Dana Keeton Column November 28
My husband and I recently purchased a home computer (yes, I know, we�re a little behind everyone else) so I have discovered the joy of online chat. Not chat in the actual chat rooms, though I have ventured into some of those only to retreat in horror at the content. Call me a prude but the topic of most of those conversations leaves little to the imagination. I�m talking about chatting with friends and family. I�m addicted. It�s amazing because I am not a big talker, but put a keyboard in front of me and you can�t shut me up. Not actually being face to face with people dissipates all the awkwardness and suddenly everyone�s very assertive. Goes to show you how shallow we are as people.
I also get really excited about free stuff. Give me something free and I like it. So when I discovered I could download music from the Internet and I didn�t even have to pay for it � look out, I�m a downloading machine. It�s funny though, because there is so much free stuff on the Internet you think there�s got to be a catch, like I�m half expecting the Internet police to bust in and carry me off to cyber prison, and sometimes there is a catch, but for the most part it�s great. Just the fact that I can talk at once to my mom, sister, an aunt and uncle and two cousins who live in another state, for hours, without paying long distance charges is enough for me.
Chatting with my mother online is a trip. She is not. . . how can I say this nicely, very computer savvy. She is also one of those peck-typers. When she is chatting with my sister and I she gets lost in all of the computer jargon, LOL (laugh out loud), ROFL (roll on the floor laughing), BRB (be right back), and so forth, and it always makes for a great time. She tries, bless her heart.
My husband Josh and my son David are hopelessly addicted to e-bay. Just last week I was awakened to the sound of cheers and high-fives over some deal they just scored. It�s scary. Josh will spend hours searching for, of all things, tools. I cannot for the life of me figure out what is fun about tools. David puts the same determination into the latest fashions. And they say women like to shop.
My daughter, Jordan has yet to catch this Internet fever. For now she�s content with drawing pictures in the paint program and printing them for all to see. I do, however, see a twinkle in her eye at the prospect of an incoming e-mail message.
Thanksgiving is almost upon us. I�m planning on traveling out of state to celebrate with my husband�s family. Being a newlywed, I will have to accustom myself to a whole new family with different holiday customs. Wish me luck.
About this time every year I hear the same phrase from different people: �It seems like the holidays come sooner and sooner each year.� It always makes me laugh because, since I can remember, Thanksgiving has always come the fourth Thursday of November, Christmas on Dec. 25, and New Year�s Day has always been on Jan. 1.
As always, we encourage you to send us your news. Give us a call or stop by and tell us what you would like to see in your paper.
(Dana Keeton is the office manager/writer at The Knox Leader.)
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