My sincere thanks...

to Al Gore...kidding...but I am thankful for all of the people who were involved in inventing the internet. And to those great people at Google...I feel like I should send them flowers.

It's Friday morning here and it's been a crazy, busy week at work as well as getting ready to head home to make the permanent move. I'm taking it a little easy this morning - a lazy morning you might say. I've already had a video chat with Alan. We have always talked daily when I've traveled but there is something especially nice about being able to see your loved one. This morning I also got to see our cat Fresnel and my new kitchen knives that Alan ordered for me. We pay bills together during our video chats, he brings the kitties in to see me, shows me mail that I receive, or lately shows me the Hurricanes hockey playoff tickets the morning of their games.

Speaking of which, as I'm writing this I'm listening to game 5 of the Canes versus Devils round 1 Eastern conference playoffs. The only local sports in Singapore are badminton and table tennis. They are HUGE here but I'm more of a team sports gal and want a little more action than these provide. However, I shouldn't say that since I've not really ever spent time watching them. (Another thing to add to my to-do list...watch a live table tennis match.) Listening to the live radio feed of the hockey games is not at all like being there in person or watching on TV but it's certainly a nice alternative. I also have some great friends who text me during the games so I kind of feel like I'm still part of the fun.

The other bit of the internet that I have really been enjoying since I've been in Singapore is Facebook. I never thought I'd be part of a website like Facebook but for me it's a great way to keep involved in the daily activities of my friends. For those of you not on Facebook, most of the focus is just a one line posting of what that person is thinking or doing at the moment. Some people update multiple times a day and some people only post every few days. My current post reads "Katherine Hogg Call is enjoying a relaxing morning listening to Canes hockey." My good friend Sarah is "at the mall getting Trey's new glasses." I also know that my friend Michelle (happy birthday by the way) is currently out to dinner with her family and friends at a restaurant called the the Black Cow. I'm in Singapore, Sarah is in NC, and Michelle is Kennebunkport, ME. There is certainly nothing earth shattering about the updates but for somebody who is 12 hours ahead of all of her loved ones it's nice to be able to wake up and see what everybody has been up to that day.

There are times I'm ready to throw my computer and blackberry out the window because I'm too accessible. Although, I'm glad I don't have to know what it's like being here without all of this connectivity.