On Thu, 27 Nov 2003 20:50:04 -0800, "Brenda Hammond"
wrote:


LOL Really, my computer is used for the business and the kids are only
allowed on
it for sheer desperation - things they can't do on their own.

You're a smart one! Not letting the kids on your business computer. We
see
it all the time in our shop, people who run their own businesses and
their
kids are constantly using their computer to download music or junk and
next
thing you know their computer is SICK, SICK, SICK. Of course things like
this can be fixed, but it costs the customer time and money.

I learned the hard way, many years ago and it just about killed me (and
them).
Definitely wasn't worth the aggravation, so at that time we became a two
computer
family. Didn't take long before that grew to 3 ... then 4 ... then bro
moved in
and we became 5. G

Well, after being in the business we're in, I would never allow my child/ren
to use my work computer for their *stuff*

I'm not in the business of fixing computers, but can imagine what you deal with on
a daily basis. My very first home computer was purchased infected with the
Michaelangelo virus .. unbeknownst to me ... until that dreaded day in March when
I turned it on and found I had no operating system. sigh From that point on, I
got very good at reformating and reinstallation. g I can do it, but I still
don't enjoy it. I now do make sure that anything and everything important is
backed up at least on a monthly basis - probably should be a bit more often but I
can survive with inputting a months worth of data if I have to. And I am so anal
about it that I back up twice! I've had disks/cd's end up unreadable - will not
go through that ever again. LOL!

My DH spends most of his waking hours in his "room", repairing or making
things or being on his computer, reading newgroups. He's into
electronics
mostly, but also metalwork and woodwork at times. Repairs all kinds of
electronic stuff, from computers, motherboards to kettles, lamps, and the
kids magic wands! You name it, he can repair it! Needless to say, if
he's
not repairing stuff at work, he's doing it at home.

Wow, sounds like he has a tremendous amount of energy, I remember those
days. G
Hub used to do a lot of woodwork stuff, but now seems to enjoy relaxing
much more.
I think putting the second story on our house did him in, then gutting the
first
floor and totally redoing the kitchen and eating area added a nail to the
coffin.
The installation of the laminate floor 2 years ago finished him off. This
year he
finally hired someone to do the downstairs bath. We now tease him that
he won't
leave the house unless we put wheels on his recliner. g

Sounds like my dad. He's been renovating their house for almost 30 years
now. They never really did *finish* it, and they seem to make little
changes every few years. They are now going to do the laminate flooring
thing in the dining room, kitchen, hallway and bathroom. I'm sure once
that's done my mom will find something else for dad to *do* in the house!

We still have a lot to do, but will hire for the rest of it. All of it is repair
work (upstairs has had a lot of water damage due to leaking skylights). Skylights
will be boarded up and roofed over. I love 'em, but am unwilling to go through
the possibility of damage again. Hub always wanted to build his own home, guess
we did the closest thing possible without having to endure a costly mortgage by
purchasing a new home (our home is paid for - no mortgage, no debt).

I hope they can get it finished the way they would like it before they're
too old to enjoy it!

I wonder if anyone ever does? By the time one project is finished, something else
pops up. Guess that's the downside of being a homeowner. I now am finding that
since most renovations are completed, I am now at the timeframe of the possibility
of replacing appliances that were done in a previous renovation. sigh And then
the possibility of moving to something smaller in the next few years will mean
more minor repairs/changes. It never ends.

Yup, I absolutely love them! I think I come by those late hours somewhat
naturally - I remember my mom being the same way. It also might be due to
my kids
ages. When they were younger, I could get them to bed earlier which meant
I was
in bed earlier. Now that they are older teens it's a much different
story. 16
yr. old daughter usually hits bed at 11 or 12. When sonny boy is home
from
college (he's 19) I'm lucky to have him roll into the house by 3AM. And
of
course, I can't sleep until I know everyone is where they belong. G
I've become
very good at not-functioning. Sometimes it does get to me, most of the
time I'm
ok though. I listen to my body and if I am exhausted then I give in.

Oooh, you sound alot like me. When I would go home to visit my parents, mom
and I would stay up all night long until my little brother got home safely.
Once Nicholas is old enough to be out and about it'll drive me nuts! I can
just see myself pacing the floors! DH doesn't get concerned about that type
of stuff, but I sure do!

My dh manages to sleep through it all too, but when I hit the bed he does wake and
ask me if the kids made it home safely. Guess he's concerned, but not enough to
lose any sleep over. Maybe it's another one of those *mom* things?

Joyce