ACK! Technical Difficulties

Very sad day.  My laptop hard drive has passed away.  The Geeks tried to resuscitate it, but alas, I have to say goodbye. 

I am borrowing my mother's laptop for the week, so I may not be on as often until I get my own machine back in my hands.

So now the question is, do I invest $350 in a new hard drive for it, or do I use that money towards a new machine?  I hadn't  mentioned it, but my #1, 2, and 6 keys were broken, my sound recording device was no longer working, and I didn't have a webcam.  My laptop is actually only 2 1/2 years old, but the way technology changes, I've already been feeling the difference.  Oh, and did I mention that my laptop runs on Windows Vista? 

Can you tell I want a new machine?  I'm hoping that they might be able to pull some of my data off the old hard drive.  I went on a polar bear safari a few years ago, and I'm afraid that I didn't back everything up to my external drive that I should have.  I know, I know, bad photographer...

Laptops go for anywhere from $600 to $2000 depending on what I get, but I have to tell you, I have not been impressed with Dell lately.  My last two machines were Dell and it seems that two or three years is all that get out of them.  I would be interested to know if any of you have had a better experience with other machines?   There is even part of me that would be interested in a Mac.  It's been years, but somehow I think I could learn again quickly.  My brother would be SO happy to think I had converted from a PC person to Mac person.  I think we can be both, Johnno...

Have I also told you that I am a student with no substantial income?  My heart and hopes want me to get a new machine.  However, I don't have a lot of pocket change these days and  may have to struggle along with a $350 repair and save up for a new one later. 

What do you think?  Any advice or brand recommendations?

I Swear to Tell the Truth and Nothing But the Truth

Sometimes I find myself censoring my entries on this blog for fear of showing too much of myself, for fear that some of you will leave me because I'm venting again... but today I have no choice. I have to tell the truth about today because I am having trouble. I have told you before that my mother is in hospital and then in rehab for orthopedic reasons. I am her caregiver from afar, meaning that I write all of her bills, keep tabs on the house, act as a liaison between my Mom and the doctors, nurses and aides, worry constantly about her health and happiness.

I've been taking care of my Mom since I was seven years old. My dad left the house and my parents got a divorce. My mother fell into a deep depression that I don't think she has ever gotten out of. And it affected me. Deeply. I have always felt nervous leaving her alone, for fear that something would happen during the time that I was not there. I remember leaving for weekends at my fathers house and seeing my Mom at the front door watching us disappear. Not pretending to be happy. Just watching. I was always worried that she would be lonely while I was gone. Or that she would be sick.

She has 2 chronic illnesses that have taken a great deal on her body. She is much much older than her age. One of the reasons I left Colorado and moved back to New England was because I could no longer manage her care from so far away. Well, I've found that my old habits have not changed. I am still her caregiver and I still worry that something will happen to her because I can't be with her 24/7. She has had about 10 falls in the last 3 years and has come away with many broken bones, hip repairs, hospital stays and rehab stints. In the past 3 years she has been in her house only about 13 months of it, and even that was not consecutive. Ever since breaking her hip she has poor balance and walks with a Walker. Unfortunately, she is fighting for her independence and stops using the walker when she is home. So, I can only look forward to more falls in the future.

My sister and I had a "discussion" today which consisted of my crying, blaming her for not helping me, telling her that I was doing the best I could with this burden, talking about my recent depression, and how I've been working with a therapist to try to extricate myself from my mother's grasp. The word discussion is a laugh really. I was on my way out of my sister's house when she said something that made me fly off the handle and unleash my years of anger & frustration at her self-centeredness, my mother's manipulation and my own weaknesses. I stood there about 20 ft from my sister for about an hour wanting to leave but still having too much to say.

I am so exhausted. Exhausted from taking care of my mom my whole life, exhausted from being the good daughter, the good sister, the good friend, the good employee. Exhausted from not taking care of myself for one minute in the past 3 years. Caregiving is a tricky thing. I have gone back and forth with anger and guilt for my mother putting me in this position and guilt for not wanting this to take over my life. It has taken over, and I am feeling guilty now because I am trying my hardest to separate myself from her. Separate enough to take care of myself.

I am sorry to dump all of this on you all, but I need to share with people that don't know me so that I know that any words of advice, comfort or criticism you leave me are objective and unbiased. My friends and family are mad at my mother and probably somewhat at me for allowing it to happen. Please, I need you guys now. Please allow me to vent without being scared of losing you too. I ask for healing for my mom and healing for me. Thank you so much for listening. I appreciate it more than you know. Having a chance to get it off my chest can only help at this point. At least I am not carrying it anymore. If you have been a caregiver, I ask for your advice on how to cope. Thank you.