I thought today would never end.  This was an odd week for me.  On Monday, my computer at work wouldn't come on when I pressed the control, alt,del like normal (one of the IT guys told me to shut it off and let it restart at the end of each day so it would already be booted up in the morning).  I got a BSOD (blue screen of death).  Usually, a blue screen means bad things are happening.  It also said something about dumping my files.  I thought that couldn't possibly be good.

I turned it off and called the marvelous folks at our Help Desk.  And I do not use the word marvelous lightly.  They are always polite and helpful and they are all so smart.

The nice man I got to talk to on Monday told me in essence, I should have probably allowed the dump to continue and then I might have been fine.  But now, my hard drive had crashed and was probably not salvageable.  He gave me a ticket number and I answered some questions during which I admitted this was not an EMERGENCY.  No direct patient care would be involved, just all of my work. (they thanked me for being honest as it seems everyone else in the health system seems to believe their computer is the most important one in all the world).

Sean, the IT guy came over and ran a few quick tests only to confirm what I already knew.  The hard drive was dead.  He told me I would get my computer back on Tuesday.  I used a coworker's for the day and got a surprising amount of work done.

Pk and I left work early to go back to the mechanic and get the computer (again with the computer!) checked.  He also repaired the a/c.  He told us we could go through inspection and would pass but he couldn't give us a sticker so we still weren't legal. 

Tuesday morning, as promised, Sean gave me my machine back but it was naked.  No favorites, no saved email addresses.  I fortunately had most of my favorites saved as a Word document so I could find them again.  This is not just Girl Genius comics but also Prior Authorization forms that I use on a fairly regular basis and also links to discount drug places.  I had most of them saved.  It took me a little while to reload them into their proper spots. 

My wonderful supervisor let me leave early again on Tuesday and we got to the inspection center and finally got the inspection sticker that allows us to legally drive the car.  Whew. Now we don't have to worry about getting a ticket.  We can drive our very clean and shiny car anywhere we want. 

Today was the longest day of the week.  I actually stayed till the end of the day (although leaving early Mon and Tues did not mean that I won't have my required number of hours-I put in extra most pay periods, this one will have 3/4 of an hour over.  Not too bad)  I had Vacation Brain all day and didn't get much accomplished.  I made sure the person covering me had anything he might need and changed the message on my machine but the rest of the day was pretty much a blur.

But now we're free!  For 6 days.  Tomorrow we have some errands to run (one of which is to go and get the vegetables) and then dinner in the park.  Friday will be a lake day.  Saturday will be for laundry and puttering around.  Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will be for the movie marathon and lounging around (it's supposed to rain and be unpleasant).  I am hoping to get some spinning and knitting done.  Pk is hoping to putter in his shop.  It's been too miserable all summer to spend much time outside so this will be nice.

Is it odd to celebrate Labor Day by having a day off?  Seems so but I'll never turn down a long weekend. 

I know it's only Wednesday but since I'm officially on vacation, it feels like Friday.  So, Happy Almost Friday!