Healing 2.0...

 Netflix and Pandora have to be two of my favorite apps ever. Hear the music that you are interested as you set up your own stations and then get movies and TV shows streamed live to your TV, iPad, iPhone, etc. They are amazing. Pandora is free and Netflix is a small amount to pay for access to great TV series and movies. I have renewed interest in old artists that I once forgot about and TV shows that I never had the chance to watch. I love to see what is coming down the "stream". I am not sure that I would have been able to keep my sanity while I recuperated from surgery if it wasn't for the series Damages totally distracting me. Sometimes the streaming is interrupted and it says rebuffering....it reminds me that I too am rebuffering, healing 2.0 style.

Jing to the Rescue!

Finding a natural fit for a Web 2.0 tool is a wonderful thing. I was making some long term sub plans and I   thought if only I could explain it to them and walk them through it. Well, Jing was the answer. I was able to make a Screencast and walk my kids through what I needed to. Tech was able to give me the full effect. I would give Jing a try if you haven't used it. 

https://encrypted-tbn0.google.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSrc2nodKEwPX5-2JOVUSB-GbJLO4div4fqsr1mEnv41apQcTbjgg

Image from: http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/dcr0001l.jpg   May 20, 2012

Last night, I enjoyed a meal with my wife and some good friends. We were sitting outside eating and one of our friends said, "Thanks for not pulling out your cell phone during dinner. It really is refreshing." We looked around and there were people that were out on a beautiful night with special people in their lives and seemed more interested in the latest tweet, text, or sports score. There is a time and a place for tech and I am glad that we took the time to enjoy the place we were in and the people that were with us and not in cyberspace.

Today was a day when I was glad for technology. My new best friend is the lady on the GPS giving me turn by turn directions. I did amaze myself today when I had the directions being read to me, "turn here in 200 yds," and I missed the turn. Luckily, my GPS knew that I was a little flighty and started thinking of an alternative plan. Thank goodness one of us is tuned in.

I remember the days when I didn't have an answering machine. If the phone rang it kept ringing unless someone was there to answer it. I wasn't constantly accessible like I am today. I miss those days. Now when someone calls me they try me on my home phone, my cell phone, text me, email me, and pretty soon they may send a tweet out for me. Should I really say on my message that I can't get to the phone right now or should I say, "I am currently taking a tech break. Please leave a message at the beep."

Stolen Moments

There's a "nap" for that

I remember hearing the phrase, "stolen moments" when I was growing up. I knew these as little pockets of time that we were somehow lucky to have and fill with special moments. Most of these involved reconnecting with myself, nature, or loved ones. Yet, now I have found that I have sometimes let these moments be stolen by technology. Perhaps I can find a better balance and let the two exist together. I shall steal these moments back again. There's a "nap" for that isn't there?