Sunday, March 21, 2010

Story Time: A Tale of Wish and Will

Once upon a time, there was born a set of twins named Wish and Will. They were both loved and adored and given the same opportunities; both well-liked and funny and smart. Both Wish and Will wanted the same things, but only Will ever got them.

This made Wish very angry, and he cried to his therapist, “It’s not fair that Will gets everything, and I get nothing. He’s not any smarter than I am.”

“No,” Wish’s therapist agreed.

“And he’s not any funnier.”

“Definitely not.”

“Then why is it that he’s able to get anything he wants?”

“Because,” said the wise old man, “he doesn’t just wish it to happen; he wills it to happen.”

The End.

Moral of the Story: Be a willer and not a wisher.

Bad habits die hard. I must say “I wish…” a dozen times a day. (Notably, this is in regards to students. “I wish those monkey-headed morons would get their act together and fill out a simple form correctly. How hard is it to follow instructions?”) I figure this sort of wishing is pretty benign. There is no changing the students. They’re just monkey-headed. And if the forms were any simpler, they’d be blank. But I’m plenty guilty of wishing other areas of my life.

“I wish I were married,” “I wish I had kids,” “I wish I had an iguana,” “I wish I were thin,” and “I wish I could write a book in a month!” have all come out of my mouth at one time or another. It should be noted: none of these things have come true. Thank God, in most cases. Especially about those kids, am I right?

However, I also know that the reason that these things haven’t happened is because I haven’t made them happen. Sure, it is possible to date religiously, court the right sort of men, and still not manage to end up married; however, I am not that girl. I hate dating; I love the wrong sort of men; and surprise, I’m not married. If I wanted an iguana, I could just go out and buy one. He’d probably be an excellent security guard. The first burglar who came in my house and was greeted by a honking ass iguana wearing a pirate hat would shit his pants. If I really wanted to be thin, I’d skip nightly rendezvous with Breyer’s and eat more veggies instead of pork fat.

It’s the way of all things. Wishing isn’t enough to make it happen. You have to make it happen; and people make the very things we wish we were doing happen every single day. And in all regards except one, we’re no different than those other people. We just need to be willing rather than wishing.

What are your bad habits in writing? What do you wish you could do? What have you wished for that you’re glad you didn’t get?

126 comments:

2nd Chance said...

My bad writing habit...making promises to myself that I don't keep. Having great enthusiasm and then letting it pitter out without taking full advantage of it...

Is wishes were horses, beggars would ride...

I also set unrealistic goals...

Let's see, I got four weeks until I fly to MN to meet up with Jane, if I eat nothing for the next 28 days I can lose 30 pounds... Right.

hal said...

My bad habit right now seems to be pushing writing to the bottom of the priority list. Just the other day, I thought, "I wish I had enough time to write every day." Then I realized I do, I'm just doing all sorts of other crap with that time. It's a matter of priority -- I'm either going to write every day or I'm not.

So...Here I am, up at the butt-crack of dawn when I'd rather be sleeping, and I am going to WRITE four pages before I go to work.

And then I'm going to do it tomorrow and Wednesday and....you get the picture.

Awesome blog, Hellie - I needed the push!

Bosun said...

BTW - You want an iguana? I never saw that coming. Tell me this is not from the chick on Marriage Ref who loved her iguana a little too much.

Bosun said...

I wish I could get past page 100 and STAY THERE. *sigh*

I also wish I could lose 30lbs but then I had a pint of Haagen Daas for dinner last night. (This simple 5 ingredient chocolate. OMG! It was so good. I'm trying not to think about the suggested "3.5 servings per container" bit on the back.)

Ultimiately, I wish I could be cooler and smarter. Neither thing I can will into being. I mean, I did the college thing. I don't feel any smarter. And cool I will never be.

Donna said...

I needed this little push too. :)

I also think Wishing is a good thing, because it drives the Will part of things. The ole "if you want it bad enough" comes about because you wish you had something in the first place. It's a motivator. :)

And then look out, world, there's gonna be a lot of Willing Women!

Julie said...

I love the wrong sort of men; and surprise, I’m not married.

That should be “I love the wrong sort of men; so THANK God , I’m not married!”

Bosun said...

I think my worse habit is saying "Someday." That is the procrastinator's favorite word. I'll get to that someday. I'll finish this book someday. I'll lose weight someday.

