iPhone

Now that the iPhone has gotten cheaper, I am seriously considering getting one.
Its hard to convince el hombre since he is all about spending wisely and not being a slave to gimmicks. I promised him that before I make an impulse purchase (as I am apt to do), I will try to do a bit of research on whether I need the iPhone or not.

Q. Why do I need a new phone?
My 2 year contract with Verizon ends in July. I am not a cell phone person. You won't find me rapidly texting away in abbreviated lingos or getting calls at all hours of the day or night. I can sustain a phone conversation for 10 mins max. before my mind starts to wander. I am also deathly afraid of carrying on a conversation on a cell, while driving. With that in mind, I decided to use the cheapest plan possible from Verizon and of course the cheapest phone. I also decided against adding insurance to the plan, reasoning that, well why should I pay $5 a month for something I would never need. The phone was the simplest one on the Verizon block with no added accessories like GPS, internet or a camera. The only thing i diligently used it for, was to tell time ( I hate wristwatches). And then one unlucky day, it fell down a storm drain. And the drama started. Verizon refused to send me a replacement, because I didn't have insurance. They also insisted I buy a phone at retail value! A kind customer service rep suggested I get a cheap phone off Ebay. So, I go and diligently select a phone, only to discover that that particular phone was now not available in the list of phones that Verizon services! Being bound by a contract, the only way I could walk out would be by paying a $150 fee.
Luckily, a colleague who was also a Verizon customer gave me his hunky old phone for free (after he got an upgrade). Throughout all this, I was still expected to pay the $44.50 monthly. phone charge (inspite of being without a phone for more than 2-3 weeks)!
The 'new' phone that I had didn't do so well either. It fell down a couple of times and somehow the earpiece within it got badly damaged. It meant I could not hear what the other person was saying, unless there was a pin drop silence. And I could not listen to any voice mails. Which meant, I started to use it to tell time. This had been going on for almost a year.
So, when a friend bought an iPhone, I could only look back in envy. For I was still bound by a contract and I was paying almost 50 bucks a month for nothing!

Q. What will I use the iPhone for?
Good question! El hombre first asked me, and I stupidly replied 'watch movies' at work. Here's where I am stumped. Since the iPhone is mac-based and I have always been a PC user, it might be difficult to get the hang of it. Although I am an obsessive email checker, I do it on a company provided computer and doubt if I will buy the phone to read emails. Maybe read a book? or Use it to study? In which case, I could lug my laptop around to work? What about music? No, I am not a music listener. I have a barely used iPod and its a shame to see it lying there. Maybe I want it for attention or because its super cheap? I don't do big commutes on public transportation. So, there is no need for me to kill time. And I am not a business traveler. So really, I guess if I have to use an iPhone (besides its phone options), it would be a) surf, b) study and c) read an e-book.

Q. Why not a Blackberry?
Hmmm! I thought about using a Blackberry because then I could keep my own phone number (by sticking to the devil- Verizon) instead of changing to AT&T. I am not sure if I can keep my own number. But doesn't tbe blackberry give you only 250MB space? What good is that??????????

Q. What about the other fancy iPhone clones?
Well, maybe they could be an option. But I want an iPhone (tantrum).

While I want to be a smart and unemotional iPhone user, I don't want to succumb to mania. I want it to be something I will use a lot.
ETA- My friend purchased her iPhone a few months ago for over $600 (lol)!

Have you watched?

Havoc

Yeah I know I missed a day!

I was all caught up in the hype, it just got too late to blog. I will turn 29 in a few days and have been thinking of my life, where I was and where I can go. Its hard to feel optimistic especially in these days and times. Its hard to stay positive while I work in a science field that is extremely disillusioning. Its hard to be 'Ms Sunshine' when there is no stability or security at home or at work.
However hard things are, which if you were living my life, you could be sprouting grey hairs and staying on anti-depressants, I am thankful for lots of things...............

• El hombre (for the sacrifice he made to come live with me, even though it meant we turned into a one income family).
• My parents (for everything)
• My sister (likewise)
• My extended family (for always being around)
• My friends
• My health
• My sanity
• My education
• My love of books (its a nice rock to crawl under)
• My awesome childhood

I wish I had everything ( I know I have a lot more than most people do). I wish I had it easy. I wish I didn't have to struggle so hard. Or wake up to a job that is frustrating and depressing. I wish I had more options (that just fell in my lap). I wish El Hombre could work. I wish my family lived around the corner. I wish I could win the lottery.

