The fall and rise of the Apple Store...in my mind

I have an obsession...with the color RED. I have red walls in my home. I carry a red purse. I have several pair of red shoes. I have a red coat. I have a red suit. I have a red dress. Therefore, I MUST have a red case for my iPhone.

When I first purchased my iPhone I got a case that was red and black. It was not just any red, it was the perfect red! I don't like an orange red, I only love blue-red. Bright, bold, beautiful! This case was just right!

Unfortunately, it wasn't a very strong case, and it broke within two days of having it. I exchanged it for the same case, but this one broke too! O.K., O.K., I get it. Not the right case for me! So now I am on a mission. I have to find a better case, but it must also be the perfect red. You would think that this was easy, but it really isn't. There are very few cases in that perfect red.

I finally found a case online that looked like it was just what I was looking for. After receiving it in the mail, I was so disappointed! This was too orangy. I decided to just suck it up, and try it anyway. After all, how bad could it be? It just wasn't to be, though, I finally took the case off. I was so offended every time I looked at that color! I know that it is ridiculous and hard to believe that anyone would be offended, by a color, but I was! The mission for the perfect red iPhone case would need to continue.

What does any of this have to do with the Apple Store, you are probably asking. I'm getting to that! I was out shopping with my daughter this past weekend, and we passed by the Apple store. I noticed the iPhone display in the window. I took a few steps back and decided to check out the cases they had. I am so glad that I did, because there it was! The skies opened, the sun shown through the clouds, and it called my name! Excellent! This baby is mine! I grabbed it off the shelf and headed to the back of the store to find a check out stand and make my purchase.

What? No check out stand? For those of you who are Mac fans, you realize already that the Apple stores don't have check out stands. Their computer experts actually wander the store, talking with shoppers who are Mac enthusiasts. Once a decision is made to purchase an item, that same expert can whip out portable checkout devices that they carry, and the purchase is made right there. My daughter pointed out to me the value in a shopper not having to wait in a line after they have made their choice. She told me how great this is after you have had a lengthly conversation that leads you to a purchase. O.K. I get this.

But what about the simple accessory purchase? There were a couple other shoppers who were hanging out with me, waiting for an expert to become free to ring up our sales. I was really getting annoyed. Why would the Apple store make it so hard for us to make these simple purchases? I came to the conclusion that they certainly care about the $2000 purchase, but perhaps not the $20 purchase. While my daughter was trying to tell me to just chill out, after all this WAS the perfect red case that I had been looking for, a employee walked up to help me finalize my purchase.

She quickly and efficiently ran my card through her device, and then asked me if I would prefer a printed receipt or if I would prefer to have the receipt emailed to me. WOW! Really? I can have the receipt emailed? This was the moment when the annoyance just floated away! I instantly recognized the value in having a receipt emailed to me. In a split second, it flashed into my mind how helpful this would be when I am trying to return an item, or review a purchase date. I looked at my daughter and said "Never mind about everything that I just complained about. This totally makes up for it!"

AND, I have my perfect red case!

Happy Anniversary Nice Shoes!

It was one year ago today that I posted my first blog post on Nice Shoes! and more life observations. It has truly been a rewarding year for me.

It has been such a joy to share my life, my thoughts, my dreams, my family, my humor, and my sarcasm with you. I have met some incredible friends along the way.

A special shout out to two wonderful women who have been a part of my journey. Cheryl from The Daily Blonde is someone that I found online late last year. For those of you who have followed my blog for some time, you are already familiar with Cheryl. She has been such an inspiration to me and has taught me so much, from how she uses her blog to share lifes ups and downs, to how she has turned her passion into a promise! She is truly a Rock Star and I am privileged to call her my friend.

Another shout out to Miss Angel from Starting Over. What a treasure she is. She has been a guiding force for me. Angel takes life's challenges, places them in front of her, and walks across them like a path made of gold. I am constantly amazed and in awe at how she leads her life and her family in her walk of faith. You are truly an inspiration, dear friend.

And the final shout out is to YOU, my treasured readers. Some of you leave comments (which I love to receive and read) some of you quietly read (and I hope chuckle from time to time). Whatever your preference, I hope that you have been entertained, enlightened and will continue to come back for more. Leave a comment on your way out and I will stop by and visit your blog in return. I can't wait to see what new friends I make next!

