Tuesday, April 27, 2010

I Surrender

You've heard me rant about Beloved Husband's annoying Blackberry-- the one that is never "off". And, I've gone on the record numerous times vowing not to be "plugged in", connected or online 24/7 ever again. I even refuse to Tweet and deleted my Facebook account (completely), although I rarely ever looked at it.

I remember vividly the day-- nearly three years ago, when I danced a happy dance after canceling my Blackberry account after I retired thus no longer being connected to my email-- and clients-- non-stop. It was a thrill that still makes me smile.

My clients were great but I was not all that crazy about them emailing requests at midnight or when my Blackberry would buzz at some ungodly hour in the U.S. when it was daytime overseas. To me, retirement meant not having to constantly check my email. Ahhhh, it was paradise.

For a while.

Since those initial fabulous months of peace and quiet, "social networking" exploded and it appears, if I ever want to be in touch with my family again, I need to get back on the bandwagon and get connected, otherwise their lives will pass me by.

So I did it, gawd help me-- I bought an iPhone. Yes, my husband smirked as I sheepishly showed him my new gadget while I "ate crow" about being joined at the hip to the World Wide Web again. He's rather enjoying the teasing, I might add.

When I sent my first text to my niece it was easy to see she was laughing as she responded with a "welcome to the real world" message. Now the younger generation in my family is waiting for my Twitter name and continue to remind me of all the family pictures I'm missing without a Facebook account. But, the flurry of text messages from them congratulating me on my newest acquisition has been a nice way of keeping in touch, even if I have no idea what most of the abbreviations they're using mean.... yet.

What pushed me over the edge and into the Apple Store yesterday? I'm heading back home to Ohio on Wednesday for the week and my arthritic hands are too sore to schlep my laptop along plus um*well*ahem*cough*I*hate*to*admit*it*dang* the idea of using my folks painfully slow dial-up connection and ten year old computer to check emails exhausted me just thinking about it.

So I bit the bullet and jumped back in with a shiny new white iPhone with a candy apple red case and not a clue how to use all the features it claims to offer. I'll take an Apple class when I return for the stuff the kids in Ohio can't teach me. But in the meantime, the nice teenage (or at least he looked like one) salesman at the store hooked me up so I can easily check my email, bless his heart. Oh, and he taught me how to actually answer the phone too.

I won't be around much this next week but I'll be reading blogs on my iPhone.

Have a great week and happy social networking. (Ugh, I can't believe I'm saying that.)
Welcome to www.TheFiftyFactor.com - Joanna Jenkins

50 comments:

  1. Gr8 news. U r cool! (Oh, I don't think I can keep it up! Lol.) I text a bit, enjoy Facebook, but I don't have an iphone! What magic am I missing?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I have learned to not vow to do something, because then you just look like an idiot when you actually do. Sigh.

    Congrats on being a cool person now!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to have an iphone. Too bad they are only through AT&T! Oh well, my blackberry will suffice.

    I echo your neice's sentiments - welcome to the real world! :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. No iphone for me yet - but I would love one!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Good for you! I have not yet succumbed to the I phone and hope I can get by with my laptop and my digital camera. Although I have a lot of capability on my cell phone that I have no idea how to use! lol

    ReplyDelete
  6. too cool jj. those iphones are sleek...i dont do much with my FB account anymore...its there and it makes a noise everyonce in a while. i guess it holds my tweets, though sometimes i wonder why i even do that...but...safe travels...see you soon...have fun!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sweet! My kids love theirs. I just have a regular old phone and it's good enough for me right now....maybe some day. :) Have a nice trip!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Fine! I'll be the last holdout then. ;)

    Congrats.. have fun with it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I have been on the edge a few times, but haven't quite jumped into the cool pool yet. I think it is partly because I'd have to use AT&T and I have had my other service for years. My guess is that you will become a social networking guru very quickly. Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love my iPhone and it's in a candy red apple case too. It is very helpful when I go visit my mother. She does not have a computer.

    ReplyDelete
  11. lm quite envious, lucky you....

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh, right!
    It's a phone, too!
    Always forget about that part.

    ReplyDelete
  13. My son is waiting for the latest and new iphone. I think it is what you got. We won't get it in Malaysia till later.

    Enjoy and have a good trip. Keep us with you in your pocket book:)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Lord above. I don't even have a cell phone!

    ReplyDelete
  15. congrats on your iphone, I hear it's a good thing. Now you're connected everywhere you go!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm not sure whether to congratulate you or feel sad for you...
    I hope you'll let me know which way to go with that ;)

    take care and enjoy your time away... but will you really be away?

    best wishes
    Robyn x

    ReplyDelete
  17. You have yourself a grand visit in Ohio and a safe trip there and back.
    I bet the 'teens' can teach ya anything ya need to know and then some. Have fun with your new iphone, sometimes ya just have to eat a little crow! (taste like chicken???)

    God bless ya and have a terrific trip!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I understand...I don't have a BB because I know it would be my "Crackberry".
    Best,
    Colleen

    ReplyDelete
  19. I so want to delete my facebook account but cannot bring myself to do it!

    ReplyDelete
  20. I LOVE my iphone. Yeah. That's all I got.

    Enjoy! :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Sometimes it just ain't worth the fight. You gotta join them. Everybody I know that has an i-phone loves them. I still have the old fashion kind, but I do text and I have facebook which I dearly love.
    It's hard for me to go home and use my parents old computer too.
    Have a great trip.
    ♥ Joy

    ReplyDelete
  22. Retirement is a dandy time to learn to use the new electronic fun gadgets. I just bought a Kindle, which reads electronic books. It stores jillions of books, all of which I have time to read.

    Enjoy your iPhone. Did you know it takes pictures - and will even send them somewhere?

