CROSSING OVER TO THE DARK SIDE

 

If you’ve visited these pages once or twice before, no doubt you’ve heard me mention my beloved “crackberry”.  My love affair with my “crackberry” aka blackberry began years ago.  Oh sure, I’ve upgraded over the years to newer, more flashy models but a loyal blackberry fan, I have been.  This fancy little device brings me my email instantly allowing me to tend to business and pleasure from almost anywhere.  Friends, family and colleagues can reach me via phone, email, text, blackberry messenger, facebook and twitter any time.  While some see that as a disturbance, I like to be connected at all times.  I have my crackberry at my side 24/7 and I like it that way.   I don’t like to think that someone needs to reach me and can’t.  ….and I can never understand why anyone would ever want to wait to hear from me.  Crazy nonsense! 

About a month ago Verizon announced that they would be offering the iphone.  Now the only thing I’m more loyal to than my blackberry is my cell carrier (….oh and MHS).  They all have their drawbacks but most of my friends and family are on Verizon and that saves me minutes and minutes equals dollars.  ….and I’m cheap like that. 

I have to admit that in the past, I have always sort of turned up my nose at the iphone and its users.  I may or may not have  thought that my crackberry was far superior with its more serious, businesslike tone and fancy email push.

But lately, my head has been turned.  I am hearing the iphone and all of its fantappulousness call my name.   I have resisted it for a long time but that shiny little rectangle of awesome technology is making me rethink my love affair with my crackberry.  Daughter #1 has one.  She is always showing off all the advantages of the iphone.

I hear the email server isn’t the best and can’t compare to the crackberry but everyone appears to be so caught up by all the apps that they don’t care if they get their email in a timely fashion.  How can that be?  Is there some sort of gas that is emitted from the iphone that creates euphoria, reduces stress and erases the urge to have up to the minute communication with your office?  Do you just become so dazzled with all the apps and their capabilities that the main reason to have the device no longer matters?

The touch screen is more than a little daunting to me too.  I am a total SPAZ with a touch screen.  I presume that touch screen skills improve with practice but I worry that I might throw the darned thing out the window before I reach an acceptable skill level. 

So far, I’ve turned a blind eye.  I’ve stood fast in my love for my crackberry and could not be swayed.  But did you know the iphone has a weight watchers mobile app that is ever so much more efficient than the points calculator on my crackberry? 

Did you know that you can pull up a birthday candle app for an impromptu birthday party?   ….And blow it out?  Way cool.

So many apps, so little time.  One con to all my pros is that if I were to purchase one of these shiny devils, I may never look up again but instead be stuck with my head down in constant fascination of the wonder of it all.

Did you know that the iphone is faster than my crackberry.

Oh yes, my head is turned.  Surely, my crackberry senses that things are not the same between us.  Could this be the beginning of the end? 

Where do you stand on this issue?  Have you crossed over to the dark side?  Are you considering it?  Or have you found  a way to resist the ever-present temptation of this slick little bugger?

I’M IN BLACKBERRY HELL

It’s official. I’m an idiot. Who knew, right? Yeah, yeah, I hear you out there uttering, “No surprise to me. I knew that from hello.” Yeah, well……..oh never mind, I’m so flippin’ frustrated, I can’t even come up with a comeback to your SMARTMOUTH remark. *sigh*

I think that I mentioned about a month ago my beloved blackberry was killed in a freak accident that involved a bottle of water, a flying library book and a pick-up truck. A new blackberry was purchased and just as I was beginning to bond and really get close with my new device……………………..another freakish disaster developed. Don’t ask me how it happened but my precious electronic dream was found making one heck of a racket in my washing machine…….with a load of whites. Now if you think water is bad for electronics, try adding detergent and bleach. Aigggghhhhhhh!

You know the damn thing is called a “smartphone”. Wouldn’t you think it would know how to swim?

Thanks to the miracle that is twitter, I was surrounded with beaucoup sympathy and even some advice. MrsK suggested I put the device in a bowl of rice overnight. That did dry it out some and the light comes on but alas no real signs of life.

I pulled out my old blackberry that was murdered by the water bottle and LO and BEHOLD, the darn thing worked just fine………………for about five minutes. Then the keyboard decided that it wanted to type 2s and 5s regardless of the commands I gave. It finally completely refused to respond to any command at all. Stupid, stubborn “smartphone.”

My Harley Stud cleaned it with alcohol and by the next morning, it was working again like a dream. Oh sure, every once in awhile it refuses to cooperate but for the most part, it’s working. That’s MUCH better than paying full retail for a new one. I will live with the inconvenience of it’s stubborn drama queen moments. It is after all a genius in a box and with genius comes moody, manic behavior. Everybody knows that.

All weekend long I’ve been thinking that I’m living in Blackberry Hell. This reminds me of Tim Wilson. He is a guilty pleasure of mine. Tim is a good ole boy. I must warn you, he is politically incorrect but I think he is a comic genius.

MHS and I still haven’t given up on the very clean blackberry. He has submerged it in alcohol and we now have it sitting in rice for the next month. While I live out my weekend in Blackberry Hell, please allow me to introduce you to my friend, Tim Wilson who is living his own personal hell.

Enjoy,
Hugs,

Smart Mouth Broad

So Grateful Sunday

While I am always grateful for the blessings mentioned here that make my life complete, today I am counting the simple joys in my life that add a little kick and make it interesting. (At least to me)

1. Daddy. Today is his birthday.
   
2. The sound of football on my TV. I just love having it on while I work around the house even if I can't sit and watch.
   Of course, if the Seminoles are playing, I'm planted up front and center. Even when it's not so good….like last night. …Sigh
   
3. My new Blackberry Curve. Tried the Pearl, had trouble after 3 months, died after 5, replaced with refurbished Pearl and died again after 2 months. I'm on day 4 of the Curve. No problems yet. Yippie!
   
4. My job. As much as I complain and am driven completely insane by it sometimes, I am blessed to have it and all the perks it allows me.
   
5. Frozen custard. There is a place an hour north of where we live that serves this sinfully delicious treat. I guess I should also be grateful that it's so far away or weight loss might be an even bigger challenge.
   
6. My Harley Stud's bike. I am really somewhat of a reluctant biker chick with a split personality (I wear pearls with my leather) but we have a lot of fun and are getting ready to leave for a trip soon.
   
7. Country roads that curve, go over hills and into valleys. I get tired of the same old flat, straight roads in the area where I live. I love to venture north where the terrain has a little more character.
   
8. Spinning. It's good for me. It challenges me. And it kicks my butt. (Should I be grateful for that?)
   
9. Sugar snap peas. This is my new favorite snack.
   
10. Walks on the beach. And I don't do it often enough. Maybe today…….yes, today.

For what things are you grateful today?