Friday 1 August 2014

Contrary

While my mac was away from home for a bit of R&R I felt utterly bereft. Every time I passed the empty desk there was a tiny jolt. Fine, I said to myself, so you can’t go online to blog but you could prepare a blog post or catch up on emails. For a moment I was quite serious about that, eagerly making for the computer corner, until I realised that, no, I can’t do that either. I use the mac for writing, researching and blogging, ipads have small keyboards, they’re of no use to me for ‘proper’ writing.

There was definitely something missing to which I have become seriously addicted. How do people who say they have no need of a computer manage to live with themselves?

After an absence of a day and a half mac’s R&R was over and I could fetch him (him?) home. Mike the macman explained that all was well again and that he’d added an extra 2Gb of RAM to the measly 1Gb available on such old (old? OLD?) desktop computers and that that would speed it up a bit and that he’d sorted out a lot of inconsistency on the hard disk. I felt exactly as I do at the Vet’s when I pick up Millie after a minor op. I embraced my mac as I embrace Millie and put him on the back seat. Millie only gets to ride in the boot (of the hatchback - last time I mentioned that Millie rides in the boot somebody threw up their (blogging)-hands in horror at the very idea of such cruel incarceration).

But here comes the contrary bit: once I’d carried the mac upstairs to my study and set him up on his desk, I reconnected everything, checked that all was in working order and promptly ignored him for the rest of the day.

A bit like a man; it’s nice to know they’re around to use anytime you need them.



36 comments:

  1. Funny, funny! And I couldn't agree more.

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  2. Yes. I am glad that he is home though.

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  3. Yes, I had to laugh at your description of the bereft feeling of not having the guy around... and then ignoring him for the rest of the day. It was your choice that made the difference, yes? :-)

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  4. Lovely post ... I do that regulaly to my "puter ... will not feel abused by anybody/ anything ... smiles ... Love, cat.

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  5. hahaha...hey, that last bit there...ha

    i went 8 days without a computer on vacation...it was good to get back last monday...but nice to be away and breathe a bit...smiles.

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  6. Friko, welcome back to the fold. I do know what you mean about absence, etc. When business as usual, or normalcy returns to us, life shifts into another gear. Dont know if the result is complacency or relief.

    Whatever the proper word might be, it's grand to know that you are again connected with us. xo

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  7. "Mike the mac man". The alliteration pleases me.

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  8. I understand. I may not use my computer everyday, but I want it always on just in case the need arises.

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  9. Friko, I too prefer to use my computer to read and post blogs... but if I'm away from it, my iPhone will do nicely - tiny keyboard and all.

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  10. Indeed!

    ALOHA from Honolulu
    ComfortSpiral
    =^..^= . <3 . >< } } (°>

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  11. "After an absence of a day and a half..." I remember feeling that way about cigarettes. Mac is definitely a healthier addiction.

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  12. That's so true!
    It happens to me that I have the very best ideas for blog posts at times when I have neither the time nor the occasion to write them.

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  13. Friko, this was so funny! I've just had my Mac in for repairs too - 5 days worth, but I went away on Retreat for most of that time, which helped.

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  14. Funny how dependent we've become. I recognize so well what you're talking about, though the "enforced absence" while on vacation I always find a positive. It's nice to get away from the screen--but only when you want to! You are so right about the iPad, too. When I commented (read: complained) about its insufficiencies (I had hoped it would be more like having a portable computer, silly me), Josie said, the iPad is a consumer device, not a creator's device. Isn't it the truth?

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  15. I like getting away from the computer for a while - but then I am ready to get back to writing :)

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  16. When we head north, Internet is more complicated and I have to take Sylvia (my PC laptop) everywhere. Since I don't like the keyboard or pad, I am also hauling my mouse and external "regular-sized" keyboard (which is a very good solution, by the way.) I find it odd that I can't get up and check mail, write, blog, visit. And somehow, I get so much more done. Right now I have a ton of things to do before I go away for a few days -- the kitchen is a mess, packing, house tidying, weeding and watering and I'm into a very good book. And what am I doing? It seems to call me when I walk by! I fear I, too, have an addiction!

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  17. We love our Apples. I don't use my Mac everyday anymore, too painful to sit at my downstairs desk, and I never liked typing on my lap.. The IPad is great for leaving comments, however. I miss my ergonomic keyboard. My typing skills are atrophying using the Mac keyboard. I may add another computer to my inventory...soon!

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  18. Right there with you
    I am on my computer at dawn, lunch and before going to bed.
    This is how my 4 children - mostly communicate
    off and on through the day. I do hear their voice when they call
    but it is a few times a week and not daily.
    My computer arrived when I was 70
    and did not know if I wanted one
    now I do not think I could hardly live without it :)

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  19. this is the first war (one of some) in my life that I have a computer and I can not imgain my life here without it:)

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  20. ROFLMAO!!!!
    So glad Mac is home, though. ;)

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  21. You'd been working with only 1GB?
    However did you manage?
    My laptop has 4GB ram, my daughter's has 16GB ram.
    Glad you have him home again though. My laptop is also a him, his name is Harvey.

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  22. Hi Friko,
    You said you wanted some, so I would like to send you some sea glass from Penarth Beach! Email me at yonks@hotmail.co.uk with your address and I'll get that sent to you soon.
    All the best this sunny Sunday afternoon.
    Di
    xoxo

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  23. I find that I can get used to living without a computer though it is a bit of a shock at first!

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  24. Love it!
    I have been working from my laptop, which was tucked away, out of sight for the three months it took to sell the house. Some days it was just too much to get it out, and I depended on my iphone for email. I missed reading blogs, though - that was the worst.

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  25. Funny ... maybe you need an old-fashioned typewriter as a backup!

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  26. Strike me pink Friko, your post will carry me through the day. I do hope I don't die laughing at gym later as I'm pumping away on my elliptical.........magnificent mac and Millie in the boot, priceless......truly!

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  27. Hallo Friko,
    ich bin genauso abhängig von meinem Laptop, um Posts zu schreiben. Manches schreibe ich auch per Hand auf einem Zettel, um es anschließend in Word hinein zu tippen. Aber Google, Wikipedia usw, Fotos hochladen, ohne Laptop geht nichts.

    Gruß Dieter

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  28. Hi Friko - oh being without a machine is desperate times ... I'm glad mine is more up to date now - I feel I'm almost in the 21st century! But I don't have a Mac - just a pc and an ipad ... but I do like to type and research and work as you do.

    I expect by now you've had some time upstairs at the Mac overlooking your wonderful valley - we finally have rain down here - bliss! Misinterpretations and misunderstandings ... crazy inventions of our language ...

    Cheers Hilary

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  29. God damn it, Friko. It boils down to one thing and one thing only: IT'S GOT TO WORK. The moment it [whatever implement this may be] doesn't my disappointment with the world knows no bounds. Or I just shrug my shoulders. And do something else. As long as my washing machine keeps churning I am a happy woman. Touch wood. Which reminds me: When washing machine spins the earth or rather my kitchen floor moves. A source of endless amusement to me, and making me flee the kitchen.

    U

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  30. haha

    So, so glad your mac is back!

    =)

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  31. Even when I have no time for being on-line, I still want my computer available to me.

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  32. Your last line made me snort with laughter. So true.

    I do everything on my laptop - no iPad, no smartphone, so I would be truly bereft without it. An addiction for sure, but almost always a life-enhancing one.

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  33. Now that's hilarious.. and true. I see you have since got rid of your site counter. Was that indeed part of the problem?

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