Thursday, April 23, 2009

CRASH

I've been silent here for a few days .... that's because I've been spending time with the fellas from my local Best Buy Geek Squad.

Because my computer crashed.

Completely and totally.

I know, you're feeling my pain, right?

We ... I say we but it was actually some "geeks" with enough testosterone to enable them to understand computer stuff ... had to wipe the entire laptop clean - like to new out-of-the-box condition. Then we had to reload the basic software. I actually did a little bit of that myself.

My computer is back up and running - but it is still acting strangely. (Probably because I did some of the installs.) And I periodically loose my Internet connection. Errr!

I do back up my computer - I just don't do it weekly like I should. So I lost some files but not all of them. And I did lose all my pictures! Doesn't that thought make you cringe? And I can't take more because if you'll remember, my camera was stolen about a month ago. Urgh.

I also lost my entire email address book.

You're still feeling my immense pain, aren't you? Good. That makes me feel better.

So I'm in mourning for my losses. And I'm playing catch-up now that I'm finally back on-line. But for some reason, while in radio silence, I decided I want to give my blog a redesign. A bloggy face lift. (Since an actual face lift ain't happening, I'll settle for my blog.)

Anybody got any tips for me? Are there blogs you love the look of? Give me their URL so I can see too. Are there colors you like or hate for blogs? Do you have trouble reading the font size here?

Anybody - without Geek Squad help - figured out how to do their own blog redesign??

Or, anybody know any good blog designers - who don't cost a grand because I'll have little money left after paying the Geek Squad and buying a new camera. *Thanks, y'all.

10 comments:

  1. I know the CRASH all too well. But before my last one I paid the $60/yr for auto backup by Carbonite. Oh, was I happy. Writing for newsletter to prisoners was on that hard drive. Pictures ooooh so sad to lose them.

    Can't help you with the blog design help, but I'd love to hear what you discover for my blog.

    God bless you through your CRASH

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  2. I've been wondering about blog design, too! I'll be checking back here to read what other people suggest!

    Glad your computer is back in action :)

    Blessings,
    Kate :)

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  3. Hi Rachel,

    I'm so sorry to hear about the Crash! I do feel your pain! I went through this about 2 years ago and I never recovered everything. I had a web site, but I stopped keeping it up because I was never sure I had recovered all the files.

    I did go check out a few of my fequently visited blogs and here are the names of the "designers". Hopefully you will see one you like here.

    http://shabbycreations.blogspot.com/
    http://www.thecutestblogontheblock.com/
    http://www.onceuponablog.org/

    Good luck!

    Karen

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  4. Been there done that several times. It makes you feel like you've lost your best friend. The first time I lost my Blog I had saved it the day before so that wasn't hard to replace. I've tried to do a back up every time I post (sometimes I forget).

    You said mine looked peaceful. My first blog had the exact same colors but it was only two columns.
    Edie at Rich Gifts Graphics and Blog Designs does a beautiful job. She redid my header and made me 3 columns and put a Gadget at the bottom and a signature. She does not have a set charge. She takes donations (whatever God lays on your heart). She said that God would take care of her if she did it this way. I've seen quiet a few designs that she has done for other people. She seems to have a gift of knowledge - you give her what you would like and somehow she comes up with just the thing you want. She also includes a free scripture tag. There's a button on my blog that you can click on and it will take you to her blog of Rich Gifts Graphics and Blog Designs.
    God bless you,
    AliceE.

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  5. Oh, what a bummer! I would be SO sad if I lost all my pictures. I'm trying to be better about backing them up frequently.
    I use wordpress and love their clean blog templates. My favorite blog color is a peaceful light green. I think your font size is fine. Enjoy redesigning!

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  6. Bless your heart!! Makes me feel the urgency to get my pictures backed up!

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  7. Awwwwwww I am so sorry to hear about your loss, just went through that a year ago, not fun at all, and it does feel like you lost a great friend! I couldn't even erase everything and start over, had to buy a new system. Thank goodness I had back up of my pictures though. But I lost all my church stuff, but praise god i had some copies in my desk drawer.

    The cutest blog on the block.com is where I designed my own blog and it came out nice I think, and this way you can do it yourself, the price is right "FREE"!!!!!

    Take Care and have a beautiful and blessed weekend :)

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  8. Rachel,

    Sorry about the crash. On the upside, isn't it great that all the bloggy people that live out in cyber space didn't get erased. WE ARE STILL HERE! tee hee.

    I bought the book Bloggling For Dummies. Ok, have you stopped laughing. No, seriously, have you stopped yet. .........
    It has some great sites to go to that are free to get templates and widgets and stuff, free.

    I bought a portable hard drive and back up 1 x a weeks. Highly recommend for anyone who has a computer. That means anyone reading this blog.

    Have a great weekend. It is going to be 90 here in VA tomorrow.
    Diane

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  9. I love the clean lined blogs. I also enjoy the ones that have a short blurb and you click it to get the full post. Here are some examples of that: thehybridchick.com & http://web.me.com/zanehollingsworth/site/Blog/Blog.html

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  10. I already see that some have posted about The Cutest blog on the Block so I won't include another url for that since you already have it. But there is also Blogger boutique - http://www.bloggerboutique.com/

    Hope you find something you like!

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