Well... I'm Back!

Hi Everyone! I'm back to blogging after my full summer of doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  Well, really I did some stuff... I lifeguarded for the Town of Canandaigua, and I got a puppy (so pretty much I did... that's right, absolutely nothing). It was wonderful.  After a year of being stressed to the point that my brain was leaking out of my ears, having a summer of fun was the best way I could have spent my time.  I honestly haven't thought much about not having a cell phone, but a few interesting things have reminded me of mobile tech.

First of all, this new technology about depositing your checks via smartphone is almost the stupidest thing I've ever heard of.  For those of you who haven't seen the commercials, check out this video.

Really!?.... Does anybody else find this super sketchy?   There are so many crazies out there that could easily hack your account and get all of your information.  Not to mention if your phone becomes missing or stolen, someone will most likely be smart enough to hack your passcode and enter your account.  Are you really so lazy that you can't make it to the bank?  Is there some sort of rush? Are these people paying for their honeymoon with checks from their wedding!!!??? I don't want anyone sending pictures of checks that I write around on a cell phone... That's my bank account information, my address, and my signature practically gift wrapped for creepers.  Common sense, newlyweds, get some.

Okay. I've been holding that in all summer because I didn't feel like blogging. So, now to delve into some of the other shenanigans I've run into being cell phoneless.

1) Not having phone numbers.  I've had to hunt people down on Facebook and message them for their numbers because I threw them all away with the Blackberry (it is particularly difficult to stay in touch with friends who no longer have FB, like Sarah Ayers).  It works out for the most part.  Sometimes our inbox conversations will continue into oblivion, and then I have to scroll all the way back up to find their numbers again, but that's okay.  It's still all there on the fabulous internet.

2) Long driving trips. It is generally not advisable, these days, to drive over 3 hours away without a means of contact (thanks to all you psychopaths out there who make the world a "better" place).  This July I was blessed with the opportunity to journey to the far of land of Ohio for my cousin's wedding.  Well, the seven hour drive didn't sit well with my folks.  So they gave me dad's cell phone for the road.  This is me admitting that I carried a cell phone for a weekend, but it was not mine and so I have not broken the rule of not owning a cell phone.  I guess it was nice to have some sort of reassurance on the open road.  Luckily enough, I didn't have to use it in any troubling circumstance.

3) My friends hate me for not being "textable".   Had a bazzilion complaints about not being reachable by text message.  Some even say that this lack of communication is causing a rift in our friendships... Well, I wish I cared because apparently they don't, or they'd make time to call my landline.  Despite all of this, I have managed to maintain my friendships and have even re-connected with some old companions.  Although, I must say that I'm beginning to feel the "distance" between myself and the rest of the world due to my communication barrier. 

So that is pretty much all I have to say on the subject as of today.  Here are some pictures of my puppy because she is wonderful and I love her.

Blurry Cami.

Playing Cami.

Cuddly Cami... and David. lol.

Bye for now, everyoneeeeeeeeee! :)

Unlimited Texting vs. Wegmans Tattoo

So, my kid brother got a new cell phone today.  My mother was hoping that my whole "year without a cell phone" deal would broaden his perspectives a little bit, and get him to rethink the "necessity" of a cell phone.  Instead he just thinks I'm crazy.

Anyway, like any teenager these days, he texts a lot.  He is constantly texting via his iPod Touch because it's free, but now he has unlimited texting on this new phone.  Normally things like unlimited texting and data usage (that's the internet for those not in the know) would cost an arm and a leg, but my baby brother actually managed to find himself a good deal.  His cell phone package, which comes with 300 minutes of talk, unlimited text messaging, and unlimited data every month is only going to cost him $25 dollars a month.  That's without a contract.

You all must be thinking, "How could he have found such a great deal!?"  Well, come on... I mean, I am the best big sister ever.  I told him about it of course!  Benny came home today with an inexpensive touch screen phone from Virgin Mobile, and a very inexpensive monthly bill because he came home with the phone and plan that I wanted before I went "off the grid."

You see, when I had "The Thing" I was paying around $70 dollars a month for pretty much the same services described above, and I paid $100 for a phone that I ended up ABSOLUTELY hating.  I wasn't sure that I wanted to be completely cell phoneless at first, so I thought of simply downgrading.

Now Benny has the phone and plan that I wanted, and I'm pretty sure that my beloved David will be upgrading to the same phone within the month! Sometimes life is just full of irony.  Anyway, here is a picture of the object being discussed:

The LG Rumor Touch.

It's a nice little cellular device!  With a sleek, modern design and a fancy pants touch screen it is a far cry from the cell phone that Julia Roberts whipped out in My Best Friend's Wedding.

