NIXA JOURNAL: Computer Cleanup

When you think about doing something, it's a dream. When you make up your mind to actually do what you dreamed, the Universe responds so that it can become a reality. Me

I had three projects bugging me: cell phone, ditching cable TV, and replacing CrashPlan, my offsite backup service.

I spent a lot time getting settled with my cell phone going from T Mobile to Verizon to a new flip phone at Consumer Cellular, and back to my original smart Samsung phone with service at Mint Mobile. Now I pay $15 a month with unlimited talk and text and 5GB of data.

I had to buy two new TV's, but I'm set up to watch TV or DVD's in the family room; TV, DVD's and VHS in the office; and TV in the kitchen. All the TV is streamed. I paid $67.32 for a year of BritBox and $60 for a year of PBS. My $145 per month cable bill disappeard, but my landline and internet will go up I'm sure as I was bundled.

That left my offsite backup. I've been with CrashPlan for years, and during that time, they switched to business only, but left me grandfathered in though I'm an individual. But - they are totally unresponsive. No phone number; no address. Everything by email, but since my old email address got hacked, my reports have been going into lala land, and I could never get an answer to an email. My credit card was being charged $10/month, so I kept my fingers crossed that all was well and I was protected. The credit card being charged is due to expire next month, so what to do?

I decided to put on my big girl panties and do my own backup. I was having lunch with friends on Wednesday, and decided to go to Best Buy on the way home and talk to them. At lunch, Terri's daughter Lonna dropped by as she works down the street. I knew she was very smart and knew quite a lot about computer issues, so I asked her if she knew a solution. She said, "Why don't you just use an external hard drive? You can get one at Walmart." Wow! Who knew? I thought for something like that, I'd need a computer tech to come out and set it up and furnish the drive. After lunch, I went to Walmart, bought a hard drive with 1 terabyte so I'll never run out of space in my lifetime. One terabyte equals 1,000 gigabytes. My internal hard drive is 222GB. Proof that dreams come true once you decide to launch them.

I've backed up all my recipes so far, the books in progress, my food photos, my Word docs for my published books, and my photo of the month files for 2015 through 2019. Photo of the month is a misleading name, as I was trying to take a photo per day, but filed by month - my photo (rather than written) daily journal. I took a LOT of photos. I'm clearing my files before adding them to Backup, and I've deleted over 4,000 photos so far, but it has taken me about five days. I have to do a lot of cross checking as a photo of a cake might be in the Food - Cakes file, or maybe not. If it's a photo I meant to copy there and forgot, I need to transfer it.

Many of the photos were duplicated under Food, Family or Friends, My Cards, My Friend Cards, etc. I transferred all the Stormy and Pepper photos to their file, but will have to sort them later, as I'm sure there will be duplicates. I've kept a lot of flower files, but transferred them to Gardening - Inspiration, hoping I'll be encouraged to inject some Midsomer Magic into my yard this year.

Besides working on the computer for hours I finally went out, after eight straight days of not leaving the property, to meet for lunch on Wednesday and then again on Friday to celebrate my Auntie Kack's birthday by eating quiche.

Fannie Mae, Katie, Mim, and I went to Beth's Bake Shoppe. We all had her new quiche recipe, which is Italian Quiche. I wonder what the French would think of this? It had pepperoni in it.

The soup was some sort of won-ton with ground chicken, and I got a full cup of meat and veggies with little broth. By the time I finished the soup, crouton rounds, slaw, and orange slice, I was full. I ate the tip of my quiche to be legal in eating quiche on Auntie Kacks's birthday, but the rest of it is frozen, awaiting the time I see Terri so she can take it to Raymond, who will eat anything.

I had to take a photo of these amazing cookies and yes, it's done freehand.

And her wedding cakes are beautiful.

And they haven't changed a lot. Look at this photo I ran across in my purge taken in February of 2017. I guess they just dust them.

This cold weather had me eating grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup with Harry. Niece Terri bought this cup for me at the Truman Library on our trip in December of 2022. It's the perfect size for soup.

That reminds me that I still need to journal that trip and share it because the wonderful airlines museum at the old Kansas City airport is little known and a real treat.

Too busy to cook, so I thawed black-eyed peas and corn muffins from New Year's Day; added some Spam to the peas; opened a can of collards (compliments of Joey), and called it good.

And speaking of Spam, I think it gets a bad rap. I love Spam. I even have a special refrigerator storage container.

I had some on my salad the next day.

And my Salads book will have a Hawaiian pasta salad (with Spam).

On Wednesday, when I went to Walmart, I found the ribbon I need for my January wreath. I have all the pieces now - just need the time. I wonder if I'll get it finished by the end of January?

My life will not be very exciting until I finish my computer cleanup, but it is rather fun to see some of my past. Katie was talking about some treats she had from Nothing Bundt Cakes on Glenstone in Springfield, and I ran across these photos I took when Nephew Kelly brought one to our gathering when we celebrated Sonny's birthday. This is from the Kansas City area, long before we had our own store.

He brought me a brochure.

And this is from Beth's Bake Shoppe in 2017. The wedding cakes aren't the only things which haven't changed much. I guess "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" works, as I think she's the only ladies' lunch place still in business in our area.

I have photos of the seasons - Spring

Summer

Autumn

Winter

Reminders of things I want to eat again.

Smiles

American Gothic II

I hope she isn't from Missouri

Interesting things.

From the display at The Library Center.

From a restaurant lobby. I wish I had some of these.

Memories

My Lil' Sis' office, showing the momentos, photos, and pictures from kids given to her because she was so loved by her students at Pitts State in Kansas.