My oldest daughter after much contemplation, thinking, and saying how bad her iPhone is ultimately decided to ask for a new phone for Christmas. This all culminated on Black Friday with some really good deals and the typical game of three card monte at the Verizon store to deal with their wicked plans. Now was the perfect time to put her in her own plan, her own data and more importantly have service in her name. She opted for a Galaxy S5 and seems really happy with it. It is the best thing ever, so she says.

You ask about why my PaD is titled "AOL" and what does that have to do with Verizon, phone contracts or her leaving our digital nest? AOL means Assumption of Liability dear friends. AOL means it's her bill now. AOL means I just shaved off 5 gig of monthly data off my plans and when I added up the savings on data I can cut our family bill almost in half. AOL means she's closer to a car payment, rent or a electric bill on her dime. AOL is a right of passage to leaving teenage years of carefree and now having to worry about owing and paying bill($) monthly. About the only thing I'll miss is the shock and awe each month when I look at the amount of text a single human being can generate over a single billing period or try to wrap logic around how many cat videos or pandora songs take up 5 gig of data? It's mind-boggling.

I love my kid, and honestly I am mildly saddened that she left the Apple iPhone platform for a Galaxy and now we can't iMessage anymore but cutting the cord on her phone soothed all that doubt and angst. Merry early Christmas Kayla, welcome to the world phone contracts and data plans.It's the gift that keeps on giving!