Yes... That is an antenna.

Not sure what to say about this.

I watched this movie with my friend Kirsten shortly after graduation, and she just kept saying, "You gotta be kidding me.  Is this a joke!?"  Technology and fashion were pretty bombdiggity back in the day (just imagine the directors of the film getting all excited about being able to feature "the latest technology), but not even the most beastly of mouthpieces can cover a Julia smile.     :D

When Ben got home from the store with mom today.  He was so excited about his new phone that he ran over to show his girlfriend.  He hung up on Dad when he called to figure out where he went, and if he could see the new phone.  The teenage wonder then proceeded to bounce up and down in the living room, exclaiming, "I got a new phone! I got a new phone!"  He stuck his tongue out at me, and walked away.

Ahhh, the glories of living at home again. Well Ben, I got an awesome temporary tattoo at Wegmans today...

Awesome, backwards Wegmans Tattoo.

What now, punk!?  Yeah, that's right.  I don't need a fancy cell phone to be cool.  I got my temporary tattoos.

Confessing to Tech Love

I'm finished with college!!! Hooray hooray! So, I've moved back home and have just been chillin' for about a week now, and it's awesome.  This is the first time since I was 13 that I haven't had a job.  I'm taking a break (for about 2 weeks, maybe 3).  Working anywhere from 2-4 jobs, at the same time, during undergrad helped pay the bills, but was NOT fun.  Although I must say, lifeguarding at RIT was a pretty nice gig.  Anyway, doing nothing makes it difficult to find the motivation to do anything.  So, I'm on the hunt.  Updating my resume, picking up applications, and eventually filling them out is a throwback to last years internship search.  We'll see how it goes.  I'll let you know what happens.

In the process of updating the resume, I realized that I'm giving out my home phone number... I haven't had to give out the family digits since high school!  It's pretty strange, but fun nonetheless.  My friends are always asking me, "How do you expect to find a job if you don't have a cell phone!?"  I think my generation has forgotten about landlines.  It's not like I've fallen off the freakin' face of the planet, folks.  I can still be contacted.

There are my thoughts on employment, but that is not the only thing that has been going on in the past two weeks.

There are some confessions to be made (completely unrelated to the job search business).  As someone who has been writing down her rants against modern technology, I have to admit that I've recently succumbed to the temptation of one of my greatest adversaries... the Kindle.

I know.  I've already been yelled at and criticized by many of my closest friends.  They know how I feel about books, my passion for paper, and my fanaticism about the way ink is laid on a page.  I have been an advocate for the tangibility of a printed book, and still am.  There is nothing that can replace the feeling of a smooth cover, or the pages between your fingers as you turn into the next chapter of a journey, otherworldly.  These are things that I still believe in, but I like my new Kindle too.

My parents gave it to me for graduation, which is what I often use as an excuse when my friends look at me like I'm nuts.  This was a week ago, and I've finished Alice in Wonderland and am currently trying to figure out where I left off in the library version of Anna Karenina.

When all is said and done, there are two things that come into play in a book (the printed kind).  There's the book, the physical manifestation of a process from tree to pages.  Books are art.  Books are beautiful.  Books are valuable.  Remember, right now I am talking about the book, meaning the paper, the binding, the design, the materials, ect.

The second thing that contributes to a book is the written word.  Books have always been so closely associated with their content because, until now, there has been no other way to deliver that content to its intended audience.  The words within the book, and the book itself are actually two different things! They are two different forms of artistic expression.  Writing is a skill, and so is bookmaking.

These two different art forms complement each other very well, which is why printed books and magazines will never go out of circulation entirely.  Combined with the fact that electronics are so unpredictable (many times unreliable) and ever changing, I'd say there is still more than one solid argument against e-books and things of similar nature.

However, I don't believe that the physical form of a book defines the quality of its content.  As a reader, I would choose the printed word over electronic any day.  However, as a writer, I don't really care how my work gets to readers (as long as it's being read).  I think that many writers, past and present, would feel the same.  A poem, a story, or a commentary is still made of the same words whether printed or electronic.  It is most likely more aesthetically pleasing in printed form, but I believe that the goal of most writers is to have their work read regardless of aesthetics or mode of delivery.

I still buy books.  Friends of the Library in Ithaca, New York recently had a books sale where every book was ten cents (they often have really awesome book sales, so check out the link if you're interested).  I broke the bank with $1.60, and walked away with 16 new additions to my book shelf.

