Confessions of a Multitasker

One of my biggest gripes these days—and I know I'm not alone—is when other people multitask. Whether it's mid-conversation, and I can hear them typing in the background, or mid-meal, and they're checking their Blackberries, I feel it's rude and ruins the quality of time we're spending together. But, I'm ashamed to admit that I might be guilty of a slightly different kind of multitasking.

When I have people over to my home, whether it's for a brunch or a dinner, I always hop up to clear the...