Autumn Sky *

Today went well because of what didn't happen:
... I didn't fall off the reformer in Pilates class. (I only did that once but it was my first reformer group class and it did scar me a bit...well, not me, but my psyche....)
...I didn't back into Caroline's car
...I didn't give OilMan any grief about shoveling dirt, er, soil into the ground squirrel proof bed
...It didn't rain all day, although it took awhile to clear up after it rained in the morning
...I didn't go to the Apple Store to buy a new phone.  It's in the dreadful mall, the service is getting worse and worse and there's a lot of waiting around 

Today also went well because of what did happen:
...OilMan went with me to the AT&T store. As I was double checking passwords, I realized the phone is actually registered to him, probably because we bought two phones at the same time and they were both put into his name. I couldn't have done anything if he hadn't been there to verify his identity.
...Danny, who helped us, was a very nice guy who gave me good advice on which phone to buy, and retrieved all my information and authorized me on the account so I don't have to drag OilMan with me next time (It did keep him away from the shovel and soil for awhile....) 

Things I already knew going in:
...I wanted a phone as close to the old one as possible so I wouldn't have to adjust to a whole new system.
...I didn't want an X or an 11 because they use facial recognition to unlock and they don't have what Dana refers to as a 'do it' button.

The things I learned from Danny:
...The 11 is coming out here next Friday. I thought it was last Friday, which is one reason I decided I didn't want to go anywhere near the Apple Store. That was a good decision anyway.
...Rice does work to dry out the phone, but take out the SIM card first, and don't turn it on to see if it works before putting it in the rice....
...How to take out the SIM card
...Where the SIM card is...

I bought an iPhone 8. I love the ceremonial opening of the box...the one that is specially designed to take exactly seven seconds to slide open if you hold it by the sides of the outside and let the inside slip out. If you don't do it this way, you could battle with the box for days to get it open. (Danny can take over the phone,  look for stuff and change things around, but I must open the seal and open the box). I think it might have been a better idea to design a sturdier case the  so I didn't have to spend an extra $80 for a new case (the old one fit perfectly but the hole for the camera lens needed to be about 2mm bigger) and a tempered glass sticker to protect the screen. 'It's all about design', said Danny. ' I know', said I, and it's also all about money'...of which Apple has far too much....

*The first picture taken with the new phone from the parking lot,  and the only one I took all day...It's the view of Taylor mountain just across the street, and another rather lovely skyful of clouds.