Children's Literature has also been one of my recent addictions, and I have to say that print plays a more important role in this arena.  Children NEED printed books.  It's a developmental thing.  They learn so much more by interacting with pages, and discovering how to care for things (books) that are easily damaged.  Kids just grow by having an actual book in front of them.

I also buy hard copies of the books that I enjoy reading on the Kindle.  If it's a really great book, I want to make sure I have it, printed, for future re-reading and sharing.  I generally also tend to be a sucker for cover art (this is one way the Kindle helps me save money; I don't buy e-books that I will never read for the cover art), so works that I love on the Kindle are works that I often want to be supplemented by the art of a book.

Anyway, I'm having fun reading, and I hope you are too.  I know this post really had nothing to do with cell phones, but not everything in life does, and that's just the way I like it.

Smart Kids Play With Stupid Toys

So, there are only two days standing between me and a diploma from Rochester Institute of Technology.  I will graduate with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biomedical Photographic Communication.  Sounds sophisticated, I know... Of course it does, Refined is my middle name (*ahem* sarcasm).

Anyway, all of this pressure about growing up has got me thinking about when I was a young, little thing.  I've realized how much has changed since then in terms of technology.  My upbringing was pretty old school.  We began learning cursive in first grade, and were subsequently required to perfect the skill until about eight grade.  By that time the graphite and ink had seeped via passive diffusion into our adolescent veins.

In high school, the skill was irrelevant.  I should mention that I went to a public high school (they had these machines called computers), and the cursive dictators only reigned supreme at the private school I had attended previously.  Handwriting transitioned from a skill to an art, one that I am grateful to have now that I can appreciate artistic things, but as far as functionality was concerned handwriting didn't make the cut.

I had to learn to type.  I taught myself... Kinda.  My keyboarding skills are still well below the average "words per minute" of my peers.  Interestingly enough, I recently learned from a co-worker that her daughter's public school began teaching typing in kindergarten.  She and her husband had to teach their daughter how to write her name in cursive so that she could make a signature later in life.

What effects do these shifts in technology have on children growing up in the "modern" world?  Well, let me tell you a story from when I was about 7 years old:



My bestest friends in the whole wide world when I was 7 were my stuffed aminals (I am aware of the spelling, be creative people).  I loved my stuffed aminals more than any other toy that was given to me.  I would cut the tags off as close as possible to the stitches because that would allow the stuffed aminals to become real.  Real aminals didn't have tags, so why would my aminals want them?  That was how I brought them to life.

At night my stuffed buddies would gather around the outer edges of my bed.  They would guard my bed from any bad things that tried to get me while I slept.  Spiders, ghosties, vampires, and the boogie man had no chance.

During the day, we would have tea party picnics.  My friends would sit on my favorite blanky, and mommy would pour us little cups of tea (which was really just water with far too much sugar in it).  We would tell each other stories, and read each other books (back then all books were printed on paper, and I taught my aminals to turn these things called pages).  The best of the aminals would get to go outside with me.  We would walk to the park, or explore the woods behind my house.  Sometimes mommy would even bring us to the beach!

One day, I had a human friend over to play.  I loved my human friends too.  We ran around outside for a while.  We blew bubbles in the back yard, and chalked the sidewalk with bright colors.  After a while, we went inside to play.

I brought out my stuffed aminals, thinking it would be very nice of me to share, and handed one of them to my human friend.  It was a life-sized cat with orange fur and tiger stripes (one of my favorites).  She looked at me, confused, and said, "What does it do?"

I replied, "What do you mean?"

"Well, does it make cat sounds, or talk, or something?"

"No..."  I was completely bewildered.

"Why do you have it if it doesn't do anything?"

"What do you mean 'if it doesn't do anything,'" I asked.

"I meaaannnnn... If it doesn't meow, or purr, or do cat things when you squeeze it then it's stupid!  It's stupid to play with toys that don't do anything."

"He isn't stupid," I yelled, "He's my cat and I love him!"

Let's just say that the rest of that play date didn't go too well.  I ran crying to mommy pretty quickly, and don't remember her saying much (although I did catch the word "crazy" being mumbled under her breath).  I just didn't understand why other kids couldn't see that my stuffed aminals were alive.



The moral of the story is that technology makes kids stupid.  Well, that's more or less what I'm trying to say, but maybe I should re-phrase it.  Children develop more imagination when more is left to the imagination.  If an audio-recorded cat sound is implanted into a stuffed cat, then "meow" is all that the cat will ever say.  The sound is given to the child, and therefor it is not created by them.  My cats, dogs, and teddy bears all had in depth conversations with me because I created those conversations.  I was not given a "purrrr", and expected to be content with that.  I was able to create.

