Let me repeat that: The mouse. Stopped working. On my new computer. I guess there’s something to those computer elves, after all.
Now, normally, I would be able to move beyond this. But a) it is a new computer, and a new mouse; and b) I’m on deadline, and I cannot use that desktop computer without a mouse. One itty bitty component goes bye-bye, and it’s like being stuck in a raft in the middle of the ocean with no breeze, no water, and the sharks circling. I exaggerate, yes, because this certainly isn’t life or death – but it is a pain, and frustrating, and it takes time away that I can’t really afford to lose.
Good thing my laptop is still functional, so I can continue onward with the book—but I’m lucky, that way. That’s not often the case. And do you know the kicker? Apple can only guarantee the replacement within five days. FIVE DAYS. Five days is a lifetime when you’re a writer. I can order a new mouse off the internet faster than that. Which I just did. I guess I’ll have an extra. No doubt a good idea.
So yes, I’m whining. And it could be much worse. I did not lose any of my writing, just a little time—and I’ll be back on track by the end of the day. But for all of you writers out there, keep the vagaries of technology in mind as you work. It’s easy to take the little things for granted when those keyboards and mice and programs are running smoothly. Backup your writing, your music, all your photographs and emails. Save them to external hard-drives, or online. If that’s too much trouble, you can even just email your day’s work—that novel, your short story—to a Yahoo or Google account. Something, anything, you can access from another computer.
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Here’s a cool link—Greg Beeman, who is a director and producer on the NBC show, Heroes, has a blog with all kinds of behind-the-scenes pictures and trivia about each episode. Much fun. Lots of eye candy.