Kim Pleticha's blog

I’m too old to use a telephone.

This occurred to me over the weekend, when I purchased one of those newfangled touch-screen phones that do everything but wash your dishes. Although they may do that, too — but I’ll never know because I can’t figure the thing out.

My husband went with me to get the phone. This wasn’t because I was incapable of choosing a phone —I had already picked out the model— but rather because I lapse into a drooling trance when I have to listen to someone wax poetic about technology. For me, technology is a tool, not an orgasmic experience. My husband, on the other hand, embraces the witty repartee of the techno geek, so he tagged along to play good cop to my admittedly bad one. Or, as it turned out, to watch the kids while I was wooed.

My daughter is an equestrienne. She's only 8-years-old, but she has horses in her blood. If I didn't watch her come out of my body, I'd swear she was someone else's child. I was afraid of cows until I was 25, so you can imagine how I felt about horses.

Yet, oddly, my daughter's obsession has been an instrument of incredible teaching, and much learning, for me. Not only can I now tack up a horse --something I consider a great feat, since I didn't know the difference between a girth and a bridle two years ago-- but I can do so without any fear. In fact, I've found that I'm rather besotted with the creatures, even though I cannot ride one to save my life (well, perhaps only in the extreme need to save my life!).

President Obama spoke to the nation’s school kids today about working hard and doing well in school.

A few nights ago, while flipping channels in a hopeless attempt to find something to watch while ironing (yeah, I actually do iron), I stumbled across the most bizarre thing: an educational program for babies.