Power Up

I'm prone to creating inconvenient situations for myself, mainly through a combination of carelessness, preoccupation, and constant tardiness. This time, I'd left my computer charger at home, the computer was dead, I needed to drive 3 hours west, and my house is 20 minutes to the east. I needed the computer for the weekend adventure, and though the morning's lab activities had taken less time than the original estimate, I was still running behind without time to go 40 minutes out of the way to retrieve it.

I work at a major research university; surely I can find a spare charger around this damn place somewhere, I think. I scour the lab and adjacent offices; nothing. Or rather, plenty of chargers, but none that fit my older model computer. (Damn you, USB chargers.)

IT! I think. I'll just drive over to their building on my way and ask to borrow an extra. A fine plan, if I do say so myself. Unfortunately, there was no one in their office, and I was loath to poke about a room full of computers that don't belong to me.

I remember an admin who had one years ago; he has since moved and it's been lost. He does have an extra one- the cursed USB charger.

Hmmm...the fellows office! That place is full of old shit. I will find one there, I know it.

And indeed, I do. I might have scared the brand new fellow with my unannounced presence rummaging for materials- sometimes I forget that they don't know who I am- but I am now able to get on the road, a mere 10 minutes later than intended rather than 40, with a working charger.

I marvel at my resourcefulness. Particularly since another admin mentioned she'd been looking for a charger for someone else and couldn't find one; it's rare I solve a problem faster and more easily than the logistics people. I wish I could figure out research this quickly, with only my wits and my feral animal cunning (as a former calculus professor used to say) to design well-received studies, write stunning papers, mentor the best students. 

At least I'll always have this. I'm the one who can find a computer charger in a pinch.