iLori

A couple of weeks ago, I upgraded my wireless pay-per-text plan to an unlimited one. Since then, some glitch in the system caused all of my texts to be sent as "slide show" messages, and thus virtually unreadable to half of my friends.

After a two-week text hiatus, I finally went to the AT&T store at lunch today, to see if they could fix it. But, once I learned I was eligible for an upgrade, I purchased the iPhone instead.

I've only had it for about three hours now but I am too obsessed with it to do any work. I'm so not a tech person, and could care less about most gadgets, but this? This is no gadget. This is salvation. Seriously, it blows my mind that, only four years ago, I was just figuring out how to text and getting DSL in my apartment; and now I have unlimited Internet capabilities on something that fits in my hand.

Perhaps most astoundingly, I have GPS navigation. Where was THAT when I moved here a few years ago? The concept of GPS had barely been invented then, let alone accessible to anyone for less than a few hundred dollars. Now, thanks to this, I'll never again have to rely on Mapquest printouts or my own questionable sense of direction.

I'd been wanting this phone for a while, and am, so far, so pleased with my decision. This will have to put a temporary cap on my spending, however. I just booked the 4-Day Machu Picchu tour within our Peru trip, and we still need to book our flights to Cusco and hotel rooms in Lima.

I did, fortunately, find a FABULOUS, free way to learn Spanish before I go. Thanks to Mazing Amy, who suggested checking iTunes for free podcasts. I came across Coffee Break Spanish, which has a library of 15-minute lessons, starting from the basic "hola" (Holla!) (Challah!) to more advanced conversation. What I find hilarious and truly entertaining, though, is that the instructors are from Scotland; so, apropos to my heritage, I am learning to speak Spanish with a sexy Scottish brogue.