Monitorless

Have you ever been caught monitorless? We have.

I checked my email before I went to bed Monday night, and when I awoke Tuesday morning, our monitor had died. Gave no warning, just went black. May it rest in peace.

My initial thought was, "Great! Now we have to spend money on something like this!" Then I realized that at least we are blessed enough to have the money right now. I guess that's why it's good to have savings. Then I realized it was even better that it was just the monitor that went caput and not the whole computer! Then there's the feeling of hopelessness that the information you need is right there; I could even hear the computer scanning for viruses; I just couldn't see anything!

To some, a monitor may not be something that is imperative to have, but to me it is. Not only do I feel more connected to the outside world during my days at home, but I need the computer for parts of my business.

Did you ever realize how much you use your computer?

I needed to transfer funds from savings to checking...couldn't.

I needed to do research to see where the cheapest monitor might reside without driving all over creation...couldn't.

Really needed to check my email because I had people responding to a previous email I sent out...couldn't.

During the beginning stages of the search process, I realized that apparently flat screens are the only ones you can buy now. Who knew?

There was also a lot of irony in this escapade. Yesterday morning, we checked out Best Buy and the Wal-Mart on Atlanta Highway (of course they were out of everything, but had decent prices). Then, yesterday afternoon Avery and I could not go to track practice because of the rain, so we headed to the Wal-Mart on Ann Street to see if they had anything in stock. Did you know that the one on Ann Street's monitors were $40 more across the board...for the same product!

I saw there was an Office Depot down the way but decided not to go in, thinking that that particular area might be a tad more expensive than somewhere on East Blvd.

So, this morning, Avery and I headed out to check out more options. Since she woke up at 6 a.m. it would have been nice to get an early start, but those kinds of stores do not open until 10:00. Office Depot on Vaughn Road had the monitor I wanted displayed. Then I waited 20 minutes only to discover they were out of stock, "But the one on Ann Street has three" I was informed. Same price too. Yuck. Irony: This process could have been over yesterday.

I decided since I was close to Circuit City, I would stop by to check out their selection. Much more than the other places. As I looked down the way, there was another Office Depot! How many could Montgomery have within a 10 mile radius? I went in there only to find that they did not have the one I wanted on display, but lucky for me they did have it in stock!

So here's more irony. Why would one store display something they did not have, while another does not display something they do have? Just something to ponder.

So, after biting the bullet and driving all over creation yesterday and this morning, I found one. We are now the proud owners of an HP 17" flat screen monitor. And if you ever need to know what each store offers and what the best prices would be, I'm your man; uh, woman.