Yes, you have surmised correctly, Dear Reader. Your New Favorite Writer is almost a day late on his regular post to this blog site. The lame excuse is: My new smart phone came.
I have spent the past twenty-four hours alternately scratching my head and poking the darned thing’s face with my finger.
You will recall that I really didn’t want to get involved with this. But we’re in it now, up to our boot tops.
I took my friend Rob’s advice and switched carriers. So now my monthly rate has only increased to fourteen dollars. That’s all right.
I bought a low-end smart phone outright for $119.95.
Just getting it set up and working was a bit of a trial. I honestly don’t think I could have done it by myself, without my smart-enabled wife’s extra smart help.
Excuse me, please, Gentle Reader. I’ve got to go figure out how to send a text.
Blessings,
Larry F. Sommers, Your New Favorite Writer

Author of Price of Passage—A Tale of Immigration and Liberation.
Price of Passage
Norwegian Farmers and Fugitive Slaves in Pre-Civil War Illinois
(History is not what you thought!)
I feel your pain. I’m dreading the Windows 11 upgrade. Could be years before my next blog. Good luck!
Thanks, Tracey!
Thanks for the shout-out, Larry, and welcome to Spectrum Mobile. You did what I did a year and a half ago: buy a modestly priced phone outright. It’s a chunk of money right off the bat, but it leaves you entirely free to switch carriers if you’re less than satisfied for whatever reason. I’m not a huge fan of paying for the phone in 24-30 monthly installments.
Thanks for the tip, Rob.