I switched on my work computer last night, and while it powered up, it did not boot up. The icon of the "can" on the front did not flicker, there were no happy little chirpy sounds issuing from it, and the monitor stayed asleep; only the fan could be heard.

I tried turning it off and back on several times, both with the button and with the power strip, but nothing changed.

This was not good.

Today we took it to the computer shop to be diagnosed, because I know ab-so-freaking-lootley NOTHING about how computers work. The technician saw it was a Vista box and started to say "You need to buy a new computer because Windows 11--"

"It's not hooked up to the Internet," I cut him off. "It's just an art computer running Photoshop."

"Oh. Game on, then..."

I had accidentally bumped it hard with the plastic pad under the chair when I slid it back into position. It had worked in the morning, but not in the evening. I wonder if I'd jarred something.

I mean, yes, it's old. No, I haven't backed up the data in five years. Yes, I am probably screwed.

So this is to give a heads-up that next week's strips will probably be late. Or I may be forced into a temporary hiatus, because I can't color anything without that computer and its PSD files.