June 3, 2010

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in this issue

you never know what might happen

upcoming classes

backups & upgrades with technology expert Wendy Cholbi
bite the candy

a note from Cairene

laundry baskete

Earlier this week, my Time Disciples and I were talking about the comforts and unexpected benefits of routine maintenance. How the blog post you're stuck on can resolve itself while walking the dog. How epiphanies can arrive while doing the dishes. How focus can come from filing. How self-trust is formed through folding the laundry.

For me, maintenance activities are the complex carbohydrates that keep me from crashing after the sugar highs of intense work and creativity. They are opportunities to nurture space, safety and recovery.

And because of that, I find myself less and less inclined to put them off.

What about you? What happens when you do the laundry?

classes

backups & upgrades with technology-to-english translator Wendy Cholbi
You know you should be doing them. You want to do them. Join this special Bite the Candy session and get 'em done (finally) while having fun and gaining some technological confidence at the same time.

bite the candy
Bite through procrastination and discover the treats at the bottom of your to-do list.

private sessions
Struggling with a specific challenge or transition? Want to build on basic skills? If some one-to-one organizing would help, please inquire.

you never know what might happen

Recently, my resident computer technician (aka my Geeky Sweetheart - I am so lucky) attempted to install more RAM in my aging computer so it might operate a little more nimbly (you know, processing Geritol).

No go. Not sure why. Reasons are unimportant to the story.

What is important is what happened next: upon restart with old RAM, monitor displayed completely wacky colors. We couldn't decide for sure if it was the R or the G or the B that was missing - but whatever the combination was, it was sickly.

And that sort of thing makes one wonder what else is going wrong inside the box that holds your online business (nail biting moment there).

Thankfully, I still had my data and by the time I had backed everything up again (just to be sure, even though I already do it every day), the problem resolved itself.

Huh, we both said, scratching our heads while feeling grateful. (Shopping for a new computer is not something I want to be doing right now. But, Geeky Sweetheart really wants me to buy a new computer, so this whole thing began with me saying, "Don't you dare drop it on purpose!" When things did go wrong, he was one surprised but conflicted man.)

I don't pretend to understand how that was possible anymore than I understand how jets are able to fly. Computers, planes - it's all voodoo. Yeah, I know the air above the wings is moving at a different speed than the air below the wings blah blah blah. Just because Bill Nye the Science Guy says it's so doesn't mean I really believe it.

Working theory: we kinda froze something with the canned air in the process of removing the astonishingly huge dust bunnies (what Gary Larson once referred to as Dust Rhinos) from the underside of the machine. When it warmed up - all was good again.

Anyway, my point is this: you never know what might happen next. This is your livelihood, so...

Back. Up. Your. Data.

This is one of those crucial bits of maintenance you can't afford not to give your attention to.

• • • • •

Okay - true confessions - this is actually the story of something that happened last year. But my point remains as true as ever. And if you were nodding your head reading this, saying to yourself, "Yeah, I should really work on that. I could have had the same close call." - now's your chance.

Join me and technology-to-english translator Wendy Cholbi for a special Bite the Candy event all about backups and upgrades. More than the know-how, you'll get the focused time and support you need to get the job done. Finally. It all happens next Thursday. Check out the details here.

let's chat

Like what you've read? Have a suggestion? Got a question? Let's start a conversation. I'd love to hear from you - send me a line, comment on the blog, or follow me on Twitter.

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Unless otherwise attributed, all material is written and edited by Cairene MacDonald.
© 2010 Cairene MacDonald, Third Hand Works. All rights reserved.

Cairene MacDonald
Third Hand Works
PO Box 31113
Portland, OR 97231
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