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UNSTICK THAT STUCK CD/DVD!!

If you've never had a CD or DVD drive that wouldn't open, you are VERY lucky! It can be an extremely frustrating experience.

The DVD drive in my computer has recently been sticking and it amazed me how easy it is to get it open. Depending on where the device is located, how dexterous you are, the availability of light and how the drive opens, you may need someone to help, although it still isn't difficult. Other than that, all you need is a paperclip!

First, unbend the paperclip so you have a slightly bent end and can use the rest as a "handle" of sorts.

Then, determine how the front cover of the drive opens (note the arrow, right). All four of those in my house open from the top. It may take a fingernail or the point of a knife, but be gentle. It doesn't take any pressure, just a little finesse.

Once you can see inside where the stuck drawer is, you may need extra light to find the hole. Whether it is round, rectangular or square, it is there! It's just a VERY tiny little pinhole, which you can see by comparing the circled hole to the size of my fingernail!

Now BE CAUTIOUS! You will use the end of the paperclip to insert into the hole, but NO MORE than 1/2" to 1"! You will feel some resistance.

Simultaneously, push the paperclip in gently as you push the button that usually opens the drive. That is why you may need extra help, or in case you need someone to hold a light so you can see the hole more clearly.

On a standard paperclip, the end is just about 1" long to the first bend. That's why you don't want to straighten it too much. The slight curve will help determine how far to push it into the release hole.

When you push the release button at the same time, you will feel the mechanism release. Pull the paperclip and your hand out of the way QUICKLY to give the drawer room to open. If it touches your fingers, it may automatically close, and then you will have to start all over. I keep my unbent paper clip on top of the device that sticks so it's always handy.

Although this method will unstick the drive, you may find it is a permanent condition unless you want to have a new drive installed. So always know where to find your paperclip! Once you've done it a few times, it takes only seconds.

Yes, it's a pain, but at least you don't have to pay some overpriced technician to do it for you!

DEALING WITH PROS

It seems the older we get, the more often we have to deal with people who either don't know their jobs or just plain don't listen. This includes everyone from mechanics to doctors to attorneys and contractors.

In every case, there are things you can do to make yourself heard, understood and get the information or treatment you deserve.

First, DON'T BE AFRAID TO SPEAK UP!

When you are paying someone to have your needs taken care of, you deserve their FULL attention! It seems to be a trend lately for people to ASSUME they know what you want without giving you the chance to explain.

DON'T LET IT HAPPEN!

Just the other day, my husband had an appointment with a medical specialist I'll call Dr. A. Although the practice has a local office, his appointment was scheduled at the one nearly 30 miles away. So that is where he went.

After his exam, Dr. A ordered a follow-up appointment for six months later with her associate, Dr. B. Dr. B is head of this practice and more skilled than Dr. A. My husband asked that it be scheduled at the practice's other office, only three miles away from us. These doctors alternate between these two locations.

But when he got home, he noticed the office 30 miles away had been written on his appointment card. The office was closed by then, so I called the next day to have it changed.

Without listening to what I was saying, the young woman who does the scheduling kept saying that she was setting up an appointment with Dr. A and ANOTHER one with Dr. B! She gave me no choice.

I had to say, "HELLO!!!!" very loudly to get her to stop talking and pay attention to what I was trying to say.

"He only needs ONE appointment, ONLY with Dr. B, and he needs it to be in THIS area, NOT in the office 30 miles away!"

The only response I got was, "Oh."

He now has an appointment scheduled with Dr. B, just three miles from home with no more foul-ups...we hope!

For some reason, people do not realize how much of your time and theirs, they waste because they assume they already know everything you could possibly tell them. DON'T LET THEM DO IT!

Yes, it may seem rude, but so is charging you a fee when they won't take the time to listen to your concerns!

NEVER be intimidated by professionals, no matter WHO they are! You don't have to be nasty, but you MUST be insistent!

I took my truck back to our regular mechanic because it wouldn't keep running when it was started, and he'd just given it a tune-up. He said it didn't happen when he started it. That's fine. I asked him to keep it a few more days and try again. He did. He finally called to say he'd adjusted the timing. Fine.

Two days after I got it back, it wouldn't keep running again. Since you should NEVER touch the gas pedal when starting a well-tuned vehicle (it just wastes gas and can flood the engine), that definitely wasn't the problem. My truck had never failed to start and keep running the first time I turned the key in the THIRTEEN YEARS I'd owned it, until this latest tune-up.

So, for the next two months, I just kept taking it back. Eventually, he found the problem, and without any further charges, made the adjustment. It now starts and keeps running the first time I turn the key. Did I have an alternative? Of course! I could have paid another garage to fix it. Or, I could have kept it and lived with the problem.

BUT THAT ISN'T WHAT I'D PAID FOR!

To get a job done right, sometimes you just have to (excuse my language) be a ROYAL PAIN IN THE BUTT!

A friend's lawyer was charging her $200 for every phone call, every letter he wrote, every form he filled out, etc. But nothing had happened in over a year. Whenever she called to get a progress report, she was told "I'm working on it." End of explanation.

Finally, I told her to call and ask for an ITEMIZED ACCOUNTING of exactly what she'd gotten for her money in that year. All of a sudden for the first time, he seemed to be working for HER instead of for her money, and began to actually fight the case she was paying him to fight! She received a much bigger settlement than she expected!

DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY TITLES OR HIGH FEES!

I always try to be as pleasant as I can when dealing with people, until they give me good reason not to be.

When we moved here over 8 years ago, the county public school transportation system insisted that Joey wait for his bus at the busy intersection on one corner of our yard. In fact, at first, they insisted that he cross the busy street in front and wait on the other side!

Not only was this totally ridiculous, since it was quite a walk for a boy with Down syndrome who had trouble walking on uneven surfaces, but there was no shelter in bad weather and by the time Joey had walked out there, the traffic would be backed up for blocks. I refused. So they said they'd have him picked up on our side of the intersection.

That was not only worse, it would be EXTREMELY dangerous! Whenever cars were waiting to turn left at that interstection, other traffic would attempt to pass them on the right and would run up onto the grass, right where Joey and I would be standing. They couldn't see what was on that corner until they got around the waiting car(s) and by then, it would be too late.

Not only can people who are SUPPOSED to be serving your needs be extremely obstinate (but then, it's ALWAYS easier to say NO than YES), they can sometimes be very condescending.

When I refused, they tried to tell me I'd have to find another source of transportation for him. My response was, "I'll tell you what. Buses have been picking children up on the small street next to us, AT their homes for nearly 50 years. The street is U-shaped, comes off the main road and even 60 passenger buses have never had a problem driving that short distance!

Furthermore, if I decide it's necessary, you'll be giving instructions for someone to come to our door and WALK Joey to the bus and back to the house when he gets home!"

Joey has been picked up at our driveway ever since. Well, I warned you! I've become a master at the "Pain in the Butt" approach, and IT WORKS!

When you are paying, YOU ARE THE BOSS!

That goes for public officials too! They ALSO work for you! When you don't feel people are doing their jobs or aren't listening to you, the best thing you can do is to make sure those taking your money KNOW you're the BOSS!

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