Thursday, August 6, 2009

"Honey, I Killed My Cell Phone"

I learned something yesterday -- the hard way. Cell phones don't wash well. And how, you ask, do I know that?

Before 6:30 yesterday morning, I was in our back yard putting some pine straw in the flower beds, and out of habit, stuck my cell phone in the back pocket of my jeans. Even though it was early, the temperature was already in the mid-70s, the Mississippi humidity was 100%, and it was hot and sultry.

I worked hard for about an hour and by the time I came inside, all I could think of was getting a shower. I totally forgot about my cell phone being in my jeans pocket. Needless to say, when I tossed some clothes in the washer after my shower, I grabbed my dirty jeans and tossed them in too -- cell phone, included!

Well, you can imagine my surprise when I was putting the clothes into the dryer and the cell phone battery fell out of the washer. I hate that sinking feeling I get when something like that happens, 'cause I know it can't be a good thing. Actually, I think the phone probably could have survived the wash cycle, but, unfortunately, the spin cycle did it in.

I put it back together and tried doing CPR (aka "Cell Phone Resuscitation"), but after emitting a few pitiful little beeps and blinks, it finally gave one final little beeeeeeeeeeeep and died.

It was kind of sad, in a way, but kind of exciting in another way because I have secretly been wanting an iPhone like the one I gave my husband for Christmas. Sooooo ... when my husband came home from work yesterday afternoon, we bundled up the remains of my old phone and took it to our neighborhood AT&T store, which is only about ten minutes away from where we live. The customer service representative tried, unsuccessfully, to revive my old phone, and I am happy to say that I am now the proud new owner of an iPhone.

It's going to take some getting used to, and has some bells and whistles I'll probably never use (mainly because I won't be able to figure out HOW), but I think I'm going to love it.

You can be sure I will check my pockets from now on before I toss things in the washing machine, because I suspect that even iPhones aren't "spin cycle safe."

6 comments:

Southerner said...

I have heard that if you open the phone and remove the battery and place the phone and battery in a container of rice with a lid and let it sit for a day it will absorb any water that you can't dry with a towel. (But, shh, you want to keep the IPhone.)

Stacey said...

I've washed them before too and after a day or two they work again. However, sounds like that IPhone was calling your name! :) I want one too.

RachelD said...

You poor thing!! I know they also are done in like the Wicked Witch when you reach to return them to your husband when he's driving, and somehow when you drop them, it's into that three square inches of the cup of Dr. Pepper.

It did all but whimper, "I'm Melllll-ting!"

Is there a household left anywhere without at least three of the old dead artifacts? At least the Grandbaby gets the thrill of the "real thing" and finds hours of play with the poor old things. I even still put my last one on to nurse now and then from the feeding cord---it won't dial or call anybody, but BabyGirl likes it when it lights up.

Lisa said...

There's more than one way to skin a cat...or get a new cell phone.:)

Linda S H said...

You'll have to find a teenager to teach you to use the new one!! They're whizzes at this new technology! LOL

Unknown said...

I would love a new I phone...congratulations on getting yours!

My cell phone recently was left in the rain...but it was recovered. :( LOL