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Ten Things of Thankful: Feel Free to Go Ahead and Laugh

This week, I got a new phone.  I was (relatively) late to the smartphone scene; I got my first smartphone 2-1/2 years ago. I'm not one who upgrades at the first possibility, but decided it was time because I was running out of memory.  (My mind is running out of space, too, but I haven't quite figured out how to upgrade that yet!) 

I ordered a protective case for the phone because, though I am not exactly rough with phones, I have been known to accidentally drop my phone.  The new phone arrived before the case did.  In an effort to keep the phone somewhat protected while I waited for the case to arrive, I didn't remove the flimsy plastic.  

I had fun picking ringtones, and even gave specific ringtones for particular callers.  It was so fun to hear the phone ring, and know immediately who was calling!  I put the phone to my ear.

"Hello!"

". . . . "

"I'm sorry; I have a new phone.  I can barely hear you.  I'm going to have to call you back."

No matter how much I turned up the volume, I could barely hear the caller.  I was so disappointed.  John tried to fix the problem. We thought the phone might be defective.  

Can any of you observant readers solve the problem?  In a flash of inspiration, I wondered, "Do you think the plastic film could keep me from hearing the caller?"  It turns out, the answer to that question is a resounding "YES!"  

Go ahead and laugh.  I sure did.  I still am laughing.  As smart as I'd like to believe I am, it's hard to take myself seriously when I do dumb things like that.  

In case you are wondering, though, if I've removed the plastic yet, the answer is no--not until that case arrives.  I just peel it off the speaker and I can hear clearly.  

That amuses John.  Go ahead and laugh.  I guess I'm the modern-day equivalent of the grandma who keeps the plastic on the living room davenport.  :-)

Just pretend that was a seamless segue. . . 

1.  I'm thankful for cellphones.  

2.  I'm thankful for rain.  We had more this week.  Although we still aren't up to average yet, other parts of the state have exceeded average, and that helps get us closer to being out of the drought.

3.  I'm thankful that it is still January.  The Christmas decorations are (mostly) down, but not completely put away yet.  I've never been so late in completing this task, and take comfort in the fact that it is still January, a perfectly acceptable month in which to get this done. 

4.  I'm thankful for the beautiful full moon this week.  I happened to catch moonrise on Wednesday, and it was gorgeous! (Unfortunately, I was driving so I didn't get a photo.)

5.  I'm thankful for my children.  I enjoy hearing what is going on in their lives, and I'm glad they keep me up to date (even when I struggle to hear them!)

6. I'm thankful for the ease of ordering parts, thanks to the internet. My aquarium water was looking not-so-clear, despite frequent water and filter pad changes.  I recently noticed that one of the filter media baskets was deteriorating.  I was able to find a replacement part.  The water isn't 100% better yet, but is much improved, and hopefully will return to its crystal-clear state soon.

7.  I'm thankful for bunnies in the backyard.  They are just so cute! I look forward to the teeny tiny babies that will be appearing in the spring.

8.  I'm thankful for sleep, and I'm looking forward to some shut-eye as soon as I finish this post.  :-)

9.  I'm thankful for the examples I see around me of caring, generous people.  As I've mentioned before, I serve in church with the women's organization.  I'm able to notice acts of service that others might not get to see, and I'm so inspired by just how quick people are to jump in and help others.  

10.  I'm thankful for John.  We ran another 10K together at Disneyland yesterday.  We were not well-prepared for this race.  We certainly did not set a PR (personal record), but we had a good time together, and ran at a comfortable pace.  I'm glad we have common hobbies and interests, and can laugh together--like we did when we figured out my phone does actually work just fine!


Photo:  John and I, dressed as C3PO and R2D2, cross the finish line of the Disneyland Star Wars 10K


How was your week?  Did you have a chance to laugh at yourself?

(No link code this week, but feel free to list your TToT blog post in the comments.)

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Comments

  1. Once again I'm sneaking my post in at a very late hour. This has got to be the work to more diligently get to bed earlier.

    I can relate to your "my mind is running out of space" comment too. :-)

    Great discovery about your new phone!

    Here is my link: https://aseasonandatime.blogspot.com/2017/01/ten-things-of-thankful_16.html

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    1. I'm still trying to get back into Friday TToT posts, too--but Sunday posts work, too.

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  2. I so relate to this.... I'm not a phone-fan myself, having a smartphone for a year, just so I can whatsapp with Henk now. I still have pre-paid and going on 20 dollars a year. See, no phone-fan! I'm totally seeing doing this myself; if nobody will tell me, I won't know, will I?!
    I love how you and John run together. And in costume even! Spouses that play together, stay together. That's my idea at least. Not that running is playing, but it comes close.

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    Replies
    1. It is important to have fun together, and running at Disneyland really is fun!

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  3. Not laughing. I did the exact same thing when I got my first smartphone. Haha. It's good to laugh at yourself. Loved the race photo.

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  4. such a simple small thing having such a large effect, no? (as I write this comment, I'm thinking about the 'Parable of the Cell Phone' and thank you! it has made a difference to me today*)
    running... aiyyee! I see the photos and I think, I gotta get some exercise! still a positive effect

    *readers of the Doctrine know that I'm totally serious about the gift of a perspective such as the Parable of the Cellphone... (for me) it's not simply that I might overlook a step (in the course of my day) but it (the Parable) serves to remind me that the feelings that flow from the things we do are a part of me and not the world doing things to me. I know for a fact that, had I done what you describe, I would have felt bad about getting a defective phone, and then proceeded to worry about how hard it would be to get a replacement and.... the world/the day ahead of me would change. Your story reminds me that feelings and reactions are mine and are not, necessarily the world imposing itself on me.
    or something. Seriously, thanks for the Post!

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    1. Well, if I hadn't figured it out when I did, I might have started down the worry route. But you are right, the world isn't really out to get us.

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  5. When I got my first cell phone, I was clueless. While wandering around Hobby Lobby, I kept hearing a persistent and annoying sound. I thought it was a motion-activated gadget on the shelves until it dawned on me it was my new cell phone. Embarrassed, I had to admit to my sister (the caller) that I didn't recognize the sound because it was the first time that someone had called me.

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    1. I try to choose ringtones that I really enjoy listening to, just so my first reaction isn't one of annoyance when the phone rings. I understand the difficulty in learning to recognize the new ringtones, though.

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  6. I still don't have a smartphone. My little flip phone from Tracphone does exactly what I need it to do and is so much cheaper than anything else out there. I'm glad you can laugh at your foibles; life is so much more fun when we have a good sense of humor!

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  7. My father has a basic flip phone and my mother doesn't have any mobile phone at all. I had phone trouble of my own and am on my way to Mexico in a matter of days. I needed help and I ended up getting a new phone, but not the newest model. I wore out my first smart phone and a simple battery replacement wasn't going to be good enough this time.
    I also can be rough with my phone. My now old one was cracked. I have a case again and will try to avoid cracking this one.
    I wish the same for you. Those little guys can be slippery at times and can slip from your grip in seconds. Good luck.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks. I got a heavy-duty case, so hopefully it will be fine.

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  8. This was a delightful, left me smiling, kind of post... thank you! The finish line photo was the best! :-) Cheers to you for getting out there and doing it together! The phone story was wonderful, I have done similar things with those lovely plastic cover tapes they tend to put on everything now days. I printer ink cartridge also does not perform well if the tape is left on it when inserted! The full moon was indeed lovely this week, thank you for reminding me!

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  9. Oddly im thankful that you and john never stop being so stinkin cute!

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