Cautionary Tales

I'm offering a brief cautionary tale. I ordered some anitspyware based on the recommendation of a trusted acquaintance and it turns out the thing majorly screwed up my computer. Bit by bit, I'm getting it back under control but it has just been a hellish nightmare with a hair stuck to it. So, all I can say about that, at least until I get my refund back in my account, it to do your research into a product before you purchas it. Don't rely on word of mouth. The product may not have damaged their computer but it could damage yours. I learned the hard way that many of these companies are focused on sales and not concerned with the consumer's outcome. It took me a week of badgering and threats to smear their product on every writer's site and every other place on the net I could find that allowed people to post comments. That finally did it. Will I receive my refund within 7 days? That remains to be seen. We shall see. I'll keep you posted.

I'll be participating at the end of season party at The Romance Reviews site. Sounds like it's going to be oodles of fun with contests and all sorts of goodies. Wouldn't miss it for the world!

It's One of THOSE Days

Have you ever had one of those days? You know the kind I'm talking about. The kind where everything you touch turns to crap. Yeah, that's my day. It started yesterday, actually, when I purchased a software program that was supposed to do a "SUPER" job at preventing and removing spyware. NOT. I've been plagued with a frozen system, the inability to shut down unless I unplug and remove the battery, and whenever I try to do much of anything on the laptop, it freezes. I contacted customer service and virulently let them know I was dissatisfied with their product and then went out for a little retail therapy at the local thrift store that has a huge wall of used paperbacks. I came home with a huge bag filled with books, plus a few old movies for my VCR. Yup. I still have a VCR. I feel better, even if my computer is 100% after the customer service reps suggestion of something to try. So far, the screen hasn't frozen but I still get that black screen that says the computer needs to check one of my disks for consistency. WTH is that? It certainly wasn't doing that until I downloaded the software. Sometimes I just want to shout to the heaven's WHY ME? But it seems the powers on high always answer: WHY NOT YOU? So, I've learned that lesson well over the years...don't make it a challenge. So, maybe part of the issue is resolved because so far the computer hasn't seized up. Still, I think I'm going to demand my $$ back and uninstall this dog of a program, then do a system restore for a few days before I bought this program. Then I may take a nap. It's been one of those days.