You and Your Computer

Plagued by bouts of insomnia lately, and waking up at 3:45 am, I have found that, more often than not, I come to my computer to write, either on my blog, or read others, or work on my novel that I am writing. Since I work from home, and mostly do legal research and writing, I depend quite a bit on the computer, and the internet as well, actually allocating about fifty percent of my time to each.

It has dawned upon me, in this age of technology, just how much time I spend on this infernal machine. In addition to reading blogs, writing, I use the computer to obtain directions, shop (which can be a real down-fall, as I am a chronic shopper, conduct research on my daughter's illness, find books, and of course, communicate with others. In many ways, the computer has replaced intimacy in some ones, and increased it in others. For example, I rarely write a letter by hand anymore, which I used to love to do. Moreover, the computer has allowed me to reach across the globe, transcending time and space to become acquainted with people whom I would not ordinarily have a chance to do otherwise. So in that sense, it has increased intimacy. On the other hand, there are times when I run to the computer to do something when, in reality, it would be better for me to 'get off my butt' and go out into the real world to function.

As an additional bonus, I remember in the days before I used the computer, and woke up at 3:45 am, I would either lay in bed, or watch television, something rarely done anymore.

Here is the question of the day: How and it what ways do you use your computer? Do you feel the computer has added to the quality of your life or taken away from it? Do you feel as if you spend too much time on the computer, when you could be engaging in other activities that would allow more intimate, face to face interactions?

Thank you for your minds.