Money doesn't grow on trees, especially when you're job hunting. So when I'm given a gift card or even a small bit of money, I save it like crazy. Okay, more like unhealthily hoarding it.

For example, I got a Steam gift card the other week. Now, I've wanted to purchase new games for ages to pass the time between writing job applications. There are so many good looking games out there. Unfortunately, I'm picky when it comes to my games and money nowadays. I only spend money on games with replay value. That's it. If I can't keep coming back to a game and enjoying a new experience, it isn't worth the money to me. Especially if it's over $15.

So when I got home and entered my code into my Steam account, I excitedly surfed the shop for something new to play. I referenced my wishlist and looked at all recommendations. I was even about to buy a few. Then that damn little voice in my head said, "Wait! You'll regret it."

"But how could I? It's got great reviews!" I contested.

My conscious was unwavering, "No, you'll be bored of it in a day. Forget it."

Thus, I didn't buy any games. It's always been like this. I save all my money for a day where I desperately need it, even though it's usually money I've been waiting to use for something specific. I remember saving my lunch money in college thinking there'd be a day when I really needed it to go out or something. This was despite the fact I was starving between classes all semester and that I never went out on the town anyways.

So the gift card sits unused and unloved. I still return to games I love with replay value. The Sims 3 is always a favourite and can be different each play through. I've also found myself a fan of Kitty Power's Matchmaker on Steam. The British humor and slang gives me waves of nostalgia.

Still, I wish I weren't so prudent and responsible with my money. It'd be nice to have fun for a change.

Dana~

I'm not sure what changed, but all of the sudden my lovely desktop gave up on me. I first noticed that my security software wouldn't load... I could click on McAfee all I wanted, it did not want to open. I thought that was weird so I opened my task manager. Task manager wouldn't open. I got very scared. Extremely so. Thus, I rebooted hoping that would fix things as it usually does (Windows memory leak and what not). Everything looked fine, booted to my desktop like normal. However, task manager still wouldn't open. Neither would McAfee. Uh-oh.

Now normally if a piece of software stops working, I write it off and uninstall. You can't do that with security software or the task manager. One is important for protecting my computer while the other is literally a part of my computer's OS. I knew I was in trouble, so I Googled like crazy. Many people said it might be a virus, just run your security software. Well, McAfee wouldn't open so I had to solve that problem first. The online consensus was that my Java needed to be updated. So I tried that. It spent 10 hours installing before I gave up. For hours after that I tried to do basic trouble-shooting until I decided I would have to run a System Restore. I've done it before, and in general it works like a charm. So I selected a day that it was working and let it do it's thing. I waited and waited. My computer wouldn't finish logging off. It was in a loop for three days. I finally gave up, forced it off and rebooted to the desktop. It didn't finish the System Restore, but it hadn't changed anything either. I realized that I would need professional help. And no, I didn't need a therapist.

I figured it would be a virus removal or something simple. Maybe the hard drive might need to be wiped. So I tried to pop my 32GB USB in to back up files. Uh, nope. It wouldn't recognize it. I started to sweat now; there were files I hadn't backed up in a while. Important writing. Game saves. Gulp. Then I realized, I still had access to my web browser. Google Drive was my saviour. I uploaded anything and everything I could find that was of any importance. However, after about five minutes of uploading, my Windows Explorer would crash. No, not Internet Explorer (I was using Chrome to upload), but the file explorer that allows me to view my documents and pictures. The task bar and start button vanished. Double uh-oh. Was this going to be more expensive than I thought?

To rescue my files before my computer completely died, I had to keep force rebooting every five minutes. Once Windows Explorer crashed I couldn't access the files. It was a pain in the butt to say the least. Eventually I salvaged my files and called a repair company. I dropped my tower off a day later and prayed that they could save it. I couldn't afford a new $800 desktop.

The very next day, not even 24 hours after I dropped it off, the tech called saying he'd fixed everything! He even replaced my old security software, gave me a bunch of new protection and computer health programs as well as updated all my installed software. He even got my computer to finish all pertinent Windows updates, ones that I couldn't do for years as it'd force my computer into a death loop. When I got it back, he showed me everything, talked me through the new software and showed me that my favourite game was still operable. He even opened the hard case and explained where everything was and what I would need to do when I was ready for a hardware upgrade. This tech went above and beyond; the service was exceptional and very reasonably priced! After about five days of using it, he even texted me to check up on it and answer any further questions I had. Honestly, if you have any computer problems and live in the Lower Mainland, call TSG Computer Services.

