More on the Phone Saga

I just called to get an authorization return number for the jitterbug phone and to cancel my account.  The first person I talked to was extremely pleasant and understanding, but had to get another person to handle the return.  The return gal was absolutely the most arrogant and unpleasant person I've talked to in a long time.  I did find out the reason they no longer have a Samsung jitterbug is because Samsung quit making flip phones.  All of you who read my blog and have told me you use a flip phone should just protect your phone at all costs.  If you need a new one you will never get the same kind again.  What a shame!

Yesterday my son Steve took me to an ATT store nearby and we selected an Android phone - I think I have that correctly, and at any rate it is not an iPhone.  I just dropped the damn thing trying to see if it is a Samsung, but I'm almost sure it is.  It's going to take me a long time to get used to it, and it's a good thing I rarely use a phone.   Now I have to make sure I ALWAYS keep it where the Destroyer can't reach it.  Only yesterday, just hours after I brought it home, I caught him chewing the box it came in.

The rain has been heavy and constant until just a few hours ago, so I got a quick walk in.  I think I might go out again before it starts back up.

So that's my news for today - I have to say that I just don't understand the attraction of this phone, although I suppose when you get used to it you can no longer do without it.  To me, it is too big to carry around or to put into a pocket but people do, and I might end up like everyone else.

That is all I have to say right now, so cherish your flip phone if that is what you love and use, because there are few of them left!

Waiting

It seems like forever since I've had a good phone and Rocky destroyed it.  Good thing I don't make or receive many calls, and I really don't like using a phone because I have trouble hearing on cell phones.

 This afternoon Steve is going to finally take me to AT&T to select a phone.  He was away on a business trip, and before that his family all had colds that were bad enough to keep them home.  So this afternoon I hope we make it to get a phone.  I shudder  to think of crating Rocky because he absolutely freaks out about it.  He can't be trusted for 5 minutes if I'm occupied with something else, such as taking a shower.  I have nearly everything up high where he can't reach it, but he's getting taller and taller, and there are just some things that I overlook now and then, such as my jacket.

I had a great time with family this past weekend, especially with 2 brothers & their wives, and my niece and her husband, all of whom I don't see very often.  My niece (Julie) and husband (John) wanted to go to Reno, and Friday/Saturday seemed to be clear enough and I-80 open all the way "up the hill".  She told me later that seeing the snow piled so high on one side of the road, and the absolute drop off  into the canyons on the other side  really had her nervous.  They came back to Sacramento $200 richer than when they left, so all went well!  

My mother used to go to the Reno and Lake Tahoe casinos whenever she could get someone to take her, or a bus trip for seniors for that purpose.  I detest gambling and never did enjoy the atmosphere; the last time I went I put a few quarters in a slot machine and got about $250 back - I vowed then and there to never ever gamble again, and I never have!

 We are on a 4-day streak of rain, and I don't think it has stopped since yesterday.  It makes taking Rocky out a real bummer, as I don't like to walk the rain and all we have is a covered driveway.  I don't mind at all looking out the window at the rain, but I don't care for being out in it.  Maybe I should get myself an umbrella but wouldn't have much chance to use one since the rainy season here is so short.   I hate spending money on phones, umbrellas, and crap like that!  I'd much rather spend it on and with my kids and grandkids!

I wonder how long it will take me to be able to use my new phone, whatever kind I get!  I will have to enter all the names & numbers into the directory, and I lost so many of them when the phone was ruined by "The Destroyer". 

Almost blown away!

I took Rocky for a short walk and was hit by the wind from the north!  It is blowing fiercely and I sure didn't stay out long!  Rocky doesn't seem to mind it as much as I do.

Speaking of the basketball star, he still limps slightly, but not all the time.  It seems to come and go, and I have to look closely to even see it as it isn't a pronounced limp.  I noticed yesterday that he wasn't jumping on people, although he ran around with the dogs at the dog park when it was open briefly.  It rained overnight so the darn thing is closed again for today. 

I had lunch with my niece and her husband yesterday and it is so nice to be with them.  Jeannie is having all the family over to her house on Sunday, so it will be a nice gathering.  I cherish those times!

I'm getting antsy to move, and it's down to 3 months to wait.  I have so much to do before then.  I sure hope Rocky has calmed down a bit by then, as he will be turning 1 yr old on the 28th of May.  I realize he will still have another 6 months to a year to go until he acts like a mature dog, and maybe he will remain puppy-like in his energy and temperament for even longer.  I just marvel all the time at how beautiful he is, how playful he is, and sometimes how transparent he is when he tries to trick me!

 I know there are so many things I should be doing, but I don't know where to start!  Getting old is a PITA!

Sports Injury

We spent the afternoon at Jeannie's yesterday, and enjoyed being with my niece Julie and her husband John, from the Milwaukee area.  They think our winter is pretty mild, although I sure need to dress warm!

