Let me begin by telling you all straight out, I realize I'm whining. I know this is pathetic and petty and I'm supposed to have a shred of journalistic integrity or something. I figure, if I can't whine in my own column, than what's the point? So if you're not in the mood for a rant, just 'peace out' sister brother mother friend. Go with my blessing because I've had a doozy of a day, and I'm about to unload.

Earlier this week I had an appointment to see my lady doctor. Thinking of myself like a family sedan, I decided that regularly scheduled tune-ups could go a long way to increase my longevity. It was a lovely thought. Unfortunately, when I arrived for my check-up, the secretary informed me she had been trying to reach me all day: 'Your physician called in sick.'

Today, on an old fashioned land-line, my mother said to me, 'Do you know anything about this texting thing?' Preparing for a spiritual retreat, she anticipated being out of contact for a few days and wondered if texting could bridge the distance.

Unsure what she meant by 'this texting thing,' I asked her to clarify. 'Are you talking about using your cell phone to send a text message?' The ludicrousness of my expert position was not lost on me. Years ago, I posed this same question to my cell phone savvy students. I'm sure they found my texting trouble as laughable as I now found my mother's naivete.

Summer is here, and with it comes great photo opportunities for family and friends. From vacations to just relaxing in the backyard, smartphones make it simple and easy to capture those memories you'll want to keep forever.

Taking great photos on any smartphone is easy if you follow these basic tips: