I've had my current iPaq for a couple of years now.  It has served me well but its age and the miles are starting to seriously affect its usability.  I can't get OEM batteries anymore, the operating system is 2 versions back and I'm taxing the processor pretty heavily just when opening Contacts.  I had used my contract renewal with Cingular/AT&T to get Jeanette her current phone at a reduced price.  Because of this, I didn't think I was eligible to get the new iPhone 3GS as an upgrade.  But a run through an AT&T store not only assured me, but helped me to walk back out with a new iPhone 3GS (32GB model in black).

The previous week I had been using several very heavily.  My boss, his wife, and their daughter all upgraded to the new iPhone 3GS.  Being the resident techie, I configured their phones, synced them with their home PC and showed them how to use the features.  Based on that experience, and the lifted ban on selling turn-by-turn navigation (a required feature for me when I travel), I decided it was finally at the point that it could be my new phone.

And I'm not disappointed.  The speed is fantastic.  Never an hourglass or a pause.  Mobile Safari is great when compared to Pocket IE.  The quality and clarity of the screen can't be beat.

Because of the whole phone/carrier locking that AT&T does, I can't use it here in the Azores except over WiFi, so I still need to rely on my iPaq for cellphone calls.  But I don't use it nearly as much here in the islands as I do when I'm back in the States - so I can live with it.  Besides, we'll be back in 7 months so its a livable condition.

Well, my gap was much longer than Nixon's.  Its been pointed out to me that I've gotten way behind on my personal blogging.  I don't plan on creating separate entries to backfill the missing events so I'll just summarize 8 months in one paragraph.  :-)

Flew back to the States for a meeting in Orlando, FL.  Swung by to visit my dad and brother in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.  Spent Christmas in Marysville, PA.  New Years in Philadelphia, PA.  Two conferences: one in Denver, CO and one in Dallas, TX.  Got some work done on the Chevelle.  Flew back to the Azores after 2 months.  Flew back to the States in April.  Got some more work done on the Chevelle.  Managed to get it to move on its own power.  And stop too.  Check the Chevelle's website for the video.  Went to the premiere of the new Star Trek movie.  Saw it again the next day.  Flew back to the Azores.  Took the car ferry over to Terceira to do some work on the Saab at Lajes.  Forgot some key parts so didn't get much done.  Loaded up on commissary shopping.  Took the car ferry back.  Flew back to the States for a conference in Chicago, IL.  My dad happened to be there as well so we had dinner.  Flew back to the Azores.

Below is a diagram of my travels.  Lines do not represent actual flight paths taken.

Most people in the States celebrate Thanksgiving by watching football games, sitting around a big table with friends and family to have a Thanksgiving feast, and think about what shopping they'll do the next day on Black Friday.  We do things a little differently in the Azores.  Since it isn't a Portugese holiday, everything was open for business as usual yet most people are at work.  This leaves the tourist stuff wide open to us.  So we decided to go whale and dolphin watching.

It is very difficult to take photos of dolphins as they breach the surface of the water for only a few seconds before going back under.  You've gotta stay vigilant and have the shutter set to fast repeat.  After taking close to a hundred photos, only a handful are really worthy of keeping.

Spotters on shore saw a male sperm whale surface.  They radioed our boat captain and we tried to get to the spot in time to see him but missed.  Males are capable of diving for up to 2 hours and can change direction underwater without notice.  His initial dive had him heading west but his second surface was northeast so we were too far away to make it.  So unfortunately, we didn't get to see any whales but did get to see two species of dolphins: the bottlenose and the Atlantic Spotted.