Okay, I’ll try to get through this without too many typing errors, I’m not used to this keyboard. Those few faithful followers have probably been wondering where I’ve been? Well, I’ll tell you. Right here, but with my desktop kaput.

A couple of weeks (or so) ago, I got up as usual, headed for my beautiful and beloved desktop computer, and turned it on. It sounded like someone revving an old engine without a muffler. rrrrrRRRRRRRrrrrRRRRRrrrrr…  A couple of revs and then nothing, all silent, it wouldn’t come on. I repeated this a couple of times, it really made the effort, but then I started smelling something kind of like metal burning so I stopped.

This was all too familiar. A bit of back story  I bought the computer from Dell. Now, I know a lot of people either hate Dell or love it. I’m a big fan, myself. I’ve had Dell computers for years, and the customer service has always been great here.

When I bought it,three years ago, it was top of the line. First generation i7 processor, 6 Go DDR3 Ram, two .75 Tb HD’s (1.5 Tb total) and not one but two NVidea cards, each with 1 go video memory. Other bells and whistles I can’t remember at the moment. At that time, the current special was a 3 year parts and service warranty at no cost. I took it, because I know I’m hard on computers, running them for an average of 16 hours a day.

One year after purchase, the cooling system sprang a leak. It was exactly the same as two weeks ago. rrRRRrrrRRRRrrrr… The very next day, they brought a replacement part and installed it, and it has been fine until a few weeks ago. Recognizing the symptoms, I checked at the base of the computer and sure enough, there was a leak.

So where is the hidden blessing, you ask? Well, I called Dell. My warranty was good until July 25th, so I fully expected them to get someone to me the next day with another cooling system. I told the representative what happened, and that it had happened before, etc. He said, yes, but there might be other damage, the motherboard, other problems. I insisted that no, the other time, they just replaced the cooler and all was well for the past 2 years. He said he’s have to check with a higher up and get back to me.

About an hour later he called back, saying that the computer would have to be checked out in the factory and they didn’t have the right parts and so instead, they would send me an invoice for a new computer. At first I didn’t understand – I told them I didn’t want a new computer, had no intention of buying one. They patiently explained it would be at no cost. They would send me the invoice, I would sign off on it and send it back and they would then send a new computer.

I admit, I was a bit skeptic, but agreed. I checked their website and though much has progressed since my PC, it was still top end and there wasn’t a lot that came standard with the same elements. Imagine my surprise when I got the invoice and discovered they were sending me a top of the line AlienWare Aurora computer with all the bells and whistles. I checked out every detail, and they all surpass my dear desktop. Third generation i7 processor, much faster than the original, 8 Go DDr3 Ram with a higher speed, two  1Go NVidea cards of the latest generation. Two 1 Tb HD’s and other bells and whistles. I checked AlienWare and this is their top of the line PC of the moment. Oh and a years guarantee to boot.

So, blessing in disguise? Sure sounds like it to me. It was delivered on Friday and still in the box. I’ve never seen such a huge box, and will enjoy getting it set up, hopefully today, if my daughter and I can manage to lift it out of the box and onto the desk.It may take awhile for me to get it set up, and I probably won’t post a lot in the next few weeks, but I’ll try to be better about it.

With all that, what have I been doing the past few weeks? Judee living without a computer? Impossible! Fortunately my ex left his portable here for me (he has no internet and comes here to use my wi-fi to check his mail) so I had access, but none of my bookmarks, no email, no games, nada. It wasn’t enough.

As Serendipity would have it, there were sales all over on notebook PCs so I just went out and bought one. That is what I’m typing on now. I’ve been setting it up with links and a few necessary programs, and will use it for backup in the future, and also as a pc to take to bed with me once I have a bed I can sit up in. Hey, one of the reasons I spend so much time on my desktop is because at night I like to listen to audiobooks and don’t want to load them onto my Kindle because of battery use. So now I have a portable audiobook. 😀

I know, excuses, excuses. Actually, though, just before my PC went kaput, I had been looking at the sales, thinking it might be time for a notebook pc, to get one while they were on sale so I’d have it when I move. This just helped me along a bit.

Speaking of moving, I’ve found an apartment I like, a lot, as in very much, as in I would really like to live there. But my house isn’t sold yet. I’m returning on Monday to give it a second look and check out a few more details. Even though my house isn’t sold, I’m hoping I can work something out with the realtor, bank whatever. I’ll be talking to the realtor on Tuesday, so wish me luck. I’ll be very happy if it works out. If it doesn’t? Well, then it means it just wasn’t the right place after all. I truly believe things happen in the right timing – why look at this PC incident. One month before warranty ran out and I get a brand new PC!

Life is such a wonder, don’t you think?

And don’t worry, I have backups on external HDs of everything important, it will just take awhile to re-install everything

I’ll try to be more active on here once my new PC is set up. Meanwhile I do miss my WP friends and favorites. I’ve secretly dropped by a few of your sites, but not left messages, sorry. This is the most I’ve typed on this little keyboard, and I’m still fumbling, making typos all over, even more than usual. 😉

Just know I’ll be back and up and running (well, walking anyway) strolling through the recent faves, as soon as I can. And I’ll give an update on the sleep thing, too, but my fingers are fumbled out at the moment.

Meanwhile, have a great week!