Me and my KIN...

Damn. It's over already? No more Verizon KIN? Allow me to be brutally honest.

Yes, I did. I bought one of the things, and for the first thirty days it was pretty cool. Once the trial period ended, it dawned on me that I was stuck with an Edsel. Sure, it'd be cool for collector's value down the road about forty years, but the there and then saw me lamenting my decision. I tried to comfort myself by saying the camera was okay, but had issues holding the thing steady unless it was flipped open to reveal the keypad. "The Spot" was a cool idea, but connectivity was usually an issue. Coffee cups have almost been hurled over trying to upload pictures. Yes, it was possible to do the same from the handy website KIN users were presented with....

.....when it worked.

So imagine my delight at receiving word that the KIN was going away, and that I had until 31 January to get my pictures, videos, and contacts. That was two weeks ago. I was JUST able to get my stuff over the weekend, and doing so all but involved ritual robes, chanting, and the burning of a goat in effigy.

Never, ever have I been so glad to be somewhat inconvenienced. This isn't a total schmuck move on the part of Verizon - I have until 31 March to jot in and pick out a free 3G smart phone to replace the dumb one I regrettably chose. The headache of having to deal with the clunky KIN website those last few times completely negates the humiliation of going to turn in the KIN phone. I can hear it now:

"Hi, I have a KIN and I need to get my replacement."

- - laughter - -

"No, really. Here it is."

- - laughter, which stops the moment I present the thing - -

- - curious stares, as a crowd gathers to see the phone and the person who actually got one - -

- - more laughter - -

"Can I just get my new phone and go? Please? If you don't stop all this I'll turn my fun-loving husband loose and he's tanked up on Monster drinks and Taco Bell."

- - cooperation as crowd hastily clears - -

(You should have known I would plan ahead, baby!)

So, yes, I'm prepared for what I might have to endure, but the final round of dealing with the bogged-downedness of KIN experience has me not minding it at all. It'll be over and done with. I'll have a better phone. It will be over before I know it.

I have a feeling getting rid of this phone is going to be kind of like getting my braces off when I was thirteen.