HeyChristine.com

Friday, February 9th

A miracle has happened.

I got a laptop. Before I go into the nitty gritty details, I need to preface this by acknowledging one of my inner most fears... purchasing a computer. I have never purchased a computer by myself in my entire LIFE, and I probably never will.

Being adverse to reading instruction manuals or learning how to use new gadgets is one thing, but making a relatively major purchase like a computer is entirely different. I don't understand how they work. I don't understand why they break down. I don't know what to do when that happens. I don't have time nor do I care to understand. Sales reps confuse me, tech support abuses me, and in Taiwan it's just that much worse because my Chinese just ain't good enough to defend myself and yet I KNOW I need to get one.

In short... I am afraid to buy a computer.

The website, service, or product displayed here is used and/or endorsed by Yours Truly.

For that reason...

I have been putting this off for the past year or so (?) making do with my old laptop and then fighting with my uncle's ACA (Ancient Chinese AcerNote). But after this past disaster in the U.S., I knew I needed to address my fears and get a new laptop even if it KILLED me. It's only taken me, oh, about two months to do so.

What about my first laptop? Daniel Hu of Citibank got that for me. I used to work in the Operations & Technology division of Citibank Taiwan - Lord knows WHAT I was doing there - and Daniel headed one of the departments. One day I was shootin' the breeze with Daniel and told him about my problem, so Daniel extended a helping hand. He asked me what my specs were (i.e. "Daniel it just needs to be LIGHTWEIGHT and in ENGLISH!") and then asked me for my money.

One week later, he handed me a laptop, all ready to go. And because I was working in O&T, I had unlimited access to tech support and to whatever software I needed. I was happy.

The website, service, or product displayed here is used and/or endorsed by Yours Truly.

So how was I able to purchase a laptop last night?

Rich, my *hero*, came with me. He took care of everything. I did do my "research" first (lightweight + English) and went to the computer market last week with Adella to check things out. I knew exactly what I wanted to get and had wanted to purchase a laptop that evening, but I couldn't help but notice the way we were being treated (i.e. as two non-tech American females), so I told all the sales representatives that I'd be back with my BIG BOYFRIEND. That would be Rich.

The treatment Rich and I got last night compared to the week before when I went with Adella was like NIGHT and DAY. But I accepted it as human nature. I know when and where to be a woman, and I know when and where the men come into play. And, since this is such an important moment for me, I've created a separate set of photos just for the occasion. May I never have to buy another computer again. Click on the picture above for more photos. Also, note the angles, per last week's lesson on photography. It is FUNNY.

The website, service, or product displayed here is used and/or endorsed by Yours Truly.

Last but not least...

I also picked up a webcam for Gus, which I wrapped up and gave to him today as a gift. The series of events that led up to this moment is as follows... Last week, when Gus had to help me figure out what went wrong with my webcam installation, I knew I was being a total BRAT and told him as much, just as we were finalizing the last configurations. See below...

Me: "Gus, I'm really sorry for being such a pain."

Gus: "That's cool, don't worry about it!"

Me: "No really. I know I can be difficult sometimes..."

Gus: "Uh... yeah...."

Me: "...you're just trying to help. I realize that."

Gus: "Yeah, yeah... it's cool."

Me: "I REALLY owe you for this one, really Gus, I do."

Gus: "... really? Wanna get me a, errr..., webcam?!"

Here I was all irritated and focused on the monitor, dying to get the installation over and done with when I looked up and saw this HUGE grin on Gus' face. I couldn't tell if he was joking or WHAT, but the more I thought about it, the more I thought, you know, I really should. Plus, I didn't get him anything for Christmas this year like I normally do, too busy freaking out about not having a computer and needing to publish the EBs while on travel.

Me: "You know what Gus? I think I just might do that."

Gus: "Really?!"

Me: "Well, it's the least I could do..."

Gus: "Chris, I was only kidding!"

Me: "No really. Besides I didn't get you anything for Christmas this year."

Gus: "Well, ok... cool! So, uhhh... when?"

Me: "Well, the next time I go to Kwang-Hwa, I guess..."

Gus: "When will THAT be?"

I had no idea, so I left it up in the air and figured I would get to it eventually. I never really told him about the anxieties I have in purchasing computers here in Taiwan because it was kind of an embarrassing thing to admit to anyone, even to Gus who knows what a Techno Ding Dong I really am. On Monday afternoon, he called me with this...

Gus: "Chris, I'm heading down to the KFC near AURORA. If I find the camera
there, I was wondering if I could just buy it first and you can just pay me
back later?"

Me: "NO Gus. That totally defeats the purpose of my getting this for you as a GIFT."

Gus: "No it doesn't!"

Me: "Yes it DOES."

Gus: "It doesn't! It's the same thing, Chris! I'll appreciate it!"

Me: "It is NOT the same Gus."

Gus: "I can buy it and then you can pay me like I'm a store, and then give it to me."

Me: "Gus give me a BREAK."

Gus: "Come-on! I can pick one up on my way back and give you the receipt!"

Me: "Gus. IF you buy it YOURSELF, DON'T expect me to reimburse you."

Gus: "Oh come on..."

Me: "Gus I said NO."

Gus: "Gyosh..."

Gus: "... then when are you going back to the computer market?"

Me: "I don't know but when I DO I'll let you know. Definitely before next
Monday's EB because I want to announce the launch of this site."

From that point on, Gus would NOT stop asking me when I was going back to the computer market. I finally told him that I was planning to go on Wednesday night because Rich was going to come with. But Wednesday night rolled around, and unfortunately Rich was flying into Taipei later on in the evening, so I ended up going to the Lantern Festival with Adella instead. Gus was not happy, so yesterday I assured him that I would be going in the evening, with or without Rich.

Gus calls me first thing this morning.

Gus: "Uh... hi Chris! Good morning!"

Me: "Morning Gus."

Gus: "So, how did it go last night?"

Me: "GREAT. I got a laptop!"

Gus: "Cool! Congratulations!"

Me: "Yeah thanks! It's awesome! And Rich totally saved the day!"

Gus: "Cool!"

I paused, waiting to hear what he would say next.

Gus: "So... what did you get?!"

I strung him along for another ten minutes, going on about the global warranty, the English Windows operating system, the RAM upgrade and everything else I could think of. I couldn't help myself. And neither could he.

Gus: (defeated) "Did you get the webcam?!"

I could actually HEAR the excitement in his voice and wanted so BADLY to laugh out loud.

Me: "Yessssssss Gusssssss... come on down if you want it."

The website, service, or product displayed here is used and/or endorsed by Yours Truly.

YESTERDAY | THE NEXT ENTRY