Dateline Tuesday 14 February 2012 our two daughters and their husbands want to take Mayang and I to lunch. We are going to meet at Olongapo’s new SM Mall at 12:30 at the Pizza Hut, their idea, but I like pizza so I was fine with that.
But I thought to myself: “Hey Paul, remember that story you wrote last week about Computer Hell?” This would be a good time to pick up that new terra byte hard drive that Marlon the magnificent said you needed. Oh yes my old one was fried, ceased to function, bit the bullet, and was a dead piece of junk.
Electronics, oh God bless them! On Monday my cell phone would not open and buzzed with a message telling me to; “Take it to your nearest Nokia Repair Center. Ahh one more reason to go to town.
Before the Mall opened, and directly across the street is the old Green Lanes Bowling Alley, which was converted to a retail outlet that caters to those searching for Pirated Movies, Computer Programs and of course music. They all so sell and repair all things Cell Phone”
First the cell phone is tops on my list, so in I go and run into a guy my daughters went to school with who just happens to fix the Nokia (or any other type) cell phone. He plugs it into his laptop and ran a diagnostic program and told me not to fret, that in less than an hour I’d be back to calling and texting. All for the low, low price of P500.00. Being I’ve learned that there is nothing the Filipino cannot fix, (except my terra byte hard drive) off I went in my quest for that new Hard Drive, In the SM Mall on the third floor is the electronic section and into one store I go. I ask; ‘Do you have…” “Oh yes sir, we have two types’ was their reply. I requested to see them and then asked the price, P 6,500 and P 6,000 respectably. My brain told me that was a very high price but I wanted it and was not going to spend my family day hunting for a cheaper one. I made my selection and was promptly informed that they had no way to possess a credit card. I smiled and thanked them and left. I ran into my daughter YoHanna and she scolded me and told me to go up the street to Data Works the place I had purchased everything else computer. They had one, took credit cards and the price was P3, 800. The trumpets’ blared, a bright light appeared from the sky and my day was 100% successful and I still had time to spare to meet the family at Pizza Hut for lunch.
I reach the front door of the HUT, and was informed that the long line I saw were other people waiting to get in. I grabbed my now working phone and dialed my daughter to tell her where I was and I’d be awhile. Out the door came the manager and explained to the waiting people that my family was inside and had a table waiting for me. The nice people seemed to understand that I was not fronting the line and allowed me to safely pass through.
My friend Tommy and his wife just happened to be there for lunch also and we all had a great time. The food was good, and the time spend with the kids was wonderful.
Now here’s the part of my day that was weird, I had started the day in a blue funk; I stayed in a funky mood the whole day, but never let it show. And believe it or not, I pulled it off.
There was no reason for me to feel that way, everything sort of went well, but it was just one of those days that very seldom ever happens to me, and since no one was the cause of it, I refused to take it out on anyone. When I got back to the house later in the day my wife did ask what was wrong (I can never fool her) and I honestly told her I really didn’t know. I retired to the upstairs and started reading a novel, and two hours later I was feeling fine The mood had passed and I rejoined the group, as the kids had all showed up to our house for the evening . Some would say I should have had a beer, but I say; “Have a beer when you’re in a good mood, and never have one to try and cure a bad mood.
Ah, glad you’re all fixed up with your electronics Paul. However, and I do love the word however; properly used, it can momentarily fill the reader with angst. However, I am especially more pleased to note that it’s not only me that has days when I just feel like being in a bit of a bad mood for no reason. (My nursey wife (they’re all a bit hypochondriacidal, and overanalyse every feeling to death) advises me that it is probably to do with my diet and blood sugar etc etc etc etc. I sighed and said “yes dear”). Days like that, all I really need is to catch some little blighter snatching an old lady’s handbag, so he can get the blunt end of my bad mood, but of course that never happens, and the mood passes as quickly as it comes. Yayyyy…unless it’s just us two….I’m normal!
Hi Jim;
My bad mood is still there, but this time it was caused by a total meltdown of my computer. I purchased a new one yesterday witch has caused my blood-sugar to go off the charts do to losing all my files during the change over. But have no fear a bottle of Captain Morgan helped me see things in a better light, albeit the hangover this morning is not helping!
Jim;
I had a meltdown of my computer yesterday and had to buy a new one, so far this morning this is the third attempt to reply to your comment and Word press has kicked it back 4 times. It could also be the rum I had last night.
Paul
Sounds like your day was a success story.
Maybe you had the funk on because you spent to much coin on the electronic gadgets.