It's not your mothers soda pop

Well, perhaps it is. I think back to my years growing up on the farm. From time to time my mother would indulge and bring soda pop into the house. Wow...the excitement that we actually had pop in the house. I couldn't wait to taste it! Her beverage of choice...Fresca! What?? I had never heard of it.

I remember giving it a little sip, and how truly awful the taste was. Grapefruity, citrusy, yuk! I gave my Mom such a hard time for liking such a disgusting beverage.

Fast forward 30 years. I'm hanging out with a friend who offered me a beverage. What should be pulled out of the refrigerator...yep...you got it! Fresca! Not wanting to disrespect my friends generosity, I graciously took the can of pop and took a sip. I was all ready with the fake smile and false declaration of refreshment. But... much to my surprise...it was sooo good!

What is this? How can this be? I STILL don't like grapefruit, but this was GOOD! How is this possible? This was definitely not a reaction that I had expected from my taste buds. I was so confused. Had my sense of taste been altered? Was my palate now more sophisticated? Probably not. I think the only logical explanation is that I have now become my Mother. It was bound to happen eventually. Here was the evidence of the evolution. Heavy sigh. If it must be, it must be.

This past week I decided that I would indulge and bring soda pop into the house. My beverage of choice...Fresca! You should see how my kids mock and make fun of me for liking this "disgusting" soft drink. I just smile knowingly. I know that it is only a matter of time. Someday...they will be me! The day will come when I pull a can of Fresca out of their refrigerator. Sweet!

Can I buy some time?

How does this happen? You are under the impression that the day starts off just right! The alarm goes off at 4:30...yes, this is A.M.! You spend the next three snooze cycles catching 10 second snippets of sleep and numerous moments of contemplation about the tasks ahead.

With your mental list of to-dos firmly detailed in your head, you bounce out of bed and jump on the treadmill. Wow! That was great! Ready to start the day and conquer it all! No problem.

You arrive at the office while it is still quiet. This is great. You have plenty of time to get some work done before people start arriving! This is such a brilliant strategy! How can it possibly go wrong?

Wellllll.....flash forward to what seems like three or four short hours. The clock now ways 5:30 p.m. WHAT!? How is that even possible? You have at least three more hours worth of work that needs attention. This creates quite the dilemma. Do you stay and finish, blow off the rest of the work (yes, it will still be there tomorrow, but so will tomorrow's workload...*heavy sigh*), or take your computer home...again?

I believe the solution is in buying some time. I would like to buy three extra hours to add to today, but can you please make that three hours that noone knows about? This doesn't sound like too much to ask. I am sure that my kids wouldn't mind not knowing about this time. I know that my co-workers would be thrilled to leave me alone with my time. My mother wouldn't be concerned if I didn't call her during this time. My brother would certainly waive his rights to his check-in phone conversation for a few hours. Great...the decision has been made. I am ready to invest.

Now, let's talk about the rate. I am willing to provide my time and trouble into the development of this concept, assuming of course that I am awarded the patent. Wow! Just think! This will be bigger then Twitter! The demand of this product will be incredible! I guess that can only lead me to being rich and famous..and I can then run away to a tropical island and spend all my time on a warm beach! Then I will have all the time in the world! Right?

Beep! Beep! Beep! Darn alarm clock! What a great dream. Time to get up and get at it!

Eavesdropping on a First Date

Let me set the scene for you. I am joining one of my dear friends for dinner on a beautiful, sunny Friday afternoon. We chose a restaurant that is on the waterfront in a lovely location close to Seattle. The sailboats are out, the kayakers are stoking with water, the dogs are walking their owners.

I arrived at the restaurant a little early and selected a table by the window. It was unusually quiet for a sunny Friday in Seattle. I chalked it up to being the Friday before a holiday week. I imagined all the families that were packing up their vans and heading out for a week of summer vacation. This left the restaurant with only a few patrons.

