and another thing about my phone

Sigh...texting. I get it. It's easy and quick and kind of fun but it's also taking over my life. Right now I have a text message package of 1,000 texts a month. That's about 30 text messages a day. This month I maxed that quota and racked up about $50 in international text charges from a friend in Prague. They are 15 cents each and don't come in the package (yes we txt a lot!). And that's the other thng. I am a writer and I pride myself on my extensive vocabulary, it actually pays my bills. But for some reason, I fnd mself figring out wys to gt the mssage acrss in half the wrds. Oy, it's so bad. I think I get about 5 phone calls a week, and about 200 texts. Are we all that busy that no one can pick up the phone anymore? OK, I too am guilty of sending a text before a phone call, but how impersonal have we all become? I guess I've always loved gab fests on the phone with my friends and siblings, and getting to actually talk to a guy on the phone to get to actually, you know, know him? But alas, we live in a world of 1,000-text-a-month packages for $10 which turns out to be about .01 cents a text..so in that case, keep 'em coming, I guess. Just don't make them international.

Crack kills

Lately I have become abnormally obsessed with my Blackberry. The old "crackberry" expression really holds true, for really real. Yesterday I found myself trying to figure out how long I've ever gone without peeking at the thing, and how I think my blood pressure might go up when I am away from it. Sometimes I think I see the message light indicator flashing but It's just a figment of my f'ing IMAGINATION! What gives? Other times I'll spot the crisscrossing arrow icons in the upper right hand corner flashing, which usually indicated an incoming text or email. I will sit and watch them, flashing as they point in opposite directions and wait for the red X to appear over the phone, email or text icon. I will even have dreams about this, where I see the red X appear and it reminds me of the Tetris-playing days of my youth when my dreams used to be filled with falling blocks stacking on top of each other. Isn't this an indication that humans aren't meant to stare at digital images all day? That they end up imbedding themselves in your brain to the point where you can't imagine anything that doesn't have some HTML code behind it? I guess this is an old story, people being addicted to their blackberries and yada yada, but truly, I now understand. And what is this all-important, life changing messages that raises my heart rate and excitement? Other 20% off coupon from Bed, Bath and Beyond? An invitation for a wine tasting with the Lincoln PArk Young Professionals? Another god awful press release for a media dinner in the suburbs? What? What is it that is SO important I must read it...immediately..and one must come through at least every minute for me to feel special. I tell ya..it's the good texts and emails that come when you least expect 'em..not when you're sitting, staring at unblinking red lights and waitin' for em. Geez..