Need Some Tea and Sympathy

On Monday I took our aged laptop to campus to give my presentation to the other doc students. The laptop appears to have found this a disagreeable journey, because yesterday it died. Or it mostly died, as Miracle Max might say; my husband has coaxed it into a Linux-driven new life.

The problem is that I have a big stats assignment due on Friday. With the Windows machine, I had a GUI that gave me access to the SAS server. We now have two Linux boxes and I have no access to stats software with friendly little check-box windows saying "make me six histograms, please."

I have a powerful but forbidding stats program on this machine. It makes me want to cry, actually. As I have posted before, the topic most likely to trigger a big argument between Elwood and me is the computer, and that kind of makes me want to cry too.  Oh, UGH, now I am crying. Over the computer. Time to get a grip.

It's also time for me to run and see a family for therapy. Here's hoping the learning curve for R (the scary stats program) seems less precipitous when I get back.

Comments

[amy]

Oh, all my best to you. When you talk about computer issues between you and your husband, it's like you're telling my story:

Happy wife turns grouchy, snappy, and frustrated when determined and slightly pushy husband tries to "guide" wife through something computerly (especially with the pressure of converting to Linux).

Good luck. Hey, how'd the costumes turn out?

[Jody]

Oh dear.

What kind of tea do you prefer?

[Salome Ellen]

GREAT sympathy from a wife who determinedly clings to "my" computer and OS!

[Rosemary Grace]

I've finally been got, it took over a year of my husband gently pointing out that a linux system would make my 2002 PC run much smoother. I have not yet had to attempt doing school work on it, as I'm in the process of applying, not taking any classes.

There's something very visceral about the helpless feeling of "I can't make this software GO!" isn't there?