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Let Me Help You
By: Dan Roberts / Roberts Rules
No good deed goes unpunished.
As discussed in last month’s issue, my
Vegas Voice partner of 14 years, Ray Sarbacker
retired. I’ve previously announced on more occasions than I can count
that Ray was the finest graphic artist in Nevada. His numerous national
awards speak for themselves.
With Ray gone, who does The Vegas Voice look to for future graphics?
One volunteer immediately and eagerly
raised her hand – my PILL (partner in
love & life) and the new President of
our “media empire” Rana Goodman.
She reminded me that she had
“Photoshop” installed on her computer
and although it was an older version,
she would purchase the newest version
and PRESTO, we’re as good as new.
And that’s when the fun began.
After receiving it, she discovered that
her computer did not have enough
RAM memory (whatever that is) to
accommodate the new Photoshop
program.
Upon consulting with her grandson, she was told that it was not a
problem. She just needed to order a larger RAM Memory Card.
“Open the computer, take out the old one and snap in the new one”
the grandson confidently advised. “Any idiot can do that”
Immediately “this idiot” proclaimed, “don’t even think of me
helping.” I readily admit that I do not have a clue about this (or any)
technology. With my level of “smarts” I’m just ecstatic when I can turn
on the computer and get my email.
“I don’t need you” my Ladylove exclaimed. “I’ll do it myself.”
Thanks to Amazon, the new RAM Memory Card was delivered the
next day. And (of course) it was the wrong size. Undeterred, my Rana
re-ordered another set, and once again, it did not fit.
After struggling a few hours, like a dog with a bone, Rana growled
in frustration and began using some of her native British expressions.
“Bloody hell, Oh, Crykie damn it!”
While those words are nowhere near as colorful as my Bronx
expressions I’ve used watching my NY Giants football games, I
understood the concept. Although our family feline, Eli didn’t flinch,
you better believe Yours Truly scampered out of her office like a terrified
cat.
After a drink (or two), she decided to call Best Buy and to her delight,
was told it was not a real issue. Simply bring in the computer and their
Geek Squad will handle it.
And so began our weekly trips to this store.
Once there, as I hid behind their new HDTVs, Rana was informed
that her six-year-old computer was sooooo outdated perhaps she
should purchase a new one.
With me dropping to my knees and begging her to “forget about
it” my (not stubborn, mind you but determined) Rana purchased,
not another computer, but a super-charged (and naturally expensive)
laptop.
You can guess the rest. After countless attempts trying to figure out
“where all her files went” she now signed up for classes to learn how to
use all this “great and wonderful” technology.
“This is the last straw!” my Rana finally admitted after weekly
trips to the store and countless telephone calls to the “help centers”.
“If this doesn’t work, I’ll get rid of the
(expletive deleted here) RAM memory
card, Photoshop upgrade and keep
what I have.” Problem solved!
As for our required graphics…
Anybody know a graphic artist?
*With everything going on in this
world; two wars, a super ugly national
election on the horizon and an economy
that, notwithstanding what the experts
claim is recovering (those guys must
be the ones that can afford the price of
gas) I cannot think of anything more
important than “family.”
Now my concept of “family” is not strictly blood relations. It includes
those that always have your back and is there for you when times get
tough.
For my Rana and me, it’s our “Vegas Voice family.” This family
consists of our ever increasing number of columnists, advertisers and
you – our readers.
Now we may not always agree and recognize that every family has
its dysfunctional members (and god knows we have ours, but that’s for
another column) however my PILL and I have come to recognize these
once strangers as members of our family.
And for that, we are most fortunate and blessed.
From the bottom of our collective hearts, our family
wishes you the happiest of holidays and that the New Year
brings you and yours all the smiles, joy, happiness (and
health) that life has to offer.
Outstanding in Every Way
The Folk Legacy Trio performs before a packed and jubilant
audience last month at Sun City MacDonald Ranch. Once again, they
delighted and thrilled the capacity audience with their spectacular and
outstanding performance.
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