But let’s rewind.

One day, I innocently set my coffee on a fancy coaster in a beautifully designed conference room. Great aesthetics—terrible physics. The coasters were thick and the mugs were stylishly conical with dangerously high centers of gravity. Distracted by my laptop, I didn’t notice the precarious balancing act as I failed to place the mug squarely on the coaster. You guessed it—coffee tipped, keyboard meets caffeine. Workday done; panic-drive to the Apple store initiated.

$800 keyboard lesson learned.

Later, on a serene camping trip, condensation formed on the inside of my tent. I didn’t notice until just one rogue drop slowly fell. I reached for it like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. But, let’s face it, I’m sure they took about a dozen takes before he successfully stopped that drop of sweat with his hand.

I only had one take.

Back to Apple. Again.

Fast forward to tonight, at the hotel bar. The bartender brings my drink, glass slips out of his hand, and splashes over my keyboard.

But this time something had changed.

I was armed with what I affectionately call a keyboard condom (professionally termed a "Plastic Keyboard Cover." Google it).

I calmly lifted and tipped my laptop over, whiskey streamed off harmlessly, and a few bar towels cleaned the mess neatly.

Road Warrior Tip:

Never travel without a keyboard cover!