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November 17, 2006
Opposites Attract!
So, science…
Yes, yes, we all know that I am not a genius when it comes to science. But I am hugely interested in it, and try to remember to thank it daily for all the ways it makes my life easier. And today I want to give a big round of appreciation to two particular discoveries.
1. Pain relief. Without which I would still have the headache I got about ten minutes ago (more about which in a moment). Yay, big round of applause for pain relief! BIG THANK YOU pain relief! You're the bestest!
2. Electricity! It powers my computer, and is therefore critical to my employment, because without a computer I would have to handwrite my books (and if you knew how much rewriting I do, you'd understand that the paper and pen alteranative is not an attractive one to me). So yay, another big round of applause for electricity. BIG, HUGE THANK YOU electricity. You're the bestest, too!
But what's going on, Michelle, I hear you all cry? What prompted you to write about pain relief and electricity on today of all days? Well...
About ten minutes ago there I was sitting at my computer, quietly minding my own business when...we had a power outage. My first thoughts were:
(a) Huge relief it hadn't happened earlier in the week, because I handed in my book on Wednesday, and what if the power outage had happened before my deadline, and what if I missed my deadline--or what if I'd lost a vital scene because I hadn't saved it and no way could I ever create that scene again?
(b) Why could I still hear music emanating from Oh Patient One's computer next door in the living room? (The Killers, to be specific).
So I wandered into the living room in search of Oh Patient One, and there he was with a broken lamp in one hand, and a tooth-cleaning implement in the other (the kind with a metal hook scrapey thing on the end). And a "Who me?" look of innocence on his face.
This is the conversation we had:
Me: "All of the power in my office just went out. Does it have something to do with that lamp you are trying to fix with my tooth-cleaning implement? Tell me you didn't poke it into the lamp."
Oh Patient One: "The bit that connects to the lightbulb to make it glow was wonky. I was just trying to straighten it."
Me: "You mean that METAL bit inside the lamp that connects to the lightbulb to make it glow? That LIVE METAL bit?"
Oh Patient One (now with a sheepish look on his face): "Um, yes. that bit."
Me (with sudden headache from what might have befallen him if my tooth-cleaning implement hadn't had a plastic handle): "But. But. But. Why didn't you unplug the lamp first?"
Oh Patient One: "I didn't think."
And this from the man who scored 100% in an intelligence test making the rounds on the Internet last week?
So my question today is this, dear chicklets: do you have reason to thank certain scientific discoveries because of either something daft you have done, or something daft a loved one has done? Tell me I am not alone!
Michelle, relieved in Rotterdam...
Posted by Michelle at 8:21 AM | Comments (9)
Comments
Everyone! A big round of applause for the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner (http://www.automaticshowercleaner.com/home.asp)! Woo hoo! Way to spray!
LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at November 17, 2006 10:30 AM
I am fascinated with the new invention of the alarmed coffin, which makes it possible to be rescued if you're buried alive. Which is one of my more persistent irrational fears. However, it also makes it easiers for zombies to get out, which is a frightening development, although wonderfully icky for my upcoming demon slayer series . . .
http://uk.gizmodo.com/2006/11/10/russian_coffin_buries_you_with.html
Posted by: Alesia Holliday at November 17, 2006 12:57 PM
Eileen, *clap, clap, clap,* for the self-cleaning shower! Go shower-cleaning technology!
Alesia - um, an alarmed coffin? EEEEeeeeekkk. Although I am not a superstitious kind of gal, I have four words for you. Shaun of the Dead... Out on DVD somewhere near you :-)
Posted by: Michelle C at November 17, 2006 1:31 PM
I gotta say that I really love my coffeepot that shuts itself off after two hours. That little thing has saved my butt more times than I can count. Ditto that on the self-turning-off iron after 30 minutes. I'm sure our house would have been gone many times over if not for that.
So I'm raising my cup to the woman that invented self-turning-off-thingies. She's a goddess, obviously!
Posted by: dee at November 17, 2006 4:23 PM
Sissy #2 talked me into watching Fall of the House of Usher or maybe it was one of those other creepy Edgar Allen Poe movies when I was a kid and I'm still afraid of being buried alive. I'm liking the alarmed coffin.
Loved loved loved Shaun of the Dead.
Posted by: Eileen at November 17, 2006 5:06 PM
The automatic shower cleaner really works?! I've got to have one of those. Loved Shaun of The Dead. I like anything that sets the time itself when the time changes every year.
Posted by: Theresa N. at November 18, 2006 8:21 AM
Thank heavens for the crock pot!! That baby saves my life several times a week. I have three teen girls that I'm constantly driving here, there, and everywhere. Having dinner ready and waiting for me is a godsend!
Posted by: Berni at November 18, 2006 7:38 PM
My vote is for sentinel headlights. You know, they come on when you turn on the car and go off when you turn it off? Yeah, I have always been bad about remembering to turn off my headlights, so I really love this invention! (and so do my car batteries!)
I am also going to say that I love having a computer for the same reasons as you, Michelle. I always used the fact that I DIDN'T have one for not writing, because what a huge pain in the a** it would be to have to transfer all of my scribbles to a computer so I would just wait to write until I had one. I got a computer and guess what? I found OTHER reasons not to write! *grin*
I am also grateful for memory sticks! I finally got one and have backed up all of my important writing on it so I will not have a repeat of the floppy disk failure I experienced a while back.
Posted by: Sheri at November 19, 2006 1:02 AM
Way to go Dad...
You see, this is why you need your genius Teenager #1 around to fix all manner of electrical and mechanical devices, without cutting your precious power supply :D
Personally for me, I couldn't live without my new shiny laptop (Bessie)... my life would just be so much more empty without her!
Posted by: Teenager#1 at November 21, 2006 11:05 AM