I stayed indoors while some of the men and kids went out to play basketball.  Of course, the biggest kid of the bunch was mine.  He went up for a shot and came down on one of his paws too hard I think, and it it has been sore ever since.  It only bothers him from time to time, so he must have figured out how to walk without putting pressure on the injured spot.  When Andrew brought him back from his walk this morning he mentioned that Rocky must have hurt himself on the walk, but I assured him that Rocky hurt himself playing basketball.  

I didn't think too much of it, but when I took him out for a walk a few minutes ago he had a difficult time going down the steps, and then I could tell it hurt him to walk.  I'm at a loss to know what to do about it right now and will just watch him closely this evening.    He's been on the couch all afternoon, which is a little unusual

The weather sure looks beautiful today although it seems cold when I go outdoors.   So I'll try to stay indoors as much as I can!

 I think Julie and John might try to make it up I-80 to Reno in a couple of days, although I sure wouldn't have the nerve to attempt it.  When I was Julie's age though, I would have tried anything!

I am really anxious to get together with my d-i-l Megan, and begin going through our plants, seeds, and plans for our gardening project.   I hope we can start on it soon.

I've run on long enough so I'll quit now.  Have a good week.

My new Jitterbug phone

I had the old Jitterbug, made by Samsung, for about 7 years without a problem.  I could probably have used it for several more years if Rocky hadn't chewed it and lost the battery.

The new one is made by Alcatel and is a total piece of crap.  If you are thinking about getting the Jitterbug, my advice would be "DON'T".  It is a bit larger than the Samsung, which fit so nicely in my jeans or jacket pockets, was easy to hold as it wasn't an exact rectangle but curved a bit which made it simple to hold and use it.  One of my sons helped me get the new one set up and he recognized right away that the voice quality wasn't very good.

I used to put the Samsung on the charger overnight about every other night, and take it off when I got up in the morning.  This one makes an annoying ring every few seconds when it has finished charging, about 2 hrs or so.  That means if I put it on charge when I go to bed at night it is going to wake me up just after I get to sleep.  I don't understand why Great Call discontinued a very usable and trouble-free phone to carry this one which has no new features and nothing I would consider better.  

I am going to look into other phones with the same features and that have a pay-as-you-go system.  I pay for a certain number of minutes each month and have never gone over, although I don't use my phone all that much to begin with.  To be truthful, I don't want or need a lot of features - I just want a phone that I can make and receive calls with.  I do use the camera from time to time but don't really need it and that wouldn't be a deciding factor to get this phone.

I really don't like to criticize a product, especially to an audience of the size I blog to.  I might tell one of you individually that I don't care for my phone and this is why, but going on a public forum lets you know that I truly dislike it.

The days go by with stormy skies and then bright sunshine, but the dark clouds are always coming up on the western horizon.  Rocky and I just got back from a walk of about 1 mile while we had the chance. 

More rain and wind!

I really can't complain as many areas in this part of the country are getting much worse.  The wind frightens me a little.  I think it would only take a very small tornado to pick my house up and carry it off to the land of Oz!  Rocky doesn't care for it either.

I recently read an article about how, under no circumstances, should you feed people food to a dog - not even a tiny little treat.  I don't know where this comes from, but I've had dogs all my life, and especially when my babies were small the dogs loved to sit next to them when they were eating, dutifully cleaning up any spills for me.  Dogs love that job, and they take it very seriously. 

Since I don 't drop my food on the floor, Rocky still deserves a chance to get a few good bites.  I just made some toast smeared with butter and lots of apricot preserves, and I think he loves it almost as much as I do.   I only give him a small piece of the toast though.

I don't know how to plan my day.  If the rain keeps up we won't be going for many walks.  My kitchen definitely needs some work, so that may be what I will tackle.  Or not.

Here's to a happy Valentine's Day for all.  

Rainy Day

Not much new here.  It started raining during the night and has been raining heavily ever since.  It did lighten up for about 10 minutes and Rocky and I were out the door for a quick walk.    I don't  think he likes walking in the rain any more than I do.

We are having a lazy day today.  I heard yesterday evening that a blizzard was hitting Redding, CA just north of us; the town is at about 500' of elevation and I don't think they get snow very often - but a blizzard came in off the Pacific last night and blanketed Redding.  Here, we just have temps in the 50's and rain - I don't mind this weather at all.

A niece of mine is arriving in Sacramento with her husband this weekend, flying in from Milwaukee.  I hope the weather will clear up for a bit - they wanted to go to Reno as well as to visit my sister in Nevada, but the roads have been closed for a while due to the snow and icy conditions.  It's funny how a person changes over the years:  I could never understand why my parents let the weather dictate if they went anywhere outside the house.  Now I've become my parents!

Jeannie came by after work yesterday to give me my monthly B-12 shot; she stayed for a while and I broke out a bottle of wine which we enjoyed with some snacks.  I don't often get a chance to spend time with just her, and it was a real treat for me.  Also, she is Rocky's absolute most favorite person in the world so he was in a joyous state, for sure.

There is really nothing happening in my little corner of the world that is worth blogging about.  I should be grateful that nothing is happening!

Enjoy the rest of the week, and I'll be back soon.