I'm all for technology. I suppose that most people are as long as it stays within each individual's moral and ethical realm of acceptance. I love having any type of information easily accesible with only a few finger strokes. I love being able to shop, communicate, learn, and exchange information quickly and easily. For example, today I went to my local farm to pick up part of my share of fresh veggies. I haven't often prepared swiss chard. When I have, it was simply by sauteing it with butter, salt and pepper. Today I was in the mood to spice things up. So, I jumped right online and within minutes found a recipe for Chard pancakes that sounded not only edible, but delicious enough that my kids might eat it! After all, what kid doesn't like anything with PANCAKE in the title?

Anyway, this is going somewhere, I swear...While we were at the CSA my husband received a phone call, as he does pretty much every ten minutes to every hour that we are together. He was walking around with us talking about interfaces and uploading new whoosey whatsits to the doodads as I thought "get off the damn phone already!" I love cell phones. They are convenient, most days, and allow us to feel a bit more secure in precarious situations, such as trips ANYWHERE with three children!  They also keep us connected and informed to our work when traveling or spending time with our families. Here is the rub. My husband owns his own business. I understand the energy and time that it takes and can be really compassionate and supportive. But, I'm telling you, after a week with three high energy, curious, contemplative, children (*read: obnoxious, naughty, question asking, argumentative, demons!) I'm exhausted and want my husbands full attention and support. I will tolerate a few phone calls...when we're not in the middle of the grocery store, shopping for things in Home Depot, or AND, this is the worst, when we're not in gorgeous natural surroundings that could possibly help us to transcend the drum and drollness of our daily existence!!! It would be nice to occasionally here him say " I'm right in the middle of something, could I please call you back in 15 minutes" OR "my family and I are currently busy I will get right back to you when I can". I have never heard those words leave his lips. 

For some reason nothing hurts me more than to cook a meal and then have him come home to eat, only to get a call as dinner begins and have him leave the table for the entire meal to take the call. ESPECIALLY since he's only here to eat with us one or two nights a week. 

Obviously the words internet were created with specific meanings in mind. But now, whenever I hear the words, all I can think of is the trap that it becomes. Internet now signifies to me an intertwining collection of thoughts and places that serve to boggle your mind, jumble your thinking, shift your pituitary gland into hypoproduction, and cause serious dependency issues.  I know that it's a blessing to have technology and I'm thankful for it, but it many ways it has made life more difficult. People become trapped in a cyber world which is so much easier to live in than the one we must face when we swivel around from our ergonomically correct business chairs. I, too, am often a victim of this curious trap, reading anything that makes me feel more connected, sharing things about myself, and my husband to relieve the tension, shopping to relieve boredom, meanwhile, behind my back, there is a world teeming with action, connectedness, responsibility, and lessons that no matter how you say it, are what we are really trying to avoid!

Obviously we all need the occasional escape, a book, a vacation, a movie, a massage, a phone call, etc...But how much is too much? Share, please readers. How do YOU know when you've left reality?