I did in fact get my new iPhone. I guess I left the blog kinda hanging on that…
Let me just say, What a debacle! Getting a new phone should not be so hard! Seriously. That said I am so glad I went thru it. I like being one of the idiots out there “first”. LOL. So after my 3 hour wait the SECOND day I was finally next. I was so sure my activation would be fast. I knew which phone I wanted (8G, I have a brand new iPod Classic that is huge so no need for 16G), I knew I qualified for the upgrade, should be smooth. After another 20 minutes (I know, right?) a “specialist” approached me. We got to work. He fetched the phone, took my info, and entered it into the activation handheld thing. We waited. The result came back fast: “Error. Account does not qualify”
WHAT!?!
So like, he tried to be all sorry and “better luck next time” but I was NOT leaving without an iPhone. I became one of the customers that made the wait so long. I made him call AT&T. After 45 minutes of trouble shooting the account it turns out that there was some corporate discount that we didn’t even know we had that was the issue. Ugh. So we removed it and finally the phone was set up. Phew. So now I had to go back to a real AT&T to figure that out another day. Whatever. I had my iPhone!
One more step. Plug it in and make a call. I did. I called Richard. It didn’t go through. I tried again. No luck. It rang, but went to AT&T operators. Huh. I cringed. I dialed MY number. My old phone rang. Shit! They put the upgrade on the wrong phone! At this point I was politely told by a number of Apple people that I was SOL. It was an AT&T thing. AT&T told me it was an Apple thing. I was screwed!
Finally an AT&T supervisor told me to swap the SIM. After an hour on the phone, of course… But now all is welll and I am a happy boy! LOL
Look at my new Apple product! I call it iGotnothing.
Well kids. I am a little down today. I showed up at my Apple Store bright and early, like a good little Mac-boy. I was expecting the line, since I opted for sleep last night. 8:00 was when I stepped into place. In fact, it all started out really hopeful! The plan, according to the Apple associates was this: 40 people let in at a time, 10-15 minutes each. I was about number 300, but I do exaggerate. Could have been a lot less in front of me. Still, at 15 minutes each group I figured about 2 hours. Seems logical, right? We have been through the lines with Apple before. They usually don’t screw up too bad.
After about 2 hours I really was getting discouraged. I had definitely moved up, but not much. And we had been at a standstill for a really long time. Twitter kept me appraised of the issues as we went. Servers down! Servers up! Servers DOWN! Richard came over with a snack. I finally got to go look at the entire line. Wow. He waited with me for 30 minutes. When it finally looked like I was moving again he took off to get ready for work. I waited, chatted with the gal next to me, and questioned the Apple folk. They were saying all systems were a go! Twitter linked me to more stories that it was bad. iTunes servers were the issue, and folks have been having trouble with iPhone 2.0 updates as well as the Apple Store activation parade…
It was when I was reading about how folks were sent home with NO WORKING phones (after Apple DE-activated old iPhone, but could NOT activate the new one) that a woman came past the line with her 2 new phones and a warning. “Don’t let them activate you here! I have been inside since 8:15 trying to get activated!” I decided screw it. I, like so many before me, left the line. After 3 hours.
I figured dude. 3 hours and I am not even halfway… Plus my current iPhone is working fine. Rocking iPhone 2.0 too! So I can wait. I waited this long… Right?
Okay, no. I am calm now. Really. I just feel I have to make a big deal out of it since so many local San Diegans are opposed to it. I have heard everything from “too commercial” to “waste of time”. And then there’s this. I mean, dudes. Relax. It’s an amusement park. They are all commercial! Have you not been to Disneyland? It’s one big commercial! Just because SeaWorld is brought to us by the Anheuser Busch Company doesn’t make it worse. In fact I find it hilarious! What better place to bring the brats than an Amusement Park that encourages you to get tanked? In fact, I Yelped about the whole thing… No need to type it all out again here, right?
So the thing I need to get across is my experience at ANY amusement park with my Richard. He loves them more than I do, especially if there are any type of animals involved. (Look at that GRIN!) When we arrived we were barely through the gates when he started. “We have to see the Polar Bears!” “Which way?” “Come on!! This way!!” We were apparently spending the day in high gear instead of relaxing. But I followed along, camera and map in tow as he rushed me from attraction to attraction. And that was the easy part. The hard part for me is the length of time he will spend staring at each thing. After like 5 minutes of penguins I am pretty much ready to move on. Not my Richard. Bless his heart. He has to “observe” the penguins for a while… From different vantage points even. Oh. My. Gawd. My iPhone sure came in handy! Don’t get me wrong, I know what I am getting into with these outings. The Zoo is much worse… We both managed to have fun.
