So this weekend I had to go without the Internet at my complex. There are times where I will purposely not use the Internet, so I can focus on other things. I had to play host to two special guests, so I didn’t have much time to really worry about it; but it always interests me how much I rely on it. Like most things, I never realize how much I miss it until I don’t have it. It’s like when I get a paper cut, and I have to invent new ways to lift things. Sometimes I get shampoo in there too…ouch!!!

It really is amazing to me about how things revolve around the Internet and how much it makes us a
“need it now” culture. For Saturday, our crew considered going to see an IMAX show. I mindlessly clicked on Firefox and remembered that I was without service. I actually had to call the IMAX hotline to get movie times. I can’t remember the last time I did that. The last time I saw someone do it was on an episode of Seinfeld where Kramer pretended to be Moviefone. Thank God for Google Mobile!! Earlier that morning, I began writing a piece for this blog and needed a little research. Again, out of habit, I clicked on my Wikipedia shortcut…nada!

For those of us that began Gen-Y (1979-1983), remember when we had to learn all of that card catalogue stuff to do research? I don’t think I ever really learned it all that well. Even early in high school, they tried to teach it to us…crazy. In high school and college, I used the Internet constantly for research. Parents used to say, “We didn’t have the Internet. We had to carry books!” I wonder if I’ll say, “When I was in high school, I didn’t have Google Images, Reader, etc. We had to use Lexis Nexis Boolean search!” I turned 27 today, and the Internet is starting to make me feel old!! ;->

BTW, I’m writing this from one of the four Starbucks in the area because I’m still down on Monday morning…sometimes I just have to have the Internet.