I like writing. I like photography. I like blogging. Okay, Facebook and email and the Internet in general. So you can imagine I really, really, really like my laptop, as it houses all of the above. Much of my data is stored online, in case of an emergency, but there are many stories, photos, and other materials just hanging out in my laptop.
My laptop? Lives on my desk, which is admittingly one place in the house I let get pretty messy. Stacks of bills. A bowl of crayons. All my True Blood DVDs. A box of Wheat Thin Stix that I never put away. As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time there.
Which brings me to my story. Sometimes I worry that I spend too much time on my laptop. I started a new novel this summer, and I'm sixteen chapters into it. I frequently edit photographs I've taken. Generally, I go online once a day to check email, scan Facebook, read a few blogs. You get the idea.
But is it too much?
A few days ago, I got my answer. Not only do I like writing, photography, blogging, all of that stuff. But I also like Coke. I often drink it when I'm working on all the aforementioned items. Or I did until very, very recently.
It was a random normal day. Which means that at some point I was working on something on the laptop. And my kids were trying to get my attention. (Side note: my kids hate my laptop, as it removes me from their control! Ha!)
There was a nearly empty Coke at my elbow. Just a few swigs left. Hudson was tugging on me, desperate for attention. I was, I'm sorry to say, ignoring him as I quickly wrapped up whatever I was doing.
That's when it happened.
He picked up my Coke. He tipped it upside down. In slow motion, the remaining sips of cola rained down onto my keyboard. Looking back, it was like a sweet brown tidal wave slipping between my keys and fizzing up the invaluable insides of my laptop. I think my heart stopped for a moment. Just a moment. And my Coke was gone, my laptop soaked.
Hudson looked up at me sweetly. “Oops?”
Somehow, I stayed calm. I picked him up and carried him to the kitchen sink, where I grabbed a towel, even though there was very little to actually sop up. Most of it had disappeared into the mysterious innards of my precious technological device. Trying to breathe, I called for Erik and explained the situation.
Erik: Is it still working?
Lori: Yes, so far, but that can't be good!
Hudson: I pour Coke on Mama's laptop.
Ava: What's going on?
Fast forward to bath time about fifteen minutes later. Both kids are playing in the soapy water, Erik and I are singing silly songs with them, and I'm thinking I managed to avoid a disaster. Nothing has happened yet.
Then a siren goes off. Literally. It's high-pitched, electronic, and really quite scary. We all panic, until we realize those horrible noises are coming from my laptop. Everyone else is relieved, but I am in tears. That Coke! My laptop! Kaboom!
After that, things are murky. We got the kids out of the bath. Erik somehow got those noises to stop. I had to avert my eyes from the crazy kaleidescope of colors, images, and words flashing across my screen. All I could think about were the six chapters of my book I hadn't backed up yet. How many photos of the kids? What else had I lost?
Me: (tears)
Ava: I'm praying for your laptop, Mom.
Hudson: I pour Coke on Mama's laptop. Sorry, Mama.
Erik: I'll shut it down and see what I can do. Maybe it just needs to reset or something.
So that's what we did. It still didn't want to work, but Erik would not give up. We put the kids to bed, I cried some more, and somehow he worked out a few glitches. At least enough that most functions returned. Then we let it sit overnight and hoped for the best.
Verdict? All systems are running again, with only minor issues. The space bar sticks, which is frustrating, because it's so often used. But I'm not complaining! When you type the letter G, a / automatically appears with it. Not so bad, considering that's rare and easily deleted afterwards. It's a bit slower overall, but that's a minor price to pay considering that I thought I'd lost everything.
I still worry the laptop may be on borrowed time, but if there's a lesson to be learned here, then I'm willing to accept it. Perhaps I do spend a tad too much time on the 'ol laptop. I mean, my summer is pretty much all about my kids, and I know I deserve some time for myself, but nevertheless I will be finding other things to do beyond the laptop. This Coke incident terrified me, brought me to tears, and also made me think. Laptops are well and good, but not the most important thing at all.
So after saying a quick prayer of thanks—and backing up my most important files—I turned off the laptop. Thanked Ava for her own prayers and for the picture she'd made to cheer me up. I hugged Hudson and told him not to sweat it. And I thanked Erik for keeping me calm and working his magic.
Obviously, I have a pretty good laptop. I've seen the acid in Coke eat away rust on a nail. Yet this laptop bounced back almost overnight. Whew!
Without a doubt, I have an amazing family. They rallied around poor old Mom when she nearly had a nervous breakdown, even though they're not fans of the laptop.
