The alarm goes off. It's a mix between that staticky oldies station and that merciless, high-pitched beeping noise. After hitting the snooze button three times (very much to the dismay of my roommates), it's time to jump out of bed.

First stop - the computer. Not the bathroom or the closet to pick out what sweatshirt to throw on, but the computer. My beautiful eMac just calls my name, and when I press a key on the keyboard, it wakes up just like I try to do.

As I wipe the sleep out of my eyes - well, the eye gook I suppose - I check the weather, sign online, check e-mail and play music simultaneously. As a generation, we have become pros at the science of multi-tasking.

How many of us can, while working on homework, talk online, listen to music, have the TV playing in the background, create a search on Google and talk to a friend on the phone? I don't ever think about it, but we really are technologically savvy.

AOL Instant Messenger is just one of those other ways to spend more time on your computer without socializing with people physically. I'll admit it. I'm one of those "away-message checkers." I might as well not deny it. I'm not exactly sure why I want to know what everyone else is doing, but I get this feeling like I'm up to date on current events with my friends without actually speaking to them.

Our generation can do that a lot - communicate without communicating.

Leaving someone an Instant Message when you know they are "away" is the perfect way to show that you still care, but you don't have to actually take the time out to have a conversation. Typing is just too much sometimes when all you really want to do is say, "Hi." We can get around actually talking to each other with text messages on our cell phones or e-mails. How about IM-ing your roommate who is literally sitting 3 feet away? It's disturbing, if you think about it.

On the flip side, we are capable of conversing any time, day or night.

A couple weeks ago, I was walking down Farm Lane, and I noticed a runner across the street. In the midst of her midafternoon run, she reached inside of her shirt. Wondering what she was doing, I continued to watch. Suddenly she had pulled her cell phone from what I assume to be her sports bra. That wasn't the end of it, oddly enough. She took about two steps of walking and then continued running while she resumed her conversation.

Is our generation that psychotically busy that we can't leave our cell phones on our desk for a quick run? I have even seen girls talk on their cell phones as they go into the bathroom.

Come on.

We are never alone. Walking around campus, it's easy to observe at least three types of people. First, there are students who walk with others to and from home or class. There also are those people who stick their headphones on when there are still five minutes left of class because they can't wait any longer. The third type I have noticed are those that take their cell phones off silent instantly after class is over and start chit-chatting automatically - even if it is 8:30 a.m.

At this rate, we are all going to burn out before the age of 30.

It is instances such as these that make me realize just how dependent we are on technology. The blackout in August tested our society on how we can deal without all that we take advantage of. I was just flat out annoyed without power. My parents, on the other hand, thought they were pioneers on "Little House on the Prairie," collecting rain outside in buckets and reading by candlelight.

The generation gap between us and our parents is astounding. I mean, my dad was born in a time where there were only a handful of channels on the black-and-white television, and he actually played outside as a kid. We can't even fathom a time like that.

Not being connected to the world for 24 hours was scary to me. It was also pretty damn boring. The blackout urged us to talk, play cards or just simply go to bed early. I chose the latter.

No one can guess what the next 20 years will hold for us, but one thing's for sure: I'll e-mail you when I find out.

Bethany Chismark is a State News intern. Reach her at chismar3@msu.edu.