Friday, I picked up a new iPhone to replace my stolen one. I only got the 8 gig one. Tacked on a case, and a new (half price) earpiece (my old one broke). That ran me $518. Frustrating. I like to think I can "afford" it, but I don't really know. I am glad I have an iPhone. I Synced it at work (on the same computer I've synced the old one on). It updated my contact list. It is really nice not to have to load all of my contacts individually. I was also really happy to see most of the photos I had taken were synced back to the phone. Also, the scores from my solitaire program.
I really liked the iPhone before. Sorry, I had no legitimate gripes (I want it smaller, but with the same size screen - not physically possible). The ability to use a stylus, on the other hand, would be nice. I think I can improve on the typing though. But, after the re-sync, and to find my phone kept all of those details. I was just happy. I wonder what the other woman would have done if her phone had been stolen. Perhaps she would have lost all of her contacts and other stuff on the phone. I think getting that stuff back is a real pain in the butt. Sure, it sucks to lose my phone, but at least I kept the 'important' stuff. And in the end, I'm not choosing between food and a phone. So, I can't really complain there, either.
posted by Shyrie at 9:02 PM
So, after work, there was a party at Zocalo (a Mexican restaurant in West Philly). I had a few drinks, then it was time to go. I walked to the El to get to 69th st, and home. So, I'm sitting on the El, studying my book. There's a "shifty" looking kid (shifty, as in pacing around a bit, seemed anxious, probably high). I didn't pay too much attention to him, and just kept reading.
At the 2nd to last train stop, Millborne, a woman's screaming "He's got my phone". So, I quickly see what's going on, and I attempt to block him from leaving the train. He and the girl were in a struggle, but she kept the phone. I was pushed over, figured she had her phone, and was ready to get back on the train. But, apparently, in the struggle, my phone was stolen instead. And there were two boys involved. The second one I had seen staring at the first (but, I assumed he was just thinking the first looked shifty, as I thought). Alas, they were in it together, and both ran out of the station. They were near the stairs when a guy standing nearby said they had my phone. So, I started to give chase (but they were basically on the other end of the train station, not likely that I'd catch up, especially somewhere unfamiliar).
I got to the front of the train, and the conductor came out to see what was going on (the people from my car were keeping the door open). She instructed me to go to the cashier. I knocked on the window a bit (after a while she noticed I was there). At some point, she said "I don't know why people go flashing their stuff around". I really find it somewhat offensive. I told her it was improper to blame the victim. I don't care if I am walking outside naked, doesn't give someone a right to rape me. I don't care if I had a phone in my belt clip (that would have been covered during general walking, I lost it because there was an actual struggle). A thief is the one in the wrong.
The police came. I gave my statement. The cop tried to ask if I could positively identify them. I don't think I can. I have a tendency not to stare on the train. They think they know who the kids are. I have the number of the police report. I'm not exactly sure what to do next. Alas, I'm phoneless. I'll have to figure out what to do tomorrow.
In the end, I still feel like I did the right thing. Someone screams, I quickly reacted and intervened. It is what I expect of myself, and what i did. Because of it, I lost my phone (but the other woman didn't). It sucks, but I think I would have felt worse if I had done nothing. But, I wonder how the rest of the people feel. The people that just watch stuff happen, and do nothing (everyone else on the train). I wonder what makes me different. I wonder if that difference is a good thing. Maybe life is simpler when you're absorbed in the crowd. I don't know.
posted by Shyrie at 6:04 PM
I just fried 4 spotted bananas in about 2T butter, and maybe 2T honey (the bottom of the bear was getting pathetic and crystally). OMG, so tasty. I figure the "protein" for this will be some peanut butter and pignoia (pine nut). But, I swear, every bite is a luxury. *SOB* and it's all gone now... Mmmmmmmmm.
posted by Shyrie at 11:14 AM 