Oh, Brother.

So my brother gets back from a two-week business trip to Israel. Israel. A place I’m sure I won’t see in my lifetime. Not a problem, as I’ll just live vicariously through him. You see, he’s got pictures.

And not your ordinary run-of-the-mill pictures, either….’cause if we’re “Computer-Central” over here, then Rob is the “Tech-King”. If I needed two words to describe my one and only brother, they would be: traveler and electronic-king. (I know, Miss-Jackie-Smarty-Pants…it’s technically three words…now, get out of my head please.)

Rob has been everywhere. All over Europe, all over the States. For a good fifteen years, I was never 100% sure where he was. We would periodically call Mom to find out…Portugal, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland…he’s made “Where’s Waldo” look positively simplistic. His last international address was in Switzerland…and then he brought himself and his treasured family HOME.

Finally.

Not that he doesn’t annoy the crap out of me. One of his new websites is where he taps into anything new in wireless technology. So, I get this email from him:

Hey Kath,
Today I’m launching www.NextInWireless.com for family and friends.
I would love to get your feedback, clicks on ads, and most importantly your comments on the posted articles.
If you have a chance to participate for a few minutes, you can really help me get the ball rolling!!
I should be posting a new piece about 5 times a week, so check back often.
And please, TELL YOUR FRIENDS who might be interested (send the link)....
Thanks so much, and
Enjoy!
Love,
Rob www.nextinwireless.com


I don’t usually link to his sites, mainly because I don’t understand ¾ of what he’s talking about….and I don’t want to comment for fear my stupidity will brilliantly shine through. (The one time I’d commented on how “cool the new Apple i-Phone looked”, he told me I’d inadvertently posted it for all the techie-world to see, instead of just to him, and that I sounded like a 13-year-old-dweeb.) A few days later, I receive another email:

Kathy,
Last week I launched www.NextInWireless.com for family and friends. (you may not have received my first message)
I would love to get your feedback, and your comments on any posted article.
If you have a chance to participate for a few minutes, you can really help me get the ball rolling!!
I should be posting a new piece about 5 times a week, so check back often.
And, TELL YOUR FRIENDS who might be interested (send the link)....
Thanks so much, and
Enjoy!
Rob www.nextinwireless.com


Okay. So, right off the bat, I’m noticing that I’ve lost status as “Hey” and there’s no more brotherly-“love” at the end….and he’s pulling the centuries-old “you may not have gotten my last message” yada-yada. Everything else is cut and pasted.

Whatever.

A few weeks later, I get this:

Kathy.

Are you alive? Did you check out my new site at www.nextinwireless.com?
I put something in there just for you. (Note to readers: He’s such a liar.)
Just link here to www.nextinwireless.com
It’ll take you directly to my new site at www.nextinwireless.com.
Well, the trip sucked, since I wasn’t well and broke my finger and all.
Enjoy!
Rob www.nextinwireless.com

Now he’s getting as annoying as any telemarketer. So, I write back:

Rob.

I'm sorry the trip sucked. Is your finger in an itty-bitty cast?
Do I sound condescending? Sorry....

Glad you're back to posting to www.nextinwireless.com.
Glad you're rebuilding www.nextinwireless.com.
I'm considering a site called www.StopAllThisEndlessPromotionOfYourSite.com, where everyday folks that are being badgered with nonstop emails from annoying relatives can go to find comfort, sanity and phone numbers for professional hit men.
I'm already your family. I'll go there when I'm damn good and ready.
Stop bothering me or I’m telling.

After that, all got blissfully quiet.

That’s my brother…whom I couldn’t wait to have back home again. Be careful what you wish for.