I'm Back And Things I Learned From A Broken Laptop

Yippee!!!  I'm back on my very own laptop!! 

We picked it up this weekend and it was all I could do not to skip out of the store!  They really did a major overhaul -- replaced the motherboard, replaced the fans, and replaced the hardware where the power cord connects to the computer.  I hope (for their sake) that I never have to go back again -- except when it's time to buy a new one!

But the time I was away from my computer was not wasted.  Everything I learned over the past two weeks, I learned from my broken laptop.......


Housework gets done a lot faster without the computer break every 30 minutes.
I actually got caught up with all my laundry - sheets, towels, and rags included.  My bedroom is clean and clutter-free and the living room is free from dust bunnies.

Playing real games with my kids is more fun than playing a computer game against myself.
As I was going through my cleaning phase, I dared to enter the small storage space in our family room and discovered that we really have a lot of games for the kids - and we've maybe played 3 of them.  So, out they came!  We rediscovered Chutes and Ladders, Operation, Trouble, among others!

Coloring really is therapeutic.
Coloring really is so much fun and very therapeutic.  There's something so very calming about coloring -- creating a page full of colors where there was once just black and white.  I love the smell of crayons.  (Did you know that Crayola actually has a patent on its crayon smell??)  I loved coloring with my girls so much that I actually went out and bought my own box of crayons!

I can finish a whole cup of coffee without having to reheat it 3 or 4 times
When I had my laptop, I would pour myself that morning cup of coffee and head downstairs for my computer time.  I'd get so caught up that the coffee would grow cold and I'd end up reheating it at least 3-4 times.  (As I sit here typing, I'm on my 2nd reheat and have yet to take a sip.....)

Keeping up with everyone else's minute by minute report of their day on Facebook really isn't all that interesting.
And if I feel that way about everyone else, then I know that someone out there feels the same about me.  When I would get some time on hubby's laptop and I'd check Facebook, I was really surprised at how many people just do nothing but complain.  Oh, don't get me wrong -- I enjoyed the occasional "my kid ate the green crayon thinking it was a green bean" status, but the "oh this day sucks" day after day just wears you down!

My Marine and I can actually carry on a conversation about stuff other than what music we downloaded or what we read on the internet that day
Pre-broken laptop, after the kids were in bed, we'd retreat to our ends of the living room, each of us with a laptop in our laps and get caught up.  We'd chat over downloading pictures, blogging, researching books, downloading music.  Once my laptop went kaput - My Marine was expected to actually sit on the same piece of furniture with me and - GASP - actually talk to me.

I actually can read my devotionals from a -- GASP -- book, rather than little pieces from the internet
I have a stack of devotional books that I've been hoarding.  For what?  I don't know -- the Apocolypse maybe?  But with the speed of the internet and my laptop, I didn't need an actual book.  I could get little snippets of the Bible from Facebook every morning.  Once that was taken away from me, I dug out one of my devotional books and for once, actually had to think and write down my thoughts and answers.  Those 5-minute snippets with God in the morning has now turned into 30 minutes.  First thing before I even turn the TV on to watch the news.  Don't get me wrong -- some days those 5-minute snippets are all I can handle -- but for where I want to be, I need more, and I knew it.

Some of my outstanding craft projects have actually been completed and my craft list hasn't grown at all since I haven't been browsing craft blogs.
This is a big one.  I've completed picture frames, graduation cards for Nani's preschool graduation, birthday invitations, shower invitations, t-shirts, and a booster seat.  (Pictures soon to follow!)  My favorites folder is still at the same number of blog sites since I haven't been able to browse and bookmark any new projects.

I'm overweight and at risk for a number of health issues.
Yeah, I knew this before my laptop died.  But this time I did something about it -- I joined a gym.  I now have a personal trainer named Roy who has been kicking my ass for two weeks now.  I'm taking Zumba classes.  I've discovered a love for boxing.  I'm also down 2.5 pounds!  Not a lot - but it's a start!

I missed blogging and reading about my bloggy friends!
This was the hardest.  I felt so cut off from everyone.  Not knowing how everyone's summer was going or reading about the latest hilarities in your families.  I missed not sharing photos of my girls and some of the things we've been doing over the past few weeks.  I missed WRITING period! 

So, in the end - while I'm back on my laptop, I'm going to try hard not to get back to that place I was before the laptop went on vacation.  To put the computer down and spend time with my family, to color more, to actually talk with my husband and kids.

I think everyone should take a break for awhile.  You might actually surprise yourself!