Neal;
I was just telling Jim above that I had to spend more coin on a new computer yesterday, Do you wonder what my mood is today? (lol)
Hey Paul I only paid p300 for my Nokia, brand new. Of course I asked the salesman for the cheapest phone he had…Glad to see your hard drive is up and running again. Now all you have to do is transfer the files from your buddy and your back in musical Heaven. Great solution on the file back up system. Highly unlikely two PCs will die at the same time.
Mark;
Tommy gave me his hard drive and I down loaded it to mine and found he had 30 albums extra that I never had. So I made out on that deal.
After they fixed my phone, I gave up the idea of replacing it with a new one. But my next one will be a simple phone with no extra stuff on it!
Hi Paul
It seems it cheaper to fix a cell phone and buy a hard drive in the Philippines than here. By the way, good advice on the beer and blue moods.
Allan;
The thing that I love here is that every thing can be repaired here, it your toaster stops working in the states or Europe you toss it and buy a new one, here they fix it and use it for years to come. BTW: I live by that “Don’t drink to cure your troubles, and I only will have a beer, if I’m in a good mood”
Hi Paul, wow, the SM mall is already opened, great! Do they have an Ace Hardware there?
I have a 1 TB hard drive, it has a 120/240 connection, paid $89 for it here in San Antonio. about PHP3,800. I plan on shipping my “puter” and 2 monitors in a balikbayan box. I have everything backed up on the hard drive which I’ll back in my suitcase juuuust in case something happens to the box.
Waiting for the day when I too can get connectivity in my little corner of Dinalupihan.
See ya in May amigio!
Mike;
It’s been open about a month, it’s not a large mall and the ace hardware is the size of a 7/11 not much there. Check before you carry a hard drive on the plane as I’ve heard that due to copyright laws they can give you a problem at customs. My daughter could not bring hers from Singapore, so she shipped it FedEx. But I really don’t know any more that that. But I’ll bet one or two of our fellow LiP-ers might know more!
Yes, if by chance someone had come along and, uh, put some music / movies / software on your hard drive that you did not pay for, then they can certainly confiscate it.
Tom;
That makes sence to me.
That’s interesting, if a bit silly? (Every time you carry a laptop it has a hard drive inside it…so has an ipod)??????
Jim;
Silly is true, but so is patting down a 3 year old child. TSA does silly very well. (lol)
Paul,
It’s good to see all your electronics problems have been taken care of. Everyone’s mood gets down every once in awhile. Nothing a bit of relaxation can’t take care of. I’m sure your family would more than understand. Spring training opened this week in Florida, so that should make you feel good. Thanks so much for another good read. Take care and be safe.
PapaDuck;
One of the things I miss about Florida was going to all the Ball games on the cheap. My computer (NEW) I opened this morning and all my Word Excell files were out on vacation. It never ends.
Paul,
I really liked your advise on the drinking! Sound advise to go by. Glad to hear you have finally solved your music problems. Now you can go back to being in a mello mood again. Must be rough for you not having the tunes!
In all my travels I have never been questioned about my hard drive. I carry it in the case with my computer strapped over my shoulder. I never thought they would question that. Now something more for me to worry about the cattle gate prodders poking at me about!
Steve;
My music is fine now, and my mood is where it should be in the plus zone. All is well in Bataan on the mountain. I’ve never heard about TSA searching a computer or a hard drive. That is why I was surprised when my daughter told me about it. Strip searches in public will be next! Hell that might be fun.
Hey Paul,
I guess it pays to know the businesses in your area.
Does the Pizza-Hut there serve beer?
Hudson;
Hell no, what’s that all about?
They do here in California
I visited a TGIFridays in Dubai and was suprised to find they do not serve beer either! Had a nice bar set up and looked legit but no alcohol to be found! I understood this in Kuwait, but thought for sure in Dubai I could get a steak and a beer together!
I was surprised to learn about there being a SM mall in Olongapo. I guess that is really new. I see it was just opened on Dec. 15, according to the facebook photos when I googled it. Enjoy.
Larry;
They had a soft opening in Dec only the first floor the rest opened in Feb.
When I was visiting in Gamu this past summer, I often shopped at a new mall in Ilagan, Isabela that was a Savemore Mall, and grocery. I was surprised at the size of the grocery store portion and the large selection of both fresh and packaged foods. Even lots of American foods. Prices a little steep for some of them though.
Larry;
We have one more mall that will be open in a few months it will be on Subic FreePort