If it ain't broke...

...don't fix it. But if it is broke, write a blog about it. That's my motto. It seems like everything broke this week. Well, not everything, but two things, two things big enough to notice: 1. my mac at work and 2. our family minivan. It all started on Tuesday when I was downloading routine system updates on my iMac, which is only two years old. Upon restart it got stuck on the blue screen of death (yes, macs have them too). When I realized what was happening, I experienced many emotions uncannily similar to those found in the five stages of grief after the loss of a loved one:

1. Denial: This can't be happening. I must be dreaming. My computer will start up any second.
   
2. Anger: Come on! Start up already! This can't be happening to me! Noooo!
   
3. Bargaining: Dear God, if you would just make my computer start up again, I will stop checking my personal email and blogging at work.
   
4. Depression: I give up. There's no use. It's gone. Tears.
   
5. Acceptance: I have incorporated the loss into my life. While there is still sadness, it will not prevent me from functioning normally.

The stage of Acceptance enabled me to look up Apple support online, and after combing through a myriad of forums, blogs, manuals, etc., I found that the only viable option I had to get rid of the BSoD was to reinstall my operating system. This is pretty easy with a mac, and you can even do an "Archive and Install" which preserves all your files and settings. However, you need your installation discs to do this. And since I wasn't around when the computer was purchased, I had no idea where the discs were kept. I found Disc 2 pretty easily, but after tearing my office apart, I coud not find Disc 1. Why would Disc 1 be missing, and where could it be? It remains a mystery even now.

After going through the five stages of grief all over again when I couldn't locate Disk 1, I set up a support request online with Apple, and they called me within a minute (yes, literally). After telling the nice mac genius guy all my woes, he asked for my address and said they would mail me the disc I needed, no questions asked. I knew there was a reason I loved Apple. FREE replacement disc, yay!

The same day I was dealing with all this computer stuff, Jeff texted me at work to let me know the van wouldn't start (he drives it during the day). When I got home we tried jumping it, but that didn't work. We figured it was probably the starter, so we had it towed to Meineke last night.

[Side note: We get free towing through our roadside assistance plan with Verizon Wireless. It's only $3/month. If you are a Verizon Wireless customer, make sure you sign up for that. It's totally worth it!!]

Usually when something like this happens I freak out a little bit. I try to keep calm, but car trouble is such a pain. It's inconvenient and usually expensive. And usually we don't have any extra money. However, the other night Jeff got a message from his brother Eric in California saying he was sending us $300. I thought, "Wow, that's awesome!!" but I wondered why Eric would tell us instead of just letting us be surprised by the check in the mail. Now I see how him telling us about the money BEFORE our van broke down helped in keeping my freaking out to a minimum. When it happened, I already knew we would have money to cover the repairs.

Well, it turns out it is indeed the starter, and a new one is going to cost us $400. You don't have to be great at math to understand that this is very close to the same amount Eric is sending us. So amidst all of this week's breaking down, there's been a lot of building up. I just found this verse and I love it: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment" (I Timothy 6:17). Amen to that!