My current reality. Right now. As I type.

We’re finally back home where we belong, and my daughter is enjoying a week at one of her favorite places in the world, the Waldorf-inspired summer camp where she learns how to build fires, grow veggies, climb trees, knit, create puppet shows and spend time outdoors rain or shine. She is in heaven.

I, on the other hand, am sitting in front of this computer.

In honor of how jealous I am of my daughter’s digital free mornings (this rainy afternoon will most certainly involve a movie, alas) I give you a few technology related things to ponder…

A town without wifi or cell phones…

Turns out posting too many photos of yourself on facebook may very well signify a trouble with having relationships in the real world. No kidding.

A digital potty. A DIGITAL POTTY! WTF?

The new Spike Jonze movie (coming out in November) is all about a guy who falls in love with his operating system. The trailer made me cry, because it is so convincing.

Wearable technology is fast becoming the new normal. Be afraid. Very afraid.

Maybe it’s not all that bad… Jeff Hancock makes a really good case that the permanence of the information you put out into the web might actually keep us more honest.

But then again, if digital technology is supposedly so great, why are all these silicon valley geeks sending their kids to a screen-free Waldorf School?

Man am I glad to be back home in Brooklyn after 5 weeks of exploring the Bay Area. Not that we didn’t enjoy ourselves immensely, but nothing beats laying down in your own bed again.

And while we’re on the topic of my homecoming, here are a few related links for your viewing pleasure:

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros know all about home. (see above)

A island resurfaces in the middle of Prospect Park.

The development of the Domino Sugar factory in Williamsburg has been extremely controversial, but at least we can now check out what fresh deliciousness is growing in the raised beds at the new Havemeyer park.

What does home mean these days, anyway? The brilliant travel writer Pico Iyer thinks it’s the place where you become yourself. I agree.

For photographer Nan Goldin, home has always been where her friends are. A new show of her photographs called “Wish You Were Here” opened this weekend at the QT Gallery in East Hampton, NY.

Even if you’re the type that needs to go to the middle of nowhere to find yourself, you’re still going to need some kind of shelter from the elements. Consider the yurt.

Now I know we’re all supposed to be streamlining our lives, but sometimes a girl’s gotta go buy something amazing for her pad. It’s just a fact of life. If you live in NYC, I suggest you check out Williamsburg’s RePOP to add some one of a kind vintage flair to your abode.

In honor of this week’s travel theme, here a shot taken from a boat off the coast of Mumbai in February of last year. Where it was really hot. Unlike how it is right now in San Francisco…

The most beautiful travel backgammon set you will ever lay eyes on.

Cats and dogs mark new territory by spraying. I prefer a different sort of aromatherapy to make myself feel at home in a new place.

If only this jacket had been available before we took off to San Francisco, I would have owned it, and been comfortable (instead of slightly chilly, which has been my constant state for the past 5 weeks)

Why stay in a hotel when you can sleep in a treehouse?

This is my favorite travel blog. I want to do everything they do.

The internet where I’m staying right now is horrible, but after I read about Hasan Elahi’s TED talk on what he did after being accidentally put on an FBI watch list, I patiently endured the 30 minute download time in order to watch it. And it was worth every second.

Commuters are travelers, too. Now more than ever, Americans are driving solo to work. And NPR has the graphs to prove it. Evidently we didn’t get the memo on climate change.

My regularly scheduled Monday post full of links to various places of interest on the web is going to be a bit late in coming today. So in the meantime, enjoy this masterful performance of the Modern Major General’s song by the inimitable George Rose. (with cameos by Linda Ronstadt and Kevin Kline)

Links are on their way…

Man did I want to be Mrs Peel when I was a kid. Actually, I still do.

My daughter hates anything spicy, and by that she means that if she can detect even the slightest hint of pepper, it’s a no go. She does, however, love paprika, so I’m always on the lookout for recipes with that delicious flavor so tht dinner doesn’t always end up tasting like bland mac + cheese. This purple cauliflower dish fits the bill and looks beautiful to boot– we’ll be trying it this week for sure.

Here’s an interesting look at 10 surprising things about parenting in Japan.

A letter from F Scott Fitzgerald to his 11 year old daughter about what one should and should not worry about.

Just relax and let Kim France tell you where you go shopping for the home in NYC these days by bookmarking her list of 10 current faves. She makes these lists for a living.

Maybe if I had this cookbook, I’d finally become one of those people I’ve always admired who can cook on the fly.

The most beautiful beach tennis game I’ve ever seen.

Just a little chart to get your reading ideas flowing. Courtesy of the good folks at Flavorwire, my favorite listmakers.

Reading is fundamental, and there’s no better time than the summer to catch up on a book or two. (Or so they say… my summer has felt busier than the rest of the year, but I digress) Herewith, a few links related to this most elemental of activities.

First off, Annie Murphy Paul asks: Are readers an endangered species?

Here’s the Flavorwire summer reading flowchart in it’s entirety, with the accompanying article. Sure, it’s from last summer, but books never expire.

Check out A Cup Of Jo’s Joanna Goddard’s favorite bedtime stories for her kids (cause now she has two!)

Chip Kidd is one of the world’s premiere book designers. He’s also hilarious. Here’s his TED talk about why designing books is no laughing matter. Oh no wait…

Can’t go wrong with a critics’ favorites book list from NPR.

Anorak is my favorite kids magazine.

My daughter and I participated in The Brooklyn Art Library’s Sketchbook Project (feel free to read my earlier post for details) and the tour is on. Check their site to see when the books are going to show up in your town. And then go see them! (you can see my sketchbook online via the digital library, too… but it’s less rewarding)