TEXT SCHMEXT
Saturday, October 18, 2008
First off Fireflies, please keep the introductions coming. Not only do we all love meeting fellow Fireflies, but I know Kristin is going to so enjoy reading each and every one of your posts when she returns. BUT I have to get something off my chest: I am a dinosaur in the texting world. And I like it. I embrace my refusal to upgrade my phone, type with my thumbs, learn thousands of shorthand phrases I know I will never remember. But I have two problems. One I was willing to ignore; the second one I just cannot. First issue (something I think most of us mothers face). Somehow, someway, at some point it became uncool for kids to actually TALK on their cell phones. My kids' motto: Text Not Talk. Though with them, I held firm to my non-texting ways. Stood my ground and all that. If mom calls, they have to pick up. Only fair, I believe, since mom and dad foot the bill. Then came along problem #2. One I cannot ignore. The only way I have to contact Kristin while she is in Africa is through text messages. Yes, Kristin texts. Kristin. The one person I thought would stay in the texting dark ages with me forever has gone to the other side. For nearly two weeks I have not talked to her. Now I know most people would probably enjoy a break from their boss, but I am going through serious Kristin withdrawals. Not only do I miss her, but I am dying to hear how her trip is going. While my kids have not been able to drag me into the world of texting, Kristin just might. No, not might, will. This weekend I am going to have to borrow a phone and have my kids teach me how to send a message. I know reception is spotty at best in Africa, but when and if I hear back from her, you Fireflies will be the first to know. But I have to know: Am I the only person who isn't texting?
Kim
14 Comments:
Hi Kim. You absolutely positively are NOT the only person who doesn't text. I have tried, and have actually sent one or two, but only after several fumbling, bumbling attempts and much laughter from my daughters. They have tried to teach me, but I remain, quite sadly, text illiterate. I don't know many of the shorthand stuff either, so it can take me half an hour to type two lines and then, dear God, actually send it. Seriously. And like you, I'm resigned to it. I'm glad to know there is someone else with the same attitude and ineptness as me. Thank you. (-;
Anita
Oh, Anita, you have made me day! My boys should meet your daughters. Haven't heard them laugh so hard in a long time as I spent a half hour trying to create a text. (This from the woman who can type nearly a 100 words a minute!) But I did it. Message sent to our dear Kristin. Now, if I haven't goofed up, let's pray she receives it. :) But once Kristin returns, I'm back to my no texting policy. LOL
Kim
PS So my kids were trying to teach me a litle texting shorthand. What does PIR mean, Mom? Me: have NO clue. Parent in room. They fired about ten more at me and I failed them all. Well, then they said what does POS mean. Now, I do not know about the rest of you, but POS was a shorthand I DID know. And I remember using it quite frequently regarding my first car. Well I guess POS now has a new meaning in the text age: Parent Over Shoulder. ha ha ha
I do not text and I'm proud of it! ;-)
My cell phone lives in my car. One day it made a sound I never heard. I picked it up and it read "You have one text message". I was so shocked and rather alarmed I tossed it out of my hand like it was on fire! I figured out how to read it and it was the service provider "Thank you for your payment."
So can I be honest Kim? :) You NEED to learn to text! Hahaha! Even if you hate it! Which I don't blame you for that. But it is a nice way to send something quick to your kids without having to call. And if there's a huge emergency, (like a hurricane) a text will usually work better than if you can't call through to 911. Anyway, just babbling, it's what I do best. :) I love that you told us Kristin doesn't like chocolate. I feel even closer to her! I don't like chocolate either. I love the salt! Bring on the SALT. Gee maybe that's why I need to lose weight! I can eat chocolate but not too fond of it.
You should make it down to AZ sometime! It's getting nice and cool here. Best time to come is in the fall. Beautiful weather. All the old folks come here! Of course were the hottest state too, so no coming in the summer months!
I love this blog and so happy I can be a part of the Firefly girls!
Andi
Okay, Andi, you are out-numbered two to one (way to save me Anita and Lynn!! LOL LOL) But I have a feeling my kids are going to keep at me and one day I'm gonna break. And I'm so with you on the salt. Especially when it rims a margarita glass!!! ha ha ha ha ha
I might even out the scales!
I DO text. =D But I am by no means a hardcore texter. But I do occasionally text. I do prefer calling someone over texting. But texting does come in handy.
Case in point; if there is an emergency and your phone's ringer is turned off if someone was trying to call you, you would never know. But if they texted you the text would show up. And sometimes, it can't wait. Like if your kids were stranded on a deserted road somewhere and you were in a meeting!
But shorthand does annoy me. It takes TWO seconds more to type out the whole word! Just do it!
Hope Kristin is having loads of fun & stays safe!!!
Okay, Wendy has evened the playing field. :) BUT MY INTERNATIONAL TEXT WORKED!!! I heard back from Kristin. She is having the time of her life. She said she'd try calling but the time difference will make it hard. I've sent another text (can you believe it?!?!) asking her to give us more details on the trip. Can't wait to hear.
