jlsathre

jlsathre
Location
Illinois,
Birthday
July 30
Bio
I'm a lawyer in my past life, who got the kids through college and decided to try something different and a little more fun. A used book store sounded like a good idea, so that's where I am for now. I just hadn't counted on a recession or E-readers and am a little afraid there's going to be a third act. In the meantime, I have plenty to read and a little time to write. Not a bad way to spend a day.

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Salon.com
JULY 5, 2012 10:02AM

I Might Be Busy If I Had a Smart Phone--Open Call

Rate: 22 Flag

There was a time when I was busy. With two young daughters, a full time job and no husband, there was seldom a time when something wasn't getting done. Trash out on Tuesday, softball games on Saturday, Volleyball on Tuesday, homework to monitor, yards to mow, overflowing laundry baskets, shopping carts to fill, bathtimes to monitor, parent-teacher conferences, birthday parties to plan, baby-sitters to schedule, but first I need to call the plumber, and the vet, and the dentist. And, oh yeah, dinner. Every darn night.

"Girls, have we had dinner yet?"

"No?"

"Okay, then. How about Spaghettios?"

"I know we had them yesterday, but I have a brief due tomorrow and you guys have no clean underwear for the rest of the week, so it's either Spaghettios, Mac and Cheese, or no underwear. Your choice."

"Mac it is!"

Times have changed. The kids gew up, the job was walked away from, the house was downsized to an apartment, and a bookstore was opened...

...where I sit and wait for people to come in, do a couple crosswords, whip through some sodukos, read a couple chapters, talk to kids who wander in, help a few people find a book, discuss authors, do a little writing and a little reading on Open Salon, shelve some books, enjoy the day, and go home...

...where nobody is waiting for dinner. I can cook whatever I want, whenever I want, and eat it for days, wash my single pan and single plate by hand, watch a little CNN with no disruptions, take a leisurely bath, tidy up, enjoy a glass of wine, read another couple chapters, feel the sun or a breeze on my face, and sit back and think,

"Darn! It's only 8:00. What do I do now?"

It almost makes me think I should get a smart phone. Those people are always busy.

                    smarphone walkers 

Even when they don't have a single thing to do.

                    phil and_nate

They make the most of every minute.

                     smarphone hug

Wherever they happen to be.

                        Halley vacation

 And whatever they happen to be doing. 

                        phil checkers

Me? I'm hardly busy at all these days. Sometimes I  wonder if I'm wasting my life. If people are calling me lazy. If I'm missing out on something. I think I might need a smart phone. 

Maybe two. 

                      images-smartphone

 

 

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I like your non busy life. I was just reading in the Celestine Prophesies that you need to know how to be alone so that when you do get with another person you are not desperately trying to suck the energy out of them. You know where to get your own energy from the world around you. So I think you are fine and yet, a smart phone would be lots of fun. Having a sweetie to text with little xoxoxoxos is delicious.
zanelle
July 05, 2012 10:11 AM
I do have a smart phone. I have no idea what all those chimes and jingles mean. I think it tries to talk to me. Not sure. I can dial it; that's a plus. My regular phone bill is now $9.50 a month. So - guess I am smarter. But then again - maybe not.
The Songbird
July 05, 2012 10:11 AM
I am indeed one of those busy people. I have set a rule for myself, however. If I am in the presence of another person, my Blackberry is off. It continually threatens to eat up time and take me out of the moment. If I must carry the thing, it will have plenty of attention from me before I pull away from a parking spot or before I enter my building of employment. I can count on one hand the number of times I have sat down with someone and begged their pardon for keeping my phone on in anticipation of a critical call or message. A big fear is for me to become like one of those people in these pictures.
Paul Fornale
July 05, 2012 10:21 AM
Great post, by the way. Rated.
Paul Fornale
July 05, 2012 10:21 AM
Great response to the OC. I do have an iPhone, but I keep it off in public places. However, I do find myself checking email probably more than I need to, or popping onto OS, or Facebook. Busy is all relative. Probably more of a time waster than anything.
lschmoopie
July 05, 2012 10:39 AM
Like Songbird, I have a smartphone, and no idea what to do with it except make outgoing calls -- no one besides The Redhead has the number -- and take pictures. Guess I'm a Luddite at heart.

