Pesky obstacles like inspiration aside, I need a specific environment to write. Means: MY laptop. My 1950s doctor's desk with glass cabinet. My books close by. Music (or TV, it depends). Emma watching (if she's not chasing Charlie). And most of all: NO AUDIENCE. I absolutely hate it when people stand behind me, sit next to me or simply watch me while I write. If you want to see me going from "friendly" to "I'll rip your guts out, NOW!" in two seconds, interrupt me while I'm working.
Miss C. (my best friend) uses my laptop as well. She has her own, but it's of biblical age (there are rumours Samuel Pepys typed his diary on it), doesn't recognise any USB stick over a size of 500MB and crashes every five minutes. Needless to say, she did most of her work on my laptop. No problem there, most of the time, until now. She has more administratorial work now, I write more, and we were really beginning to get on each other's nerves. I tend to be come very snappy when writing and somebody is chatting next to me.
Yesterday, her laptop ceased to be. The CD drive is broken, the ventilators sound like clogged rainpipes and after five minutes, that dastardly thing became so hot that one expected to see smoke any second. My printer, faithful friend that he was, gave up his earthly existence as well, probably an act of loyalty. My own laptop needs a new keyboard. I bought it cheap on eBay, but until it arrives, my writing is easy on the "T" because that key is missing. I've glued the damned thing back on with chewing gum (old trick, but it still works!)
One laptop. No printer. Two people. Shakespeare might have turned this into a nice little tragedy. So we headed for the mall (well. Swiss equivalent to a mall. Mini mall. Minimal? Eh...), because yay, sales! Miss C. has set her hear on a Mac. I'm not a Mac person at all. I don't like Macs. Yes, people like me exist, unbelievable as it might sound. Now we all know how much iMacs cost. Your arm, your leg, your firstborn and your boyfriend. She's been circling various models for hours, but those things are simply too expensive. I said: look, this makes no sense. Don't buy some computer you don't want just because you need it. Save up and buy yourself an iMac for Christmas.
Good point, but that didn't solve the problem of "one laptop, no printer, two people."
Then I saw
him - our eyes - well, rather my eyes and his webcam - met, and he was on sales, and has 300something GB, and 1024MB and Wlan and burns DVDS and did I mention the webcam already? Only downside: VISTA. Unfortunately, it seems to be impossible to get any laptop with XP anymore. Darn it! But it was love at first sight.
So I bought myself
this dashing young gentleman and gave
Big Boy to Miss C.; in return she bought the licence for my new "quill". My old laptop is really good quality, so she'll be able to work without problems (as soon as the "T" arrives, that is), can save up for her Christmas iMac and I might finally be able to finish a chapter without interruption. Huzzah!
And to keep our new friend company, I also purchased a new printer.
He's a bit pale, but well, I suppose he's only shy...
Yes, I name my computers. Henry, Stanley, Big Boy - I don't know about the new laptop yet, but he looks very aristocratic. Suggestions are welcome!
And if you think this is odd behaviour: most people I know name their bikes, cars and even toasters!
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alex_beecroft today. Did not hit little old lady with yapping poodle over the head with it. Go me!dorky
