My New Toy: HTC Aria vs. iPhone 4, Rd. 2

For the last couple of months, I was going back and forth about which new smartphone I was going to purchase. In one corner was the iPhone 4 and in the other, AT&T's mid-range Android phone the HTC Aria.

I've owned the first-generation iPhone for three years, so I was originally going to go with the newest version, but I was so smitten by the Aria that it was no longer a no-brainer. I did tons of research, played with models in the AT&T store, and obsessed on the decision for weeks.

Last week I finally went with the Aria. The first couple of days with the phone were frustrating because I was trying to figure out the new Android OS, but the Aria has slowly been growing on me. Unfortunately, I'm still not 100% sold.

I still have a few more weeks to test out the Aria, or I can exchange it for the iPhone 4 with the promotional price. Right now, my inclination is to go back to Apple so I can have a phone I'm familiar with, but I don't want to short-change the Aria either. Plus, I know that I haven't used my HTC device to its full potential. Maybe I should have waited a little bit longer...ah well.

My Kitchen Redux: Episode II - Revenge of the Wisk

The month of May was spent trying out a new hobby that I've been meaning to pick up: cooking. For a few weeks there, I was actually doing OK when it came to cooking my own meals. While I wasn't Tyler Florence by the end of the month, I did make some eatable dishes.

Then everything went to Hell in a handbasket once June hit. I went two whole months with little to no cooking. There were a few times I made some Hamburger Helper, but I don't think that really qualifies as cooking. I just ran out of steam and motivation, and once again got caught up in the convenience of dining or carrying out.

As August begins (or has just begun), once again I'm making it my goal to cook more often. I've actually been saving some recipes I've found online, so at least now I have some go-tos at my disposal, which will make it easier to decide what's for dinner.

I actually liked cooking for myself, and I do want to make it a habit, but it's so easy to drive by Panda Express to pick up some orange chicken...and it's so tasty. OK, enough of that. I'm serious this time.