I guess I need to be a TOdayer instead of a SOMEdayer.

@Donna-love the Willing Women! LOL!

Hellion said...

2nd: I've set unrealistic goals for myself many, many, many times. In fact in my NY's resolutions goals, I had down that I'd write 50 pages a month, when I'm rarely able to write that many pages in a month. So I scaled it back to 30 a month, which I do (and sometimes more) more consistently; and I feel like an achiever rather than a loser.

Yeah, I have got to stop eating. I want to go to Florida in June. I mean, I'll still be going to Florida in June, but I'd like to do it thinner.

As for your enthusiasm, it comes back around. *LOL* No worries there. *LOL* It's hard to harness enthusiasm to write actual pages. I always think the enthusiasm part is for the Einstein "dreaming-what-if" part of writing.

Hellion said...

Hal, yes, the bottom of the priority list!! (That was me this weekend. Saturday I read all day--and the most depressing book, let me just say, brilliant but depressing--and Sunday I cleaned! Cleaned! Housework! I was using a toothbrush to scrub the hard water scale off my kitchen faucet. I am the ONLY person living in this house. Why the hell would I care about hard water scale?)

I'm not sure I could drag my ass out of my bed to write at 6 am. Though many writers do and they say it helps against the whole internal editor getting there to make you stop writing crap. Your brain is too asleep to be that negative yet or something. *LOL* So there is a plus to it.

But if push came to shove, I'd do it.

Kudos to you for doing it though!!!

Donna said...

@Julie -- LOL about Thank God she's not married so she can love the wrong men.

Bo'sun, I'm SO stealing the TOdayer instead of a SOMEdayer (well, assuming I can remember I've stolen it! LOL) That is a very good motto.

Hellion said...

Bo'sun: Breyer's Triple Chocolate. It's like the three best men rolled up into ice cream. There's the white chocolate Prince Charming layer; the boy-next-door Milk Chocolate layer; and the Bad Boy Dark chocolate layer. (GUESS which flavor is my favorite.)

I am getting dumber by the day. It would alarm me more but I'm now realizing it is true that stupid people don't know they're stupid. I'm mildly aware I'm getting dumber, but I still think I'm intelligent...which is how I know eventually I'll be completely stupid and never realize it.

Of course you're cool. You're a pirate.

And you better keep your 100 pages. Geez.

Julie said...

“I wish I had an iguana,” People who say this have never had to smell lizard poop, let alone clean the stuff up. My DD has lizards … OMG
“I wish I had kids.” People who say this have never had to smell their kid's lizards lizard poop ... or clean up the crappy messes that their kids get into. OMG LOL!

Hellion said...

I like the iguanas at the Cayman Islands too. I've always thought they were sorta cool: like a washed up rock star who's smoked and drank too much. Still think he's cool, giving slitty eyed stares and proudly wearing his wild hair style. That and they stick their tongue out all the time, and it gives them a sarcastic look about them. *LOL*

I should probably stick with cats though. Iguanas would find my house too cold; they'd be miserable. Cats would be fine.

Hellion said...

Donna, I can see that Wishing is the first step--then Wanting--then Willing. But a lot of the time we never leave the wishing stage. And for a lot of things, that's fine. But if it is something important, you have to realize you need to move to steps two and three.

I think men would love it if the world was filled with Willing Women. *LOL*

Hellion said...

Jules, *LOL* that's true, it really should be "Thank God, I'm not married." *LOL*

Hellion said...

Someday is an insidious word. *LOL* Definitely to be avoided at all costs.

You get that a lot of Weight Watchers, where you "blow" your diet the first day and then you want to start again next week. They try to break you of that all-or-nothing thinking. I think we get that way about writing. If you didn't sit down and write 10 pages today, you're a bad writer and so you wait to sit and write when you have enough "time" to write 10 pages. Never mind that you've never sat and written 10 pages at once in your life. You should just sit and write what you write, whether it's 10 or 1 pages.

Hellion said...

Donna, that is a great motto, isn't it?

Bo'sun, stop one-upping my blog, wench, you're blogging tomorrow!

Hellion said...

Jules, I have babysat several times in my life...and I've been to Walmart, so I knew quickly kids were not for me.

