Not for bouncing

Up and down, like an oscillating wave. I’m at the crest.

Almost two weeks have blown by, with nary a mention of them in this space. I had a few Chicago Associated Press assignments, conversation that made me feel ill with realization, and even a moist oatmeal cookie. Those are so very rare some weeks.

I’ll start off with something scary. While at work one afternoon, I was packing up my equipment for an evening assignment that might require transmitting pictures back. I grabbed my cameras, and then my laptop bag. The 15″ PowerBook nestled inside had a fantastic opportunity. With zipper wide open, the silver laptop flew a few feet across the room, spinning and twirling like some dizzy slice of steel. It landed on the tile floor, using its front corner as a contact point. Still wanting more, it bounced high into the air and landed right on the screen.

Are you okay? I should have warned that this story might be inappropriate for children, nervous photographers and even bosses. I looked at the laptop laying on the floor, aware that my director of photography had bolted out of his office and was now staring at me. “Is everything okay?” he asks. Matt, another photographer standing right next to me, replied for me: “Oh, that’s just Adam’s head hitting the floor.”

Miraculously, the only damage was a smashed corner, right by the slot disc drive. It still accepts CDs, making it only a cosmetic problem. The intern now holds that amazing laptop, thanks to more equipment swapping this week. I have a second chance; a shiny, perfect laptop again.

May 11, 2006

Posted in cogitations.