***Edited to add link at the end***
I have fallen way behind. I know when it started too. It all started when I went to Pakistan last year for a visit. I'd planned to document the trip as it happened, but as you might imagine, a trip to Pakistan where your husband has over 100 first cousins and his youngest brother is getting married can be a busy, hectic trip. So I wasn't able to keep up with it as I liked any by the time we returned to America, I had only documented the first week and a half of our 3.5 week trip. It took me MONTHS to finish up the trip log.
But that's not actually when I fell behind. I fell behind because while I was in Pakistan, I lost my cell phone. Well, lost and/or it was stolen. Depends on who you ask. I did keep my huge diaper bag on random tables at the the wedding halls and events we went to and didn't monitor it as closely as I should, and I arrived back on the shores of the United States without a phone.
And it had been a cool phone too, a Google G-1, the first Android phone and my first and only phone with access to email and the internet. It helped me keep up with the ramping up blog comments I got, and keep up with the ever-increasing number of blogs I was reading. After it was stolen, I couldn't keep up. When we got back I just used one of my Mian's ancient work blackberries. Except that it was prone to calling 911 from my pocket so instead I kept it off for the most past. Then when Chachoo's wife came to live in America, they got a family cell phone plan and since she'd recently gifted him a nice cell phone in Pakistan, he just switched out his SIM into that and gave me his free phone. No internet though, and no email. (But thankfully no unwanted Emergency responders either.)
But I've finally bought a new cell phone and it has the glorious capacity to access the internet and email whenever I want to. It's a brand new day - a fresh start. Except for a suffocating email inbox that has - seriously, no lie - over FIVE THOUSAND unread emails. And a Google Reader that has over 600 unread blog posts from people who I know and love and have missed reading.
It's been more than a year and I just keep drowning in unread emails and blog posts. I've finally admitted that there's no way I can ever get back on top of this pile and as of just now I've gone ahead and pressed the Mark All As Read button for all the various blog posts I never got around to. Also for all the emails sent to me since December 2009. I apologize if you are someone who just got inadvertently marked as read. But, hopefully this will enable me to - from today onward - to participate in blogging more than I have been. Please forgive me if yours was among the emails/blog posts just glazed over. If it was an important email, feel free to re-send it.
Hello internet, I'm glad to be back!
(Commenter bideshibiya has informed me that this is called declaring email bankruptcy and it's not unheard of! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.)
I have fallen way behind. I know when it started too. It all started when I went to Pakistan last year for a visit. I'd planned to document the trip as it happened, but as you might imagine, a trip to Pakistan where your husband has over 100 first cousins and his youngest brother is getting married can be a busy, hectic trip. So I wasn't able to keep up with it as I liked any by the time we returned to America, I had only documented the first week and a half of our 3.5 week trip. It took me MONTHS to finish up the trip log.
But that's not actually when I fell behind. I fell behind because while I was in Pakistan, I lost my cell phone. Well, lost and/or it was stolen. Depends on who you ask. I did keep my huge diaper bag on random tables at the the wedding halls and events we went to and didn't monitor it as closely as I should, and I arrived back on the shores of the United States without a phone.
And it had been a cool phone too, a Google G-1, the first Android phone and my first and only phone with access to email and the internet. It helped me keep up with the ramping up blog comments I got, and keep up with the ever-increasing number of blogs I was reading. After it was stolen, I couldn't keep up. When we got back I just used one of my Mian's ancient work blackberries. Except that it was prone to calling 911 from my pocket so instead I kept it off for the most past. Then when Chachoo's wife came to live in America, they got a family cell phone plan and since she'd recently gifted him a nice cell phone in Pakistan, he just switched out his SIM into that and gave me his free phone. No internet though, and no email. (But thankfully no unwanted Emergency responders either.)
But I've finally bought a new cell phone and it has the glorious capacity to access the internet and email whenever I want to. It's a brand new day - a fresh start. Except for a suffocating email inbox that has - seriously, no lie - over FIVE THOUSAND unread emails. And a Google Reader that has over 600 unread blog posts from people who I know and love and have missed reading.
It's been more than a year and I just keep drowning in unread emails and blog posts. I've finally admitted that there's no way I can ever get back on top of this pile and as of just now I've gone ahead and pressed the Mark All As Read button for all the various blog posts I never got around to. Also for all the emails sent to me since December 2009. I apologize if you are someone who just got inadvertently marked as read. But, hopefully this will enable me to - from today onward - to participate in blogging more than I have been. Please forgive me if yours was among the emails/blog posts just glazed over. If it was an important email, feel free to re-send it.
Hello internet, I'm glad to be back!
(Commenter bideshibiya has informed me that this is called declaring email bankruptcy and it's not unheard of! I feel better knowing I'm not the only one.)
10 comments:
A few years ago I came across a concept called "email bankruptcy". This is when you have so many unread emails, you just give up, delete everything and start over. If someone say I sent you an email - well you never got it. And technically it's true. So, here's to starting fresh!
LOL @email bankruptcy! So true!
Yes! Email bankruptcy, that is exactly, perfectly the right word. This is exactly what I did, I filed for Chapter 7 Email Bankruptcy!
Chapter 7 woh thats even better
lol.... well heres to the future ;) I was thinking of writing up my diary entries about this trip.. but I think Im going to wait until I get home :) I just realised I didnt write yesterdays entry and I cant even remember what we did
:D well do you read all those blogs from G Reader... ? #just askin *ponders*
and i hope it must be a different experience for you in Pakistan...its offcourse a very rich place to be at...
So i am back to this blog after a long time ...infact back to blogging too...... :D
Ammena, you should definitely be writing down your travel experiences! Even if it's only just a little bit. During my first trip I sent daily emails back home to my very worried mother, just a few lines each day saying what we'd done and a few pictures. It was great to have later when I wanted to remember that trip. Maybe I'll dig through them again. On my second trip I set up a whole website for my friends and family. By the third trip, I'd already started this blog :)
Boy do I know the feeling of constantly being behind on the blogs, comments and life in general. Nothing wrong with starting afresh.
Hurray for the new phone! Looking forward to hearing more from you :)
and I think I'll have to keep email bankruptcy in mind for future reference...
Hey there Gori wife, I'm a British gori married to a Pakistani. I've been reading your blog & many others anonymously for a loooong time now & have just set up my very own blog. I just wanted to drop by & say "Hi" and let you know that I've enjoyed many hours reading your desi adventures...long may they continue!
Post a Comment