Sledding

I've always loved it. Ever since I was a kid. Even though I have a real job, real responsibilities and am supposed to be mature. I still go sledding.

For the uninitiated, it's basically snow tubing... without the tube. Not as much balance required as snowboarding, not as many pieces as skiing. Just you sitting on a board with snow blowing in your face.

It's even better with friends. Which is usually the only time I do it. There's nothing like a bunch of 20 somethings hitting up a hill on a cold day and acting like they're 5.

It's a rush. Plus, this winter has made things perfect. Just remember to wear a hat... and boots. Things go south pretty quick otherwise.

Smartphone

I really didn't want to get one. Yes, I'm a geek. Yes, I love shiny new stuff. Yes, I have a million and one things I could do with one.
Even with all that, I was still apprehensive.

Touch screen texting? Eww. Being able to access the internet everywhere? Great.... Facebook in my pocket? No thanks!

Then, I realized I have self control.

So I got the phone.

I love it.

If you've been holding off on a smartphone due to the whole "touch screen texting" thing, it's not actually that bad.

At least on an android. Google's keyboard is really something else. Even if I miss a key, it usually guesses what I wanted. Sometimes it guesses wrong, but never with really awkward results... well... except that one time...

Also, the great thing was, it didn't come with Facebook! So I had to consciously add it, and have to consciously open it too!

I never thought I'd say it - Lovin' the smartphone!

Group Therapy Thursday - October 25 2012

This week on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping out Amy. Every time Amy is texting a certain male friend, she gets teased by the friends around her. What should she do?

Text... oh, hold on....ing

I don't usually like doing rant posts. The internet is angry enough without me spewing out my pet peeves, however, the time has come.
Texting. We all do it (o.k, most of us do it). The problem is, most of us do it in each other's faces.
Have you ever been talking to someone when they randomly glaze over in the eyes, whip out their phone and force you to hold your thought? I have, worse, I've been the glazy eyed phone zombie.
When did it become o.k to ignore real people in favor of someone sitting miles away with plastic in their hand?
As I said, I do it too.
Consider this my way of saying, it's time for a "Technically It's The New Year Because School's Back And Stuff" Resolution.
I'm hoping to stop doing it to others. It will be a small act, however I will be one less lost in the land of glazed eyes.
By this time next year I ho... oh, hold that thought, I have a text....

Group Therapy Thursday, September 15th

This week on Group Therapy Thursday we were helping out Louise. She likes to text during church, but her friends are giving her a hard time about it. Is texting in church okay?

Here's what you had to say...

A couple posts ago I mentioned getting a new cell phone. One thing that I have never regretted getting is unlimited text. You'd think you wouldn't do more then 50 texts a month, until you realize that everyone texts. In fact, it seems to be faster and more reliable than e-mail... which lays the foundation for this story.

I needed to contact a guy that I know about a youth event that he and I are apart of... the catch? I didn't have any of his contact info. I contacted a mutual friend to get his cell number (as he allegedly never checks his e-mail). I sent him a quick message. 5 hours later I get a response...

Who's Evan?

To which I reply - The guy from the youth thing.

What?

Is this Jordan?

No

That is the beauty of a wrong number when texting. It could take you a day before you realize you have the wrong person. Have you ever had something like this happen?

Cash... really?

I got myself a cell phone for Christmas this year. Nothing fancy... in fact, it's one of those old school jobs. (Yes texting takes forever without a slide-out keyboard).

So as you can expect, I revived my first bill. I went in to pay said bill at the Kiosk where I originally bought the phone.

After buying a USB cable for the phone, I tell the clerk, I'd like to pay my bill. He then informs me that I can't use cash, I have to use a credit card. I'm underage (gasp!) and hence don't have a credit card... so I have to find a place in the mall that sells a Visa giftcard. I found one, bought it and went back to the Kiosk. I'm then informed that it takes these cards 30 minutes to activate, but I can go home and pay over the phone!

So in review I can pay my bill --

Over the phone by credit card - Over the Internet by credit card - By auto withdrawal - By manual withdrawal (I tell the bank to pay it) - in person at the Kiosk, but I CAN'T pay with cash... why?

They do take cash for accessories (remember that USB cable?), but when I want to pay my bill, I can't use cash? What's the point of having a currency if we aren't going to use it? I'm not too crazy about auto withdrawal and I likely wouldn't get a credit card for a little while... but I always carry cash! Maybe I'm over reacting, but it seems really illogical to me that I can't just hand the guy 30 bucks and be done with it... I don't mind using Visa giftcards, the only catch is the extra charge for activation.

Can you relate or am I just overreacting?