Tone Parsons

My plan to rule the world with an iron fist is coming soon.

I’ll let you know what’s up when I can.

Normally, I’m a very calm guy. Not much bothers me.

Normally.

Today, I found out that I do, indeed, have some anger in me.

I went to the Verizon store with my cell phone (a RAZR V3c). I’ve been having a problem with it…. the battery keeps dying. Yes, I’m quite aware that the RAZR only has about 120 minutes of talk time on the battery… but that’s more than I use in a whole month. It goes from being fully charged every morning at 7:00 am (when I unplug it) to beeping at me around 4 am to tell me that the battery is nearly dead a mere 21 hours later (if I forget to plug it in).  Typically in a day I talk for about 3 – 5 minutes total (I hate cell phones).
So… I drop it off at the Verizon store for their tech’s to take a peek at.

They keep it for 3 hours and then tell me “There’s nothing wrong with it”.

Really? Then it will stop draining the battery in less than 24 hours now? I won’t get the loud BLIP-BLOP! noise in the middle of the night now that there’s been a magic laying of the hands over the past 3 hours?.

Ugh.

So… with just a few days left on the battery’s warranty, I’m probably screwed (yes… I should have taken care of this earlier… but honestly, I kinda figured that the battery life was that bad… until my wife said she only plugs hers in about once a week).

I asked the tech what my optons were when it died again tonight and he replied “I don’t know”. I did kinda blow up at the tech at that point, and I’m pretty sure if he ever sees me out in the real world, he’ll turn the corner and walk quickly in another direction (for those who aren’t taking notes, I’m 6’4″ and 225 pounds… and I was very angry).

Tomorrow’s plan of attack… call Verizon directly and see what the bullshit du jour is.

My sister and brother-in-law invited me out last night.

They were celebrating David’s (the brother-in-law) 35th birthday. I met up with them and their friend Joe at a karioke bar (I’m not going to say which one for a reason.. but that comes later) around 8:45.

First and foremost… I hate karioke. I was a club DJ for a number of years when I was younger and we did karioke in the club on Wednesday nights. After a few drinks, people would think they were a regular Neil Diamond, grab the mic, and butcher perfectly good songs. Seriously, if I ever hear some drunk sing “Mack the Knife” again…. I’m going to kill myself.

But I digress…

We were sitting there and I saw someone who looked familar to me. I turned to my sister’s friend, Joe, and asked if he knew who it was. “Brent Spiner” was Joe’s reply.

For those who don’t know… Brent Spiner played the character “Data” on Star Trek – The Next Generation. He also played the part of Bob Wheeler, the father of the “Potato Sack Family” on the TV show Night Court.

Apparently, Brent has family in the area and comes to town a couple times every year. He likes this particular bar because people don’t recognize him (those rabbid trekies can get a little annoying). It’s not a fancy place, but it someplace that he can go and have a good time (which is why I won’t tell you where it is).

I’m a fan, but not that kind of fan. I don’t speak Klingon, have a Star Fleet uniform, and cant do that vulcan thing with my fingers. I do, however, use soap (which, from my experience of seeing Star Trek conventions, is rare among fans). I’m the kind of fan who’s seen all the shows, likes them, but also leads a normal life.

I didn’t want to bother him, but apparently, Joe knows him pretty well (Joe knows EVERYONE) and got me an autograph.

Brent smiled and waved to me, I smiled and waved back.

Sure… not very exciting… but I thought it was cool 🙂

Wow….

As I posted yesterday, I went to the doctor and he prescribed me some new medications for my back.  Today… everything is weird.  The world is moving in jerks.  Things go slow, then fast, then slow again.

Just typing this is taking quite a bit of concentration.

And this, kids, is why I hate taking meds.

*sigh*

On the flip side…. my back isn’t bothering me much, so at least there’s some good news.