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So, I'm having a crappy day. As many of you may or may not know or care, I've been hard at work finishing off Being Christina Chase to please my three fans, even though two of them have given up all hope that the story will ever be finished.
For reasons yet undetermined, I lost all of last night's work, which amounts to about 4000 words or so. Let me say that this is frustrating. The kind of frustrating that makes you want to go in the back yard and beat the hell out of an armadillo, not because the armadillo did anything wrong, but he was just looking at you funny. So you beat the hell out of him. I'm not saying I'm proud of that.
Not that it would make me feel better, but I would like to know exactly how the data loss occurred, so I could prevent it from happening again. I have three concurrent backup systems. None of the backups have the lost data. As near as I can tell, the program I use for writing, which auto saves work, never actually saved anything. So you can understand why this makes me frustrated and nervous.
I have no excuse for being up the armadillo. In retrospect, that was uncalled for.
Comments
What word system do you use?
Sometimes in M$Office, if you restart the system and then open the document, you get a tool bar on the left side asking what you want to do with the files they saved when the system went down.
Depends on which one though.
I think Open Office from Google? freeware works close to the same, but haven't messed with it.
Scrivener
I use a program called scrivener. In spite of the fact that 4000 words, which I shall never ever say in the exact same order ever again, are now gone forever, and I'm beginning to live with the bitterness that this causes, I wholly endorse this application.
It has never failed to autosave documents before, and without conclusive evidence, I'm not ready to blame this program for the specific data loss.
You know what they say, when life gives you lemons, blame a defenseless ethnic group.
I use scrivener, too
It's great for organizing multi-chapter stories with outlines and notes.
I also use Google Docs, Pages and even Word.
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
Not surprising
Armadillos always look like they are looking at you funny. On the other hand, maybe they have a good reason.
;-)
I wanna go home with the Armadillos
Good country music from Amarillo and Abilene
The prettiest women and the friendliest people you’ve ever seen.
London Homesick Blues
Performed by Jerry Jeff Walker
Sir Charles Panther
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
Firstly
You are like a breath of fresh air. I am so pleased to see you back with us. I'm sure that there are more than 3 fans; you must have at least that many in the US alone, without us Brits as well.
Secondly, you only need one word as an excuse for a backup failing - computer. Computers, as we all know, are over-grown calculators, run by an over-priced virus and designed by an over-paid megalomaniac (offence not intended - although...)
I've come across this problem before. Your backup system was probably designed by the person who got rid of my e-mail program, address book and 2 years worth of addresses, instantly and without so much as a 'by your leave'.
C'est la vie, as they say across the channel from us.
BTW - I'm a fully unpaid member of the WAPCA - the World Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Armadillos.
BTW2 - the other way to backup is to e-mail the file to a friend - guaranteed to work intermittently and fully in accordance with Murphy's law.
BTW3 - Whoever said that Life was fair?
Regards,
Susie
I could say something about armadillos and explosions
I could say something about armadillos and explosions, but that could get messy in a hurry.
I'm so sorry to hear about your lost work, but I can empathize. Several years ago, I had this insane idea that hard drives were infallable, that they always worked, and that nothing bad would ever happen. I had years' worth of old poetry, short stories, ideas, pictures, all saved to one hard drive. And then lightning struck my house, completely out of the blue.
Everything was completely gone, and completely unrecoverable. I've never trusted computers since, and I'm ultra-paranoid about making multiple backups.
I know that doesn't help at all, and I wish I could offer some explanation as to how it could've happened, but I'm still trying to figure out why MS Word sometimes doesn't want to save changes.
Again, really, really sorry to hear :(
As for the 'dillo, they're nature's punching bags. Give 'im hell.
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Armydillos...
I heard they were pests... But then, I've heard that about me too.
I feel for your frustration... Having lost work myself (I'm talking about the stuff I get paid for, as well as my writing), I understand the paranoia one gets into with the multiple backups.
Now, as to the 4,000 missing words. Are you sure you're not so stressed out over finishing this thing for lil ole me that you've started dreaming about writing it? If the stress is that bad, I'll take back my request that you finish the story (I hope he doesn't notice the fingers crossed behind my back). I don't know how I could forgive myself if the stress of writing for me were to cause you troubles.
I think I'll go and take a long walk in the freezing rain, just cause I'm worried that I may have prompted uber stress on you.
Annette
P.S. I heard that Armidillos are eatable, but I dunno by who.
