I finally got myself some computer time last night and I did it! I worked on a design for a special client and even had the chance to start the re-design (again!) for this site. Won’t be too drastic I don’t think, the format will stay the same, just different colours, etc. I need some colourful and uplifting for spring, that’s just around the corner. Even though I am on the computer all day long at work, it’s not the same as being at home and doing stuff that I find entertaining and invigorating. Designing makes me feel better. Makes me feel like I’m good at something, even if I am completely Mickey Mouse compared to others out there.

I’ve grown up around computers. My grandpa, dad and uncle are all IT and programmer people. My dad gave me my first computer at 13 years old. My very own. I remember Christmas morning, waking up and staring at the HUGE package under the tree trying to guess what it could be.

I was shocked and elated to open it up and find an IBM 386 - used but it was glorious. I was in love. I remember the blue screen, the ugly font and horrible colour. The thing never had internet, nor was it compatible for anything. I could type a report and print it on a PC at school and play choppy boxy games.

I couldn’t have been happier.

I think just about everything I’ve learned about computers, programs, designs, etc. I’ve self taught. It’s been hit and miss and lots of trial and error, but it’s just apart of me. It’s in my blood.

My husband on the other hand?

He’s the only person I’ve ever met that has the ability to wipe out an entire hard drive with one key stroke. Computers and Mike have a relationship comparable to oil and water. Scratch that, not computers and Mike - electronics and Mike.

His macho attitude makes it impossible for him to accept that something may just be OPERATOR ERROR. He insists every. single. time. that the electronic is the culprit and it’s simply just a piece of crap.
Exhibit No. 1: The Surround Sound

Two Christmases ago, I bought him a new surround system. Save you the details, he assumes the system is cursed because it’s finicky about what bootlegged movies it will play.

Exhibit No. 2: The desktop computer - Just over 2 years old 

The computer and the internet are out to get him. He insists that everything should be lightning speed and and lag time means “This computer is fuckin’ garbage. We need a new one.”

Exhibit No. 3: My iPod

After insisting and insisting, I finally gave in a let Mike take my iPod out-of-town with him since he’s been driving about two hours one way. I was cool with it and didn’t think anything of it. At the time.

My beloved (old and perfectly fine) iPod came back Wednesday night. I was so happy to have it back and not have to listen to the horrible radio anymore. I docked it in the transistor in my car as I contemplated what to listen to first.

Then nothing.

I searched and searched and there was nothing there!

I mean nothing.

My iPod was wiped clean of any and all media.  (Thankfully he hasn’t gotten anywhere near my iTunes or I’d really be pissed since that’s where all the songs are saved.)

Mike strikes again, and I can’t help but laugh no matter how frustrating and completely annoying it is that he gets so mad that I’ve even thought that he could have done something wrong.

He’s denied any wrong doing at all; he turned it on and pressed play and everything just *poof* disappeared.

“I didn’t do anything!” he whined like a kid trying to lie his way out of trouble, “It just disappeared! I didn’t do it, it’s the iPod. It’s a piece of shit.” as he walks away muttering to himself that I should stop wasting money on all this crap that just keep breaking and I have no idea what I’m doing when I buy this shit.

[I have a feeling I need to invest in an external hard drive for all my design work before it just magically disappears when the craptacular computer just crashes. ]

Got anyone in your family who is completely incapable when it comes to electronics? What’s the worst thing they’ve done and refuse to accept that it may be them, not the electronic?