Preparations for the Wool Show are going quite well, but this is my last day to make sure that everything is in order for the real work that begins tomorrow. The only thing which had to be done today is the printing of the competition applications and paperwork. My thumb is feeling better (still a little achy, but the bandage is history), and everything else is packed up and waiting to be hauled over to the barn. The printing wasn't supposed to take long, and Eliot didn't mind "helping". Honestly, his plan was to just "supervise" from the sofa while I did the actual work.
Everything was going along so well (I only needed to print the entry forms for the animal contest before finishing for the day) when the computer just STOPPED WORKING!
No matter what I tried, nothing would print! Argggggh!
Despite all my grumbling and protests, the computer just sat there. Quiet as a cat asleep in a sunray. And Eliot was no help. He never heard a thing. Asleep on the sofa! Arggggh!
WAKE UP! What are you doing?!
With his usual helpful attitude (I'll give him credit, he's never grumpy), Eliot came over to see what he could do.
His advice, you ask? "Broken? Buy a new one!"
Thanks, Eliot. Really helpful. Not.
Thanks, Eliot. Really helpful. Not.
"Okay, okay. Let's just "keep calm" here. Why don't you ask someone who really knows about these things -- like Jill?"
Jill is Islandshire's P.I. (that's Private Investigator) and president of the local mystery and game club, so she knows quite a bit about the techy side of life.
Jill is Islandshire's P.I. (that's Private Investigator) and president of the local mystery and game club, so she knows quite a bit about the techy side of life.
What a great idea! One quick call, and Jill came right over. What a relief!
Sorry for his earlier shortness, Eliot had been trying his hand at fixing the problem and was so engrossed in his button pushing that he didn't even hear us come in.
He was a bit startled (lots of emotion for my brother) when I tapped him on the shoulder and told him to let Jill sit down at the desk. His reluctance to let her in seemed strangely out of character.
He had an odd sort of look on his face -- like there was something he didn't want us to see.
Oh, great! Now -- instead of a printer error -- there was a blank screen! Oh, Eliot . . . Let Jill in . . .
It was obvious this was going to take a lot of work, and my "short day" was quickly fading. Somehow, Eliot managed to disappear, and it wasn't long before we heard the sound of his scooter running around outside. Jill took a deep breath and started concentrating, which seemed like a good time for me to get lunch started.
By the time I returned to the old Schoolroom, Jill had the computer rebooting. Eliot always knows how to get something fixed (call someone else in to work on it), and Jill was the perfect person for this job!
We held our breath as the computer came back on and the printing program opened.
Everything seemed to be working again, and I could hardly wait to see what happened when Jill hit the Print button. Yea! It worked! Job well done! While the rest of the forms printed, we enjoyed a nice visit with our lunch.
Jill stayed long enough to help me finish all of the printing and promised to see us at the Wool Show. What a relief to know that everything was ready and packed.
Just as quietly as he'd left, Eliot seemed to reappear when the trouble was sorted out. There he was on the sofa again, back to reading his "Memories of Three Reigns" as if nothing had happened. I took the opportunity of pointing out the advantages of fixing what you have instead of taking the easy (but not always best) way out and buying new. Eliot said "I suppose you're right . . . maybe . . . now where was I?"
Just as quietly as he'd left, Eliot seemed to reappear when the trouble was sorted out. There he was on the sofa again, back to reading his "Memories of Three Reigns" as if nothing had happened. I took the opportunity of pointing out the advantages of fixing what you have instead of taking the easy (but not always best) way out and buying new. Eliot said "I suppose you're right . . . maybe . . . now where was I?"
How exciting! Only one more evening to go before we actually set up for the Wool Show!