Beaches and Bit@e$

So a couple of months ago I went to the beach for the first time in several years. I vacationed in Chincoteague, Virginia (where they do the running of the wild ponies) back about 2008 and Myrtle Beach about five years before that.



Not so little me...

So the last of July, this year, a few of us drove to Charleston, South Carolina, spent the night, saw the Angel Oak Tree and got bored? Yes, I was not the bored person. But, since I had seen Charleston before, I did not raise a ruckus. We drove to Myrtle Beach for the rest of the week. No reservations, just pulled in and got a room for $80 a night. Not bad...

The view during the day.










 


The evening view.











I actually road the Sky Wheel. I am scared crazy of those things, but was talked into it. As you can see, I am alive still yet. Who knew? It was kind of fun.




I woke up at 7-something each morning and went out on the beach to hunt shells. I don't remember hunting shells before...



I found shells! 

I instagramed shells! 
How do you like my new yellow Myrtle Beach towel?










I took shells home!

We went to Dick's Last Resort - and we got a good laugh out of the GPS screen on the way. 

I got a new paper hat from the waiter... I unveiled this little beauty in an earlier post.

We also went to the adult only "Wild for Hyposis Show". It was a little distance from Myrtle Beach itself. It was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! I suggest going to it if you find yourself down there...

Oh, you are possibly wondering where the Bit@he$ part comes in?  Well, I was just plainly cranky the whole trip because I had a bit of a reaction to the sunscreen. Apparently I am not able to use those Dry Oil deals... Yea, I just wanted to throw Bit@he$ in there...

This Idiot's Guide to Technology

So I am struggling to figure out my iPad Mini, GPS, phone...  I never thought I was an idiot. I took 9 credit hours of Management Information Systems and Computer Information Systems in graduate school. I made A's. Just saying...  Yet, I am suddenly struggling with what seem to be the simplest things. I have managed to master Swype technology on my phone and wish my iPad had it... Just FYI folks, I can text/type fast on my phone with Swype! I managed to tether my phone so I would have Internet use on my laptop - before Verizon got its hands smacked in an FCC ruling and was forced to allow Android tethering (Story Here) above board. That meant I did not have to purchase Internet for my home. Heck, I am impressed I even know this about Verizon/FCC deal. But when it comes to storage and data usage, I am getting SCHOOL'D, and how, right now. 

So, I have had to step up my game and take to this SCHOOL'N because:

1. I was very irritated at the fact that my cable went from something like $55 a month to over $105 a month without my lifting a finger and no one at the cable mafia cared.
2. My cell phone DATA wass being et up - specifically this past 2 months.
3. I couldn't ever remember to take my Starbucks "Pick of the Week" card and download cool songs, books, apps and etc.
4. I couldn't download books and etc., or take videos, on my iPad because I didn't have enough storage.

Well, I am getting warm and cozy with technology question googling...

Keep in mind that DATA is ~~~~








 Not Data~~~ 

I feel ya pain Data...

First, I got rid of the mafia - that is officially known as Comcast/Xfinity. No more cable TV. I was given digital Rabit Ears and I get like 15 channels... FREE!!! No monthly fee. Screw OnDemand.

Then, I realized just now that my monthly DATA usage jumped from 3-4GB to nearly 8GB last month - after I got rid of the mafia cable. So I did some reading. NetFlix speeds/quality adjusts according to available bandwidth. I used up 3GB last night on 2 movies with a total of 3-3.5 hours of viewing. Now I know what causes that. Answer to problem is RedBox and manage my available DATA better. Oh, and I added 2GB for $10 more. Apparently I can adjust the speed and quality of NetFlix and maybe slow usage a bit...

Oh, and FYI, I also figured out the 4G.LTE uses a lot more DATA than 3G, and even 4G. So Verizon gave us better faster service then limited our ability to use it without spending spending spending.
(Purely my opinion anyway)

I found a website that allows you to download samples or free songs, books, and etc for my iPad. It is called IOS Pick of the Week. It has the Starbucks "pick of the Week". I even found this little puppy on it...  Check it out... 

Lastly, I learned that movies and videos and such EAT UP memory on my 32GB iPad Mini.

Taking a ride in Ol' Blu the truck...

I was told I needed to manage my data and storage. I went online and found help with buying iCloud space. Then I figured out today that I needed to just stop with the HBO TV show clutter (seriously, how many times do I need to watch Carnivale) and delete it off my iPad and only keep one episode at a time on there. Leave the rest - IN THE CLOUD...

Oh, and as a little side note, I ditched my unlimited DATA plan so that my mother could get away from DIAL UP Internet and get on a HOTSPOT through our joint cell plan. $20 cheaper a month...

Wait!  I am not completely looney...............