The i-Visa?

Wow, December 15th... do you have any idea how much has happened since then? Of course you don't, because I've been a terrible blogger. I should be blog-flogged.

The short version includes:

• 2 trips to Orlando (Mom's b-day and Madison's b-day)
• a romantic Mexican getaway for Steve and I (meaning that Steve and I went to Playa del Carmen without the kids, not that he initiated some heavy petting over a bean burrito at Taco Loco),
• 2 separate colds/bronchitis/sinus infections
• decided to take on Cyclefest again (pray for me)
• Madison's first confession (which better have included "I keep wearing makeup to school even though my mom threatened that the next time I do SHE will apply it, Amy Winehouse-style")
• Allison takes first in all divisions at her cheerleading competition
• saw Legally Blonde the Musical (again), Scorched (Philadelphia), a Brady Bunch Murder Mystery (dinner theater), and a few mildly amusing live comedians
• got a puppy (that's not a typo)
• 
• had to take puppy to ER vet where she needed surgery for a hernia
• realized that I only had 2 more months before my next AVON walk for breast cancer, correlated that to how out of shape I am, and almost faked a mysterious paralysis to get out of it.

So, that brings us to this week and I finally got out there and WALKED. I did it, people... I put one foot in front of the other and walked like it was nobody's business, arms swinging -- I may have even hummed. Even though I resisted at first, once I was out there I felt great. I felt the sheer joy of an amputee who has just been handed a pair of carbon-fiber prosthetic legs by Oprah.

Ah, it was glorious. I opted to forgo the iPod on this trip and just take in my surroundings. I noticed so many things that have eluded me all these years in New Hope. I found new restaurants, shops and a Dunkin Donuts that wasn't even there the last time I walked. And at 6 for $3, it's a good thing I left my money at home.

And that got me to thinking... how cool would it be to be able to pay for things with your phone? I rarely carry money with me when I'm out for a walk. I feel like the purpose of the walk is to get exercise and be healthy, and the C'est la Vie bakery I'm forced to pass on one of my more enjoyable routes is irresistible. I get near it, and the long, curling fingers of fragrant croissant steam wagging at me, beckoning for me to enter are too easy to follow if I've just shoved a wad of singles in my pocket on the way out the door.

However, I did pass a sidewalk sale and saw the cutest little pair of sandals that were just begging to come live in my closet. And that's when it dawned on me -- 'there should be an app for that.' Someone at Apple needs to get her thinking cap on and come up with a way to be able to use your phone as a credit card or ATM card (Introducing the "iTM").

I pull up the app, enter a secret password, then show it to the sales person. They, in turn, punch my CC # into the register along with, let's say, some randomly generated code, and *be-bap-boop-be-ba-beee*, it's called in and approved. What could be more convenient?

Anyone know a good programmer? And does anyone else know how to get me credit for this spectacular idea?