I’ve been sitting at my computer for maybe a half an hour but can’t seem to pull my eyes away from the game that my 10 year old is playing on his X-Box.  That shit is amazing.  I think one of the benefits of being born before the world had benefit of all this gadgetry is that I am so easily amazed by technology.  I don’t know that kids these days (by kids I mean anyone under 40) can truly appreciate how mystical technology can seem to a geezer like me.  I grew up with three channels of black and white TV, a piece of rope and a sock puppet.  I loved my sock puppet.    

            I know a little bit about technology.  I used to be the IT guy for a large mid west credit union.  Yeah, that guy.  I worked in a cubicle, and yes it was in the basement.  Many of you who may have seen my show know that my stapler was blue, however, so I think I was just a wee bit cooler than Milton from Office Space.  And yet even with a technology background there are times when I will just sit and stare in awe at my cell phone.  The other day I was traveling at highway speed on the DC Beltway, (4 mph) talking to my daughter in London while she ambled around the shops of Piccadilly Circus.  How freekin’ cool is that? 

            Out in my garage I have a shelving unit four foot wide and seven feet tall.  It is filled to capacity with all my old LP albums that I refuse to part with.  I would imagine that collection of records weighs in the neighborhood of 1000 pounds.  My I-Pod, had I not left it in my pants pocket before doing the laundry, would hold 5 times the music that those vinyl discs contain.  That blows me away.  If you see my wife any time between now and Christmas I’m thinking a Droid might make a great replacement for my I-Pod.  And that Droid!  It’s… it… oh never mind.  You guys know all about it.  Phone apps are out of this world these days.  I still don’t get it though.  How they can cram 5,000 pounds of LPs, a 5 megapixel camera, a GPS unit, web browser, game system, and computer applications into a piece of plastic smaller than my wallet that rings when my momma wants to talk to me is beyond me. 

            I suppose what prompted me to write about how amazed I am by technology began early this morning when I awoke and practiced my old man morning rituals.  It starts with the nine - minute urination that we used to laugh about when it was our grand fathers trickle that seemed to go on forever and ever.  Then after I shower I apply my ever trusty Rogain-anti-balding-creme, take my arthritis medicine, and put on my reading glasses, none of which I needed only five years ago.  It made me contemplate how quickly life moves along whether you are paying attention or not.  So take time today and stare at your damn cell phone for a moment.  That shit is amazing and you should appreciate that people paid enough attention in school to make gizmo’s like that available to you.  Then get yer butt in gear and do what ever you have to do to make it a great day.  Time flies and you don’t want to miss anything.