Wow, talk about timing!

On mid June, along with millions of other gadget geeks, I waited briefly in line at my local AT&T store for a sales rep to assist me; I was excitedly pre-ordering my first iPhone; heck my first Smart phone.

Yes, yes . . . I work in IT/Support and I still used a dumb phone.  Not just a dumb phone, but a 5yr old dumb phone.  I was rather fond of it, so  mock away.  It is a (what I call) punky pink Motorola Slvr.  I think they were short lived, but mine took a lickin’.

I knew it was time to get a new phone when two numbers on the keypad cracked and the little toggle button on the middle flicked off every now and then.  No, it wasn’t all the scratches, bruises, dents or scrapes, they’re just endearing war wounds as far as I’m concerned.

So now I have this shiny new nifty gadget that I’m rather enjoying.  Granted, some of the technology (er, bells’n whistles) is lost on me because I’m just not that big a gadget geek (well, not compared to most’o my friends); but I do like having all my contacts organized, and I do like the iPod feature lots.  And, I rreeeeeaaallllyyyyyyy like having all features bundled into one device.

On Christmas, 2005 my sister gifted me 5^th Gen iPod video inscribed’n dedicated to me; and, no longer in production.  I love that thing!  I’ve enjoyed many many many hours of great music (cuz I have great taste in music, of course) on my iPod.   It’s 60GB and for a few years it doubled as an external HDD.  It has very well served its purpose in my book.

Sadly, about 6 weeks ago, it got stuck on a song, the screen went dim and the button on the middle of the controls is stuck in the pressed position.  I cannot get it to work.  I am heartbroken. 

A quick drive into my local Apple store had me dropping it off for the evening, much like a mom drops her child off for the child’s first sleep-over.  A tech would look at it and let me know my options . . . and a call this morning did just that.  I can have it replaced for $149 (plus tax, tag’n title), or apply it towards 10% discount on the purchase of a new one.

The original device sold for $500.  I suppose swapping out for a working one for $149 would be a good buy, but I’m reluctant.  I will be picking it up tonight and hanging on to it a wee bit longer, if anything, it’ll be a nice little paperweight.

Timing is appropriate . . . while the iPod and the dumb phone are out of commission; the iPhone will usurp their place in my life . . . and eventually in heart.

G’bye my little friends . . . you may no longer be in service, but you’ll still be in my heart. 

When it comes to shopping, mom has the patience of a saint.  She shops Ross, which I dislike because I've not walked into a single Ross store that is not a mess; and she shops Beals often, she particularly likes Beals on Tuesdays for her Senior discount. 

Mom can go thru every single piece of clothing on each rack and not be looking for anything in partuclar.  She finds many great buys, often for my niece, for me and for herself.  With my niece's 21st birthday around the corner, mom has been shopping a little more lately.  Yesterday she stopped in SYMS, where an educated consumer is their best customer . . . they didn't see mom coming, tho.

Thsi morning she told me about the sales going on at SYMS, they have many items 60%-75% off; so I couldn't resist . . . we swung by this morning and I scored over 10 tops, 6 sox and a pair of ear rings for $101 and change, yeeayy me!  Oh, and according to my receipt, I saved over $292 (mom's receipt says she saved $323 and change).  Now, really . . . how much must the prices have been jacked up for us to have saved so much and for the store to still make some $$ on our purchases.  I suppose one good thing that's come out of this economy being in the dumps is that so many stores are desparte to get the customer into the store, they're slashing prices more than ever--bad for the store, good for us consumers.

Tomorrow we're hitting BJ's Wholesale; I'm starting my shopping for mom's birthday get-together. 

I mentioned that mom's shopping for the niece, whose birthday is next month; the niece turns 21--big milestone.  Next month is also mom's birthday, she turns 70--huge milestone.  It turns out that there are two additional extended family birthdays in August so the whole family, about 30, is getting together at mom's and my place for birthday food, pool and drinks.

Next month also marks 1yr since mom was rushed to ER for emergency pace maker implant; I can't get over how well she is doing and thank the Good Lord that she is still here with me, with us, and we're all so lucky to be celebrating her 70th.

So, if you're up for some Cuban food, puerco asado, drinks and pool . . . come joins us on the 14th!

OOohh . . . aahhhh . . . this Weblog Entry interface looks nice!  I see changes in Xanga . . . I suppose that's what happens when one takes a prolonged break.

Oh dear, since October this time, huh?  Time does fly!

My last update, yup, October . . . I moaned and groaned about a breaks job gone bad . . . or done badly, is more like it. Well, guess what!!  American Express came thru 100% for me on that one.  They investigated the problem, and the service place never got back with AmEx; they reversed all my charges and to date, have not heard a peep.  The place has since been under new ownership; and no, I will not be checking it out.  And yes, I will continue using my AmEx for almost everything I purchase now. 

Also since then, I traded in LeBug and now am in a Kia Soul (Aka, Tía's Kia, or el Kia de Tía).  It's a boxy fugly little thing, and oh boy is it fun to drive.  I'm not liking the mileage I get on it one bit; something I should've expected, having had diesel for 10yrs prior.

I had hoped to go w/diesel again, but all diesel models were beyond my budget.  I was primarily looking for something I could pay off in 1yr; and I wound up getting 0% financing so, while I can pay this thing off in a year, at 0%apr I am in no rush.

Mom is doing remarkably well since pace maker implant.  Granted, she had slowed down quite a bit, and I could tell she had lost a lot of her self confidence . . . but after our trip this spring to Cuba, to visit la familia, she has renewed umph!  She's almost back to her previous self, prior to the emergency implant.  So good to have her back.

I have a trip to Reno, NV in the works for mid August.  Going to visit JBen who is living/working there these days.  I still hope he is able to find his way back to SoFL . . . sometimes, I miss that skinny furry guy.  hehe eheh ee.

Life, for the most part, has me in good place.  Health.  Family.  A job.  So its home to job, job to home, home to job, job to home . . . and about 2x a month I take a day off to play w/mom, a one day trip anywhere to get away for an instant or two.  Our next one is end of month, taking the Tri-Rail to Miami's Vizcaya.