Then aside from the park, there is the people watching. Seriously. The added element of all the Budweiser products kinda changes things. People are louder. Like that family behind us at Shamu “Believe”. First of all only Gramma was in a wheel chair, so I don’t think all 12 of them should have been taking up disabled seats. Aside from that, the drunken domestic going on was unreal. At least once the beer spilt, no one was industrious enough to go buy more. And dude, can we discuss the fashion choices that were witnessed? My eyes! Yes I realize there are water rides, but your swimsuit does not match everything. Sheesh!
Speaking of shows, we hung out after Cirque De La Mer to meet the performers. That was a pretty sophisticated show for SeaWorld, and we wanted to give them props. Turns out we got a photo with the boys too! Actually it was funny. One of the Mer Girls was available too, but no one wanted a photo with her. The guys on the other hand had a pretty big line-up of fans!
OMG. It’s anniversary day! As is my tradition, seen here, I did nothing. I knew it was coming, just like last year. I still work *at* the mall so shopping or a card would be easy enough. I just can’t get it together… After reading last years post I am a bit jumpy, worried some box or something is gonna pop out of somewhere leaving me to feel like a total heel. I thought we agreed tho. We get another iPhone. That is the gift, so we each end u with killer phones! Yay!
We are spending the day at a friend’s house for a BBQ and hopefully fireworks. She lives on Coronado Island, so we should be able to see the show without too much effort! There is champagne chilling in the fridge for later tonight. And we have a week off. I think that is a pretty good start on Anniversary festivities!
Anyhoo. Happy Anniversary Richard! Thank you for keeping me company all these years…
As you probably know I am getting the new iPhone on the 11th (or as soon as I possibly can since I work that weekend). So I have been watching the iPhone news pretty closely to be sure I can transition. You see, I’ve not had mine *that* long, and there is a 2 year contract and all… Most of those questions are now answered:
I was just about to get in the shower when it occurred to me that there are only 4 more work days (5 total) till my 6 day vacation! I am so excited… I just had to sit and enjoy the feeling a bit. We aren’t planning to go anywhere, what with gas prices what they are. Probably some local San Diego tourist stuff. We like that kind of thing. Plus the big 4th of July will be happening, and along with that our 11th anniversary. We have big gifts planned… iPhones! I get a 3G and Richard is taking the original! I can’t even wait till the 11th! I don’t know what will be more fun. My new iPhone or watching Richard learn to use his. Heh.
Anyhoo. Now I just need to get thru the next 4 5 days.
So I must have a 3G iPhone. That is a given. The original plan was that Richard would take over the old iPhone, I would get a new one. However after viewing the complete WWDC we think it would be best just to get 2 new phones. Ridiculous right? But at only $199 each it’s not so impossible. So we started looking into cost per month. That search led to this:
As with the original iPhone, you’ll have to sign up for a 2-year contract in order to grab an iPhone. The iPhone 3G will have slightly higher data plan prices than the original model: individual users will now pay $30/month for unlimited data [2G plan was $20 per month unlimited]
Erm… Okay so my bill goes up *another* 10 bucks, like last time (I already had a hefty data plan on my SLVR). To add Richard is $30. So now we are looking at a $160 per month for cell phones. Crazy. Even I find that high, what with gas practically at $5 per gallon… So now we are looking at shutting off the land line, which I wouldn’t miss except for the DSL. You see, we never *went* cable. (Remember the “LOG OFF!” commercials?) We are on DSL and shutting of the land line means dealing with initiating cable and new computer network settings and all that drama…
Bah. I will go 3G. Richard will just take my phone. It’s more phone than he needs as is. We will shut off the land line this summer.
How many phone numbers do two old queens need anyhow?
UPDATE: I just found out (I forget where? VentureBeat! That was it...) Anyhoo, there will be NO included SMS messaging in the 3G plan. What’s that mean? Every text costs money unless you sport another 5-10 bucks on top of the 30 per month. *cries*
Because, well, technically I shouldn’t be hiding in my office reading Twitter and FriendFeed updates on my phone… Also waiting all day before I can get home and update my phone is gonna suck as well. *sigh*
I don’t wanna gross anyone out or anything.. But srsly. My iPhone has made me realize that I have some greasy ears. Ew. I know. I don’t remember this from my old phone so much, but with this thing it’s an issue. One phone call and that thing is smeared. Who wants to finger surf like that? I hate it. So now my OCD has kicked in, and I am getting a Kleenex and wiping my ear all day.
I am clearly just mentally ill aren’t I?
BTW. Finger surf? That sounds naughty. Did I just invent that? I love it!! So lesbian-ish… *love*
Speaking of shows, we hung out after Cirque De La Mer to meet the performers. That was a pretty sophisticated show for SeaWorld, and we wanted to give them props. Turns out we got a photo with the boys too! Actually it was funny. One of the Mer Girls was available too, but no one wanted a photo with her. The guys on the other hand had a pretty big line-up of fans!
UPDATE: I just found out (I forget where? 
*love*
