Surge Sounds Dirty
Joelle said in the early morning on June 27, 2008
Yesterday morning, I sat down to wrangle some projects into submission, but my computer said it needed to run a Windows Service Pack update. Fine, fine… I started it up and went to the gym.
When I came back, the computer was powered down and I figured it had just done that when it was finished. But, when I started it up again, it would only get so far and power down. I took the battery out, unplugged the power cord from the laptop and waited a few minutes until I was 100% totally sure there was no power to the laptop, in case perhaps it was stuck in some ‘hibernation power saving’ loop. I’ve had that happen before…
After putting the battery back in, I plugged in the power cord, hit the “on” button and… nothing. Not even a blip. This, of course, makes my stomach seize and I call Fry’s since my laptop is under warranty. I explained the situation… pretty calmly, I think, and he sounded as vexed as I was. He said that sometimes an interruption in an update can cause the operating system to disable, but not getting any power at all must be something else. I should bring it in, he said. Indeed.
As I was packing up my computer, it occurred to me, “Hey, Mensa, maybe it’s not plugged in!”
Apparently, the part of the power cord that runs from the wall to the adapter had just popped out and was sitting half-in, half-out of the adapter, which in turn made the computer sometimes power up, sometimes not, depending on how I was wiggling the cord. Yeah. I’m SO glad I didn’t pay some WoW-addicted tech kid to tell me to plug it in. That would have been embarrassing.
I went to Fry’s and bought myself new geekery anyway, to soothe my blushing ego. You know, as a reward for being so calm and troubleshooting the problem myself. 
*cough* I got a new pink mouse, which I like a lot better because it fits my small hands. I picked up a new headset so I can stop spending 5 billable minutes of every client call asking, “Can you hear me now?”. I got a few cheesy girl movies and the best, best, best thing: a Belkin Mini Conceal Surge Protector.
I’ll wait while the clouds part and the music of the angels rains upon us for a sec.
A surge protector doesn’t sound very sexy, but I consider that jumble of USB cables, power cords, adapters and miscellaneous subpar surge protectors next to my desk an eyesore. I hate it. I’ve always hated it. It’s like an electrical equivalent of Marjory, the Trash Heap. It makes it hot in the corner and damn near impossible to figure out what goes to where until you’ve unplugged the wrong cord and shut down the whole enchilada. But lo… Belkin bestows upon us a new frontier — concealed surge protectors.
I know. It’s almost too much to take in.
I’m dismantling my desk this weekend for a good cleaning and putting in some new office furniture — a cute cabinet from IKEA to hold up my printer and store the office supplies with which I help run our magnificent empire! Muahahahaha! Ok, not really. It’s just some copy paper, a few books and the biggest bag of Sharpies you’ve ever seen. But a girl can dream, ok?
Anyway, I’ll be implementing my new surge protector and I’ll report back. I’m sure you’ll be on the edge of your seat. Who wouldn’t?
Moxie Design Studios™
from Louisville, OH • Cocktail: White Russian
I love that mouse. You’re right, it’s great for people with small hands. Have you seen the mouse trap? It’s a mouse pad, that zips up and holds the mouse. I bought one with the mouse, and I love it.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@ThePooper: no! I haven’t… but thanks for the tip! I’ll check it out.
from Colorado
Me, of course, being the WoW addicted tech.............non-kid (heh) that would say “Hey, plug it in!” *snorfle* (We’re not all as horrid as you might think. LOL)
from Chicago
I’m really glad you didn’t have to make the WoW tech stop masturbating to the newest Anime Calendar. (Or was it just plain porn?) Either way, at least the poor guy didn’t have to clean it off, put it back and come up from his mom’s basement just to plug in your computer. Poor guy would have been really frustrated, and probably in a foul mood too.
Love the mouse, and I too am a Sharpie addict. I can’t wait to see pics of your new office.
from san diego • Cocktail: margarita
omg. dismantling for a Good Cleaning? sounds amazing… do mine next! LOL. (somebody was supposed to vacuum *behind* the computer the other day but somehow didn’t hear me when i had asked… )
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@daniel: yes, there are some dust bunnies living back there and I really want to wash my curtains, so it’s time to take the glass off the top of the desk and wipe it down, bust out the Swiffer duster and go to town!
I’m a rhymin’ FOOL!
from Phoenix
I have to HAVE one of those “concealing surge protector” things. I HATE all those wires and plugs and things under my desk. The cat is always climbing around down there messing with them. Sounds like a MUST have. I can’t wait to hear how you like it.
from Canada
I’m putting the pink mini mouse and the concealling surge protector on the list of things to search for through our vendors to bring in for back to school sales. I looked at the pink mouse a month ago and dismissed it because I have a bias against anything pink, but when you mentioned it’s for smaller hands, I had to have a look. We often get women in the store asking for smaller mice and we always end up selling them the logitech VX Nano despite the fact that it’s cordless. And we brought in a very small (like, you use only two fingers when you track with it) on a retractable leash) mouse that sells well to women. But, it’s always nice to have some womenly things to sell the university students who come in as they stock up before they leave home for the year. Thank you for the tips! Keep ‘em coming, please.
from Canada
Oh, and of course you now know the first rule of electronics: make sure it’s plugged in! Hee.
Dude! I did almost the same thing a week ago. We’ve been having a lot of thunderstorms lately and I always unplug my desktop when it storms to keep it from getting zapped by lightning. So one afternoon I walk over to my desktop and hit the power button… and nothing happens. My stomach fell out of my butt. Sure, it’s practically ancient in computer years (5), but I wasn’t ready for it to just DIE like that!
And then I realized I had it unplugged.
I’d love that concealed surge suppressor, but it only has 7 outlets.
Yeah, I got a LOT of electronics shit plugged in at my desk.
from San Diego, CA • Cocktail: slightly dirty Grey Goose martini
@TJ and Deltus: The conceal surge protector was a BUST. I think it would be great if you had no adapters on your plugs, but without that… there’s just no room to fit them all in there. You only get to utilize like half the amount of plugs available. It’s bollocks, really. Great theory and idea, imperfect production.
@Stacey: They have them in several colors, too, not just pink. Silver, green (i think)… a few others. It’s a notebook mouse and I’ve bought this same style several times over because it fits my hands perfectly. Not too small, like some of those others.
@geeky: I’m so glad I’m not alone. That is the worst feeling! lol.