While I have admitted recently that I have a love/hate relationship with technology, I also still want stuff. As promised, here is a list, in no particular order, of the material things I am craving:
1. Portable DVD players for the car. I never imagined that I would want to be in one of those minivans with movies playing in the back on the highway. (Yes, I said minivan, but that is another story.) I find it distracting to drive past a DVD player in another car, as I am always trying to figure out what they are watching. It’s a terrible hazard. But so is a screaming child, and while Henry doesn't really ever scream, it is a truth universally acknowledged that an entertained Henry is far more fun than a bored and cranky Henry. Oh, and we can’t handle listening to the Alphabet CD on repeat for 3 hours. Ever. Again.
2. iPhone. I want to be able to take pictures, post to the blog, update on Facebook and Twitter, make calls, text, email, AND shoot video – all on the fly. I have said before, and I will say it again: I don’t like the phone. It’s true! But the iPhone can do oh so many things. And honestly, I need something to do while I am nursing Toby. And I need a device designed for one hand to do it because the laptop is unwieldy. I know this practically negates everything I said here, but really, I do need an iPhone to make it all a little easier. Right?
3. A fancy schmancy washer/dryer. Kelly Ripa has convinced me. I’m sorry, but being able to wash and dry a load of clothes in like 35 minutes is amazing. You know it is. Quiet machines - oh, heaven. Saving energy and water to boot? Please. No brainer. Gotta have it.
4. A laser printer for the house. I want the cheapest, simplest thing around. I need to be able to print forms from time to time. Or recipes. Or letters. Paperwork generally. I actually do a great deal of paperwork (it’s weird), and it would improve my mood tremendously to just be able to DO it. I guess we do have an ink jet someplace we could get back in action, but laser is so much easier. And I never need to print in color anymore, so cheapo laser is perfection.
5. A king-sized bed. Toby likes to nurse and sleep with us. I think Henry may want to come hang in bed with us sometimes now. All this action in the queen is just not working so well. Those extra inches would improve my nights oh so much… Oh king bed, come to me!
Of course, these are the individual, accessible things I crave. I also want a new kitchen, new windows, a new roof, and a new color for the house (among our other home projects on the waiting list), but even just the list above makes me feel a little creepy when I write it down, so I will just stop now...
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Technobabble.
As I have said before, my relationship with technology is complex. There are machines I can't live without, and there are gadgets I frankly lust over. And I watch TV (and I like it). And I did, after all that bitching, join Facebook. I admit I even sort of like it a little bit (bastards).
All of it has me thinking about how different life would be without all the gadgets, all the media, all the information and communication. In the past several weeks, I have written what could be a short book on the topic, but lack the technology to transcribe my thoughts as I am falling asleep. (Aside: This is probably a good thing. No one needs to read all the crap I think as I am falling asleep. Not even me.)
Ironically, a mama friend just announced that for the next week she is on a media "fast." I like the idea, and also get completely freaked out by it. No internet, no news, nothing for a whole week?!? She is braver than I. Honestly, I have no idea how we used to basically cut ourselves off from the world when we went to the Bahamas for months at a time when I was small.
But this is sort of emblematic of my love/hate relationship with technology. One the one hand, there are devices that make things infinitely easier in a day. And honestly, while I don't have the time to hang out on Facebook because I have a two year old and a three month old at home right now, just getting connected with people I have not seen in years is (how I loathe to say it) fun. It's great for making playdates, and even for starting new mama friendships.
And then there is the other hand.
I end up spending way too much time with technology - in front of the TV, in front of the computer, driving places to hang out in air conditioning, at the grocery store... There is a part of me that really tries to make time for things like knitting and reading, but with limited relaxation time, TV usually wins. Even if it's just the news, or shows to occupy Henry while I nurse Toby, the TV is on way too much in our house. And so are computers. And cell phones.
I would love to get back to super-basics, and learn to make everything from scratch so we are eating close to the earth, and locally as much as possible. Since Toby's allergic to soy and dairy, I can eat very few processed things right now, and it's making me realize how much processed crap I give Henry - even though I really very actively try to give him foods that are not processed. When I think about how much time I would need to pick up to, say, make my own jams and jellies, bake my own bread, make my own yogurt and rice milk, etc., I realize just how much of my day I lose to technology. The trade off for getting the time to sit and read the New York Times online (headlines only for me these days, but still) and watch my trashy TV for a couple of hours in the evening is losing those hours for everything else. Getting to keep up with all my friends from college on Facebook may mean I am losing hours of face time with new friends in my community, and that's kind of sad, huh?