Toys these days are like smartphones compared to what I used to play with.  They beep, and talk, and dance and are all pre-programmed to keep your child entertained with the same five phrases for hours and hours and hours.  Parents, don't expect your kids to learn much more than those five phrases.  Smart kids play with stupid toys.

This reflection on childhood actually applies in my life today.  Thank God I learned how to write because when I experience serious writers block an LED computer screen just won't snap me out of it.  I have to pick up a pen.  I have to connect, physically, with my words.

I think this is essential in so many creative processes.  There is something to be said for digital photography (I should know; I just spent four years of my life studying it), but there is nothing like walking into a darkroom and developing your own film.  This is something that many of the new photography students never get to experience, and what a horrible absence it creates.  For an artist to be tangibly connected to a process allows for a tangible connection to the product, a pride in one's work.

I pray that there will never be a day when we rely 100% on technology, on what is already given, or on things that so easily fail.

Everybody Loves Cake!!!!!

This week seems to have been a week of frustration for many cell phone users across the nation.  I've seen so many Facebook updates this week proclaiming frustration with cell phones.  I've also noticed how much people talk about their cell phones in day to day conversation.

For instance, I was talking with a resident this week who suddenly felt the need to explain to me all of the intricate details of her recent cell phone dramas.  The charger broke.  She thought it was the cell phone.  She drove 45 minutes to a different mall because she thought the local mall would blame her for the damages.  Once she finally got a new charger her cell phone cover broke.  She had to buy a new one.  The new cover is purple, not pink, which is disappointing for both of us.

After having that discussion, I was glad I wasn't wasting my paycheck on mobile communications.  I already feel like I've saved a bunch of money, and yet, somehow I still suffer from broke college kid syndrome.  I've found a better way to spend my money anyway.

I'M GETTING A PUPPY IN JULY!!!  Yes, that's right folks, when I move home I'm getting a dog.  A labradoodle to be exact.  They are pretty close to hypoallergenic (although no dog is truly allergy free), so my mom will be able to live with it in the house.

I'm super excited.  I think a puppy is so much more worth my money than a cell phone. However, I did find these awesome little labradoodle cell phone charms:

 

I mean, c'mon, how cute is that!?

Anyway, if I have any money left over after puppy things (which is doubtful), I plan on investing in culinary adventures.  I want to try some different types of food.  The intention is to explore and be free after being sentenced to four years of college campus nutrition. Bleh.

I'm also going to attempt to learn how to cook & bake.  I want to bake cakes, and dog treats, and gluten/sugar free baked goods that actually taste good.  So, with these notions of grandeur, I will leave you some pictures of cake.

Cute dog cake by Julie Brooks.

Cool cell phone cake by Traci Wood.  Props to that guy (who's name I blurred out) for not having a cell for 50 years.

 Everybody Loves Cake!!!!!

Ups and Downs

So, I've had a mixed week without my cell phone.  It started with some ups, and ended with some downs.  One thing I noticed about this week, however, was that the topic of technology (cell phones in particular) continues coming up in conversation.

A couple of days ago, I got a really awesome message from my friend Patty.  I think the stress here at RIT gets the best of us sometimes, and technology doesn't help.  She wrote:

Hannah, I recently threw my phone on the floor of my car in a fit of rage because it keeps on turning itself off during phone calls. I haven't picked it up since. That little square box makes me so aggravated that it's just not worth it anymore. I don't know when I'll pick it up, but for now I am happily using my alarm clock, looking at the wall to check the time, and making plans via email.

My hats off to you girl. Perhaps you have the right idea.

It was really nice to get this message because it made me feel like I wasn't alone in all of my frustrations with gadgets.  It also spoke to the concept of this challenge, and the fact that disconnecting can be a release.

I want to point out that Patty's phone kept turning off on her unexpectedly.  Technology is not perfect, yet we depend upon it so much.  Our day to day lives are often kept on track by "that little square box", and sorry to tell you, but machines can be unreliable.

This dependence has also decreased the ability of tech users to depend on other people.  We trust our cell phones more than our best friends these days.  This may be another way technology is reducing the value of our interpersonal relationships.

___________________________________

On the flip side of things, today I had a miss my phone moment (the first one so far, really).  I had told my resident (Caitlin) that I would go to lunch with her and her boyfriend today, and before lunch I had a meeting of sorts.

I journeyed across campus for my meeting, and arrived thinking I'd be back within the hour for lunch (I was actually hoping for 45 minutes, but that was clearly out of the question).  Well... two and a half hours later, I was still across campus and I had missed my lunch date with Caitlin and Shon.  

