Brave New World

Skype has been a remarkable tool that Larkin and Finn use to keep in touch with distant (and sometimes not so distant) friends. Finn plays games with kids in Europe, Australia and all across North America. Larkin touches base daily with a few special friends; sometimes crafting, sometimes gaming, sometimes just chatting. And, of course, sometimes Larkin and Finn Skype each other from adjacent rooms.

Our nightly calls when Emile is out of town have become video chats. Emile and Larkin often play chess while Skyping, Finn often only sticks around long enough to make some goofy faces and otherwise express his affection.

I have had to become used to having windows almost constantly open from our home into others. Usually it's a good thing-- if I find myself deciding not to say something because I'm near a live laptop, it's probably something that didn't need to be said in the first place. Luckily, I'm not overly sensitive about being seen in PJs. With bedhead. In the afternoon.

The other day, I offered up some of those plastic packing pillows for popping. You know, the big ones that make the really loud, satisfying noise when jumped on. It turned out that Finn had been Skyping. Some poor Austrian kid momentarily panicked while he thought his American friend's family was being mowed down by a flurry of gunfire. Typical, I guess.

UPDATE: Finn and a friend were Skyping while playing a fishing game. Finn was trying to help his friend catch better fish by advising him on his bait choice. My attention was drawn from across the house when I heard him shouting "Master bait! Master bait!"