Its all fun and [computers] over here...

So, recently I've been working on this little thing called a dissertation. 

You might have heard about it.

I keep thinking--it's just a paper, how can it be so all-consuming?

And yet...

This dang dissertation has taken over my whole life.

It has taken over even my house,
with books and papers strewn about

and computers, everywhere you look.

Now, you might be saying--computers?

Everywhere?

Don't you need just one?

Allow me to assure you, I mean everywhere.

Some of it is for reasons I find quite fun,

 because work parties have become the norm around here,

with up to seven computers and a variety of friends
lollygagging about at any given moment.  

But some of it is for reasons far more distressing.

Looking closely at the picture above, you will see a computer that I have spent significant time working on recently.  You might wonder if it is mine, but I can tell you it is not.

[You might also notice the coffee mug sitting so peacefully nearby,
and once I tell you the rest of the saga, I am quite certain you will question my right to have and to hold computers of any kind...]

I was using that computer you see,
after a rather traumatic day when I
--in a delirious state of working frenzy--

sent an entire cup of coffee sloshing all over this poor guy.
Of no use to me in his coffeed up state, my faithful friend of the last three years found himself relegated to the corner,
through no fault of his own.

His early retirement led me to make a purchase I was not planning to make, an early "yay, you nearly killed yourself  [and everything around you] writing a  paper in order to get another piece of paper!" gift.

Via a very-adorable-but-slightly-overwhelmed-by-the-amount-of-squealing-greeting-him-at-the-door FedEx man on a Saturday morning work day,

 my new best friend arrived.

 Despite my questionable trustworthiness,

 my work party friends encouraged me,

and gave me a few pointers.

In fact, despite the mess in my house and of my own actions,
my friends remain very good to me.

They've made me a series of encouraging signs,

have dropped off meaningful bling.

I, for one, have gotten a bit smarter, and have high hopes:

Me and my new friend are gonna get this dang thing DONE.