A Cat's Meow

After 18 days away from home I went downstairs to the Queens Lair where Lucy was playing the cello. I said hello. She ignored me and continued to play.

Playing the cello

Two hours later I went downstairs to the Queens Lair where Lucy was sleeping. I scratched her head. She woke up and meowed once before going back to sleep. (Meow translation: where the f*ck you been?)

The Queens's Lair

Two hours later Lucy came upstairs and we got a welcome home picture.

Max, Lucy and me

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I ♥ My iPhone 3GS With iOS6

Now I understand how my sister felt when her eldest son went off to college. I just bought the new iPhone 5 and am on the road to activating it, restoring my iPhone 3GS to factory settings and passing my beloved iPhone 3GS on to said sister. I got my iPhone 5 a week ago; it remains unwrapped in it's box. I first had to deal with my iPhone 3GS (heretofore Tommy).

Mine!

First off, I needed it unlocked. I didn't know where it would end up so unlocking it (allowing it to be used on any carrier's network) seemed a smart thing to do. A good condition (and mine is pristine), 32 GB 3GS will sell for upwards of $200 on eBay!

After getting ATT to unlock, I realized that the Restore I had to do would upgrade Tommy to iOS 6 - which I hadn't planned on doing...but, alas. So I hit Restore & Update. After twenty minutes, the code completed it's functions but I got an error. This error lead me to an Apple Bug Report which basically told me to upgrade my desktop OS, iTunes and everything else. Only then, will my restore work.

My 3 year old iPhone 3GS re-packed and ready for my sister

An hour later, I was back on iTunes and hit Restore & Upgrade. This time, twenty minutes later, I got the message I had hoped for: Congratulations, your phone is now unlocked! So I unplugged my phone to see what iOS 6 had done on it.

iOS 6 is like having a new iPhone 3GS! I have noticed improved performance and no noticeable battery drain - after I turned off MapQuest's turn-by-turn voice which I had unknowingly left on. (The Siri-like voice scared the shit out of the occupants of my car and drained the battery 50% before I noticed.) Mail looks nicer but Do Not Disturb is not my thing. Maps has been fine for me but I haven't traveled far yet. (I am backed up with the aforementioned MapQuest and Waze.) Passbook is not my thing and I still can't figure out why the hell I need Reminders. I have alerts on my desktop Calendar. I don't get Reminders. Anyway, iOS 6 on my iPhone 3GS rocks! And my sister gets a great phone!

Take Only PB&J, Leave Only PB&J

Airlines no longer provide meals with your ticket. So when I go on a plane, I bring (natural) peanut butter & jelly sandwiches (topped with fresh fruit, coconut and cinnamon) along for the ride. When I arrive at my destination, I buy (natural) peanut butter, fruit conserves (less sweet than jelly), sprouted grain bread and toppings so I have the ingredients for a healthful PB&J while visiting. Before I depart for my return trip home, I make PB&J sandwiches for the plane ride back and the peanut butter, fruit conserves and sprouted grain bread I did not eat while visiting are left behind. To paraphrase the idiom used by our national parks (Take only memories, leave only footprints), I always say:

Take only PB&J; leave only PB&J.

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