All better now!

My laptop, once again fully functional, is back home where it belongs-- and in jig time, too! Check out this timetable--

Monday: Airborne delivers the packing box.
Tuesday: I place my freshly backed up iBook in said box, peel off the old shipping label to reveal the preprinted new one, and trot it over to a local pickup location for shipping.
Wednesday: Airborne leaves a note at the door, asking for a signature because we weren't here when they tried to make a delivery.
Thursday: The box containing my newly repaired iBook is sitting by the front door when we get home.

All told, that actually adds up to a round trip of less than 36 hours. One more reason to love Apple.