OK Computer

The information is back.

After over a month without a functional computer at home, our Dell Dimension has stayed "on" for hours.

This is what it took:

1. 6 Phone calls to Dell,
2. A new motherboard
3. 1 misdiagnosis from "Mandi" at Dell Tech
4. Hella patience

But we're back. And it's having it's same old effect on our routine. One of us sits apart from the other (in this, and many, cases, me)in a little room doing things of minor importance. The other sits out in the real world and does real things, wondering WTF the other person is on the computer for. Yay, computers.

"Kill Your TV" bumperstickers bug the hell out of me. Really? You hate TV? More than anything else, so much so that you have to brag about it? Can't put something on there like "Love Your Enemy" or "Infinity Is a Trip"? But I do get the sentiment, especially with regards to computers.

We haven't not had a computer (yes, double negative, so what) in 10 years, easily. Without it, it's so obvious what the impact is. Myspace page needs maintenance. 250 unread emails, most of which aren't really important. CC pollution. Youtube stuff to watch. Blog *cough* needs updating.

But after our excursion into the computer-free lifestyle, I'm happy to report that people out there are surviving just fine. Yes, it sucks at times, especially when all of your phone numbers are in a Google account and you can't price-check motels. But by and large, the negatives of sitting screen-bound on a computer are way worse for us than for, say, TV (which brings us together, and closer to Larry David. He so awkward).

We will work on controlling the real/virtual world balance. Be it resolved. Now I'm going to "hi-five" repeatedly with a nine-month-old on the floor.