This conversation started soon after their online friendship/correspondence had taken off, when Jane asked Lizzie if she’d like to hang together online during the vice-presidential debate…  

Lizzie     October 2 at 5:26pm

Jane,

Though it does tick my husband off when I hang out with him AND my laptop, I may just keep my FB up with online status green. We’ll see…anyway, I’m itching to see you in top form. I’ll have jammies on with kids in bed too.

Chuckle,

Lizzie

Jane     October 2 at 5:42pm

Not so sure I’ll be in top form, but I’m pretty sure LaSarah will give me good incentive!

My husband feels the same way, although if we’re both watching TV and not having a conversation, I don’t get it. Well I do get it, I get a bit shall we say, obsessive with the computer.

Which reminds me, thank you for adding Hatchlings. Even if you never do anything with it, I can collect eggs from your basket and continue to roll over everyone else in my  network… So thanks for contributing to my obsession, ha ha

If anything gets really heated or fun tonight, here’s my number: xxx.xxx.xxx

Here’s hoping all goes well pre-debate around here..

Lizzie     October 2 at 8:39pm

Ooh, a direct hotline! Mine is xxx.xxx.xxxx

It looks like I’ll be somewhat in demand-for better reasons than my husband wanting attention. My 17-year-old daughter has to do an AP Gov’t assignment based on the debate tonight, so she actually wants to hang out with John and me to watch and discuss.

I will watch with you in mind-and I’ll see if my inbox is full of goodies in the morning.

Later that night…

Jane     October 2 at 10:10pm

What a fabulous assignment! I love that!

An hour in now. At one point I fell asleep, seriously.

At 10:10, she is getting cuter as she is putting herself into a corner. Also, she’s talking too loud, almost shouting, when trying to make a point. And bonus for Sarah P, she is using better sentence structure. Well, not actually, not so much.

Lizzie     October 3 at 7:02am

It WAS fun-we don’t see a whole lot of my daughter A these days, since she’s a senior and has a boyfriend. We all thought Palin did well at presenting herself and (for the most part) answering Gwen’s questions. Biden was smooth and ready with specifics on McCain’s record, which I expected. Several times I would have liked to have a personal fact-checker handy to help me identify the bullshit.

A. commented that Biden’s Guy-Smiley grin when he disagreed with Palin was annoying. I agreed. None of us like the fact that Palin knows how to pronounce "-ing" when she chooses to, but when she wants to "connect with the voters," it’s all about gettin’ things movin’ with that gashdairn ecanomy’. (slight dramatization, but you get the point).

You’re right-she talked way too loud most of the time. (Did she think that would translate as passion and excitement about McCain’s vision of the future?) She also scraped her fingernails across the chalkboard of my brain by saying "nuke-u-lar" over and over again.

I started to fade around the time you wrote, since I get up at 5 on the days that I work.  A had watched enough to do her assignment, and we all agreed to watch the rest of it later.

At this point, I’ve pretty much made up my mind to vote for Obama-it feels more like a vote against McCain/Palin, but I hope that by the election I’ll feel really good about Obama/Biden.

The week before the election I get to go away by myself to a 3-day state teaching conference-all expenses paid, thank you Gov. Tim Kaine.  Anyway, I get to pick and choose which sessions I’ll go to and will have a very nice hotel room at the Sheraton ALL TO MYSELF. Between you and me, I plan to go to just a few sessions and immerse myself in reading-election-related and otherwise.

BTW, I understand the obsessive leanings you described earlier. When you’re home full-time with kids, the computer becomes a window and a glimmer of hope that there is indeed a larger world out there waiting. It’s a way to stay connected during those years when everything’s about kids and home.

I did my M.A. online during my younger kids’ preschool years, and I literally went from finger play songs and being preschool "bathroom helper" to online debates about Elaine Pagels’s take on Gnosticism and the themes of autonomy in Byron. I love my kids and chose to be at home all those years, but it was (at times) stultifying. And what made it even harder was how many women I met who weren’t interested in talking about anything but their kids’ developmental milestones and bodily functions. All while my husband was traveling half the time for his job.

So, while I try to be sensitive and avoid rudeness/disrespect/downright jerkiness with my little laptop obsession, I also feel that I’ve paid my dues. I give myself (and wireless internet in coffee shops) credit for keeping my sanity (mostly) intact. Luckily, since the kids are in school now, I get most of that compulsiveness out of my system when the rest of the family is out of the house!

As for (the Facebook app) Hatchlings, I don’t really understand how all of that works-but it’s probably best if I don’t explore. I’ve got enough mini-obsessions

Have a great day-it’s mani/pedi/gift-shopping/bike-riding day for me. Woo-hoo!

Jane     October 3 at 6:57pm

Mani-pedi/shopping/biking day sounds awesome! I am so glad its Friday night, it’s been a really long week.

Hope you enjoyed your fun activities!

More later,

Jane

Lizzie     October 4 at 8:04am

It was wonderful! Makes me feel pretty when my nails are all gorgeous And I had the bike trail all to myself. Sounds like you had a big day yesterday.

Jane     October 4 at 9:23am

I love having my nails done too. Then I strap the kid into her car seat and "F " them all up…

Toes last a bit longer. Not quite as busy with my toes…

Lizzie     October 4 at 9:39am

Ha ha! During the summer I have to drag my poor son M along with me-and I make him get my keys out for me and open my car door…. "Mommy, is it just a fill today, or do you have to get a new full set?"

Jane     October 4 at 7:32pm

That’s too funny… my son Ringo would play nicely on his Leapster while mommy got the mani-pedi. Younger daughter Lulu sits next to me, will not yet take me up on my offer of her own mani-pedi (but I can’t wait!)