I realized when I got back to the dorms exactly what had happened, and I felt SO bad about it.  Granted, I didn't remember till well afterward (and a cell phone wouldn't have helped if I had kept it on silent).  However, I'm sure Caitlin would have texted me, "Where are you?" if I had a cell, and at that point I would have made it to lunch.

This is the first time that I've really forgotten something like that (I'm normally on time or 5 minutes early to all scheduled happenings), and that was frustrating.  Caitlin was a good sport, however, and agreed to reschedule on a day that I didn't have meetings scheduled.  I'm glad I have good friends who are forgiving and understanding.  That was one good aspect of the whole ordeal; I learned something about a positive quality in someone else... Maybe it was worth the mishap?  Well, that's probably a matter of opinion.

Breaking the Silence

Well, it has been over a month since my last post... so it's time to break the silence.

Today I was in a meeting with my boss (the one who STILL texts me after I've been cell-phoneless 2 months), and we were discussing giving things up.  She's thinking about giving up her Facebook account, and the first step in this process is crafting the explanation that she'll be dishing out to people when they exclaim, "You don't have a Facebook!?"

We had an intense heart-to-heart about our motives, and discussed what examples we would give in order to back them.  This conversation went on for a good part of the hour, and I quite enjoyed the revelations and conclusions that we made.  Sarah really helped me clarify why it is that I don't/won't have a cell phone for the next year.  However, I just want to say before I talk more about these reasons, that in retrospect, this conversation was ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!

Okay... My conversation with Sarah was not ridiculous, but the fact that we feel like we have to explain ourselves because people think we are crazy is DEFINITELY silly.  Seriously people, there was a time without cell phones (I can just imagine the dumbfounded look on some young teenager's face as they read this... "Whaaaaaaat?").

What a cutie! (image courtesy of Google Images)

Yes children, it's true.  There was once a day, in this land we call America, when people made plans and communicated without the assistance of the portable cellular device.  This is also true of Facebook, and the fact that people can no longer comprehend a life without these things is sad.  My boss and I should not have to explain ourselves just because we choose to forgo these modern indulgences.

The idea of communication via interaction brings me back to the reasons that prompted me into this challenge.  Yes, I was annoyed by people who thought they had me at their beckons call 24/7.  Yes, I was over the concept of shelling out the cash for a cell phone.  But there is more behind this madness, a method... a motive (or maybe a few of them).

Bonding is something that occurs when you spend time with someone.  You need to be engaged in your time with that person, and not engaged in other things while you are with them.  If you are not paying attention to the person you are with, then what is the point of spending time with them?

Sarah told me the story of when she went out to dinner with some of her friends, and one of those friends was poking away at her smart phone the whole time.  Finally, Sarah asked what this girl was up to, and the girl explained that she was updating her Facebook location, and tagging the girls at dinner in it.

Okay, first of all that location tracking thing on Facebook is freakin creepy.  If someone wanted to murder you and didn't know where you were, they could just check Facebook, and there you go (friends tagged with you are a serial killer bonus)!

Secondly, if you are out with friend, be out with friends.  You are negating the purpose of your stupid Facebook update by staying on Facebook the whole time.  By being disengaged from the situation, you have taken away it's significance in real life.

Facebook addictiions can kill.... a social life.

That's my rant against the Facebook situation, but I still love that crazy social network, and have no intention of getting rid of mine.  So, on to the cell phone rant.


I want to talk about how cell phones make people irresponsible.  There used to be this concept called "being on time."  It was polite to be on time for things like meeting with friends, meetings for work, classes.  Now, with one quick text, it is becoming more socially acceptable to be late.

Being late is not okay.  In my fathers house, "10 minutes early is early, 5 minutes early is on time, and on time is late!"  When you set a time to meet with someone (friend, boss, professor) you are making a commitment to be at the specified place at that time.  If you are not there at that time, you are breaking your commitment.

This is not excused by a text or quick call saying, "I'm running a few minutes late."  YOU ARE STILL LATE! It doesn't matter if you warn the person or not.  Although it is polite to give a warning, it should always be accompanied with an apology.  Take responsibility for your actions.  Also, totally standing someone up... not cool.

Anyway, probably have a ton more to say, but I'm tired.  I'm going to bed.  My cell phone (which I'll admit I had been using as an alarm clock) finally kicked the bucket, and the charger is broken.  So, I have invested in a real alarm clock - something I've only read about in books (wait... what's a book?).  The e-Reader rant is something for a whole other day.  Hahaha.

Then and Now: 1999 - 2009

 

To see what else has changed visit:

http://www.virtualvideomap.com/What_Has_Changed_This_Decade.html.

