I heart technology.

I don't know what I would do if I lived in another time period. I guess I wouldn't know what I was missing but that's not the point. I'm addicted to technology. I love getting new laptops, computers, programs, phones, applications, software, you name it. I pretty much live on my laptop (which would explain why I burn through them so quickly). I just made the switch to a MacBook Pro and while I like it, I'm still confused by it. I'll figure it out eventually!

My love for technology was reaffirmed today when I got a surprise Skype video call from Christopher. He was finally able to get on a computer with a webcam at the MWR tent. He's still trying to figure out the WIFI situation in his room. I was like a little kid and probably scared Bean with my shrieking when I saw his call pop up. He was able to see Bean (who conveniently decided to stare at the wall - her favorite thing to do - and then fall asleep) and my unshowered, makeup free, sweatpants clad self. It was so nice seeing his face after 3 very long weeks! We giggled, we made faces at each other, and somehow got into a laughing fit about both of us wearing cloth diapers (don't ask). We spent a good 5 minutes laughing so hard we couldn't even talk to each other.

I send him pictures of Bean every day from my iPhone, I take pictures and record videos of her on the camera and put them on a thumb drive to send in his care packages, and email him daily recaps. He makes sure to email me every day and he makes an effort to call me every other day even though he's dead tired after 16 hour work days and has to go to the MWR tent to do so.

All of this makes the deployment a little easier to deal with. I have no idea how people handled separation like this before the internet. I can't even imagine how much harder it must have been.

Hi, my name is Tina and I'm an addict.

I have an addiction. An expensive addiction. I love gadgets.

There isn't a new tech gadget that comes out that I don't want. Even when I have absolutely no use for it. Christopher is great about it and let's me indulge myself. This was done with a lot less guilt when I was also working and made more money than he did. Now, I just have to space out my indulgences.

After three weeks of owning my Kindle, I am now officially in love. At first, I was kind of iffy about it because I love real books. Seriously, I love book stores, I love holding books, I love the way they smell, I love collecting them, and I love having them on the bookshelf. I think this also has to do with my addiction to buying things and looking at them. As if owning a bunch of similar things is something of an accomplishment.

But seriously... I love my Kindle. I can't put it down. I love the click sound when I push the button for the next page. I am fascinated with the screen. I take it everywhere with me and I'm ignoring Christopher. He hates it when I read because he's a big baby and wants me to pay attention to him. I try to get him to read but he just falls asleep after the first page. Sometimes, he doesn't even get the book open.

I also love my FlipHD. It is so freakin convenient and it's going to come in handy when Christopher deploys so I can send him clips of the baby. I had to buy it. I had to. I've had it for a month and a half and I haven't really recorded a damn thing but I love it and it's necessary.

Six months ago, I also bought an awesome camera. The Canon Rebel T1i. I had to have it. I mean, we knew we were moving to Germany and we're about to have a baby and seriously, I needed it. I have barely used the damn thing. Nevermind the $650 lens I bought after that and the $350 lens I currently drool over and have sitting in my Amazon cart. And seriously, I love Amazon. WTF. Greatest website EVER.

The iPhone 4. C'mon... I don't even need to explain why that was necessary. So, I only have two contacts. SO WHAT?! It's sad that I actually feel proud of myself for not wanting to buy an equally useless iPad.

We got two new laptops and a desktop at the beginning of this year too. Christopher makes fun of me because I have a "Command Station." I have three external hard drives filled with all sorts of crap, the laptop hooked up to the 42" LCD TV, and all sorts of other shit going on. I'm the one who deals with setting up the electronics in our house. Internet connection won't work? I fix it. Computers acting funny? I handle it. It's frustrating to watch Christopher struggle through it. I can work my way through most computer issues.

You know... getting into IT would have made a lot more sense. But no... I have a BS in Psychology and I'm in my last week of class for my MS in International Relations. I am proof that you can go to school, and still be an idiot. I hate school. I hate the 35K I racked up in student loans. But guess what I'm considering! Getting certs in IT. Yay me! At least now, I'm married to Christopher and can use his GI Bill if I'm stupid enough to really try to get certs with a new baby taking up 100% of my time. Eh... we'll see how I feel after this baby gets here.

Anyway, yay for gadgets!