Here's the story of what has happened over the last week...
Monday afternoon: I'm chillin' and watching some stuff on my computer as I ink my page for the Tuesday update. Suddenly, the computer freezes. This is the first time in over a year of having the computer that I've had a problem with it. Thinking it weird, I restart the computer... only to find that the computer doesn't want to restart fully. I have a Mac, and it didn't want to get much past loading the background and (eventually) the dock. The ribbon at the top and the icons on the desktop are missing. Also, the computer was running PAINFULLY slow. As in, it took me half an hour to open up TextEdit to get the application ribbon to show up. Anyway, this made it impossible to get things done...
Tuesday, I reinstalled my OS after trying a few other things, and got my files back from Time Machine (omg, best thing EVAR). Around Tuesday night, my computer is mostly back in shape. Or so I think.
The computer works fine on Wednesday, and I start doing the prep work for the page.
Thursday morning, the computer freezes again. This time, the computer doesn't get past the WHITE SCREEN OF DEATH. I attempt to run disk diagnostics on it, and well... it doesn't look like good news for the hard drive.
Friday, I live without a computer while I wait for someone to get back to me on how to fix the problem... Finally, I hear back on Friday night that a certified Mac dude (of awesome) will be in Saturday morning, and I can bring the computer in then.
Saturday. I take my computer in and the Mac Dude runs some more in-depth diagnostics on my computer. He determines that my hard drive is dead, and that I need a new one. I drive 45 minutes away to go pick up a new one (it was on sale!), and head back. Now comes the fun part. He disassembles my iMac--and uses suction cups to do it! It was really cool, actually. He installs the new hard drive... re-installs the OS... and I take it home and recover my files again. Voilá! Computer is back to its old functional self again!
Officially, Time Machine is the most awesome thing ever. I'd be completely DOOMED if I didn't have it.
So... here's hoping the computer stays fixed!
KEEP WORKING COMPUTER!