Spin Cycle: Technology

So this week's Spin Cycle, brought to you by Sprite's Keeper, is on Technology.

This, too, is a tough topic. I always tell people that I know enough about technology to be dangerous or just to get by, but I am sooo not a techie. Not by any means. That's more of T's role in the relationship. Sure, I have a cell phone, and yes, I have a laptop and an i-Pod, but that's about it. The i-Pod was given to me back in 2006, and I have no desire to get another until this one dies (Or I break it, whichever comes first). I couldn't tell you about ram or whatever that is, and I don't know which is bigger...giga or megabytes. (I'm sure T's laughing at me as he reads this, and god knows I've misspelled something).

I like to consider myself a traditionalist. I like hard copies of items, things that I can hold and carry around. I don't want to read a book off a computer. I only use written planners so that I can mark them up and white things out when appointments change or are cancelled. I have no desire to check my email on my phone. It's a bit of a Pandora's box thing because I know that if I did start, it would quickly become an addiction. I have enough of those, thank you. I'm really not a big texter either because I feel with the energy you could take to text a message, you should just pick up the phone and call that person. Call me crazy...but I could really care less about any of these things.

Now, T has his share of toys or gadgets. He's an engineer, and I think all engineers have their "toys." Leaving the house in his car alone takes a few minutes as he plugs in his Garmin and his radar detector and makes sure that the satellites are being read before heading out. We'll leave the house to head somewhere really close by like our church or CVS, and he has to turn that thing on no matter what and have the lady in the Garmin direct us, even though we could both make this trip in our sleep. Personally, I could do without hearing that lady's voice telling us to turn right or to go straight 10 miles, but whatever. He also has his share of gadgets in the home: XM radio, weather radio, a MUCH nicer i-Pod than my own, and I'm sure I am leaving a lot out...but you get my drift.

I did make him jealous just two weeks ago, when I purchased a new phone because my "New Every Two" plan came up through VerizonWireless. My new phone is actually nicer than his. (HA!) This will last until January when he renews his plan, but it does give me a small ounce of satisfaction for the time being.

The one piece of technology I cannot and will not live without is my DVR. I adore my DVR. If it were possible to marry a piece of machinery, I would choose my DVR. I have always detested having to sit through commercials, and I never could figure out how to program a VCR to save my life when I wanted to record shows in the past. (My father made fun of me for just throwing out the instruction booklet when I got the VCR, but honestly, I didn't think I would actually take the time to read it so why keep the clutter?) But with my DVR, I can do both! It's amazing! (I say in my Sham-Wow voice) I absolutely love it and now refuse to watch any program unless I can watch it on DVR and fast forward through anything that annoys me.

This isn't to say I don't like technology completely. I have my reasons for why I don't have gadgets or techie toys. 1) I'm a klutz. I will break it or drop it in a glass of water (See cell phone incident of September 2007 where I did just that, but my cell phone did live to ring another day!), and 2) I am lazy and just don't want to learn how to use it. You start talking techie terms to me, and you may as well be talking Japanese. I don't understand you. And lastly..... 3) I'm cheap. These things cost too much, and I don't want to spend my money on them. I can think of many items I could buy at Target )

So there you have it...that's my spin on technology. We have a love/hate relationship, what can I say?