Did not know that about the lizards. Good to know. Okay, I no longer wish I had an iguana. Jules talked me out of it. I mean, I don't have a cat because I think the litterbox is disgusting...if the lizard is worse...

Donna said...

Hellion, you're SO right about getting stuck in the Wishing or Wanting stages.

And the same with the all-or-nothing thinking. There are so many little pockets of time during the day that I could use to accomplish the things on my To Do list. But I think, "I have to wait until I have a WHOLE DAY". Yeah, right. Like I'm going to do something for a whole day! LOL

Bosun said...

Technically, Scuttlebutt is blogging tomorrow. I hope.

So this weekend I decided I WANT to lose weight. Really. And I'm determined to go back to thinking positive. I got away from this for a little while but now I'm BACK. And one thing has looked up already.

This all means I'm not WILLING to do the pilates again. I mean, I can do them right there in my living room. No added effort of leaving the house or even putting on special clothes. This WILL happen tonight. By golly.

I do love the iguana/rock star analogy. I totally see it. It's like the lizard version of Jack Sparrow! (But I still don't want one, even before Jules chimed in about the poop.)

Donna said...

Yeah, Bo'sun, I pretty much decided early on in life I wasn't going to have any kind of critter that required me to clean up after their um, bodily functions. :)

And the spring weather has motivated me re weight loss. I'm not trying to squish into a bathing suit or anything. I just want to be able to squish into my tank tops and jeans without feeling like I'm going to explode at any minute and put somebody's eye out!

hal said...

okay, so...I sat down to write. I tried to write. I got about 200 words up...

And then I couldn't think of anything else to write.

Booo.

But, I will WILL myself to keep plotting and keep trying to write (because really, sitting down at the keyboard and thinking about the plot is actually progress, as much as it doesn't feel like it!) every morning.

Eventually, the words will come back, right?

hal said...

and I’ve been to Walmart, so I knew quickly kids were not for me.

LMAO!!!!

Bosun said...

Donna - I have a cat and a hamster, so I'm cleaning up, no worries there. But the litter box doesn't bother me. Unless he goes while I'm at my desk and makes my eyes water. But I have these nifty air fresheners that usually work wonders. :)

Did someone say bathing suit? Don't make me jump off the side. (Though then I'd need a bathing suit so that's totally counter-productive.)

I just want to fit into my clothes. And not look like a Jabba the Hut (sp?) in all the conference pics again.

Bosun said...

I have a kid and I still had this feeling at Walmart yesterday.

Hellion said...

Donna, EXACTLY, since when have I spent the WHOLE day doing anything. I don't even spend the whole day eating--and I've come close to at least doing that.

In women's magazines they're always going on about cleaning your house 15 minutes at a time. *LOL*

Hellion said...

Does the whole ship need to go on a diet? *LOL* I guess we can report in our diet logs with our writing logs. *LOL*

Hellion said...

Bo'sun, I need to do my yoga again. I actually put my yoga mat in the car. It is my intent to do yoga tonight after working out on the elliptical.

I've been doing some yoga stretches at home this week, but it's not quite the same as a class.

Hellion said...

For the love of God, Bo'sun, you have never looked liked Jabba the Hut in any photo!

Bosun said...

I've changed what I'm eating already (except that ice cream slip up) but now I have to get my arse moving. So maybe it should be an exercise log?

Good for moving the mat. You willed it into the car!

Hellion said...

Hal, the first day is always the hardest. 200 words is a page, which is a page more than you had. Once you start doing this regular and your brain becomes aware you're serious, you'll be pumping out more pages. You're doing great!

Bosun said...

Yes I have. I bet I had five chins in that one PJ took. Horrible. HORRIFYING!

Hellion said...

I willed it to the car! *LOL* Half the battle, right there...

Bosun said...

Hal - That's 200 words you didn't have last night! Baby steps are still steps forward. That's what I tell myself anyway.

hal said...

Yes, baby steps! Though I don't think it was actually 200 words. More like 115. Oh well :)

hal said...

I'm debating a pole dancing class after work today.

Donna said...

A pole dancing class? Where you get to watch Hotties practicing? :) Or where you have to do the actual work yourself? LOL

(The answer will help me decide whether I am going to WANT or WILL. LOL)

Hellion said...

Hal, you're not allowed to gangbang on your own writing quota. You got up, you wrote, you accomplished your task. You'll write more tomorrow.

