Allison, I feel a portion of your pain...

It's ironic that I'm sharing this news on the internet. Via a computer. Good thing there's not much to do in the English Department today...

So, the dreaded technological event has happened. I've never had a problem with a Macintosh my entire life, and this weekend, the worst problem made itself manifest. That's right. THE dreaded technological event.

My hard drive is gone.

Not entirely. I hope.

I was planning on getting a new computer in September anyway, with my extra financial aid. I need one with a superdrive, and the latest operating system is always nice. I was just planning on being able to transfer everything, and give Beckah my old one. I guess we're moving on to Plan B.

Starting from scratch.

I'm over the initial knock-the-wind-out-of-you shock and horror, and I've decided that it could be worse, and that perhaps this is a blessing in disguise.

CON: I'm pretty broke this semester, so I simply don't have the means to replace the hard-drive or pay for file recovery until September. Therefore, I shall have to go without a personal computer for the last three weeks of school.
PRO: There are computers at work and at the library.

PRO: There are only 3 weeks left of school.

CON: I don't know what can be recovered, including current fictional works in progress. Like my screenplay!!!!

PRO: I just backed up my pictures, and most of them are on facebook anyway.

PRO: I just synced my iPod, and I have an external charger. So I can still at least LISTEN to my music. And though it might take some doing, I'm SURE there's a way to get those tunes back onto a computer eventually.

CON: I can't connect to friends who are far away quite as easily or immediately, via facebook, namely.

PRO: There are always cell phones.

PRO: There is always the US Postal Service. And e-mail. And facebook occasionally.

I spent this afternoon in tired, hungry, and somewhat hopeless frustration. An order of nachos, a trip to the library, and a stern self-talking-to later, I've decided that it really isn't THAT bad, and that all will be well, and that this IS a blessing in disguise!

Instead of spending hours on my computer, I can spend hours with books, in the great outdoors, with friends, doing chores, etc. etc. I'm sure I'll discover that I actually have time for all those things if I let them replace the somewhat less worthwhile time I spend staring at a screen.

I say as I type this up online.

I value technology. I think its an incredible tool that can forge connections in ways we couldn't have dreamed of even 5 years ago. I'm not ashamed of blogging, facebooking, emailing, etc. And a personal laptop sure makes homework a breeze! But maybe the Lord's trying to let me know that my priorities need re-examining. Or something.

We'll see how it goes.