Ron received a GPS for Christmas. It is his favorite new toy. He uses it EVERYWHERE!
Running to the grocery store? He brings it.
How about the post office? He brings it.
Going back to our home in Stockton. He brings it.
It's not that he's suddenly developed early onset Alzheimer's or anything--he just likes to know how soon he'll get somewhere and what the traffic patterns are like.
He is fascinated.
So, of course, on our recent trip to Utah, the GPS was the third member of our front seat crew. I was worried that he might become a distracted driver (we wouldn't want that) so I held it in my hands and became his personal GPS voice.
"We will be taking the next exit in 2.7 miles."
"Traffic is slowing to the yellow zone."
"We are approaching red driving conditions in 52 miles."
I became fascinated! Pretty soon, the Sudoku puzzle book and the books on CD I brought to entertain me lost their appeal. I could see why Ron loved his techy toy.
After driving to Utah, I proudly announced to Ron and Emily that I was now GPS proficient.
"I can add this to my resume when it asks for my skills."
Proficient in Word, Excel, and GPS!
Won't my future employers be so impressed?
Who cares if my cell phone is NEVER turned on? Who cares if I never bother to check my missed messages?
I know GPS!
A few days later, I was out and about with Utah and California sisters and Utah niece when darling daughter, Emily texted Barbara. Barbara handed me her cell phone and encouraged me to text her back.
It took a very. long. time.
A day or so later, I texted darling daughter, Jennifer with a very important bird question.
"Do birds lay their eggs in mid-flight?"
We had just witnessed that and were very curious if this was a common phenomenon or if the Mother bird was simply TIRED of waiting for Father bird to build their nest or if she had a case of weakened uterus.
As I texted this important question to Jennifer so she could Google it for us, it took a very. long. time.
Clearly, I need to practice my texting skills so I can add THAT to my resume.
With all the recent developments of my tech-savvy skills, I seriously pondered attending a session at Women's Conference called, "Staying Safe with Social Technology."
After all, I do BLOG and have 10's of readers and now I know how to Text.
When I mentioned this to California Sister she burst out laughing.
"Oh, Yes!!!! We definitely need THAT class.!"
Showing posts with label cell phones. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cell phones. Show all posts
Monday, May 9, 2011
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Call Us...We'll Call You or The End of the Saga
RECAP: As we left woman in yesterday's cell phone saga, she and her family had moved where her cell phone rarely worked. And now, the story continues.....
When woman, husband, and darling daughter #4 moved, they did not have a land line or the Internet for 1 1/2 weeks! That is a very long time to not check e-mail. Or update blog. Or check Facebook. Or even get the occasional phone call.
Woman got into the habit of carrying cell phone EVERYWHERE in her pocket.
She even remembered to turn it on.
Alas...cell phone missed many calls because of spotty coverage.
Something had to be done!
It was finally decided to give up beloved cell phone and cell phone number with 209 area code to find something a little more dependable.
Alas....woman has not changed her ways. Cell phone is rarely on. Cell phone is rarely carried. Cell phone is usually with darling daughter #4 so she can call and ask to be picked up from lengthy drama practices.
A couple of weeks ago, woman and her mother were talking to an acquaintance. Acquaintance was interested in obtaining woman's contact information.
Address. Check.
Home Phone. Check.
E-mail address. Check.
Cell phone number.
Cell phone number?
Woman did not KNOW her cell phone number. Woman has NEVER used the new phone. The one time Woman actually received a phone call, she could not find her phone in the depths of her purse. Woman could never figure out how to retrieve the message.
Clearly, woman is pathetic.
Clearly, woman is not ready for the 21st century.
This is what made it so ironic when woman and California sister were watching TV on Thanksgiving night and a commercial came on for a new 4G phone.
Woman shouted, "I NEED a 4G phone!"
California sister replied, "Yes, so we can video conference with each other!"
(California sister shares woman's habit of rarely using cell phone. So does their mother. It must be a family thing.)
Woman exclaimed, "We can update our Facebook!"
California sister replied: "And surf the Internet!"
California Sister and Woman were rolling with laughter. They thought they were SO Funny!
No one else joined in their laughter.
Woman said, "We should be on stage at some comedy show!"
California Sister said, "Yes, we are HILARIOUS!"
