Technology Tuesday

So this SSG is kind of a luddite.  And while I APPRECIATE technology--things like cars and planes, self cleaning ovens and dishwashers, there is something about me that resists it too.  

I like being bored on occasion.  I think it's important to schedule time where there is nothing, empty space--to use your imagination, to dream to UNPLUG.  One of my favorite scenes from the movie Before Sunrise is when Ethan Hawke's character talks about all the time we save by using technology and yet what do we do with all of the "saved time?"  

I remember the summer road trips I'd take with my family driving from San Diego to Yosemite. I'd just stare out the window and make up stories in my head, talk to my sister or play the occasional "Alphabet Game."  When I think back over my parents' parenting skills, I see that giving me the time and space to get bored as one of their strengths.  We didn't always have to fill the space.  I appreciate that as an adult--that I am unafraid to live alone, move to cities where I know no one and have the freedom to travel places by myself.  The world seems more open, more accessible because I know I'll be fine and will make my way.

I say this, as I have about 96 items plugged into various outlets around my house.  Tonight I had scheduled to get all of my chargers and various gadgets and adaptors together in one place to make sure I don't need a truck to haul it all to France.  I Pods and phones, cameras and my shuffle clutter my desk.  I worry that when TSA sees me coming with the sheer amount of wires I've got in my purse I'm going to have some serious explaining to do (though something tells me they've seen it all before).  My TV is set to DVR the Republican convention (and um, 90210!) and I've got my ITunes playing in the background as I type this.  When I get on the plane Friday, I'll have hours upon hours of movies and television shows to entertain me.  500 songs to choose from and listen to.  Magazines to read and new books to fall into.  And while I look forward to all of it, my guess is a large portion of the trip will be spent looking out the airplane window like I always do--watching the world move beneath me and realizing that those dreams I had as a little girl, are now coming true. 

Weekend ABC's - S is for September & Snapshots of Stress

Hello Everyone and Happy September!

You have entered the few days that lead up to me going on VACATION.  Haven't you heard?  I'm going to France!  Oh what?  You've heard that since FEBRUARY when I booked my flight?  Yeah, sorry about that.  You MIGHT want to come back October 1st, because I have a feeling the month of September is going to strictly be devoted to the lead up to France, what happened when I was IN France and how I'm planning my NEXT trip to France.

You've also entered into the land of SSG's going on vacation meltdown.  I AM FINE and have tried to circumvent it as much as I can, but there is something about the flurry of activity that makes me start feeling overwhelmed, stressed and anxious.  And even though I'm excited and can't wait for the next few days to be OVER so I can get on the plane already, I do get a little "ahhh!"

Luckily, SIX weeks ago, I figured I'd be going through this very stage and had myself on a well structured schedule to make sure certain projects around the house, wardrobe selections etc. have all been done or are on their way to being done ... ISN'T THIS FUN?  Welcome to my brain. 

Anywhooo ... instead of nice posts with catchy little titles and central themes and maybe even fun little wrap up sentences at the end, I can't make any promises on what will be coming out of my mouth (fingers?) over the next few days.  So let's get started, shall we?

Snapshots of SSG's weekend:

I got to see Wes & Michele's baby who was born in MAY.  Luckily I got there before she graduated high school.  She is BEAUTIFUL.  I walked in, held out my arms and didn't give her back until they shoved me out the door.  She is the sweet faced, bald, chubby cheeked baby that makes people just SMILE and go all mushy.  Which I totally did.  Wes looked over and said "you're going to make a great mom, Becky."  And he was nice enough not to add "to your own baby, but that one is OUR'S."

This is a little church right next to the gargantuan ferris wheel Wade and I rode this weekend.  He patiently sat in the car while I took about 100 pictures of this place.  A wedding was happening inside and I'm pretty sure I took more pictures than the wedding photographer.  So to the nice couple getting married, if you'd like any photos of your venue, e-mail me!

Saturday night I was over at Wade & Jimmy's and while the rest of the dinner guests were having cocktails and making conversation with their handsome hosts, SSG was in their office pouring over music selections for her trip and overall being antisocial.  By the end of the night, she had racked up about 600 songs that she somehow needs to squeeze onto Coco (her I-Pod Shuffle).

And while SSG was stealing things, she figured she might as well steal Jimmy's I-Pod too so she can watch movies.  Wade kindly put the first 2 seasons of Six Feet Under on that I-Pod, so she'll be flipping back and forth between those, Mary Tyler Moore and Absolutely Fabulous ... and probably annoying the entire plane while she's laughing at Ab Fab.

I was looking for books to read on the plane and everyone kept recommending the "Twilight" series of books.  Have you guys read these?  I was like seriously?  A teenage vampire?  How many pages?  And there aren't any sex scenes?  But I flew through the first one and picked up the second to keep me occupied when I'm not listening to 600 songs or watching one of the 600 television shows and movies at my disposal.  

I went to K-Dog's sister's house for a barbecue yesterday and promptly stuffed my face with yummy artichoke thingies, good cocktails and the most delicious barbecue I've had in a while.  But when Jimmy called out "who wants cake?"  I promptly yelled "I do!"

I am through movie #2 of my Cannes Film Festival today.  So far I watched DaVinci code and now know what the inside of the Louvre looks like ... at night ... with no one else in it except for a dead body.  That SHOULD come in handy next week when I'm there.  I also watched a cute movie with Diane Lane that's probably about 25 or 30 years old.  It was called A Little Romance.  So now I know what Paris looked like in the 70's, which will also be incredibly helpful when I'm there next week.  Next up?  French Kiss, with Meg Ryan & Kevin Kline.  Fisher and Rainy are already passed out on the couch waiting for me.

And since ya'll are probably asleep now too, I think I'll go join them!

(Don't say I didn't warn you!  And don't mind me & SSG switching through the first & third person throughout this post.)