Managing Money, Computers, Resources

DRAFT




Don't tell me, "No."

Don't be that way to me. Don't set my life up so that I have to learn a bunch of new stuff to survive, especially when I'm finally geared up to thrive. I may be dealing with my last gasp here. I get older every day, and all too regularly some body part falls off from its previous100% capacity. I'm a little slower, a bit more shaky, and may be unknowingly slipping into early Alzheimer's Disease, as if dealing with bipolar disorder symptoms were not enough effort. One never knows how much time he or she will have on this earth, and how much of that time can be spent happily, productively, perhaps even creatively.

I have basic computer skills. I bought my first computer in 1999, and what I know I learned from attending community college classes and studying books. There is no "office" where I go to work, sit in a cubicle, and perform some business necessary task, consorting with coworkers for tips and tricks of the written communication trade. I work from my home. I am a writer. I am a writer in need of a new laptop computer. Damn technological advances and their monetary conscripts.

A new laptop costs money I don't have. I have money for living expenses, like food and gas, medical and car and home insurance, my utilities and other regular requirements are financially taken care of The "money supervisor" does the balancing and comparing and investing. That part is out of my hands. I have NO control or access to THAT money.

My personal living budget was established for me so that my insurance, my medical expenses, and any taxes I owe get paid. When I was younger, living on a teacher salary that paid one time each month, I often ran out of money before I ran out of bills. When you're young you live and learn. I was made especially aware of my financial shortcomings by a loving Mother. whose bookkeeping always balanced to the penny. Being shown, or told, how to make a budget work is one thing. I understand the concept, but I gave a problem dealing with math and paying attention to dates. There was a time I had credit, but I blew it. Credit temptation has been the downfall of many. I'll never have credit again. But I have a system, and another business person or two to keep me and financial things going along a positive path.

I am fortunate that another has the responsibility of paying vital bills on time, and investing the remainder of family funds in what may prove a promising financial future--or not. When you live on money coming in, there's no chance for overtime bonuses. The money for my personal expenses is in my hands for spending. Probably, spending money is one of the things I do best. I tell myself, "save," "you don't need that,", and manage well enough to enjoy living with pets, who I can afford to take to the vet when they need to go.

I am making do with what I have, as far as computers go. My book, finished but not to the final edit (and submission) stage is copyright protected online until I get it to final printed state. My essays and poems and short stories are spread out among three older computers, each with its own irritating, aggravating, idiosyncratic state of disrepair. The oldest, a Toshiba laptop I bought at Office Depot early in 2009, has the greatest number of book items saved to folders. It is not a touch screen, because touch screens were not yet an invented option to the purchasing public. I have virus protection, and I have a regular computer repair situation. The latest problem with the Toshiba has me scratching my head. Somewhere after 45 to 90 minutes of use, the screen goes black, the computer shuts itself off. It will always start up again upon prompting, but whatever I was doing is gone--from whenever the last time was that I manually saved my writing. I like the feel of that laptop, but damn, I hate to lose what I've written. I seldom get close to duplicating what I have lost. I had in mind to save some blogs together for a couple of weeks. Due to unanticipated shutdown, I manged to save five of eight entries. I got aggravated and gave up on that project. I don't write with the purpose of immediately losing my work. I am hesitant to use the Toshiba at all when I'm working on my book. I don't want to lose work originally written fifteen years ago from one little glitch. A book manuscript means a lot to me. It IS ME.