Keeping in Touch in Modern Times

One cheap way to keep in touch these days is the use of instant messaging, or IM. I'm sure most of you reading this have a good understanding of how it works, but you might not realize that our older generations do not. For example, here is an IM session between my two younger brothers, myself, and my father on the Monday after the superbowl:

...

Middle Brother says:
patty i just sent you an email

Pat says:
ok

Pat says:
should i read it now or use IM?

Middle Brother says:
give it a quick read it will save time

Dad has been added to the conversation.

Middle Brother says:
hi Dad

Pat says:
got it

Pat says:
nice call on the game. i dont think i would have hit it

Middle Brother says:
your telling me

Little Brother has been added to the conversation.

Middle Brother says:
that's scary little brother

Pat says:
i did stay up and watch it here, not sure why. wasnt that good a game and didnt end till almost 4

Middle Brother says:
little brother did you help dad with his phone?

Pat says:
little brother get dad in on this - he's at your boss's computer typing

Middle Brother says:
wow, that's late

Little Brother says:
oh yes, he has a new flip phone, calls all the time to figure new things out

Middle Brother says:
he should be invited on this

Pat says:
does it have a cd player? Like the one he didn’t know came with his boom box?

Little Brother says:
i'm not sure he can handle all this

Pat says:
probably not

Middle Brother says:
flip phones= no pocket calls

Middle Brother says:
Chunka [dad’s nickname] what do you say?

Dad says:
hi

Pat says:
it takes him about 8 minutes to type something though

Middle Brother says:
welcome to technology

Little Brother says:
this might take a minute

Pat says:
no shit

Middle Brother says:
he should dictate to your boss

Pat says:
get her in there

Little Brother says:
My boss is in freeport

Pat says:
crap

Little Brother says:
he's hunting and pecking

Dad says:
little brother just screwed me up by changing screens i never took typing lessons

Middle Brother says:
haha

Pat says:
that is obvious

Middle Brother says:
chunka thoughts on the Bowl?

Dad says:
f you pat

Middle Brother says:
don't you mean who gives an F?

Dad says:
O yes who does. i thought seattle gave it away and the rsfs sucked

Pat says:
Yes both.

Middle Brother says:
I didn't think anyone on Pitt deserved the MVP

Pat says:
it was hard to pick one

Pat says:
big ben sucked

Middle Brother says:
pat are most interested in the Bowl out there?

Pat says:
they find it mildly interesting, but boring

Pat says:
that game didn't help. bit of a suckfest.

Middle Brother says:
yeah, the timing is crappy

Middle Brother says:
is it on regular TV ?

Pat says:
yes on Sky One Sports, same co. that owns fox

Dad says:
pat the tenant claims her stove does not work neverhas igoing to get al take a look at it

Pat says:
we got no commercials either

Pat says:
dad > yes do you think Al could look at it? I have to have you buy a new one and have Al install it.

Little Brother says:
i can hear the chunka hammering on my boss's key board, like he does when he uses a phone, then he drills the enter key to send it, boom!!

Pat says:
haha

Middle Brother says:
Your boss is going to have divots on her keyboard

Middle Brother says:
BOOM!

Dad says:
f you too

Middle Brother says:
BOOM!!

Pat says:
good thing it's not mom trying to get around those FIREWALLS!

Middle Brother says:
never heard of that?

Dad says:
what the hell are firewalls

Pat says:
have little brother tell you the story.

Pat says:
has to do w mom thinking that she cannot email anyone outside her own office

Middle Brother says:
right

Middle Brother says:
firewalls= computer security they protect your computer from harmful viruses

Pat says:
don't even try

Middle Brother says:
I like hitting my enter key hard too BOOM!

Pat says:
sweet

Little Brother says:
BOOM!

Pat says:
well i got a half gallon in the mail today that should save about $50

Middle Brother says:
Little brother I just dropped an elbow on my enter key....BOOM!

