12-2-2016 - Donuts and Toys

K

ktspirit

Guest
Good morning. My mother got her new toy (laptop) yesterday afternoon, so I'll be going over there today to help her set it up. She wants to do it herself, with my help. I don't blame her for wanting to learn, but I must put my patience hat on as she often starts hitting keys before I can explain or stop her, lol. I may have to tie her hands, lol. Patience is not one of my virtues.

Take care everyone!
 
Good morning....and good luck, kt. Tried to show my husband how to send, and open e-mail on a lap top. Really only had to do 3 things. Want to know how many times he would claim he did nothing, but there were umpteen windows open, for different things, and he would claim he did not "do anything". He wanted his own e-mail box, but.......gave up after a month. LOL. Good thing.

And me, I ordered a Fire tablet from Amazon, which is really neat.........but won't operate unless it is right next to the modem. So....pointless for me. Will be returning it. Also, it came with NO instructions, or manual, saying I should go online to learn how to do anything with it.....THAT is inexcusable. But then, guess the point is to just download books, movies, etc. from Amazon or Netflix or whatever, but since I have to be here at my desk to do it.....Nope.

Another grey day here, I have to go to an appointment in town that hubby was to do, but he is not feeling up to par at all, so was not planning on ANOTHER interruption in my day. Seems I don't have time to blink any more. :) Have a good day, folks. Tis FRIDAY!
 
Good morning everyone. A dark dreary day here....again.

Went back to the doctor yesterday morning. Ended up with another injection and more pneumonia meds. He then debated whether to give me a flu shot since I was still sick but didn't have a fever. (I got my 3 year pneumonia booster in September, and he never gives me the flu shot at the same time.) Then decided that I better have it then or it would be too late to do me any good for the coming flu season.

Finally mailed 2 packages that I had promised people. Boy I just love those USPS priority mail boxes and flat mailers. I think I'll use them to mail out the next 3 packages that have to go soon.

kt - boy, you sure have a lot of patience to keep setting up or fixing electronics for your mother. When I do it for my friends, I make them sit next to me, but won't let them touch it because they keep clicking on things, too.

The worst is when I tell them to wait until the "spinning" icon is finished because the computer is working. Then they repeatedly click on another icon anyway. My boss did this, and it resulted in her submitting 403.75 hours of paid time off for me over Thanksgiving!!!! GRRRRR

Poirot - It sounds like the problem is your modem's range or strength, and not the Kindle Fire. My Kindle Fire works even outside in my yard through my wifi. It stays connected even out by my mailbox which is 175 feet from the front of my house.

The manual is also already in the Kindle Fire in the books section. You click on it there. Make sure you have activated your Fire within your Amazon account online before downloading apps and books. I use mine a lot for the internet, Facebook, The Spectator, news, etc. That's what I use when I come on here during lunch time at work.
 
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Good Morning Everyone,

Sorry I didn't check in yesterday. Gena and I both stayed home sick. This cold that I've had for a month and a half finally knocked me on my backside, but a mostly full day of rest and I feel tons better. Something is definitely going around though as only 2 of 7 girls were at our Girl Scout meeting last night. I guess we'll have to have an extra work station at the next meeting for the girls to do a make up lesson to earn their petal from last night.

KT - good luck with the "computer" class.

RS - 403.75 hours of paid time off sounds like it would be one mighty fine paycheck, although that's like 10 years worth of vacation time for me.

Poirot - strange that your modem is so weak. My phone starts buzzing with updates as soon as I pull in my driveway, as that's it picks up the wi-fi signal. Good luck.

Have a wonderful day!
 
Good morning. I don't do all the different devices like most of you, but my modem also works anywhere in the house and outside too. It's located in the closet in the center of the house.

You all know I am not very swift on electronics but I've gotten a taste of it from both directions. I still have to get help for some things, and yet, I now have to help my husband with the most basic things. He no longer uses a computer but the tv remote has become a daily challenge. We have separate remote controls (1 & 2, can watch different channels at the same time) but it all goes through the same receiver. I am constantly having to go in and remove things that have been set to record. Stuff I would never watch, and he wouldn't either but he surfs through channels a lot and doesn't even realize he has recorded anything. He sits there and pushes all kinds of buttons, just trying to turn on or off, or change channels.

