Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts

I was recently asked why I chose to set my novel in the 1980s.  At first I rolled my eyes and said, "Duh, because it was only, like, the best decade ever!"  And then I fessed up to another reason. You see, the story is essentially about dating, and I don't have the slightest idea how to date today. Facebook, texting, and e-chat, oh my.   All these forms of e-communications have to have completely changed the face of dating.  As Liz Lemon lamented on 30 Rock (something like):   " Man, there are so many different ways  for a guy to not call back these days." Yeah, so there goes that little ego-cushion.  Back in the 80s, when a guy didn't get in touch, you could always tell yourself he lost your number, or the phone was busy, or a million other things. Even if you had the cutting edge technology of call waiting, you could always blame it on your roomate not clicking over in time (since no one had invented voice mail yet). But now?  If ...

My husband attended to his high school reunion last weekend, Class of 1985, and discovered that one of his classmates has accomplished something very cool. He's resurrected that tried & true 80s University staple, Quarters. And he's done it in a way that even our kids have to admit is totally awesome. Jim Terdina, innovative software inventor, says he simply combined two of his great passions---drinking and computers---and came up with iQuarters!!! Genius, I say!  You can download it to your iPhone, iTouch or iPad and play it wherever and whenever you like. Because who has a quarter and a glass just lying around the house? But check out this video---it's way more fun than any game of Quarters I've ever played.  No wonder it's getting so popular.