Thinkpad Woes.

I recently got myself a “new to me” Thinkpad Laptop. Of course, since I am a geek so I had to install the latest Puppy Linux on it and see how it ran. It ran fine of course except for a few tweaks I just had to have. Software was no problem but I really wanted to have the ability to suspend the machine to low power mode. It wasn't really important since it boots in under 30 seconds but it was a challenge.

Long story short, I broke a very important tiny piece on the computer while playing detective. Silly me decided to push the lid switch down with a car key to see what the code would be that was set by this. It worked the first couple times but not being quite so careful, I pushed it sideways carelessly and snap.

Well, this really wouldn't be the end of the world if it didn't shut the backlight for the screen off when the lid closed. The problem was that when it broke, it jammed the switch in the off position, making the laptop think the lid was always closed. Just like a kid with a new toy, I played with it till I broke it. I always say, (You broke it, You fix it.") so that is what I did.

I set up a makeshift emergency room in the garage with bright surgical lighting, a sturdy table and a white top to make sure no tiny parts could get away. I downloaded the service manual on other laptop and put on my 1.5x reading glasses. Tools in place, I began to take the laptop apart.

I had a good idea that I was going to have to disassemble a good portion of the machine to get to the piece I had broken but I really didn't know just how much. Hard drive, Ram, Battery, Backup Battery, Cdrom, Keyboard. then it got interesting. 32 screws later and a good size pile of pieces parts I was holding the culprit in my hand. Sure enough, it was not a replaceable part.

I had up until now thought it would be a simple fix until I saw that the plastic was broken away from the spring steel piece which pushed the actual switch a few inches away. (See photos) Super glue? No it might melt the plastic. A tiny drill bit and a tinier screw? Even if I had one I think my fingers would be too big to perform that delicate surgery. Nope, it would be hot glue. Who knows how long the repair will last. So far so good though.

I learned several lessons from this though. Most of which I already knew like, use the right tool for the job and computers can be delicate items. These were more reminders of things we forget all to often. What I did learn is that even though I thought the tiny pieces were way beyond what I thought I could deal with, I still have the whereabouts to tackle a job like this and come out on top. So what did that teach me?

If it is already broken, you have a good chance at fixing it. Funny. I am not afraid of taking laptops apart anymore either.... as long as I have a good emergency room to work in. It is amazing what you can do when you put your mind to it.

Coyote's Wish.

The story of how Coyote is competing with wolf for a sacred space.

Several years ago when I wrote the song Coyote's Wish on my first Native American style flute, Wolf was the center of my life. Brother Wolf had come to me in many ways to teach the lessons that only this animal can. Among these lessons was the lost connections, especially my connection to our Earth Mother. Wolf re-connected with the ways of the NA people, not just their ways, but also their spirituality,and more than that, their ancestors. Wolf is a huge part of my everyday life, but this blog is not about Brother Wolf.

In the past several months I have been seeing more and more of Coyote. I know him as “The Trickster” of legend, the one who is always making mischief and leading us astray. I have a feeling however that this connection holds much deeper meanings. I feel that I will never completely understand why a certain animal will cross our life path and make themselves known but there is always a reason for everything. Coyote has chosen this time and place, this point in my life to make himself known.

Walking home from the local garage on a very quiet rural Vermont road I had my latest encounters. I have lived in this area for most of my life and other than an occasional earful, I have not run across Coyote until recently. As of late however, it seems that I cannot avoid them, or him as I believe it is the same individual I keep bumping into. When I say crossed my path, I can say it in the literal sense because that is exactly what has happened. Several feet in front of me on a moonlit night, on several different nights, in several different places. Each time I startled this creature, and he startled me.

Last night for the first time I can remember, I saw him in a dream. He seemed to be playfully tossing a mouse or other small rodent into the air and catching it again. He did this many times before turning to look at me and swallowing his catch down whole. As the dream progressed he called me several times with Yips and Yelps, asking me to follow him as if he had something for me. After a rather long hike through the woods, at dusk, I found myself staring at Coyote once again. He was standing in the very spot where I had first began to follow him, we had gone in a very large circle.

My logical mind saw this as a waste of time of course, but the spiritual side of me saw many lessons and predictions in the dreams interpretation. I will leave these up to the reader though.

So then, why has Coyote come to me now? In real life, Wolf and Coyote do not see eye to eye at all. Wolf sees him as an opportunist, one who takes advantage of others good fortune. Coyote sees wolf as a bully who is not willing to share. They act as if they do not know they are cousins, more closely related genetically than many other species in the animal kingdom. Rivals in many ways, they compete for much of the same resources. Why then do they choose to meet on either side of me?

I look forward to these lessons, the ones each will reveal to me in the coming months. Both carry powerful medicine, both have important visionary aspects and lessons, and both represent unique lore and legend, one of my favorite parts of the lessons. It would be nice though if I could sit them both down and ask them face to face the questions I have for them. But then again, where is the fun in that?

Mitakuye Oyasin

CloudWalker Wolf

2008

Photo courtesy of Pennsylvania Game Commission