Long Distance Blues

So, guess what!?..... The mandatory land line phone that all of the RAs have at RIT does not allow out of state calling!  As a matter of fact, none of the telephones at RIT allow you to call long distance without a phone card. Isn't that great!!!

NOT.

I am so livid about not being able to call long distance, I almost can't even describe.  I have friends and family that are not from New York State, as do many of the students at such a large school.  Let's use some common sense here RIT, you aren't charging your students for cable, but long distance calling requires a phone card. Hmmm.

Anyway, this is one of the things that is going to suck about not having a cell phone.  See, two of by bestest friends in the whole wide world are long distance.  Heather and Kirsten really came though during this whole "college" ordeal, and hence, both are irreplaceable parts of my life.

Heather was my roommate freshman year at Ithaca College, and despite the fact that I hated it there she really got me through a lot.  We met at orientation, and immediately knew that we were soul mates. During the weekend of orientation we decided to be roommates, and the rest has been history.  It was an amazing year, living in Boothroyd, and although I left Ithaca we still make an effort to see each other 3 or 4 times a year... an effort that may be considerably more challenging now that I can't call her.

Heather and I, gorgeous in the gorges.

Kirsten... Well, let's just say Kirsten pulled me through a couple years at RIT.  Her fun, adventurous spirit was always a great escape from the realities of my life, and I learned a lot from her about living (and not taking life too seriously) before she graduated and moved back to Minnesota.

Kirsten and I... obviously very amused at some ResLife function. lol.

What's funny is that both of these fabulous women went to school in New York State (Heather still does, until May), so they are not technically "long distance".  However, because I'm calling their cell phones, I'm calling Maryland and Minnesota. 

Through all of the frustration, I've made it home for the weekend.  Alas, I can use my home phone to call my two loves and inform the of this horrible travesty.  Thank God my parents aren't as cheap as RIT.

The Honeymoon Phase

Hi all.

So, just in case you are reading this and you don't know me very well, I am a chronic procrastinator. Please do not confuse this condition with conditions such as being chronically late, or chronically missing deadlines.  I am most often early wherever I go, and I meet most of my deadlines... task to be completed at the deadline may have begun 20 minutes earlier, but that's not the point.  The point is that I have been procrastinating on this post long enough, and it's time I get to it.

Anyway, it has been almost 2 whole weeks that I have been living without a cell phone (and what a wonderful two weeks it has been).  I haven't gotten any 3 am phone calls, or forwarded messages that threatened my well being if I failed to pass them on, or awkward messages from "that guy" that every girl tries to avoid.

It's been lovely.

Granted, I have missed out on a few things. During week one, my boss was constantly forgetting that I had no phone, and sending me text messages about everything from updates about work to invites to movies.  I'd always see her the next day and she'd say, "Did you get my message?"  

I'd just give her that look (you know the one).  The Girl, You Know I Don't Do Those Things Anymore look.  It would take maybe half a second for the glance to register, and then she would be super apologetic about it.  She always feels bad because she totally supports this whole endeavor, and she doesn't want me to feel out of the loop just because she forgets my changed methods of communication. 

But really... who are we kidding?  We all knew there would be an adjustment period, and I don't hold it against her at all (in fact, I am more appreciative of the fact that she supports the experiment. I feel like most bosses would just consider me to be a huge pain in the "you know what").

After being on "the grid" for over 5 years, people expect to be able to contact you. Anywhere. At anytime.  Which is part of the reason that I decided to cut the power... to curb the power. 

Your attention, and where you decided to focus it, should be under your control.  If other people have the power to draw your attention with a buzz or a beep, when you should be paying attention to something (or more importantly someone) else, it's time to take back control.

These past couple of weeks have been liberating.  I feel less worried, for some reason, when I go to the lab to work and I don't have to worry about rushing back to someone who "needs" to talk to me.  I also feel lighter.  This is literal folks.  I'm not turning to a fruit loop flighty, trying to explain some light, out of body, metaphysical experience.  I actually enjoy being 3.9 oz lighter (that's the weight of my cell phone for those of you who didn't make the connection).  It's 3.9 oz that I normally carry in the pocket of my jeans, and I can feel the absence. 

C'mon ladies... I've watched y'all tryin to lose some weight below the waist for years.  This is the perfect solution.

I've also been getting notes under my door, instead of text messages, from residents.  I like notes.  I can learn something different about you from every note that you slip under my door, and I just don't feel that way about texts.  Mind you, I don't want notes all the time.  Anything all the time is just a bad idea, very overwhelming.

