I can finally exhale. I have been in agony for the past two weeks.

[frankly_fedup2]

I FINALLY am back online. It's been a horrible two weeks.

My Dell Computer (warranty runs out 12/9/05) will not turn on . . . like no power. Then maybe a day and a half later, it acts like it is trying to cut itself on. I go over and hit power, and then everything came up fine. Anyway, I had left that computer on and it finally died. I called DELL and waited on hold for 57 minutes and no answer. Going to try again Monday.

Then my mother-in-law's computer would not let her online. She brought it over and I was able to get online; however, she only really likes to play on POGO. Well guess what, that was the only place online that would not connect. So I went back in and did some searches and then the next day, no longer can get online. Two days I have tried everything. I fell asleep last night sitting in my chair in front of the computer. My dog woke me up and I could hardly move my neck; however, I immediately started working on her computer. I have done this all day today. It's almost 10 p.m. now EST.

I became so desperate for my online fix that I pulled out my old Windows 95 IBM Aptiva Computer that I bought in 1995. I borrowed my mother-in-laws ISP and information and here I am. It's unreal how fast the websites download (I have DSL with my DELL for $60 a month. I think I'm going to have that cut off). The screens are different but still wonderful.

Anyway, I'm finally online, totally worn out, thrilled that I am online, and have learned a scary thing about myself. I am totally addicted to the Internet and especially DU. I haven't been watching much news because I have been trying to fix computers and then the holiday and my husband took off this last week. Finally I'm back and I just wish I wasn't so tired. I haven't even eaten today, my nerves have been shot, but I continued to strive for that connection. I'm an Internet junkie. Literally a junkie because I had some very similar withdrawal symptoms. Hands shaking, headache, not eating, eating only candy, chain smoking, stomach upset, no appetite, not sleeping and on and on. I cannot believe how bad I have felt just because I could not connect to the Internet. Sorry if I am repeating myself, but I am just so friggin amazed.

"Hello, my name is Carrie, and I'm an Internet addict." Maybe I should start an Online Internet Addict 12-step program. Obviously, everyone would fail (lol)

cya l8r. Going for a Big Mac my hubby brought me home to eat at about 6 p.m. for Dinner. I finally have an appetite. Yes, I will admit I am pathetic when I think about it, but I am so, so happy right now, and a little bewildered how much happiness I get from a machine.

[DainBramaged]

1. Power supply probably has gone bad. They will have to replace it.

How do I know? I've seen it before. But you haven't told us how old the Dell is either. If you have the in-home service, a local guy on contract will probably be out to repair it. Power supplies depending on case format run $30 when out of warranty. If not, pack it up and ship her out time. And $60 a month for DSL? I am so confused as to who saw you coming. SO many better deals out there.

Oh, remember this. You can always make more money, but not more time. With computers at $249 from Dell without a monitor, you could have bought a NEW one WITH CD burner while the OLD one was getting fixed and then transfered data between the two when they were both Healthy via cheap thumb drive (little USB device up to 2 GB for data transfer. Have one in my pocket now.)

[frankly_fedup2]

5. Thanks and you are exactly right.

It's getting power because I changed the power cord from the monitor and vica versa. It had completely shut its self off twice and I tried everything in the owners manual. Suddenly, my modem lights start flickering and the two fans in the back are trying to start up (happened in the middle of the night and scared the crap out of me.). All the lights to my disc drive, cd drive, and dvd drive were lighting up as well as all the lights across the right top of my keyboard.

I had this computer specially designed for $1600, mostly for audio and video use as well as Internet. I did pay for the extended warranty as well as the in-house service. These warranties run out on 12/9/05, so I have to get hopping on Dell.

As far as the DSL, it started out at $29 a month (Sprint). After a year's contract ended in July, 2005, they said that had not been charging me correctly and added $30 more on top of that. I live in a very rural area and we just got DSL a year ago through Direct TV and Sprint. At the time I looked at it, sprint made me the $29 a month offer which included Earthlink as my ISP. I had been paying a local company for internet service and they had been charging me $19.95 for dialup. I figured $29.00 and that included and ISP as well as DSL, I was getting a pretty good deal. They have been screwing me since July though.

I bought my Dell online two years ago. I picked out the software and everything I wanted on it. The reason I bought the Dell was because I had a Compaq laptop. I loved my laptop. I miss my laptop. Anyway, from day one I thought the laptop would always run hot, but they said as long as I was not blocking any of the fans, it was okay. Well, one day I cut it on and before I was on only 10 minutes, it happened . . .
the dreaded gray screen. I called Compaq because I had had this a little over a year; however, I did not buy the extra service package. my battery had cracked and fluid went on the mother board. It has a great display screen as well as the drives that I use to use on it. I just inserted the DVD-RW/R in when I wanted to record a movie or something. If I wanted to listen to a CD, I would remove the DVD and slide in the CD drive. You know what I'm talking about. Anyway, I have a lot of extra parts and drives as well as a display screen I'm told is worth at least $200. I've been planning on putting them on ebay but cannot stay offline long enough to prepare the picture, etc.

Anyway, I called Compaq because I was not sure if the warranty was up yet. Come to find out, my warranty had ran out just two weeks prior. I explained it all to the customer service rep. in India (or Pakistan), and he said there was nothing he could do to help me. I had paid almost $1800.00 for this laptop in just over a year, and the thing was already messed up due to hardware. So in the past 3 years I have had two brand new computers with windows XP, but here I sit on a 1995 Windows 95 Ibm Aptive that has worked better than both of them. This computer I am using now is 10 years old and never had a problem.

