6/15/2007I guess it was too good to last. While my health is still good (knock on wood) my appliances are letting me down.My first problem was with my wife's laptop. She needs to have her motherboard(?) replaced . She had already spoken with tech support and had been instructed to send her laptop back to the manufacturer for repair. the manufacturer had the courier drop off a packing kit to accomplish this.As I began to pack up the laptop, I noticed that the instructions for packing said to remove the hard drive. Now I was in a quandary. I wouldn't know a hard drive if it bit me. Unfazed, I began disassembling the panels on the bottom of the laptop. Once I had the panels off, I verified that I absolutely did not know what a hard drive looked like. Seeing no other choice, I called tech support.After spending another 15 minutes being prescreened by automated voices I finally was able to speak (sort of) with a real person. the tech was of uncertain nationality  and spoke with a very thick accent. ( t'ain't like me. I ain't nevah had no trubble speekin', ya heah?) the first thing he did was ask me for a service number. (Uh oh!)  Of course my wife did not leave me this.  When told this, the tech was silent for a moment.  He returned and said "no problem I can find it. Just give me a few minutes." then the line went quiet except for a low grumbling sound. I'm almost sure I heard "Stupid American!...may all his she goats be barren!!"   (Maybe it was just static)  When the tech returned he gave me the service number and instructed me on how to remove the hard drive. (So that's what one looks like!!) I was then able to pack the laptop and call the courier service for pickup.  Actually the tech was very nice and helpful. (Beside I don't even own any she goats....so there!)Completing all this made me thirsty. I went to get a glass of iced tea. Wouldn't you know it? No ice! the refrigerator wasn't working. So now I sit and wait for the repairman. (He won't be old lonely today!) I would attempt the repair myself but would probably short out the electricity for both Missouri and Illinois. Other than that, all is well.Hope you're all doing great,tom