Look! There is a 300lb Gorilla in the Room
No, our gorilla can’t really make phone calls but as you can see everyone else in the picture is on their cell phone. This is our 12th year visiting Lakeside, Ohio and there are two big differences this year. The first is our cell signal is terrible. We have had good cell service here for the past several years but this year it has deteriorated and it is especially bad for the three iPhone users. After a few days of frustration, we made a call to my husband who was joining us later, to bring the zBoost cell phone signal booster with him. Our signal is much improved and we no longer have to walk to the upper deck or down to the lake to get cell service. The second change is we are all using our cell phones for lots of things besides phone calls.
In past years the kids were texting but now the adults are texting too, when Nana wants to talk to the grandkids she slowly pecks in a message, but the cool thing is they always respond. I haven’t used our digital camera all vacation. Instead I prefer my iPhone camera so I can email pictures as they happen and have the pictures handy to share with others, just like a portable photo album. My sister is enjoying posting her pictures on Facebook and adding comments, she was even playing match maker at dinner the other night with text messages. My husband is trying to ignore his Blackberry but the nagging business emails and phone calls just keep on coming. My brother in law investigates new investment stocks and plays games.
The four teenagers in our family constantly stay in touch with the other teenagers at Lakeside. It’s better than smoke signals. Basketball game in the park…our kids are texted and quickly on their way. Fish biting at the dock… bass or perch? The information flows and they’re gone again. The best part, cute girls are only a text message away. Even great grandpa (91) was in on the action. He wanted a picture of his first born grandchild, who just graduated from high school, as his cell phone screen saver.
Temporary installation tips for the zBoost Dual Band: We knew we could get a signal on the upper deck so we wrapped the antenna around the upper deck rail, ran the coax cable down the side of the house and in through the living room window. It took just a few minutes and our problem was solved. I had brought the zPersonal with me but this was a situation where we really needed the Dual Band unit.
Whether it’s for fun or work, our phones are always with us. In the past we would tell the kids not to use their phones at the dinner table, now we have to limit the adults too.
If you have a cell phone story that you would like to share, please email Roni at rpridemore@wi-ex.com