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I did that really, really stupid thing that you always think you’ll never do, because it’s so stupid and you’re not that dumb, right?  You guessed it.  I spilled a glass of water ALL OVER my laptop.  Oh crap!   

In my defense, I was working on my laptop doing critical research and writing.  Getting really good work done, finally, after a thoroughly worthless day yesterday.  And the emergency “your battery is going to die in SECONDS!” warning goes off.  I grab my cord, plug the adapter pieces together, get one end into the wall behind me and reach around, desperately searching for the connector on the back of the computer.  “Almost there………..almost…………oh crap!”  That’s when my grasping arm knocked over the glass of water, directly onto the open computer keyboard… 

Of course, I had no idea what to do.  I saved my work and mopped everything up that I could with napkins.  Only then did it occur to me to turn off the computer.  So I did, let it sit for ½ hour.  That should be fine right?  Well, I am in a café, so all computer advice is securely located…IN MY COMPUTER.  So I turn it back on and everything seems to be working great…until I try to use the 1qa & z keys…uh-oh!  Random crazy excitement is taking place.  Text appearing and disappearing.  Start menu popping up and help windows opening…what the hey?! 

So I log on to the wondrous internet—and attempt to find help, without using any a’s (I finally found “stuck keys notebooks” and “spill notebook” as my non-a-containing key words—quick contest, what can you think of?).  Long, terrifying minutes where I read that I have probably permanently damaged my keyboard and will need to replace it.  (“Where can I get the parts in this country?  Who can I trust to do this work for me?  How can I possibly work without a functioning computer?”)  Panic ensues.   

But I am a competent adult!  So I examine Dell’s website carefully.  I open all the windows I need.  I find paper and a pen to write down all the explanations for how to open the computer, remove the keyboard, dry it, replace it (if necessary), put everything back together, and hopefully my data will survive this intricate surgery.   

Then I decide to try, just one last time, to use the 1qa&z keys.  Miracle of miracles!  All is ok.  May the computer gods forgive my mistakes in the future so easily!!!  May I remember always to NOT SPILL!!   

Yes, as one snide commenter on a spill-fix website suggested: “It is a heck of a lot easier to not have liquids near electronics!!!!” (as I have snidely thought to myself a few times as well).  Well, in my defense, I haven’t an office, my house is cold, and internet/computer offices (where you can rent a nasty, dirty computer at a tiny desk) don’t open until 3pm, so working at a café is my only option.  And cafés generally prefer it if you consume something.  So I drink water.  So sue me.   

But please, please, please, don’t tell the computer gods—I swear I’ll never do it again!! (glug glug glug)