sitting in a box since August. I do consider myself a creature of habit, but I love new technology. (Although, I have to admit, I don't know what version of Windows I'm using at the moment. I'm not a huge Windows fan.)
And with all that's going on at work, I have to embrace change. Computer order entry, electronic charting. I can't get away from it.
How are the edits going?
Abbi :-)
eep good luck with it all I am a techie lover but it also takes me awhile to get used to things so I kinda feel your pain.
ReplyDeleteDepends on the change and whether I think it will be beneficial.
ReplyDeleteI finally brought an Apple Mac book and I loveeeeeee it. It took some time to get used to it but its actually easier. Had alot of duhhhh moments.
Yes, it was more expensive but I've brought 3 laptops in the past 8 years and always was like yeah its nice but I still want a Mac. So my son needed a laptop - gave him mine and took 12 months free financing and went for it!
Hi Jen!
ReplyDeleteYou're not boring, you're efficient!!
Hi Gianna!
I think there's a little OCD in all of us...some more than others . Like with loading the dishes into the dishwasher. Yes. I prewash. I'm the only one in my family who does. Drives me nuts when I take out the clean dishes and they have dried guk on them. But does anyone listen? Noooooooo!
Thanks again, John. It took me a few minutes to figure out what IE8 was. (And I was pretty proud of myself when I did!) Now I have to figure out how to make my IE8 full screen. Sounds like something that can wait until after dinner....when my husband's home.
Hi Abbi!
ReplyDeleteYes, Amy, Jen P., and I are all familiar with your love of technology!! (Abbi has a cool cell phone, we all have flip phones. And Abbi knows how to text and send pictures. We were all quite impressed!!)
And I sent my edits to my agent yesterday. Hopefully the changes are implemented and I'm all finished with When One Night Isn't Enough... (At least until it's time for my blog tours and promotion activities.)
Hi Joanna!
Hope you're nice and relaxed following your uber vacation in Nice and Monaco!!! Oohh. (deep sigh) to be a techie! Maybe someday.
Hi Liz!
Two of my children have Apple laptops and absolutely love them. They told me I was nuts to get another desktop computer, and a Dell no less. But my Creature of Habit tendencies reared their ugly heads and I stuck with what I know....though it turns out I don't really know it as well as I'd thought. Enjoy your Apple!
Oh Wendy, can I relate! I want, want, want to be a creature of habit but it feels like the world around me is constantly conspiring against me. I'll get a routine going and then WHAM! here comes something which makes it impossible for me to continue. So I can sympathize, empathize, and understand.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got that computer up and working!
good luck with Windows 7. Took me forever to get used to Vista when we bought the new laptops a few years ago. And I still hate my screen. lol I'm with you. I don't change very well. I tend to like my routines and comfort zones and change comes hard won.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Regina! Enjoy your writing retreat.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joanne! I've heard horror stories about Vista. I purposely waited until there was another option. Either way it's a change, though.
I didn't embrace Windows 7. I was grumpy for several weeks. It's very time consuming, not being able to use your usual short cuts and let's face it, sometimes they forget to put in some of the old features that made it faster to get around (yes Bill Gates, I noticed!). Does it help if I tell you that it does get easier to use? ;)
ReplyDeleteRemember my post on my blog regarding change? I HATE it. But, I am getting better at not fighting the tide and you are too, so let's just say we are getting better!!! I still have my old flip phone. I still can't text. I still want a Droid but my husand won't let me because he said I won't use all the gadgets properly so he will not spend the money. Sigh. I want to be like Abbi and be cool...
ReplyDeleteHi Lacey!
ReplyDeleteI guess lucky for me, I didn't use many of the XP short cuts so if they're missing on Windows 7 I don't notice it. My problems are more with formatting and such. I'm glad it gets eaiser!!! Thanks.
Hi Jen!
I want to be cool like Abbi, too!!!!
As one who loves change. Just think about my writing, There is one place where I must have order and that's with my computer. When mine was updated, actually remade, I had him put the old working program back in. I do not want to learn 7 or whatever it is. Since I believe computers are a combination of typewriter and telephone, I would still have the new computer in the box.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know I had the option of keeping my Windows XP! Oh well. Each day I learn something new about Windows 7. I'll get there!
This is because a very nice tech who comes to the house most of the time when I have problems rebuilt the computer for me.
ReplyDeleteLOL, Wendy and Jen. You two are much cooler than me.
ReplyDeleteSorry I've been out. Working on sekrit projects. I miss you guys. :-)
Hi Abbi!
ReplyDeleteI'll say it again...you need to write your books like you post/comment on blogs. You'll be published by next year!!!