CRAVEN IMAGES - 16 July 2011
16th July, 2001
If ever there was an example of life being a 50/50 proposition, this week would be a good one. Hot days, cool nights. Angry outbursts, sighs of pleasure. Terrible cooking utensils, great food. No sofa, fantastic bed.
The hi-light of the week came early - Tuesday. Joel had been grumbling about not getting an internet signal on his computer. I was boasting about my Blackberry which sends and receives everywhere - probably even the Etruscan Tombs! And I was gloating over my iPad 2 which I had purchased shortly before leaving New York. It seemed an obvious choice with its ability to get email, read books and magazines on and, with the Pages App and wireless keyboard I can type up my daily writings and attach them to an email to Joel so he can put the blog together...if only he had a signal!
So it was that on Tuesday morning, having explored every area of the house and property trying to get a signal he finally took my iPad outside to catch up on emails. I was inside writing when I heard the crash and knew, really, before I asked "What was that?" the answer coming fast and fraught, "The iPad. I've smashed it." It wasn't vengeance that made him do it, but an insect which when it bit him caused him to knock the table sending the iPad crashing to the ceramic tile. The screen now looks like something out of Joan Crawford movie: shattered and shedding little slivers of glass. But you've got to give it to Apple, the damn thing still works.
Covetousness. It's such a nasty thing. And I coveted my iPad. And I was pretty nasty for a few minutes. Ok, half and hour. I can't remember the last time I lashed out like that. It took me a while to realize that adulthood had been abandoned and in its place was a child whose favorite toy had been broken. Jeez. It must have been awful in the olden days, back in the early 90's, when you couldn't find a stamp to stick on the envelope. We've taped the screen together now, so at least it's not leaking glass anymore. It's not pretty but it functions. Mostly. Okay, I admit, it wasn't just covetousness that reared it's massive head, pride had its pathetic moment, too. As in, "now how am I going to show everyone all the photos of my perfect life?" Jesus.
Joel bless his heart spent hours trying to find out where to get the screen replaced. but this is Italy; all or nothing. Either we buy a whole new iPad or...
The next day I had a whole afternoon and evening of sessions scheduled with my clients back in New York, all of whom had signed onto Skype so that we could continue our work together while I travel this year. As I said, this is Italy. It would seem that not all carriers are Skype compatible. And so it was that at one point, in order to maintain a signal, I found myself standing next to a field of cows who generously shared their flies with me. It gives new meaning to working on shit, don't you think?
