my computer shut itself down twice today. the first time, earlier in the afternoon, brought about a great sense of unease as repeated pressings of the startup key resulted in no start up. the guy on the apple helpline was quite helpful… but for the first few minutes didn’t seem to understand that i wasn’t using a laptop computer. “so you mean like, a desktop computer? with a separate screen?”

he then tried to figure out which model it was. “the 2003 model? with the mirror front?” i laughed darkly. “no, it’s 2000-ish.” i think my computer predated whatever he had handy on his system. but somehow we managed to locate the little (4mm square) silver square button with the black circle in the center, next to the battery, tucked away in the hinged door of the CPU. i pressed it, and nothing happened. i was already thinking about laying out the wound care manual again, from scratch, but then the second time i pressed it, it worked.

i backed up my work folder.

and then just ten minutes ago, my computer turned itself off again. apparently something is making it blow its own fuse. i’m thinking of checking into a hotel for a weekend; i think that might help.

the second time it blew though, i figured work was over for the night, and hopefully when i press the secret button tomorrow morning, it will deign to start up. i suppose i’ll have to think about procuring a new computer. this raises several unpleasant issues… like how it won’t be able to boot up in classic mode, and how i’ll have to update a bunch of murderously expensive design software… with the money i won’t have left over from buying the new computer.

it will also put a kink in my plans to buy organic meat. i’m almost all the way through “the ethics of what we eat”, and the current chapter is sort of pushing the “vegans are better for the environment” angle. i do not think that i will become vegan, so yesterday i bought an organic chicken. it was on special at the supermarket for just a whisper over $20. the whisper is the hushed tone in which you say the price. who knows what the normal retail price is?

i stuffed it with mushrooms, sage, garlic and butter and surrounded it with potatoes, pumpkin and carrots. i put it in the oven, and then maeve and i went to the playground. when we returned, dinner was almost ready. the mushrooms were especially tasty, having cooked in chicken juices. but was the bird itself more delicious and tender than its pitiful, debeaked cousin?

when the boy returned a few hours later from the prefects’ investiture, he said he couldn’t tell the difference. but then he’s hard to please.

the previous night i made what i’d considered a satisfying and well-considered meal of fettuccine pre-primavera: pumpkin, zucchini, mushrooms and chickpeas in a garlicky-tomato sauce. the boy peered closely into his bowl, then disappeared into the kitchen. he returned with a tin of tuna, which he tipped it into his bowl before stirring unceremoniously.

yeah, a weekend in a hotel — just me — would be nice. i wonder if there’ll be room service.