Tag: Christmas greetings

Anything But Syndrome-Again. ABCC

by barbstruestories, posted in Anything But Syndrome (ABS)

In the not too distant past, along this blog path I penned a piece about my experience with Anything But Syndrome (ABS) .  Today, a quick note to say, I am experiencing ABS once again.  Specifically, it is a case of ABCC-Anything But Christmas Cards.

It’s not all me though.  Technology conspires to throw up such barriers to my efforts that if you follow the thing to its logical conclusion, it’s no wonder ABCC is the result.

Background in brief

Still in good time to send cards

  • Decide to send Christmas cards-still have some time.
  • Look up address list-currently part written, part electronic.
  • Find addresses that are different for same person/people.
  • Decide to update and consolidate list into one electronic database (aka time-consuming).
  • Find electronic addresses are not synced across devices-iCloud, shmyCloud.
  • Start troubleshooting (hah, as if) to find why devices aren’t synced.
  • Two other adult family members start to help.
  • In the end it still doesn’t work and then one device has duplicated all its addresses.
  • In trying to fix it, a certain Luddite deletes some addresses completely.
  • Set it all aside for a week.

Start to feel a case of ABS coming on.

  • Do we have Christmas cards?  Dig throw boxes (takes more time).  Find some-hooray!
  • Tackle the address list again-look up things on Apple forums (understand 2 words in 6).
  • Set it aside for a week (the deadline for mailing has come and gone).

Conclusion

  • Call Apple Support-very helpful.  We do things to erase the address book with glitches and reinstall and presto, it works!
  • It’s now one week to Christmas, our address list is not all in one shiny new database, it’s a hodgepodge.  There is potential though-it will work when someone spends the time to update it all.
  • The cards, envelopes and stamps sit out on the table.
  • Outside the weather is alternating between freezing rain and snow.  Forecasters and traffic reports recommend that, if possible, stay home today.

Good day, methinks, for a case of NBCC.  Nothing But Christmas Cards.  Speaking of which, I should go.

ABCC 

Christmas Greetings and IT Solutions

by barbstruestories, posted in Christmas greetings, Observations

It’s That Time Of Year

The above is a line from one of the many Christmas songs we hear on the radio at this time year.  For many of us this time of year is filled with shopping, cooking, visiting and sending greetings to family and friends.  The tradition of sending Christmas cards has waned from years gone by but it is still ever so nice to get mail that isn’t junk or bills.  That said, at this house we’ve left it too long to do much in paper-at least anything that would be on time, so I thought I’d do something in the electronic media.

You’ve Heard of Drug Interactions.  

It is my experience there are adverse technology interactions.  Just as you shouldn’t take drugs together unless you have gained knowledge of the expected outcome, the same goes for using too many new-to-you programs, websites, mouse clicks and such in any one project.  Anything that says “easy to use” is likely not.  If you have questions about taking drugs-ask your lovely, knowledge and trusted pharmacist.  If you have questions or problems about mixing the instructions of one program with the information from another website-you’re pretty much on your own.  Frustrated and on your own.

Off I went, then to do something simple but hopefully a little creative for our Christmas greeting.  I used the Movie Maker/Xtranormal site to make a little movie.  That wasn’t too bad.  I’ve used it before. Then I thought I’d try to find some stationery.  I found Pages on my iMac and played around with the templates and found something that could work.  

When Is A Download Not A Download.

Linking the movie into the Christmas message shouldn’t be a problem.  I add links to this blog all the time.  Not so.  There should be standardized ways of linking-world wide standards.  If we can all agree on the shape of a stop sign, surely the way we add links could be standardized.  Add to that my inability (until I read Q&A’s and chat forums) to effectively download the movie in a reasonable format and well, let’s just say, I was feeling challenged.  I was to not simply download but it had to be a HQ Download..oh yeah…well what’ s that?  And there was something about an MP4 file-remember I’m the one who still owned the now-recalled 1st gen iPod and now there’s MP4?

All’s Well That Ends Well

Here’s the Christmas message, ultimately.  I will spare you the Pages document.

Breakthrough IT Solution!

When I stepped aside from full-time work earlier this year, one of my special gifts was from an IT colleague who was more than aware of my IT (in)abilities.  This gift sat next to my computer desk.  Good think I had taken a picture of it before embarking on the Christmas message-it’s gone missing.  My husband mentioned something about removing from the computer area, any objects that might be used to pummel technology.

Universal IT Problem Solver
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and May All Your Technological Efforts Be Effortless in 2012!  Please tell me I’m not alone.