And, even when I get the computer back from them and take it back to the shop guys, I'm still probably going to sell the computer as soon as I get it fixed. Sure, it works, but it's old and has failed multiple times, and I'm sick of it. All of this is going to cost $$$ of course, but as much as I groan about it, I'm really fortunate in that I can afford it at all.
But the upshot of repair/data recovery/repair is that I'm without a computer for an extended period of time, probably given my work schedule another two weeks (making three total). And, already, I've noticed just how dependent I am on the net for several important things, specifically information and socialization. Even the friends I have in the Cities usually organize online. While to a certain extent it's expected, there have been some surprising moments, like when I realized that the only way I knew to check the weather was to either look out the window or look online. I've taken to carrying my umbrella to work as a precaution, and it's almost been relevant.
It also made me remember that I've become rather specialized at entertaining myself with electronic media. My PS3 is offline because we don't currently have a TV, and with no computer that just leaves me my DS, and I get sick of Harvest Moon after a while. There have been some work nights where I decided to go to bed early because I couldn't think of anything else to do (heavens forfend I do something productive!). This weekend, I started reading some of my old RP stuff, and remembering a pick-up for Dark Heresy I half wrote and could still run at some point, which was nice.
Still, for the meantime I'm left checking things at the Library on the weekends, so if you need to get a hold of me for some reason, give me a call. Cheers.
