I am worried about my Roomba
When I first moved to San Diego, I was making a nice living, and I bought a lot of silly gadgets for no other reason than that I like gadgets. One of my favorite purchases was a Roomba, a little robot vacuum cleaner that works wonderfully on my laminate floors in my 400-square-foot apartment.
I love this thing. I have a cat, and she and I both shed plenty of dark hair. I just turn this little guy loose, and he catches all the dust bunnies while I work.
Lately, he’s developed a cough. More of a moan, really. I’m fearful that my Roomba is on his way out.
As a freelance copywriter, a Roomba is not essential equipment, but the little rattle that my laptop is making right now is quite worrisome. What if my laptop goes out? I have a backup system, but who can afford $1200 for a new one right now? And my BlackBerry is giving me trouble of late with the trackball.
I have to keep all my essential equipment in tiptop shape all the time, since I can’t afford any types of catastrophe. I’m a one-woman shop with one (raspy) computer, one (sticky button) cell phone, one (cranky, outdated) all-in-one printer. I can’t afford to replace them.
Fingers crossed here.
Little Miss on 31 Jan 2008 at 9:05 am #
For what it’s worth, if you follow astrology (maybe you’re not a believer), it is Mercury retrograde right now and most people will experience weird issues with their electronics. It’s because of the magnetic fields and changes and stuff. I’m not an astrologer, I’ve just followed and observed for years. About a week before Mercurty retrograde started, my computer died. I had to go get a new one. I’m in the same spot as you. Fortunately I was able to get a screaming fast, slick HP laptop at Best Buy for under $900. Has more power and memory than my mother’s $1500 Dell. If you want to read more about Mercury retrograde, see http://www.astrologyzone.com I’ve found this astrologer to be uncannily accurate in many situations. Your mileage and belief may vary, of course.
PS – please don’t think I’m a kook or wacko. I’m not.
Beth on 31 Jan 2008 at 10:28 am #
Little Miss,
This actually makes sense to me, especially since my wireless mouse is now going a little haywire. And, of course, I continue to cringe over the little “check engine” light in my car.
Dang retrograde.
Sarah on 31 Jan 2008 at 2:59 pm #
if you think of it differently, though, the time your roomba spends vacuuming for you is extra time that you can write and make money… sounds like the roomba is part of any smart business plan.
ps – do those things really work? i’m kind of scared of robots.
Beth on 31 Jan 2008 at 4:55 pm #
That’s a great point, Sarah!
Roombas rock… But I have a small place. They’re not good in tiny bathrooms.
Romi on 03 Feb 2008 at 9:26 pm #
I think it’s important to save the Roomba at any costs, because he’s like a little robot-person, you know, like a family member…do you feel the emotional connection?
Can I justify a housekeeper? | Life on Avenue Z on 12 Mar 2008 at 9:18 am #
[...] Right now I’m running my poor little Roomba every day to keep up with the floors. I’m worried about him. [...]