So, in short... I've been in The Honeymoon Phase.  Normally this phrase would refer to new couples, just fallen in love and thoroughly twitterpated with each other (how sweet *gag*).  However, I've decided to adapt the phrase to fit my situation.  I am in The Honeymoon Phase... of my divorce... with my cell phone.

As everyone knows, the honeymoon can't last forever.  Slowly, but surely, the frustrations associated with my disconnect are starting to creep in.  I spent all of this past Monday going out of my mind, wishing I could just text someone in the lab.  In the end, I sent an email.  It worked just fine, possibly better than a text. 

Then, I went out for a night on the town at the local Bowl-a-Roll, and I lost my keys and wallet with all of my IDs.  I was a wreck and had to use a co-worker's cell to call home.  It was interesting leaving my name and contact information with the man at the desk.  Thinking to myself, "What phone number should I leave for him?"

Guess what... I found my keys in the parking lot back at school.  No big deal.

This is not going to be an easy year.  I've been very dependent (though not as dependent as most Americans my age, which I think is sad) on that 3.9 oz of technology for quite a few years.  I hope it will be worth the frustration.  I hope I'll get more out of this year than just a feeling of freedom.  I hope for a lot of things.

There is only one way to find out if my hope is justified...

________________________________________________________________________

 

*** a side-note to anyone who actually reads these posts, and anticipates the posts to come: 1) Thank you for actually caring, and 2) I will not be posting anything for a little over a week because I will be in North Carolina for spring break, building houses and whatnot.

With a Little Help From My Friends

It has been a week since the beginning of this blog, and 6 days since I called and canceled my cell phone account. Even though the request for deactivation was made on Monday, it has taken 6 days for Sprint to actually get me "off the grid." I turned my phone off the day I requested cancellation, and it has been an interesting week.... but I'd rather write about that tomorrow.


Today I want to write about the making of this blog. If there is something tech-related in this world to console me over the loss of my cell phone, or keep me going through this year long challenge, it would be this blog.

A week ago, when I actually decided to follow through with this absurd plan of becoming cell phoneless, I knew I had to begin this blog for motivation. Thankfully, I had the full support of my friends in ResLife at RIT. Even my boss was thrilled when she heard of my plan to blog about this challenge, and confirmed that I did not need a cell phone for work.

One of the beauties of working in a creative, open-minded environment is that the people are mostly creative and open-minded as well. On the night of the blog creation I was up till 4 am designing, drawing and writing this crazy blog... with two of my favorite people by my side.


Stephen Jones is my co-RA on the eight floor, here in Ellingson Hall. Well, he is my co-RA for the next week, and then he will be moving to Croatia to study abroad. No worries Stephen; Once a co, always a co! He is fellow creative and a fellow blogger, and he'll be writing about his study abroad in Dubrovnik, Croatia.

 

Also with me was Adam Kroll, one of the coolest people in the universe. No joke. Adam is one of my best friends, a world traveler, and great person to bounce ideas off of. We are currently having an in depth conversation about the economic levels within the fourth Harry Potter movie. The conversations about world issues, and the changes that need to be made are ever-stimulating and never ending.

Not only are my friends wonderful company, but they are also very supportive and genuinely involved in my endeavor (which is awesome, if you haven't gathered that yet).  Both Stephen and Adam made the creation of this blog a fun experience. 

Stephen showed me how to create the banner for the page in Photoshop (which, despite being a photography major, I have no idea how to use).  He also made some creative sketches for inspiration during the long night of blogging. 

The Man With the BlackBerry Ears

 

He was not the only one to contribute, however.  Adam made his fair share of sketches as well. He insisted that a character in the banner have a question mark head, and although I declined his suggestion, I still thought it should be included in the blog somewhere.

Man With the Question Mark Head

 

He also created on very versatile sketch, which portrays the concepts in the blog to a tee.  A giant cell phone, which propped one way, overwhelms the user.

 

Cell phone overwhelms/attempts to consume (?) its user.

... or, when propped the other way, becomes similar to the world - resting on the shoulders of Atlas. A heavy burden to bear.

Cell Phone Atlas

Needless to say, it was an interesting night.  As Stephen and I became hooked on blogging, we realized that we were not alone. Not only do many of our friends follow blogs, but many of them have their own as well. Also, the writing of our blogs is not a one man show. Input and support from our peers are invaluable resources, and it's nice to feel like people care.

So, thanks to all who follow my blog... and also to all who contribute to it. Constructive criticism is welcome and greatly valued...

... and I'll never begrudge a creative sketch.

Valentine's Day 2011: Day One of My Year Long Experiment

So... Today is (or should I say was) Valentine's Day. Two days ago, I vowed that today I would break up with my cell phone.

