This Just Isn’t Natural

Well, that title applies to two things that occurred today in the Oklahoma City area.

Throughout most of my adult life, I’ve not really NEEDED a mobile phone. In fact, the main reason I have one is so Jo can get in touch with me. In the past, as long as it was a basic phone, I was happy with it as I didn’t really need much else. We have had the experience of what is commonly referred to as “butt-dialing” wherein one’s phone just dials out because a button was pushed in some way, even if it was in a pouch or pocket.

When folks went on and on about their smartphones, I simply smiled and carried on with a basic phone that I could dial myself, or on occasion when I forgot a family member’s phone number, I used the memory dialing.

Jo has been using a Blackberry so it will be compatible with the systems at work and she can get her work e-mail. However, she’s decided that she no longer needs the hassle of the Blackberry and wanted to go to a phone with the Android operating system. As such, we discussed the various apps and the fact that the Androids seem to have the most free ones.

In discussing those, I came to a realization. I suddenly decided that I actually had more interest in the apps than I did in a phone for phone purposes. So, a trip to Verizon was made today and Jo ordered the new Razor phone. In talking with the salesman, I brought up the occasional need for a map program and that I would really like to have a compass. Did the Androids have an app for a compass?

Now, who would believe that a compass app would sell a phone?

The other thing is one that is really ironic. I have spent a wee bit of time in California in my life, and most of my life has been in Oklahoma. Today, there have been some earthquakes here in the Oklahoma City area, with them being located roughly 45 miles east of the city itself.

Last night at roughly 2:00am to 2:30am, I was sitting on the commode when I felt the fifth wheel shaking. Since the wind was blowing pretty well, I decided that I probably needed to verify the condition of level with the coach and make sure the Level-Up cylinders were engaged enough to provide stability. (Hey, did you know there is a “level” app for a smartphone?)

I received an e-mail today asking me if I had felt the earthquake last night. I hadn’t even realized that it was, presuming it was the wind. I checked the news and sure enough; about that time last night there was an earthquake out East.

Well, this evening at roughly 10:53pm, there was another earthquake east of Oklahoma City. This one I definitely felt as it lasted for 20 to 30 seconds. (I’m only guessing on the amount of time, as I wasn’t looking at my watch.) It was actually long enough that I began to feel slightly nauseous from the shaking.

What is ironic about the whole thing is that with all the years I’ve lived in Oklahoma, I’ve now felt an earthquake of some magnitude, but I’ve never seen a tornado other than on television.

So, now where do I consider moving to in order to avoid natural disasters?