I can't seem to leave Live Journal behind entirely, so I will continue to post here infrequently.

To really keep up with my latest doings, check out Teresa with no "h" dot com.

http://teresawithnoh.com

Technology. We love it. We hate it. It shapes our lives.

Having a natural gas stove definitely changes the making of dinner. It's so easy these days. I'm reminded of this when I write my historical books and I start thinking about the amount of time they would spend just getting hot coals before cooking really begins.

But when it comes to communication technology, things get personal. I've had Caller ID on my phone for only the past 2 years. I love knowing who is calling before I pick up. Sometimes I don't pick up if the caller is unidentified. I definitely don't pick up if I can tell it is a telemarketer.

If I'm working, I only pick up for something that looks like it can't wait.

This bit of technology has really helped to cut down on interruptions in my day. I used to feel I had to pick up in case it was the kids' school calling to say one of them was sick, or broke a leg at recess. Now, I look. It's an 800 number, I know that isn't the school and I can keep working.

E-mail is another story, I suppose. I do take several breaks every day to check my e-mail. This takes time since I now ave about 6 e-mail addresses. My life neatly divided into author stuff, Athena stuff, personal stuff, etc.

Voice mail is probably a time saver over all. It isn't so important that you catch the person in because you can leave a detailed message that may substitute for a long conversation. But this raises the level of expectation. There is no excuse for a failure to communicate because you could have left a voicemail or an e-mail. There is no vacation from communication either. You may as well keep up with those messages because, if you don't, when you get back to the office you will be inundated.

I think all this technology is a net gain. It makes communication easier, if a little less personal. But I do understand those last holdouts--you know who you are. Those annoying people who don't carry a cell phone with them everywhere. Some folks don't even have voicemail that can pick up when they are on the phone--so you sometimes still get a busy signal!  Monkey wrenches in the cogs of communication progress.

They'll all die soon with their memories of hand-written letters and dropping in on a neighbor to have a cup of coffee and chat. We can listen to those old stories in a nostalgic podcast.