I have no real answers here, and don't think I could even last one week without all my gadgets. In fact, I have a great big list of new stuff I would love to have because it would definitely make my life easier (I will be sharing it in the next few days so you can see how my gears are turning). I'm OK with wanting stuff, and some of the trade-offs that happen. But, I am going to work on cutting back and making the balance skew a bit more toward face time, basics, and creating love for those things in the boys. Let's hang out sometime.
All of it has me thinking about how different life would be without all the gadgets, all the media, all the information and communication. In the past several weeks, I have written what could be a short book on the topic, but lack the technology to transcribe my thoughts as I am falling asleep. (Aside: This is probably a good thing. No one needs to read all the crap I think as I am falling asleep. Not even me.)
Ironically, a mama friend just announced that for the next week she is on a media "fast." I like the idea, and also get completely freaked out by it. No internet, no news, nothing for a whole week?!? She is braver than I. Honestly, I have no idea how we used to basically cut ourselves off from the world when we went to the Bahamas for months at a time when I was small.
But this is sort of emblematic of my love/hate relationship with technology. One the one hand, there are devices that make things infinitely easier in a day. And honestly, while I don't have the time to hang out on Facebook because I have a two year old and a three month old at home right now, just getting connected with people I have not seen in years is (how I loathe to say it) fun. It's great for making playdates, and even for starting new mama friendships.
And then there is the other hand.
I end up spending way too much time with technology - in front of the TV, in front of the computer, driving places to hang out in air conditioning, at the grocery store... There is a part of me that really tries to make time for things like knitting and reading, but with limited relaxation time, TV usually wins. Even if it's just the news, or shows to occupy Henry while I nurse Toby, the TV is on way too much in our house. And so are computers. And cell phones.
I would love to get back to super-basics, and learn to make everything from scratch so we are eating close to the earth, and locally as much as possible. Since Toby's allergic to soy and dairy, I can eat very few processed things right now, and it's making me realize how much processed crap I give Henry - even though I really very actively try to give him foods that are not processed. When I think about how much time I would need to pick up to, say, make my own jams and jellies, bake my own bread, make my own yogurt and rice milk, etc., I realize just how much of my day I lose to technology. The trade off for getting the time to sit and read the New York Times online (headlines only for me these days, but still) and watch my trashy TV for a couple of hours in the evening is losing those hours for everything else. Getting to keep up with all my friends from college on Facebook may mean I am losing hours of face time with new friends in my community, and that's kind of sad, huh?
I have no real answers here, and don't think I could even last one week without all my gadgets. In fact, I have a great big list of new stuff I would love to have because it would definitely make my life easier (I will be sharing it in the next few days so you can see how my gears are turning). I'm OK with wanting stuff, and some of the trade-offs that happen. But, I am going to work on cutting back and making the balance skew a bit more toward face time, basics, and creating love for those things in the boys. Let's hang out sometime.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Liars.
Anyone who tells you that the first baby is the hardest and that from one to two is easy has one of three things going on:
1. Has a penis. What I mean to say is that while fabulous, papas who can't breastfeed just can't grasp what it's like to juggle a toddler and a baby who is attached to your boob. Period. Ignore them on these issues.
2. A gap of five or more years between kids and/or the conversation and the birth of their second child. Time makes exhaustion fade from memory, and a kid five or older can help out, or at least not be trying to destroy the house and him/herself at least 50% of the time while awake.
I should note that managing even the most unruly toddler is a breeze when unencumbered by a newborn that requires about 90% of your attention and energy. It's also far easier to manage anything when you've had some uniterrupted sleep, or have the prospect of it surely ahead of you.
3. A housekeeper, personal assistant, and chef. Even I would agree that it was easy if my laundry, cleaning, paperwork, and cooking were under control without my energy. But even then, two is harder than one.
1. Has a penis. What I mean to say is that while fabulous, papas who can't breastfeed just can't grasp what it's like to juggle a toddler and a baby who is attached to your boob. Period. Ignore them on these issues.
2. A gap of five or more years between kids and/or the conversation and the birth of their second child. Time makes exhaustion fade from memory, and a kid five or older can help out, or at least not be trying to destroy the house and him/herself at least 50% of the time while awake.
I should note that managing even the most unruly toddler is a breeze when unencumbered by a newborn that requires about 90% of your attention and energy. It's also far easier to manage anything when you've had some uniterrupted sleep, or have the prospect of it surely ahead of you.
3. A housekeeper, personal assistant, and chef. Even I would agree that it was easy if my laundry, cleaning, paperwork, and cooking were under control without my energy. But even then, two is harder than one.
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