Dear Internet Explorer,

You are the double-crossing crack whore of browsers.

While mildly more tolerable, your latest incarnation, 7.0, is still just a poser.

I have tried placating you in every way I know how and yet you STILL insist on mangling my design in 6.0.  Even Lord Google cannot seem to help me overcome your influence, which has suddenly mutated into a new strain for which there is seemingly no cure available.

You suck.  Please die.  kthxbai.

-Amy

“Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with your Microsoft products.”

Well, the new computer is a beauty. It’s fast, sleek and has plenty of room and strength to handle my 5 quadzillion photos and big (expensive) software programs. I spent most of the afternoon setting it up.

And then I spent most of the evening troubleshooting. My screensaver stopped working. I had this happen on my old laptop but figured it had to do with the fact that several of the programs had quit working. I never solved it on the old computer, but was not about to let it go with my brand new one.

I found plenty of forums with people having the same issue. Apparently there is a common conflict with the startup programs running in the background and the Microsoft Wireless mouse. Most of the people reporting the problem were using a Dell computer with a Microsoft wireless keyboard/mouse.

I followed all the suggestions, disabling most everything from my startup. Most of the programs they said to disable aren’t even on my machine. I sought help in the Microsoft Knowledge Base and got the same answers. Everybody said “disable this program” or “remove that program.”

To no avail.

Finally, I came across a solution that I was shocked did not appear in any of the forums or websites.

I SWITCHED MY MOUSE.

Problem solved. Except, now I have to buy J a new Logitech wireless mouse because I stole his and he’s grumpy about it.

I’m getting a new laptop today.  A much needed new laptop, as my previous one takes 20 minutes to start and has decided that several of its programs are optional.

Consequently, I have taken over the home computer, which has J none too pleased because it means we can’t be on the computer at the same time (read: he can never play his computer games because I tend to hog it with work stuff).

I cannot tell you how excited I am about my new purchase.  It’s supposed to arrive via DHL today and I’ve already checked the tracking information 4 times in the last hour and a half.  A few minutes ago, a bus drove up to pick up my elderly neighbor and I just about jumped out of my skin thinking I was hearing the DHL truck.

If it doesn’t get here soon, this is going to be a Very. Long. Day.

Ok, I know I’ve been wordy today but before I sign off I have one more thing to say.

I freaking hate Facebook.  It used to be a neat, normal, SANE program but now I wish I had never signed up.   Today I’ve been knighted, poked, super-heroed, warbooked (WTH?) and petitioned.

And I thought MySpace was annoying.  Somebody please make it stop …

Wordpress is refusing to upload pictures for me today.  Irksome, as I had lots that I was planning on sharing.