Life without a computer

My brother said, "You're half a person," when I told him I've been without a computer all week, and he's right. You hear of people who give up TV or give up the internet or something. I hereby swear that will not be me.
Sunday afternoon, my puppy chewed through the wire between the converter and my laptop. I couldn't figure out why she was barking under my desk but soon discovered a wire that was sparking and had no doubt given her a mild shock. Ran to Radio Shack, then Circuit City (moved) and Best Buy (moved) and back to another Radio Shack where they told me Sony parts are proprietary but there was a Sony store nearby. Wrong--no Sony Store. All this is the heavy traffic around the mall because of tax-free shopping with the temperature reading 110 outside.
Monday I located the Sony network store where, after a great deal of trouble they located someone who could get the converter and cord to them in two days. Not cheap. And wrong again. It's scheduled to deliver Friday. I'm holding my breath.
From there I went to the grocery store only to discover I had no wallet. Ran home, cancelled my credit cards, and someone called from Radio Shack to say they'd found my wallet in the parking lot. Went to get it about 3:30--temperature 106--and my car began blowing hot air at me. Went back to the grocery for the things I hadn't gotten in the morning and by the time I got home the "check engine" light was on along with the overheated flashing red light. Car towed. Several hundred dollars later I am to get it this morning.
So that's been my week from hell--no car, no computer. I've been reading emails on my iPhone, which means I didn't answer a lot of them and when I did I'm sure I sounded abrupt--I'm not good on that keypad, even with a stylus. If I've written you and sounded annoyed, it's because I was--just not at you. Judy's Stew has gone undone, and there was no Potluck with Judy this week, although I have several guest columns ready to go.
And friends have been good about carting me around. It's not been all that bad--I'm reading a good book. But my "to do" list is overwhelming. This morning I'm working at TCU Press and grateful for the opportunity. Surely my luck will change--and the heat wave will break.

A day of mishaps with a happy ending

Every morning in my life I get up, brush my teeth, and wash my hair. Even if I'm not going anywhere and don't put on makeup, I wash and blow dry my hair. This morning, I didn't, because I had an 8:30 haircut appt. and it was just going to get washed again. So I crept out to the salon, looking scruffy. Rosa didn't show up. I finally got out my cell phone and found she'd been leaving me messages all week--she had to cancel. So I went to work looking scruffy. When I went to wash my hands in the bathroom, I was startled by the person who looked back at me. Pretty much, as the morning wore on, I forgot about it, but it wasn't good for my ego.
Jordan and I met for lunch at Hofbrau, a favorite of hers (she used to work there). She had saved up her splurge all week so she could have a cheeseburger and steak fries. I had a baked potato (the sour cream and bacon were not good additions but I enjoyed them) and salad. Jordan commented, and I agreed, it was nice to have a meal together, just the two of us, and not have to watch Jacob. But I apparently left my wallet on the table. I remember returning the credit card and charge slip to it, but after that it was a blank.
I didn't discover this until I went to a church dinner (by this time I had washed my hair) and had no wallet, no money to pay for the dinner. Called Hofbrau and the manager had it in his office. So after the Mexican fiesta at church--complete with a fascinating demonstration of Mayan dance, with dancers wearing the most elaborate costumes--Jean, Jim and I went to Hofbrau and retrieved my wallet, complete with charge cards, drivers license, and cash. I am so grateful. I told Jordan tonight if she's going to be a caretaker of the elderly (that's me), she needs to do better.
So now I'm home, settled down, and think I'll finish my mystery before I go back to page proofs of the cookbook. A long weekend that loomed once again doesn't seem so long. Every week we wait to see if Christian will work on the weekend, but he doesn't get a shift at Joe T.'s. Winter is a bad time to be a part-time waiter there since they rely in pleasant weather on a huge patio crowd. He's not working again this weekend, but Jordan had scheduled a play date for Jacob. So Christian's coming for supper with me. Sunday I'm gong there for brunch, and Jay mentioned something about feedling me this weekend. Too bad it's all about food, but that's how my social life is.