Lots of stuff going on in the last couple of days, some of it bloggable and some not.
Michael had a good first day at school yesterday, and seems energized and fine when he got home. I always worry. He hates school. Mother and I didn't sleep much Sunday night, each of us anxious as to how things would go.
He didn't have a Science teacher and his World History teacher was absent. He is taking a Home Ec class called Foods, which sounded like fun, but there was no teacher in there yesterday either. I was glad he decided to take foods because I think it's so important for kids to know good basic nutrition and to understand how to do some cooking.
His uncle Bruce took cooking in high school and loved it. He's now a real "foodie," just like me. Some of our best conversations are about recipes.
I digressed.
As most of you readers know, my employment has been rather off-kilter for the past few years, due mainly to the economy. I have tried to be frugal. We have not gone on a vacation in three years. I almost never buy anything new that's not really needed, except perhaps at Goodwill or Walmart. I am long past the stage of being excited about material things, so this was no great sacrifice for me.
Michael has been a very good sport about it all. He never complains.
A couple of years ago I got a new phone, since the old phone kept missing my calls, and I bought Michael a very basic phone to have just for emergencies, and put him on my plan. He was not happy about it, but he didn't grumble too much.
Lately, the "new" 2 year old phone had been not putting through my calls. This scared me. One, I am still looking around for jobs, and two, I was worried Mother or Michael might need me and not be able to reach me. So yesterday I reluctantly headed to the AT&T store near me.
The salesman who helped me was very sweet, but English was clearly his second language, and sometimes I had to get him to repeat things for me. I sorta wished I spoke Spanish.
Then again, his very basic explanations were probably for the best...
I decided to get myself an iPhone, since I could get one for $99 if I signed a new contract. We went through the explanation of all the financial stuff and it occurred to me I should get one for Mike too, because it would only cost an extra $25/month. I rationalized it by saying he could show me how to use my phone, since he IS highly intuitive about gadgets and will have the thing totally figured out within a day or two.
It's an iPhone 4S. Not the latest model, but not a dinosaur either.
It has now been about 24 hours since I got mine. I am already grabbing it and checking email while stopped at a red light. I am turning into the sort of antisocial person I've always despised, head down over the little computer in my hand, ignoring the REAL WORLD all around me.
I don't care. The novely should wear off soon. I have never been much of a "gadget freak."
I bought Michael a case for his iPod, and paid way too much. This morning I went to TJMaxx and bought myself a case. Until then, it was in an old sock, which Michael found horrifying and hilarious.
Of course, I am paying for an insurance policy for his phone, since he tends to be hard on things.
What has given me pause ever since I gave Michael his phone late yesterday afternoon is how Michael reacted to the gift. At first, he hardly believed it. He kept saying "Wow, I got a PHONE." He wasn't jumping up and down or hollering or anything. He was excited, though, I could tell.
Mother told me last night, whispering, that Michael was WAY excited when he went into her room and showed her his phone.
He has a small job, taking in mail and watering plants for a neighbor down the street. When he was walking home yesterday, he called me and did a Facetime call. He thought that was great fun.
Except for eating dinner, the phone didn't leave his hand again until bedtime.
So.... I am glad I got him the phone, despite the added cost.
I have reluctantly dragged us into the iPhone era. Pandora's Box has been opened.
mike and his new phone
