the apple koolaid

it's no secret i've drunk it and keep driniking it, and ever since the news of an apple tablet called the 'iPad,' i've been waiting for the iPad2.

with a LOT of travel coming my way in the next month, it was imperative to me that i have this device in my hot little hands, on or shortly after launch day. i was also concerned that ordering the iPad online would result in a shipment date after my first departure, and while the promised delivery dates started at 2-3 days they quickly turned into 2 - 3 weeks.

i debated and considered and reconsidered my launch day game plan, and up until the minute i parked my behind in a chair outside of the mall near my work, i was sure that i would go to a target or walmart. i kept second guessing my decision and decided to do a mall drive-by to check out the fruity purveyor of gadgets before making a decision. when i saw that the line was already long enough to stretch from the interior store all the way outside the mall, i decided i better just get in line somewhere, and it was close.

keep in mind, this was at 1:30pm, with the sale begining at 5pm. by the way, i'm grateful for a a boss who shares and recognizes my obsession, because i truly would have been out of luck had i tried to stroll in after work. i was also grateful that i'd had the foresight to bring a chair and a diet coke.

i parked myself (unfortunately in the sun) and almost immediately a very tall (i later learned, 6'7") attractive gentlemen (we'll call him t) and his son set up their chairs behind me. a conversation began with our musings about how we couldn't believe we were doing this, and over the course of the next FIVE HOURS, we learned a lot about each other. habit i guess, but i saw shortly after he sat down that he wasn't wearing a wedding ring, and since that is not always a given, i watched and listened for other indications of a wife at home. there were none, from either him, or his 11 year old son (we'll call him e) who if i'm being completely honest, had me wrapped around his little finger from about five minutes in.

what i expected to be a long and arduous wait was actually more like a really good first date. expect the unexpected, i suppose.

with the official begining at 5, we finally made it IN the store about 6pm and while neither of us were able to get EXACTLY the model we wanted, we came close enough that we were all pretty excited.

after i purchased mine, sight unseen, i wandered around the store and watched as others played with the demo models. and, while i was watching, e approached me and asked 'do you have a business card, or can we have your phone number?'

smooth, dad.

i gave him my number, and made my farewells. and, while i still find myself in the 'want to marry a mormon' camp, i also want him to call, so i can spend another few hours laughing and enjoying myself with a really cute guy. and his dad, too. ;)

if you've got the interest or patience, here is a video someone shot of the line i was in, and if you don't, there is a blurry screenshot of me and my new friend, below.

and, in case you're wondering, i'm pretty happy with the iPad 2, too! i sure have a lot of playing to do!