Musings on a Small Life

Yesterday (Sunday) was my last day of holidays, I'm back at work today. Giving myself a high-five for just showing up when I really didn't want to. Giving myself another high-five for getting a number of things done. (First days back are hard, especially given the "climate" now. Continued layoffs for support staff as the organization claims to be in dire financial straits, yet recent 4.25% - 4.75% raises for grades 10+, i.e. all management/upper admin. Fun times.) Anyway, I was out and about yesterday, running errands, busing and walking here and there. Finally, when I'd had enough and was on a bus heading to the transfer point at the mall, I realized I had lost my phone. (Rather ironic, considering I only cancelled my landline last month.) In fact, I couldn't quite remember if I really had lost it or I had actually left it at home, because I couldn't recall having it out and in my hand. However, when I got to the transfer point (mild panic at that stage),...

There are too many choices when it comes to cell phone plans, be they prepaid (as mine is) or on contract. After going into the Telus store in the local mall, I came home and dithered for ages, then ended up just going for their basic add-on of 500 outgoing and unlimited incoming texts, plus 50 minutes of free local calling, at $15 plus tax per month. No data, at least not at this point. None of their prepaid/auto-renew plans has long distance, unfortunately. But at least I can send and receive texts Canada-wide and to the U.S. too. I don't need 500 outgoing texts per month, let alone international capability, but I wanted some voice coverage and this was the only way I could get it. And on the topic of "voice," I spoke with Mom a short time ago. She's found a private facility for Harry; he'll move there on Wednesday, from the hospital. The place is about 20 minutes outside of the city, in a quiet setting, rather like a lodge in the woods. Six or se...

So a few days ago I popped over to our computer store at lunch time and came back with a used Samsung Galaxy 3 cell phone, for $125 plus tax (and the $5 for the USB cable to charge it). Fortunately, the young guy at the store was able to use a little device to snap out the SIM card in the old phone and pop it into the "new," so that worked out well. I currently have an account with Telus (for the old phone), always have paid $100 per year and never used it up, not even close. However, I can see that I'm going to need a real plan soon! (I also now see why smart phones are such time-wasters. LOL.) I've since been stumbling along with it, as I don't have a clue about using these things, and have been pestering our summer student who happens to have the same phone. (Though he paid a lot more, a few years ago!)  Anyway, the bottom line is that I can text now -- though I'm really slow and really, really bad at it. Big thumbs, tiny keys.  :-) Still...

I finally got around to activating it this morning. Took me ages , because I couldn't correctly read one of the serial numbers on the back, under the battery, even with a magnifying glass. Eventually I figured out that what I thought was a "B" really was an "8." *Headdesk* Then, in further "DUH" moments, I charged the battery per instructions, which took about two hours. After which, it wouldn't turn on. I fiddled with it for about 5 minutes or so then thought, okay, I'll plug it in again, see what happens. I did--and it started charging all over again, as if the battery was completely run down.  About an hour later I got the second message indicating it was charged, so I unplugged it and tried to turn it on...nothing. So I called Wal-Mart, but the electronics clerk wasn't much help, as they have a 2-week return for electronics and he said I'd have to ask at customer service about exchanging the phone and keeping the current SIM card...

Yeah, that's me. One of the very few "luddites" in North America without a cell phone. Until now.   I picked this up in Wal-Mar this morning, because I really don't want to be out of touch when I'm away, in case something happens to the boys. And if it weren't for this upcoming trip, I wouldn't bother with one at all. Oh, I can understand the usefulness when you have family and a wide social circle in your town/city, but I live a quiet and secluded life, for the most part. I don't need a cell phone. That's another $100 to pay off at some point. So I'm feeling rather resentful at the moment. The only thing I'd resent more than the exorbitant cost of pay-as-you-go is locking in for a 3-year plan and paying for all the bells and whistles I'd never use. I'm not going to bother activating this until September, since I think there's a 30-day expiry on the credit. There's no activation fee if you do that on-line, but I'm ...