An Apple A Day...

[DDT (12)]

                                                    An apple A Day…

Well, so much for yodeling. Just when I was starting to think I might be on to something, the crap hit the fan… It doesn’t seem like there are any shortcuts, or useful talismans, or simple solutions to anything… Things started off not so good, then went downhill from there. Well, things didn’t exactly start off bad, but soon enough they hit the skids.

I got up early feeling great! I put the coffee on, cranked up this here portable smart box, did a couple of other necessary things… then went outside. It was still dark out, but I could tell, mostly by the absence of stars, that there were some clouds about.

This motel was right across the street from the railroad tracks, and there just happened to be a couple of railroad buildings there. The track maintenance crews were just starting up, back-up beepers on vehicles were blaring their warnings, muffled voices could be heard as they drifted across the road… Malta, Montana, was coming to life.

I went back inside to see what was going on in the world by peering through this wondrous electronic window, this absolutely astonishing miracle of modernity.  Hmmmm, Hillary had some more embarrassing (at least they should have been) revelations let out about her again, Trump put his foot in his mouth again, and the spin masters were busily telling us ‘how it really is’ again… “Their candidate is even worse than our candidate," that were reassuring us, "so our candidate is the obvious best choice to lead America forward…” Sheeesh… politics!

I decided to keep an eye out for sunrise. Often when there are clouds around, the first shards of sunlight to peek over the horizon can produce some spectacular sights, and I do like to view them… The various color hues and the myriad variations of colors blend together into a mosaic unlike anything else, and… well, like I said, I do like to view them.

That’s when things began their descent into purgatory… I took my iPhone off the charger and turned it on, so I could capture what might be upcoming with the camera feature… I got a message saying that I was locked out, and that I had to enter my iTunes username and passcode to reactivate the darned phone.

I don’t care about any of that, I never ordered it, didn’t want it… Do you think I could just pass or opt out? Nope… had to enter whatever those codes are that apparently the salesman had put in there back when I bought the thing. I didn’t even know I had such an account, let alone had ever used any codes associated with it… I didn’t have a clue what they might have been, either!

I came to find out that Apple has this legal dispute thing going with the FBI and other agencies about privacy, security, etc., so they have strict as heck security and won’t give out any personal information to anybody for any reason for ever and ever and for all time, amen... or so I was told repeatedly. I tried several times online to get this sorted out… no joy. I decided to just go to the next Verizon store I came to. I didn't get to see the sunrise, either...

I’m glad now that I had breakfast in Havre, MT, before I went to the store there… Otherwise I might not have gotten anything to eat! They weren’t actually a ‘corporate store’, rather those folks actually work for another company that in turn ‘contracts’ with Verizon… After a couple of hours of trying possible code combinations, talking to tech reps from both Verizon and Apple on the phone, waiting on hold while being transferred from one rep to another, nothing positive resulted. Again, no joy…

Long story short, I ended up riding to Great Falls, MT., to that store (a genuine corporate store), and I was basically blown off by the young guy who offered to help (I now seriously doubt his sincerity!). He suggested I go to a local independent cell phone repair shop just down the road. Really? I did, but… you know… The guy there told me that, unfortunately, without those codes I was holding a brick!

After spending a couple of hours standing around in various store lobbies, hanging on the phone with tech reps, yadda, yadda… I gave up. I’m going to visit the store in Missoula tomorrow and just get a new phone… NOT an Apple, though!

While their security is apparently top notch, it’s so good it locked me out and nobody seems able to get me back in!!! I don’t care how good their products are, if I can’t use them… I can’t use them!

That’s not all… A fuse apparently got blown during the ride down there, so the two Cobra spot lights on ALI aren’t working now… What’s next, will pooperosity strike again more viciously than ever before, and at a time when there is no TP available? Will grits producers stop making that entire product line? I’m so frustrated, I may never yodel again!

A seemingly long day that got rather hot by midafternoon… The ride that day was largely through some flat to rolling countryside with very few trees or anything particularly scenic or noteworthy. Still, our girl is running well, no peculiar noises are coming from her drive-train, and I didn’t have any ‘down below’ issues… I reckon an optimist would say it was a grand ol’ day indeed! Truth be told, except for all that phone business, it actually was a pretty good day at that…

DDT

[The emperor has no clothes]

Ain't technology great ? 

[Hook#3287]

I'd rather have a dead phone than an active bowel, so I'm thinking you did good

[DDT (12)]

Ain't technology great ? 