My much loved desktop is running better than ever and I couldn't be happier.

Dana~

I admit it, I'm very spoiled. I've traveled all my life, been well-taken care of and received various expensive gifts. The latter of which includes my new tablet. Now, I know..."You already have various electronic things. Many of them with screens and Internet access! Why on Earth would I need another?" I sort of asked myself that question when my parents proposed the idea last month.

My parent's Kobo eReaders were on their last legs. Not to mention their last, proprietary charger that even the manufacturer refused to sell.  Dad loved his Kobo, he's been an avid reader his whole life. A trained speed reader to boot. I'm a speed reader as well, but no where near his capacity. He can finish a few hundred pages in a few hours. Before ebooks were a thing, we had an entire room in our townhouse devoted to books. Paperbacks and hardcovers were squished together and lined several floor to ceiling bookcases. Then one day, we had to move out of that house and downsize. Mom said the books couldn't come with us. Dad had to pair it down to one bookcase. My father was of course, devastated. But around the time we realized a move was in the cards, both Mom and Dad discovered Kobo. They purchased each other an eReader for Xmas and I have to say, that probably softened the blow of the move for Dad.

However, it's been more than three years since then and their Kobos, which were faulty and poorly designed to begin with, were finally dying. As house techie, I was tasked with the job of finding a replacement. My reward, Dad said, would be a tablet of my own so I had to pick carefully. I didn't really mind and I didn't need a reward; I was pleased to search for something to make my father happy.

I looked at the newest Kobos first, considering Dad wanted to keep his vast digital library. They all looked fancy and had similar features to the other competing ereaders. Unfortunately, they were plagued with similar or worse issues than the first generation models my family already owned. Mom wanted something that would last; she also wanted more capabilities. Also I had heard good things about the Kobo Android app, it functioned quite well and would let my father retain his library.  So I looked at Android tablets.


A year prior to this, I had done the research and helped my mom pick out new phones for all of us, going with the Google Nexus 5 as it was always one of the first to receive Android updates, something our prior smartphones lacked. So currently, my parents were both used to Android 5.0 Lollipop. They knew how to navigate it and make things work the way they liked. I figured a tablet on Lollipop would be the best choice for their comfort level. Eventually, we settled on the 8" Samsung Galaxy Tab A and we went to our local BestBuy to take a look. Mom went all out, after we all agreed it was the right tablet she pointed to the cases and then the styluses. She got the warranties and protective coating for all three tablets. The sales associate was ecstatic. He even gave us a discount for buying so much at once.

So now I have a tablet. I love the look of it and it's functionality. But I'm not quite sure what to do with it. My father said I should try the Kobo app, and I will. But I really think I can do more with it. It's got the power of a small laptop and I have a feeling that with the right Bluetooth keyboard, this could be my best friend for sudden writing inspiration.

Time will tell.

Dana~

So, I may not have discussed this before, but I'm an avid Simmer. This may not be a word most people know, but it's basic definition is a person who plays a lot of "The Sims 3". I've been playing for about four years now mostly because it's a great way to tell stories and create characters. Whenever I have writer's block, playing Sims always gets my creative juices flowing.

Now, back in Canada I had a pretty decent desktop. It had an Intel i5 processor and everything. It ran "The Sims 3" really well. Well enough that I added so many mods it wasn't funny. I liked to be able to alter the game and my stories to my whim. It was great. Unfortunately, I had to leave my desktop behind when I moved to the UK. I had a hard time coming to grips with the fact I was going to lose my favourite creative outlet. Then I realized I could install the game on my Macbook Pro! I thought this was the solution I needed.

No. Nuh-uh. Not happening. Yes, the game installed. Yes, it ran sort-of-but-not-really-fine. My issue was that the mods barely functioned. Modifications that normally caused no lag, forced the game to a slow crawl. Then there was the custom hair glitch. Half of my properly-installed custom hair styles never load, no matter what trick I try. I had a method to get them to load (Load game, check hairs, close game, delete caches and reset mods, restart game), but even now that has stopped working.

I am very irked as many of the glitches have made me feel more annoyed by my hobby than happy. Things have gotten a bit stressful and I always used to turn to Sims...but now it too is a struggle. I guess I'll just have to keep fighting with it on a day I'm not frustrated.

Dana~