Last night after the basketball game (the Lady Lobos won 94 to 38 — ouch!), I checked all my favorite blogs and my email, looked at my calendar by remoting into my office desktop from home. No fires to put out . . . so we all crawled into bed.
This morning, I had some coffee, gave the dogs their chicken wings (mmm – crunch, crunch, crunch), and turned on the notebook that I use at home. The Toshiba symbol came up and then the Windows symbol floated across the screen. Suddenly I was looking at a black screen with blue writing. It read “Fatal system error, system is shut down”, then lots of numbers. Oh, no — you cannot do this to me!
For the past ten or fifteen years, I have used the same computer technicians. They’re like family. I’d call my kids on Sunday morning, right? So, I waited until 8:00 and called Ralph. “I didn’t wake you up did I?” Sleepy voice said, “no, of course not. What’s up? ” I explained what the notebook was doing (or not doing). Ralph lives near me and has all the computer diagnostic equipment at his house. I said, “I know it’s Sunday, but I was on my way to track the dogs, and I go up Eubank. Perhaps I could drop off the notebook and the power cord? Maybe you could hook it up to your diagnostics equipment? I’d be so grateful.” Barefooted, bleary-eyed Ralph answered his door, and I left the Toshiba. I had just renewed my internet security program, so I told him that.
If it’s fixable, he’ll fix it because he is a whiz. Of course, I am thinking the worst — buy a new laptop right before Christmas — shoot . . . how many dog shows worth is that?
Kip and Chase tracked well this morning though, and I’ll get a lot of chores done at the house with no computer to play on. (However, to accomplish anything I must leave the office and go home.) The Lady Lobos play again tonight — it’s a round robin tournament. Last night was Alcorn State. Tonight’s opponent is Idaho State, and tomorrow night is DePaul. GO LOBOS!!! . . .
and go Ralph!
