Ah, so I do believe I have an addiction. At first I was like, I don't need an iPhone, I'll just wait until March 27th when my 2 year contract is up and I can get another iPhone for $200 less than retail. So in the meantime I got this Samsung Go Phone. I shouldn't have done that. It was like going cold turkey. At first I was like, I can handle this, no problem. Hey my car was stolen, this is nothing. I believe it took 2 days for me to start wanting to surf the net and check my email whereever I was. Then came the workday. I always listen to music while I program, it makes me a happy programmer. So this week all of a sudden a quietness could be heard. I couldn't concentrate. I desired, I needed entertainment. All because I realized how truly boring my job was without it.

Then when I went in line to get my prescriptions, which can take 25 minutes I was sitting there wanting, needing, something to do. It felt like pangs, like I wanted to avoid boredom at any cost. I am not used to being bored at all. It was kind of like when I quit smoking 6 years ago. I could feel the desires, the craving for instant access. I needed to text, surf, listen to music, watch tv, watch movies, play games, record notes, and even surf the Bible. And there I was with this stupid Go phone. It didn't have Gmail. I tried frantically to have my email forwarded to text me. At least the Go phone can text. But alas, 160 characters does not an email make. As my frustration mounted I really wanted to take it out on my cheap phone. I wanted to get mad and smash it on the concrete. I think it would be cathartic.

Last night at Best Buy I looked and looked for a cheap substitute for under $75. The problem, there is no connectivity. I might get a good mp3 player, but no way to surf, text or check email. Finally I thought I had found some kind of $50 email, music, pre-pay phone from t-mobile. Then I read the fine print - works when activated for $50 for 1 month. So I put it down. By now I am jonesing for something, but I restrain myself, just like I did when I quit smoking. However, I already know an easy cure for this iPhone addiction. An iPhone. Why fight it? Luckily this morning I get a welcome surprise from Best Buy - $115 in gift certs. I went to it at lunch and got an iPod touch for only $75. Of course, connectivity is missing unless I am in a wifi hotspot, but it has apps and music and notes and movies and can play games just like an iPhone. I think I have found my pacifier.

And then this afternoon a miracle happened. I have taken the sullen remains of my iPhone to work with me and left it in my desk. I thought, hmm, maybe if I plug it in and turn it on, maybe it will work. Guess what? It did! Of course the screen is blotchy with water stain, but I can't believe it still works. The phone is dead on it, but the music is still there. I am listening to it right now. Ahhhh, finally I get entertained. I will keep the touch for our living room at home to control the house. It is a good home automation control panel and can watch the cameras. There is use for this after I get an activated iPhone. See I realize something. You can take my car, but for goodness sakes, don't take my iPhone.