Lindsay's Lessons

As you know, Andy and I keep pretty busy during the fair season, particularly during the Ohio State Fair. Lo and behold, this year we were faced with a near catastrophe when Andy's cell phone stopped working during the state fair.

For those of you who know Andy, you know that he can't stand to be out of touch with the world. More importantly, he has to have gadgets. Add to that the fact that he has the ability to simultaneously do about twenty things at once, and gadgets help to keep him occupied.

To avoid a potential crisis, Andy immediately sought out to replace his cell phone. However, there next to all of those boring little phones sat a Blackberry. It didn't sit there very long though, because it wound up in his shopping cart.

Andy was delighted with his new purchase, convinced that is would increase his productivity and efficiency. I remain unconvinced.

The blackberry not only allows you to talk to people, but to correspond with them via e-mail from wherever you are. The problem being that with all of the press releases we receive and the number of random emails he has signed up for, Andy is practically deluged with e-mail everyday. And guess what...now those emails interrupt him all day long.

He loves it - it's instant information and communication. I hate it - it's obnoxious. Alas, we are at a crossroads. Andy is convinced if I witness the wonder of the Blackberry for myself that I will absolutely want to own one. I am convinced that if we both have one, we'll probably never have another face-to-face conversation.

So imagine my surprise when I was checking out the Drudge Report today and saw an article about Blackberry addiction. That's right, people who possess these magical little devices are actually developing additions similar to drug or alcohol abuse.

Apparently it begins when the user starts ignoring the people around them and instead focusing on their Blackberry. Then, they develop an obsession with checking their e-mail, needing to check it all of the time.

The "Crackberry" has also been blamed for a carpal tunnel type of thumb disorder from users constantly using their thumb on the scroll wheel.

Gee, I'm getting more excited about owning one every second. However, aside from all of these problems, I think the larger issue is that while the Blackberry is supposed to be enhancing communication, it's actually replacing it.

Think about it - how many of you have encountered a situation where you really didn't want to have to talk to someone about something? I know that I've been guilty of it. Sometimes a face-to-face, or even a phone conversation can be tough and e-mail makes an easy escape route.

Now, with portable e-mail, it's yet another opportunity to avoid making personal contact with someone. Don't get me wrong...I love e-mail. And it certainly has its place, particularly since it leaves written trail of correspondence. On the same token, e-mail has simply become abused as a way to avoid one-on-one conversations. Not to mention the countless times that a typo or poor written communication skills have attributed to misunderstandings between parties.

I have already instituted a policy in our household that I believe will help to curb the potential hazards of the Blackberry. I told Andy that if there comes a time when I have to send him an e-mail to get his attention that I will take his Blackberry and test it out. I plan to test its durability, particularly when it gets rolled over by my truck.

Well, I need to go now. I've still got to check my e-mail !!!

Have you heard about the newest theme park that is getting ready to open? Heck with Cedar Point and Kings Island, a theme park celebrating chocolate is opening in the Netherlands. The idea for the park was inspired by Roald Dahl's children's book "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory."

In keeping with the theme of the book, the main part of the park will be located underground in an unused railway tunnel, just like the chocolate factory owned by the great Willy Wonka. The park, which is expected to open in two to three years will also feature a glass elevator and a chocolate fountain.

The project was started by audio books publisher Maurits Rubinstein, who said, "Ten years ago I made a radio play of Chocolate Factory and ever since I've been fascinated by it."

The city of Amsterdam is home to the world's biggest cocoa port, which supplies the main ingredient of cocoa paste to major chocolate manufacturers throughout the world. The city is working with Dutch construction company BAM to create the park with is expected to cost $26 million.

With this is mind, I regret to inform you that I'm giving you my official three-year notice of resignation from the farm broadcast business. I have accepted a position as manager of the new facility. The pay isn't great, but I will receive unlimited Wonka Chocolate Bars. I intend to work until I find my golden ticket at which time I will retire.

OK, so maybe I won't quit my job, but my husband is always telling me that I'm impossible to plan surprises or vacations for. We should be approaching our five-year anniversary sometime around when the park officially opens....hint, hint.

And perhaps if this is the booming success that I believe it will be, I can open my own Chocolate Barn to diversify the family business.