If I could text this I would

Was it 12 or 13 years ago when I was first introduced to the on-line world? My first memories of using e-mail were actually to keep in touch with a guy I had gone out with a couple of times who went to Utah State. Our long-distance "relationship" (if I could even call it that) was short-lived and ended soon after I got an e-mail on a Friday afternoon telling me that he was "too tired" and just didn't feel like driving from Logan to Provo to visit me that night.

Rob and I relied on e-mail as a way to communicate before my mission. Obviously, I would've much preferred a phone call, but back then (that sounds like I'm ancient) long distant calls were expensive and people were still wearing pagers around campus instead of cell phones. Pagers - seriously, that makes me laugh to remember!

How things have changed, huh? E-mail is probably the way I communicate most - I'm still not "cool" enough to have converted to the world of texting, but I certainly enjoy my share of on-line chats and written messages (hi, who doesn't like a blog comment?).

Anyone reading this has obviously met up with the blogging world. Prior to my joining blogger, I was introduced to (and rejected) MySpace. No offense to MySpace, or any of you that use it, but it was just so not me, and made me feel really uncomfortable...(do I want to make friends with these scantily clothed strangers?)

Just this summer I joined Facebook and was almost stunned at the people I could track down (and the people who could find me) in a matter of minutes... I don't mean this in a bad way (really), but it was sort of like turning over a rock and being a little shocked at what you found under there. I also must mention how entertained I was at several of the "friend requests" that I received from people that I clearly did not know. A lot of these people had 500, 600 something friends, so I'm thinking they just wanted the "most popular" award, and weren't really so concerned with making my acquaintance...

Facebook--a little odd, but I'm getting used to you. Still, a good way to keep track of people from high school, college, girls from my old Brownie troop (4 real), and that person that you think looks a little familiar, but you just can't seem to place...

Now, just yesterday I discovered Goodreads. I really am interested in what people are reading and could really use some good book recommendations from friends.Yet, it's another profile to fill out, photo to post, more comments to make and another on-line something else to spend my "free time" doing...which reminds me,

Is anyone else running out of free time?

I laugh at how little I really pick up a phone these days. I actually set up a dinner appointment with a friend yesterday through facebook--they now have an instant messenger thing... I was on-line there for about one minute when a little message appeared out of nowhere and a live little "hello" popped up to greet me. This is all very convenient, don't get me wrong. We now have a good friend coming to dinner tomorrow which probably wouldn't have happened otherwise.

It is also interesting that much of our "big news" these days such as weddings, births, deaths and other announcements are discovered and read about on-line. Not to mention that probably 80% of our family business is conducted on here as well. Come to think of it, while I'm at it, I'll save myself a few e-mails, calls and messages to relay the following:

Patti, I still don't know if they sell boxes of peaches at the Farmers Market (at Thanksgiving Point)--I think it may take a phone call (reason for the delay). Anyone?

Todd, I still don't know where you should visit in Norway. I was going to ask a Norwegian woman in my ward, but again, that will require a phone call since I don't know her e-mail address. BTW, are you guys coming for Christmas, or what?

Does anyone around here know what the hot lunch choices are at school tomorrow? Burke would like to know. Thanks.