No one else joined their merriment.
I can hear the talent scouts say now,
I hope they don't call their cell phones. They'll never get an answer.
When woman, husband, and darling daughter #4 moved, they did not have a land line or the Internet for 1 1/2 weeks! That is a very long time to not check e-mail. Or update blog. Or check Facebook. Or even get the occasional phone call.
Woman got into the habit of carrying cell phone EVERYWHERE in her pocket.
She even remembered to turn it on.
Alas...cell phone missed many calls because of spotty coverage.
Something had to be done!
It was finally decided to give up beloved cell phone and cell phone number with 209 area code to find something a little more dependable.
Alas....woman has not changed her ways. Cell phone is rarely on. Cell phone is rarely carried. Cell phone is usually with darling daughter #4 so she can call and ask to be picked up from lengthy drama practices.
A couple of weeks ago, woman and her mother were talking to an acquaintance. Acquaintance was interested in obtaining woman's contact information.
Address. Check.
Home Phone. Check.
E-mail address. Check.
Cell phone number.
Cell phone number?
Woman did not KNOW her cell phone number. Woman has NEVER used the new phone. The one time Woman actually received a phone call, she could not find her phone in the depths of her purse. Woman could never figure out how to retrieve the message.
Clearly, woman is pathetic.
Clearly, woman is not ready for the 21st century.
This is what made it so ironic when woman and California sister were watching TV on Thanksgiving night and a commercial came on for a new 4G phone.
Woman shouted, "I NEED a 4G phone!"
California sister replied, "Yes, so we can video conference with each other!"
(California sister shares woman's habit of rarely using cell phone. So does their mother. It must be a family thing.)
Woman exclaimed, "We can update our Facebook!"
California sister replied: "And surf the Internet!"
California Sister and Woman were rolling with laughter. They thought they were SO Funny!
No one else joined in their laughter.
Woman said, "We should be on stage at some comedy show!"
California Sister said, "Yes, we are HILARIOUS!"
No one else joined their merriment.
I can hear the talent scouts say now,
Don't call us...we'll call you.
I hope they don't call their cell phones. They'll never get an answer.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
The Saga Continues
As we left off in yesterday's post, said woman waited and waited and waited for dear husband to rescue her.
And sweated. And sweated. And sweated. (Perhaps I should have used the word "glowed." It's much more lady-like.)
OK, the woman glowed. And glowed. And glowed.
It was a very hot August afternoon. Remember?
Husband finally rescued wife from parking lot. He was able to get the car started!
Perhaps it was low on gas?
He convinced wife to drive to local gas station and fill up with gas.
She did so.
The car broke down again as soon as she entered the gas station parking lot.
A helpful stranger and dear husband pushed the offending van out of the busy gas line traffic.
"I think we may need a new van," wife sadly said.
"I think you may be right," dear husband replied.
After replacing three transmissions, (Yes, you read that right--three transmissions!) the husband and wife just could not stomach paying one more cent--not one more penny--on fixing their van.
It was time to shop for a new car.
Which they did.
However, buying a new cell phone took a little longer.
So many things to consider!
Which company?
What kind of plan?
What kind of phone?
Finally, after three months of researching, the phone was purchased.
There it sat, barely touched, in woman's purse.
No one could get a hold of her on cell phone.
It was never on.
She was teased.
"Why do you have a cell phone if you never turn it on?"
"I'm usually home," woman replied. "And when I'm not home, I don't want to be on the phone."
Oh, the phone was used occasionally.
Long distance phone calls to dear daughters #1, #2, and #3.
Long distance phone calls to Mother.
Long distance phone calls to sisters.
Long distance phone calls to friends.
And then, woman, husband, and dear daughter #4 moved.
The rarely used cell phone was used even less.
Because, alas, it did not get good reception in new location.
The story continues in part III tomorrow.
Don't hold your breath!
And sweated. And sweated. And sweated. (Perhaps I should have used the word "glowed." It's much more lady-like.)
OK, the woman glowed. And glowed. And glowed.
It was a very hot August afternoon. Remember?
Husband finally rescued wife from parking lot. He was able to get the car started!
Perhaps it was low on gas?
He convinced wife to drive to local gas station and fill up with gas.
She did so.
The car broke down again as soon as she entered the gas station parking lot.
