TREMBLY. I just made a purchase. A big purchase. I used some of my voiceover and freelance writing money. And I just bought a Mac. I am near tears with trembly excitement. I’ve been a PC girl all my life. I’ve been Bill Gates’ beeyotch for way too long. But I’m not a big purchaser (uhm – take a look at the evidence that I had to have a DVD player basically FORCED UPON ME by a kindly guardian angel) … and so … I am freaking OUT with excitement.<\/p>\n
I haven’t even begun to set it all up because I … I can’t focus right now on the details. I need to spread out, and, uhm, chill out … so I can calm down and set it up.<\/p>\n
But here’s what happened.<\/p>\n
I’ve been leaning towards a Mac for a long time. I’m sick of PCs and all the crap and all the viruses and I’m sick of that stupid little Windows song I am forced to listen to, and I’m sick of the Windows opening credits … and I just figured – it’s TIME. Especially after I joined the land of the iPod people. Using the iPod is so easy and intuitive that I decided – That’s it. I need to get a Mac. I was speaking with Bill about all of this and he said, “My PC is like an old syphilis-ridden whore.” hahahaha Which is TRUE. I felt motivated.<\/p>\n
And yet – like I said – I’m not a big purchaser. And I’m not rich – I don’t have money to burn – but I do have this extra cash from my voiceovers and so there is no time like the present. If I didn’t spend it on something GOOD, then it would end up disappearing into orange juice bought at the deli – or soap – or pencils – stupid stuff. I needed to make a GESTURE.<\/p>\n
But then there is also the fear. Of change. Of spending a ton of cash. Of … switching paradigms. No more PC. Was I ready? Yes, I was.<\/p>\n
So who do I call? Cousin Kerry, who is one of those Mac FREAKS. Looking at her Mac in LA, and having her give me a little tour of it was really my first taste of … Hmmmm. I like the look of this MUCH better than my stupid Dell. Sorry to be vague, but it just FEELS better to me. My brain fits with it. I understand it. Kerry is also one of those people who, uhm, comes to your apartment for the first time and before even taking her coat off begins to rearrange your closet<\/a>. And the second she starts doing so, you don’t think, “Hey, I like my closet the way it is!” You think, “Damn. She’s totally right.” She’s the person you want to have with you when you make a huge purchase. She will help. She will KNOW. I NEED her. So we made a date to meet outside the huge glass cube Apple store <\/a>on the corner of 5th Avenue and 58th. Right across from the baroque wedding cake known as the Plaza Hotel. Well, soon it will be known as Condominiums Only A Saudi Prince Could Afford … but for now it is still the Plaza. We had a date tonight to meet.<\/p>\n The store is literally underground – and the entranceway is a huge glass cube sitting in a big open square – with an enormous Apple logo floating, as though in midair. Seriously, it is one of the coolest looking stores imaginable. You FEEL cool and futuristic just being in its vicinity. (You’ll have to forgive me. I’m worked up and really happy.)<\/p>\n Kerry and I sat outside in the cool (loud) dusk and caught up a bit. Then we created our plan of action. Kerry asked about my computer use. What I need. What I want. What I am prepared to spend. What my priorities are. She then made recommendations. Meanwhile, I was watching the people streaming into that glass cube and then disappearing down the stairs. Soon she said, “Okay – let’s go!” She was as excited as I was, I think! So there we were – in the Apple store. The look of the whole place, and the feeling of the salespeople, and just the general vibe made me turn my back on Dell forever. So accessible! And they’re RIGHT THERE. And the store is open 24 hours a day. I can actually speak with a PERSON right in FRONT of me as opposed to some out-sourced dude in Calcutta.<\/p>\n Kerry and I browsed around a bit. We looked at different things. She showed me stuff. I was beside myself. Then we got the nicest sales clerk – who is one of those Mac FREAKS as well – like: the people who work there are not just there because it’s a job and whatever. They are there because they LOVE MACS. They are zealots. Which could be intimidating or annoying if you felt it was imposed on you – like a used car salesman or something – but this dude was just excited to show me stuff, and even MORE excited when he learned that this would be my first Mac. Also, because Kerry was there – she was my translator. And also the tour guide. “Oh, show her the Dashboard.” “Tell her about iDisc.” “Can she get such and such with this?” “How about the formatting on her iPod? How will that work?” I mean, obviously I could have bought one for myself – but it was just so great to have her there with me. Telling me what I needed (warranty, procare card – free classes! etc. – I probably wouldn’t have gotten that stuff if I was by myself.)<\/p>\n So I chose what I wanted. And – A FREE PRINTER\/SCANNER COMES WITH IT. I am joining the ranks of the scanner nutjobs<\/a>!! Get ready for many walk-down-memory-lane via photos posts from now on. I’m going to go insane. It will soon level out, but for a while I have a feeling this will become “Look at Sheila, age 6” photoblog. The printer is gorgeous, too – a beautiful sleek printer. FREE. Did I mention that? FREE!!! I almost fainted. Or wept.<\/p>\n The cashier dude was awesome – another Mac zealot – I couldn’t believe I was almost there – that I was actually doing this – (I literally agonize over a 15 dollar pair of shoes and whether or not I should buy it or wait til next week when I get a paycheck … You see what I’m saying?? This was huge for me.) Then – there I was. With my sleek little laptop, my printer (AND SCANNER) – wrapped up in Apple bags … and then off we went, Kerry and I, giggling like little kids, SO EXCITED. She’s been a great support. I can’t wait to check in with her when I have the whole thing set up.<\/p>\n Then we walked across 59th to her subway stop – passing the Plaza, and the horse-drawn carriages – oh, and I saw that gladiator dude <\/a>again!! – It was now 8:30, a deep blue dusk, the trees shadowy black to our right in Central Park, the streets crowded with breezy billowy summery New Yorkers – and in my arms I have this new gift I have given to myself with my hard-earned cash.<\/p>\n I can barely wait to set it up.<\/p>\n Kerry: I owe you big-time, dear woman – had a great time with you!!! And, uhm, Mardi Gras masks and all that stuff … good to talk about THAT with you as well!<\/p>\n Buh-bye Dell.<\/p>\n Buh-bye Bill Gates.<\/p>\n Buh-bye PC.<\/p>\n You’ve been great … really you have … but it’s time to say: BUH-BYE.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TREMBLY. I just made a purchase. A big purchase. I used some of my voiceover and freelance writing money. And I just bought a Mac. I am near tears with trembly excitement. I’ve been a PC girl all my life. … Continue reading