Day to Day Technology

There used to be a time in my life when a computer didn't matter and neither did a cell phone...I was about ten years old then.  I remember we got our first computer when I was in 5th grade.  I remember my dad being so excited because it had a 56MB hard drive!  Now I carry sixteen times that amount in my pocket on a flash drive and thirty two times that on my cell phone.  When I was younger the computer was more of a privilege now it is a necessity. 

With technology being so prevalent all around us it is important to work to balance your physical life with the virtual one.  I do feel like I have two separate lives at times.  I have a physical job and I have a physical social life.  I also have virtual job (school) and a virtual social life (texting, email and Facebook).  No matter what I am doing I lead both lives simultaneously.  With a new baby I would much  rather be spending more time in the physical world, but the demands of school keep me well occupied with the virtual one.  I am ready to be finished with this degree so that I can truly find a balance. 

Sometimes the two lives come together as a hybrid when I find myself in a stimulating game of "Words with Friends" with my friend right beside me.  Why don't we get out the Scrabble board?  Because our cell phones do it all!  In a magazine article I was reading the author spoke about the "mobile command center" (aka, the cell phone).  It is so true.  I can access my personal email, my work email, and my school email all through one application.  I have done class assignments on my iPhone when in a pinch for time and not able to be at my computer.  I unfortunately feel like I am missing something important when I don't have my phone.  The cell phone has become like an appendage.