AARGHH!!! GPS software....DARN YOU!!!!

It was to be a fun filled evening with friends, I had RSVP'ed to go ice skating them through meetup.com (a site that brings people of similar interests together). This was to be my first major physical sport since twisting my ankle ice skating two months prior (hmm...I wonder if fate was worried about me, ::chuckles::). As time drew near, I checked the locations address and happily entered into the GPS application in my Motorola Droid mobile phone.

I thought to myself,

"This is going to be AWESOME! I'm finally going to show the ice rink who's boss!”

I grinned and giggled like a kid.

Further more, I was excited because the Droid's GPS software had already helped a few times, it wasn't perfect...but it was nearly perfect! I don't know about the general public, but for me, even when using maps and directions I sometimes have a tendency to get a little turned around, haha.

I entered the address and momentarily watched the GPS begin its search...assuming everything was fine, I turned off the Droid, then put it in my belt clip and didn't give it another thought. I went to tidy myself up, grabbed my ankle brace, grabbed my coat and was off to my car to meet my friends.

As I hopped in my car, started in up, took out my Droid to turn in on and I was off!! I gave a few glances at the GPS map as I drove the first quarter mile...then another quarter mile. I was rapidly becoming uneasy, as the GPS software, (which normally pulls up the driving route practically instantly) was taking an extremely long time.

"CRUD!!"

I nervously thought to myself.

"Ok! No need to fret!!”

Attempting to re-assure myself I visualized the route I would mostly likely take, as I thought;

"I know the general direction...I, uh, I go towards…Ferndale, YESS!!! I go towards FERNDALE!!"

In those same few moments, I had also managed to bring up the first few turns in the driving route in the sub-menu of the GPS! I glanced at, assuming it was showing the same direction toward the city of Ferndale.

A rapid a sense of relief washed over me! Feeling more at ease I sat back in the seat and smiled, thinking,

"minutes from now I'll be hanging out with friends!!"

I imaged, as if watching a Youtube video of my friends and I skating and laughing on the ice.

As I approached 696 to head East, I was suddenly startled as the GPS came to life!

"AT ORCHARD LAKE TURN RIGHT ENTER AND TAKE 696 HEADING WEST!!!!"

It demanded!

"HOLLY CRUD!!!"

I thought startled, letting out a loud sigh, I completely forgot, not more then 10 seconds earlier I had turned on its Audio Navigation feature!

"But, wait!!! What did it say, go WEST?!?!....that can't be!"

But just as I was about to look at it, it blurted out,

"NOW TAKE 696 HEADING WEST!!"

As quickly and safely as I could I pulled up the GPS and looked at it where it was telling me to go.
I quickly pondered,

"This doesn't make any sense, that's the completely opposite of where I should be going!!"

  I hopefully thought,

"Unless it’s taking me a faster route!!...that’s possible!!"

I could only, safely scroll through a little bit of the GPS map at a time while still keeping my eyes on the road. So, I decided to follow these unusual directions. Periodically thinking,

"Wow, with these directions I'll be there sooner then I thought!"

 This very thought, did have me a little uneasy. As I continued wondering,

“Just how is that possible!?”

Roughly two miles from the destination my GPS was giving me, I suddenly realized I that the destination I was nearing was the location of a going away party held the previous weekend for a friend heading to Asia (I think it was Asia)!

"What THE HECK!!"

Thundered throughout my mind as frustration and annoyance began to fight for control!

"This is sooooooo, NOT COOL!!!"

Aggravated, I attempted to figure out why and how the GPS gave me this previous location and more important what had happened to this evenings destination.
I pulled over! With frustration creeping its way throughout my thoughts, I rapidly found it more difficult to scroll the correct menu's.

"COME ON, DAMNIT!!"

I angrily mumbled as my facial expression tensed up! As if to display my dominance over this inanimate object!! The voice of reason whispering,

"Relax, DUDE...relax, remember you're in a car!"

I half chuckled to myself, thinking,

"I'm started to talk to myself...!"

Then out of the corner of eye, I noticed the car was still in Drive even though I did have my foot on the brake. Half frustrated and half relieved I put the car in Park.

"Alright!...No more nonsense!!" I thought.

I then managed to find the address of the location I type an hour and a half ago. Brought up the GPS map and 30 MINUTES displayed with mechanical coldness!

"WHAT....!?!?!?!?!"

I was completely shocked, looked at my car digital clock, it was now 9PM!!!!!! Smoke and fumes began swirling throughout my mind!! Nonsensical cursing began pouring out of my mumbling mouth! “ARGHH!!! SON OF A….!!! ARGHHH!!!! CRUD!!!”

I tried bringing up the exact route, thinking,

"A chance, a chance, I might still…!"

