I’m fascinated by technical things. It always amazes me how a gadget can work with no visible means of power. What used to be attached to the wall, you can now carry around with you and use it. As fascinated as I am by these things, I am equally frustrated by them. I was so excited to get my first computer way back when, but my learning curve seemed long and torturous. Likewise with the lap-top I have now.

Nevertheless, much to my husband’s delight, I continue to acquire these items to make the flow of my life easier. Sometimes when I can’t decide if I should upgrade my cell phone (again) or get a new fax with more options, my husband reminds me that “it’s good Feng Shui.” It’s a standing joke between us that whenever I want anything done around the house (a drawer fixed, a room painted, a wall moved), I tell him that if he doesn’t do it, it’ll be bad Feng Shui. It’s hard to argue with that one. So he gets quite a kick out of turning the tables on me when I’m looking at something else technical.

Anyway, over the years, this “it’s good Feng Shui” line has gotten me gadgets in abundance. I’ve come to realize I love acquiring them, but getting the bugs worked out can be annoying. For ever so many years, I had a car phone that was mounted on the dash of the car. I really liked that. I never lost it. The batteries were never low. And when I needed the phone, I could reach my hand out to get it without my eyes leaving the road. I never had to fumble around on the passenger’s seat to find the ringing phone or to dig in my purse without worrying about driving into oncoming traffic.

When I sold that car, the phone went with it. So I graduated to a hand-held, although then it was bulky and heavy. Eventually my “good Feng Shui” led me to a small red one and finally to the one I have now. This souped-up model will even check my email if I want. The feature I was initially excited about was a voice-activated retrieval system. By merely speaking one word, that itty-bitty phone would dial the number I had requested. This wasn’t just good Feng Shui, it was fantastic.

My husband programmed in the one number I’d want to check on a regular basis—my phone messages. When he was done, all I had to do was push one little button and listen to this nice female voice say “Name please.” I had to speak clearly and directly into the phone and announce “Messages.” In theory it was a beautiful system, but my initial enthusiasm soon waned.

Evidently my understanding of “clearly and directly” is different from the phone’s understanding. Despite a strong delivery of “Messages,” I will typically hear the directive: “Name please.” So I have to announce my intention once again: “Messages.” But, no, it’s not that simple. “Name please.” “Messages” again. “Name please.” “Messages.” “Name please.” “Messages.” Of course, I’m now screaming and no longer care about my messages. In fact, I’ve come to hate the woman whose voice provokes such emotions. How pathetic is her life that she actually makes a living recording “Name please” into some computer that plays it over and over into the ears of sincere and trusting individuals.

Despite all that, I’ve just now bought a palm pilot. Now that is really good Feng Shui. My life has been reduced to the size of a cigarette package. Addresses, phone numbers, email access (yeah, again), as well as my calendar are all in this tiny display monitor. The excitement of having a palm pilot is dampened somewhat by the fact that my computer crashes whenever I try to synchronize my calendars to and from the computer.

Oh well, I’m now eyeing a power-point system for my presentations. Plain and simple, technical advances keep the flow going. Our connection to one another can be fast and effortless. Everything is indeed energy of some sort. And if it keeps the flow moving, “it must be good Feng Shui.”

Gotta go. Something’s beeping here. It might be my fax….or my palm pilot….or maybe my phone is ringing. Maybe the battery in my lap-top.

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