R.I.P. CPU

So here I sit. As I do every Thursday. It’s dancing day. And we have dancing from 2:30-5:30 with one thirty-minute break in the middle that requires mom supervision. It’s my least fave day because I feel like I “waste life” each week as I try to quickly dash to run an errand here and there with three year-old in tow and get back before jazz class ends. Then four of us cram into the car (we have a friend with us) and munch snacks and watch about fifteen minutes of a movie, swap shoes, and run back in for ballet. It’s so fragmented and chaotic, headache-inducing, and unproductive. I take a healthy overdose of Extra-Strength Tylenol before we leave the house and try to roll with it.

Today we ended up with two overturned cans of soda, one monkey who scrambled to the back of the car refusing to get out for ballet, and one sitting helplessly in the middle totally unable to find her shoes (yep, she’s mine).

There’s really nothing that awful about it; it’s just that everything about it is so contrary to what I prefer.

So today, as I wait, I half-heartedly mourn the untimely death of my desktop hard drive. Frizzled. Frazzled. Fried. Though its unexpected passing has me concerned about my i-Tunes library, hundreds of pics, and many Word documents that have not been responsibly backed-up, the hubster’s flippant mention of a laptop has me not so heartsick after all.

‘Cause then I could blog and stalk during the dancing wait. Though my posts might turn into the dancing doldrums every week. So, consider yourself forewarned. If the laptop comment does come to fruition (doubtful at best), you may want to skip reading on Thursday šŸ™‚

So, what do you really do when you have to wait and don’t want to “waste life”?

This is what happens when...
Gray: The Unsung Hue

12 Comments

  1. Mark
    November 14, 2008 at 2:48 am

    Sorry to hear about the CPU. I might can help out with iTunes. I don’t want to add insult to injury, but what I am typing on right now doesn’t seem to have a history of crashes. (I know you know what I mean)

  2. Cookie Cawthon
    November 14, 2008 at 3:01 am

    Smug, smug, smug! My computer snob friend šŸ™‚

  3. Jessica
    November 14, 2008 at 4:14 am

    Boy, that’s a hard question. Everything that I have thought of…is also wasting time (reading magazines, playing with my iphone)
    Having my iphone does help me to keep up with email and blog stalking!!
    Sorry to hear about your desktop. Mine did that a few weeks ago. I lost EVERYTHING. The past 5 years of my life! I never thought I would need to back it up!! I also lost all of my itunes…which is the worst part (besides my photos)!
    ugh…good luck with it!

  4. Ruthie
    November 14, 2008 at 5:18 am

    First, someone like the geek squad might can recover and save all the stuff on your harddrive even if it is crashed.

    Second, I am embarrassed to tell you how impatient I am in the car. I hate even waiting at a red light sooooo I always have a book with me in the car. As soon as I am safely stopped I pick up my book and read for lets say 30 seconds to 2 minutes. That is pretty ridiculous but it has helped me not have road rage.
    I love to read so I probably would have my current book, Luanne Rice, What Matters Most, with me.
    The LAPTOP sounds like the best idea. Fingers are crossed for you!

  5. robinrane
    November 14, 2008 at 1:09 pm

    Ohhh, so sorry about your computer, The Husband just said to me: “backup your files, I don’t want to live with you if that thing crashes!”
    You have encouraged me to just do it!
    When I have to wait: I bring a book, always either in actual book form or on my ipod. (Audible is so good for downtime or work around the house time!)
    Have a stellar weekend!!!

  6. Jenn in GA
    November 14, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    when i have to wait, which i do weekly at piano lessons, i choose one of three options:

    1) i read, which has already been suggested. i can see how that might not work so well for you, esp. during that 30 min. interlude, but it’s still a valid suggestion.

    2) i walk the dogs. i call this time management, because if i walk them during his 30 min. lesson, then i don’t have to do it when we get home! (i’m hoping this will be another convincing argument against getting dogs, since you’re still dog-free. i love them to pieces, but they’re WORK.)

    3) i pray. my thoughts wander all over the universe, but still i try to lift up people who come to mind and ask for mercy for myself and just be still. along this line, perhaps memorizing scripture (about waiting? haha) could be beneficial.

    sorry about the cpu. i’m really too firmly addic–er, attached to my computer and the thought of being without it makes me scared.

  7. Angela Ramsey
    November 14, 2008 at 2:55 pm

    That sucks! I think I would cry if I lost my ITunes library and pictures. I got a laptop for Christmas last year and I love it! I take it everywhere I go.
    As far as waiting, I don’t seem to do alot. There is not much traffic down here and i plan my trips to Walmart and other such places at non-peak times. If I know I am going to be somewhere where i have to wait, I bring my Ipod and a book!

  8. Mary Nell
    Mary Nell
    November 14, 2008 at 10:20 pm

    Clean out my purse (every doctor’s visit it gets a thorough cleaning in the waiting room)…read magazines that I don’t normally have time to read…text or call friends that I normally don’t get to talk to very much.

  9. Michelle@Life with Three
    November 15, 2008 at 12:57 am

    Sorry about your computer — my hard drive was completely lost a few weeks ago. It was a nightmare — and a very good lesson in the importance of backing up stuff regularly. I lost everything.

    I’ve struggled with what to do during the waiting time, as well. If I’m on the ball (and I actually remember), I try and keep the book I’m reading or the current issue of a magazine I want to read in the car. Problem is, the times I remember to bring reading material, I never get a chance to read it. And you can bet I’ll never remember to bring something the day when I actually DO need the distraction.

  10. Scarlett
    November 15, 2008 at 5:11 am

    I keep a small manicure set in my glove box, complete with a small tube of the “good hand lotion”….and treat myself to a mini manicure….I even do clear polish sometimes…….But lately since I got my new blackberry, I read my e-mails, text friends,play with twitter, etc..BUT…my nails are starting to show it!! šŸ™‚

  11. Patriciatub
    January 22, 2015 at 4:36 am

    You are so interesting! I do not think I’ve read something like this before. So wonderful to find another person with a few genuine thoughts on this topic. Really.. many thanks for starting this up. This website is something that is needed on the web, someone with some originality!

    • Cookie Cawthon
      January 22, 2015 at 1:02 pm

      Thank you for reading; I hope you’ll be back again soon… šŸ™‚ Have a great Thursday!