For years I couldn’t figure out how anyone could spend hours, if not days, on a computer. Chat rooms, blog posts, YouTube — or whatever — could not peak my interest or hold my attention. E-mailing, keeping up with national news and the occasional shopping are the things I really want to do. But, when even those seemingly simple tasks required staring at a small screen and waiting on programs to load — it was not a good use of my time.
Well, things changed when my daughter arrived back in Austin after completing her degree. She couldn’t help but constantly point out how slow and ridiculous my “completely inadequate” computer was. I have to admit, it was depressing to sit in the dark in an uncomfortable chair and wait for my Outlook to to open or download. Meanwhile — everyone else is out and about, anywhere in the house using their laptops while utilizing the wireless network (which we have had since they became available…but not for me!)
Unknowingly, I got left behind in the digital age. As the mom, and least tech-savvy of the bunch, I inherited all the old hardware. My high-tech family cheerfully dumped all their old gear on me whenever they got the latest and greatest gadgets. So, for years I was stuck using an out-of-date desktop that lived in the closet of one of our guest rooms. How did I get out of this tech slump (and the closet)? I took charge of my technology situation.
Coming out of the closet and into functional furnishings centered around a new, space-saving Dell All-In-One PC
With a new computer and a new office set-up, the cyber-world is looking better! My customized leather bucket style chair (new legs to accommodate rollers) allows me to lounge while I surf the ‘net, play with my digital camera, keep up with friends, and follow the news. Shelving for reference books and a few mementos make the space functional and fun. Okay, and the large work table and matching file drawers from IKEA do really help me define my own personal work space.
Let me just say to all of you who have put off getting a new computer (for almost 10 years like me): “Do it now!” Many of my friends complain about their ancient and slow computers and how nothing seems to work right. A lot of these women have much better computers at work, but nothing at home to use for fun. And, spending time on your computer can be fun when it’s up to speed. I used to think I was a technology hostage — sitting around waiting or trying to figure out why things were not working. I must say, it made it worse to do all this while stuck in a closet!
August 11th, 2008 at 9:00 am
Hi ME<
I’m impressed! I’ll add you to my bookmarked favorite blogs. I’m still too lazy to start! MJ
August 11th, 2008 at 9:41 am
Very Nice! I am half there. I have a very nice work Laptop computer that I bring home nightly. I just don’t have a home computer. (the family really needs a home computer).
I like that chair, that looks real comfy! I have the 70’s burnt orange metal chair with a cushion as hard as cement. I usually opt for sitting on the non-ergo couch which kills my wrists.
Congrats on the set up!
August 11th, 2008 at 9:42 am
This is me in a nutshell. I work on a computer all day long at work but when it comes to doing fun things at home, forget it, I’m completely technologically challenged. All those fun things that everyone else seems to know how to do are foreign to me. I love your blog. Excuse me, tell me again, what is a “blog”?
Thanks. I will bookmark it too. But, what’s a bookmark? Just kidding. Even I know what that is, sort of.
August 11th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Really nice photo! I got a new digital camera for mother’s day - I still haven’t learned how to download the photos however it is my goal to get it done this fall.
Love the look of your cozy space - keep blogging, you are too fun!
August 11th, 2008 at 10:14 am
I am so proud of you for coming out of the closet. Like you I am surrounded by teckies and all I do on the computer is check my email, shop and play games. I think that I need to follow in your footsteps. Keep encouraging us not-so-techies.
August 11th, 2008 at 10:15 am
MEK - this is nice (and cute). I’m so happy to hear that you have joined in with the rest of the world … and out of that closet! My “gadgets” have become my friends instead of my phobia, too. Can’t wait to see your new set-up.
Keep it up ! jc
August 11th, 2008 at 10:57 am
Mary Ellen,
Good for you! Welcome to the REAL world.
Not that we will ever catch up with our totally technically, geeked out children, but at least our attempts at computer literacy seem genuinely appreciated by them (and we all know how hard it is to get a rise out of our kids.) When they receive an unexpected photograph we’ve successfully uploaded from our digital camera or get a PDF we’ve created by scanning a page from a magazine- I wonder if it occurs to them …”How cool is that that my Mom is “with it?”
Ok I’m giving my kids WAY TOO MUCH credit……….but in a perfect world they’d see how far we fossils have come, struggling to become part of this alien world that’s as easy as breathing- coming totally naturally- to them. (And YES I have techno envy!)
Kudos to you!
Liz
August 11th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I totally agree! Too many women have slow computers while their husbands have the latest and greatest. Women are just as good with computers as men are, so long as we have a decent computer to start with.
August 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Nice blog and nice set-up. It makes all the difference when you want to spend a long time or just hop on and hop off when you have a nice computer. And, I love having a space of my own. Congratulations.
Suzanna:)
August 11th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
You reminded me of my first apartment - everything was tiny except the closet… so that’s where the desk went. Thanks for sharing!
August 11th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
mek — Way to go, girlfriend! I am jealous!
August 11th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
I love your new computer space and blog! After hearing about your computer at lunch, I think that we all need one to make our lives easier. I can’t wait to come by and see your new space in person.
Good for you-
Laurie
August 11th, 2008 at 11:07 pm
We have been conditioned to make sure our children and husbands have the new toys, and we take what`s left over because there is still use in it and we don`t want to waste the money. It is certainly time for all of the ladies to ” come out of the closet.” We need to have up to date technology to keep pace with the changing world. The bottom line is, we are the people that take care of every one in the household, we need to take care of our selves some times.
August 13th, 2008 at 11:11 am
I am so proud of you! You are my hero, to step right out there and show the world you are out there. Now we will come to our hero when we need help to be more creative and pro active in the techy world. I love the picture of you, and your office looks like a comfy place to be.