I killed my blog over the weekend.
Not intentionally, but it was dead as sure as if I’d purposefully decided to shut it down. I was working on a little project related to Two Hearts and I had been tweaking the site behind the scenes, where I know just enough to be dangerous (obviously) and the magic of Google searches is on hand to help fill in the gaps in my knowledge. All was going well; I was seeing the results I expected; and then it happened.
Crash! The site was broken and I had no way of getting back to the errant code to remove it. If you tried to get here all that showed up was a blank screen with an error message across the top.
What to do? I broke out into a sweat. My blog was down!
I tried, unsuccessfully, to FTP to the site. I logged into my hosting service to double check the parameters I was using, but still no success. I Googled this, I Googled that, I tried one thing, I tried another, but I was still not able to FTP to my site to access the code to fix the problem.
Finally, after spending too much time trying to get to the root of the problem I put in a ticket with my hosting service and went out to the garden to try to reclaim my equilibrium.
This morning I checked my email first thing to see if I had a message from my hosting service. Nothing. So I reached for my iPad and went back to Google to look for a resolution to my FTP problem. I came up with a lot of possible scenarios: my firewall, my internet service provider, my router, my hosting service, the problem could be with any or all of these. The end result–as you can see because you’re reading this–is that I managed to find and fix the problem and get back up and running.
What I realized anew through the ordeal is that it’s a complicated world we live in these days. Oftentimes, without the help of (much younger) support people or our kids we find ourselves adrift in a sea of confusion about the technology that is part of almost every aspect of our life.
This afternoon we took a trip to Best Buy to do some research about the pros and cons of plasma vs LCD vs LED TVs and all that goes with that. A very knowledgeble young woman brought us up to speed on the pros and cons of plasma vs LCD vs LED, smart technology, home theater systems, 3D, and things like Hulu, Pandora, and Netflix.
Crikey.
It’s all enough to make one want to move to the country and raise goats and chickens–exactly what I hope to do one day. Don’t get me wrong, I embrace technology. I love technology! But I’m also mighty glad we have kids and helpful salespeople to help us navigate this rapidly changing world.
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I hear you and crikey is right. I love all the benefits of technology and the on line connections we make through blogging and keeping up with extended family on FB – but my word it changes so quickly. And it’s always like learning a new language. Stepping away when things go awry is the best I can do too. Glad your blog was “found” again.
It can be extremely helpful to walk away when things go awry, Barb. I learned that many years ago when I was a computer programmer. Oftentimes the solution to a problem would come overnight as I slept. A little time and space often helps.
Ugh, half this post was foreign to me. It’s a bit unsettling, isn’t it? I was thinking of changing my blog face, but Blogger is ‘not recommending’ I use something other than what they’re peddling. I’m not sure I’m up for the possible drama if I do change it with what I like. Oh for the simple days. Some days I wonder if I should just stop. Quite seriously. Anyway, glad you figured it out and got things up and running again! 🙂
LOL, Carmen! I hope you don’t stop. The rewards far outweigh the frustrations.
Don’t you love those techies in places like Best Buy. I told my husband that once a year we should go into one of those places and just get a lesson on all the new stuff whether we buy or not to keep up!
I love Best Buy, Terri! I have no idea what a lot of the stuff is or what it does, but it’s always fun looking around and learning. Sounds like you’re right there with me!
Dear Linda, like you, I’m so grateful for the younger people in my life. I have two friends who are sixty and both of them are computer whizzes and help me out. Then there are nieces–in their forties. They, too, have come to my rescue. Without them as the saying goes, “I’d be stuck up a creek without a paddle.”
I’m glad you got everything fixed! Peace.
I love that you’re considering those in their forties as young people, Dee!
Amen , Linda! I can definitely relate to your technology woes. In fact, my post this week is devoted to this very issue. I’m actually quite impressed what you were able to accomplish on your own. I am very quick to rely on the “big guns” when issues arise. I’m so glad I’m not alone!
I’m heading over to check out your post, Kathy. I hope yours has a happy ending too!
I’m really impressed you managed to solve your problem. All the technology can be overwhelming, but I can’t imagine living without it, either. 🙂
The fact that I spent a number of years working in technology helped, Deb!
I don’t know much of what I’m doing and sure can waste a lot of time when something goes wrong for me. When I become wealthy I’m going to hire my own tech person to keep things going for me and keep me on top of the newest and best technology.
Lee
Tossing It Out