How My Printer Got Me to Wake Up

by Cathy Miller | Aug 5, 2011 | Miller Musings | 12 comments

You know what it’s like when you wake up but you just can’t get your motor started?

No amount of caffeine helps.

You have loads of work
You just finished several big projects
But, even your usual distractions lack inspiration

Then your printer beeps at you that you’re out of black ink.

The Ink’s Run Dry

You could handle it if the dried-up ink was yellow, magenta or cyan. After all, that’s why the printer gods invented grayscale. But, please – the black ink?

Well, consider this the printer gods little wake-up notice.

You need a break.

I can relate.

I’m coming off one of my busiest months ever
I’m about to start another huge project
My brain is screaming a silent, NO

I tried to ignore it with distractions. I thought I would catch up on my favorite blogs. That always inspires me, but I find my mind wandering. Is that snoring I hear?

When the Printed Word is Sleeping

It took my printer’s incessant beeping to wake me up.

This is the perfect time for a break.

It’s Friday
The printed words retreated
And I’m the boss

Isn’t this why you started your own business?

Nothing’s Black and White

So, I’ll take the day off.

I’ll take my camera on my 3-Day training walk
Maybe go to lunch with Mom
And worry about the printer and its ink deprivation another day

Has your ink run dry?

Shut down the printer and take a break. Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

=================

Live…Laugh…Love

BigStock Photo credit

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12 Comments

Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. on August 5, 2011 at 1:03 pm

The reason why we use lasers! They annoy the hell out of you if you have the audacity to print when there’s only 200 sheet’s capacity left :-)!
Reply
Cathy on August 5, 2011 at 5:14 pm

Technology-you gotta love it. 🙂 Thanks, Roy!
Reply
Michelle Shaeffer on August 5, 2011 at 9:05 pm

I love this analogy, Cathy! Oddly my printer is also beeping at me that it’s out of ink… maybe I need a break, too. 🙂
Reply
- Cathy on August 6, 2011 at 6:21 am
  
  Better listen, Michelle. The printer gods never lie. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by, Michelle.
  Reply
Aloha - Lani on August 5, 2011 at 11:02 pm

Aloha Cathy, sweet post and we need to remind ourselves yes at times we do need a break. Plus greater productivity comes from taking a breather. I like your creative analogy. Glad I came by and thanks for sharing! Mahalo, Lani 🙂

PS..glad we belong a cool fb group. Come by and visit me!
Reply
- Cathy on August 6, 2011 at 6:23 am
  
  Aloha, Lani-ahh, you make me homesick for Hawaii-my FAVORITE vacation place. Thank you for stopping by and the kind words. I love our comment blogging tribe and definitely will come by.
  
  Mahalo.
  Reply
Martha Giffen on August 6, 2011 at 11:41 am

It’s always so annoying to have to stop our routine to fool with something as mundane as the printer. After reading this though, I’m going to take it as a sign from now on. Go on, take a break. . . . it’s time!
Reply
- Cathy on August 6, 2011 at 2:26 pm
  
  I did as the printer gods commanded. 🙂 I highly recommend it. Thanks, Martha!
  Reply
Ryan Biddulph on August 7, 2011 at 5:02 am

Hi Cathy,

Yep, I ran out of ink recently and took a break quickly.

Too many hours and weeks spent spinning wheels in the past – while I burned myself out – to do otherwise.

Thanks!

RB
Reply
- Cathy on August 7, 2011 at 6:37 am
  
  Hi Ryan-it’s always good to listen to the printer gods. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
  Reply
Kim Lemon on August 7, 2011 at 9:14 am

Hi Cathy – I hope you enjoyed your printer-free day! 🙂
Reply
Cathy on August 8, 2011 at 5:04 am

Kim-It was a Kodak moment. 🙂
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