Seated right behind me was a couple that I hadn't paid any attention to when I first sat down. That soon changed when the deep booming voice of the man interrupted my thoughts of vacationers. With the restaurant only half full, that booming voice was easily carried to my table. While I don't usually participate in eavesdropping (I typed that like I meant it...right?) it was quickly evident that this was a first date. Not only that...but this couple had met each other online. I got quite a chuckle out of the whole conversational exchange. Well, let me rephrase that. It was really one talking...and one listening. I only overheard the woman make two statements. She couldn't get a word in edgewise. Here are some snippets of the sales pitch..I mean conversation:

I believe in carma.

My date had airbrushed her photo, she was considerably heavier then her photo.

She asked me if I was disappointed. Of course not. I had just met her.

I am not judgemental.

She got falling down drunk on our third date.

I took her home, made sure she was safe, and left.

She called me immediately after I left to tell me that was the fastest anyone had ever left her home.

I believe in carma.

I am not materialist.

I had a nice home, nice car and lost everything.

I'll get it back.

I drove up to the recruiters office in a Ferrari and an Armani suit. Told them that I wanted to fly fighter jets, so that's what I did for 10 years.

I believe in carma.

I liked the red dress that you wore in your profile picture.

I fully intended to marry her, she wore this huge ring that I gave her.

I flew jets for 10 years.

I believe in carma.

That's my mantra.

I'll get another house, I'm just not worried about it.

I'm not materalistic.

I liked that red dress that you were wearing in your profile picture.

I always see the positive side of life...just read my profile.

I believe in carma.

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. About an hour after my friend arrived, she leaned over to me and said "Did you know that the couple behind you is on their first date? I can't help but overhear everything he is saying, he is so loud." After we both giggled and agreed that we hadn't really heard the woman utter more then two sentences, we determined that this would also be their last date. I'm just sayin'.

Are the additional 7 pounds worth it?

We are now back from our lovely vacation on Kauai. My kids and I definitely had a wonderful and relaxing time away. I'm not sure what possessed me to do so, but one of the first things I did upon our return was to jump on the scale in my bathroom. Yep...7 new pounds. Hmmm. I was surprised and shocked to see them. How could that be? I don't remember eating until I was stuffed. I don't remember eating more meals then usual, or having excessive desserts. (Well...there was that one ginormous piece of Hula Pie that I insisted on eating).

I guess I really am not the sharpest knife in the drawer if I am surprised that I have these new friends. Of course I gained weight on vacation! A person can't expect any less if they spend a large amount of time pool side (note: not IN the pool exercising, just poolside!). Oh yeah, and there were the naps on the beach. And of course, there were those three novels that were consumed...you got it...from the beach. I have made the decision to welcome these new friends and embrace their purpose. Their presence was worth it!

Here are some of the observations made during our stay on this beautiful island:

1. Zip lining is just as fun the second time.

2. Spending the day under the 80 degree sun is like having happiness delivered intravenously.

3. Falling asleep to the sound of ocean waves is calming.

4. Watching your kids romp in the ocean puts a smile on your face.

5. Turtles ARE fascinating when you see them in person.

6. Learning the history of a region is fascinating.

7. Turquoise is a beautiful color for water.

8. Dolphins are truly elegant creatures.

9. Waiting three years for another piece of Hula Pie, is worth it!

10. Don't put leftover garlic steak in a hotel refrigerator.

11. It is really O.K. to step away from social media for a week.

12. Only one pair of shoes is needed...sandals. (GASP!)

Lucky #13. I was meant to live in a climate of sunny and 75 degrees ALL THE TIME!

The photographs that you see are compliments of my daughter, Connie. She took some beautiful shots. Now my challenge is to choose just one from her collection, of over 300, that will be enlarged and placed on our "vacation pictures" wall. This will be tough...I'd better get to it!

Sunshine on my shoulders....

.....makes me happy!

I am trying to honor the goal of no 'screen time', but wanted to stop in and share this family moment with you!

How can you not love 80 degree weather, sunshine, and warm ocean breezes? Next up...ziplining over beautiful canyons and then snorkeling on the Na Pali coast. What a great way to spend a week, and to celebrate a high school graduation.

Now, I gotta go. I've got an appointment with a lawn chair by the pool! Aloha!