A helpful stranger and dear husband pushed the offending van out of the busy gas line traffic.
"I think we may need a new van," wife sadly said.
"I think you may be right," dear husband replied.
After replacing three transmissions, (Yes, you read that right--three transmissions!) the husband and wife just could not stomach paying one more cent--not one more penny--on fixing their van.
It was time to shop for a new car.
Which they did.
However, buying a new cell phone took a little longer.
So many things to consider!
Which company?
What kind of plan?
What kind of phone?
Finally, after three months of researching, the phone was purchased.
There it sat, barely touched, in woman's purse.
No one could get a hold of her on cell phone.
It was never on.
She was teased.
"Why do you have a cell phone if you never turn it on?"
"I'm usually home," woman replied. "And when I'm not home, I don't want to be on the phone."
Oh, the phone was used occasionally.
Long distance phone calls to dear daughters #1, #2, and #3.
Long distance phone calls to Mother.
Long distance phone calls to sisters.
Long distance phone calls to friends.
And then, woman, husband, and dear daughter #4 moved.
The rarely used cell phone was used even less.
Because, alas, it did not get good reception in new location.
The story continues in part III tomorrow.
Don't hold your breath!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Nudged into the 21st Century
Once upon a time, there was a woman who was not convinced that she needed a cell phone.
"Why should I own a cell phone? I'm ALWAYS home! And when I'm not home, I prefer to not be on the phone."
Yes, she was teased by others. But, she was happy with her cell phone free life.
Then one day, tragedy struck! Her trusty white van (may it rest in peace) broke down on a busy street in Stockton. It barely had enough momentum to pull into a parking lot. There it sat.
It was a hot August day. Said woman was on her way to UOP to pick up darling daughter #3 from her lovely job working as a custodian. Darling Daughter #3 owned a cell phone. She was very 21st century.
"Hmmm," thought the woman. "I need to call daughter and let her know I will be late. I need to call husband and ask him to rescue daughter and then rescue me."
She proceeded to look for a pay phone. She went to one place of business.
No pay phone.
She went to another place of business.
No pay phone.
She went to a third place of business.
Still no pay phone.
Mustering her courage, she approached the owner of the third business and asked if he knew where a pay phone was at--her car was broken down in his very parking lot and it was a very hot August afternoon.
Business owner took pity on her. He offered his business phone. She called husband. She explained her predicament. Because daughter #3 had a Utah phone number on her cell phone, she asked husband to call daughter because she did not want to add a long distance charge to nice business man's bill.
Then she went back to her hot van and waited to be rescued. She waited. And waited. And waited. Two things were realized during that very hot wait.
1. She needed a new car.
2. She needed to break down and buy a cell phone.
Tomorrow: Part II of this very fascinating story. I bet you can't wait!
"Why should I own a cell phone? I'm ALWAYS home! And when I'm not home, I prefer to not be on the phone."
Yes, she was teased by others. But, she was happy with her cell phone free life.
Then one day, tragedy struck! Her trusty white van (may it rest in peace) broke down on a busy street in Stockton. It barely had enough momentum to pull into a parking lot. There it sat.
It was a hot August day. Said woman was on her way to UOP to pick up darling daughter #3 from her lovely job working as a custodian. Darling Daughter #3 owned a cell phone. She was very 21st century.
"Hmmm," thought the woman. "I need to call daughter and let her know I will be late. I need to call husband and ask him to rescue daughter and then rescue me."
She proceeded to look for a pay phone. She went to one place of business.
No pay phone.
She went to another place of business.
No pay phone.
She went to a third place of business.
Still no pay phone.
Mustering her courage, she approached the owner of the third business and asked if he knew where a pay phone was at--her car was broken down in his very parking lot and it was a very hot August afternoon.
Business owner took pity on her. He offered his business phone. She called husband. She explained her predicament. Because daughter #3 had a Utah phone number on her cell phone, she asked husband to call daughter because she did not want to add a long distance charge to nice business man's bill.
Then she went back to her hot van and waited to be rescued. She waited. And waited. And waited. Two things were realized during that very hot wait.
1. She needed a new car.
2. She needed to break down and buy a cell phone.
Tomorrow: Part II of this very fascinating story. I bet you can't wait!
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