Drying Out

Well, we established a new rule here at the Casa de Ginley. 

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No beverages may be consumed while working on the computer.

This edict came about in the usual way – after disaster struck. 

It all started with a trip to the corner to visit Dunkin' Donuts, an old haunt we hadn't visited much since the pandemic. Now the lobby was open again, the day was warm and sunny, the snow had melted temporarily and it was a pleasant day for a stroll.

Returning home, I went back to work and that's when the trouble started. 

I splashed coffee on my laptop keyboard.

Panic ensued. 

I mopped up the mess as quickly as I could, turned off the computer and turned it upside down. I called my go-to Mac guy at Quadstar and asked if there was any hope.

He said that I did what I was supposed to...sort of. For future reference (and for all of my readers), I provide the following instructions. Should you ever make the same mistake, follow this sequence of actions IMMEDIATELY following liquid contact with your computer:

1. Turn off the computer.

2. Unplug.

3. Flip it upside down and put a towel underneath it to soak up the spillage.

4. Pray and/or do Reiki on your computer.

5. Wait 24 hours.

6. Pray and/or do Reiki on your computer.

7. Turn it back on.

As Mr. Ginley will attest, I was stressed. Also, very lucky. The following afternoon, my computer booted up, and everything worked fine – except for the keys. Because I put cream and sugar in my coffee, the keys were sticky. I resolved this by very carefully running a Q-tip soaked in iso alcohol around the keyboard. Eventually, the alcohol (and careful typing) did the trick.

Yes, I will miss drinking coffee in front of the computer, especially while reading the morning paper.

But I can use my iPad for that. I never want to have to plotz about having fried an expensive piece of equipment because I'm an eejit.

I only wish I'd remembered what the Pepsi Syndrome taught us. 

But like they say, those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.