Woke up with my eyes killing me, and my heart in need of art, so I took the day off.  Maybe my eyes would be better if I took two seconds to put on my glasses before spending hours online reading and writing.

This post is being written on my NEO; it’s our first time out together.  It’s the greatest.  Lightweight.  No need to carry a power cord; it runs on batteries.  No eyestrain; the screen has a black and green thing going on, and the font is blessedly clear and large.

My camera is along for the ride. This week’s  Saturday Photo Hunter’s theme is colorful, and I want to get some nice pics for my first post in weeks and weeks.

I’m in one of my favorite Upper East Side coffee bars.  Just had a light lunch, especially necessary after Sunday’s mega carb, calorie & fat overload.

In a little while I’m going to go to Barnes & Nobles for some juice, and a major magazine reading session.  And yes, I am wearing my glasses.  Barnes & Nobles allows customers to sit for hours reading anything they wish.  I’ve seen college students writing term papers at the tables that are set up around the store.  They use as many B&N books as they like without even a sideways glance from the staff.

I always order something in the cafe; I figure it’s the least I can do for all the magazines I’ll get to read free.

Actually I usually leave with at least one magazine purchase anyway.

I haven’t read the entire NEO instruction book yet.  I’m working on instinct today.  There are eight places to store projects, and I am sure there are ways to add more.  I’ve been working on and off on a couple of plays and I will store each in it’s own file.

One file will be for blog entries like this, which I’ll upload to my laptop and post later.

I especially want to work on some creative writing for Blogforth.  Trying to do my creative writing on my laptop doesn’t work for me; the call of e-mail and other online goodies is too strong.

Writing in my beloved notebooks is always wonderful, but I never get around to copying it from notebook to blog.  And honestly, sometimes I can’t read my own writing.

Another great thing about the NEO is that every thing you write is automatically saved.  I just had to do a ladies room run.  With the laptop I would have had to unplug it from wall, close the laptop, put it and the cord in my bag, and lug it all to ladies room.  People will watch your stuff for you, but I worry more about someone spilling their drink on my machine than stealing it.

The NEO just required me to hit off, and stuff it in my tote.  Too cool.  When I got back, I pulled it out of my tote, propped it on my kn, hit on and I was back where I left off in seconds.

I just tried the spellcheck feature out - guys I’m in love - and it’s serious.

Okay, now we’re in Central Park and it’s simply gorgeous out today.  The benches are lined with sunbathers, couples and people talking on cell phones.  Here in New York every available bit of outdoor seating becomes a mini office.  Everywhere you look someone is on a Blackberry, Treo or wi-fi. 
Hey folks, it’s a high speed society that demands instant communication & entertainment.

Cell phones have multi-megapixel cameras, video recorders, navigation software, tracking capabilities, e-mail and web browsing capabilities, and mp3 players.  People have to go everywhere with their chargers, because by time they use all the extra goodies on their phones there’s no more juice left for a phone call. 

We’re using a lot of expenive stuff on us these days, and it’s not just electronics..   I was in a store recently, and a man was wheeling his bike around shopping.  I remarked; “Nice bike, I wouldn’t leave it outside either.” He told me it cost $7,000! For a bike!
Wow!

Then again I know I’ve spent more than that on computers, software, cameras and cell phones in the last couple of years. 

As I sitting here on this bench aka my mini-office people are glancing at the NEO as they walk by.  I know why they’re staring; I’d never seen anything but a picture of one till it was delivered.  I know they’re wondering what “new” thing I’ve got that they don’t.  Welcome to the 21st Century folks.