School custodian type at the Genius Bar...

A trip to the Apple Store today.

No, we don't need anything (although Joan's iPhone is getting a bit long in the tooth) - Dan's computer was having a battery issue, so we offered to get a Genius appointment at the Apple Store and do the running for him.

Getting an appointment can be done online - the earliest they had available was 3:15 pm.  We had some other running to do, so planned our activities to work around that appointment time.  They are very efficient at the Apple Store: they greet you when you come in; the first person you talk to fixes you up with a guy who confirms your appointment (we were a bit early), then gets you a "Genius" who diagnoses the issue.  He quickly confirmed it was a dead battery and an "over-ride" that was protecting the circuit.  He gave us two options: replace the battery (for $129 + tax), or he could just reset the over-ride and run the computer only when plugged in (free, but he didn't recommend that).

It was Dan's money, so we went with the new battery.  He told us it would take about two hours, but they'd call when it was ready.  One hour later, I got the call.  Go into the store, get greeted, set up with the person who will deliver the computer, give them the bucks, and you are good to go.  Fast, efficient, easy.

While waiting for the computer to be brought out, we saw another "Genius" helping a customer.  The person was having an issue with their iPhone... the Genius had all the different connection cords for every iPhone clipped to his belt on a carabiner.  He reminded me of another guy who can handle any situation: the school custodian, with all the keys strapped to his belt-loop.

Coming back home, we drove by the stadium where the SuperBowl will be this Sunday - MAJOR stuff set up in front of the stadium, including covered stages for concerts.  Yes, this is a big deal.  That will be as close as I will get to the SuperBowl, other than parking myself in front of Steph and Dan's big screen TV with a bunch of different SuperBowl snacks (we did go to Trader Joe's while waiting for the computer).  I don't have a particular connection to either team, but I do like the food Joan makes and the commercials.