That sucks
I know how you feel. I did the same thing, only it was my fault. I punched the don't save button and deleted an entire chapter of some story I was writing. I couldn't remeber what I wrote, except for the general theme, which is why I dove the car off the cliff into the dynamite factory. Luckily I use a MAC and haven't had any problems since, Arecee
armadillo hate
Why all the armadillo hate? Just because they are kinda ugly, still its in a nice way. They are dumb as bats and blind as a door nail, and just run around with their noses to the ground, but won't hurt you unless you are a tasty bug and leave 'em alone. If you mess with them they do have some sharp claws, however.
Now computers on the other hand are malicious and vile. Whack on them.
(Armadillo is edible, but not all that tasty, and you need to clean them real well. Usually they are made in to a very slow cooked chili and, of course, taste like chicken. Also they are about the only creature, besides humans, to get leprosy, but it doesn't seem to have much effect on them.)
I bet that stuff is in there somewhere, Admiral, and the 'puter is just hiding it from you for it's own reasons. Good luck
Joy, Jan
Your other thrid fan speaks, the one who can't spell or type gud
Don't beat up a poor defenceless armadilo, use a laywer. They also can be quite tasty but are the Devil to clean.
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
Armored Rats
Once upon a time there was a man named Juan. Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. He was such a good man that his friends suggested he should run for office. After some consideration Juan decided they were right, so he entered the next election for city council.
Juan ran a clean campaign, because you see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. He was such a good man that he easily won the election and became a city councilman. He was able to do a great deal of good for the city, so much that his friends encouraged him to run for mayor. Juan decided they were right; he could do much more good as mayor.
Juan won the mayoral election by a landslide because you see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. As mayor he was able to accomplish even more, and as his term drew to a close his friends suggested that it was time for him to move on to even greater things and run for governor. Juan realized they were right, and so began to prepare for the gubernatorial campaign.
This was a different level of politics, but Juan rose above the pack and was soon the front runner. You see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. His goodness shone through for all to see and he became the governor of the state, which prospered under his leadership.
After his term as governor was up, Juan decided, with the support of his friends, to run for the United States Senate. As a senator he would have the power to do even more good, not just for a town or state but for the whole country. Of course national politics are rife with influence peddling and other unsavory things, but none of that affected Juan because, you see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. The people rallied to his cause and Juan was elected to the United States Senate, where he went on to accomplish many, many good things.
By now, Juan had amassed quite a record of doing good, but as his senatorial term drew to a close he realized there was still more he could do. As President, he would be able to not only lead the nation, he could influence the entire world. With his friends firmly behind him, Juan entered the race for President. It was a brutal race, and his opponents launched numerous attacks in an attempt to smear his good name. None of it stuck to Juan though because, you see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. It soon became clear that he had the support of the people and was a shoe in for his party's nomination, and after that would almost certainly win the office of President.
Then one day a man named Guido came to Juan. He said, "Juan, you are a good man. You don't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. I represent a powerful conglomerate of influential people, and we just can't afford to have a man like you as President. We want you to pull out of the race. If you don't, I'm afraid I will have to shoot you with my golf gun."
Juan considered Guido's threat very carefully. He certainly didn't want to be shot with a golf gun, but he felt that he couldn't let himself be frightened by such bullying. You see, Juan was a good man; he didn't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. He told Guido that he was very sorry, but he just couldn't let anyone scare him away when there was so much good he could do.
Guido shook his head sadly and said, "I'm very sorry to hear that. Juan, you are a good man. You don't smoke or drink or cuss, yell at the wife and kids or beat the armadillo in the back yard. I really don't want to hurt you, but I'm afraid I must."
With that, Guido reached into his coat and pulled out his golf gun. He aimed it at the now very frightened Juan and ... oh wait, you do know what a golf gun is, right?
No? Well, neither do I, but it sure made a hole in Juan!
Scott (I didn't create this, I merely share the joy ... don't hurt me!)
-- Moliere
Bree
The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
-- Tom Clancy
http://genomorph.tglibrary.com/ (Currently broken)
http://bree-ramsey314.livejournal.com/
Twitter: @genomorph
Scott, that was sooo bad, a true shaggy dog story
As to the 'beat the armadillo in the back yard', if you do it in public, aren't you at risk for being arrested for lude and lascivious conduct?
John in Wauwatosa
John in Wauwatosa
As one of your three fans...
