The Ugly Computer

There is an ugly computer taking up space on my kitchen counter.

We went to Joplin on Wednesday to take my mother to lunch for her birthday and spend some time with her. Her long-time boyfriend had an old computer in his van that had belonged to his daughter. He said it works but it's slow. He thought I could fix it up for my mother since she's been wanting a computer and internet for years now.

Of course, with it sitting there in a van, I've really no idea if I can fix it up or not. It may just need a defrag and maybe a Ram chip. Or it may be running Windows 3.1 and not be worth fixing. I'll have to take it home and hook it up to find out.

My mother starts shouting, "John, I don't want it! It's ugly. I don't want an ugly computer."

He continues to load the ugly computer into the trunk of my car. She continues to protest.

"Andrea, don't even bother. It's ugly. I'm telling you I don't want the ugly thing."

This from the woman that insists that your baby wipes container match your bathroom decor. I'm not surprised. I just wonder how she will find a computer, new or old, that fits in with her decor. I don't think Martha Stewart has a computer line.

So here it is. It is ugly. It belonged to a teenager and it's covered with graffiti. I'm thinking about spray-painting it. Kris M. suggested last night that I put an attractive scarf around it. I haven't hooked it up and plugged it in yet because I don't want to waste my time fixing it up if she doesn't want it.

I was going to Freecycle it today but I'm starting to feel bad for it. It's homeless, ugly, and unwanted. I collect cats and dogs that fit that description. Why not computers?

There are already four computers in this house. With only four people in the house, I'm not sure what to do with a number five. I guess I could put it in the laundry room on top of the dryer for when I hide from the kids in there.