cranky Listening : Cookie Jar - Gym Class Heroes Reading : Claudia and the New GirlSo, even though July 11 was the iPocalypse (and coincidentally, my dad’s 65th birthday), I went ahead and upgraded my first gen iPhone to the 2.0 firmware. It was pretty easy. No muss, no fuss. I’m not keen on upgrading to the 3G just yet. The only difference that I can see is the speed, the phone/data plan prices, and the fact that it’s got GPS on it.
I’m of the school where you run your shit into the ground and when it cannot be repaired, you replace it. I’m going to have this phone until that happens. I will also be doing that with my car, and prolly my computer too. 
Plus I’ve never been an early adopter of anything. I always wait and salivate over things for months before the madness gets hold of me, and I have to have it. I was like that with my iPods too.
I’m incredibly tickled by the Apps they have for it. Apps completely expand what the iPhone is capable of. Right now, I have AIM, AirMe, BlipSolitaire, BoxOffice, CheckPlease, Facebook, Light, Morocco, MySpace Mobile, PhoneSaber, and RubyRepeat installed. Those are only the free apps. I would prolly go around and buy up the whole store, but alas, I am practicing restraint.
I do have two and a half more terms of school left, ya know. 
I will admit, some of the apps (not going to say which) are a bit buggy and slow-loading *coughmyspacecough*, but I look forward to the time when the kinks are all worked out. It’ll be a smooth ride, someday soon I hope. I truly believe that Steve and the crew are working behind the scenes to make it so. The iPhone is definitely on its way to being a one-stop shop for those of us who need to be connected.
Haters to the left! I’m talking to you, Ate M.
Also, I decided to combine Cydonia with my Flickr. The Cydonia subdomain now redirects to my Flickr photostream. I deleted “my greatest hits” on Flickr, and uploaded the pics from Cydonia into it. In addition, AirMe is an app that allows you to post photos via Flickr directly from your iPhone. So I expect to be doing that more often as well.
I’m also going through this bizarro suspense/horror/sci-fi creative phase. This is probably because I’ve spent the last two weeks reading all the episode summaries of the classic Twilight Zone series, haha. As such, I wrote my own little short story spin on the “Static” episode. I think it needs to be tightened up a little, then I’ll get a beta reader. Plus the last few ideas I’ve been struck with have this sci-fi slant to ‘em all. It’s amazing what a creative mind will spew out sometimes.
Speaking of “Twilight,” I finished “Eclipse” the other day. It was okay, I guess. I’m sorry, but I still have trouble believing that people like these books. I tried to be open-minded, I really did, but reading the series as a whole was like reading a teenage girl’s fanfiction. The dialogue, the situations, the tone, everything felt very juvenile.
I understand that the books are meant for a young adult audience, but you don’t have to sound like them to get them to like your books. It’s a very sad realization to me when books like “Twilight” are acceptable reads for anybody. It kind of lowers the bar, being a writer myself. Unpublished, yes, but if writing like Stephenie Meyer is going to get my things published, I’ll keep them to myself, thanks.
The Cullens are fascinating characters though. I look forward to “Midnight Sun” only because it’s from Edward’s point of view, though I am not keen on revisiting “Twilight” again in that sense. By that premise alone, I’m sure that book will be nothing more than fanservice. SMeyer needs to branch out a bit. Also, Jacob should get his own series or something. I think he really grew on me in “Eclipse.” I didn’t like him so much in “New Moon,” but I definitely grew to like him in “Eclipse.” He’s a misunderstood boy who deserves to be explored further.
Also, I’m thinking about upgrading my account at LibraryThing. You’re only allowed to catalogue 200 books. But if you upgrade to a one-time lifetime membership, you can catalogue as many as you’d like. Now that I’m investing in my book collection again, I think both a lifetime membership and a CueCat would make my life complete.
It’s the little things that make me happy.
My sister-in-law is due with the newest addition to our family (a girl they’re gonna name Michaela Gemini) in September. I wish I could go to her baby shower; it’s the first weekend of August. But I don’t think I could ask for vacation this short of notice. Plus I don’t think I have any money. I had to spend some of my savings to help my parents out. Mind you, it wasn’t a huge amount, and helping my parents out is the least I can do, but still. I want to use that money for my own plans, you know. *le sigh* I’m gonna save up and get some things on their registries, so I don’t look like a shitty ninang, rofl.
