Last Wednesday my computer got ill. So ill, in fact, that it decided it didn't even want to start up for me and instead decided to show me how unhappy it was by displaying an error screen and continuing to restart, over and over again. At least it was trying, I suppose. Kudos for that.

Now, I'm pretty good about backing up my stuff, but I haven't backed up ALL of it. I mean, does anyone actually back up their entire computer on a daily basis? I hope the answer is no, or I'll feel really, really stupid. Many gigs of music, some not so important photos and documents remain trapped. Thankfully, my step dad is the highest level IT architect at a big name computer company. Basically, he's the guy who can fix anything. And I mean anything. And he's a genius when it comes to recovering data. He resides in Michigan, but had planned a trip out to CA for May 16. In four days. And he has generously offered to save my stuff for me. Fate. No denying that.

Here's the worst part. My computer was purchased 7 months ago. A brand spanking new computer. The first new computer I had ever purchased. All previous computers had been rebuilt so many times and included parts that were 6-8 years old. yikes. But strangely enough, I never, ever had a problem with those computers. Ever. So I was surprised to find my brand new computer (comparatively) fixed on an error screen. I left for work in the morning with my computer still on, and returned home to the screen of death. WTF??!! My computer kept offering only one explanation for the error. "A recent hardware or software change might be to blame." Umm, no. That's my answer. No. Haven't installed new software in weeks. No new hardware either.

So I have only one explanation. My old computers used XP. Always. What a glorious OS. New computer uses POS Vista. I have heard Vista was a POS, many times actually. But I never experienced it first hand. Until now. I blame Vista. That OS runs my computer at 30-40% even when NOTHING else is running. POS. If I could swap out VIsta for XP and not void my 2 year warranty, I would do that in a heartbeat. But if I change the OS, Gateway won't work on it. Blah.

It's strange not to have a computer (I'm typing this while at work on my lunch hour). No way to check e-mails, no way to transfer photos from my cards which are piling up. No way to watch every episode of The Office (at least not without spending more money). I feel a little naked actually. Like when you leave the house without your wedding ring (I imagine, I'm not married).

Is Friday here, yet?