The TV went out and came back on with a click. The laptop screen didn't even flicker. I sat on the couch contemplating these events. Knowing that the laptop battery no longer held a charge, I concluded that if there had been a power cut, the laptop would have shutdown with the TV. Therefore there must have been a power surge, and the surge protector had dutifully saved the attached electronics, which, alas, did not include the laptop. While the laptop did not show any signs of immediate damage, a few days later, I attempted to open the DVD drive only to discover that the drive would not open, nor did Windows recognize it. A 7 year old laptop is not worth fixing, so I decided I would do the "normal" thing and buy a DVD player, and a multi-region one at that. I picked up a catalog from a local electronics store on my way to work and was still flipping through it when I walked into the office. "Shopping?" inquired a co-worker. I explained the situation.
2021 and I'm still trying to remember which box I packed my sense of adventure in. Weaving and baking and walking the dogs until I can find it.