Babysitter 2.0

As this is the week between Christmas and New Year's and my brain is on a self-imposed break, I bring you a very lite Skype tale to enjoy for the holidays.

My Montreal and tech-savvy friend Phil Telio recently was faced with a major dilemma. At the last minute before leaving for a party down the street, his sitter for the night bailed. As any parent of young children can relate to, the euphoria that sets in as a the sitter's arrival approaches is somewhat unmatched. We all love our children but we all love getting out. Without them. So when your parade is rained on at the very last minute, survivor instincts tend to kick in.

In Phil's case, there was no time to find a back up. And no way he was staying home. Enter Skype, the Internet and video-enabled laptops - and a rescue was in progress. With a Skype call left open between the laptop in his daughter's room and the one he brought to the party (a not so welcome house-warming gift, it seems), Phil had full view of his daughter at all times. What's better is that when she did wake up, Phil comforted her back to sleep as if he was right next to her. Which he was.

With this, I am signing off through the New Year. Thanks to all who were good enough to read my first 6 months of posting. See you in '08.