There are many things in this world that people refer to when they say "You need to experience it for yourself to really understand it". Having a baby, great sex, vactioning in Europe, and your first date all fall into that category. Now, I'd like to petition adding "Owning an Apple Product" to that list.

First off, let me say this: Windows 7 saved Bll Gates from losing a bunch more faithful followers to Apple. My dad bought me a laptop as an off-kilter grad school present this past March. It was a pretty nice HP machine that was loaded in the stat column- I won't bore you with the details. Considering I was pretty happy with Windows 7 reviews, I happily accepted my new computer. Had Windows 7 been a flop like Vista, I may have asked my dad for money to help me buy a Macbook instead.

If this thing were any more addictive, I'd be homeless on the street, willing to do just about anything to buy the next gen iPad upon its release.

Apple products have been known for their high quality build, incredible reliability, and ease of use. However, they're also known for a higher price point, unchangeable battery, and the stigma that their first-generation products are not worth buying. The risks were worth the reward, so I wasn't fazed by the cons. Besides, I've wanted to buy an iPad since they came out in April. I have been so infatuated that I'd watch unboxing and review videos online for hours on end- it was like virtual window-shopping. My stance was that I could buy all of my textbooks on it through the Coursesmart app, pay roughly one third of what the bookstore would charge me, and come out ahead by the end of the school year.

Once my refund check came in, I called the Best Buy here in Springfield, since they were the only store to sell the iPad. I just wanted a 16GB model for $500, but the store informed me that they only had the larger, but more costly $600 32GB version. I figured the difference wasn't enough to keep me from buying it, so I scurried to Best Buy on Saturday to pick one up. The Apple clerk told me everything I needed to know about the warranty- I probably grilled him for 15 minutes with various questions before I threw down my debit card for a $650 purchase.

***SIDE NOTE- I always grill Best Buy employees to see who's good at their job and who isn't; I have a deep seated personal vendetta against the company for not hiring me, a confessed techie with open availability, over a 17 year old girl who doesn't even know the brands of MP3 player she's selling without staring at the stat card for 15 minutes.

3 minutes later (yes, I counted), I walked out of the store, brand new iPad in hand. I get this feeling of joy when carrying home a brand new box with a new electronic stashed away in it. When I bought my very first Apple product, my joy was unmatched. I usually buy my gadgets used to save money, but there's nothing like receiving a brand new box with a legit warranty and a clearn, untouched screen.

I've had it for two weeks now, and boy are they right about the build quality- my $600 was well worth it when I saw the back of the device really was a sturdy aluminum casing, and the battery really did last me 10 hours on a full charge. Some call it a giant iPhone or iPod Touch, and to an extent, that is true. But it's more than that. It's an awesome e-reader, shoe designer (there's a Nike app that allows you to customize the colors of a shoe and buy it right there in the app), recipe holder, newspaper, and gaming device.

Awesome Apple arcade dock for the iPad? No, it's a sick April Fool's Day joke. Damn you, whollysblog.com. 

The amazing thing is that this one device, for 5 months, was able to hold my attention without me even owning one. That's just amazing. All I can say is I love my iPad; I guess I'm a discapple (an Apple disciple- trademark, me.).

Apple can do much more because everything from the software to the computer builds is in-house. Microsoft deals with every other computer vendor in the country, and the process is an assembly line that on Frankenstein's creator. People can afford Microsoft's products, as well as the computers from Dell, HP, Asus, and whoever else. But heed my warning: if Apple can ever get in a position where they can make their line of products as affordable any company's PC line, Microsoft, and all of their buyers, could be in serious trouble.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to preview this draft on iPad's Safari Browser.

She Must Have Thought We Were Valets!

This summer, I worked for a company called University of Dreams. Basically, 125 college students intern in Chicago for 8 weeks of their summer and have an awesome time. The company also does this in 12 other cities, but I was chosen to work for their Chicago program as a summer staffer.

