A Fascination with the Color Red and Sony Vaio E-Series

If you've stepped into a Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf branch recently, you might have noticed two unattended laptops sitting on a table. You may have wondered whoever owns these laptops are careless and are not worried about leaving their valuables behind. But then you stop and look at the sign on the table-- yes, these laptops are available to the public. Anyone can use these laptops so they can try out the power of these Sony VAIO E-Series laptops. 

Sony Vaio Corner

Well last night, I finally got the chance to try one. At CBTL- A Venue branch, there were two laptops available--a hot pink and a black laptop. Anyone who knows me can attest to the fact that my gadgets have ALWAYS been black. But ever since I had my iPod Touch with a pink-turned-red jelly case, I've become attracted to red gadgets: my red Blackberry (which I sold just last week) and my iPhone; again with a pink-turned-red case. Oh yes, and who could ever forget my infamous RED-143 Honda that my dad has been letting me use?!

My red Blackberry now in the possession of its new owner--Gracielle

My red gadgets

My friend, Red, standing against my car (last year). Photo by Martin Villasor
Strangely, I just realized I don't have a picture against my car!

Even though the Sony VAIO E-series VPCEA45FG was hot pink, I could not help but get attracted to it. Believe it or not, red is not my favorite color; neither was hot pink. I do like pink but I prefer the baby pink colors. But still, there was really something about the color that truly attracted me--it drew me straight to this laptop. 

Sony Vaio E Series

The moment my hands laid on the keyboard, I knew I was in for! I couldn’t help but admire the easy track pad and the fact that it did not let my hand slip. Plus, I loved how each character had a few centimeters of space between one another! It reminded me of a pink MacBook! I really liked the keyboard and felt so relaxed when I used it. I think it would be a good laptop for my Carpal Tunnel Syndrome because it provided just enough space for my wrists to rest.

Sleepy yet beaming at my new discovery!

I would totally get the laptop if I had the money. I am in need of a new laptop and I can already tell my current laptop (Compaq-Presario) is no longer happy with me as its owner. Of course, I have abused its keyboard with the numerous articles I make on a daily basis. It’s only understandable why my laptop is giving me a hard time when I’m typing—it would suddenly jump to the bottom of the screen. WEIRD.

Hmm… maybe soon. I hope so. But maybe for now, I can just use the laptop over at CBTL- A Venue branch for free (if I’m tired of my boring laptop)! :) 

Why I'm Hoping I Don't Have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

During the first few days of April, I started to feel a sharp pain on my right wrist. At first I did not mind the pain because I just might feel tired from typing on my laptop the whole day. But during a trip to a restaurant with some friends, it was hurting so bad that I could not open my hand to hold a plastic bottle of coke properly. My wrist did not only hurt, my fingers would not open fully. Then I remembered some of my friends in Plurk talking about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome a few months ago. I began to feel scared that I might have it.

I was supposed to go to the doctor but I couldn't fit it in my busy schedule-- moreover, I did not know a doctor who specializes in a condition such as mine. So I decided to leave it alone. After all, my internet sources said it only occurred to women age 30 and above.

Research on CTS

So I left it alone and hoped it wasn't CTS. Instead, I hoped that I was just having strains on my wrists from typing too much.

But when my dad told me that my grandmother had CTS, I felt scared once again. My grandmother used to be a piano teacher. But she stopped teaching piano because of her CTS. Also, she needed to have surgery on both her arms. During a trip to Bayombong last Holy Week, I got to see my grandmother's wrists. True enough, I saw the stitches on both of her hands. I don't know why I didn't take a picture but they looked something like this:

Image from AllStop.com

Except of course, my grandmother's stitches were already faintly visible. It just showed the white scar. I should take a picture of her wrists next time.

This got me scared. I'm only 24 and I don't want to go through surgery! I never want to go through any type of surgery-- that's why I don't want to get pregnant (even if I'll be at the right age). For me, surgery means death. I don't know why that it is but I don't want to go through surgery-- at all! So I'm only hoping for the best for my condition. 

A few nights ago, it started hurting again. Only this time, it hurt more than before. The pain was so intolerable that I would hold back the tears. In the middle of the night, I would wake up to a jerking pain on my right wrist that it made sleeping so painful. Plus, it did not help that when working, I felt the nagging pain almost after every article I wrote. So I knew I needed help. 

Upon research and the recommendation of my aunt (a doctor), I headed to Planet Sports in Rockwell yesterday to purchase a wrist splint. When I got there, there were two kinds available. The other one, also by LP Support, cost a mere P200 difference from the other. I decided to get the black wrist splint because it did not only look better, it was also made from Neoprene. Although it was more expensive than the other, I read that it was a better option because it promoted heat--which was good for CTS. The P500 version was made from elastic and had a brown leatherette feel. That's why I settled for the Neoprene black which cost me P700.

LP Support Right Wrist Splint P700
Planet Sports

So I walked around Rockwell wearing a dress and this wrist support. I even bumped into a guy friend and I know he was probably wondering why I had a wrist support on my right hand. But I didn't care. I didn't want surgery so I had to make do with wearing this. 

I wore this to Rockwell!

While I slept last night, I wore the splint on my hand. Needless to say, I had the best night's sleep for the longest time! I fell asleep around 10 pm and woke up 9 am. It was a good sleep and I will definitely wear my wrist support more. I'm just seriously hoping that I can get this condition fixed by this practice so I won't need surgery anymore.