*sighs* I wish I could pole dance. I mean, this is on the same ground as the iguana wish because technically I don't want to exercise enough to be thin and muscular enough to whip my body weight around like they do. Plus the bruising!!

hal said...

gangbang your own writing quota....

oh my god.

hal said...

ah, the bruising. It's been like 8 months since I did it. I stopped last summer because I clearly did not have the upper body strength to go any farther (seriously, who can lift their body with one arm? Who? Besides body builders and, apparently, actual strippers).

But alas, I have no more upper body strength than I did last year (possibly less, actually). But I gotta do *something* to get into shape, and I sure as hell am not going to run.

Donna - watching hotties practice would be SO much more fun (though possibly just as hot and sweaty) *g*

Donna said...

Hal, your 115 is technically 200, because you ROUND UP. :)

Bosun said...

They have a new gym near my house called Studio Rio. I considered trying a class, but I'm too intimidated. Plus, I think the pole might start to cry if it saw me coming. LOL!

The rock station morning show tried it and there's a funny video of them on the site. http://www.studiorio.biz/

Bosun said...

I do believe the Quota Gangbanger needs to be on the drink menu.

And now I'm wondering if I could life my body weight with one arm. Hmmmm...prolly not.

Marnee Jo said...

Hellie - this is great. Willing, not wishing. I wanted to write (wished I did) for years in my early 20s. I always said, "Someday I'm going to write a romance novel." But there was always something else to do. I was working a lot. I was going to school. I was dating. I was busy.

I finally got to a point where I decided I was going to do it instead of wait for the right time to do it. There isn't a right time to spend an hour or more a day writing. There is only now. (there is no try, there is only do.) LOL!!

This was a good reminder. I'm off and running again as of last night after a pause of a couple of weeks to evaluate my hero's motivation.

That triple chocolate ice cream sounds awesome, ps. I need to check that out when I hit the store today. :)

Hellion said...

Bo'sun, that video is hilarious!! And I want to take a class, though I would never look that cool. *sighs*

We don't have classes that cool here. Damnit. *LOL*

You should try it once. Just to see. They're not going to make you do chin ups your first day.

hal said...

and just for reference, in my class, no one looks sexy like those girls. We look like normal women spinning around (and falling off) the poles. No fishnets or leather boots :)

Donna said...

Hellion, I thought you do chin-ups with a towel bar. You know, the kind yesterday's Hottie has. :)

Hal, I would love to see "normal women" spinning around in the pole dancing class. Even if I would be too shy to do it! LOL

hal said...

dude. I cannot do a single chin-up or pull-up. I can, however, manage a few push-ups, but that's about it.

hal said...

Donna, there was a woman in my class in her 60's. She's put on a cute tennis skirt and shimmy right up that pole. It was amazing to see. If I can still climb a stripper pole at 60 I'd be shocked.

Hellion said...

Hal, you'll get your upper body strength back. Just start doing chin ups. *LOL*

Hellion said...

Marn's bringing out the Yoda lines! *LOL* Yes, there is always something "better" to be doing. Writing is sorta like virtue: it's its own reward, which isn't enough when you're wanting different things from it, like a publishing contract, fame, popularity, and lots of money.

The chocolate ice cream is the bomb. Definitely try some.

Hellion said...

Donna, don't even pretend you're shy. We won't believe you....

Hellion said...

Hal, that IS reassuring. *LOL* I'd prefer a class where I was not expected to show up in fishnet. I'd rather do something a little low-key until I'm fishnet worthy.

Bosun said...

Okay, I may try a couple classes this summer while kiddo is gone. No where to put her at this point and watching mommy attempt to spin around a pole is probably not a good idea. Too embarrassing for the both of us.

She's still bitching about how I started that conversation last week. We've yet to continue it.

I vote for chin ups! The kind Donna is talking about anyway. You know, if you work push ups into that, it's like a double workout. Just sayin'.

Hellion said...

I vote for chin ups! The kind Donna is talking about anyway. You know, if you work push ups into that, it’s like a double workout. Just sayin’.

I hear knee push ups are a little easier to do anyway.

Hellion said...

If I can still climb a stripper pole at 60 I’d be shocked.

Now that's a goal.

