HARD DRIVE DEATH

(Black skimmer feeding at Gulf Coast)

Well, hard times continue here at Casa de Jochild. My main computer, the one I use for work and storage of graphics files, novels, etc., had been killed by a relentness hijacker virus named Braviax (despite Symantec, SpyBot and Spy Sweeper on board). I will have to lose everything not saved elsewhere when the hard gets replaced, perhaps on Monday. Fortunately, Ginny Bates and Skene in entirety were backed up elsewhere, so those are safe. I've lost several days of work and, well, I'm fairly down.

I'm writing this on my personal computer which is old and clunky, but at least I still have online access. After this post, I'll be putting up a long-ago short story that is one of my best; typed it in by hand tonight, because it existed in no transferable format. I'll continue to post as I am able.

Thanks for hanging in there. Love, Maggie

P.S. The U.S. Olympics swimming trials are being televised tonight at 7 p.m. CST, opposite Password here. I'll be watching Natalie Coughlin, you bet.

P.S.S. I am relieved to pass on to you that Emile Norman, the 90-year-old artist whom I posted about last week, has a notice up at his website stating that his house and art are not currently threatened by the terrible Big Sur fire. Thank you SO MUCH, whoever posted that reassurance.