I know its a lot to wish for. And many people share the same kind of wishes and the same kind of struggles. And some are not so lucky to have many things they can be thankful for. And some are not lucky to see tomorrow. Or to see the sun rise and set again. So yes, I guess I do lead a charmed life after all.

And so HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another day gone

Today seemed to be a real 'pokey' day as I had to repeat some bloodwork. Three weeks ago, my doctor prescribed some tests including a 3hr GTT. Anyone who has taken that knows what a pain in the butt it can be. Especially since there is a 12 hr fasting rule and having to drink a syrupy orangy drink. After drinking that 'juice' I immediately felt a wave of nausea and was feeling out of sorts for about 20 mins or so. Being a thinker (ha,ha) that I am, I immediately started surfing the net for what could possibly make me this nauseous. Was it an early effect of pregnancy (I wish!). After a bit of googling, I came up with this. So I am one of the 10-15% of women who have this symptom (which may be indicative of a normal GI?). Whew!!!!!

Ok, so as I said before

I have decided to start writing a post a day.
Being Sunday, doesn't mean it's a day of rest (atleast not for me). After a quick run to the lab (and noticing one of the post-doc hard at work ), I made my way home to my stuffy apartment (temps in the mid 80's at home). I got my spouse (we shall name him- el hombre) to open some windows and I plonked myself on the floor and promptly started surfing. And waiting for my parents (who I think are mad at me, for an event that happened last week, but I am in no mood to share) to come online (which they didn't), I went into the study and picked up on my cramming.
For the uninitiated, I have a veterinary degree from a non AVMA accredited vet school (of which there are several thousand worldwide) and am hopelessly trying to get my veterinary licence in the US. It is a long and drawn out process made of 6 steps- from getting all your credentials verified to making sure you can speak English (by taking one of those g******** ETS tests) to getting quizzed on veterinary theory and clinics. I assume I should be done in 2012, by which time my hair will be grey and I will be hobbling on a stick.
Working 8-10hrs a day and then coming home to study for 4-6hrs is extremely painful. More so, when I have el hombre to make out with ;-)
The pressures of work and study have resulted in me running away from reality by burying myself in novels borrowed from a neighboring library and I just finished reading 'Unaccustomed Earth' in 1.5 days. An easy read thankfully, with complex Indian characters that don't go the caricaturist (sp?) way.
I have just started on Kate Summerscale's Queen of Whale Cay that is only 200 pages, but promises to be fun.
I managed to drag myself and el hombre last night to watch 'Babymama' because Tina Fey is the big sister I never had. I was disappointed. Tina is a wonderful writer and a good actress when she plays herself (or something close to herself like her 30 Rock character-Liz Lemon). When she tries to play a complicated organic foods bizniz woman, its just like drinking papaya with coffee (watch the movie to get the metaphor, bitches!). Amy Poehler needs to stick to SNL sketches only. And use Tina as a crutch. If I was a lesb, I would love to do a threesome with Tina and Amy or fantasize about it. I got the idea from the crazy shower scene (again, watch the movie, you c***).
El hombre and I have a thing for foreign movies we watch on Netflix. We saw a crazy spanish movie called Fausto 5.0 that was effing brilliant.
El hombre ( who was one of the reasons why I shut down my first blog) is getting suspicious of my online activity, so I will bid adieu for now.
Don't worry, it ain't over yet.

And it starts again

In Sept 2004, I started a blog with the best of intentions. It was just enough to make me leave some mark on the 'interweb'. I had a modest amount of hits and tried to stay current. I wrote about general things, being anonymous made it harder to write about personal events. Occassionally, I put in some endearing comments made by my spouse or a friend. My blog lived for about 2.5 years and died quickly and swiftly, when some of my harsher posts hurt people I loved. In anger, I pulled the plug on my online journey and since then have kept a low profile web-wise for about a year.
As I approach my 29th year, I feel obligated to maintain an online diary of sorts. In the past, I was less disciplined in my blogging efforts, viewing it as a chore than a pleasurable hobby. As this second effort begins, I still plan on staying anonymous, but being more opinionated and worldly. And I will plan on updating it atleast once a day.

What will my blog be made of? Sugar and spice and all girly things. Probably not. Mostly things that interest me. Animals, my work, my friends, my family, books I read, movies I watch -in no particular order. It will include anything and everything from my professed love for Mr Obama to the dish on perez hilton. You can accompany me on my journey or not. Its your call. I am ready to begin!