computered out

Last week was a series of mis-haps with the computer. It started with the router going bad, so that only one computer can be online at a time. Not a huge inconvenience right now, but it will be if we don't get it fixed (we are getting it fixed).
Then on Wednesday, the computer that I use for all things scrapping, simply stopped connecting to the internet. I was having troubles connecting with GDS (the first and sometimes only site I connect to--which was having their birthday celebration), but then figured out that I couldn't connect to any other site, so I called my ISP (I had to call my mom for the phone number ). After troubleshooting, they determined that my expired internet security program was the problem (DH was supposed to fix it; I thought it was fixed MONTHS ago. grrrrr!!). So I called Norton, and they told me how to uninstall it (because I wanted to install the new one). I called my ISP again, and they "pinged" my computer, and said the old firewall was still there, and to call Norton again to help me remove it from the registry. So I called Norton, and they walked me through the registry removal. I called my ISP again, and they said the ping still wasn't going as fast as it should; we tried safe mode and it worked okay, so they advised me to a system restore. I did it back to 9/1, since I know my internet worked then. It didn't fix it. So then I had to do a System Recovery. Before I did it, I backed up all my photos, documents, and games onto my EHD (didn't take that long, cuz I normally put them there anyway). Then I wrote down all the programs that I need (you know, PSE, ACDSee, etc ) and did the system recovery. It worked! joyous day.
The first thing I did was get online with IE (which I detest), and download FireFox. So I install it, and sign into my email, and that's when it hit me. I forgot to save my bookmarks. It was almost midnight, and I just sat there laughing hysterically, knowing that if I stopped laughing I would start crying.
But despite that, the story has a happy ending. I did save my bookmarks from when I switched computers, so my bookmarks are only 6 months old. *insert heavy sigh*
So I went to bed (it was almost 1am by them). The next day (Thursday) I had to re-download and install all my programs and FireFox extensions. I thought they were all done, except for MS Office, since I wanted to check out the festivities at GDS before I did that. During a chat at 1pm, I discovered that PhotoShop Elements was not opening, kept saying something was wrong with the library and then closed. After 3 calls to Customer Support, I finally learned that the download version of PSE doesn't play well (at all) with Vista, and I would need my install disc (which I lost ages ago and didn't think I would need again). They offered to send me a new install disc, since I knew my serial number (thanks to my meticulous notes previously), and I said sure, but hung up thinking I would have to drop out of the Supreme Team contest. 'cuz if you can't scrap, you can't show off kits, now can ya?
It was later that night, and I was chatting with one of my online friends, kattyzak, and she asked why I didn't just go over to my mom's house to scrap, and I explained that mom's in WA and I'm in Kentucky...and then as she typed her response, I realized what she was saying, and I slapped my forehead. Duh! My friend Jessica lives in town here, and she uses the same program I do (she bought it as soon as she found out how much I love it)...so I could borrow her disc, and use my serial number!!! yay!!! Kattzak saved me!!! So of course I called Jessica the next day (Friday) and she was able to bring it over on Saturday.
I was further upset to find out that ACDSee's info did not magically stay on my computer, so the 6 gigantic folders I had organized...I have to do all over again. sheesh!
Anyway, it all worked out. I was able to complete my page for GDS Supreme Team contest. Here it is:

credits here

The announcement was made on Tuesday night that I, along with 69 others, am in the next round. KattyZak is also on the list. wahoo! So I better get scrappin. Those are some really talented ladies!