You'd think someone who uses a computer for a living might actually be on friendly terms with her instrument. And usually I am. If the computer's working right, hey, me and my friend are like that. (Imagine two fingers twisted together here.)

But just let things go wrong or bring in a little (ACK!) change, and just watch the relationship disentigrate. I'm the sort who dreads moving because I'll have to re-hook up my computer and pray I can get all the plugs in the right slots. Thank God they've begun making programs easier to install. I can now do that on my own! But normally, when anything needs fixing or changing, I end up on the phone with a foreign tech support who speaks computerese in a heavy accent. Like I need an additional hurdle. And God love 'em, they're always so patient when instructing me, even when I'm sure pulling my teeth out through my nose might be less painful.

I've noticed the computer experts calling themselves geeks (or geek squad, etc.) these days. But I've come to think of these geeks quite affectionately. It's hard not to when they rescue a manuscript that has disappeared into computer space or managed to get you back online where all your friends are waiting for you. (Oh, what a sad life I lead.)

More than once, I've wished I could download. No, not a program into a computer, but all the knowlege of one tech support into my non-tech brain. But I'm pretty sure, even if I could download all that knowlege into my head, I'd get an error box. And then then I'd have to call tech support, and we all know how I feel about that.