Tackle it Tuesday - Say it with flowers
I think it would be fair to say that I’m a bit of a Luddite on the quiet, or more accurately, technically challenged.
A computer is merely a glorified typewriter and somewhere to lose photographs. A cell phone is something that always needs charging and also hides photographs. This serves to remind me that I have my own special needs, but they could probably all be addressed by a crash course on ‘electronics for beginners.’
As the pace of life speeds up into hyper drive, I take heed of wise words from wise people. My first step is to tackle my spouse, or rather explain that my cup runneth over and I’m in dire need of a jolly big sponge. As is so often the case with the male of the species, he downloads into fix it mode.
“Do you still have that pager I bought you?”
“Pager? Oh….the one when I was pregnant with…..somebody or other?”
“Yes that’s the one.”
“Lummy I haven’t seen that since…..the last umbilical cord was surgically snipped.”
“What about the phone?”
“What about it?”
“Do you ever use it?”
“Of course, although I let most of the messages go to the answering machine.”
“No, not the land line, the cell phone?”
“Oh no, never use that thing if I can possibly avoid it. Anyway, I thought it was just for emergencies?”
“Did you ever manage to recover the data from you Palm?”
“Nope, died with the lap top hard drive and that was that.”
“Any luck changing the shutter speed on the camera?”
“Nope. Can’t find the manual.”
“You know……….you really need to get more organized.”
“?”
“I mean, ……nothing works properly.”
“User friendly my eye!”
“Exactly. I have enough trouble getting back to the basic codes because it’s all basically Linux based but you…….” He looks at me, the body that houses the tiniest working memory on the planet.
“Right!”
“Right?”
“I mean……..what time is it?”
“Er…….late. Dark.”
“Battery flat?”
“Yes, my watch has one of those little round flat batteries and I don’t know where to buy a replacement.”
“I’m off then.”
“Off? Off where?”
“To get you fixed.”
“Fixed as in mended, or fixed as in fixed up?” Or maybe something much worse!
He beams as he leaves which means that he goes to visit Fry’s which means he’ll be gone for hours which means I might as well give up and go to bed.
I do.
The next morning, early in the morning, whilst it’s still dark, because the children are on full charge, I charge downstairs to greet the coffee machine and small people, although in the opposite order.
I am rewarded for my opposite order.
At the coffee machine, where the cup normally fits, I find something else entirely, and no manual.
I squeeze my eyes shut, very tightly, to stop my automatic translator from functioning, as I know it represents several therapy sessions, countless grocery trips and several tanks of petrol.
Who need flowers matey!
Stumble it!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Cool new toy!
I’m the same with my gadgets..basic funcionality only I’m too attention deficit to bother with a manual.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:28 pm
He bought you an iPhone? Wow… I am similar to you but persevered with my mobile as I love texting as much as I love writing for a form of efficient communication. I have trouble with finding my way round things though, for example I got confused trying to leave a comment as it is a big palavar to do it the first time and so it has taken me a couple of visits here to figure out how to do it. Hope my data is saved now…
August 19th, 2008 at 4:09 am
“my cup runneth over and I’m in dire need of a jolly big sponge”… priceless! Hope the gift does its spongy stuff, rather than, erm, adding to the overflow…
Can I confess, I don’t even *have* a cell phone? And, I had to read the comments to figure out what your cool new toy even *was*?!!
Sigh…
August 19th, 2008 at 4:33 am
I long for a simpler world… I’m at that magic age where I can still change- I just don’t want to..
August 19th, 2008 at 4:52 am
ooooh nice, i’m thinking about getting one in a couple weeks myself
August 19th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Ah, welcome to the iPhone!! You will love it. Good solution for all your various technology needs. And all at your fingertips… (It takes great photos, too!!)
August 19th, 2008 at 5:24 am
now THAT’S love
August 19th, 2008 at 5:25 am
Well, I must admit, my first reaction was… what is that?
That’s how sad I am.
