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Last week during Spring Break, my husband and son and I drove twelve hours from Montana to Colorado. The main purpose of our trip was to look at several colleges; my son is a high school junior and is possibly interested in attending a school there when he graduates. Another goal of mine was to find an Apple store to have my laptop serviced.
The weather was absolutely gorgeous; sunny and warm enough for shorts and skirts! We had a lot of fun spending time together exploring the campuses and cities that we visited.
My laptop had been making funny noises for a while before we left, but there is not an Apple store where I live in Montana. I decided to take advantage of being near the one in Boulder, and stayed in town while “my guys” went on a hike. (The truth is, the mile plus-high altitude had me worried my pace would slow them down on the steep trail anyway!)
Even thought my computer has been whining consistently for at least a couple weeks, it (of course) refused to utter a peep during the two hours I was in the store! The technician couldn't find anything to fix.
I emerged from the Apple store feeling woebegone that I had wasted all that time - and a lot less excited about exploring the shopping mall than I had been before. Distracted by my thoughts, I wandered into Sephora (another store that does not exist where I live) and was greeted by a pleasant sales person. I asked her if she could recommend a waterproof/smudge proof eye liner. She was so helpful, my mood immediately lifted and so began a delightful venture outside of my comfort zone!
This young woman was remarkable knowledgeable, patient, and pleasant. I found myself getting all sorts of makeup tips and lessons of application, without any hard-core sales tactics. I knew she was a good teacher when she said, "I'm going to apply this to one eye - and you can then try to do the other.”
My skin care and makeup routine has always been very minimal. Suddenly I was asking her for moisturizer and make-up advice. I ended up leaving the store with several purchases and a list of other things she recommended, in case I decide to purchase them on-line. I came out into the sunshine smiling - and looking perhaps a teeny-tiny bit younger!
As for my computer - it seems as though just being near other Apple products may have fixed it, because it hasn't whined at all - not even once - since I was in the store! Have you ever taken something for repair, and then not been able to show the repair person what is wrong with it? This is not a sponsored post, and I did not receive any compensation to write it. It is, however, a testimony to just how valuable the help of an excellent salesperson can be.
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What a fun trip! Since my son has known where he wants to go to college for years, we're missing out on the college visits. Many times I've taken a kid to the doctor only to have them feel fine when we get there!
The doctor's office cure - I know it well! But, a good physician will listen to what the Mom has to say. That healthy looking child is likely to crash and feel miserable again during the ride home! While you are missing the college visits - how nice to have a plan!
So annoying! I am really glad you left a comment here Maja, as now I have found your beautiful blog of travel photos! I could not find a way to follow it though? If you add follow options, I hope that you will let me know! After seeing your photos, the Falkland Islands have been added to my "must visit" list!
That happens to me with cars all the time. Then I'm left with the embarrassment of trying to replicate the sound: weeeeeeno, pa-chunk, pa-chunk, wabeda, wabeda. I'm sure the mechanics are very amused...
You just made me giggle Mo! That is exactly what I was doing - trying to (very unsuccessfully) duplicate my computer's whine. I'm sure the 20-something sales person told his friends over a beer that night about "this woman I tried to help." Oh well... So glad that Kelly introduced us!
Maybe it was just whining because it was homesick! Sorry had to go there. It looks like a fun trip. I remember doing that with my daughter and we had such fun but then we made girls weekends out of it too!
The college search IS fun - and some of the beautiful campuses we have visited have made me wish I could go back and take college over again! The food would certainly be better now!! It is stressful too though - our kids face a big decision, and we face the fact that they are leaving the nest.
Apple stores are intimidating to me. The Geek Squad is friendly and supportive but anyone with a single gray hair knows they're being coached in baby steps. When I bought my iPad mini, I was asked to enter my password. I did. It wouldn't work. I entered it 5 more times. Nothing. The geek reconfigured something. Didn't work. Finally I entered each letter/number with a pause in between. Presto! Turned out the numbers were "sticking," not registering -- and not my fault at all. But through the whole process I felt like a total red-faced idiot.
Hi Jackie! So sorry you had to go through that! I know that red-faced idiot feeling so well! But - usually it is my fault!! Not fair to have that experience when it's not! Passwords are my nemesis!
College bound soon, how exciting for your son! My husband is a computer consultant and says that sometimes you just have to scare your gadgets into working right again:)
My computer must have been terrified by the Apple store then - because it hasn't made the sound since! I wonder what trauma it remembered! Oh how I envy you having a computer consultant under your own roof. :) He writes great blog posts too!