Kim
Kim, so great that you heard from Kristin. I'm glad she is having a great time. I'm with you on the texting, although I caved and now use it to communicate with the kids. I don't mind it, but like Wendy - am annoyed to pieces with the abbreviations. Spit it out for goodness sakes. Another irritation to me is the progressive text, where you type a few letters and the word populates for you. My daughter doesn't understand why I don't use that. Why it takes me so long to text her back. I refuse to learn. =)
Tip to anyone who wants it - I've started this with the kids, and it does work in keeping some bit of verbal communication going with them. If they text something that I would prefer to TALK about (I have that right as mom, right?) ..... I will text back my standard reply of "too much for text, call me if important to you" ........ works every time. I have to draw the line somewhere =)
Must run for a bit, but all of you take care. It's been SO much fun reading about everyone and getting to know you.
New books I just bought yesterday - Tomorrow's Promise (Sandra Brown), Here's The Story (Maureen McCormick - GO Marcia!).
One more thing ... I walked yesterday in the Alzheimer's Memory Walk in Fort Worth. Joining me was my daughter, her boyfriend's mother, and my best friend. It was a gorgeous Fall day in Texas and a reminder of how blessed I am, regardless of the challenges I face. Please keep victims of this disease, and their caregivers, in your thoughts and prayers.
Peace, Love, and Fireflies!
Lisa
I started texting one of the times my husband was in the hospital. It takes A LOT less signal to text than call so I could receieve texts but wasn't getting any calls through. It also wasn't nearly as distracting to Jim for me to text instead of talking to 800 concerned people. Now, I'm hooked and have hooked most of my friends and family!! My mom is a hold out and one of my best friends' husbands thinks it's archaic to text so neither one of them have it. My step kids think I'm pretty cool and honestly, I bet they stay more in contact with me because they can just drop me a note whenever instead of actually having to have the time for a conversation. :)
Enjoy the lessons, soon you'll be hooked too!
I CAN text, but I stink at it. I'm really bad. I allow friends and family to text me, but they all know never to expect a response. It takes a long time on my phone, and I refuse to use short hand as I believe it contributes to the stupidity of the country. Maybe if I eventually get a new phone and it's easier. Oh, I should mention I get my texts like hours late so between that issue and the issue that it takes a lot of time and cursing to send an easy text, that's why I do not. Even if I did know how to text, my daughter will somehow be smarter than I am when it comes to electronics.
Hi fireflies! I just figured out that I'm going to ask for a nice firefly necklace for Christmas!
I really don't like texting much. As for my sister, I think she's texted her fingers off! I just pick up the phone and call!
Kim, as one of Kristin's characters might put it, it's "way cool" that you've heard from her! YAY KRISTIN!!
I see your TRUE COLORS... LOL... oh, I'm sorry, I mean, Laugh Out Loud...
Thanks for the encourgement Kim!
First off, my fellow Fireflies, I've failed you. Strip me of my Temporary Queen Firefly title. I have failed you all. Kristin CALLED this morning and I missed the call. I'm soooooooooo devastated. :( Darn kids, why can't they take the bus to school like everyone else?!?!
Lisa, I really like the compromise you reached with your kids. Also, huge kudos on the memory walk. I love how so many diseases are being brought to light in such a positive way. Doing good AND getting exercise. Please let me know what you think of Maureen McCormick's book--I saw her on a talk show and it sounded really intriguing.
Shirley, you reminded me of something very important and I want to thank you. The times my daughter has been in the hospital, her phone (texting) has been her life line. Literally. One, the hospital tells you you can't use cell phones, but now texting... My daughter stayed connected with all of her friends--and even more important, she didn't feel as if she was being left out. So, thank you. You have reminded me that texting has a real and positive place in this world. Now, when she thinks she can text and drive--THAT is where I draw the line. LOL
Take it from me April, by the time your daughter is six, she'll be texting like a pro. LOL LOL LOL
Michelle, one of my goals is to find a really cool Firefly pin or necklace or ???? that all of us Fireflies can have. So that way, if we are at a conference or booksigning, etc. we'll be able to spot each other. If you or anyone else finds the coolest Firefly accessory, please let me know!!! :)
Kim
PS Anyone else watching Samantha Who? tonight? She was planning a trip to Africa, then when she saw how many pills and shots she had to take, she RAN!!!! LOL
I don't text. Part of the reason is because it costs more with our plan and we're dealing with a tight budget so have cut out everything we can live without until after the renovations are finished. Texting was among the first to go, lol!
I can text. I hate all the abbreviations and short hand. Not because I don't know what they stand for, but because I think it's really lazy. And I'm already lazy enough, lol!
Maybe once the renovations are finished and we get new phones I'll get a phone with a full QWWERTY keyboard and will text. Until then, not texts for me! THough I did find I can text people through Yahoo! instant messenger. Interesting, huh?
I've tried texting but I really prefer the old-fashioned way of just leaving a message. I still live in the stone age as far as technology is concerned! However I guess texting can be fun. My husband and I are in agreement that pushing those tiny buttons on a cell phone is hard enough when you are making a call!
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