My Darling Elsie Has Recovered
It was a dark and sprinkly night...
Gregg gave me this workhorse of a printer about five years ago when my old printer went kaput.
No, no much to look at -- especially with the smudges all over her from the bargain toner cartridges I get on eBay ($10.95 each -- free shipping! -- instead of $92 for one HP cartridge at Staples).
But, old Elsie does the job...printing out thousands upon thousands of pages of my writing, from I SEE RUDE PEOPLE to my weekly columns, plus studies, articles, and more.
And then, thanks to our DWP, which maintains our power lines so poorly they seem to be made of dental floss, there was yet another power outage the other morning. (It was sprinkling! And that was enough to knock out the power for miles.)
When the power came back on, although I have the printer on a surge protector, it just clicked and a light flashed, and then, nothing. It didn't turn on. I tried this several times and then started using my inkjet as backup.
But, I have a sentimental attachment to this thing. It's old and ugly and big and bulky, and there's just something sort of wonderful about it, the way it cranks out the pages. Gregg said he'd bring me his printer (when my electronics die, his migrate -- my sweet boyfriend). But, I really wanted my old trusty Elsie back, and I thought about it, and tried something: pressing the on/off switch and holding down the print button, and lo and behold...
ELSIE'S BACK!
And on a bright note, California Assemblyman Mike Feuer, who doesn't even represent my district, saw my tweets about how lame the LA DWP is, and tweeted me to call his office, which I did. Alec Ponder, in his office, is terrific -- called me back and is actually taking steps with my city councilman to try to get the infrastructure looked into and repaired...among a few other things he's helping with that affect people in my neighborhood. And he's really smart (Ponder -- didn't talk to Feuer, but he's a smart guy for hiring Ponder).
A refreshing change from the Ted Lieus of this world!
Also, these guys have too many vowels in their last names.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 14, 2011 12:31 PM
I have the 1100 model of the same range, I've had it since forever and it's still my primary printer - just keeps on going. That's from back when HP still actually made decent printers.
Lobster at December 14, 2011 12:40 PM
That is really cool that an elected official reached out to you like that. It's kind of like having an alderman but you didn't have to pay him off.
smurfy at December 14, 2011 1:56 PM
I love that you gave your printer a name. They're like old dogs. They get gray and grody, but they still try to please.
Pirate Jo at December 14, 2011 6:39 PM
I've always been fascinated by how we assign personalities to the inanimate objects in our lives.
I was a furniture maker for many years and had names for my tools; even imagined their personalities in the way a child would a Teddy Bear. My cars have always had names and "personalities" as well. While they performed as expected there was an imagined symbiosis. When they broke they were being obstinate. When I would drive another car of the same year, make and model as mine, it was just a little "different" in ways that are not easily quantifiable. Made of the same parts, by the same hands, in the same factory, but still different. This is what we find so endearing about these objects in our lives that we come to know and depend on; the uniqueness of our possessions despite their being one of countless millions exactly like them.
I'm glad Elsie has recovered...
Savant-Idiot at December 14, 2011 8:38 PM
PJ said "grody"
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 15, 2011 1:30 AM
Not surprised that is was a local assemblyman who reached out... my mom worked for our state assemblyman when we lived in NY, and that seemed to be the perfect balance - not stuck in the NYC political machine, but close enough to the community to see and care - and with the authority to tap city, state, and federal contacts and programs.
Often people who needed services provided by the city would come to my mom's office, instead of contacting their city councilman.
Ben David at December 15, 2011 1:49 AM
Praising receipt of constituent services is off-message for both libertarians and Republicans this century. Get with the program, guys.
Andre Friedmann at December 15, 2011 6:46 AM
All guys like to hand their electronics down to their wives and girlfriends because it means they can get new stuff and not feel like they are wasting their money. You see we NEED a new big screen TV now because the old lady has the old one. And if the new one is bigger and better then everyone comes out a winner.
Voluble at December 15, 2011 6:53 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/14/my_darling_elsi.html#comment-2855617">comment from VolubleGregg just got me a TV about the size of a blackboard for our anniversary, and we're going to watch a lot of movies on it!
And I like your assessment, Voluble. Yep, you're right.
The best was when I got his "old" iPad. LOVE it!
Amy Alkon
at December 15, 2011 7:10 AM
The best was when I got his "old" iPad. LOVE it!
But you're not spoiled, right Amy?? ;-)
In the meantime, glad to hear about Elsie. I
qdpsteve at December 15, 2011 10:58 AM
Oops, what happened to the rest of my comment? Here it is anyway:
In the meantime, glad to hear about Elsie. I (heart) my ol' HP LaserJet 1022 too. But it does look a bit like the best Christmas surprise you could give her would be a nice thorough rubdown with some 409.
qdpsteve at December 15, 2011 11:00 AM
Amy Alkon
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2011/12/14/my_darling_elsi.html#comment-2855784">comment from qdpsteveThe best was when I got his "old" iPad. LOVE it! But you're not spoiled, right Amy??
On the contrary -- appreciate Gregg more every single day. We were at a party and somebody teased us, "Look at you two lovebirds!" And we weren't doing anything man-handly...we were just standing there and I was smiling at him, I think. That's nine years in. Cool, huh?
Amy Alkon
at December 15, 2011 11:28 AM
Yes, I said "grody."
Sometimes I use variants of this, such as, "gradody" or "gradodily."
Wanna fight about it, Crid? I'll beat you at arm wrestling. I'm from Iowa, and I've been drinking milk!
Pirate Jo at December 15, 2011 3:41 PM
Look, you 1970's-jargon sister you, I'm from INDIANA... The southern part, with the hills. You might win in a short-term muscle contest, but we got you flatlanders beat for cardio fitness.
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 15, 2011 4:55 PM
Flatlander? FLATLANDER?!?!? You try Ragbrai some time and then tell me Iowa is flat. We'll pick a start town in the southwest part of the state, where the Loess Hills are, and finish up in Dubuque.
Two words: Potter Hill
http://ragbrai.com/2010/07/31/big-hill-turns-many-riders-into-walkers/
You'll cry like a girl!
Pirate Jo at December 16, 2011 8:37 AM
I already do, Peej... That "we" was editorial. It's OTHER Hoosiers who'll be scampering up and down the hillsides with you, I'm enjoying the chair years. (Though the family has earned street cred.)
(sniffle)
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 16, 2011 1:18 PM
Chair years are sounding better and better all the time. Especially if the chair has a cupholder.
Pirate Jo at December 16, 2011 4:36 PM
It goes best if you live in a place with a lot stairs, so you can fake endurance in public
Crid [CridComment at gmail] at December 16, 2011 10:46 PM
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