Skyping with the folks

I forget that when my Dad gets a new toy he's just like a little kid - plays with it until it breaks, or he finally burns himself out on it. While I was home over xmas I showed the folks how to download and install skype. I know, I know, I can hear most of you out there groaning. I've created monsters! But I really don't mind - as I've said before, I'm quite the over-share-er, even (especially) with the parents. And I sort of liked the idea of being able to show off my new apartment out in CA, via webcam (they remain perpetually skeptical about my ability to find and choose an apartment that isn't horrible, despite the fact that I have consistently managed to live in lovely abodes for the past 8 years). And I knew that traveling internationally they would like being able to actually lay eyes on me from time to time. It failed to occur to me that they would want to start skyping right now, for our weekly chats. I didn't have the heart to tell them that I'm frequently multi-tasking during our hour-long catch-up every Sunday afternoon.

Plus, it suddenly made me all self-conscious - yeah, it's nearing 5pm and I'm still in my pajamas, but it's Sunday and I've been editing my damn dissertation chapters all day and sitting in front of my computer with an endless supply of coffee and my coffee-stained gymnastics hoodie is my preferred work mode. Not that the parents care - I spent most of the holiday at home in the same stained hoodie. But they were also curious about all the stuff in the background (totally innocuous - a plant they had apparently failed to notice on every previous trip down here, since I've had it since I moved in four years ago, and a painting from a friend) but still made me rethink the whole webcam thing. Not to mention the fact that I chose that time to call them to take a break from staring at my computer screen (yet here I sit, staring and typing more).

Anyway. Yeah. Monsters. My fault. Someday I'll learn...