A Casualty of Death

Captain's Log 2: 19.1.11

My latest adventure spans the entirety of these past few weeks.

The struggle began on the 23rd of December with a vindictive strike from chance at my good luck streak I had been having; apparently life can be too good, too easy. The attack occurred the very same night the somewhat heavy snowstorm hit Provo. While my contented self wandered through the land of Nod, dirty rain water pooled on  the top shelf positioned above my desk.  Once it  gathered enough strength the water moved to the second shelf. Quickly filling that shelf's flat surface the now large quantity of water decided to make like a waterfall and plummet to the desk top waiting invitingly below. Normally, this would not bother me: 'Meh, it's only a leak. That can be fixed.' However, (to horribly butcher a quote by some important person probably named Kennedy) the water's right to splatter its droplets freely ends at my laptop's keyboard. The water unfortunately remained blissfully unaware of my and the laptop's, Hugo, rights and continued to asphyxiate his vulnerable circuits. The slow death proceeded for a good hour before a worried ally, my sister, became aware of Hugo's untimely demise.  

Many attempts at resuscitation ensued, but none were successful.

Hugo's  pronounced time of death: December 26th, 9:18 pm. 

May he find the other dead electronics hospitable.

His death was hard to cope with, but trying to replace him has been even harder. My dismal and rather dire financial situation has been an ever present obstacle to overcome in his absence. Trying to persuade the apartment complex to understand the fact that it was there negligence which allowed the water in has not been a winning fight. They insist they have not been negligent in the least and therefore do not owe even partial compensation for Hugo's loss. I would believe them  a little more if the apartment had not sprung two more leaks since then...

Alas, while this skirmish  continues, I at first attempted to stay on campus and work through the HBLL library for all my computer needs. This version of dedication to my scholarly pursuits soon proved to be more harmful than helpful. The main reasons being; more expensive and much more time consuming. I would then have to be on campus everyday 9am - 9pm. After two days I came to the realization that my brain neither focuses when other people are around nor when I want it to. Thus this method of coping was eliminated form my list. 

Next, I took to sharing one of my room-mate's laptops whenever she consented or was not around. The second method was as successful as the first. Our schedules are very similar and even though she mainly plays on her computer...borrowing someone else's stuff is just weird.

So I finally gave in.
 I did not cancel my Stafford loan for this semester like I had planned and purchased a new best friend. Although, he does not have a name yet, he is proving quite useful at schoolwork. And unfortunately as distraction from schoolwork. Especially equipped with so many new and cool programs and features to call invitingly to me in siren song as I attempt to be studious. I must figure out a way to proverbially stuff my ears with beeswax to ignore them. Until then, I remain in their constant peril and mercy. Even now, I am falling victim once again to the one called iPhoto.

My fate is yet to be determined.

Maybe, if life continues.

Floyd, out.