Bucket List #2

With all my anger being vented at politicians and my union, I have decided to add some heartfelt messages. Many people have liked the Bucket List posting so I present the second addition to my Bucket List.

Bucket List #2-Less Technology and More Talking to Family

I'll admit it, I love technology. Maybe its the testosterone, maybe its the desire to stay on the cutting edge or perhaps its my ego to show my students what I have but only recently I have learned that staying on my phone has well...made me a target for criticism by family. I loved my Blackberry, I love my Droid, I love my Nook (Michelle's 40th birthday present), I love my iPod (the 160gb is cool but am waiting for one the size of my hard drive) and I love my iPad (Mitchell and Sloane, I am so glad you got Dad (nod nod wink wink)) to get my one. For my readers, I told my sister-in-law that I was expecting a Halloween Phish ticket, but I so love my iPad, a lot. In the immortal words of Ferris Bueller, "it is so choice".

With technology comes addiction and after my stint with Dr. Drew, Eric Roberts, Janice Dickinson, Brandon Davis and all the junkies on Celebrity Rehab (I, as you know, am the lead singer of the Maroon 5 when I'm not teaching, married to Michelle and raising my kids (biological and educational)), I have come to realize that I WAS ALWAYS ON MY F*****G PHONE! I am now recovering in DA (Droid Anonymous) in a wonderful one step program-the philosophy-DON'T BRING THE PHONE TO FAMILY FUNCTIONS!

My drugs were fantasy football and facebook and every Sunday (which has been my traditional day with my family) that I spent with my family, there I was, DROIDING away-saying hello to far-off friends and ex-students or refreshing my fantasy game to see how far behind or ahead I was for the week. Ignoring my wife, my kids, my extended family seemed to be ok but it took my brother and brother-in-law to lace into me. This, along with my own realization that I was being a "technological jerk" has led me to change my ways now that I'm forty. I'm glad that Craig and Mitchell did tell me this because if not, I probably would have become a persona non grata and never be invited to any family functions ever again.

I'm one month into DA and am now three-for-three on my new way of living. I attended a family dinner with Mitchell, my Uncle Martin and my cousins Larry and Andrew with the phone in my pocket. I spoke, for a long time, about what my grandfather means to me and how much it pains me to see him age. I called Mitchell the next day and told him how much I enjoyed being with him and my cousins. I attended Thanksgiving at my in-laws (I told Craig that I was posting this blog and explained his significance to this post. He was quite pleased) and spoke for a while to my family. Last night, Mitchell and Sloane (I can't believe Sloane can cook all that food.) had a post holiday dinner and admitted to my past problem. Your family is your rock and I'm glad Mitchell and Craig (with occasional rants from Michelle) told me this. I am real happy that I am following this new mantra and instead of being one day at a time, its one family function at a time.

To all my readers, don't be a shmuck like me, talk to your family not on your phone. Makes a world of difference......