Adventures with the Apple Store

Date: February 16, 2007
      OK - the memory card for my Cannon digital camera is TOAST.
      Chuck can "see" that there is something on it ----.
      but it's DEAD DEAD DEAD.
      So guess what my company makes???.
      I will take it in - see if there's a test bench that can crack into the damn thing.
     
      Meanwhile - Chuck and I went to Apple to get the letter N back on my MacBook. (I lost mine dropping a dish from the top of a cabinet smack onto the keyboard.)
      Simple - just need a damn key.
      If I HAVE to - just need a damn keyboard (Note to Self: should not drop a dish from a top shelf onto your MacBook).
     
      So I drove - followed my son's directions (we are terrible in the car together) and walked the new BIG mall to Apple .
     
      and ---- we have to have an appointment with an "Expert"?????????.
      Now you and I know - ain't got no expert better than my son and I - between us - we can tear down and rebuild a mac, reload it and do just about anything with it - between us.
      Chuck did not accept the message "4:45PM" - I had seen it and went "oh shit" (It was now Noon).
     
      Chuck - furious when he saw the schedule didn't have our names - got someone to show him - YEP --- that long a wait "Should have made an appointment from home".
      Yeah - that will cool down my kid (or me) - SUUUUURE it will.
     
      We stormed out - but no - Chuck got a manager and DUMPED.
      Manager got an Expert - who started to stutter about installation .
      "NO BOY - WE CAN INSTALL THE DAMN KEY - JUST NEED THE PART). (They all look so young and innocent - how can they be gainfully employed???)
     
      The Expert (my computer is < 1 yr old and even if not - I have 3 yrs AppleCare) took my baby - came back a few minutes later --- all better.
      They tried to explain "We try to cover all the bases" - .
      WELL - YOU MISSED ONE - THE CASE WHERE A MAC GHURU COMES IN FOR A DAMN PART - NEED AN EXPRESS LANE!.
      So we left --- Driving on Montague - since I took a wrong turn (told you - we are awful in the car together).
      I spotted LEVITZ.
      So - Chuck grabbed the camera and the MacBook - went to his apt (That's when he diagnosed the memory card - using his PlayStation3) - I ran back to LEVITZ.
      I bought the first microfibre sofa I saw - $399 - or of a subtle sand - orange - red adobe color.
      But no joy on the bedroom - all the stuff is too big - too dark ---- too everything --- and too expensive.
   
      I went back to Chuck's - we had coffee - he told me the bad news on the camera and I went home.
      I went to Hoot Jenkins (unfinished furniture) -- book case headboard in a store that has lost its lease was $699.
      So I left and found Connelly's which runs incredibly stupid "shades of used car salesmen" ads.
     
      The salesman took me to an expensive too dark set and WALKED OFF.
      The headboard alone was $899.
     
      I found a dresser - little (the room is little) in the children's section - $399 --- looked around - found bookcases - 4 feet high - $199 each.
      Hmmmm.
     
      Two of them - slam the bed against it - voila --- and there was a little stand - hold the TV - also on sale.
      Meanwhile - my salesman had abandoned me.
     
      So I went hunting a salesman - found a guy on the phone in the back office .
      - waited .
      - when he came out I said "any salesmen working?".
      "What do you need" .
      "Someone to write me up".
      So I led him over - explained for the 99th time "STAGING A HOUSE - DON'T WANT TO SPEND $$$$ - HAVE FURNITURE IN MY MILLION DOLLAR HOME IN SAN DIEGO" and basically "stop fuc___ing with me!".
     
      He said I could get a matching night stand - OK.
      And he knew of a headboard ---- and thought it came in full size.
      Found it - and it comes in Queen staged for full - PERFECT - CLOSE ENOUGH .
      All cheap! ($1000 total).
      I want LIGHT wood since the room is small.
      and Don't want oversized ornate furniture as it will dwarf the room.
      I also ordered the mirror to match.
     
      Sofa and bedroom both due 23rd - maybe.
   
      So then I went to Bed Bath and Beyond - I had to stop shopping when stuff was falling out of the cart.
      I had already bought new towels for the master bath while in San Diego .
      (At Christmas I realized how old and threadbare mine are).
      So the master bath now has light green (the new "In" color for houses for sale - Green is "Fresh") towels and mat - and now a new beige water-absorbtion mat for when you get out of the bath.
     
      I got a microfibre bed set for my bed (green) and new drapes to match (I oversleep with the blackouts). (They can go to San Diego).
      I got rugs (Bigger ones for the kitchen instead of 6 little ones).
      (One for the new sofa - the rug up here belongs in my bedroom down there - part of a set).
      A new pole lamp (one of mine broke - waiting to JB Weld it).
      Soft pillows - throws - on sale - $4.50!!!!!.
      Some black seat cushions (3 - had 1 - using them on the accent chairs).
     
      A drawer organizer - stuff like that to "stage the house".
   
      Lots of on sale stuff (I love that).
     
      The patio set once the sofa comes can go to the back patio - make it look like a room.
      I will hit Home Depot - have them deliver planted palm things.
      Once I know we won't freeze them to death.
      I lost plants - people lost big palms.
      The plants - the furniture and low fireplace - it will look like an outdoor room - A big thing.
      Thinking about an outdoor carpet for it too.
     
      I just scrubbed the kitchen floor so the rugs look good.
     
      I am waiting for Wells Fargo to go ape-shit.
      That's about $2,000 for the day!.
     
      If it helps move this house - GOOD!.
     
      Everything is acquired with an eye to where it fits in San Diego.
      Even the Patio stuff.
     
      I am pooped!.

And at work? They got the photos off the card (which is currently behaving), helped me order a new SanDisk card (cheaper since I work there), and guess what? The ones of me and my son are damaged. One can't be seen. One is wierd. Even PhotosShop can't recover it. We tried. But he has all the ones of his friends. This was a dinner for his birthday - he's 31.