Oh, technology, how I love thee and despise thee! Although I'm part of the "computer generation," the only access I had to computers growing up was at school. I can remember a largely computer free childhood. However, hen I was in the second grade my godmother spoiled me and bought me an NES, which I played nearly incessantly until I got the SNES, and eventually the Nintendo 64. I don't know how many hours I lost to playing the Legend of Zelda series, but it was certainly considerable. I often wonder if I could've mastered a second language or a musical instrument with those hours spent, or maybe just spent more time not doing anything but enjoying my childhood. I guess I was rather lucky too, in a way. I spent a lot of time with my friends riding bikes around the neighborhood, playing baseball, building tree forts in the woods, boy scouts, and camping. I have fear that my kids won't be as interested in that as I was because there are so many electronic gadgets that are out there today that society says everyone needs: laptops, cell phones, ipods, and the like. I know it makes life easier, but people don't have enough time in a day to devote to friends, family, and their gadgets. So, I do little things that help me cope with all the expectations that technology has sprung upon us all. I turn my cell phone off for most of the day, and only check it periodically. I only check my email twice a week. I don't have Facebook anymore. I make sure my phone is off when I have company over. I go for walks to soak up the outdoors. I teach my kids all about nature and how to appreciate it. I keep tabs on only a very few close friends and immediate family members, but those relationships are deep and that is how I love them. We'll get together for meals and cheer as often as we can. Lately I've been on the internet a lot and I'm trying to work on that, but my work hours can make me feel lonely sometimes and it's nice to interact with the world from time to time. I'm trying to reduce my internet time with more time reading. New Years resolution?