Today, at the dinner table in a Chinese buffet, my sister's cell phone rang. She looked at the caller ID, then immediately got up to take the call.

Now, from what little I heard her say, I knew the call was important: It was a close friend with a health scare who was far away.

But what about the other half-dozen people on our side of the restaurant who interrupted dinner to take calls?

I understand that cell phones are great technology when you need to get in touch with someone in an emergency situation. But must everyone be so accessible all the time? I mean, is time spent at the dinner table no longer quality time with the family (or friends)?

And another thing: What's up with the Bluetooth earpieces? I understand if you're driving a car and you have to be on the phone. But what about the people who walk around with something out of Star Trek stuck on their ear, talking animatedly to seemingly no one as they shop for groceries? Are we that busy that we have to talk and shop for groceries at the same time? Or is it to keep us from getting bored? Or is it to keep us from having to make eye contact or small talk with anyone else at the supermarket?

I think it may be the latter. I mean, it's always easier to seem engaged in something than not. Sure, we say we're doing it because it's a good use of our time. But, do we really mean that we're doing it because we're afraid of what else we might be doing?

For instance: I'd imagine it's hard to meet a new person if you're rocking a Bluetooth, caught up in conversation with someone six time zones away, as you're waiting for a connecting flight at a busy airport. That little earpiece is a major obstacle to human contact. Sure, we're on the phone with someone. But we're not having a face-to-face conversation.

And I think that's the problem with today's technology: It takes away from human contact. It's too easy to send off an e-mail without so much as a second thought.

And then there's the story my sister told me, of the person who wanted to blog Thanksgiving dinner. So, with a plate full of food, sat down in front of a computer. In a home office. Nowhere near the Thanksgiving dinner table. Was the family not worthy of this person's presence for Thanksgiving dinner? I don't get it. If you must blog on a holiday, wouldn't it be more fun to take part in it, then write about it?

What's really going to happen in a home office? Not much, unless you're craving some quality time with your PC.