Saving Stuff

Monday I had a rude awakening.  I was doing some computer maintenance and discovered that I needed to do a defrag..but there was a little problem..I only had 6 percent of usable space on my computer..to do a defrag you should have about 15 percent of usable space.  The computer being smarter than me suggested I delete some files.  There were only a few that I felt I could delete.   I could have dumped some photos..now that was a possibility since I have those files backed up.  I called my HP brother to give him a rash of crap, because when he selected this computer for me..he said and I quote " Sis, you will NEVER be able to take enough photos to fill up that computer."  He was on a plane to Ireland..so much for communication with him.  Last March when Day Light Savings time crashed my computer and I had it repaired..the  lobotomized former Air Force Officer that fixed it supposedly added a larger hard drive..I am not so sure about that. How do you really know if those repair guys do what they say anyway?


I ordered an external hard drive..an HP SimpleSave that should hold 300,000 photos!  It took four hours to back up my files, and only about 15 minutes to back up Far Guys.  Today I am going to do a test and delete a photo and then see if I can restore it from the external hardrive...technology..I am always a little skeptical about it.  I am a really anal about backing up my photos..I copy them to CD about three times a month, as soon as they are copied..I double check to make sure my photos are actually on the CD ..before I delete them from my camera cards.


When this new SimpleSave backed up my photos..I had 41,000 photos.. I knew I had lots of photos..but I didn't think it was that many.  I do delete the bad shots..


I am hoping that when I remove some of my files from my computer that I will regain some space and perhaps even a little speed...we will see.


I hate those user manuals that are not actually with the product you buy, but they are included in the software..who thought up that crazy idea anyway..and how was I supposed to know  all those abbreviations like ARA and FIN.. and who knows what else..ARA was first on the list.  I told Far Guy  "Damn look at all these squiggles."  He took one look at it and said "Honey, that is an Arabic users manual."  Now how was I supposed to know that..I had to back up and find the ENG one...   


I have lots of photo projects I am working on..saving old family photos to share with other family members.  I have old photos coming out my ears..but that is a good thing..some people have no old photos..and I seem to be blessed with them. Someday some one will appreciate my efforts..someone will probably say..who was that crazy old Aunt  that had all those old photos?  She must have been a really weird.  


Sometimes when I look at the boxes and albums of old photos I get a bit discouraged..so much work to do. Scanning and marking them..one photo at a time..some photos must be repaired...it all takes time. 
For me it is a labor of love, with perhaps a bit of curiosity mixed in..every photo has a story..we just don't know what some of the great stories are.. some will be lost forever.  I want to save as many stories and photos as I can..I think it may have become an obsession.. is there a group called Old Photographs Anonymous?

Last Saturday I posted this photo of a building in Lengby, Minnesota.  It was indeed a school.  Several local blog readers  left me comments.  Abra wrote, "The old Lengby School, built with Lengby bricks in 1905 at a cost of $3,000.00, still stands next to the town baseball field. The school closed in 1969, and is in the process of renovation for an artist’s retreat." 


Linda wrote,  " It's the old Lengby school - my husband went to grade school there. I think it closed in the late 50's."   I have great readers and commenters..thanks gals!


So my curiosity is satisfied..well maybe not..now I wonder what kind of artists are retreating there..so we will probably have to stop by there someday anyway:)