Yes sir, it's mind-boggling in the extreme! Usually bewildering for this low-tech guy in a hi-tech world, at least until I can finally begin to catch on... like with this... Still, the challenge is to not let the pursuit of tool usage detract and distract us from our original aims...

DDT

I'd rather have a dead phone than an active bowel, so I'm thinking you did good

You do have a way of putting things into perspective! Yep, I've had both, and I do agree with you! Thanks for offering another take on things... I do feel better now, as you will see in the next installment...

DDT

[havoc]

A series of unfortunate events. That sales person who set you up on that iPhone could have saved you a great deal of time and hassle if they would have simply emailed you or written down on a piece of paper the iTunes username and password that was used during set up...

[DDT (12)]

A series of unfortunate events. That sales person who set you up on that iPhone could have saved you a great deal of time and hassle if they would have simply emailed you or written down on a piece of paper the iTunes username and password that was used during set up...

No doubt... However, I'll bet it's mostly my own fault, though. I can't imagine he'd put something in there without telling me, and I do seem to vaguely remember something about a weird code being put in because one I might have selected couldn't be used... Since it was for a feature I didn't expect to ever use or need, I probably just didn't pay any attention. You'd think I would know better! The devil is indeed in the details, and I've been bitten in the arse enough times to have learned that by now!!! Oss sent me a PM with a couple of suggestions I really like... and I will use them - if fact, I've already used one or two of them just this morning! I appreciate your comments and compliments! Thx...

DDT

[John Schmidt]

Was just looking at Google, the town of Havre, MT, kinda fun to trace your wanderings via that platform. I noticed there's 2-3 motels directly across from the tracks, but Havre doesn't look like a very big place. If you should pass through Cut Bank on your way west on US2, give them a tip of the hat for us. That's where my honey and I had to go for our marriage license lo those many years ago.

When my then fiance called the licensing office prior to our leaving Orlando, we were wanting to find out the state requirements for getting the marriage license. She was amused by the method of answering and transferring the call to different offices. When we got there, we found out why.....one person handled everything. You want an occupational license....one moment, and the call is transferred. The woman that answered originally walks over to that office, picks up the phone and says "occupational license dept."  If you want a marriage license as in our case, she transferred the call to that office and walked over to pick up the call and answers "marriage license."  One person, many hats. License cost $25, best investment I've ever made. 

[solo1]

i phone, smart phone, Apps, ETC, too much for me. You'll never catch me texting, I don't have one that'll do it.

Just a simple Trac Phone, almost like that seniors big number thingie.  20 bucks for 90 days.  Use it like one of them thar telephones , No Gps, no weather, no nuttin'

Darn, just when I was getting used to a 'candlestick'  Iff'n you know what a candlestick was, you's is as old as i am.

[John Schmidt]

Wayne, I know the usual meaning of candlestick when referring to what's used to hold a candle, used them many times as a kid with no electricity back then. I'm also familiar with candlestick charts, used to chart prices in the stock market and elsewhere. Don't know of any other form of the "stick" so did I miss something?

[solo1]

Here is what i was referring to, John.  I don't think we called them that back then but that's what they're called now.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjfh47tlvTOAhUi7IMKHX2yB0gQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCrosley-CR64-BK-Candlestick-Button-Technology%2Fdp%2FB0002Z2U6A&psig=AFQjCNGSbLleS11y-WykhZoDiuEqN_4Zgg&ust=1473025796917199

[John Schmidt]

Here is what i was referring to, John.  I don't think we called them that back then but that's what they're called now.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjfh47tlvTOAhUi7IMKHX2yB0gQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FCrosley-CR64-BK-Candlestick-Button-Technology%2Fdp%2FB0002Z2U6A&psig=AFQjCNGSbLleS11y-WykhZoDiuEqN_4Zgg&ust=1473025796917199

Oh yes, we had those in our house, was an upgrade from the wall unit with the crank, never heard it called a candlestick. I missed our wall unit, it was one of those special ones with a little lever you could engage that let you eavesdrop without the other parties knowing it. Was back when party lines had a specific ring for each household so you knew who was getting a call. If it was the spinster Miss Ludlow down the street I always wanted to listen in, she had an "active" social life known only by a select few; the town constable, one of the commissioners, a couple farmers....and me! 

