What no internet?!

A few days ago, I read about some young people who went on a self-imposed media fast for three months. The idea behind it was to have an escape from the never ending flow of advertising, images and well, media, that surely has an effect on how we perceive ourselves, and those around us. Wow, that sounds like a great idea, I thought to myself. But I couldn’t do it, because I need to be online to keep in contact with people while I’m living so far away from my family and friends. And while I could cut out commercial TV, would I really want to cut out dvds at times when Dave is out, the kids are in bed and I have laundry to fold? Could I handle sitting quietly, folding laundry, with no distractions? And actually, blah blah blah, more excuses and reasons why a media fast probably wouldn’t really work for me…

This morning I sat down at the computer to check my email, and was redirected to my internet service provider’s page with the heading “Suspension reason”. Whaaaaat? I called up my husband. Once again, Whaaaaat? Turns out the direct debit that pays for the internet came out of an account with no money in it, oh well, tomorrow we can pay the bill. “It’ll probably be good for you to have a day off the computer!” laughed Dave. No! No. Whaaat!

Okay, well, it’s not like I have any shortage of things to do. Washing, housework, building Duplo with Isabel…oh wait, I have to print something today, but we are out of print cartridge. Maybe I can just email it to Dave at work…wait, no. Dammit! Okay back to child rearing. Hey, let’s make some play dough. Now how do I make play dough again- I’ll just google it. GAH! Come on! No play dough.

Isabel just told me that you should never kiss baddies. And you never marry bad guys because then you kiss them. Haha, that’s funny. Maybe I’ll update my status. Or not.

Now, I remember I was meaning to respond to a friend’s email- no worries, I’ll just call them. Except, of course, the number at which to reach them is only to be found online. Let’s fold some laundry instead in front of a dvd- fun stuff! 127 hours, it’s so intense…I wonder how much of this is based on the real guy’s actual account of what happened and how much is creative liberties? I’m going to google it. Oh yeah. No I’m not.

Thank goodness this is only for one day. Please, let it be fixed tomorrow.

But a media fast would be really beneficial for some people.

Leaving home....again

I am currently in the process of moving house, for the seventh time in my six years of marriage. In that time, we have accumulated a bunch of stuff and a bunch of little people with their own stuff. We have made friends, only to move away. I have finally grasped the basic layout of a particular town only to leave and start over in a new one!

So, we start over in Busselton, small town by the ocean, where my husband grew up, and has a new job. My first question in my head as we contemplated the move was, Does Busselton even have a gym?!? (The answer is yes, I think there are three.) The next question is yeah, but do they meet my fussy criteria? (Answer- probably not, maybe time to hire a treadmill.) The rest of my demands for living were less critical after living in Bunbury has prepared me to go without, at least between visits to Perth. Things like Gelare, Pure n Natural (for their frozen yoghurt soft serve)...yeah, I think they all involve ice cream.

I spent the first part of the moving process escaping to Perth with bub, while my husband stayed behind with the kids and started boxing things up and shifting some furniture. (Sucka!!) I have now arrived home to chaos, and I don't like it!! We are surrounded by boxes, and large spaces where furniture was, and random toys and clothes and items I don't think I want to do without until I discover them again in another few days. Every time I think of something I should do, I remember I can't until I find a crucial piece of equipment involved. So while the boys are off picking up a trailer, I am hiding behind the computer.

While I am contemplating starting over, I have a few 'resolutions' I want to put in place. These are not New Years resolutions, I recently decided that if I want to change something about myself, I'll change it. Regardless of the date or social events involving good food. (Tell me you don't know what I'm talking about!!)

1) I will try to be a more courteous driver. Not that I consider myself to be a discourteous driver, but I do live in WA, and our reputation is pretty bad. Also, when I see other arrogant drivers, I wonder if they are just arrogant in general, or if they just get that way behind the wheel? I do not want to be an arrogant person, therefore, I will not be an arrogant driver.

2) Work on my running. I was never, ever a runner, and was quietly in awe of them. People who claimed to love running were, frankly, complete nutbags. But somehow, I gradually built up, and I can run 5km without stopping. I want to stretch this out to longer.

3) I want to get some distance between myself and the internet. There are obviously many perks to having internet access whenever you like, but I think in this information age my brain is suffering from an information overload. There are just too many articles, too many opinions, too much going on and I am finding it pretty overwhelming, so I think it's time to cool it a bit.

Farewell Bunbury, I know I complained about your high volume of bogans, and the mullets and rattails I saw on children, but I met some great friends. I hope 45 minutes isn't too far away!