Philadelphia, Here We Come!

The Philly skyline view from Don's rooftop deck (Don's head is bottom right)

Only one day to go until my trip to Philadelphia!

Just to refresh your memories, I will be visiting my friend Don McK. in Philadelphia for five days next week, starting Monday.  Pat is flying down from Toronto on Tuesday to also spend time with me and visit Philly, which we both love.

My Travel Buddy, Pat

The original purpose of my trip was to spend time with Don to show him how to use his new iMac computer.  Last month I took a day trip (with the Old People's Express bus) to Philly to visit Don.  At that time I guided him in his purchase of his first Apple computer and getting hooked up to FIOS through Verizon. However, I didn't have enough time to show him how to use his new computer.  In fact I almost missed my bus coming back home here in Delaware.

Don at the Apple store in Philadelphia (Don on the right with the scarf looking overwhelmed)

Since I returned home I've talked to Don several times on FaceTime, giving him some basic instructions but nothing beats one on one instruction.  Plus I wanted to spend time in Philly, my home and workplace for many (over thirty) years.  During my conversations with Don I found that his co-op has a suite available to rent for guests.  I was gong to do one of those Air BnB things but staying in the same building with Don is better yet.  And to have Pat join me, for More Adventures of Pat and Ron.

So, next week will be one of personalized instruction from me to my longtime friend Don.  Ironically, Don is the person who introduced me to computers back in 1986.  I headed up a research project at my new job at the new bank where I got a job after being job eliminated at Mellon Bank.  My friend Don was job eliminated a few weeks after I was canned.  Don was an accountant and I certainly could use his expertise.  I hired him to work on the project with me.  When he came aboard he was appalled to see that I was keeping records with those green columnar pads.  He suggested using a computer, and the spread sheet software Lotus.  And folks, the rest is history.  

The way I WAS keeping the books at my new job before Don showed me a better way

However, since then Don never got much past the stupid and user Unfriendly Windows based computers.  It is now my turn to return the great favor my friend Don did for me.  It's all good folks. 

Life is good.

Me yesterday after doing a little yard work (very little) on a beautiful late November day in southern Delaware

New Computer Up and Running

My new iMac computer in the box - no towers and only one cord - what would Bill Gates say?

After two hours on the phone yesterday with Apple support, crawling around on the floor of my home office sorting out dust covered wires and trying to figure out what went where, my new computer is finally up and running!  Hallelujah!

I've been dreading "the setup" ever since I ordered my new computer.  In fact, that's one reason I hadn't ordered a new computer before, because I knew I would have to clean out a place for my old computer (which I will continue to use) and setup my new computer.  But when my old computer kept getting hung up more frequently last week, I decided it was Time.

Transferring data from my old computer to my new computer - the infamous Blue Bar

Actually, setting my new computer and transferring the data from my old computer was very easy.  Apple makes things that way.  Obviously Apple has a different view of its customers than does say  . . . . um . . . Microsoft or any of the Windows based computers like  . . . . um Dell. Raise you hands anyone who likes the latest version of Windows 8.1 . . THE TILES.  But I digress.

The tangle of wires - some aren't even hooked up and I have no idea what they were for but I'm not touching them

Transferring data from my old computer took about 14 hours.  Hey, I have over 85,000 photos and videos.  Even though the transfer took a long time (to be expected) where I ran into a snag was setting up my new time capsule backups.

I wanted to keep my old computer and its own time capsule backup and then set up my new computer with its own time capsule (Airport) backup.  That's where the call to Apple support came in.  Seems I had to set up a new network.  

I.DO.NOT.KNOW.HOW.TO.DO.THAT

I called Apple support and, as usual I got through without any problems.  They recognize my phone number and greet me by name.  Imagine Microsoft or Dell doing that. Ah, but I DIGRESS again.

The first few people I talked to were fine.  But the problem came when I was transferred to the department that specializes in setting up the Time capsules.  "Juliette" came on the phone.  Right away I detected a heavy Indian accent.  That sing-songy Indian accent. Maybe pleasing the ear in general conversation but when giving instructions on how to set up a network?  Not so much.  

The two Time capsule backups and my expensive monthly rental modem from Comcast (got to keep those profits coming in so Comcast can buy more media companies)

I don't want to torture you with the details (I was tortured enough yesterday) but I was on the phone with "Juliette" for almost two hours, crawling around on the floor, hooking up wires (ethernet, power cords, et al) and creating that new network to run through my new Airport time capsule. Don't ask me why I had to create a new network.  "Juliette" told me but by then my head was hurting so much trying to translate the instructions she was giving me to set up said network.

Old computer setup in new location - I can now sleep easy knowing that my photos are backed up all over the place.

So here is the bottom line folks, both computers are new setup.  Both have their own Time capsule backups. And I have a new, speedier, slick, impressive, awesome, huge, outstanding, sexy boyfriend computer.

My new computer setup and ready to go (iPhoto naturally)

I got the biggest and fastest (and most expensive - less money for that assisted living facility that probably awaits me in the future) computer that Apple had for sale.  And I'm loving it folks!  

Life is good.