Unplugged

Remember those MTV concerts "Unplugged?"  The artists would come to the MTV studios and have to play their songs "unplugged" or acoustically.  I think the best one of those that I remember was Nirvana Unplugged.  I still have the CD.  Kurt Kobain was probably at his best in his holey sweater and twelve string guitar.  It was amazing.  There was just something really great about those concerts.  So last week I decided to be like MTV and unplug myself.  For twenty-four hours I was as "off grid" as I thought I could be.  I did keep my iHeart radio only because I'm a music junkie and that was just asking too much, but I did  without the rest to the best of my ability.  No TV (no big deal there), no iPad or Kindle (that was a little harder to deal with since I read everyday), no Facebook (that was the one I had the most trouble with), no iPod/iPhone (I only used the phone and turned all the other stuff off)and finally no computer (that was the hardest as I'm trying to finish my holiday book, started my second ebook and of course my blog I write EVERYDAY).
     How in the heck did I live without all these little gadgets and gizmos?  I was about to find out.  Surprisingly it wasn't that hard.  I have to admit that "My name is Wendi and I'm a facebook-a-holic.  That was the hardest.  No posts, no likes, no nothing for almost 24 hours.  It was hard.  I did peek, but I didn't say anything.  The no kindle/iPad was no picnic either because I read EVERY DAY.  My inspirational stuff and my bible are on either or and I was sort of lost without those.  Of course I have a couple of Bibles in my apartment, so I just read those, and I actually made great progress on a library book that is due soon.  So it worked out.  I wasn't easy but it worked out.  Finally, the iPhone.  That was hard too.  I had about 12 or 13 sticky notes stuck inside my purse with notes, appointment dates and just scribblings that I keep in my iPhone.  Notepad and Calendar are probably my most frequently used aps.  Bejewled 2 has gotten a workout lately too, and that was turned off.  Not being able to write was very hard.  I have grown accustomed to writing after work with my afternoon tea and early in the mornings on the weekends or at night when I can't sleep and the house is quiet.  So there I was all alone, with no gadgets.
     The experiment turned out so well I kept going.  I cut down on my "plugged in" status a great deal.  I found I got a lot of stuff done.  I started an afghan and I've got almost a quarter of it done.  I got the introduction to my new ebook done and the dedication to my holiday book written (on paper I might add) although they are now on the computer.  I also watched some movies with Kaysie and my Valentines got made.  Amazing.  Tonight however, I find myself as plugged in as ever, but my afghan is coming right along and that library book will probably get finished tonight before bed.  I've tossed down some ideas for my new ebook (Chapter headings mostly) and that silly holiday book is just about done.  I would say with a little effort probably over the weekend.
    I did get something out of being Unplugged.  It made me more aware of how I was spending my time.  I don't want to be so plugged in that I ignore my family.  As we are nearing the season of Lent I think that in honor of that time of reflection I have decided to "unplug" myself every Sunday so from Saturday evening until Monday morning I'm going to be focusing on my family and just learning to live without all of the bells and whistles I have come to depend on.  I will still write and read, but both will be done the old school way.  I will still be listening to the radio - as I need music because it's the one part of my life I'm not ready to unplug yet.  I will let you know how it all turns out! Peace.