The answer is probably, yes if you want the short version. I know I am. The first step is to admit you have a problem right? Ever since I entered the smartphone world 2 years ago (I was a bit of a late joiner), my phone has been way more attached to me. Well imagine if your phone suddenly died. What would you do?

This actually first happened to me last October when I decided to touch the “install update” button on my phone. Bad move. My phone had no storage space and it decided for its update to delete the “battery charge file” which sounds kind of important. Yep, after that, my phone didn’t turn on. I immediately took it to the Sprint store the next day and it was under warranty but that involved mailing it out and waiting weeks for a phone. When you only have 1 phone, no land line at home and you go to many things alone, your phone is for your safety. At least that is how I view mine, my safety blanket, my bff, my book, my connection to everything! So anyway that led to me spending $80 to get it looked at right away, surprise surprise, they could not do anything and I had to wait a few days for the new phone to come in. Meanwhile I walked around with my ipad mini at my side where I at least had apps for texting and all my social media at my fingertips still. Considering how rarely I use my phone for calling these days, the ipad sufficed for the time being. My boyfriend also ordered a used but upgraded phone for me and eventually I joined the Samsung Galaxy S3 people with their phones. Sometimes it feels like I have had this phone for forever, then I realize it has only been 13 months.

Then Monday, scrolling through some things in between tasks at work (our internet at work is super slow), go back to working for a bit, click the button on my phone, nothing. Hmmm maybe it’s just being slow, give it some time, click again, nothing. Plug it into the charger, nothing. Minor freak out, but realize my boyfriend already got me a new phone so at least I don’t have to wait days, just need to activate it. Try to take out the battery and put it back in. Then I realize, well now it’s really dead, because my power button randomly stopped working a month ago. Then the slowness started and the overheating and I knew it wasn’t going to last until Christmas and I was right.

I emailed my dad from work to get him to hopefully activate the new phone ASAP. Until then phoneless. The work day was almost over anyway but I had a train ride home and didn’t even bring my kindle with me. What was I thinking leaving my back up reader at home?!

The train was on time, thankfully, so I didn’t have to wait long. I then stood on the train, phoneless, nothing to read. I even debated picking up a magazine in the train station, but didn’t. No, I could survive a ride without looking at my phone. Instead I just observed people, playing games on their phone, scrolling through Facebook and Instagram and secretly wondering how many I could sneak up on and scare them because they are completely unaware of their surroundings. Is it only me that thinks these things?

I admit I am one of those people sometimes. Other times, I read a blog post, then put my phone down to observe for a bit, give my eyes a break and straighten my posture so I hopefully don’t end up hunched over.

Yes I am addicted to my phone. When you move away from home and do many activities alone, it happens. Reading blogs motivates me and they conveniently can be read on my phone to pass the time on the train. Instagram posts motivate me and teach me. The world of social media is truly amazing! I love it as I can connect to so many people. Sure, life used to be more simple. I wondered as I stood on the train what riding the train to work was like 20 years ago. People packed in the train, sitting and standing and just finding a point to stare at? I know in the morning some people still read the paper so there is that.

I think what I am getting at though, is that once in a while, put your phone down, look around, observe, and be aware of your surroundings. If anything it will help lessen your panic if your phone decides to die. But I think it is also important to just be aware and live your life outside of your phone screen.

If you made it through this post, thank you. I just felt like rambling a bit. Not having a phone to stare at also makes your mind think! I love you technology, but I also enjoy the break sometimes too.

Let’s hope my next phone beats the 13 month record (first one lasted 11 months).

Did you or would you panic if your phone died?

Happy Friday!! I saw this survey over on Julie’s blog the other day and thought it would be fun for you guys to get to know me a bit.

A to Z Survey

A – Age: 25

B – Biggest Fear: Creepy bugs popping up out of no where

C – Current Time: 6am (I had my alarm set for 6:30 since I don’t have work today, but still was up at 6, better than 5)

D – Drink You Had Last: water

 

E – Easiest Person To Talk To: Brian

F – Favorite Song: I have a lot, but one of my favorites is Midnight Train by Journey, because Brian and I are long distance a lot and we actually used to take the train that departed at midnight from Buffalo to Chicago. I’m thinking this will have to be our future wedding song of some sort.  

