Saturday, December 14, 2019
We have two desktop computers at our house. I have an all-in-one computer that I use for work. Nobody uses my computer without my permission, which is almost never. My computer has a cracked screen because one of my dogs knocked it off my table two years ago. I use an all-in-one computer so I can take it with me when I travel (although I have only traveled to the hospital recently). My all-in-one computer is difficult to transport with the cracked screen because it is easy to cut your hands on the crushed corner.
I had an all-in-one computer before I purchased this one and I really liked it. I gave up the ability to have two monitors, but I got relatively easy portability. It was a Dell and it worked very well until many of my programs quit functioning on Windows 7. I bought an HP all-in-one computer because it was the only one at Best Buy with a large enough hard drive to store my client files and I have never liked it.
The factory keyboard would not work properly, and their support was useless when I contacted them. I ended up purchasing a new keyboard, problem solved. The screen cracked for no reason overnight after I had owned it for approximately three months. That was not a problem once I figured out how to shut off the touch screen (a task I never figured out on my Dell) because the cursor kept jumping to the crack. Since the screen was already cracked, I did not freak out two months later when my dog jumped on my table, knocked off my computer, and shattered the top left corner of my screen.
I have been looking forward to the day, a few years from now, when I could get a new regular desktop with two monitors. That is not going to happen. Even if this computer died tomorrow, I would not spend the money for a second monitor knowing I will not likely be around to enjoy it for long. I would get the minimum processing I need and continue to split my single (large) screen to work on two programs at once.
The other desktop computer is a regular tower/monitor combination. It is the family computer, although since my older daughter, Megan, moved out in September, my younger daughter, Mika, is the only one who uses it much. Mika loves to listen to music on YouTube, play Roblox, and draw with the Paint program. We have a rule that Mika must quit using the computer an hour before bedtime.
Last night, Mika got off the computer at the correct time. I was already lying in my bed because Mika gets to stay up an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights. I thought Mika was playing with her toys for that hour as she does most evenings before she goes to bed. Until I got up this morning.
When I rolled out of my bedroom, I noticed the Paint program was open on my computer. I was prepared to give Mika a lecture about using my work computer and using a computer after her allotted time. Then I put on my glasses. Mika had created a beautiful I love you picture to start my day happy. My mood went from annoyed to grateful in seconds. Mika drew a picture of me (without my wheelchair) in one of the hearts with short hair, rolled up hands, and wearing black because it is my favorite color. Mika added blue because it is her favorite color. If that does not want to make you squeeze your child so tightly it hurts, I do not know what does.
My piece of advice to you is to learn when to bend the rules. Mika is a smart cookie. I am certainly not going to punish Mika for using my computer and using it outside of her approved screen time when she did it to create an I love you picture for me. Love trumps rules almost every time.
Until next time,
​Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.
We have two desktop computers at our house. I have an all-in-one computer that I use for work. Nobody uses my computer without my permission, which is almost never. My computer has a cracked screen because one of my dogs knocked it off my table two years ago. I use an all-in-one computer so I can take it with me when I travel (although I have only traveled to the hospital recently). My all-in-one computer is difficult to transport with the cracked screen because it is easy to cut your hands on the crushed corner.
I had an all-in-one computer before I purchased this one and I really liked it. I gave up the ability to have two monitors, but I got relatively easy portability. It was a Dell and it worked very well until many of my programs quit functioning on Windows 7. I bought an HP all-in-one computer because it was the only one at Best Buy with a large enough hard drive to store my client files and I have never liked it.
The factory keyboard would not work properly, and their support was useless when I contacted them. I ended up purchasing a new keyboard, problem solved. The screen cracked for no reason overnight after I had owned it for approximately three months. That was not a problem once I figured out how to shut off the touch screen (a task I never figured out on my Dell) because the cursor kept jumping to the crack. Since the screen was already cracked, I did not freak out two months later when my dog jumped on my table, knocked off my computer, and shattered the top left corner of my screen.
I have been looking forward to the day, a few years from now, when I could get a new regular desktop with two monitors. That is not going to happen. Even if this computer died tomorrow, I would not spend the money for a second monitor knowing I will not likely be around to enjoy it for long. I would get the minimum processing I need and continue to split my single (large) screen to work on two programs at once.
The other desktop computer is a regular tower/monitor combination. It is the family computer, although since my older daughter, Megan, moved out in September, my younger daughter, Mika, is the only one who uses it much. Mika loves to listen to music on YouTube, play Roblox, and draw with the Paint program. We have a rule that Mika must quit using the computer an hour before bedtime.
Last night, Mika got off the computer at the correct time. I was already lying in my bed because Mika gets to stay up an extra hour on Friday and Saturday nights. I thought Mika was playing with her toys for that hour as she does most evenings before she goes to bed. Until I got up this morning.
When I rolled out of my bedroom, I noticed the Paint program was open on my computer. I was prepared to give Mika a lecture about using my work computer and using a computer after her allotted time. Then I put on my glasses. Mika had created a beautiful I love you picture to start my day happy. My mood went from annoyed to grateful in seconds. Mika drew a picture of me (without my wheelchair) in one of the hearts with short hair, rolled up hands, and wearing black because it is my favorite color. Mika added blue because it is her favorite color. If that does not want to make you squeeze your child so tightly it hurts, I do not know what does.
My piece of advice to you is to learn when to bend the rules. Mika is a smart cookie. I am certainly not going to punish Mika for using my computer and using it outside of her approved screen time when she did it to create an I love you picture for me. Love trumps rules almost every time.
Until next time,
​Susanne
Please check out my GoFundMe page.