Phone + Champagne = Incommunicado
Figuring my battery was dead, I continued walking to my apartment figuring I’d charge it there. With the thoughts of my near-fight experience and the convoluted ideals of a crazy woman reeling in my head, the walk seemed to take no time at all. Thru the door, off came my coat. My beads flew to the floor where I’d find them the next day. I plugged in my phone, but nothing happened.
Still feeling the effects of all the alcohol, I was not really sure what the problem could be. One thing was for sure, this was the crowning moment of a string of bad luck that made me decide to stay in for the night. Still convinced my phone would reanimate like some sci-fi monster, I left it plugged in and went to sleep.
It wasn’t until I awoke several hours later that a glimmer of clarity exposed the true fate of my phone. Like a scene from a movie, I could see the final moments of the poor gadget. I could see myself shaking off some kind of liquid. Then the rest of the scene played out for me. I had dropped it into a plastic cup filled with champagne. Suddenly it all made sense, including why it was sticky and reeking of booze.
Goodbye Verizon, Hello iPhone
As early as possible, I made my way to the Verizon store to see what my options were. Since I had only six days left to get a new phone, I would charge up an old Motorola V60 to hold me over so I could get a new one or switch providers and avoid the early termination fee. Then I discovered that, while my phone could be replaced as of March 8, a change to my minutes made back in January 2007 upped my contract by two years.
So now I was still tied in thru January 2009. This pissed me off and pretty much solidified my choice to switch to AT&T and the iPhone. In fairness, this is not a Verizon exclusive business practice. All providers do it. I had planned on my next phone being a smart phone of some sort and this was just the extra push I needed to make such a huge purchase now instead of waiting even one more day.
In the end, as practical as a smart phone can be, the iPhone purchase was simply a way to cheer myself up. For a weekend that started with such promise, it sure ended in a clusterfuck of bad luck and lunacy. Thankfully I have plenty of photos from the most fun part of the weekend; early Saturday with Adriane, Mary, Madia and the parade. I would not trade that for anything.
See Also:
Hoboken Parade Day 2008 – Gallery
If You Knew Sushi Like I Know Sushi
MensFitness.com