G – Grossest Memory: when hiking to a beach in Costa Rica in the middle of the night for sea turtle watching and my shoe got stuck in the mud that my foot came out and I had to put my muddy foot back in my shoe and hike for another couple hours. That was one of my worst nights during my Costa Rica trip. Don’t worry there were plenty of good ones following.

H – Hometown: I was born in Evanston, IL. I moved last year to Philadelphia, PA.

I – In Love With: Brian.

 

J – Jealous Of: People’s summer vacations over to Europe. Really want to go there and travel for a month or so.

K – Kindest Person You Know: my yogi friend Christina

L – Longest Relationship: Getting close to 6 years with Brian.

M – Middle Name: Beth

N – Number of Siblings: One sister.

O – One Wish: To have a safe road trip this weekend/week

P – Person You Spoke To On The Phone Last: Brian

 

Q – Question You’re Always Asked: “How old are you?” (since I basically look 18 I guess, but really compare one of my 18 year old pics to now and I look the same, so not surprising)

R – Reason To Smile: Sunshine!!

S – Song You Last Sang: Midnight Train since I went to Youtube to play it (see F above)

T – Time You Woke Up: 6 a.m.

U – Underwear Color: pink and grey

V – Vacation Destination: if we’re talking current vacation, heading to Rochester, NY then Buffalo, NY this weekend. Looking forward to my week long vacation in Bermuda in September with Brian. Hopefully it’s as beautiful as the Bahamas, where we went 2 years ago.

 

 

W – Worst Habit: biting my nails, picking at my nails…

X – X-Rays You’ve Had: dental x rays, shoulder x ray at the chiropractor when I was getting my shoulder diagnosed and found out I have shoulder bursitis in my right shoulder.

Y – Your Favorite Food: been loving roasted sweet potatoes and zucchini noodles. for a sweet, chocolate chip cookies always (especially cookie cakes)!!

 

Z – Zodiac Sign: Aries

Hope you enjoyed getting to know a few things about me. Hope everyone has a great weekend, especially if you have a 3 day weekend. Happy Fourth!!

 

Your turn! Tell me your 

Favorite song

Reason to Smile

Vacation Destination

Your Favorite Food

My Monday night was rough, stuck on a train a quarter mile from my station after work. Luckily we were only sitting on the train for about 10 minutes before being told we could go back one station and get off. Then that meant either waiting forever for a bus, trying to get a cab or walking. I chose walking because I have these amazing legs that carry me and it was only about 1.5 miles to my apartment from that stop. I had walked that many times before I starting working. Of course it is a much better walk in the summer, but at least the rain had stopped and there wasn’t any snow, so I couldn’t complain too much. Since my yoga class had already started by the time I finally got home, I changed my plans and decided to check out the new Comcast store to get my internet credit since I can’t get through by phone. Well the Comcast store apparently got pushed back a few days for opening day, but people were there and a kind guy helped me to try to get through to Comcast’s 800 number. After a 20 minute wait and giving them all my info, they then hung up on me. At least the guy was there to witness this terrible customer service they seem to have. Turned out he couldn’t get through to chat on the web either and called one of his co workers and they were having trouble too. So eventually he gave me his number and I should be getting a call from him today on the status of my credit or I will need to call him. I was hungry, frustrated and it was a gloomy day. It was a Monday.

I finally got home and ate and watched some tv to settle down and then enjoyed some chocolate, because chocolate makes things better right? Then I did some yoga and Instagram was having issues on my tablet. Yeah…technology really hates me lately. But I put that aside and just needed some inspiring quotes. Pinterest to the rescue…

After days/nights like last night, I am just grateful to be alive and sometimes I just need to stop and remember to be grateful for all that I do have. There is not enough time in a day, in a life, to be complaining all the time, sometimes you just need to take a step back, breath and be grateful for what you do have. That is how I try to stay positive through everything. A year ago, I was definitely not a positive person. Then I moved, changed my life, participated in 100 days of happiness and sometimes I just think, well it could be worse and I am glad it is not. Today is a new day and I am going to try to make it a better day than yesterday.

Hope this post inspires some of you as well! Happy Tuesday!!