We summer staffers were given a 2 day orientation, a one day break, and then came move-in day for the students. The dorm we were housed in was Baumhart Hall, one of Loyola University’s many housing complexes. Anyway, Baumhart is located on Pearson Avenue, which is a one way street. All throughout the day, we helped students move their stuff from their parent’s cars/airport vans/ taxis, and got them registered.

This is where the two day orientation came in- we were instructed to be incredibly cheery throughout the day, because it was to be a long one. Now most cars/trucks/vans that stopped down Pearson that day were eager students ready to spend their summers in Chicago…notice I said MOST.

We had been moving students in for about 4 hours, and we were in full cheer mode- the students were excited, we were excited, and it was an all-around great atmosphere. There were 8 of us staffers, and by this time, we had naturally paired off to grab students and move them in. I was partnered with Kim Hoffman who had participated in the London Program in 2008. She was a Chicagoan, like me, and she was a published author. I liked her right away- she was goofy enough to be fun to hang around, but she also had a serious side….after all…you can’t be a published author unless you have half a mind to start a book AND finish it. She was a great sport with the pictures, as she was willing to do the goofiest stuff for the camera. Kim and I had become a pretty competent duo on the street; we’d flag a car down, introduce ourselves, send the student to the registration table, and move them in. It was simple and effective.

There were so many people moving in at once that we cometimes couldn't distinguish students from non-students!

Kim and I had our fair share of missteps though; on more than one occasion, we flagged down an empty cab, which didn’t make the drivers too happy, and we had flagged down cars which had nothing to do with University of Dreams. After explaining the situation to these confused drivers, we sent them on their way, having a good laugh in the process.

About 5 hours into the day, an extremely small car came driving down the street - it wasn’t as small as a Smart car, but it wasn’t as big as a DeLorean, either. Initially, Kim and I shrugged it off, since there was no way that two people and eight weeks’ worth of stuff was in that car. But it started approaching our curb….slowly…then slower….then it stopped right in front of our building. Kim and I gave each other an “oh, shit!” look, and rushed the car in a fashion not too different from a dog who rushes the front door when he hears a key enter the lock.

The passenger side door opened, and this lady in her twenties stepped out. She was really pretty, and stylish in a way that I’d expect a 20-something to be.

“Hi, I’m Jeremy!” I said, almost a little too enthusiastically.

“I’m Kim!” Kim replied, in the same, overexcited cultish camp counselor manner that I had nearly perfected that day.

“I’m Gina.”, the 20-something replied.

“And I’m Kenneth” ,said the driver, a bald black guy who wasn’t intimidating enough to be a bouncer (nor did he have the stature in a car that small), but was cool enough that he’d be a good person to grab a beer with.

We all shook hands after exchanging pleasantries, and then….it started.

Kim: “So let’s get you checked in”

Me: “…and while Kim takes you over there, I’ll start grabbing your luggage.”

Gina and Kenneth didn’t look as excited as Kim and I.

Gina: “Umm…what?”

Me: “Oh, crap.”

Kim and I then realized that neither Gina nor Kenneth was a student in our program.

Kim: “Oh wow, we thought you were a student in our program!”

Gina: (after having a good giggle) “I’m flattered, but no. I teach just a couple blocks away, and he (Kenneth) drops me off here, since it’s the easiest place in the area.

Me: “I’m so sorry! We must have looked crazy bum rushing your car like this.”

Gina: “Actually, no. Kenneth and I thought that there was something new going on out here, but we didn’t think it was your program.”

We all awkwardly said goodbye; Gina walked away to work, Kenneth drove off, and Kim and I had our best laugh to that point.

Kim: “Who did she think we were?”

Me: “Valets…that’s the only reason I could see them pulling up to the curb!”

Kim: “True, but then why are we valets wearing Dreamer shirts?”

Me: “Good point.”

Welcome...Finally!

If you've been stopping by my blog regularly for the past year or so, you've basically been looking at an empty space with a title. That, my friends, ends today! I'll talk about anything and everything while I uncover the mysteries of the world....sorta. Just stick with me; this promises to be a really interesting ride.