And hey, I finally found 43 things I want to accomplish in my life. Yay!
?: “Is it just me or does everybody in the world seem to be pregnant?“
I was interested in the iPhone, until I realized that it was just an AT&T phone. Have you heard of the new Samsung phone for Sprint–the Instinct? That is where my apples will be =).
Of course, you sound like me so I will be running my phone into the ground now before I get the latest and greatest. The best thing about that is all the bugs and kinks get worked out by the time you “have to have it”!
Actually, Apple was the sole designer of the iPhone. They just use AT&T for the airtime and for the unfun stuff like billing. I’ve heard of the Instinct, but it’s no iPhone killer.
That’s what I’m saying! Early adopters are so whiny sometimes, it’s like well why didn’t you wait until the kinks were all worked out? It’s your own fault! 
LoL I’m about to finish New Moon (probably tonight). I like the series so far, mainly because of the story and the characters (except for Bella - she annoys me). But I do sort of agree with you about the writing. It’s not the best; I found myself rereading passages a few times because, maybe I just wasn’t reading it right, but it confused the hell out of me. I was “Wait, that didn’t make sense. Let me re-read that at different pauses.” That bugged me. I don’t like having to stop and start when reading; I just want it to flow. But as far as the odd situations: well, after reading the Harry Potter series, are vampires, werewolves, secret underground societies, etc. really that surprising to read about? lol And after reading Twilight, I did feel a bit juvenile after realizing that I actually liked the book. Quickly got over that though when I saw my stash of Harry Potter books =)
Have you checked out Goodreads? As far as I know, there’s no cataloguing(?) limit. It’s more pleasing to the eye too. However, they don’t have that CueCat functionability. Ah, that would save so much time.
Aww you’ll be a tita again! When is she due?
?: I don’t think it’s you. I just found out last week one of my good friends is prego. A big shock to me bc it wasn’t planned and she’s been on birth control forever. She’s that 0.1% that the bc pills and patches warn you about lol
I’m so glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t like Bella! She’s so incredibly annoying. I dunno if you remember, but I wrote a review for “Twilight.” Even with HP, I was never really a fan of Harry himself. I loved everyone else. Sirius, especially, even though he came out of nowhere in PoA. Because when you think about it, Harry’s just an overglorified athlete. He’s completely unremarkable when it comes to his education, which is basically what the books are about: Hogwarts. Everything that has happened to him in the books he just falls into, sorta like Bella, only not as annoying. I’ll have to check our Goodreads, thanks for pointing it out! She’s due the week before my birthday! I’m so happy! 2 of my nieces were born even though my Ate was on birth control, that’s not v. comforting, lemme tell ya!
Wow totally forgot you blogged about it
I guess because at the time I was in a William Moseley/Ben Barnes/Prince Caspian phase lol
Now that you mention it, I never really thought about why Harry wasn’t my favorite character. I didn’t hate him but I guess you’re right; that he just seemed to fall into everything. Sirius and Severus were more interesting
The Cullens are definitely more interesting and I still don’t understand why Edward’s so into Bella, even if her blood is super sweet smelling. I love Jacob too so far; can’t wait to read Eclipse so I can know what you’re talking about. So will you be reading Breaking Dawn when it comes out in a couple weeks?
Oh wow so there’s a possibility you might share a bday with your new niece, if she comes late!
Ooh girl, I was dying from all the hotness that was in Prince Caspian!
I never hated Harry either. I mean, I would’ve have stuck it out for 6 books (still haven’t read DH, rofl) if I didn’t want to know what was going on. I just thought the other characters were much more interesting to read about. Maybe because they weren’t as deeply explored as Harry was? I think that’s what kept me intrigued. I <3 me some Sirius. I mean, whoop-de-doo he saved her from being smushed by a van. But WHY? It just bugs me. That's why I'm looking forward to "Midnight Sun" because at least it gets into Edward's head about things. Jacob really comes into his own in Eclipse, I think. I won't say anything further though! Oh man, that'd be so cool to have one of my nieces share a birthday with me! P.S. I'm adding all my books to Goodreads now, I'm nothingbutsong there. ;)