Today... That is exactly what I did.

As usual, I procrastinated, waiting till after classes and work to drive out to the Sprint store. I may, or may not, have also added a nap or two somewhere in there. After being on a cell phone contract for over 5 years, I just wasn't sure I was ready to end it.


Sometime around 6pm, I called in backup. David, my real Valentine, appeared for moral support. We drove to the Sprint store, and parked.... Has anyone ever noticed that cell phone stores and kiosks are incredibly intimidating? Every store is a spotless, modern, vast open space filled with a cornucopia of wireless technology and an army of persuasive men. Not the type of place I would normally venture. I got out of the car.

It's sometimes important to break large tasks into smaller, more manageable goals (something that I NEVER do). Getting out of the car was the first goal. After that, getting into the store was easy because Rochester in February is not the premier time/place to be going outside.

After getting into the store and paying my regular bill, I sheepishly told the man behind the counter that I wanted to cancel my contract.

"Oh, we can't do that here. You'll have to call customer service."

What!? Is there no sanity in the world today? I want to talk to someone, face to face. This whole canceling my phone thing is a big deal to me, and I don't appreciate working through it with a faceless machine. So, I left the store no closer to the goal than when I had arrived.

In the parking lot outside my residence hall (that's right, Sarah...residence hall. I hope you're reading) I pulled out my cell phone. Little did it know that it would become a key instrument in it's own eminent demise. There may have been a small twinge of sympathy in my heart for this poor inanimate, but that didn't last long.

After going through the usual process mechanized automation, a very nice customer service girl answered. Of course she wasn't in the right department (why would hitting the "1" button possibly correlate to what the machine tells you it will?), so she transferred my call.

The gentleman who helped me in "Account Services" was also very nice, although his long pauses between the questions he asked made me feel like I was at an interview with copious notes being taken.


Me: "I'd like to cancel my account."

Him: "Is there any particular reason behind wanting to cancel the account?"

Me: ***thinking, "It's none of your damn business why I want to cancel."***
         "No, I just don't want a cell phone anymore."

Him: "Woah... Goin off the grid, huh?"

Me:"Yeah."

Him: "Can I offer you a lower price plan?"



Tempting, but no... It's over.

He then informed me that I would be charged $90 for the cancellation, and that my phone would deactivate in 5 days. Hmmm... 5 days. That's not today. 

The evening was filled with meetings for work, and a photo op for the United Way. Then I drove home, to MY home, not the residence halls. Half way through my first batch of cookies (at 11:20pm), the red light began to blink.

A text message.

I open the text to read, "Are you on campus?"  At this moment, I realize that I've made the right decision. No, I am not on campus. I am not on campus, and I am not on call. That is not part of my job as a Resident Advisor, but some of my residents believe that it is.

Email me. Send me a Facebook message. Here's an original idea: knock on my door! If I do not answer, that means I'm not there. You can leave me a note, and I'll help you as soon as I get back. Your problems DO matter to me, but I will not stop my life to answer to you. I gotta take care of me too, and I answer to no one but God.

At 11:30 pm I turned off my cell phone for good. Half an hour before the end of Valentine's Day, but I still made my deadline.

Preparing for the Challenge

Some people can't live without the comfort of their cell phones.  Having a wealth of personal phone numbers at one's finger tips, and the ability to contact or be contacted at anytime, is an irreplaceable necessity for most individuals living in today's society.  I am not one of those people.

Meet The Thing...

This is one of my possessions that does not get an actual name (as opposed to the car, or the camera... things of some value).  This unfortunate piece of machinery does not deserve a name.  It deserves to burn in hell, nameless, forever questioning its identity the same way it questions its ability to send a basic text message without delay.

My relationship with The Thing has been rough from the start. About a year and a half ago (give or take a few months), in December, I was ready for an upgrade with my cell phone carrier.  At least, I thought I was getting an upgrade.

Yes, I will admit that I was desperately in need of a new phone, and the charming young man at the Sprint kiosk was very convincing. With his winsome smile and charismatic stories of grad-school glory, he obstructed my common sense. I fell victim to the sale, and what a victim I truly was... and would remain for the next year and a half.

Well... I WILL BE A VICTIM NO LONGER! That's right, readers. I am breaking free.

This weekend, I have been preparing for the separation.  An emergency disposable phone was purchased. A land line with an answering machine (children of the '90s, you remember those) has been set up. The necessary Facebook messages are being sent, and a blog has been started.

On Valentine's Day 2011, I am breaking up with my cell phone, and you won't be seeing me with another for a whole year.