I sat down at my “secondary” computer recently, which is also used by my children. They’re not allowed to play with my MacBook, but they have their own limited-access account on the desktop iMac, and they like to watch DVDs, play games, and type on it. Yes, you might say they’re mini-geeks. They love computers.
While I was starting up my browser, I noticed a noise coming from the optical drive, where the CDs and DVDs go. It sounded like it was trying to eject a disc, and it kept happening every 10 seconds or so. I tried the conventional methods of ejecting, but the computer didn’t even seem to acknowledge the presence of a disc.
Unlike tray-loading drives, the iMac has a vertical slot without a tray. You just load the disc in part-way, and it takes it the rest of the way. It’s magical. Unfortunately, there’s no way to pry it open. There’s no door. There’s not even an emergency eject button to push with a straightened paper clip.
After trying everything I could think of, plus the tips recommended by Apple help, I shut down the machine and gave up. I asked the boys (ages 9 and 7) whether they knew what had happened to the computer. “I don’t know.” “It wasn’t me.”
I asked my daughter (age 3-1/2). “Do you know what happened to the computer? In here? Did you put something in here?” I pointed to the disc slot.
She smiled, flashed her big blue eyes, and said, “Um, yeah.”
“What did you put in here?”
“Two discus-es.”
Great. I don’t know how she did it, because when there’s one disc loaded, you can’t just slide in another one. She must have really applied all of her little fairy princess might to get that second “discus” wedged in there.
Well, it could have been worse. At least it’s not cheese and crackers… And now I get to pay a visit to the Apple Store. 
Now that was interesting ! I hope nothing was seriously damaged !
She’s very cute by the way !
Jaffer´s last blog post..Blogblast for Peace – Memeing the Movement
@Jaffer: I don’t know whether anything is really broken yet. And yes, she’s cute… but a troublemaker.
i fear this is coming in my near future… my son is way too into the computer and he’s mischievous… pray for me!
i love your little girls big smile and fancy nancy outfit in the picture. that is my daughters favorite book, her birthday party was themed after it and she wore that dress
Lizzie´s last blog post..Wordless Wednesday, Munchkins
I don’t want to scare you (OK, it’s almost Halloween so maybe I do) but, what we have at 3 with our kids is what we get in the teen age years….
again at midlife crisis age as well.
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Hi GeekMom, I gave your blog an Uber-Amazing Award:
http://www.capitolagirl.com/2008/10/thanks-for-uber-amazing-blog-award.html
I hope you can get it fixed without too much headache. I know I always get worried when my son ( almost 4) tells me he has “fixed” the computer. So far that only means he rebooted it.
DJ´s last blog post..Our First Potatoe Plants
Hi, ….. How are you? It’s nice to read your blog. So, I just drop EC for you. Keep on working on it. Don’t forget to Keep on Smiling. Salaam.
LOL – I love my MacBook and iMac. I have 3 kids, ages 5, 3 and almost 2.
I fear for my iMac every day! LOL
Unbalanced Libra´s last blog post..The Strangers (2008)
LOL, ahh your kids are always a riot Heather.
I remember as a kid I used to stick things into the VCR (yea… remember those). I remember a postcard going in there, toothbrush and I am sure many other things mwahahaha.
Stuart
Stuart´s last blog post..What if Wednesday – You wake up as a lab rat!
oppsss… she’s so adorable.
I just have to smile when you were asking her if she knew anything happened at the mac and she smiled, flashed her big blue eyes, and said, “Um, yeah.” Don’t you just love kids?
BK´s last blog post..Act F.A.S.T with Stroke can Save Lives
Marvelous Kids
The lovely thing with them is there direct interaction with events, no matter how responsible or not is it because they are just kids not freeky adutlts who have responsibiles, ahm Us
Anyway as parents, I think you got mad, so aren’t we freeky
Hicham´s last blog post..Hot or Not?
Not so cute if you have to pay for more software when they finally manage to pull those out of there.
My niece is 4. I call her the fairy princess cause she stomps her feet when she runs.
Laura´s last blog post..Do You Show Who You Are?