Down, But NOT Out!!

I would love to tell you I've got images of a very cool ghost town, or maybe all the critters I found on that great hike into the wilderness.  Yes I would love to ... but the truth is, I spent literally the entire day on the couch staring into my phone.  Most surprising of all, I didn't throw it through the window, or even yell at the Techs I talked to hour after hour after hour after .......

Yes, I spent over EIGHT hours talking to just about everyone at Apple until THIS time I got some results. It's funny how hard it is to explain to someone that your phone does not ring when you call a number.  You know, that ring ring ring you SHOULD be hearing?  

It's utter silence for me, made worse by the fact that when people answered on the other end (when THEIR phone rang that is) they could not hear ANYTHING and hung up.  When they called me back, MY phone would ring and I could finally hear them.

Not able to get anyone on my phone, mostly because when THEY called me back, it didn't ring, I ended up in a texting marathon with Tech #1.  Tech #2 was soon on the phone, but said he would have to call me back.  

Nothing.  Tech #3 wanted to go through the entire routine again before Tech #4 came online.  In between I would call the Chance house, proving it still did not work.

Tech #5, after another twenty minute wait for someone to answer, quickly got the message to upgrade my call to HELP BEFORE SHE YELLS AT ME Tech #6.  At long last I was connected to someone who spoke good English and actually sounded like he knew what he was doing.  

How refreshing it was to speak to someone who, after much discussion, told me there was no reason to upgrade to a new phone.  My little black box was just fine.  He DID ask me to take the SIM card out.  Trouble raised its head immediately.  My phone is encased in a childproof black container, locked up like Fort Knox.  

No kidding, it took me ten minutes just to figure out HOW to get it out.  I was praying the entire time that I didn't crack the screen or destroy the phone.  Finally SUCCESS!  "Now take a pin and push in the little hole on the side to access the SIM card".  When I pulled the card out (now standing next to the couch), the phone went dead and the card dropped to the floor.

It's amazing how that 1/4" square card just disappeared.  Five minutes later I found it, but couldn't for the life of me get it back in the phone.  I definitely had visions of a very expensive replacement.  Luckily I got it fixed and the phone sprang to life ... except my new found friend had disappeared.  I may be down, but I'm not OUT yet!!

After another epic session, I was able to get him back.  Here's something interesting.  Did you know the phone companies now block most 800 phone numbers calling you?  They think it's SPAM.  That's why when Apple called me back, my phone didn't ring.  It did not allow the calls (four of them) to go through.  

At any rate, he recommended I get a new battery, since they usually last only two or three years.  Mine is six years old.  Best Buy will change it for $49.  Then of course there was another update.  I'm pretty sure my unlimited data (up to 15 gigs before it slows down) has disappeared, meaning the download will be slow as a tortoise racing a hare.  

It wasn't too bad however when we discovered our mutual fanaticism for nature photography.  He told me of his yearly adventures to Africa and all the amazing shots he got using his iPhone 10, which I'm sure he gets for FREE.  We talked cameras long enough that the download completed by 8:30 last night.

I must say it seems to be working better, and I'm ecstatic over the fact he said there was no need for a new phone.  The real test will be this morning when I try to call the Chance house.  In celebration of that, here's a couple of videos I captured the night before.  At long last SOME of the critters have returned.  For three nights, even the bunnies disappeared.  I had no visitors at all.

For this one, keep an eye on the left!!!  Too cute!!!

And so it's the beginning of a new day!!  I decided I can't complain about the cold any more.  I'm sitting at almost 3,000 feet above Yuma .... DUH!!!!  It's time to start making my pack-it-up list.  Woohoo!