Desperately not wanting the night to go to waste, I keep trying to scroll and press the right button spots on the Droid, to bring up the exact correct directions. But then out of shear frustration I shrieked,

"AARGHHHH!!!! DARN PIECE of CRUD!"

At the high point of my frustration, I half hazardly chucked the Droid into the passenger seat, and watching helplessly as it now bounced into a crevasse between the seat and the door. Realizing how easily it could have hit something hard and cracked, I gritted my teeth in frustration at my own temporary furious ignorance.
I throw the car in Drive, hit the gas, and heard the tires as they shredded the pavement, I peeled out of my solitude of fury!

Ten minutes later, half calmed down, I tried to understand why the GPS didn't bring up the correct directions. But I found I was now too tired to worry about such things! The fury I had held within was now fading, but still it had tired me out! I stopped into a local Kroger, bought some soy-based ice cream, Tostitos chips and dip to cheer myself up. As I decided to go home and make the most of the shattered evening by watching the Golden Compass in Blu-Ray High Definition.

Well, one thing I definitely learned is that while the GPS is an awesomely powerful tool, it’s still a very good idea to print the directions to your destination…just to be on the safe side!

Enjoy!

Across the Mountains from King Arthur!



Raptors Mascot devoir Cheerleader!

So close...yet still too far, drat!

I had just finished IM'ing and talking with a gorgeous and adorable 26 year old lady named Christy! Everything, and I do mean everything was going brilliantly awesome!!

We were getting along amazingly well, we had soooooo much in common, I had her laughing at all my jokes and I, her jokes!

Then, suddenly she said her phone was beginning to die so she'd call me right back.

I waited…5 minutes went by, then suddenly I saw a new message pop up from her on AOL instant messenger. I read it and suddenly my hopes shattered like a hammer through stage glass,

"I don't think this is going to work out." It read.

“Huh!?.....What!?!?!" I thought as I felt my heart sink.

A moment later she continued,

"I think you're just too old for me!”

“What the heck, wait a second?!?!” I thought.

It took a few moments to separate confusion, frustration, and anguish apart. Finally after about 20 seconds,

I respond. "Alrighty, but I'm confused, you knew I was 34 when you initiated contact with me through Eharmony! Please, be honest! I kind of feel like this is a tease."

She replied, "I'm sorry, but it's about the other problem too."

“I don’t believe this!!” I thought, completely stunned.

The problem she was referring to was from during out talk, she had told me about some life long stomach illness she had as well as a learning disability and how her best friend has Attention Deficit Disorder. I had told her I was completely fine with that, in fact.

I had said, "I can completely relate to both you and your best friend, as I have attention deficit hyperactive disorder, which sometimes comes across as a learning disability in ways of comprehension. But taking Ritalin really helps!"

When I had told her this, it apparently must have been to close to home or something because during the phone conversation she had said,

“WAIT, you too!?!?!”

I said smiling with simply confidence,

"Yep, me too!”

 As I had thought it seemed cool that among everything we had these things also in common. But that’s when she said,

“That’s not cool!”

This totally confused me. But then she explained all the things her best friend did that annoyed her and these were things I did not do, such as pacing all over the place or opening and closing the refrigerator door continuously! I simply said,

“Those are things I don’t do. For me it’s mostly trouble focusing and concentrating, though I do fidget!”

But, prior to her phone battery dying out we had switched to other topics of interest such as how we were both looking for love as well as the various activities we both enjoyed doing.
Only a few seconds had past as those thoughts of the phone chat had gone through my mind, yet I was still starring at the message,

"I'm sorry, but it's about the other problem too."

Just then she responded again,

"We can still chat! I just don't see us having a future!"

For a moment, I though,

“Oh!!!! Maybe there's still a chance...maybe!”

But then I thought more about it, She doesn’t want anything more to do with this, yet she still wants to chat…this doesn’t make sense. So with that and still annoyed, hurt, and frustrated, I respond,

"Good luck in love!"

I closed the IM window, emailed my buddy Jim (who is very much like a Brother to me) for his take on the situation. Then thought, holly toledo!! She was gorgeous!!!!!

I continued to ponder, what really happened!? Why did she suddenly do a 180%? Hmm...I might never know.

Perhaps it is to become one of life mysteries, one that is not meant to be solved! Or, perhaps I just over looked something, who can say?

I shuck off the situation and went back to Eharmony to close the match and looked through all my new ones. I then looked through Okcupid.com and Plentyoffish.com all of which I’ve been an on going member with, in my quest for love! As I know eventually I’ll find a lady right for me, one with inner and outer beauty and gorgeousness...I start anew!
Shaken, but never, NEVER broken! ;-)