"Hey, Pal! Wake Up!!!"

This morning as I was waking up, music was playing in my ears and I had the sensation of poking on my shoulder.  When I gradually came to consciousness I realized the music I was hearing could be attributed to the headphones I was wearing as my iPod was playing.

Increased consciousness also helped me realize it was not morning and I was not waking up in my bed.  Rather, it was afternoon and I was in the waiting area of an automotive oil change garage.

The poking sensation, however, turned out to be actual poking.  The customer in the chair next to mine was trying to let me know that the cashier was indicating my car was ready to go.

Technically speaking it is not wrong to fall asleep in a waiting area, but it’s still embarrassing if there is any drool involved or if your snoring is louder than the pneumatic tools in the work area.

Humming A Song In The Locker Room

I was in the men's locker room at the health club and I wasn't paying attention. I wasn't thinking carefully. So I made a mistake.

I was listening to my ipod, wearing headphones, and I got caught up in humming along to a song loud enough for others to hear. Actually, at the time I didn't think anyone else was in the locker room. But I turned my head at one point and sure enough there was a guy behind me.

We briefly made eye contact.

He didn't say anything and, of course, neither did I. But I know he had to hear me humming along to the song.

This is a serious error. A guy in a men's locker room is not supposed to be humming to music. It's a violation of a guy protocol. And my error was particularly inexcusable because the song I was humming along with is a syrupy love song from the 70s about a horse. The title of the song is "Wildfire."

(I know. I know.... I'm turning red right now even as I write these words.)

If this was the mid 70's and I was back in the old high school locker room I could have been beaten up for such an infraction.

Well, now I probably won't be able to show my face around the place for a week, or so. I hope we start to get some warmer weather so I can, at least, walk outside.

A Bit of Good Timing Works Out My Way!

I went to the Apple Store today because my iPod has been malfunctioning.  The employee at the store examined my device, asked me a question and determined that it could not be fixed.

“When did you purchase this iPod?” he queried.

I told him, “I don’t remember for sure.”

“Was your purchase within the past year?”

“I think it was, but I’m just not sure.”

So, he looked it up on in their system and he said, “Boy, you are in luck.  There are only 11 days remaining on your warranty.  But it is still under warranty.”

“I only had 11 more days until the warranty expired?” I said.

“Yep!”

“What does that mean?”

“It means I can replace this broken one with a new iPod, free of charge!”

Those are very nice words to hear when your equipment is broken: “replace” and “free of charge.”  Yea, Apple Store.  Thanks!

So, there it is.  Eleven days.  That was pretty close, huh?  Every once in a while a bit of good timing works out my way.