TUESDAY THOUGHTS: TECHNOLOGY

I'm usually very behind when it comes to switching to new technologies. 

I was the last person I knew among my friends, family, and acquaintances to purchase a microwave. 

My Dad had a very valid point. "There's something wrong with anything that heats up the food, but the plate stays cold..."

When my daughter graduated from college, I bought myself a graduation present. I figured it was time to put away the desktop dinosaur--especially since it had begun to sound like the engine of a very large, old truck. 

I was very proud of my decision to purchase a laptop computer. 

Last year, after 3 or so crashes, and four or so frantic searches for the startup disc that reverted it back to its original factory configuration, it bid me a final "welcome" that was really a “goodbye”.

A very savvy computer technician spared me all of the technical terms to describe my ailing computer's symptoms, and simply said, "Let it go". 
Thanks to him, I'm typing on a nice little Dell that hasn't done anything strange…yet. 

Oh. Did I mention I'm not dialing up anymore? That was always fun. Every now and then, I can still hear the sound...

I don't know what it is about me and change, when it comes to gadgets. 

Maybe it's an extension of my propensity to become comfortable with what works. 

Take television, for instance…Unless I'm traveling and in a hotel, I have no idea what life is like on cable TV. 

I have never subscribed to cable at home. 

Perhaps, since my grandmother only had 3 channels in Addis, Louisiana all those years ago, and I didn't die from a lack of variety, something stuck in my psyche. 

I can't watch all of the channels that local and national programming provide today, so even though I love television, hundreds more stations don't seem that appealing to me. 

I am frequently told about all of the things I've missed--including performances of which I was actually a part. 

I have noticed, though, that network television will always let me see what I've missed out on, eventually.

There are converter boxes and rabbit ears in my life. The other day, I looked at the corner where one of the televisions reside, and realized how outdated the whole scene was. 

I adore music, but don't own an ipod, nor mp3 player. Had my old cell phone not decided that it no longer desired an intimate relationship with the battery charger anymore, I wouldn't have purchased my Sprint Rumor. 

There was something about the little sliding keyboard that intrigued and convinced me to make a purchase. 

I was sure I saw a hint of pity on the salesman's face when he told me how long I had been overdue for an upgrade.

I'm looking at my Bose headphones now. 

I've decided. 

Bose and duct tape just don't go together--not even black duct tape, wrapped as neatly as my artsy self believed it should be. 

I'm not sure how both sides of the headphones cracked. I was sure the crazy glue would hold. 

I was wrong. Now my headphones, that are worthy of their own case, have added bulk that's not attractive at all-- but they still work. 

They just don't get to go out in public anymore. 

I suppose it's time to get some new ones, but for now, they still provide great sound, and cancel out the most annoying intruders of my listening pleasure.

I've preferred to try and retain what I've learned, and not depend upon a crutch, but I realize I am slowly creeping up on 50. 

That seeming eternity of standing and staring into the closet, refrigerator, or cabinet, and trying to remember why I'd opened the door, convinced me that I needed to take a tape recorder to rehearsal. 

I still have a small cassette recorder, but decided to take the micro cassette recorder to rehearsal last week. 

I was so proud. I had batteries, and several micro cassettes that I discovered among other things, as I busied myself indoors cleaning during the big snowapalooza/snowfecta in February. 

(I even found an unopened package of Maxell tapes. 

I wonder if the Smithsonian wants them? 

I found a CD walkman. 

I found every movie I owned on VHS. 

I even dusted off the VCR.)

The micro-cassette recorder whizzed along at the last rehearsal. I made sure that after I pressed what I guessed was play/record, (I couldn't see the tiny symbols) I didn't touch it again for the rest of the night. 

When I got home, I rewound the tape and pressed "play". 

Apparently, I had been at a rehearsal with Alvin and The Christian Chipmunks. 

After flipping the recorder over a few times, I found the microscopic little switch that controlled the tape speed. It wasn't the best sound in the world, but I had actually recorded the rehearsal. 

My daughter saw me with the recorder and shook her head. "Mommy, why didn't you take the digital one?" 

When I tweeted about listening to my tape, a friend tweeted back, "You mean CASSETTE tape?"
So. Last night, I went to rehearsal with the digital recorder in tow. I hit record one time, and just let it go. I think I only paused it once. 

I'm listening to what's on the digital recorder now. 

I have yet to hear what took place last night. 

The rehearsal for last year's Capital Jazz Super Cruise, however, sounds wonderful. 

I do recall seeing "02" last night, and that's what I'm seeing now. 

Perhaps last night's rehearsal is on this same channel. 

I don't know. 

There's no fast forward or rewind button to push. *sigh*

I did go to school, I think.

Fortunately, a fellow choir member taped the rehearsal, and once again has forwarded the mp3 files, via e-mail, to everyone. 

I want the Lord to dish out one of those life-changing blessings to him for doing it, because without the benefit of the recording he so graciously shared with everyone, I would have to rely on my memory, and I really don't want to find myself at the next rehearsal holding all of the lyrics sheets in my hands. 

I want to know the songs backward and forward by then--and I think that's the way it ought to be. 

I also want to remember all of the instructions for the dynamics, and any changes made from the first rehearsal, too. 

If I had to depend on the tape I thought I was making last night, I'd be a little short. 

And there's another thing. Richard has been more than prepared. He's given very concise instructions. The songs are beautiful. There's a level of respect that I have for anyone who labors to teach. 

I was a teacher. Nothing was more infuriating than finding out that people weren't paying attention, didn't study, or that time was wasted. I can't become what I used to dislike. I want to be a good student. That means I need to live with the material. That means I need a good recording of the rehearsal. That means embracing newer technology.

I couldn't sleep last night, so I put on my pitiful headphones and listened to the mp3's as they played on my computer's Windows Media Player. 

The sound is so clear and present. 

At one point it's clarity startled me because I knew I was alone, but the sound of someone's speaking voice was amazingly lifelike.

The digital recorder is rolling. It's up to channel 18 now. The date on channel 02 was October 9, 2009. It now reads October 13, 2009. It's the rehearsal aboard the Grandeur of the Seas for the Patti Austin/Jonathan Butler concerts. It sounds great and is bringing back wonderful memories, but last night's rehearsal is still saying "Look for me".

Note to self: Find the owner's manual for the digital recorder, and send a "Thank You" note to everyone who sends mp3's.

The digital recorder was ringing. I picked it up and stared at it, then looked at my cell phone lying quietly nearby. So it WAS the recorder playing back the ringing of someone's cell phone. Wow. That was creepy. I'm just glad I didn't put it up to my ear and say, "Hello?"

I just remembered that yesterday, the television politely turned itself off in the middle of my unmteenth viewing of "Quiz Show" (on VHS). Maybe it's on its last leg, too.
It's official. It’s time to walk kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

I'm still not hearing anything from last night, but I am enjoying listening to last October's rehearsal. 

I have to figure out a way to save it before I accidentally erase it. 

Patti was delightful, Jonathan was amazing, and the thought of that opportunity is making me smile all over again. 

It was so much fun singing background vocals. 

Harmony is a wonderful thing--and I suppose, so is new technology. 

I'm up to Channel 21, and there's still no inkling of last night. 
Oh well. 

Time to burn a CD of the mp3 files (and pray that members with new technology don't miss any rehearsals).