Love?

I just might be in love.

The other day, my laptop (named Chip) begins making concerning noises. He is ticking, not unlike a bomb. In fact, Alex, my roommate, wondered if he was, in fact, a bomb. I tell my father I need to buy an external hard drive for I fear Chip has seen his last days. We discuss this.

I take Chip to the tech people on campus. He does not reproduce the bomb noise, and the tech people shake their heads. They advise me to take him in to the Apple store. I call Apple, make an appiontment. Drive to walmart, buy an external hard drive. Bring Chip to the Apple store with the external hard drive. Again, he fails to reproduce noise. I describe the ticking noise, and the guy at the Genius Bar (R) looks very concerned. I also say I need to purchase a new battery while I am there. Genius R says "ok!" and informs me that they will replace Chip's fan and hard drive, but I'll need to pay for the battery. I am pleased with this arrangement, and leave Chip in great hands. R also says they are going to fix my keyboard/top case because it is cracked (a manufacturing problem that is merely cosmetic, ie it doesn't affect Chip's performance). And he's going to update me to the new operating system. I inform R we are best friends. I also consider asking him to marry me, but figure that's pushing my luck.

Fast forward 4 hours. R calls me, says Chip is ready to be picked up! He brings him out to me, whispers that the battery is free too, and has me sign papers. I ask R, "wait, how is all of this free?" Then I give him 2 thank-you brownies that I baked. (Don't worry, I clarify that they are 1. not a bribe and 2. not payment. They are simple a thank-you for my new best friend.) Later, R calls me to inform me that the brownies were fantastic. I think this is the beginning of a fabulous friendship. And a romantic love affair with Apple.