Pat says:
really hoping for another one for my bday

Pat says:
maybe you could give it a flying elbow off the top rope

Middle Brother says:
Skyy? How is it wrapped

Pat says:
in bath mats

Middle Brother says:
new ones I hope

Pat says:
right

Little Brother says:
didn't break?

Pat says:
did not break

Middle Brother says:
lest you get a Skyy and hair tonic

Pat says:
but it's only half full. liability: little brother

Little Brother says:
have a shot for me

Middle Brother says:
haha

Pat says:
that will not be a problem

Pat says:
seriously, why didnt you guys send a full one?

Dad says:
pat do you want me to get a new stove(used)if al can't fix the old one

Middle Brother says:
keep the flatmates on the cheap stuff not the Skyy

Pat says:
dad > yes

Middle Brother says:
what does a new stove go for these days?

Little Brother says:
i didn't send it, my boss did. it's probably the one you bought that she wanted to keep

Pat says:
hmm

Pat says:
duly noted

Dad says:
do you guys talk abouty anything other then drinking

Pat says:
no

Pat says:
sometimes sports

Little Brother says:
liability= boss

Little Brother says:
i found this new vodka the other weekend, three olives grape. It's great with sprite!!

Little Brother says:
taste like grape kool-aid

Middle Brother says:
expensive isn't it?

Dad says:
i0 applied for my passport today

Pat says:
comes with a free umbrella in it i bet

Pat says:
little brother have you applied for yours yet?

Middle Brother says:
very good chunka what is the lead time? 3 weeks?

Little Brother says:
no i will soon

Dad says:
6 weeks

Little Brother says:
not more expensive than stoli

Middle Brother says:
sometimes they are quicker you never know, mine was shorter than expected

Pat says:
mine too

Little Brother says:
i think u can get them within 3 weeks or so

Middle Brother says:
did you offer the finger in your picture by chance?!

Dad says:
Your boss just came in so we can't talk about her anymore

Middle Brother says:
you can get them real quick but cost much more

Pat says:
i think mine took like 4

Pat says:
right. expedited is like 3x the cost

Pat says:
plus maybe more since i got mine before 9/11

Little Brother says:
if you pay an extra $60 you can get it in 3 days

Middle Brother says:
true, but probably not necessary unless you are traveling soon

Little Brother says:
right

Pat says:
so pull your head out and put in for it

Little Brother says:
ok

Dad says:
right it cost $97. extra $60 if you need it quick

Dad says:
little brother wants to go in may what to do with little leauge

Pat says:
i did not think of that

Pat says:
that's a good question, how will that work with LL?

Little Brother says:
one of the parents might have to take over for a game or two

Pat says:
oh dear

Little Brother says:
they can't do any worse

Pat says:
that's funny

Middle Brother says:
the two chunkas in Ireland that's scary

Dad says:
i don't know have to cross that bridge when we know i was hoping [j's] father might help. f you again little brother

Dad says:
f you again

Little Brother says:
BOOM!

Pat says:
the big BOOM was for the F!

Dad says:
ireland will never be the same might decide to retire there

Little Brother says:
what?

Pat says:
no eagles clubs but gambling is legal

Middle Brother says:
Little brother are there any keys missing from your boss's computer yet?

Dad says:
i won $100 on the office 100 sq. pool had final score 1 and 0

Pat says:
excellent

Middle Brother says:
nice one dad

Little Brother says:
not missing, but dented in

Dad says:
who gives a f about your boss's computer

Pat says:
His boss

Little Brother says:
not me, that's why i stuck you in there

Dad says:
who?????????

Middle Brother says:
i hit a $100 parlay on the game !!

Dad says:
i got to go i have to pay acouple of billsgo to the mall and stop at the eagles

Pat says:
sign that book

Middle Brother says:
see ya chunka

Little Brother says:
keep it real chunka

Dad says:
see you guys latter i may have to make this my monday ritual

Pat says:
i think i just heard your boss's keyboard cry out.

Dad says:
i don't think your boss's keyboard could takeit bye

...

Heartwarming, no?