It’s official. My computer hard drive is kaput. It looks like it was slowly failing this past year, and on Thursday it took it’s final breath. I went to the Genius Bar again and received the diagnosis over the weekend. It’s a shame the other “geniuses” didn’t pick up on what was going on with my computer during my countless visits over the last 12 months (ahem), but I can’t blame them for the lost data. That’s entirely my fault. The only thing of real value were the pictures, and I only lost 9 months worth thanks to my sporadic backing up. Luckily, many of the great ones of our family (and the stories behind them) made it here on the blog.
Of course this would happen immediately after I made my lofty blog proclamations, right? You can’t imagine how silly I felt last week to have things go awry after all that talk. Missed posts, things off schedule, no pictures. The perfectionist in me, that which has kept me from taking important risks to avoid failing, was in a tizzy. And also saying I told you so. It didn’t help that the final posts I planned to write explained the last series I am adding to the blog. The series I am most nervous about it’s reception. The one some people love, but admit it’s a bit nerdy and not for everyone. Ugh! As dramatic as it sounds, I wanted to scrap everything and hide under the covers.
And then, on Saturday, I stopped caring. Meaning, I realized it’s just a blog. Things get screwed up, posts sometimes suck, and not everything goes as planned. Oh well! That’s life. I’m shooting for 80% awesome and I feel infinitely better about things.
I’m on The Mister’s laptop right now, the one he uses for work. This means that during the day, I will be without a computer and without internet until he comes home. The data recovery and new hard drive will cost slightly less than a new computer, and that isn’t something I am willing to pay for right now because as crazy as it sounds, I’m excited by the idea of life without internet. I have a feeling that my productivity will increase exponentially and that all those little projects around the house that I have been meaning to do will suddenly get done. The other day I was reading blogs and in the back of my head I thought I should really be researching metric conversions for recipes and planning out which ones from the Do�a Petrona book I should attempt first. Now, without my computer/internet/blogs/emails/twitter, I should have nothing but time. Me and some reference books, kicking it old school.
I’m hoping this experiment thrust upon me will make me more creative, more relaxed, more inspired, and more appreciative of the scant year or two I have left with Nicholas before he starts school fulltime. I will cook more, create more, think more, and, at night, blog more. Of course, some things will change by necessity. I try to reply to my comments and emails promptly, and that I won’t be able to do until the evening. I may not be as quick, but I will still respond.
In short, don’t cry for me Argentina. I have a feeling this is just what the doctor ordered.
Tomorrow, I will discuss the series I have tentatively titled, The One Where I Reveal My Nerdiness. If The Mister’s laptop crashes before then, I’m considering it a sign.
Have a great day! See you this evening. :)
What fun is life without a few nerdly tendencies? Yeah, I can’t imagine either. Looking forward to reading what you have in store … whenever that may be …
Ugh. What a bummer about your hard drive, but I’m glad you did have some backups and hope that the data recovery people take care of the rest. Don’t worry about the blog – we’ll all read what you post, whenever you post it, and enjoy it just as much as always. =)
my little mac succumbed to a hot chocolate spill last month, and you know what? the week i was waiting for my new one was actually pretty awesome. i loved being able to say “no” to certain requests and commitments because i didn’t have a computer ~ so i guess what i’m saying is: enjoy your days sans-computer. i’m beginning to think that’s the better way to be.
I didn’t get as much done as I planned (I have a cold) but I got a TON done today. Amazing.
I’m so sorry about your pictures, I know how you feel! I lost my external hard drive to a freak electrical issue and didn’t realize it until my actual hard drive crashed.
It turns out, backing things up isn’t always all its cracked up to be.
On the other gand, it IS nice to step back and relish an internet-less world. Hard, at first, but nice.
And nerdiness is nothing to be ashamed of. This is the INTERNET, for heavens sake! :)
I know. That scares me, and that�s why several people already warned me to back it up to an external AND to an offsite location like Carbonite or something. (I can�t remember the name!)
Well, I can’t speak for everyone, but my husband is a math professor – he truly loves numbers – factors virtually every number he sees – gets distracted during sermons if he thinks of a “pretty” formula – pillow talk sometimes consists of trying to teach me math concepts. Bring on the nerd, lady, I can take it. ;o)
Hah! :)
Jules, yay for you taking this in stride. We all need a break from technology every once in a while to actually live life instead of talking about it, or watching others living theirs. I often feel relief when the internet is down, or a cell phone won’t work. We all survived before the onset of such devices. Enjoy your time with your thoughts, your home, your babies. We will always be here!
I think the break during the day will be great for the blog, actually. Eventually you have to stop brainstorming and start acting.
We will miss you during the day, but taking a bit of time away from the internet can be so good! I’m sure you’ll end up enjoying it, although I’ll be eagerly waiting for your return.
I’m not going anywhere, lady. You’ll have to prior my cold, dead hands off the internet. :) I just won’t be here during the day as much. I’ll be too busy cooking some of the CUH-RAZY recipes in that Do�a Petrona book. O_O
I can’t wait! Bring on the nerdy:)
Good for you!!
Oooooh. I would be having dt’s for sure. :) Although….my filthy bathroom would prob’ly get clean. Then again, maybe not since I can’t watch Nathan and Haley while doing THAT. But I can while sitting at this blasted computer.
Less blogging, more doing. Less talking about inspiration – more being inspired. Less researching beauty, more creating and being in awe of it.
Sounds good to me! :D
I too wrote about a similar feeling I have been having. http://www.abcddesign.com/archives/2011/01/03/where-is-my-motivation-for-2011-going-to-come-from/ I tell ya what, my readers had some pretty darn good comments. You might get a little inspiration from them too. I have only written a few posts, (not one each day of the workweek like I used to) and it is nice not to have the pressure. When I feel like it, I do. When I’d rather do something else, I do that instead – and I skip the blog post.
Anyway, I sure like your blog – but a little less time on the internet can be good for all of us! ;)