Part 1
My husband (who works in educational technology and knows every cool computer thing there is):
You should really put your bookmarks in del.icio.us. Let me show you–
Me, interrupting: I’m fine with the regular bookmarks.
Him: But I could send you cool sites really easily--
Me, interrupting: Nah.
*****
Him: Can I show you how to use tabs on the browser? Then you wouldn’t have windows all over the place.
Me: Why? This is fine.
Him: I promise you that you’ll find tabs better than windows–
Me: Nah.
*****
Him: Let me show you Jott. You would love this. You speak a message into your cell phone and it transcribes it onto your email.
Me: I just like to write things down.
Him: Just try it.
Me: Nah.
*****
Him: I could show you some blogs that you would love.
Me: I’m really not interested in reading the online diaries of college students.
Him: That’s really not what blogging is all about. I promise you–let me just show you--
Me: I don’t have time for that.
*****
Him: I’ll help you set up a Bloglines account to keep track of those news sites you read that have RSS feeds if you want to.
Me: RSS feeds? What the hell are those? Ha, ha–look at me, the educational technology nerd! I love RSS feeds, and CSS scripts JBRLTY programs! Look at my pocket protector!
Him: I’m done with you.
Part 2
I got an email from a high school friend suggesting a few blogs that she found relating to motherhood. I immediately clicked on them. One was blue milk. It was absolutely unbelievable. I was in awe. I started a blog.
Now I can’t survive without blogs, browser tabs, Jott, and Bloglines. (At least I’m only mildly interested in my del.icio.us account. It wouldn’t do for my husband to be 100% right.)
I’m with you. “Blogs?” I said, “What’s the big deal?” I had a conversation earlier tonight with a friend who blogs, and we joked that we should cancel our “real” friendship and go fully virtual.
I know – I’m got addicted so fing quick, I can’t believe it and I wonder if it’s sustainable! Last week I was actually at a research meeting and said to the group, “There is a woman I know…” and then realized midstatement I was talking about someone whose blog I had been reading (not even one of my regulars!).
Also – Marjorie, speaking of techie things – is that a new avatar I see? Cool. I need to make one. Where/how did you make it? (Am I a tech-loser or what?)
Made a gravatar — testing on you, since you inspired me
Bummer – didn’t work (do you have gravatar enabled?)- sorry to have clogged your comments!
Mom,
You are totally not clogging my comments! Comments are so fun. Anyway, my husband (of course) made me my avatar–he likes playing with stuff like that. I will ask him how he did it and tell you. I don’t know what I’m enabling or when or how…. I will ask him that, too. Oh, I just realized you said “gravatar.” I don’t know if I know what that is–unless it’s just a fancy avatar?
Also, yes, I also got addicted so fast. I didn’t realize how much reading all of your blogs–all you blogging friends out there–would affect me. The loss of work friends and the effort to have conversations without children running around had taken a way worse toll on my psyche than I had realized. This fills a major void and has changed my life for the better. Even if my own blogging does burn itself out in the future (it’s only been two months, so who knows where I’ll be in a year with it), I can’t imagine not reading all of these wonderful blogs out there forever.
And I refer to my blogging friends the same way–just as friends or someone I know–it isn’t worth it to explain it to someone who would need the explanation, y’know? (Yet another thing I used to make fun of my computer-y husband for was the friends he had through his own blog, which is about educational technology. It was just too easy–but I don’t make fun anymore. I get it now.)
can I borrow your husband?
I just figured out what an avatar is and I don’t know how to “stumble it” or make it “de.lic.ious” and neither does my husband!
Maybe my 3 year old can help.
Sounds much like my technological learning curve. Frustrating
This is hilarious. You and your husband should go on tour.
BTW I’m the friend subarctic mama was talking to. We have some of the same friends online and in person.
Aw how to make me feel fantastic! Thanks.
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