The other day I was watching TV and a little news break came in talking about something that had happened. I had this funny flashback. When I was a kid, we didn’t have cable (I know, the horror). We had four channels. ABC, CBS, NBC and PBS. Our local area didn’t even Fox as a network until like after I graduated high school in 1994. But we had a VCR and lots of movies, plus my Mom occasionally supplemented our selection by recording movies off TV (this was when they still did Sunday Night Movie or Thursday Night Movie or the Wonderful World of Disney played movies). They were edited most of the time and they had commercials throughout, but we were still able to watch stuff over and over to our pleasure.

Of course, when she would first record them, we would just fast forward the commercials (kind of like we do now with DVR… when I don’t have DVR, the commercials DRIVE ME CRAZY). But after a few years, we wouldn’t anymore. See, there’s something really fun about watching commercials and news breaks from years back. I remember seeing commercials with people who became movie or tv stars. Or ones that were sort of holiday classics (she recorded a lot of holiday movies and specials for us). And the news breaks! The hostages were freed from Iran! The president was talking about the contras! A plane crashed. When those news breaks came on the tapes years later, we would often reminisce about what had happened or remember that story or tragedy. Plus, there was always the commentary about the hair, make-up and wardrobe choices from news tapes five or seven years later (especially in the 80s, dear GOD!).

There was something kind of nice about it. And I guess it’s something that my nephews won’t really understand or experience. I mean, we record stuff, of course, on our DVR… but we don’t save it forever. A couple watchings is about all you get before you want to clear something off in order to make room for the next episode of Fringe or Project Runway or a movie on HBO or a UFC HD event. So the most I ever get for commercial flashbacks is a few weeks ago.

Not exactly the same thing.

Now that my husband is home (YAY!!!!), I feel like I can finally start living here in Arizona. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been hanging out with our family, meeting new friends and getting our new home at least somewhat ready, but the house didn’t feel like a home until my boy got here. Now the poor man has a “Honey Do” list a mile long, but it’s not all work and no play. After all, fall and winter here are like summer everywhere else! Festivals, fairs and all kinds of awesome events are starting this month and next and lasting all the way through the late spring! We’re going to be going to Art Festivals, Zoo Events, I’m already starting to think about Christmas and I want to start hiking in our beautiful mountains.

So what do you do when you want to get to know a new place?

In high school, I was a debate kid. Well, a speech kid, though speech and debate were taught in the same class, by the same teacher, so we called all of it debate. I loved going to tournaments, writing up speeches and other presentations and then getting up in front of others and presenting them. At the time, I had no idea how valuable this would be.

Our teacher, Mrs. Hansen, taught us about creating compelling arguments, giving speeches in an interesting manner and not being afraid of getting up in front of a group and presenting (oh and also to put your used towels in the bathtub at a hotel and always tip your waitress at restaurants).

Years later, I am forever surprised when people are scared of public speaking. To me, it just seems natural. I don’t worry about what people will think. I don’t worry about whether I’ve written my presentation properly. I just get up and do what I do. And yet I know it’s a source of terror and discomfort for a lot of people.

So thanks Mrs. Hansen. I took a lot from school, but the lessons I didn’t realize I was learning always seem to be the most important.

So up until about two years ago, I had a regular cell phone. No biggie, it made calls and that was about it. I didn’t really need more. I used it when I was traveling for writer’s things to call my husband and had it in my car in case there was an emergency. I was happy. I was content.

And then I got a smart phone. I didn’t really think I wanted/needed one. After all, why would I need to read my email or check something online or whatever it was people did with their smart phones. Except the second I had it in my grubby little hands… I was hooked. Now I can check the price of an item before I buy it, text my SIL that I’m coming over and see what the weather is in Kookamunga. I can check my email, update my twitter and Facebook and even play Angry Birds.

It’s great. And awful. Now even when I’m out of the house I’m “at work”. I can’t even claim I couldn’t get to an email or text because f-man, there it is. I was thinking about it the other day. Is that phone really smart??? Am I smart? Or was I smarter before when my phone was a phone and I could expect a call about once every month? I’m not really sure, but maybe I have an app on my phone that would help me figure it out…