Infuriating yes but this must be taken with a grain of salt (rubbed into ones’ wounds).  After all, this is just a machine and I have been typing like an expert since high school.  Yet, I must wait until my computer warms up or decides to tease me with new announcements that I have erred somewhere and should take appropriate (never explained in clear English) steps to stop the error.  However, in my machine, an interventionist program intrudes and takes over and says I must do this or that which will take care of an “intruder” or “virus” – but, never fear, this program has the guts and wherewithal to seek out the nasty invader and can and will disarm it.

I understand parts going bad and having to be replaced but this is a brand new world where “programs” either have built in problems which occur from time to time or themselves have been invaded by an outside evil intruder who only wants to have fun with me.  I am not laughing.  I am infuriated.  But, what is one to do?

I have gone to my original source for all things having to do with computers but have been told that I am a big boy now and am on my own and must find someone else to appeal to.  Well, I have gone to other sources.  I found them in India (mostly centered around Bombay) or in the Philippines where the spoken English is far more American sounding.  I have received much help and have learned some of the tricks these technicians use to see from a far, far distance if their trick has worked.   In some of these places, they have the ability to take over my machine from thousands of miles away and you can see the cursor darting hither and yon until the “tech” says try this and, “viola” the machine is acting like the nice obedient machine it was only hours earlier.  But, in between it went somewhat crazy (from my viewpoint) and then went to some far off country where it could breathe free – free at last, to do whatever it wanted to frustrate me – excuse me – infuriate me.

I am now writing this essay after following directions flashed on the screen much different from the ones that merely told me that I had failed as the owner of this computer.  I am calmer now and less infuriated although thinking of revenge in throwing this computer out and getting a new one.  But, like the proverbial nail in the heel of a shoe that bloodies up your socks, you learn to limp and since it doesn’t hurt now you forget about the problems it causes.

What calms me down is knowing that the machine is working again as in this instance.  If I were to throw it out (which it deserves) I would have to go through the learning process of a new one and allow the programs to accumulate so that the same problems will appear down the line.  And, so it goes.