Comments on: The Technology Rub with Reality http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/ One Frugal Mom's Attempt at Balancing it All. Wed, 23 May 2012 02:23:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Astrid http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13093 Astrid Thu, 20 May 2010 12:28:50 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13093 Boy, that's a tough one. I also have mixed feelings about technology. On the one hand, it allows family living thousands of miles away to participate in our lives. On the other hand, I feel like I'm tied to the Internet. I don't own a smart phone. I find that I spend way too much time viewing blogs and getting ideas...and never any time to actually do any of the ideas! I'm also getting tired of some of the very popular blogs too. Could we make in without electricity? Not sure...we've got a wood stove that we heat with wood we chop from our woods. I make my own soaps. No chickens...at least not yet! We're working on that one. I do have a garden and I end up canning/preserving what I can (but there again I end up freezing a lot of produce which means using electricity). I think it'd be neat to be off the grid- not in a "the world is going to end" view but in a "I wonder if it can be done" view. It seems that most options to produce electricity don't make sense financially. Maybe some day there will be an option for regular old homeowners which is affordable. I don't think I could do without the Internet in terms of all the recipes I've found and gathered! I couldn't do without that! Boy, that’s a tough one. I also have mixed feelings about technology. On the one hand, it allows family living thousands of miles away to participate in our lives. On the other hand, I feel like I’m tied to the Internet. I don’t own a smart phone. I find that I spend way too much time viewing blogs and getting ideas…and never any time to actually do any of the ideas! I’m also getting tired of some of the very popular blogs too.

Could we make in without electricity? Not sure…we’ve got a wood stove that we heat with wood we chop from our woods. I make my own soaps. No chickens…at least not yet! We’re working on that one. I do have a garden and I end up canning/preserving what I can (but there again I end up freezing a lot of produce which means using electricity).

I think it’d be neat to be off the grid- not in a “the world is going to end” view but in a “I wonder if it can be done” view. It seems that most options to produce electricity don’t make sense financially. Maybe some day there will be an option for regular old homeowners which is affordable.

I don’t think I could do without the Internet in terms of all the recipes I’ve found and gathered! I couldn’t do without that!

]]> By: Heather http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13091 Heather Wed, 19 May 2010 20:01:15 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13091 I love technology, but when we moved out here to the boonies I really wanted to learn how to live off the land as much as possible. Don't get me wrong, we still enjoy our technology, but we're working on ways to utilize natural resources, too - partly for preparedness if we lose power, and partly because I just enjoy it :) We currently use a root cellar, which would double as a (free!) enormous fridge. We heat with wood stoves, and could cook on them if needed. (Like when we have a huge snowstorm and the power goes out for two weeks!) We have dairy cows, lots of chickens, pigs and cattle and know how to butcher if needed. I garden with heirloom seeds, and am learning how to save seeds instead of buying them. We raise wheat and grind our own for flour. I make all of our soaps, lotions, chap stick, and such simply because I love the process. Our first winter out here was absolutely terrible, with 15 - 25 foot snowdrifts, impassible roads, loss of electricity, and other fun stuff. It's made me more cautious and wanting to be as prepared as possible - just in case! I love technology, but when we moved out here to the boonies I really wanted to learn how to live off the land as much as possible. Don’t get me wrong, we still enjoy our technology, but we’re working on ways to utilize natural resources, too – partly for preparedness if we lose power, and partly because I just enjoy it :)

We currently use a root cellar, which would double as a (free!) enormous fridge. We heat with wood stoves, and could cook on them if needed. (Like when we have a huge snowstorm and the power goes out for two weeks!) We have dairy cows, lots of chickens, pigs and cattle and know how to butcher if needed. I garden with heirloom seeds, and am learning how to save seeds instead of buying them. We raise wheat and grind our own for flour. I make all of our soaps, lotions, chap stick, and such simply because I love the process.

Our first winter out here was absolutely terrible, with 15 – 25 foot snowdrifts, impassible roads, loss of electricity, and other fun stuff. It’s made me more cautious and wanting to be as prepared as possible – just in case!

