I finally gave in to temptation and bought an iPod. I also have a subscription to audible.com (surprisingly affordable) — which came with a coupon for a hundred bucks off the iPod. From audible I can download a book a month for no additional charge.
This is a wonderful thing for people like me, for whom multitasking is the default state and anything else feels wrong. So far I’ve listened to Black House by Stephen King and Peter Straub (unabridged! 23 hours!) and The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson and Can You Keep a Secret by Sophie Kinsella — and I’ve got a considerable list of books I’ll be downloading as soon as they come out. I listen in the car, while walking, on the treadmill. I was a little nervous about such an expensive but small piece of machinery at first, but now I’m more comfortable using it, and the interface with my beloved mac is so painless, there was no learning curve at all.
I do love technology, I admit it. In our family, I’m the one who moons over big flat screen theater systems and tivo and home office machines that do everything but de-pip your orange juice. My husband is the voice of reason, which is good. Otherwise we’d be technologically untouchable, but broke.
Amen, sister. :) I’d much rather have electronic toys than diamonds. An IPod — I deeply envy you, as I’m currently lusting over a new laptop to replace the servicable but old and clunky current one. Another analogy: new laptop is like Victoria’s Secret red satin bra; old laptop is grotty used-to-be-white cotton sports bra.