My friends and family informed me that I have a problem.  They were careful, though, as they broached the subject in an intervention.  "Please, Lori, just listen to us.  You have to put the iPhone down.  You have to stop taking random (and unfair) pictures of us at all hours of the day and night." 

Ok, I have to admit that I've become stealth-like in my iPhone finesse.  I can just stand there, looking like anyone waiting to pay for a diet Dr. Pepper, then "click," and your face is forever emblazoned with that bear claw sticking out of it. 

Recently, when I joined Bally Uptown, the staff wanted to <gulp> take it away from me and I tried to explain, "Clearly, you have not seen the iPhone before.  Let me show you..."  They were so unimpressed.  I laughed it off.  I mean, seriously.  Fitness types?  Really.  They think you're ruining your life over everything fun.

For safety reasons, I have a method I use in the car.  I plug it into the charger, turn it on, set it to camera, then I don't even have to look at it to use it for pictures while I'm driving.  See a misspelled sign?  "Click."  A guy stealing beer from the 7-11?  "Click."  Seriously, nothing is off limits.  I've even offered my help to the police.  They need me and my mad camera skills.

Unfortunately, my obsession creates way more action shots than I can actually use.  I've got pictures of the dogs in every imaginable expression (to their credit, they were present for the intervention), squirrels, lizards, neighbors, suspicious cars, and city workers not working.  I've also accumulated a massive file of photos I'll call "interesting."  There are a few from the 7-11 where I buy my diet Dr. Pepper of an elderly man urinating on my car when I returned to the parking lot.  (See?  Who wouldn't want to have a camera ready at a time like that?  If you're reading this, Gramps, I CAN identify you in a line-up.)  Then there are several from the car wash (the tricolor foam wash is FAR OUT and makes great abstract expression shots).  Then, those wet, red-white-and-blue rubber streamers that beat the foam off of the car make an excellent portrayal of "Car Wash:  The American Dream."  Questioning.  Silent.  Frozen forever in an iPhone quick-shot.

I do use it for legitimate purposes, too.   I guess.  Well, what are those, exactly? 

I have agreed to stop walking in on my friends and family with no warning.  I agree never to post embarrassing pictures of people I know.  I agree I will not carry it for short walks, and snap through dinner parties.  But if you urinate on my car, or steal all of the diet Dr. Pepper at the 7-11, or drive like Britney, you are fair game.