Minecraft Nether Region
Yesterday was “Sports Celebration” Holiday, so my Me Monday had to be shifted to Tuesday. I received a disturbing email from a dear friend who just purchased her microderm kit and evidently got too close to the eyes. Remember, this is nothing to mess around with. There is real power in that wand! Granted, new owners will be tempted to over-exfoliate but please, be careful. As I get older, I have grown to understand the purpose for pubic hair. For all you girls thinking “going bald-eagle” might be a good idea, trust me when I tell you, 20 years later plus a baby or 2, you don’t want to see what happens to your Nether Regions (That’s my homage to Minecraft). FYI, don’t try to microderm “down there” either. Just trust me on this. A friend told me…
So over the weekend, Chase had a friend over named Aaron. Very sweet boy from Germany who is in Chase’s class this year. They are so cute together.
Aaron & Chase at St Mary’s Sports Day
I don’t know why, but when Chase has a friend over, he turns into a different person. He turns into someone I want to medicate or bitch slap. I understand that he gets excited and desperately wants people to like him and be accepted, but what he doesn’t seem to realize is that no where in the definition for “Cool” is the word Spaz. I don’t like to humiliate Chase by chastising him in front of people, so before Aaron came over, we agreed on a safeword which when uttered would signify: Spaz Alert! You are acting mentally challenged! I am about to embarrass you! Our word was Narwhal. Why Narwhal? Because it isn’t a common word, and it’s something Chase just started saying a lot since camp. So now we are walking through Azabu Juban to have dinner at one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants (Aaron is vegetarian! Yay!). Well, just as I was saying Nar— Chase’s wildly gesticulating hand hits my hand and my iPhone hits the cobblestone. It’s one of those moments where it feels like even the birds have stopped chirping. Either I was in total shock, or my self-hypnosis is REALLY good, but I swear, I didn’t even raise my voice. I did shoot Chase some fiery eyes and he did cower and beg forgiveness.
Moment of silence please.
At first, I thought about just toughing it out and using it until we left (yes, it was still working). Then I heard about people cutting their faces while talking on their cracked phones and me without my epidermis already, I decided I must fix my screen.
Opt 1: APPLE STORE/SHIBUYA
You can go to the Apple Store in Shibuya which is supposedly less crowded than in Omotesando/Ginza. First you must go online and make an appointment for the Genius Bar or walk-in and expect to wait around for hours. I always hate going into ANY Apple Store because I feel so weirded out by all the techies and white polo shirts. At Apple Store, to replace a screen on iPhone 4 you should expect to pay 12,000 yen ($154.00).
Opt 2: DO IT YOURSELF
For $49.97 I found a website that provides a kit so you could technically replace a screen yourself. Before I went ahead and ordered it, I researched on YouTube the how-to instructions:
At some point, I heard the instructor say, “So 26 micro-screws later… you’re done!” I am a pretty confident girl, but that video just said to me, “You’re screwed.”
Opt 3: QUICK/SHIBUYA
The option I decided to take was the 3rd option to go to a “shop” called Quick Shibuya. A very pleasant lady at Tokyo American Club recommended I go there. Most of the recommendations from the Club tend to be very high-end establishments and I always assume it’s going to be expensive. The “shop” is very close to the Shibuya station and you start walking towards LABI Shibuya & Yamada Denki. It was a little confusing finding the “store” because it is in fact a night club. During the day hours, there is some Japanese guy (who luckily happened to be very cute) waiting in the lounge area with a bunch of tiny repair tools and a box of unbroken iPhone screens. I’m a sucker for good-looking people, so I signed a bunch of papers and handed over my phone (by the way, don’t forget to back up your phone before you go!).
ONE HOUR LATER…
Plus New case!
Even though the “store” was actually the inside of a nightclub, I got over it. Especially given there was no wait, and it only took 1 hour.
Total: 7800 yen = $100 priceless
Until next time…
Upcoming events:
- October 10th Potluck lunch at Nghi’s
- October 13th-15th Trip to Hiroshima & Miyajima
- October 17th Book Club for Shogun (only 1/2 through)
- October 24th-28th Trip to Korea!
