Apples

I love Macintosh! I love the apple named that but I really love the apple computer store more. Since we are vacationing in Rochester, NY and there happens to be an apple store in the mall about 10 miles away, I conveniently made an appointment to see a "Mac Genius" today at 1:00. For you non Macintosh readers, let me do a little bit of educating so you know what I am talking about!

Anytime that you buy any kind of Macintosh hardware weather it be an ipod shuffle or a top of the line computer, you get special "Genius" privileges. It means that you can go into any Apple store in America and get software or hardware assistance FOR FREE. So if your ipod stops working, you go in and they will fix it or sometimes even give you a new one--FOR FREE. Sometimes, your computer gets a little sick and needs some special medicine that only Genius people have. So you take your computer in and it gets "all better" FOR FREE. Once, my white top part of my Macbook got really dirty looking and they replaced it FOR FREE. It was a happy day.

A few weeks before Christmas, I noticed that my Macbook was starting to chip on the top white part where you'd put your palms right on top of the hard drive unit. This made me extremely nervous because I have dropped my Macbook and had to replace my hard drive. It was under warranty and guess what? They replaced it FOR FREE! Anyway, back to my present matter at hand. Today I walked into the Apple Store and wanted a Genius to look at my "chipping" problem. I knew I was going to have to pay this time because my computer is no longer under warranty. Sadness. I had booked a 1:00 appointment online the day before online and promptly at 1:03, I was staring into the beautiful blue eyes of John, my genius. He took one look at my problem, shut my computer down, popped out the battery in the back, and scanned my special barcode. He typed in some important (I guess) stuff into his little Macbook and said after a few minutes, "We can fix it today, would you have an hour of shopping to do while you wait". To which I replied, "Why certainly, I would be happy to waste an hour in your lovely mall". So there you have it.

About 45 minutes later, I had my new laptop in my hands. And my receipt. And guess what? It was once again all done FOR FREE. I not only have a new top but I have a new keyboard as well. It looks almost brand new. I don't know why it was free. I got a receipt that said the repair would have cost me $224.06. But I didn't pay anything. It is truly a marvelous day because once again, I have a new laptop!

I bought a new Scrabble game to celebrate!

Later,
Heidi

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas everyone! I am a bit late getting this post up but I felt that family time today was more important than blog time.

My parents and my two uncles arrived at our house around 10:30. The kids made the decision last night to WAIT to open gifts until they arrived. I helped their patience out by allowing them to exchange gifts that they had purchased (with my money) for each other. SO, they each had a toy to play with for a few hours this morning.

We had a delicious meal after the present hoopla and a few hours later said goodbye to our visitors. Then I proceeded to spend the next 2 hours on the couch in a food induced coma. It was a lovely day!

Tomorrow I plan to get up and do some exercising. I feel so much better when I am more physically fit. And I tend to sleep better too!

Here is how our cat, Cassie, spent most of the advent season:

I hope your day was filled with food, family, and festive naps! Merry Christmas!

Heidi

My few loyal followers

I finally looked at my blog today. 6 other people did too. They are my faithful friends. I can see the location using my nifty sitemeter so I sort of know who they are.

I have been buried this week. Buried by present wrapping, cookie baking, a cold, more present wrapping, and most of all SNOW! Lots of snow. After the plow finally came through today, it was piled up to the opening of the mailbox! We have had 55 inches of snow so far and winter only started yesterday!

The kids love it. They are into building snow forts and snowmen and having/preparing for big snowball fights. They love to hang out on the hill at the end of our driveway. They call it "the giant snow hill". It is really cool!

Tomorrow we have our 3rd storm coming through the area. It is supposed to dump 5-10 inches more on us. I am not sure where it will all go! As I look outside into the other neighbor's yards, the new snow is so pretty....totally undisturbed and perfect in its placement. I then look in our own front yard and our snow is all stomped down with a stray sled or shovel strewn across the lawn. Millions of little footprints fill up the whole landscape. Our snow isn't perfect at all. In fact it is downright ugly! And do you know what? I wouldn't want it any other way! I like having the neighborhood come over and play! And I am glad we live in Michigan so that the kids can have so much fun!

I'll take a picture next time they are on the "giant hill". It will be a great memory.

Make it a great day!
Heidi

Some big days ahead.

I haven't been posting. I have wanted to but December has finally caught up with me and for the next week or so, my life will cease to exist but instead it will be woven into every kind of Christmas party, concert, church service, and decorating extravaganza known to mankind.

Tomorrow is a perfect example of why anyone who is contemplating going into music as a career should think twice about it! Here is my schedule.

7:45 Bell choir rehearsal
8:30 Church service #1 --Bell anthem
10:00 Choir Rehearsal
11:00 Church service #2--Bell anthem, 2 choir anthems
12:30 Childrens' pageant rehearsal
1:30 Arrive in Comstock for my Chorale Concert. Reset two lights that were too bright and need new gels.
2:00 64 other ladies arrive!
2:15 Rehearse "O Holy Night" with solist for the first time!
3:00 Conduct the Concert
4:30 Eat Dinner with my Parents who have travelled from Lapeer to see the concert!
5:30 Church Choir Christmas Party
8:30 Hopefully home.

So, there you have it. And then I do this type of schedule all over again on Tuesday and Thursday next week too!

I will post some pictures of the choir as soon as my mom takes them and sends them!

Feliz Navidad. Mele Kalikimaka. Joyeux Noel. Ho Ho.

Heidi