I was going to say...
First I was going to write about NEFFA, then it was our new living situation (with Ben's sister, Ben's other sister and her partner and soon to be their new baby) or the nice place we found to rent in Ithaca, or back up and even write about the fact that we're moving to Ithaca. Then I was going to write about the strange people that come into the store (still, remind me some time. Ask me about the rock-paper-scissors lady, and the man who hates Einstein so much he was punching our counter, or the proselytizing atheist - no really, he pisses off even the people who agree with him because he's so...preachy) But no, this entry is going to be about the half-year of minimal internet and technology we've had.
I might think that I would say something romantic about how we live in the real world in all its physical, non-computer-display glory. There are many new-fangled conveniences about which I am dubious. Like automatic transmission on cars. I don't hold with that. :P But life without internet or a computer just sucks. I have now tried it, and I don't like it. I need my instant information. I need my e-mail.
First there's the "peer pressure" aspect where EVERYTHING expects you to have constant e-mail access and people e-mail you about things that require immediate action. This is frustrating. Also the keeping touch with people. I get to read lj or facebook once in a while and find out things like people are getting married, or having family problems or moving to new jersey or texas (as everyone knows, these are the states that eat people...) And it's weird.
Second there's the "paperwork" which is now all done electronically. So without internet at home I end up filling out all my grad school enrollment forms at work (kind of sleazy) and at the very last minute.
Lastly, there's just the part where I just have become accustomed to constant news. If I wake up at three in the morning wondering what the names of all the quarks are, I want to be able to know DAMMIT! Not wait until the town library opens at 9:30! 9:30 is TOO LATE. (Also, some of you may have noticed that this is a wretched example of something to wake me up not knowing. If I actually woke up wondering this, I would roll over and shake a groggy physics boy and poke him mercilessly until he recited quarks. But something. Wondering, um, how many declension Gothic had.) I have no patience. I am of the internet generation. And there's just no going back.
I might think that I would say something romantic about how we live in the real world in all its physical, non-computer-display glory. There are many new-fangled conveniences about which I am dubious. Like automatic transmission on cars. I don't hold with that. :P But life without internet or a computer just sucks. I have now tried it, and I don't like it. I need my instant information. I need my e-mail.
First there's the "peer pressure" aspect where EVERYTHING expects you to have constant e-mail access and people e-mail you about things that require immediate action. This is frustrating. Also the keeping touch with people. I get to read lj or facebook once in a while and find out things like people are getting married, or having family problems or moving to new jersey or texas (as everyone knows, these are the states that eat people...) And it's weird.
Second there's the "paperwork" which is now all done electronically. So without internet at home I end up filling out all my grad school enrollment forms at work (kind of sleazy) and at the very last minute.
Lastly, there's just the part where I just have become accustomed to constant news. If I wake up at three in the morning wondering what the names of all the quarks are, I want to be able to know DAMMIT! Not wait until the town library opens at 9:30! 9:30 is TOO LATE. (Also, some of you may have noticed that this is a wretched example of something to wake me up not knowing. If I actually woke up wondering this, I would roll over and shake a groggy physics boy and poke him mercilessly until he recited quarks. But something. Wondering, um, how many declension Gothic had.) I have no patience. I am of the internet generation. And there's just no going back.