Treo 680: The Purchase

Early this year I decided to sell my phone. I did not really have any problems with it but I guess it was time to upgrade. I skipped a generation and probably should have upgraded when I got the chance then. I skipped going home for a few days and crashed at a co-workers pad (Thanks Katie and Pao!).

I got the order from the more reputable Longbeard who sells Macs at a low price. The first time I emailed him regarding the Crimson Red Treo 680 he quoted Php 17,000 and Php 16,500 for the Graphite. During our emails and through Gtalk he seemed quite distracted or uninterested in my questions. It didn't really bother me that much since I was a first time buyer and transactions like these are pretty much based on trust, something which is a prime commodity nowadays. Anyway, I re-confirmed with him that I am getting the Crimson Red Treo 680 plus crystal case and screen protector. He okayed the deal, to be picked up on Wednesdays and I thought everything should run smoothly.

The next day, when I came back to work almost everyone knew I was phone-less and I polled around asking if the Crimson Red looked ok. Some thought it looked too red other's says it was ok but the Arctic White looked better. I agreed with them regarding the Arctic White edition but alas, it is not supported in Asia and If I ran into trouble with the phone they may have to replace it with regular Graphite. I decided that the Red should work as it is rarely found here and I checked with Digital Walker, they are commanding the price of Php 24,900.00!!!

I guess I did get a good deal.

I showed up on Wednesday morning at the agreed upon place to pick up the package. I had difficulty going there since the promised sketch to my email never arrived. I met Dave, his brother I think, and told me that the package has not arrived yet. Tsk, Tsk, Very disappointing, indeed. I was given there home phone number so that I can check if the package has arrived. Since I was already packed and miscalculated a missing shirt which Pao offered to compensate by lending one of his. I sauntered home.

I got home and emailed Longbeard about the situation, he claims Customs delayed the package which is fine since we do not have control of such things. I woke up early that night and called the home phone number and looked for Dave. This man with a gruff voice says he wasn't there, I asked if I can drop by before 10:30PM just in case Dave arrives before that since a deal has already been forged, he says ok and just abruptly hangs up on me. Kind of rude really but based on the gruffness on his voice and his dumbfounded manner I can't blame him to know anything about the package.

I scooted over as fast as I can and arrived just 15 minutes before the time. Dave was dealing with someone else and asked me to sit while he finished with his guests. He went in and brought out the package. He shows that it's sealed and provided the receipt when it was purchased. I checked the bottom sticker, no indication that it was Red. I checked with Dave he says he is not sure as he only receives the packages and picks up the money. He says he will check with Longbeard. A call was placed and he says that the Red now costs Php 18,000. I was astonished. We agreed on the price and I later found out that the screen protector is missing. Dave placed another call and Longbeard says the protector was delayed but should arrive on Friday afternoon. I could not afford to leave without anything so I just took the Graphite at Php 16,500 plus the crystal case and told Dave I'll get the Screen Protector on Saturday morning. Since I already made a down payment I just shelled out the difference and will pay the screen protector once I picked it up, Dave agreed.

I took a cab to the office and opened up the box. Everything was sealed and the phone was factory charged for approximately 30% or so. I inserted my Sim card and there you have it, I have a new phone!

It was a bit of a disappointing transaction but if I wanted the Graphite, despite the delay everything would have gone smoothly.

I'll post my review on the Treo 680 soon.

Kids Say The Darndest Things

Kids can say the darndest things. Innocence can be funny at times. Here's a couple I've either heard of or read off other people's testimonials....

NUDITY

I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening
when a woman in a convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was
stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old
shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"

HONESTY

My son Zachary, 4, came screaming out of the bathroom to tell me he'd
dropped his toothbrush in the toilet. So I fished it out and threw it
in the garbage. Zachary stood there thinking for a moment, then ran
to my bathroom and came out with my toothbrush. He held it up and
said with a charming little smile, "We better throw this one out too,
then 'cause it fell in the toilet a few days ago.

OPINIONS

On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note
from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child
are not necessarily those of his parents."

KETCHUP

A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup to come out of the bottle.
During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old
daughter to answer the phone. "It's the minister, Mommy," the child
said to her mother. Then she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to
talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."

MORE NUDITY

A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's
locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with
ladies grabbing towels and running for cover. The little boy watched
in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter haven't you ever seen
a little boy before?"

