This is one of those weeks where every idea I’ve had for possible posts went… somewhere. So, in a bit of a throwaway post, today’s topic of conversation is cell phones and how they can be personalized. I’ve probably got phones on my mind because Kenn’s phone began malfunctioning a week ago and much drama has ensued. (Even though he denies it, the drama gene is strong in Kenn’s family.) Fortunately, after a trip to the Verizon store, we were able to order a replacement under warranty. Now that the new phone has arrived and is configured, our drama levels have returned to normal.
I’m big on personalizing my stuff, phones included. Kenn has had an impact on my personalizations. Kenn’s home and lock screen have always been family photos whereas mine have been video game themed. I guess you could say that I started feeling a little guilty. Kenn always has a picture of me on his screen. Why did I not have one of him? So, a year or so ago, I changed things up. My lock screen is still video game themed, but my home screen now features Kenn. For a while it was a picture of both of us taken at a wedding, now it’s Kenn and Bear. So, here’s a peek into my world.
The Mass Effect video games are my comfort games; these are the games I go to when my heart hurts, or when I’m missing my virtual friends. (I played a lot of Mass Effect during the eighteen month period in which we lost our remaining three parents.) In Mass Effect, you play as Commander Shepard. I play as a female Shepard, whom I have named Sascha. Sascha’s chosen love interest is Garrus Vakarian. (Garrus is one of the best video game characters ever created in my opinion.) So, my phone’s lock screen is a screen shot of Sascha and Garrus.
The photo on my home screen was taken Christmas day 2024 after our celebrations ended and the kids and grandkids had moved onto other locations. Bear is a fairly social cat and had spent most of the day mingling. I couldn’t help but laugh at him though. Once everyone left, Bear climbed into the chair with Kenn, wedged himself in the corner, and went to sleep. Poor baby Bear was exhausted. Peopling is hard!
Of course, my ringtones are personalized. My default ringtone is my favorite happy, feel-good song: Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham! Kenn, however, gets his own ringtone: Still the One by Orleans. Text messages go back to a video game theme. Incoming texts are announced by Kelly Chambers from Mass Effect 2 saying “You have unread messages at your private terminal.”
How do you personalize your phone? Do you use family photos, pet photos, or something else? How about your ringtones? Do you choose one of the ones that comes with the phone or something a little more personal to you?
Linda Lou's Life 
Back when I was still working, I had personalized ring tones for my primary contacts. Somewhere along the way, it became easier to go with default!
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It’s sweet that Kenn personalizes his hone and ringtone with you and a love song (though also teen-angsty which makes sense when you mention the drama gene). Andy’s screen has rotating photos of our son, while I change mine to seasonal New Hampshire landscapes.
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Ooooh. I bet the New Hampshire landscapes are gorgeous. I was seriously impressed by the White Mountains.
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I love them so much I use them for screensavers on my giant monitor.
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I really use my flip phone to carry with me for emergency purposes as it’s more compact. I only bought a smartphone recently, mainly because I wanted internet on my phone for all the volatile weather we have. I don’t like staying on the laptop in severe weather, so now I can take the phone to the basement if need be. I don’t have any ringtones on my phone – no one calls me on this phone, nor the other cellphone as they generally use my landline.
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My smartphone is an extension of me. It’s my camera, and I do all of my reading in my Kindle app. I occasionally use it for texts and phone calls, too, LOL.
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I do not have a Kindle. I decided once I read all the hard copies of books I have on hand, a Kindle is the way to go. I’ve never used one, nor a tablet. Maybe a dinosaur?
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I don’t personalize my phone. I take whichever ringtones or pictures that come with it. I try to avoid my cell phone, truth be known. I don’t want to make it more inviting.
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Wow! I probably use my phone more than I do my laptop. My phone doubles as my camera and e-book reader and, occasionally, a phone.
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I use a desktop computer mostly [like now] and then if I have to a tablet. I dislike my laptop. And my phone… well if I must. Fascinating how we all use technology differently.
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I personalize the home screen with nature or abstract art scenes usually. Outer space or mountains are favorites. If there’s a lightning bolt in there, even better.
I used to personalize my ringtones, too. The “Curb Your Enthusiasm” theme and “Linus and Lucy” from Peanuts were longtime favorites. I may have hit a low point when I created a custom tone for my ex-wife (CeeLo Green’s “F@ck You”, but man, I was proud of myself for coming up with that one. She hasn’t called in years, so it’s no longer needed these days.
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I used to use Queen’s “Fat Bottomed Girls” as my youngest sons ringtone. He says he wants that song played at his funeral.
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The classics never go out of style!
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