little. yellow. different. A weblog by Ernie Hsiung

mom + technology = wackiness

At Mom’s house again on a Tuesday night. Italics mean Chinese, of course.

Mom: ERRR-NEE! You have to teach me how to use this camera. It’s DIGITAL.

She says the word DIGITAL like it’s a brand name, like SONY or PANASONIC and if Mrs. Chang can get a nice DIGITAL camera, why couldn’t she?

Ernie: Of course mother, I would more than happy to teach you how to upload photographs from your digital camera to internet, and/or make hard copies. Do you have a desktop and/or laptop computer with USB compatible port?
Mom: Why, of course I do. Will I need to upload this driver software and install a separate copy of the DIV-X software, as carefully instructed by the well-written manual instructions?
Ernie: By uploading your photos, you could share electronic copies of photos with family and friends through social-based photo sharing web sites such as Flickr, as well as securely purchasing prints to your beautiful, well-kept home.
Mom: Indubitably!

Ha ha, uhmm… not so much. Here’s the actual conversation.

Ernie: WHAT!?
Mom: Are you going to teach me how to use the camera or not? I spent a lot of money - $100 at Walgreens.
Ernie: Have you ever used the computer [in dad’s room]?
Mom: … I’m going on a cruise next month. I want to take pictures.
Ernie: … [sigh] Give the camera to me when you’re done, I’ll take care of it.
Mom: Exercise more.

For the record, I love how “Exercise More” has now replaced “Okay” or “Thank you” whenever mom talks to me.

two friends of mine have a digital camera, but no computer. They just go up to their local photo shop and print out the prints there… ?

Hahah, comedy gold.

I think we have the same mom. Same converstaion over the weekend.

DEE-GEE-TAL.

oh boy, looks like i’ve got the same mom too!

does your mom also hold the camera in such a way as to suggest that she anticipates it either electrocuting her, or turning around and biting her fingers…?

you get “exercise more”… i get “drink less”. don’t know what that says about me…

If you take “exercise more” and replace it with “Buy a house” this is the exact conversation I had with my mom.

“Indubitably!”

people actually use that word?

I know the portuguese version of this conversation.

Mine’s “Get a job!” I know we’re supposed to meekly step in line and translate in our heads so that these exhortations mean “I love you,” but sometimes it’s difficult.

Yeah, the exercise thing is her showing she cares. It just comes out in a really annoying way. I know what that’s like–well, I used to, but that’s another (and very depressing) story.

That’s funny. I didn’t realize that my dad says DIGITAL like a brand name until you pointed out that your mom does that.

Wow, all chinese parents are the same! My mom had the habit of saying the last word of what she wants me to do, and after many arguments (i couldn’t stand it anymore) she has done it significantly less. My friend on the other hand has it worse than I do. Her mom, grandma, and grandpa will each eclaim a different last word before she steps out the door like “You’re fat!”

the continuation to that universal conversation:
smart kids:”…yes mom…”
smart ass kids:”… yes mom; whatever mom…”

mom:”don’t you whatever me…”
and then the sequeal starts -_- jeez.

Ah, I have had that conversation many times except my mom hits me over the head with her Mac OS X: The Missing Manual and then writes down everything I say in a tiny notebook.

She follows up a week later by secretly calling my boyfriend and asking for his help since he’s nicer and more patient than I….

I get “do you have to keep growing that goatee?” instead of “exercise more”

=) at least she didn’t say “so when do i get my granddaughter?”

My mother claims to be too stupid.

She’s just impatient. Learning to “coach” in those circumstances is entirely too hard - but better than excessive facetime with her and the camera.

too funny!

i pointed this post out to my mom, after we spent a zillion hours on the phone migrating stuff from old iMac to new. her response:

–
i am getting better tho. i am just a slow and hands on learner!!!!!
so,…..i am goiing to take some more pictures now with my dee gee
tal camera and then i am going to upload them onto my computer, right
after i download a new version of iphoto.

there, how am i doing!
p.s. oh, and get some exercise!!!!!! –

for the record, she’s been poking my midsection every time she sees me, but now i think the verbage will be included, too. thanx for planting that seed, Ernie!

Haha, yes, I nearly fell of my chair when I read the first fragment of your post! Those moms are not from this world. Haha … I am glad to see yours is though!

Gawd you’re too funny! You put a *disclaimer* on your posts before reading… “Warning: This entry can cause spontaneous guffaws of laughter… ” for those of us that work in cubicle mazes, and are supposed to actually be working, and not reading funny Ernie!

lova ya ernie!

my mom usually has be buying whatever medicine her doctor DIDN’T tell her to get and end it by telling me to eat more… *sigh*