However, my Dad was still able to do "skin the cat" manuevers in his 60s, so I can see it. Skin the cat is done with a pole, so to speak, but not a stripper pole. And he could do chin up until he was about 70. Crazy. Now he does well to hobble around outside and not fall into a gopher hole, but still, for 88, he's good.

Donna said...

*blushes*

*runs away*

*runs back*

Ah, hell, I'm too afraid I'm gonna miss something if I leave!

Sin said...

The partying started early I see. Fifty-seven comments already. Holy fck.

I've got to tell you, if you have a honkin' ass iguana in a pirate hat and boots running up to me as I walk into the apartment, not only am I going to scream bloody murder like a girl, I'm going to start kicking and karate chopping until it goes away.

Now, WTF was the original question. The iguana made me forget. Now you have me all paranoid.

Bosun said...

LOL! Dirty talk is addictive. Who knew?

I'd love to say I could still twirl around a pole at 60. You know, that's a pretty good goal. That's going on the Bucket List!

I'm just starting my list. Did you gals know there's a cruise that leaves Boston, goes over to Europe and returns in 35 days? A THIRTY-FIVE DAY CRUISE TO EUROPE!

Oh yeah, that's ON THE LIST!

I shall WILL this list to happen.

Julie said...

Ah, hell, I’m too afraid I’m gonna miss something if I leave!
You will miss something if you run away ... its called Life.

Sin said...

Ooooh bad habits. I have those in spades.

I wish all the fcking time. I wish this and I wish that. And I wish on a falling fckin' star that I'd wake up and everything would be just as I planned it.

I've yet to wake up from light slumber to anything I've wished for. Wishing for shit is a waste of my fcking time and I dunno why I keep doing it.

And there are plenty of things I've wished for that I haven't gotten and I'm glad I didn't. Can't imagine how much more sht I could've fcked up if I'd gotten what I wished for on more than one occasion. Lives, situations, people. I am a clusterfck of wishing nightmares.

Wishing and willing myself to write. It's more of a will than than a wish. I spent a couple of years wishing I had more time only to realize wish in one hand and sht in the other and you're going to realize that wishing doesn't get you sht.

I wish I could write like I used to. I'm willing myself to do it. There is no reason I can't write 10k in a month. There is no reason I can't write 25k. If I will myself to do, I will. There is no one standing in my way of writing what I want to write. Just myself. And while I'm a pretty big road block, I just have to find my will reserve and walk right past it.

Hellion said...

I am a clusterfck of wishing nightmares.

Could be worse. You could have wished for an iguana.

Hellion said...

And while I’m a pretty big road block, I just have to find my will reserve and walk right past it.

I think that's the biggest hurdle to understand: we're our own worst roadblock.

Sin said...

I ended up with a Matty.

Sin said...

Well, I've upped the ante for next month for me and made my quota 10k. We'll see if my will is stronger than my wishing.

Hellion said...

Matty does have some iguana like qualities. That thing where he sticks out his tongues and scuttles up when you least expect it.

Never mind what he does to the cats.

Sin said...

Just got done reading all the comments. You wenches were busy this morning. Loving the quota gangbang. Only something like that would happen here.

Sin said...

LMFAO
Scuttles up to you... LMAO

Bosun said...

Can a man that size scuttle?

hal said...

as long as you don't gangbang your quota *g*

Hellion said...

I don't care if Sin gangbangs her quota, so long as she doesn't delete it.

Hellion said...

He's done it. But I'm not the most observant person either, so....

Donna said...

You guys have been quiet for so long, I'm starting to get nervous! LOL

Sin said...

Sorry, I was busy trying to gangbang something other than fictional men.

2nd Chance said...

I vote for removing the delete key from Sin's keyboard.

Quota Gangbanger it is! Though there could also be Quote a Gangbanger, but it probably would be as good.

The Jump on It for making those wishes into wills.

And men might not like willing women if they are willing something the men don't wish fer!

Pole dancing, pilates class? I'll settle for a good walk everyday, graduating to a job and let's toss in some bike riding...

2nd Chance said...

Lunchtime for the east coasters...getting up late for the westers...only me, I think. Damn, some really f*cked up nightmares just holding on to me this morning. I hate waking up in tears.

Hellion said...

It is nerve-wracking when we go quiet. Clearly we're not up to any good.

Hellion said...

Is your doc downloading porn again?