]]> By: Sandy http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13089 Sandy Wed, 19 May 2010 18:50:47 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13089 Hi Jen, Isn't is amazing how technology has changed our lives? And I wonder what will happen if it's taken away? LOL. I, too, love the relationships that have been forged because of it. We're in it SO DEEP that it's scary now. I think. Great post, as always! Hugs. Hi Jen, Isn’t is amazing how technology has changed our lives? And I wonder what will happen if it’s taken away? LOL. I, too, love the relationships that have been forged because of it. We’re in it SO DEEP that it’s scary now. I think.

Great post, as always!

Hugs.

]]> By: Melissa http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13088 Melissa Wed, 19 May 2010 14:28:47 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13088 GIRL!!! I am soooo impressed with you and your blog! You've just got it going on! ;) Actually wanted to let you know I'm doing a giveaway, and would LOVE for you to get in on it! I'm trying to be better about consistency and promoting my blog...I need to learn from you! GIRL!!! I am soooo impressed with you and your blog! You’ve just got it going on! ;) Actually wanted to let you know I’m doing a giveaway, and would LOVE for you to get in on it! I’m trying to be better about consistency and promoting my blog…I need to learn from you!

]]> By: Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13087 Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy Wed, 19 May 2010 13:24:14 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13087 I just read back what Joy said and agree. My biggest argument with cell phones (and why I didn't have one for so long) was because since when do we need 24hour contact with EVERYONE and everything? I now realize it is easier when having kids and having to do things, but still. We make it this way! :) I just read back what Joy said and agree. My biggest argument with cell phones (and why I didn’t have one for so long) was because since when do we need 24hour contact with EVERYONE and everything?
I now realize it is easier when having kids and having to do things, but still. We make it this way! :)

]]> By: Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13086 Kristi @ The Thrifty Gypsy Wed, 19 May 2010 13:20:36 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13086 This is a tough one for me. While I love my internet service and it's my real connection to the outside world sometimes. I hate being dependant on anything! I didn't have a cell phone until 6 months ago. People would look at me like I had 3 heads when they would ask my cell # and I would tell them I didn't have one. I'm cheap, what can I say, lol. I have Onstar in my truck so God forbid if anything happened I was covered in there. It also has a phone, so I was not completely without one. My husband surprised me with an iphone (I think he was sick of not being able to get a hold of me, lol) and I DO love it. But I never talk on it, lol. I text and use it's wireless capabilities. I'm not sure if I will renew the "phone" service on it (when it's up) because you can use your home wifi with it if you don't have the data plan. And there is a texting app you can get for it (like the itouch ipod). We are planning on getting a generator in our new house as well. It's in the " country" so power goes out more than normal. They have VERY basic cable (which I'm looking forward to, since I watch almost no tv, lol) I wish we could order JUST the channels we watch, wouldn't that be great? Anyway thanks for the thought provoking post! Kristi This is a tough one for me. While I love my internet service and it’s my real connection to the outside world sometimes. I hate being dependant on anything! I didn’t have a cell phone until 6 months ago. People would look at me like I had 3 heads when they would ask my cell # and I would tell them I didn’t have one. I’m cheap, what can I say, lol. I have Onstar in my truck so God forbid if anything happened I was covered in there. It also has a phone, so I was not completely without one. My husband surprised me with an iphone (I think he was sick of not being able to get a hold of me, lol) and I DO love it. But I never talk on it, lol. I text and use it’s wireless capabilities. I’m not sure if I will renew the “phone” service on it (when it’s up) because you can use your home wifi with it if you don’t have the data plan. And there is a texting app you can get for it (like the itouch ipod).
We are planning on getting a generator in our new house as well. It’s in the ” country” so power goes out more than normal. They have VERY basic cable (which I’m looking forward to, since I watch almost no tv, lol) I wish we could order JUST the channels we watch, wouldn’t that be great?
Anyway thanks for the thought provoking post!
Kristi