I'm comfortable with that.
Boanerges1
July 05, 2012 10:44 AM
Me too.... "'Me? I'm hardly busy at all these days. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting my life. If people are calling me lazy. If I'm missing out on something. I think I might need a smart phone. "

Smart suggestion the Smart Phone.
Olga Stathi
July 05, 2012 10:58 AM
Nope. I think you're the one that's doing it right.
sweetfeet
July 05, 2012 11:07 AM
Sit outside, listen to the birds...enjoy one of the books from your store, take a nap, so many things that do not need a phone.
Liberal Southern Democrat
July 05, 2012 11:09 AM
"Busy" is good only when you think someone might be watching you.
Chicken Mãâàn
July 05, 2012 11:30 AM
I'll take a non-busy life over the "busy" life of a smart phone any-day.
Rachel Velamur
July 05, 2012 11:49 AM
My non contract cell phone company keeps sending me messages to buy more minutes... they can't believe I can get by on 400 minutes twice a year. Great post, brought a smile this AM.
jmac1949
July 05, 2012 12:13 PM
I have no phone. I own a Tracfone that just makes calls.
I do wonder what people would do with all their spare time if they did not have one.
Glory be.. they would all go insane..
HUGGGGGG
Linda Seccaspina
July 05, 2012 12:22 PM
I don't have a smart phone and I think I'm doing just fine. Great post. Glad you can stop and smell the roses.
Bernadine Spitzsnogel
July 05, 2012 12:26 PM
Haha! Well done! I don't have a smartphone and while I can see how useful they must be, like for example if you need information quickly while out somewhere, I just can't bring myself to get one. I feel like they're conversation-destroyers; I've been out in big groups of people and they barely talk to each other. Too busy checking out their smart phones.

Your life sounds lovely. If you want something to take up your spare time, have you thought about writing a book?
Alysa Salzberg
July 05, 2012 12:36 PM
I hate to say it, but all those people who sit there and stare at their phones when they are in the company of others remind me of that bad 1980s flick "The Gods Must Be Crazy." Remember the Coke bottle and the fascination it stirred in the hearts of people who had never seen a "modern" product? ... I can't decide whether it's plain rude, a sign of low intelligence, or immaturity. Thoughts?
Deborah Méndez Wilson
July 05, 2012 02:14 PM
You sound busy as it is. I like being busy on my own, but have to say that a smartphone does help keep one from feeling alone, in an instant.
Lea Lane
July 05, 2012 02:37 PM
I've stopped reading my magazine subscriptions since I got my phone, but otherwise, I am capable of ignoring it. It is nice to have instant info.
just phyllis
July 05, 2012 03:51 PM
Thanks to everyone for reading and commenting. I'm tempted to say that I just got a Smart phone and am too busy to reply, but really I'm just trying to finish a good book.
jlsathre
July 05, 2012 04:02 PM
Although I am never rude about it, I DO have a smartphone and would not be without it. I won't bore you with all the reasons, but there are many. But yesterday, at our annual 4th of July Neighborhood picnic, my next-door neighbor, who had told me she wasn't coming, showed up about an hour late and joined our table. She spent half the time checking her iPhone for text messages. Then she started laughing and giggling in response to the text messages she was receiving. I wanted to smack her. If those messages were so important, why didn't she just stay home and take them?!? (I know the answer -- free food.)

Lezlie
L in the Southeast
July 05, 2012 04:54 PM
@Lezlie: I have nothing against smartphones. I used to write for Wireless Week, a national trade publication that covers the international wireless industry. I was writing about smartphones, texting and mobile apps 12 years ago, long before they became mainstream. I love technology. I just don't understand how anyone - such as your neighbor - could think that it is acceptable to make love to her phone when she is in a group of people. Anyone can do that. The smart ones show some restraint. Unless one is a personal adviser to the White House (or something like that), I think it looks incredibly gauche and amateurish to be Web surfing instead of connecting to people in the real world. Just my two cents.
Deborah Méndez Wilson
July 05, 2012 06:33 PM
I don't have anything against smartphones either. I do have a problem with people thinking they have to be connected all the time, and that being connected is more important than what's going on around them. My guess is that if I had one, I'd enjoy it and find it useful. My fear is that I might enjoy it a little too much. So I stick with my outdated flip phone, forgetting to even put in in my purse about half the time.
jlsathre
July 05, 2012 07:10 PM
And Deborah, I loved that movie.
jlsathre
July 05, 2012 07:19 PM
Oh, I understand this! My phone stays in my car 24/7--I try very hard not to use it too much--it seems like a really addictive toy...
Pensive Person
July 05, 2012 07:33 PM