If I ever have to buy a new computer again, I'm going for an Apple.

I'm so happy to be talking to you guys again. :-)

[Redstone]

2. Ahem. May I offer one word?

Perspective.

Redstone

[frankly_fedup2]

9. May I offer a response Redstone?

Exactly how did you mean "Perspective?" Did you mean my view of my situation? That is what I thought perspective meant . . . to take a look at one's view on any situation (Their Perspective).

So I did a search and I have never seen so many definitions for one word.

We could really get into a discussion of symmantics with "Perspective." There are so many possibilities of which we could debate; however, I feel verbally you would probably bury me.

So to save time, I give.

Thanks for the jump start to my brain. Being offline for so long, and due to the stress that it caused me, my brain has been stuck on idle.

[Elidor]

3. Hi Carrie!

:hi: I'm an internet addict, too! I cut off the cable two years ago, but that just frees up more time for the internet. Admitting you have a problem is the first step. The second step is doing a ping test and seeing how you can tweak your connection for maximum speed! :evilgrin:

[frankly_fedup2]

6. Thanks Hardhead

I thought there would be other addicts out there like me. I'm sure some worse than both of us.

I have been online since 95 and the Internet gives me the World. My husband won't travel, but I go anywhere in the World online. I like to use Googles Sattelite pictures. They are not live, but you can go anywhere. I also like the webcams in different cities lik LA and Vegas and in New Orleans before the tragedies.

They have webcams at the Eiffel Tower as well as in Russia and even have webcams in small towns.

I even worked out of my home for 8 years doing medical transcription for local hospitals. My whole life has been online. (Adult life that is . . . well not all my adult life but the last 10 years and especially the last five.

I am so surprised at how well my old computer is working and it's 10 years old.

Keep the tips a coming please.

[Rowdyboy]

4. Viruses kept me off DU for 10 weeks this summer....I could see the

thread titles but couldn't open them. At first I was really bothered but eventually I accepted it and really didn't mind. Actually started accomplishing things around the house. Then I bought a new computer and once again, I'm addicted.

[frankly_fedup2]

7. Yeah, I've started some home project myself but never accomplished

really anything yet. Now that I Know I can get on, I fight between cleaning and cooking and Internet. Internet always wins.

But I also listent to Randi Rhodes on Air America and haven't been able to do that. I have a website I'm working on. I do a little research everyday, plus check out the Keanu Reeves websites to see what that hunka-hunka-male-GOD is doing. I just get in such a good mood when I look at Keanu.

Anyone here ever meet a celebrity?

[Rowdyboy]

11. Met George Clooney during the filming of "O', Brother, Where art thou?"

Met Brent Spiner (Data on Star Trek TNG) during filming of "The Ponder Heart". Worked with, but did not meet Jo Beth Williams in same film.

My partner and I were extras and both movies were filmed in the town in which we live.

[frankly_fedup2]

12. Were you and your partner fans of Clooney, Spinner, and Jo-Beth

Williams (she has been going strong since Poltergeist). Did you talk to any of them? Where they nice to you? Did they look the same as they do onscreen. To be an extra in a movie, don't you have to have a SAG card? If no, then after you are an extra in a movie, can you get a SAG card membership? Am I being too nosey? Just tell me "nunya" and I totally will respect your privacy.

I cannot imagine meeting someone who I am in total awe of (Keanu Reeves), and I'm a grown women, married, have an adult son (I had him young), and am a grandmother of a 2-year-old Angel. I'm in my middle 40's and I don't know if it is my age or what, but it's like, okay what is next in my life. I feel like I have no purpose and the years are going by faster and faster. I have so many things I want to do but there just isn't enough time or money.

Back to Keanu though, they that know him in interviews claim he is painfully shy. People that work with him claim they don't know anything more about him since they worked with him then they did before they worked with him; however, all of the other actors admire his work.

I would love to live in LA, but not in the city. I would like to live near it where there was only a quick commute. I hear it is really superficial. I have always lived in a small town and have never really been to a large city. I've also been told that you have to be street smart to make it in any city. I have common sense, does that count for street smarts?
Oh well, another pipe dream of mine. (My real dream is to travel the World). That is why I love the Internet. The World is available 24/7. I can look at Capri in Italy. I can watch webcams in Canada, New York's Times Square in real time. I can go to the Hard Rock in Vegas and watch the web cam in the casino or the webcam by the pool. I even found a kareoke bar in New Orleans a year or two ago that was live. It was like 3 a.m. on a Sunday night and all of them kept saying they were going to call in sick at their jobs for Monday but they didn't care . . . they were partying and having a god time. I just live for this stuff.

Sorry to go on and on but I get really passionate when I talk about my pipe dreams. :-)

[Rowdyboy]

13. I have no problem with any of your questions, but not much exciting to

tell. Rather than bore everyone else, I'll pm you with details.

[bigwillq]

8. Good to see you back on!

:hi:

[frankly_fedup2]

10. Thanks so much bigwillq. I have really missed everyone here, the

discussions, the thought-provoking debates sometimes, and reading the top 10 idiots. Plus, there has been so much going on politically lately, I just hate that I probably missed some really good stuff. :-)