Death of a BlackBerry

I am NOT a happy camper today.

It's not because I opened the sports page this morning and found that the Houston Astros have one of the worst records in major leage baseball and still find themselves in last place in their division.

For a life-long Astros fan, that fact is a bit disturbing but not at all unexpected.

And it's not because my golf partner and I had a bit of a rough day on the golf course yesterday and lost a two-shot lead heading into the final day of our golf club's Member-Member tournament.

(We did, however, manage to play well enough over the two-day event to finish 2nd).

No, what ticks me off today is learning that the company I work for has decided to no longer support the BlackBerry Enterprise Server effective August 1 !

Now you have to understand that I LOVE my BlackBerry.

Yes, I realize that there is better and more advanced technology out there these days.

But I am a hopeless addict to my BlackBerry !

It is my phone; it is my calendar; it is my camera; it is the device that stores all the music I enjoy listening to.

Heck, it is the email device I use even more than my PC at work !

But, for monetary reasons, The University has decided to no longer support its platform on our network.

Sure, I will still be able to use my BlackBerry as a phone, or to send and receive text messages.

What I will lose is the ability to wirelessly synch my BlackBerry with my office computer for emails, calendar entries and contacts.

Which - for me - renders my BlackBerry totally useless !

So, sometime between now and August 1, I will be forced to choose another device such as an iPhone, a Windows-based device, or an Android.

What the heck is an Android???

I know my BlackBerry inside-out.

I completely understand every feature my BlackBerry is capable of.

I can text, email, and post pictures to my Facebook page in mere seconds.

My fingers fly across my BlackBerry keyboard faster than a speeding bullet !

I can synch it up with my car stereo and listen to all my favorite music.

I can surf the net.

Heck, I could probably surf the Pacific ocean while surfing the net !

Well, if I knew how to surf, I probably could ...

So, this old dog is going to have to do some research and determine which new device I will be forced to purchase -- AND learn how to use -- before August 1.

But I don't have to be happy about it.

RIP, dear BlackBerry.

You've been good to me !

Until next time...

Almost Summer !

Waking up in South Louisiana this morning to a temperature of 44 degrees, it's hard to believe that summer is almost here!

According to area weathermen, the 44 degree temperature was a record low for this day in the Baton Rouge area, breaking the previous mark of 51 set back in 1956 - the year of my birth.

Despite the cool temperatures, there are definite signs in my little world that summer is just around the corner.

For one thing, the sports season at LSU is nearly over with.  Baseball, softball, and track are the only sports still competing - and their respective post-season tournaments are either currently underway or will begin soon.

Geaux Tigers !

Another sign that spring is nearly over with is that Mother's Day has come and gone.  And though I did not get a chance to spend Mother's day with my Mom in Houston, I was fortunate enough to host a Mother's Day gathering at our home with My Better Half, my two daughters and their families (including all 6 grandkids)!

Prior to our Mother's Day gathering, I got the opportunity to watch two of my oldest grandson Randy's flag football games for the first time!

Randy is very quickly budding into quite the little athlete, and scored his (and his TEAM's) first touchdown of the season this past weekend.  He took a handoff from his quarterback and dashed about 30 yards untouched and into the endzone!

Randy also begins his first season of "Coaches Pitch" baseball this summer.  Two of our other grandkids - Kaleigh (softball) and Conner (first year of tee-ball) - have also begun their summer seasons!

Conner is our 5-year old grandson.  He officially begins his summer today, as he graduated from kindergarten yesterday!!

Yes, kindergarten classes actually hold graduation ceremonies, complete with shirts, ties, caps and gowns!

Hard to believe our little man, Conner, will be a first grader in the fall !!

It is certain that this little dose of cool weather will pass through south Louisiana in the next day or so and our hot, humid, summer-like days will return.

It is also certain that I can be found on the golf course very, very soon.  Look for me there !!

Until next time...