I’m hiding and I’m seeking and I’m the only one playing this stoopid game. I imagine you’re wondering what in the world I’m talking about, so I’ll get straight to the point.
When I label computer documents, I insist on being clever instead of plain-spoken. Tracking stuff down, therefore, becomes a flipping time suck, otherwise known as an exercise in futility. I can’t remember what I named them and spend untold hours searching. I need the detective skills of Kojak, but I’m stuck with the sharp-eyed expertise of Inspector Clouseau. You know, the Pink Panther? Peter Sellers? That’s me.
Image files, especially, are a FEMA-level disaster. They’re scattered on flash drives (which I lose regularly), in unrelated project folders, two computer hard drives, email folders, my cell phone. Thousands of terrific images, but no reliable way to locate them. A quick peek in one folder shows titles like ‘ha’ and ‘potato robot’, keywords I wouldn’t think to use. Ever. Not even drunk. I mean, come on, who goes looking for a potato robot?
At this point, I’ve mostly given up trying to label them, improperly or not, so bunches have a generic source name followed by .png or .jpg and sit in files marked miscellaneous. Genius, no? I need a system. Or additional memory. Or a smart, organized assistant who works for free. In the meantime, I’m going to put my head on my desk and think happy thoughts. My personal storage capacity is currently overloaded, the circuit breaker’s been triggered. Please stand back, sparks may fly–yi-yi …
copyright © 2018 the whirly girl
the whirly girl 
20 responses to “: hide and seek :”
I wish I could say I haven’t got a clue what you are talking about but it’s like you actually were looking at my files on my computer. Every time I try to sort it out or organize it I just dig the hole deeper. If you figure it out please post!
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I tried again this afternoon and found hundreds more that need categorizing — in addition to the thousands I already knew about. I just shut down the computer and walked away. It makes me tired just thinking of the chaotic mess. Oy 🙈
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Commiserations from a fellow sufferer. I’m forever putting things in safe places only to find they’re, er, safe … from me!
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I’m relieved to know you suffer the same affliction🤦🏻♀️ I have duplicates and triplicates everywhere, each one labeled and filed under different names. Maybe I should be director of Witness Protection, no one would be heard from again. That’s for sure 😶
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Haha, a new spin on the phrase ‘Your secret is safe with me’! :)
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Exactly❣️
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I nominated you for The Liebster Award!
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Congratulations❗️
And thank you, I’m honored.
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I swear sometimes you are my twin! 😂
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I’m so flattered and send my deepest sympathies.💐
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Sending them right back at ya…
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I sure need them❣️
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Oh yeah baby, as Whatsisname would say. I think we all suffer from this same problem. It’s like clutter, isn’t it! The files build up somehow when you’re not looking.
Recently my computer with my photos, many unnamed, crashed and burned. I have them on a USB drive, but on my new computer I’m being strict — sorting and trashing weekly, and naming the images I keep. Naming them simply, that is. Wish me luck keeping on top of this clever strategy!
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Oh, I do, I wish you the best luck ever. I started out with similarly lofty plans once, then they came back to earth. It was disappointing.
Hang tough, you can do this 🏋️♀️
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I started using Lightroom for my photographs from the beginning, however, I did not think about keywording photos to make it easier to find them later. So…. Last year I spent time each month painstakingly going back through and keywording 6 years worth of photographs. It sucked but I can say I finally completed that project at the end of 2017. I feel your pain. :-)
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Holy cow, you’re my hero! I hoped my neurotic nature would kick in and straighten out my filing disaster, but did it? No. How did you find the motivation?
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I soooo relate.
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Gosh, I’m sorry, but misery does love company. We’ll get through this together … eventually
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I was hoping there would be a bunch of comments full of suggestions that I could learn from, too. But I’m the first to respond – a first responder with no way to help you. I’m sorry. Once thing I CAN do is feel your pain :(
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That was the reason behind the post, to be honest. I’ve no clue how to implement an efficient system at this late date. I’m flying blind, like always 🙈
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