]]> By: Heather http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13085 Heather Wed, 19 May 2010 13:00:17 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13085 We went through hurricane Ike. We live about 4 hours from the Texas coast and we were without power for over two weeks. I remember looking around the house, thinking there is NOTHING do do! No TV, internet, cell phone battery had died...couldn't vacuum, do wash, etc! While it was stressful-I was also 10 weeks pregnant, and had a 3 year old-it was also very liberating! We went through hurricane Ike. We live about 4 hours from the Texas coast and we were without power for over two weeks. I remember looking around the house, thinking there is NOTHING do do! No TV, internet, cell phone battery had died…couldn’t vacuum, do wash, etc! While it was stressful-I was also 10 weeks pregnant, and had a 3 year old-it was also very liberating!

]]> By: Molly Cook http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13084 Molly Cook Wed, 19 May 2010 12:22:52 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13084 I agree. It is a bit sad to me. Sometimes I wish I had never started the technology trail in my life. But, also it has been a real blessing in a lot of ways (especially to us home-schooling momma's). I enjoyed seeing you at the Practicum! ) I agree. It is a bit sad to me. Sometimes I wish I had never started the technology trail in my life. But, also it has been a real blessing in a lot of ways (especially to us home-schooling momma’s). I enjoyed seeing you at the Practicum! )

]]> By: Amanda J http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13082 Amanda J Wed, 19 May 2010 00:23:25 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13082 I have found that technology does not necessarily equal progress! I am very low-tech, and struggle with trying to figure things out. I don't watch TV when my husband isn't home because I don't even want to try and figure out 2-3 controllers. I have a three year old cell phone that my husband got me for when I have to travel at work, and I only use it when I want to use it, keep it turned off the rest of the time. People have told me that they tried to call and when I tell them I don't keep it on, they say there's no point in having it. I'm thinking, yes there is, it's for me! I have found that technology does not necessarily equal progress! I am very low-tech, and struggle with trying to figure things out. I don’t watch TV when my husband isn’t home because I don’t even want to try and figure out 2-3 controllers. I have a three year old cell phone that my husband got me for when I have to travel at work, and I only use it when I want to use it, keep it turned off the rest of the time. People have told me that they tried to call and when I tell them I don’t keep it on, they say there’s no point in having it. I’m thinking, yes there is, it’s for me!

]]> By: Joy @ Joy of Desserts http://beautyandbedlam.com/the-technology-rub-with-reality/comment-page-1/#comment-13081 Joy @ Joy of Desserts Tue, 18 May 2010 23:13:29 +0000 http://beautyandbedlam.com/?p=3857#comment-13081 OK, serious question, so serious answer. Most people remember a time when we did not use any gadgets (e-mail, cell phones, etc.) on a daily basis (and many older people still don't use them). It would be quite a readjustment to be forced to put the Genie back in the bottle, though. Business of course is completely tied to technology. And, without electricity we'd have to become the equivalent of the Amish or Quakers. Doable, as they continue to prove to us, but would we really want to do without our refrigerators, or without medical equipment which requires electricity? What we need to do is find a balance which is right for each of us as individuals, so that we do not become slaves to the technology which was meant to give us more freedom. Our family uses technology A LOT, but we go on a one-week camping trip almost yearly. We bring no technology whatsoever. It's very relaxing. OK, serious question, so serious answer. Most people remember a time when we did not use any gadgets (e-mail, cell phones, etc.) on a daily basis (and many older people still don’t use them). It would be quite a readjustment to be forced to put the Genie back in the bottle, though. Business of course is completely tied to technology. And, without electricity we’d have to become the equivalent of the Amish or Quakers. Doable, as they continue to prove to us, but would we really want to do without our refrigerators, or without medical equipment which requires electricity? What we need to do is find a balance which is right for each of us as individuals, so that we do not become slaves to the technology which was meant to give us more freedom. Our family uses technology A LOT, but we go on a one-week camping trip almost yearly. We bring no technology whatsoever. It’s very relaxing.

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