Remember when you were a kid, and your parents bought you a new toy that you just couldn’t put down, and no matter what time of the day it was, all you did was play with that toy – and you never got tired of it? The last time that I felt that way about a toy was when I was a kid – that is, until I got my laptop.

As Press Secretary for the New York City Department of Buildings, I need to have certain things to help ensure that I can work from anywhere. These items include a cell phone, beeper – and a laptop. I got the laptop about two months ago, and since then, it has become a part of me. I must tell you that this laptop is the coolest thing I have gotten in a long time. This little box that is no bigger than a loose leaf has become my walkman, office, jukebox, movie theatre, cd player, organizer, photo album, arcade – and, oh yeah, – my computer.

I will say that this laptop has changed my life in many ways. For one thing, I have gained a vast knowledge of computers, where they were once my enemy, (See A Penny For My Thoughts: Me Against Computers) I now understand how to operate them a lot more. The laptop has also expanded my language skills. Since I got this laptop, I now use words like “reboot”, “download” and “defrag” as part of my daily language. I also bring the laptop with me to friends’ houses and we trade computer stuff. For a few Mp3’s and an Mp3 Encoder, I get some movie trailers and a Lotus Organizer Program, and everyone is happy.

You probably think I’m nuts – and so does everyone else – but when you get a laptop that allows you to do almost anything from almost anywhere, you can’t just leave it in the closet.