From now on, I won't forget my priorities. Even for a moment. But I am still glad I'm able to blog about it from my laptop! ;)
My laptop? Lives on my desk, which is admittingly one place in the house I let get pretty messy. Stacks of bills. A bowl of crayons. All my True Blood DVDs. A box of Wheat Thin Stix that I never put away. As you can imagine, I spend a lot of time there.
Which brings me to my story. Sometimes I worry that I spend too much time on my laptop. I started a new novel this summer, and I'm sixteen chapters into it. I frequently edit photographs I've taken. Generally, I go online once a day to check email, scan Facebook, read a few blogs. You get the idea.
But is it too much?
A few days ago, I got my answer. Not only do I like writing, photography, blogging, all of that stuff. But I also like Coke. I often drink it when I'm working on all the aforementioned items. Or I did until very, very recently.
It was a random normal day. Which means that at some point I was working on something on the laptop. And my kids were trying to get my attention. (Side note: my kids hate my laptop, as it removes me from their control! Ha!)
There was a nearly empty Coke at my elbow. Just a few swigs left. Hudson was tugging on me, desperate for attention. I was, I'm sorry to say, ignoring him as I quickly wrapped up whatever I was doing.
That's when it happened.
He picked up my Coke. He tipped it upside down. In slow motion, the remaining sips of cola rained down onto my keyboard. Looking back, it was like a sweet brown tidal wave slipping between my keys and fizzing up the invaluable insides of my laptop. I think my heart stopped for a moment. Just a moment. And my Coke was gone, my laptop soaked.
Hudson looked up at me sweetly. “Oops?”
Somehow, I stayed calm. I picked him up and carried him to the kitchen sink, where I grabbed a towel, even though there was very little to actually sop up. Most of it had disappeared into the mysterious innards of my precious technological device. Trying to breathe, I called for Erik and explained the situation.
Erik: Is it still working?
Lori: Yes, so far, but that can't be good!
Hudson: I pour Coke on Mama's laptop.
Ava: What's going on?
Fast forward to bath time about fifteen minutes later. Both kids are playing in the soapy water, Erik and I are singing silly songs with them, and I'm thinking I managed to avoid a disaster. Nothing has happened yet.
Then a siren goes off. Literally. It's high-pitched, electronic, and really quite scary. We all panic, until we realize those horrible noises are coming from my laptop. Everyone else is relieved, but I am in tears. That Coke! My laptop! Kaboom!
After that, things are murky. We got the kids out of the bath. Erik somehow got those noises to stop. I had to avert my eyes from the crazy kaleidescope of colors, images, and words flashing across my screen. All I could think about were the six chapters of my book I hadn't backed up yet. How many photos of the kids? What else had I lost?
Me: (tears)
Ava: I'm praying for your laptop, Mom.
Hudson: I pour Coke on Mama's laptop. Sorry, Mama.
Erik: I'll shut it down and see what I can do. Maybe it just needs to reset or something.
So that's what we did. It still didn't want to work, but Erik would not give up. We put the kids to bed, I cried some more, and somehow he worked out a few glitches. At least enough that most functions returned. Then we let it sit overnight and hoped for the best.
Verdict? All systems are running again, with only minor issues. The space bar sticks, which is frustrating, because it's so often used. But I'm not complaining! When you type the letter G, a / automatically appears with it. Not so bad, considering that's rare and easily deleted afterwards. It's a bit slower overall, but that's a minor price to pay considering that I thought I'd lost everything.
I still worry the laptop may be on borrowed time, but if there's a lesson to be learned here, then I'm willing to accept it. Perhaps I do spend a tad too much time on the 'ol laptop. I mean, my summer is pretty much all about my kids, and I know I deserve some time for myself, but nevertheless I will be finding other things to do beyond the laptop. This Coke incident terrified me, brought me to tears, and also made me think. Laptops are well and good, but not the most important thing at all.
So after saying a quick prayer of thanks—and backing up my most important files—I turned off the laptop. Thanked Ava for her own prayers and for the picture she'd made to cheer me up. I hugged Hudson and told him not to sweat it. And I thanked Erik for keeping me calm and working his magic.
Obviously, I have a pretty good laptop. I've seen the acid in Coke eat away rust on a nail. Yet this laptop bounced back almost overnight. Whew!
Without a doubt, I have an amazing family. They rallied around poor old Mom when she nearly had a nervous breakdown, even though they're not fans of the laptop.
From now on, I won't forget my priorities. Even for a moment. But I am still glad I'm able to blog about it from my laptop! ;)
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