Technology Terror

Today, through no fault of my own, I nearly bricked my laptop.

Isn't that an evocative phrase? It means pretty much what you'd think it means: to turn an expensive piece of technology (computer; smart phone) into the functional equivalent of a brick.

The thing had been hinky for a while. Slow, outdated OS, and all that. This is pretty normal -- we usually get scheduled for computer replacement around here about once every four years, and the last year of that tends to limp along. I'm one year out, so this should have begun my limping year. But a year ago, if you'll recall, I got caught between a moving vehicle and a parked bus while out on my bike, and treated like a pinball until I finally hit the ground. And yes, my laptop was riding along with me. Cushioned, sure; but still. But it still worked! It seemed to be undamaged, except for a bent port. ("I never use that one anyway!") But apparently these things can sneak up on you.

And so, I have become acquainted with Mac's Gray Veil of Death -- four times in the last two weeks. And the most recent of these was at 4 p.m. today, a Friday. Our technician performed some Mac-Fu and perhaps even sacrificed a small mammal, and it appears to be running again.

And yes, I have backups. But without a machine to load them on?

And you know the other thing I have? Deadlines. Things I've promised people. Et caetera.

So light a candle, do a chant, help me make it through here. And if you don't hear from me for a while, I'm not dead. But my computer might well be.