Hellion said...

Sorry for the bad nightmares, 2nd. I hate nightmares.

I mean, I don't mind the "funny" nightmares, where I'm pregnant, but don't care for the ones where family members die.

Sin said...

Chanceroo, that is the only thing wrong with being a visual dreamer is that nightmares seem too real and too hard to let go. :(

Hellion said...

2nd: Sin's more clever than you. You can remove her delete key and she'd just open a blank document and retype the story the way she wants it.

Sin said...

No, the DR has gotten the point finally. It took both me and Disco telling him to stop clicking shit he had no clue what he was clicking on. Porn, golf, guns, I don't give two shits. STOP CLICKING ON IT.

2nd Chance said...

I kept waking up just enough to understand what was going on and kept trying to change it...no go. Just woke up with tears trickling down my face. I hate this. I just couldn't take it away from the feeling of misery... No one died, just things with my bro and sister...

Damn. I need to get out and expose the face to the sun, see if I can banish the remnants of this yuckiness...

Sin said...

hehehehe, I am devious. There's a slight difference, dearest Hells.

Bosun said...

I love that part of Chance's exercise plan is to graduate to a "job". :)

Sorry about the nightmares. I rarely have them, but when I do, they rattle me something awful. I've been a confirmed scaredy cat my whole life. Don't see that changing anytime soon.

If you're going to take away her DELETE key, you're going to have to take the BACKSPACE too.

Sin said...

Really you'd need to take the arrow keys away with the INSERT button as well. There are all kinds of ways around the backspace/delete keys, kids.

Bosun said...

Okay, we need to find Sin a keyboard with letters and numbers only.

Hellion said...

Good luck trying to give Sin a computer low-tech. She'd delete if she were writing with pen and paper. It's called scratching it out and then setting it on fire.

Sin said...

I've been good lately. Don't tempt me into thinking that I need to revert back to my old ways.

Sin said...

Bonfires are really the only way to go now-a-days.

Hellion said...

You have been really good, Sin. Of course, now *I* am the one deleting all my crap.

Bosun said...

Me too! Though I really want to find a way to rewrite and replace instead of slash and burn.

Donna said...

I am such a packrat writer. I have forty-eleven versions of everything on the computer because I can't delete anything PERMANENTLY!

It's a bitch trying to find out which document is the REAL one. LOL

Hellion said...

Oh, I packrat write too. I have folders within project folders that say things like: Draft 1, Draft 2, Draft 731, and Final Draft 27. I have folders for "EXTRA", et al.

But usually I'm working from one main folder, so anytime I slash and burn from that folder, it feels like I'm the Catholic Church trying to reassemble the Bible into something they want to show the world. "Ooh, which version of this part of the story do I want to put in here? Oh, let's do a Gospel version and have EVERYONE's version included."

Donna said...

LOL -- I love the Gospel version.

I actually have docs named "Leftovers", with stuff I took out but couldn't delete, and each one has that day's date on it.

As if I will actually be able to remember what is in that particular document by looking at the DATE! LOL

Bosun said...

I did this with the previous WIP, but I haven't done it with this one. Once I know I can't use it, and I'm sure I don't need it, it goes.

Huh. Does that mean I'm getting better or care less?

Julie said...

I have no bad habits.
*cough*
And I never delete.
I just send the shit in an email to SIN ... and she deletes it For ME!
DELETE *click*... DELETE *click* ... DELETE *click*... *click* *click*...

2nd Chance said...

Sorry, meant to go from walk to a jog! And Donna! Damn, I do that too! I have a bazillion versions of things, quirky named files and then I have to figure out what is newest and...

ARGH!

What we need for Sin is some keyboard that automatically sends her stuff into a vault...

Donna said...

I definitely spend WAY too much time trying to leave clues for my brain to decipher. LOL I could probably use a backup brain. . .

Sin said...

And nothing Jules sends me is shit, unless she's trying to convince me I'm comfy with my emotions. lol

Sin said...

I have one of those. It's called an external hard drive. LOL

Hellion said...

Bo'sun, clearly you're more well-adjusted than the rest of us who think think our shit doesn't stink. *LOL*

Bosun said...

I don't know, I think I'd rather have your swagger than think my stuff is disposable. LOL!

