My New Favorite Thing on TV

Sweet Apple Pie

When you purchase a new iphone, the store representative looks you directly in the eye and says, "Don't get it wet". They are NOT kidding. Granted, accidents happen, but most people get a few drops of water on the screen or something spills. Most, much more intelligent and capable and coordinated people unlike me, never have an issue with water.

I put my phone in my pocket, and literally walked into Lake Michigan.

Before we get all upset chastising me for my sheer stupidity and ridiculousness, let me assure you, I KNOW! I usually don't put my phone in my pocket, so I forgot it was there when, while at the dog beach, we decided to go out deeper to get our dog to swim. As you know, we own a very whiny and wimpy great dane. He loves to jump around like a lunatic in the water but has never gotten out deep enough to actually swim. We thought if both of us went out there, he would follow. I mean, at this point, I'm holding my soggy phone in my hand saying, " at least it will be worth it if he comes out here"

He walked until it got deep, and stood there crying like a baby girl.

So then began the adventure of trying to save my iphone. We put it in uncooked rice. This was supposed to draw the water out of the electronics, and render my phone usable again. I left it overnight and it ran itself out of battery life. The next afternoon, I plugged it in and after letting it regain its life, it worked... IT WORKED!!! My contacts, my apps, my email it was all there, I made a few calls, sent some texts, read some emails, and settled in for the night. I actually put it back in the rice just as a safety precaution before heading to bed, relieved the home remedy actually paid off.

The next morning, I could hear it buzzing with new emails, but the screen was only white.

I could get calls, unlock it, everything, but it would only stay on the white screen. I tried numerous hard resets, and finally decided that I would open it up and examine. This, was after I called AT&T where I purchased the phone to find out that a. I would have to take this problem to the Apple store and b. It would only cost me the discounted price of a replacement... $400! Yes, you read that correctly, $400.

We took it apart, we examined, we used the hairdryer, and of course back in the rice. With the exception of the already tripped water damage sensors (found how to read them on the lovely Internet) there was no evidence of the accident. I read multiple posts from other Apple users with similar problems, some had to pay the total amount, some got a discounted rate and some lucky bastards tricked the Apple geniuses into believing it had nothing to do with water and walked away with a new free phone.

But, let's be serious, I am not that lucky.

I went to the Apple store, and made my way to the upstairs filled to the brim with customers waiting in line for their " scheduled" appointments. You have to schedule an appointment?! What? I was told it was a 2 hour wait.

This was when I interjected, " Look, I know I need to replace it, I just want to do it as quickly and as cheaply as possible" and apparently this persuaded the wonderful young man behind the counter to let me cut ahead, if only for a second. He checked the water damage sensor, which we already know showed the unlucky truth. I explained that it had been working since then ( which is true... the first night after the rice...) and he took pity on me and said he would give me a $200 replacement. I sighed, I thanked him countless times, and sat down while he adjusted my new phone. My old one was in recovery mode already so he was unable to save my apps, contacts and pictures, but what a small sacrifice since I just saved $200. He handed my my new, dry phone, and had me sign a receipt. I handed him my credit card, with relief.. and...

He said, " that's ok, we'll just take care of it this time"

WHAT!? Did i just get THAT LUCKY?! HOLY DAMN IT CHRISTMAS! I just got my phone replaced for free!

Apple, you have won a customer for life. I will embrace your warm, sweet gooey center, just like Sweet Apple Pie. mmmmm.

Remember Those 100 Books.....

At the beginning of the year we started a list of 100 Books We Should Own but (Shockingly) Don't. We set the goal of getting all 100 added to our library by the end of 2010. Now that it's July, here is an update. p.s. my birthday is in August... ahem...

1. Gone with the Wind by Mitchell
2. Watership Down by Adams
3. As I Lay Dying by Faulkner
4. The Maltese Falcon by Hammett
5. The Day of the Locust by West
6. The Hound of the Baskervilles by Doyle
7. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Doyle
8. A Journey to the Center of the Earth by Verne
9. The Invisible Man by Wells
10. The Island of Dr. Moreou by Wells
11. The War of the Worlds by Wells
12. For Whom the Bell Tolls by Hemmingway
13. Leaves of Grass by Whitman
14. The Shining by King
15. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekell and Mr. Hyde by Stevenson
16. Paradise Lost by Milton
17. Remembrance of Things Past by Proust
18. Waiting for Godot by Beckett
19. Swiss Family Robinson by Wyss
20. Treasure Island by Stevenson
21. The Time Machine by Wells
22. The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Hugo
23. The Origin of Species by Darwin
24. Robinson Cursoe by Defoe
25. In Cold Blood by Capote
26. Death of a Salesman by Miller
27. The Art of War by Sun Tzu
28. The Waste Land by Eliot
29. Dr. Zhivago by Pasternak
30. On the Interpretation of Dreams by Freud
31. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Thompson
32. The Indian in the Cupboard by Banks
33. Pygmalion by Shaw
34. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof by Williams
35. The Importance of Being Earnest by Wilde
36. A Streetcar Named Desire by Williams
37. Tartuffe by Moliere
38. The House of the Seven Gables by Hawthorne
39. Lolita by Nabokov
40. The Plague by Camus
41. Native Son by Wright
42. The Red Badge of Courage by Crane
43. The Overcoat by Gogol
44. Eating the Dinosaur by Klosterman
45. Into the Wild by Krakauer
46. Charlotte's Web by White
47. Rabbit Run by Updike
48. The Bourne Identity by Ludlum

A few notes:In any case available we are attempting to collect complete sets in hard cover. For instance, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was on the list, we purchased the entire set. So, we would prefer the whole set of Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes). As for the one Ludlum book, we are missing only that one from the trilogy. At least we are half way there....

What can YOU do in 31 days?

I recently decided that I don't want to allow my adult responsibilities to suck out my soul. As it happens, I really like my soul. Thus, I have developed a life enrichment program for myself, entitled, " What can YOU do in 31 days?" I have set goals to accomplish this month in the areas of: literature, art, culture, health & fitness, travel and music. Below are my goals for this month... let's see how this goes...

Read 3 books for pleasure
Paint 2 paintings (of any size)
Re-learn the violin
Lose 5 pounds
Try 2 new recipes
Visit at least 1 attraction in Chicago
Visit 2 states other than the one I live in
Finish one of my many photography projects
Write a short story

Updates as of July 12th
Books: I began reading the "Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket, I'm on book #6
Paintings: visualizing....
Violin: I need strings and a bow... looking into a store to acquire these items
Losing 5 pounds: trying to be more active, running more, eating less... it's a process
Recipes: nothing yet
Chicago Attraction: we went to the aquarium this weekend. It was great
2 States: I went to Kansas City for work, but I dont know if this counts really. We are planning a trip to Cincinnati next weekend...so...
Photography: yeah, not started... still
Short Story: perhaps I shouldnt have included this on the list... no ideas...

So, what can YOU do in 31 days? Share your list!