POLICE ASSISTANCE

While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I
was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old. Looking up and
down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?" "Yes", I answered and
continued writing the report. "My mother said if I ever needed help I
should ask the police. Is that right?" "Yes, that's right," I told
her. "Well, then, " she said as she extended her foot toward
me, "would you please tie my shoe?"

POLICE AGAINST ANIMALS

It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the
station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was
barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me. "Is that a dog you
got back there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy
looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he
said, "What'd he do?"

ELDERLY

While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly
shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon
rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of
old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I
found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I
braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely
turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"

DRESS-UP

A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she
saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't
wear that suit." "And why not darling?" "You know that it always
gives you a headache the next morning."

DEATH

While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister
heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt.
Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead
robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, then had
secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made
ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen
to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his
version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be the
Faaaather, and unto the Sonnnn..... and into the hole he goooes."

SCHOOL

A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just
wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't
write and they won't let me talk!"

BIBLE

A little boy opened the big family Bible. He was fascinated as he
fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the
Bible; he picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an
old leaf that had been pressed in-between the pages. "Mama, look what
I found", the boy called out." What have you got there, dear?" With
astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's
Adam's underwear!"

I Miss My Treo

I just sold my Treo 600 a few hours ago. I miss it already.

I keep on touching my side pocket and get a feel of that big bulge on my pants!

Ha ha ha ha

I'm looking out for a good deal on a Crimson Red Treo 680 and it seems difficult to find a good deal.

Oh well, I'm just venting out and I feel naked without my smartphone.

A Boring End Of The Year

Gee, it's been a while since I last posted. I can't seem to find the time to post anything interesting. Work has always been eating a lot of my time and I can't seem to enjoy the few times I am free. I always end up sleeping during my off days. Ironically, when it's a work day sleep just seems to vanish. I am not sure why but I always worry about something, it's either the bills, work, traffic, Erin, etc.

I don't even know why I start worrying. I've stopped dating for the moment, I just can't find anyone that is actually interesting. I've stopped replying to SMS messages from my dates. I even told one that although it has been fun, I regret to tell her that I am no longer interested. She asked why and I didn't reply back. I hear she is dating someone new nowadays and I am glad she found someone.

I haven't bought anything for myself last year as I am still considering my options. I don't want to be the idiot that lives from paycheck to paycheck to pay credit cards, luxuries like notebooks, iPod's, and whatever cool accessories are the in thing nowadays.

I tried watching TV but nothing really seems interesting. Their are a few bits on the History Channel my cable provider hooked up with but nothing that really makes me focus that much. I just can't concentrate enough as I have a lot of things in mind that just keep me very distracted.

I tried taking up reading but I cannot find anything interesting to read. I try keeping in touch with the goings on of the technology industry but there isn't enough to keep me interested.

I've ditched the idea of buying the Olympus camera I wanted, I think I should get a desktop first. My sister wants to get a new notebook but I discouraged her to spend on it. We already have a notebook and that should suffice for the meantime. I strongly suggest for the first timers who want to buy a notebook to wait a few years. Flash based storage is nearing and this should greatly increase the battery life and get it at a cheaper price range.

I plan on getting a desktop this year with a budget of Php 30,0000. I'm still considering on purchasing a new LCD TV to act as my monitor so that I won't have to spend on two separate appliances that pretty much do the same thing. It's cheaper in the long run.

Perhaps, I'll start with the LCD TV first. I hear the Samsung's are good from the manufacturing industry. I'll start there and move up to a new desktop with a better chassis.

I saw a good deal for a Treo 680 that's arctic white albeit the warranty already expired. I might get that first since Php 16,500 is a steal for such a rare color.

There's a lot I want to buy but resources are currently limited. I told Erin just a few hours ago that I'll stop sending milk. She's turning 6 yrs old this year and hitting the bottle has to stop some time and I've decided that time is now.

The start of the year was boring. We were asked to work on New Year's eve as it transitioned off to 2008. I'm considering of switching accounts. If they won't let me I just might find a different company who can provide a better offer. I don't want to leave yet but I can't work if I don't enjoy the work they give me.

Ah well, Decision, descisions, decisions. There's a lot to decide this year but I'll get over it.

Hopefully everything turns up well for everyone.

Happy New Year!