When did I become do dependant?!?

I recall a time when 80% of my friends had cell phones and I was making a decision to stay “off the grid” for as long as I could. I also made a similar stand on facebook, joining far after my peers. I now am a member of pretty much all of these social media outlets (although I claim some of it is for work, you can’t be in marketing and not know about social media), would be lost without my cell phone, need to check my email if I have been away from a computer for more than a couple of hours and don’t go anywhere without my iPod. How did this happen?

I am debating a bit of a hiatus from a couple of electronic “necessities” for a while... more to see if I can do it. I did it in Australia, more because I was travelling too much to stay on top of it and once my laptop was stolen it was pretty inconvenient to keep up my apparent addiction. The longest I have gone without checking my email would probably be a couple of years ago when I was on a cruise... Why am I so addicted? Do I feel like I will be out of the loop? Worried I won’t know important information? Do I have too much time on my hands? The thing is the longer I am away from home or the people I have met in my travels the more I depend on facebook... it’s an uncomfortable cycle.

This train of thought started from reading an article on University professors assigning for students to give up social networking sites and electronics that didn’t exist in 1984 (not sure why this year was selected). Needless to say... I would fail ...

Ready for some down time

I am extremely overdue for an update… I think I am still in shock that the Olympics are over… it went by ridiculously quick and felt like there was always something happening. I have spent very little time at home, even last week (had a friend visiting from NL) and still feel like I am in recovery. The entire city is dying of colds because of the increased physical contact due to high-fiving everyone on the street post hockey winning. I was out for the count one day last week and still feel it lingering… maybe a night or two staying in will help.

I went to see Chris Kirby and the Marquee play at Atlantic Canada House and got to catch up with the guys, that was pretty cool. The band has come so far since I saw them last, it’s really great to see. The band after was Wintersleep, which was pretty darn awesome, I love that band. They totally lived up to my expectations. Later in the week I went to see Matt Mayes at Live city which was pretty cool and the week was filled with hockey, hockey and more hockey. Maybe toss a little curling watching in there as well.

On a whole I was really impressed with how the Vancouverites came out of their shells and really participated in everything… they tend to not be known as one of the most fun places… I wonder how much of it will linger in the city. Where people were normally a bit standoffish they were super chatty, nothing like the Vancouver I have experienced in the lead up months. It was a fun difference, more East Coastish.
I think the only letdown of the whole Olympics in my mind was the despicable display of Canadian “talent” that was displayed during the Closing Ceremony. I think I am going to be recovering from that one for a while. Really VANOC, Nickelback? Avril? Sum 41? Headly? I think they were just sick of tourist and trying to get everyone out of the country… great way to do it. Could they not have found anyone better? Most of the free shows were better!! Were Metric not available? Arcade Fire? Feist? Poor Neil Yong… must be the worst line up he has ever played with. But I digress.

Looking forward to the Paralympics, hopefully will get to see a sledge hockey game. I love that they have picks on their sticks, are very near the blades they skate on and still check! Pretty full on if you ask me!