Never out of Touch

I am currently sitting in quaint Mexican restaurant in the C Gates of McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nevada, I myself being a Las Vegas local, I am about to go on vacation. But I have my laptop, yes, I have my laptop and am taking advantage of the airports free wi-fi. And I'm not the only one. As I look around there are many people in the restaurant who are on their computer. Most are smarter, or luckier than I and have found larger tables to accommodate both them, their computer and their food. Me, I have a tiny table, just big enough for my computer and my beer,my computer angled ever so strategically to maybe, just MAYBE fit my food once it comes.

Looking around, I can't help but wonder, how many people are actually working, after all it is almost 6:30 in the evening, and although it Thursday, it is the day before a holiday weekend, and oh yea, did I mention I am in Vegas. I asked the gentleman sitting next to me and he stated that he is doing half and half, checking emails and then he would "be puttering." Same for me, I was on Facebook earlier and then plan to go shopping or back to Facebook after I write this. Oh yea, and work, I will also be following up, time permitting, on my Mary Kay stuff.

The funniest thing that has dawned on me is that, NO, you cannot just go on vacation and fall of the grid anymore. With the invention of laptops, wi-fi, blackberries, 3G, etc. You are EXPECTED to stay in constant touch. Once you leave the office, the office comes with you in the form of a very stylish phone so your boss, co-workers and clients can email, call and text you even while you are enjoying your after dinner cocktail or vacation and thinking about how much you hate your boss/co-worker(s)/clients. And, they EXPECT you to reply, after all, what did your company give you that fancy expensive phone for in the first place?

Technology can be fun too, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, email, you are in constant touch with all your friends and family, and anyone else you want stalk, I mean follow. While you are at the airport, you can see what all your friends are up to and then brag that you are having a beer and about to go on vacation. Then you can go see what the latest Hollywood gossip is, all while checking your work email, from the airport, where you are about to on vacation.

While being in constant touch does have its ups and downs, one good thing is that when you just don't feel like people watching anymore or your bored, it gives you something to do. Or at least look like your doing something even though you may just be mindlessly surfing the net. Right now, I'm thinking I should have brought my ear phones so I could watch a Netflix movie before my plane boards. But now, I'm looking busy, writing, finishing my beer and waiting for my check. And as part of a never stop working, never be out of touch attitude, you know I am going to give the waitress my business card before I leave.

All while I post this blog.