[cookiedough]

and here I thought you were going to be talking about eating apples and what is good apples to eat?

if into that, we are getting apples tomorrow to eat:  Zestars and blondies are in orchards now and of course a tad bit later honeycrisps and the new variety I just found last year called crimson crisp and crimson gold are ALL VERY good eating.

Eat an apple so your apple electronic issues will be less agonizing?   

[Misfit]

Thanks for the call and well wishes today. Sounds like you're hunkered down in a nice place. Enjoy. 

[DDT (12)]

Was just looking at Google, the town of Havre, MT, kinda fun to trace your wanderings via that platform. I noticed there's 2-3 motels directly across from the tracks, but Havre doesn't look like a very big place. If you should pass through Cut Bank on your way west on US2, give them a tip of the hat for us. That's where my honey and I had to go for our marriage license lo those many years ago.

When my then fiance called the licensing office prior to our leaving Orlando, we were wanting to find out the state requirements for getting the marriage license. She was amused by the method of answering and transferring the call to different offices. When we got there, we found out why.....one person handled everything. You want an occupational license....one moment, and the call is transferred. The woman that answered originally walks over to that office, picks up the phone and says "occupational license dept."  If you want a marriage license as in our case, she transferred the call to that office and walked over to pick up the call and answers "marriage license."  One person, many hats. License cost $25, best investment I've ever made. 

Among the many things I like about Montana is the 'Mayberry' atmosphere in some of the smaller places. As places up here I really enjoy visiting go, Cutback is actually a bit 'large'... still a nice place, though, for my money anyhow. That story really brings home the 'feel' of many of those places, and I do appreciate you sharing it!

No, I won't be going through there this time, at least on this leg of my journey... Made a detour in Havre and headed down to Missoula... I'll explain in the next installment.

DDT

i phone, smart phone, Apps, ETC, too much for me. You'll never catch me texting, I don't have one that'll do it.

Just a simple Trac Phone, almost like that seniors big number thingie.  20 bucks for 90 days.  Use it like one of them thar telephones , No Gps, no weather, no nuttin'

Darn, just when I was getting used to a 'candlestick'  Iff'n you know what a candlestick was, you's is as old as i am.

I made a similar decision a couple of years back... I mean, why would I need a 'smartphone', the one I had was already smarter than I was! Well, everybody else was getting them, I could see some value in some of the features and apps, and then this 'special offer' appeared someplace... I yielded to temptation, and the torment began!!! Good on you for sticking to your guns...

DDT

Here is what i was referring to, John.  I don't think we called them that back then but that's what they're called now.





Oh yeah, I remember those too. I also remember a wall unit with a crank! My granddad had one at his house (the house he inherited from his parents), and I've even used it myself... It was replaced by the time I was twelve or so, so I haven't seen one since.

DDT

and here I thought you were going to be talking about eating apples and what is good apples to eat?

if into that, we are getting apples tomorrow to eat:  Zestars and blondies are in orchards now and of course a tad bit later honeycrisps and the new variety I just found last year called crimson crisp and crimson gold are ALL VERY good eating.

Eat an apple so your apple electronic issues will be less agonizing?   

Nope, I wasn't talking about fruit... Although some might argue that I'm a fruit about some things! I do like apples, though. My granddad was in the apple business (orchards, cold storage, delivery), and my dad actually worked for him before and just after WWII... Me? My specialty is consumption. You could be right... maybe I do need to start eating some along the way... might help in a couple of ways!

DDT

Thanks for the call and well wishes today. Sounds like you're hunkered down in a nice place. Enjoy. 

Yeah, I am hunkered down now, and after one night, I can say I'm glad I landed here! Going to ride down the mountain to a tiny hamlet and buy a few groceries today... you know, essential stuff like bacon, eggs, bread... grits if they have any. Gonna purchase a couple of steaks too... This place has a nice looking Weber gas grill, and... hope it ain't too technical or complicated!

Yeah, I was thinking about you and your group. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit last year, and riding with the Colorado bunch was fabulous! Good riders all, good 'social animals' too... and who wouldn't fall in love with those Markaritas?!!!!

I tried to call a couple of folks on the Meet In The Middle Ride, because I was, of course, thinking of them, too. Didn't get anyone, though, so I left messages. In fact, I thought about many of my Valk friends, and of this whole organization. While I am seriously 'pro-solitude', and I do require vast quantities of solitude, that doesn't mean I don't care about our family or think good things about them often... See ya down the road...

DDT