Broken....not working.

Today dawned a bright and sunny day, but given that there was 6 inches of snow on the ground not more than a day ago, I wondered what the temperatures might be outside.  Time to check the weather, I thought, and walked into the computer room.

And that's when it hit me.  I couldn't use the computer to check the weather because the home computer is currently not working. 

I hate it when things you count on and rely on aren't working.  It just throws the whole system for a loop.  In our lives we get used to certain things, and when they aren't there you just feel unsettled.

For example, with the computer on the fritz I can't check one of my email accounts because it runs through Outlook on the home computer and I don' t know how to check it any other way.  I'm unsettled knowing I can't check that email account...what if someone sends me a really important email?  With the home computer on the fritz, I can't print out a family picture that we have saved on the home computer.   And luckily I don't have to teach this Sunday: I usually always have a handout or quote that I want printed off and with no home computer it just wouldn't happen.

We do have a laptop I can use for general things, such as updating this blog.  But it's just not the same as using the regular home computer.  It seems to take more time and effort to use.  It's not hooked up to a printer, nor does it have some of the files I need from the home computer.  Although the laptop will do in a pinch, I miss the home computer and all that I can do with it easily and without the need to adapt what I'm doing based on the limitations of the laptop.

Life is full of things that we get used to, that we depend on being a certain way.  The car is in the shop...but what happens if it's the week we're supposed to drive carpool?  The son is off at a track meet...now which kid do I ask to set the table?  The iron just shot sparks and died...but Craig needs that wrinkled shirt ironed for his meeting tonight!  We count on things, sometimes more than we realize, and when they aren't working like they should it sometimes surprises us how big of a hole is left without them. 

Luckily, though, the computer guy is coming tomorrow.  There is hope that before long all will be well and I can be back on the regular home computer with all that it can do.  Thank goodness for the ability to fix things and get them back in order!