Grinning here. Hugely. Sorry, Susan. But this is yet one more example taken fresh from the pages of my life. Of course, it wouldn't whine on command. Cannot tell you how many times such a thing has happened to me. I usually have to drag the poor person to spend some time with me. My van back in the day, refused to not perform for the mechanic. It worked like a charm when he took it around the block for a spin. Fine. I asked him to please accompany me and my two up the huge SFU hill. He agreed - if only to shut me up. We got half way up and the car thankfully came to a complete halt. Yay! Just as I described. He was most puzzled and we had to call for backup. Man did I feel vindicated. And yes, the college shopping is an interesting, interesting time. It's so fun to get texts from my two now alerting me to the fact that they are spying from their posts in the library on the touring families now. Makes them feel "old." Ha! How did that happen? And I love your make over. You look refreshed and relaxed.
Glad your van finally revealed its true colors! We still have a year before the college decision has to be made, so there will be more tours to come. The impact of them on me is amazing - makes me wish a bit that I could go back to college!
What a fun trip! Since my son has known where he wants to go to college for years, we're missing out on the college visits. Many times I've taken a kid to the doctor only to have them feel fine when we get there!
ReplyDeleteThe doctor's office cure - I know it well! But, a good physician will listen to what the Mom has to say. That healthy looking child is likely to crash and feel miserable again during the ride home! While you are missing the college visits - how nice to have a plan!
DeleteThat's the story of my life with this car...weird noises all around until I take in for service.
ReplyDeleteYes - I think cars may be the worst culprits for this!
DeleteIntermittent faults are the WORST. I am glad that your laptop is behaving though. Perhaps it thought you were there for an upgrade...
ReplyDeleteMaybe that was it?! Strangely enough, it still has yet to make the sound again! (Finger's crossed!)
Deleteoh, yeah, it happens often and it's sooo annoying...
ReplyDeleteSo annoying! I am really glad you left a comment here Maja, as now I have found your beautiful blog of travel photos! I could not find a way to follow it though? If you add follow options, I hope that you will let me know! After seeing your photos, the Falkland Islands have been added to my "must visit" list!
DeleteThat happens to me with cars all the time. Then I'm left with the embarrassment of trying to replicate the sound: weeeeeeno, pa-chunk, pa-chunk, wabeda, wabeda. I'm sure the mechanics are very amused...
ReplyDeleteYou just made me giggle Mo! That is exactly what I was doing - trying to (very unsuccessfully) duplicate my computer's whine. I'm sure the 20-something sales person told his friends over a beer that night about "this woman I tried to help." Oh well...
DeleteSo glad that Kelly introduced us!
Maybe it was just whining because it was homesick! Sorry had to go there. It looks like a fun trip. I remember doing that with my daughter and we had such fun but then we made girls weekends out of it too!
ReplyDeleteThe college search IS fun - and some of the beautiful campuses we have visited have made me wish I could go back and take college over again! The food would certainly be better now!! It is stressful too though - our kids face a big decision, and we face the fact that they are leaving the nest.
DeleteApple stores are intimidating to me. The Geek Squad is friendly and supportive but anyone with a single gray hair knows they're being coached in baby steps. When I bought my iPad mini, I was asked to enter my password. I did. It wouldn't work. I entered it 5 more times. Nothing. The geek reconfigured something. Didn't work. Finally I entered each letter/number with a pause in between. Presto! Turned out the numbers were "sticking," not registering -- and not my fault at all. But through the whole process I felt like a total red-faced idiot.
ReplyDeleteHi Jackie! So sorry you had to go through that! I know that red-faced idiot feeling so well! But - usually it is my fault!! Not fair to have that experience when it's not!
DeletePasswords are my nemesis!
Ugh! The story of my life. Nothing ever misbehaves for anyone else. We must just be gifted, you and I!
ReplyDeleteOh - and what a gift it is!
DeleteCollege bound soon, how exciting for your son! My husband is a computer consultant and says that sometimes you just have to scare your gadgets into working right again:)
ReplyDeleteMy computer must have been terrified by the Apple store then - because it hasn't made the sound since! I wonder what trauma it remembered! Oh how I envy you having a computer consultant under your own roof. :) He writes great blog posts too!
DeleteGrinning here. Hugely. Sorry, Susan. But this is yet one more example taken fresh from the pages of my life. Of course, it wouldn't whine on command. Cannot tell you how many times such a thing has happened to me. I usually have to drag the poor person to spend some time with me. My van back in the day, refused to not perform for the mechanic. It worked like a charm when he took it around the block for a spin. Fine. I asked him to please accompany me and my two up the huge SFU hill. He agreed - if only to shut me up. We got half way up and the car thankfully came to a complete halt. Yay! Just as I described. He was most puzzled and we had to call for backup. Man did I feel vindicated.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the college shopping is an interesting, interesting time. It's so fun to get texts from my two now alerting me to the fact that they are spying from their posts in the library on the touring families now. Makes them feel "old." Ha! How did that happen?
And I love your make over. You look refreshed and relaxed.
Glad your van finally revealed its true colors! We still have a year before the college decision has to be made, so there will be more tours to come. The impact of them on me is amazing - makes me wish a bit that I could go back to college!
Delete