There's a reason it's called a Crackberry

It all started out innocently enough. It was a facebook quiz "name five things you can't live without". These items were to be material in nature, not people and animals, etc. So I listed my Blackberry (along with coffee, Jeep, tv and Bible). Less than 48 hours later, said Blackberry went on the fritz. A serious fritz. Half of my icons were missing, phone kept freezing up, I couldn't make calls or listen to voice messages. You get the picture. When I called customer service they said, "no problem...it sounds like it is a software issue so we will replace it." YIPPEEEEE. I couldn't wait for snailmail since I am taking two vacations soon, so I drove to the other end of the city to make the exchange.

Now, you would think (considering how much I wanted a new Blackberry) that I would be Little Miss Pippy Skippy down to the AT & T store to do the exchange, but all I felt was anxiety. Anxiety resulting from the dreaded question that was bound to be asked, "have you ever dropped your phone?" I am too honest to answer, "no"...and too smart to answer, "yes". It's a true moral dilema. Is there anyone (I say anyone) who has never dropped their phone? I have yet to hurl it off a balcony, but yes...I have dropped my phone. In fact, when I bought my Blackberry I told the man that I sometimes drop my phone and he basically said, "no worries...they're hearty little suckers." So there I am at the customer service counter making all nice with the rep (having already prayed and asked God to PLEASE not have him ask me if I have dropped my phone. I was quite thankful that I had included the Bible in my original list of things I couldn't live without so that God knew I still cared about Him, too.) :) I did my very best fast-talking-smiling-inquiring-story-telling to fill all of the dead air so that he couldn't slip that question in. ...and it worked, kind of.

In the midst of all of this I was also feeling sad about losing my original Blackberry. (Don't read on unless you can fully accept the fact that I am a complete weirdo and still like me.) I was actually getting emotional about leaving my first Blackberry at the store as if it had feelings. I said 'goodbye' to it and may have even 'thanked it'. (I'm scaring myself here). This is not the first time I have gotten verklempt over an inanimate object. When someone bought my Honda I thought I was going to turn to mush as they drove it away...even though I had a much better replacement car. And when we rented a huge dumpster to throw away old garbage and things from the garage and house I actually took a picture of the half-filled dumpster as my things were going bye-bye.

Back to the story. So the guy says he is going to replace my Blackberry. Whew. Later in the conversation, the idea of phone dropping did come up, and I did confess, but by this point he liked me enough that it was a non-dramatic-confession. He was cool. Yeah. Once I got home with my Blackberry it took hours to input all of my contacts, settings, etc. Nothing could be transfered due to the software glitch. This was my bonding time (I can admit this since you now know I bond with inanimate objects).

What I learned, is what I already knew to be true, I CAN live without my Blackberry. I was still breathing. I must say, this did reaffirm my commitment to take one day a week and turn it off. When I did it, it was freeing, so I am going to do that again. I have also vowed to do whatever I can to keep this phone in my paws so that it doesn't drop.

Everyone needs a lofty goal in life.

Dear Neighbor

Dear Neighbor,

I wanted to take a few minutes to thank you (so much) for once again letting your barking dog out at 7 am. I just love the sound of his yelp over, and over and over. It is like a symphony to my ears. It is especially wonderful on mornings, like this morning, when I have hardly slept due to insomnia. Why, it almost makes me giddy to hear that yelp and know that my day can begin and my restless night can end. I can't help but notice that once I am up, the dog stops yelping. How clever. A furry alarm clock. I, for one, would like to roll up a newspaper and hit the snooze button.

I wish I could find some way to repay you for your kindness in thinking about me and the other neighbors in the area. You probably have no idea that your yelping dog symbolizes life and is a constant reminder that (like your dog) no matter how often a door is (symbolically) slammed in our face, we should keep on yelping...I mean trying.

Since it is summer I could be sleeping in and spending my mornings lazily in bed. Thank you for helping me rise and shine in the 7 o'clock hour so that when August comes my early mornings won't be a shock to my system.

I'll think of you every morning (I'm sure),

Your tired neighbor