August 19th, 2008 at 5:32 am
Wow, is that what it was? I thought it was a new coffee machine! I’m pitiful - LOL! I hope the iphone is easy for you to use!!
August 19th, 2008 at 5:37 am
If I had to make coffee with that thing, I would probably give up coffee! Gasp!
August 19th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Ooooh cool toy, I love cool toys better than flowers which would make me sneeze.
I also love your blog and gave you an award -
http://leechbabe.wordpress.com/2008/08/19/award-and-the-who-are-you-people-meme/
August 19th, 2008 at 6:42 am
While I pride myself in not being technically challenged that EVIL ipod got me. Just try, just try to type in anything - can’t do it!
August 19th, 2008 at 6:53 am
what a man, what a mighty good man! now you must learn to let this gadget be your friend. i’m in despearate need of organization so i think i’ll make my husband read your blog and maybe he’ll take a hint!
August 19th, 2008 at 7:22 am
Gah!!
Have you thought about INSTANT coffee?
August 19th, 2008 at 7:59 am
I’m in the club of people who did not know what was in the photo….very devious of you to place the box in front of a coffee maker.
My palm is 5 years old now and I would no more give-it-up than my Hubby will his paper calendar book.
You are sweet and funny and an excellent storyteller, Maddy.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:30 am
Cool new gadget! Have fun with it!
August 19th, 2008 at 8:31 am
Very very cool, although I’m not sure that an iPhone is going to solve your problems!
I think the key to technology stuff is to persevere and not be afraid to make mistakes–it’s all fixable.
You could just ask one of the kids to figure it out for you–I’ll bet any one of the three could do it in a flash.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I didn’t recognize the iPhone either until I read the comments.
Sometimes technology can be overwhelming. I can charge up my MP3 and cell phone now, but the boys still have to set up the Wii.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:49 am
iphone? I’m drooling over your coffee maker!
*jealous*
August 19th, 2008 at 9:00 am
First off - love your blog, even though this is the first time I’m piping up to say so.
I struggle with technology, too. I muddle my way through new things, then promptly forget how I did it. But, unlike you, my husband is a bigger techo dolt than I. So it’s up to me to buy and figure out all of the technology. I actually dream of the day when my kids can teach me a thing (or 9 million) about computers, cell phones, blackberries, etc.
That having been said, my husband is a sales person’s dream. He buys whatever they tell him at whatever cost (ack!) and relies on me to make it work for him (and to somehow accommodate the expense, but that’s another conversation, isn’t it?). After this very thing happening on several occasions, he is no longer allowed to shop by himself at any place expensive technology is sold. Ever. Ever.
Good luck with your new svelt iphone thingy.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:57 am
WHOA!!!
you have and iphone!!
I work in IT- I’m a MAC person and I don’t have one. Partially because the university gives me a phone on their plan for zip…
YOU WILL LOVE THE IPHONE- It does everything!!!
Love
Suzy
August 19th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Technology wipes the floor with me. Haven’t a clue about all these fandangled contraptions.
CJ xx
August 19th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
That was a great post! I loved the laughs . ..
August 19th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
I am jealous on so many levels.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Wahoo! What an awesome surprise!
August 19th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Well, I guess that could fall under the category of “It’s the thought that counts” except maybe it would have been nice if he’d been waiting for you with that hot cup of coffee before you had to figure it out on your own!
August 21st, 2008 at 6:59 pm
WOW! That would be even better if it had the coffee to go with it! LOL
August 25th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
Lexan wine glasses for my birthday vs. iPhone for no apparent reason . . . You win by miles!
October 7th, 2008 at 9:37 am
[...] I think it would be fair to say that I’m a bit of a Luddite on the quiet, or more accurately, technically challenged. A computer is merely a glorified typewriter and somewhere to lose photographs. A cell phone is something that always needs charging and also hides photographs. This serves to remind me that I have my own special needs, but they could probably all be addressed by a crash course on ‘electronics for beginners.’ As the pace of life speeds up into hyper drive, I take heed of wis Go to Source [...]
November 1st, 2008 at 5:49 pm
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