Yesterday, I took my first trip to an Apple Store Genius Bar.
Seems that my iPod completely froze while trying to download music from my Dad's old computer via USB. I realized that the poor thing had frozen in mid blink and I had this sinking feeling in my gut. I unplugged the iPod eventually and just held it, pushing some part of the click wheel every now and then to no avail.
Because we were at my Mom's, we were about 20 minutes from the Apple Store at Tyson's Corner, Virginia. I informed The Lady that on the way back to Scottsville, we needed to swing by Tyson's in order to ascertain whether I was now the proud owner of a $300.00 paperweight. The Lady was none too pleased at the prospect of finding that out, but realized that heading to the Apple Store was probably the best thing to do under these circumstances.
So, we headed off.
Tyson's Corner was a complete madhouse. I was able to park mostly due to sheer luck. The Lady and I were getting a little snappy at each other at this point, but after snagging a space and walking about a mile to the Mall (I exaggerate, but not by much...), we were doing better, but I was still pretty tense about how the iPod's prognosis would turn out.
We went straight to the Apple Store, which was jammed. We went to the Genius Bar and after a few minutes figured out that we needed to go to one of the Store's computer displays in order to make a reservation at the Bar.
I looked around. Not too many displays were free. I spotted a couple of computers across the store, and The Lady and I headed over there. One of them was obviously sick. The other was fine, but I had to close out about 10 programs to get to the desktop where the Genius Bar icon was. I made the reservation. It would be an hour before they could get around to me.
The Lady and I did a smart thing, though. We hung out near the bar. It quickly became apparent that a lot of reservations had decided to split, and we moved on up in the grand order of things.
Eventually, my name was called and I jumped up to the Bar. Literally.
The guy was pretty young, unshaven and wearing a black t-shirt and cap like everybody else at the Bar.
"What seems to be the problem today, sir?"
"Well, I've got a sick iPod."
I explained what had happened while he took my iPod from me. He was checking a screen in front of him for a bit making "hmm" noises. Then he looked up at me and proceeded to tell me what had happened to my iPod.
"...and that's why it froze. Except it isn't frozen anymore."
"Wha?"
He hands my my iPod, obviously in operation now. My heart soared! He asked me if I knew how to reboot my iPod. Hell, I didn't know you could, I answer. He then proceeded to show me what I now call the Pai Mei Two Fingered iPod Resurrection Method. It seemed to be nothing short of miraculous at that time. The fact that I did not own a $300.00 paperweight left me, and The Lady, quite elated.
I thanked the young man, silently thanking Jobs for His foresight in coming up with the Genius Bar as well as the Apple Store. I made my ablutions by purchasing a new hard case in which to store my holy object.
The Lady and I left and headed off to Chipotle, smiles on our faces.
Huzzah!
