So I'm in the middle - nearing the end, actually - of this 'big' job, I've got another paid gig on the fire, plus I've got several things I need to do with my own sites.

This is when my computer - my main computer, and now my only computer since I gave my old machine to my folks a while back - crapped out on me.  I thought initially that it was the power supply, but I took that in and had it tested and it's fine.  That leaves me needing a motherboard.  So I buy a motherboard...

...and then realize it's the wrong one. I need a socket 939...and of course my regular supplier doesn't have any, even on their website.  Apparently my CPU is older than I thought.  I'm on a borrowed machine right now - I'm waiting for the refund to go through on the wrong motherboard that I bought, and then I need to go buy a mobo/cpu combo that's going to suck(is), but will a) still be an upgrade from what I had, by necessity and b) get my main machine back up long enough to get these jobs off my plate...I hope.  Fortunately I've got enough done on the larger of the two jobs that I can finish it completely via browser.  Unfortunately, the smaller of the two jobs is that book cover for Tessa Rawlinson, and that's on the hard drive of my main machine.

Soon as that refund hits, it's off to buy that new mobo/cpu combo and get my main box up and running.  When I get paid, it's time to replace that machine.  Since I'm putting a new-ish mobo and cpu in it, I'll use it for a file server/backup.  There's actually a couple of off-the-shelf HP's at Sam's Club that looked real nice on the spec sheet, were priced within my range, and would add some functionality that I don't currently have.  Growing the business FTW.

I realized after my last post that I sounded rather paranoid and unrealistic.  Of course people are going to come by here.  That's the point of the place, and it's inevitable that a current or potential client will find this site.  I hope that I don't OFFEND anyone, but I don't shy away from speaking my mind, and sometimes I worry that will come with a cost to my business.  But, I do good work at a fair rate.  That's all that matters in an adult world.

OH, I was getting to the punchline.  So I figure I'll borrow my folks' machine (i.e. my old backup) and finish the big job from there, and go buy a computer when I get paid.  I get the machine, plug it in, turn it on...and it refuses to initialize the monitor.

At this point I just started laughing and gave up for a day.  Came back at it, found an internal connection that was worked loose, plugged it back in and that machine is fine.  I'm waiting for my refund to process so I can go pick up the replacement mobo/cpu for my main box and get it back up and running, and then I'll be good to go again....if it works.  If not I guess I'll have to hold on to this machine until I get that other job finished, and then buy a replacement.

Blah.  Hard to keep a positive attitude sometimes.  Either way:  I'm sick of the risks involved with building my own machine.  I'll buy one off the shelf next time.  Meantime, I'll keep y'all posted here and work to finish the current gig ASAP.