Speaking of external hard drives - Are these expensive, hard to hook up, and how do they work? Would it make sense to get one for my laptop or are they more for desktops?

hal said...

a back-up brain. God, that would be nice.

Would it come with a "system restore" function, so that whenever something sucky happened, you could just restore to an earlier version where that never happened -- THAT would be awesome!

Donna said...

Hal -- LOL -- I would LOVE to have that "system restore" feature. One button and everything is back to normal!

Bo'sun -- I'm wondering that about external hard drives, for laptops, too.

hal said...

But Sin would proally know better than me. I just do whatever Rob tells me when it comes to computers, and then bitch about how much he paid :)

hal said...

I have an external hard drive for my laptop -- the prices really vary by how big you want it, and if you want network capability (i.e., work wirelessly for multiple computers.)

For example, Rob bought one that was huge, and works on a network, so that any laptop in the house can wirelessly save to that drive. So I can save something on my laptop, and Rob can open on his, edit it, resave it, and I can open the same (edited) file on mine. Those are expensive (I think like $200 or so).

But then I have a little one that I carry in my purse, that has my whole laptop hard drive and my work computer hard drive on it, so no matter where I am, I can access my files. At that point, though, I'm just using it like a jumbo flash drive, which would have been cheaper.

Sin said...

LMAO. It depends. You can get small ones and you can get large ones. They make them for laptops (compact size, but come in sizes up to 1 TB) and they make them full size for desktops (which I think they are making up to 2TB now). They make them where you can network (which I would recommend if you're operating more than one computer in the house). I had a networking one (it's broken now in result of letting the DH move us with his barbarian friends) and I'm now looking into a compact one for my laptop. The compact ones are good if you're on the move a lot. Like I'd recommend it if you're working on the road a lot and don't have a chance to back up regularly at home. Otherwise, I think you guys would be okay with the full size (regardless if you network it or not) and they are cheaper.

Bosun said...

I just want something to back up my photos and word documents. So I wouldn't need anything big. Maybe I should stick with a large flash drive?

Sorry to have hijacked the blog. Let's say, I'm not WILLING to lose all my stuff and I know I'm pushing my luck. :)

Hellion said...

You guys are talking gibberish. It's fine. I need something to drink.

Sin said...

No. Flash drives are prone to bugs and small and easily lost in a move. A small memory external will do you well. 100 Gigs will go a long way with you and it shouldn't be too expensive. They are usually on sale at Best Buy. Go with a Western Digital My Book or a Seagate Free Agent.

Sin said...

Well, shit. I don't know if they even make them as small as 100 gigs anymore. Looks like 250 is the lowest. Which will last you forever. Or at least until the technology is obsolete.

hal said...

We've used the WD MyBook - that type of thing should work perfectly for general back-up

Bosun said...

Someone get Hellie an External Back-up.

The drink.

Bosun said...

Making notes. Thanks!

2nd Chance said...

Oh, good name for a drink. I'll add it ta the list.

The trick with the external harddrive is to remember to back up on it. Mine isn't automatic and I keep forgetting to do it!

Bosun said...

Best Buy has a 250G Seagate on sale for $50 with free shipping. I do believe I'll make the purchase.

hal said...

that sounds like a good deal to me, Ter.

Yeah, like I said, my external hard drive is in my purse. You can imagine how many times I actually remember to plug the damn thing in and back up to it (i.e., not rarely). Thank god the home one is automatic!

Donna said...

Speaking of backup. . .let's back up a bit here.

There's a LIST of drinks here? I think I need to see this! Bartender! Some menus!

Bosun said...

Oh, there's a list. We should probably post that somewhere in here, now that you mention it.

Julie said...

Terri, I have a Seagate Free Agent. Not only is it a nice unit ... but I can honestly say "Why Yes... I dooo have an Agent!" LOL

2nd Chance said...

Donna - What kinda bartender would I be if'n I don't have a list? It's long...'bout 50 some... ;)

Donna said...

Julie -- LOL -- love it.

Chance -- 50 some drinks. Whew. I better start training, or I'm gonna get left in the dust.

2nd Chance said...

I'll send you the list and you can see that mostly, we stick with about a dozen and some are special occassion drinks. Like when Terrio graduated...

Hellie said...

I still think we should post the dozen or so most favorite drinks as a page.

2nd Chance said...

I can send the list to everyone and we vote...