From the other direction, when I have to get my son to help me with something on the computer, I can tell you it is a complete waste of time for him to do the functions himself, while explaining the process to me. Spoken instructions of what someone is doing don't even penetrate my head at all, let alone go in one ear and out the other! I see what all of you are saying, about the person you are teaching hitting wrong buttons and messing things up. I think I have used computers long enough to not do that, and besides my nature is to be reluctant, rather than plowing full speed ahead.

But if I am to learn how to do something, one of two things has to happen. Either the person teaching must have the patience to instruct me step-by-step, while allowing me to actually do the function myself. Or else the teacher must write down step-by-step instructions and leave them with me to try out when no one is standing over me and waiting for me to "get it." The latter method works best for both my son and me so that's what he does now.

Either way, it takes time and patience, and believe me, after two years of helping my husband with very basic daily-living things, I do understand how frustrating it can be, but the reality is that some of us are always going to "glaze over" when someone starts explaining what seems simple--almost intuitive--to the masses. Again, I am reserved and I already know enough to get along with computers and even figure out some things for myself. If your "student" is gung ho and refuses to wait or listen, then you have my sympathy. :) Best wishes for today, Kt.
 
The thing with me is that my laptop works in the living room, but the Fire says "not connected" even tho it is. If I come by my desk here, fine. ...I know I don't have the strongest of signals, the penalty for living out in the boonies.......
 
OC - I do the set up, downloading, installing for my friends. That's where they make major messes when I talk them through it. Once the programs are installed and updated, then I have them sit at the keyboard . I talk them through using the programs.

One friend calls me at least once a week because she puts her computer in hibernation instead of sleeping / stand by mode. Then calls saying her laptop is dead or broken when she can't get it to "wake up". Geez, I keep telling her to just close her laptop, but she insists on clicking on the "moon" key. You'd think she'd get it right after 2 years.
 
Squirrel, that's the kind of thing my son does for me too. Downloads, apps, etc. I'm happy to let him do those things and I'm sure it is easier for him than trying to get me to understand how to do it. Since he is so far away, it helps that he can get into my computer from his home. I'm sure your friend is not limited in capacity like my husband is, but I understand what you are saying.

Everyday, over and over, it's, "How do I turn on my tv?" or "How do I get out of my chair?" (Push the blue lift button). I keep thinking he will surely remember those things at some point, but sadly, in his case, I know he won't. It's hard to think why your friend wouldn't remember to just close the lid, unless maybe she has a fear something bad will happen if she doesn't turn it off.

Squirrel, after reading your story from days ago about the rodent problem you had, I've been meaning to tell what happened when my kids were here for Thanksgiving. My wonderful, fancy BBQ grill, which has been used about twice since I got it, maybe a year ago, has a side burner. My son was going to cook bacon on that side burner, which has a flat metal lid covering it when not in use.

When he lifted that lid, there was a huge rat's nest inside! He closed the lid and put the cover back over the whole grill. I am afraid to even open the big lid with the grilling burners. I can't even face it now, with everything else I've got going on, along with cold weather.
 
Good Busy Morning friends!

Right now it is 55F outside!! Yay! Just being cold puts me in a holiday mood. My house is 3/4 decorated. Now I have an entire huge bin of 'late pickups'. You know, the ones you find weeks after you have taken down all your Christmas items. :)
Poirot: and they say it only takes a fraction of a second to blink. :wink: Why are women's schedules so tight this time of year? I know the answer. Something is wrong with your Amazon Kindle. I have an old one and a Kindle Fire that is 2 years old. They always work as long as the wi-fi is working. I use it in the bedrooms, great room, etc. And my Fire has a "sos" help button -- does yours? You click it, you see and hear the representative online with you, who guides through a solution or does it for you.