...please believe that we're nearly as heartbroken as you are about this. Nothing to compare to how the armadillo feels of course, but you--we're right there with you. It's a tragedy of epic proportions.
I too use Scrivener and haven't yet had this happen to me (knock wood--I hope this isn't just vinyl laminate over particleboard...) but if it ever did, I think one thing I might eventually try would be DiskWarrior. It sounds like it could be a case of file system corruption, which DW is very good about finding and fixing. It's a long shot, but hey, you never know. DW has saved my bacon on more than one occasion.
Hm, I bet armadillo tastes much better if you wrap it in bacon before cooking.
Just a thought.
That SUCKS
I'm sorry to hear about the loss of all that hard work, AK. it sounds like you've been 'plagued' ;)
A.A.
Armadillo football
Due to the fact they readily go into a ball, I assume that they would make good footballs when the real things are not available.
Please ask the armadillo's permission before using it for sporting purposes or you might give offence.
Hugs
Sue
Before you beat the armadillo ...
plug in AC/DC. Iron Maiden, etc. and turn the volume up to 10 - or 11 if playing Spinal Tap. THEN beat the armadillo ... to the music. You will shortly be stress free, the armadillo will think he/she just got a really good massage from Angelina Jolie/Brad Pitt (well, their armadillo equivalents), everybody wins.
BE a lady!
Beating the Armadillo ...
... is illegal in seven states, three territories and two Canadian provinces. And it's frowned on by most mainline Christian churches. Muhammad would have doubtlessly forbidden it if he'd ever heard of armadillos. "Herd armadillos." said the Buddha, "only if you own a Welsh Cattle Dog."
If you listen closely to the left-hand track on "Dear Prudence," you can hear George Harrison gently beating a B-flat treble armadillo. Ringo had taken all his corgis and gone home to sulk.
Bush the Younger kept a sweet armadillo in his cabinet for just such occasions. He knew that no great zydeco recording is ever complete without an armadillo solo. Bill Clinton played the sax so Hillary had to squeeze his armadillo for him.
In Soviet Russia, armadillo beats you. So the next time you're invited to beat the armadillo in public, just ask yourself, "Giant, Nine-banded or Pink Fairy?"
Hugs,
Erin
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
= Give everyone the benefit of the doubt because certainty is a fragile thing that can be shattered by one overlooked fact.
armadillo
Just give the poor critter a case of Lone Star and he will be fine.
For the record, I am a BIG fan of Christina as well
Hell's Bells and Armadillo Shells!
O.K. I have to admit I did start reading B.C.C. when you first started way back when, however, at the time I had other things which drug me away and upon my return I saw all the additional chapters, and well, I cringed.
It takes a bit of time and work to get so many chapters together into one cohesive file for reading on my PDA offline, so I tend to not pick them up unless the mood hits me, which it did recently and thusly, once I put all 44 chapters together and started reading I couldn't put it down. You have another fan who encourages you to keep up the writing and don't let the armadillos get you down. While you have tended to gloss over the times in the city during Chris' male phase, which kinda seems like a bit rushed and shallow, you have created some believable characters and touching moments that brought me to a few tears at times. Keep up the good work and I look forward to more when you are able and can keep the armadillos from sabotaging your computer.
Beverly Colleen
www.bevsbalcony.org
**********
I am a leaf on the wind, but someone turned the fan off.
I'm aghast at how you harmed an unarmed armadillo...
... Still I heard their scraped-out shells can sometimes make a good Charango.
You are a truly great writer Krunch.
You *lose* more words than many of us can write and not only do all of your multitudinous fans come out of the woodwork for the occasion, but lo and behold, because of your heartfelt tale, the poor Armadillo now has more fans than you do.
XX
AD
Armored Dildoes
There was never a cuter nicer more docile little creature than the armadillo yet it seems redneck pickup truck drivers seem to think they are good sport. They have all that armor because they have not much else going for them as a means of protection. In fact I do not know why women have not evolved with scales and armor plate on them to protect them from redneck pickup drivers since some of them seem to think women are there for sport as well. I'm finally reading "The moon is a harsh mistress" and like the way women are treated with respect, women initiate all contact.
Back to aramdillos though, they're nice little guys, give em a break, use your brakes.
Armadillo's
Leave the poor Armadillo's alone, Next time hit your head against the wall, it's a sure fire way to remember to back up properly, and not to depend on the computer to do it.
Computers are only as good as the brain using it
ELIZA
ELIZA