    ReplyDelete
  23. I too have a white iPhone and LOVE IT! Be sure to take your charging cord with you. If you are reading blogs on the iPhone you may find it very arduous and you will eat up lots of power reading blogs. I have a very light and small Dell laptop that I take everywhere. The iPhone is great but for me, not for reading blogs. Takes a lot of effort especially if the blog contains a lot of badges. Some of the custom backgrounds don;t translate well on iPhone. But in any event for texting, emailing and checking twitter and facebook it is AWESOME!!!! Have fun in Ohio! xoxo PS if you go on Twitter I am @ijoffret

    ReplyDelete
  24. you crack me up J! Have a super week back home in Ohio!! Save travels. xo

    ReplyDelete
  25. I don't have an iphone but the one I have connects to everything. I finally gave in and joined the facebook generation. I do find it handy to keep up with family and friends all over the world! It's nice seeing pictures and just throwing in a comment now and then!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Oh, please let us know all you learn in the apple class!

    ReplyDelete
  27. I am joined at the hip to my PC and Laptop! An iphone... I am not sure quite how they work... and I probably don't want to know... cos I would probably want one real bad!
    I hope you enjoy getting to know how to use your new one.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Enjoy your trip....I'm sure you will enjoy your iphone, I think it is great that you are keeping up with all the gadgets....:-)Hugs

    ReplyDelete
  29. Never say never! I love the iPhone.. you can do so much with it and have fun too! Enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I'd love an iPhone, but mainly for the photo apps which seem to produce some fun images. I don't use my current mobile however so I can't (as yet) justify the expense of an iPhone. Maybe when the prices come down a bit over here ...

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anything from Apple is worth having. Congrats.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I do love all the new technology! Congrats on your sassy new hardware! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I am a Blackberry girl myself and I text my granddaughters all the time. I love keeping in touch with them and they me! Welcome back to technology! HA!
    And facebook keeps me in touch with family and friends that I haven't been able too with just a phone call!
    I love it!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  34. Enjoy the trappings of technology. No-one ever has to feel alone again, just plug in and get with the program!! Like my mum would say if you can't beat 'em join 'em. My addiction to blogging is more than I can handle for now.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hee Hee JoAnna how's that crow taste? I'm gonna be right there with you soon as I move back to USA. I hope you named your a sexy hunk name! Just don't drop it in the loo!

    ReplyDelete
  36. I cannot wait to cancel my blackberry account....and get my iPhone! Congrats! On the new purchase!!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Consternation. I for one only do blogging and email, occasional text with one of my grown kids. Hubby started a Facebook thingy to get in touch with his old high school chums and his siblings. Like you, we each have been part of the techie trash (my term) for a number of years. I did not like the gadgets on all the time so that I had to be "on" all the time too. I can see the urge to use the iPhone in your case. You do travel much, Joanna. If I were out of the house much I would need something to check email regularly.

    ReplyDelete
  38. Woohoo! She joined the cool crowd! :)
    Your phone sounds so nice, I´ll have to google it, to see what it looks like. Not sure if we have them here yet.
    Hope you enjoy your visit with family!

    ReplyDelete
  39. I adore you just sayin'....

    have a beautiful week
    with tasty cheeses and nummy wines,..on a soft blanket this week ;)

    cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  40. So tell me, is it really like going from listening to record albums to having a Sony walkman?

    ReplyDelete
  41. Congrats! Condolences!

    Would love one, but would lose any shred of mindfulness left.

    ReplyDelete
  42. They are great, except when they suck at your soul like a leech. Moderation in all things. In theory.

    ReplyDelete
  43. In the words of your family 'welcome to the real world' or at least, 'steadily' into the real world hehe.
    Looking forward to reading about your first spelling mistakes and messages that you can't understand as my ipod has helped me create some weird and wonderful e-mails at times due to it's predictive text :p
    Have fun!
    Oh, I almost forgot...my week of diving on the boat? THE BEST WEEK OF MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! :D

    ReplyDelete
  44. I had to chuckle out loud when you mentioned the thought of using your parents' 10 year old computer and dial-up connection pushed you to get your iPhone.... I've been back to OH 3x now since January, and I absolutely hate using my mother's old Dell. She has a cable connection BUT SHE TURNS IT COMPLETELY OFF AFTER SHE USES IT. So I have to "fire it up" everytime I want to check my email and then turn it back off when I'm done... what a time-consuming process!

    Since I had my laptop with me a few wks ago when I visited, I checked for any neighborly wireless signals, and voila, I found one in the bedroom I was sleeping in... LOL.

    So, I feel your pain. Congrats on your new iPhone, I'm sure you are going to just love it! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm not laughing, I'm bemoaning the fact that one of my fellow hold-outs gave in.
    I still don't tweet (or twit), still not on facebook, and I leave the email behind when I leave work at the end of the day. My cell phone is just a cell phone (and alarm clock).

    ReplyDelete
  46. I completely understand why you unplugged when you retired. My last position required me to be global and working from my home allowed me to check emails all hours of the day and night (yes, 2 a.m. was a common time to see me on my computer).

    I'm envious of people who shutdown. I strive for that one day, but am hooked at the moment.

    Have a great trip.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Oh it sounds so lovely to look at and yes darling so good for text messaging...and checking your emails...but you won't get sucked back into all the other stuff that can take up this precious life...I know it....!

    ReplyDelete
  48. That's wonderful. I've tried, very unsuccessfully to unplug now and again. Seems every time I do I come back even MORE connected. With my iPad I'm getting tomorrow I think all bets are off. The plunge is too far this time. Ah, well.

    Casey

    ReplyDelete
  49. I use Sprints idea of iphone but want a real one next change. My son has used one for several years and loves it. It can do so much!! You will love it.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for stopping by and commenting, I really appreciate it.