Having an outdoor spa, or hot tub is quite a nice stress reliever especially if one has sore muscles or joints.  Then comes the realization that unlike a pool (which is more forgiving), maintaining proper chemical levels takes a large learning curve that many people have different opinions on. Bottom line, it sat most of the time unused for almost a year. Well, last weekend, after talking with a rep from the manufacturer, I decided to empty the tub and start all over (a chore that had its moments but, again it’s a learning curve). I have new chemicals, using a Frog pod for ease of maintaining proper levels and checking chlorine levels weekly. So, a week after filling it, my wife took the first dip and loved it. The next week, she persuaded me to come in and sit with her. I ran inside to get my phone (you know the tech needs to be nearby) and then I got distracted by something floating in my pool, so the phone went in my pocket, and I cleared the floating debris and off to the tub I went. It was relaxing until I leaned to my side and realized, feeling that unmistakable item was pressing against my side…OMG my phone. Well, five minutes under water in 102 degrees with jets running full blast will go through any phone regardless of its watertight rating. It seemed to turn on, so I thought I got away unscathed. I ran inside to rinse off the chlorine water and dried it off. An hour later, the phone would not turn on. I got a Ziploc bag of dry uncooked rice and even put a Damp-rid closet hanger (awesome product), folded it up and shoved it in the zip lock bag overnight. My ultimate mistake was removing my sim card holder to allow more air to enter (or moisture to exit) the open sim slot. The next morning, I was able to turn the pone on, but couldn’t get my sim card holder back into the slot all the way, so no calls or texts were coming though. So, off to the phone store who suggested I go across the street to a repair shop who thankfully suggested I have it opened and dried before permanent damage would occur since there was still water in the phone (as seen in the camera lenses that were foggy). What I didn’t realize was, a piece of dry rice got into that sim card slot and prevented me from completely inserting and closing the Sim chip holder.  Ultimately, the phone was dried, the rice removed, and it worked once again. I had a phone, nearly two days after that horrific event.

Here is why this was torture and a work stopper. Forgetting the obvious that I couldn’t make a calls or texts which is imperative in a mostly remote Sales Job. Even worse, I couldn’t authenticate my access to my computer for work. I couldn’t even get into my back up computer for my Gmail account as all my passwords were verified via texting to my phone. I was a fish out of water. So Shelly, here is my blog per your suggestion last week on my event. To all, try to have several back up ways to authenticate your access to your technology. Not having a phone socially is stress enough, not having it for work, it’s a deal breaker.