Nickels and Dimes {Warning: Vent Session}

I have to vent here for a moment. I am soo furious. It all started the other day when I drove south a couple of hours with the boys and stayed at a place that had no land line. Of course, I didn't think this would be a problem because I had my trusty cell phone. Except that my cell phone wasn't so trusty. At first, I just sounded muffled, but soon no one could hear a word I was saying. By the end of the next day I couldn't even call out. To make matters worse, I was babysitting my niece and couldn't answer the phone when my sister called to check in on her. Do you have any idea how inconvenient it is to be traveling with three kids and no phone? Thank God there were no emergencies.

So much for trusty cell phone.

Then today, I was getting some last minute things taken care of for a road trip we're taking this weekend and I figured, "Hey, I'm going to be doing a lot of traveling over the next month. Maybe I'll finally sign up for that great 'NO CONTRACTS! $29.99 unlimited data plan for iPads!'" But when I called both Apple and AT&T to sign up, I was informed that the plan no longer exists. Now, to take advantage of the promotional offer promised when iPads went on sale, you have to automatically renew each month. Which basically equals a contract, right? I mean, if you cancel you are no longer eligible.

I guess I just really felt like one my worst fears is closer than I imagined. It makes me wonder what the world will be like 20 years from now. Everywhere we go people are glued to their cell phones. No need for casual conversation with the person sitting next to you when you can interact with hundreds of people on facebook right from your phone! Take a look around next time you're at a restaurant or waiting in line somewhere. How many people are playing on phones instead of talking to an actual human being? I keep reading articles on the trouble public libraries are in right now and how people think they're unnecessary nowadays with all the gadgets like e-readers and the internet. Why drive all the way to the library to borrow a book when you can download it for free? And I vow, to never, ever buy an ebook instead of a REAL book. Nothing can replace the feeling of a book in my hand.

I don't know about anyone else but I'm |t h i s| close to burying my electronics in the backyard. Will our grandchildren even know what a library is or will it seem as old-fashioned to them as a drive-in theatre?

I know I'm rambling right now but I feel like all these things are intertwined. I know it is impossible to keep from technology completely; there is a lot of helpful information on the internet, etc. But I am beginning to wonder, how much electronic dependence is too much?