I held a little miracle in my hands today.

[aruan]

The Dell repairman came bright and early at 10:40, just five minutes after I got out of the shower and actually perfectly timed because, as it turns out, my hair needs neither product nor blowdrying given the softness of the water in this house. *lays offerings at feet of French stylist*

Anyway, so he, a gentlemanly twentysomething expatriat of California, started taking apart my computer as I tried to make conversation about Europe and school and whatever else while wringing my hands as more and more screws come out and panels come off and that's the last three years of my life and sent up the usual irrational pleas to deities I don't believe in (though computers should seriously come with guardian angels, as I'm sure any one of you would attest.) Anyway, after something of an anatomy lesson, he changed the video card and started putting everything back in its rightful slots and holes. I started to breathe again, and picked up the largest piece he removed (only because it was housed in a black plastic case - I don't touch guts natural or mechanic) that looked like a large, thick-ish wireless card.

"Oh, that's your hard drive."

I almost dropped it. Like, I jumped and fumbled for a brief second. Seriously, it was a little like what I imagine a surgeon holding a human heart must feel. Forget about breathing again; I just stared in wonder. It's no longer than the tips of my fingers to my wrist and no wider than my palm, and only slightly thicker than my hand, yet it's thirty gigabytes of pictures and word documents and bookmarks and fic and my life. In my hand. It looked so small to mean so much, you know? I stared and stroked and didn't realize he was waiting for it until I shook my head out of my reverent daze and gave it back.

Okay, someone please tell me that didn't make me sound as pathetic as I feel. But, Douglas! My boy is whole and well again, and as the repairman assured me, in excellent condition for being three years old. *hugs him tight*

In other news, can I not feel ready for Challenge?

Besides being a walking advertisement for the goodness of French bread and bakeries - because I needed those eight-or-so extra pounds, y'see - I haven't updated about my trip for real in three weeks because of my dearly departed video card, haven't checked the flist in a month and a half, am in dire need of actual relaxation instead of the manicked catch-up my body is making somewhat spastic efforts toward, and have ficficfic! to read, now in two fandoms, thank you Director Cuaron and Order of the Phoenix. Also, not being up on anything real/meta/other news-wise in fandom, I'm already feeling left out of conversations once half my world descends on my zip code. In a week. Four days if you're Schiz. *meep*

None of which constitutes anything one could call an actual problem. Also, the boys are performing together, and I'm rather fond of the national anthem, and a good chunk of the people I love will be here, so mostly, I'm gonna shut up, finish reading the journal I currently have open, and go do some sit-ups.

The soundtrack to Prisoner of Azkaban is making me mist up here. *sigh* Remus Lupin, you so own me.

Comments

[science-vixen.livejournal.com]

Hi, I presume your Laptop is working again then?

I just knew it was the videocard... Glad to know that they just swapped the parts round, and all your data is still yours. ^_^

[halimede.livejournal.com]

{points up} That's the husband commenting, not sure either of us ever mentioned his LJ name.

[gjstruthseeker.livejournal.com]

*g* I checked out the user info and discerned as much, but no, you didn't mention it. S'all good.

[gjstruthseeker.livejournal.com]

Douglas and I are as well as can be expected. It was indeed a dead video card - that thing was enormous, too! Like a Pangea in the sea of my laptop's belly. And yes, very glad there was no need for a new system. Also, he did diagnostic tests of both the fans and most of the rest of my computer and it all seems to be running perfectly, though I do agree it does feel like it's running a bit warm. Thanks for all your advice though, made me sound and feel much less like an idiot talking to tech support.

[science-vixen.livejournal.com]

You named your laptop Douglas?

[gjstruthseeker.livejournal.com]

I did! When I first got him, actually. He was rather proper, and felt a bit British in his mannerisms (and I know how strange it is to speak of a computer's mannerisms, but there you go) and Douglas sounded an appropriate name for him. You don't name your computer(s)?

[science-vixen.livejournal.com]

You don't name your computer(s)?

I do actually, as do most computer enthusiasts I know.
Though most people tend to give their Computer an exotic name, or mythical name (as I do(*)), and Douglas was a bit of a surprise. ^_^

* Kypris, Ishtar/Inanna (dualboot), Thetis, and Luna

[tallories.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I was able to drop my Dell off at the Computer Hospital when it needed a DVD drive transplant. I don't think I could have handled watching it come apart. *shudders* Glad yours made it through with flying colors!

[gjstruthseeker.livejournal.com]

So scary! When I had monitor troubles last year, tech support had me pry off a panel with a kitchen knife! A kitchen knife! I was traumatized for a week. But thank you, and yes, Douglas and I are doing just fine.

[tallories.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes! Tech support made me open my computer up once, and I kept saying, "Should I unplug it? Should I ground myself? If I get electrocuted, will you call the police? Am I going to kill my computer doing this?" It was very traumatic.