My Printer is Toying With Me

Picture of the Day for 9/28/2012. My printer is toying with me.

A few days ago it informed me that it was done printing until I replaced the Cyan ink cartridge.

“Fine,” I said, “I’ll go purchase a Cyan ink cartridge if that will make you happy.”

After I replaced the Cyan ink cartridge, the printer said, “That was really lovely of you to get me a new Cyan ink cartridge, but what I’d really like is a new Yellow ink cartridge. I can’t possibly function without one. I’ll go take a nap while you take care of that for me.”

“Fine,” I said, “I’ll go purchase a Yellow ink cartridge if that will make you happy.”

After I replaced the Yellow ink cartridge, the printer said, “Oh, so terribly sorry and I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I forgot to mention that I need Black ink even though you replaced the cartridge a couple of months ago and didn’t think it was remotely time to replace it. I’ll just rest here quietly while you go get me the Black ink I desire and crave.”

“?#@&% printer!” I said, “You couldn’t have mentioned this before I made two separate trips to the store?! And now I have to make a third inconvenient trip?!”

By this time, I had my printer’s prima donna number. I just KNEW if I returned from the store with Black ink only, the printer would say, “I can’t believe I neglected to tell you that the Magenta ink cartridge is empty as well. How scatterbrained of me. Please be a dear and go fetch some Magenta ink while I recline here on the table. I have such a delicate constitution.”

Ha! I foiled the printer. In addition to the Black ink cartridge, I bought a cost-effective 3-pack of all the colored inks required by my printer. I replaced both the Black and Magenta cartridges and informed my printer it was back in business- no excuses.