Ask for an exchange with that option if you still have the patience to wait for a replacement. Really, I am so surprised to learn there is a model without the Help function. Make it the best day you can with as few interruptions as possible to detour your plan.:)

KT: it is great to hear from you this morning. Kudos to getting the 'teaching my parent' assignment today. It is good your mother wants to learn and share this experience with you today. Make some new wonderful memories. :)

Red: what was your doctor thinking? You are a strong woman to work during recovery. I am so sorry you have to go through this. Pneumonia is exhausting due to low blood oxygen levels. And thanks for sharing your positive experience with Poirot about the Kindle Fire too. I have never had an issue with mine but did not think of the range of the modem as an issue. It's Friday. Celebrate!:)

Manda: it is good you are feeling better this morning and Gena is recovering well too. Congrats on 7 girls in the scout group! Hopefully everyone will feel better soon. An extra work station next week is a great idea and teaches the girls how to resolve an issue. They will miss school and work days in their lives in the future. Hope you and Gena have a relaxing and healing weekend.:)

OC: what you are experiencing is your learning style. Some people are visual learners; others are auditory learners; then there are kinetic learners and observation learners. We all have our own unique combined style. For instance, just listening to a lecture doesn't cut it for me. We all find our own style, use it, and achieve our goals. You do just fine for yourself and your hubby.:)

Squirrel: your friend is blessed to have someone patient enough to repeat instructions to fill her memory void. Her learning style must be opposite to yours. Hope your Friday is a very good one! :)

OC: ewwww :sick: rats in the grill! Please call a professional rodent specialist to have their nest completely removed. You know quickly they reproduce. Maybe that is why the vultures were hanging around with hungry faces so long?! Please stay safe and far away from those rats. :)

Wishing everyone a peaceful Friday.
 
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Afternoon all.

Been here a couple of times and the phone always rings so I have to head back to work.

I finally broke down and turned the heat on. Such a wimp, but I'm cold. Mr. Gus is shivering. This is pointless when heat will help.

I need to get out today at lunch. Doubtful that will happen but I can always hope, and dream. Have to get a birthday card and it needs to be at the post office before 5 in order to get it delivered on time. And our mail pick up doesn't happen until after 8 pm. There are only so many times one can complain. Carrier is now using the "holiday and more letter and packages that he has to deliver" to be the reason. However yesterday, all I received was junk mail, nothing personal. All to resident or current resident. Grrrr.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Happy Friday all.
 
JS that is an interesting Kindle story I had not heard before. Glad you are all set up now.:clap:

Robin: my carrier uses the same excuse but Saturday deliveries are before 9am. And yep....junk mail. Hopefully your weekend will be restful and fun.:)
 
A busy morning at the high school. One teacher finished putting the books in the computer.
Today I put labels on four boxes of books. When that's all done, the students can finally "check out"
books to read at home. If my friend works at school Sunday afternoon, I'll go too and
put more labels on.

OC, have you thought about making notes for your husband on how to do things?
That might be helpful.

kt, good luck with getting your mom's laptop going.

manda, I need to come to your next meeting to learn how to put makeup on :)

I hope everyone has a good rest of the day.
 
Hey, I was hooked up to WiFi, as long as I was in the same room with it. I do have a help, but it will say to go to the website. That the manual and any instructions are there.

I do have a problem not remembering passwords, so when I want to hook up to ...let's say Facebook.......I put in names and passwords, e-mail addys, etc. it says invalid.

I did get some "fair" reception in the living room. But I will tell you that my kids, nieces were here, and while they could use their devices here in the house, definitely not outside.

My modem was put in this past year, Maybe Jan or Feb., and is provided by my phone company, Century Tel. Actually says, Century Link.

I just find it hard to believe that any electronic device would arrive without a single bit of instruction. Heck, I had to press outside buttons to find what would turn it on. The help site says the "home" button is in shape of a home. No such thing on this. But there are just the words, Home, Books, Video, Games (there are none) Apps, Audio Books, Newstand.........in fact, it looks like one has to buy everything.........
 
Poirot, it ticked me off too when I got my Kindle and no directions. I did download
the directions from their website, but I haven't read them. I learned how to use
the camera, by trial and error. I can still use Kindle in my bedroom even though
signal is on the last bar.
 
Kat: I hope the students know and appreciate all that you and your volunteer to do for the school. As a reader I would love anyone making more books available to read in a library. :)

Poirot: about 5 years ago I noticed written instructions have been replaced with online links to manuals. My new microwave oven, vacuum, and blow dryer all require online access. And if a storm knocks out the WiFi then I am left to MacGuyver it. This is a trend I do not appreciate even if it is "progress".:wink:

 
I do have to say it irks me to read a mag article, or watch/listen to news item on TV, and be told, for the whole story, or more information, go to www.whatever.com

I am reading this magazine or newspaper or the article, I am watching the TV news, or listening on radio.....I do NOT want to go online for more on the story. Grrrrr.
 
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