Wow. I was just sitting on the sofa surfing while my kids watched ABC Family and their ten-millionth episode of Boy Meets World (which my son says is the Brady Bunch of their generation, along with Step by Step and Full House, by the way).
The show ended, and the between-show commercial spots ran. An ad for HP Pavilion notebooks was what caught my ear:
"Get a new HP (model whatever) out of your parents for just $999! Or a (model whatever) for $499!"
Things have come a long way since, "Follow your nose!" and "Frosted Lucky Charms are magically delicious!" and "You sunk my battleship!", haven't they?
The ante has been upped.
My girls snuck looks at me after the commercial, and Emilie said, "Ridiculous."
It might have been the "WHAAAAAAT?!?!" I let out spontaneously that inspired her to say the right thing. I hope not. Kids are smarter than we think. That's what scares me.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 23, 2007
Another birthday for the little Kricket
Wow, it's my third birthday post for my baby girl since I started this blog! Where has the time gone? All my kids are "double digits" now--that must mean I'm getting old. As you can see, she still has her priorities in the right order. She's not grown up just yet!
Happy Birthday to my own blue-eyed beauty!
Friday, July 20, 2007
Why friends don't let friends (fill in the blank)
So, I got a new cell phone last week. (And don't you hate it when people start blog posts with the word "so"? I do, too, but it's just so tempting I can't resist!!!)
I was much attached to my little tiny Nokia with all the buttons on the front and the super-dee-dooper flashlight on the end. I carried it around with me at night after all the other creatures were asleep when I finally shut down the computer and went to bed so I wouldn't stub my toes or other parts. (And, since we're being up front, I still carry it at night. I keep it charged, because it's the best flashlight and reading light ever.)
I got a fancy schmancy newfangled flippy-picture-and-video-taking-text-messsaging-ringtone-downloadable-voice-commandable-it-probably-babysits-your-children-while-you-go-to-the-grocery-store Samsung phone. They practically gave them to us (in fact, they are truly paying us to use them for the first three months, so if you are out of contract and want someone to pay you to use a new cell phone for three months and still end up with a cheaper bill afterwards, go to Costco!).
How could we resist? We gave up on our old company after we determined that: a) They didn't want to help us, really. b) They were going to charge us an arm and a leg for everything--phones, service, existing as human beings. c) They were going to make us change all our numbers just because we wanted to change the name on the account. d) They, obviously, were unconcerned about customer loyalty even though we've faithfully paid them, on time, and more than we pay for, say, WATER, or personal items per month, which are really more necessary if you think about it, for nearly a decade.
And they haven't even called us to find out why we left yet. I guess that's one thing in AOL's favor. They'll do anything to get you back.
I digress.
So, (there it is again), I'm now learning to use all the bells and whistles on my new phone. It is, in fact, harder than geometry, and that's saying something if you knew me when I took geometry. My children are patiently teaching me all kinds of tricks. I am a computer freak, but other electronics slay me, and frankly, I just don't care. People used to try to get me to make the copy machines or printers work when they were messing up in my old offices, because they knew I was a computer freak, and I just laughed in their general directions. Computers hold the key to my success. Other things that plug in? Why bother.
But, I have successfully sent text messages to Gail so we can have brief conversations about when we're going to work out (and this is quite an accomplishment if you know the two of us--yes, the working out and the brief conversations). I have installed a photo of my beautiful, yet feisty and death-wish-filled cat on the wallpaper. I have even mastered the art of calling a few people using the voice command. The lady who asks me what I want to do has serious pronunciation issues, though, and cracks me up with her inability to recognize names I have clearly YELLED into her ear. I apologize to everyone I have inadvertently called this week when the voice command lady interpreted (as a fake example) Sally Smith as John Doe.
If you've read this far, this brings me to the subject at hand. Finally.
I have always tried to be a conscientious cell phone user and follow the rules like:
1) No talking on your cell phone in the library or church. Or ... in the middle of talking to an agent, as Kristin Nelson talked about in her blog one time. That is a bad idea, apparently.
2) Turn the ringer off during movies, especially when the super scary AMC employee comes in before the show starts and warns that you'll be forcibly removed if you are seen using a cell phone during the feature presentation. (This really happened when we went to see Premonition.)
And, of course:
3) Put your cell phone down while you're driving and you see a police officer approaching, because if you are breaking any other rules, the cell phone attached to your ear is probably not going to help your case.
Which brings us to my point.
My dad is always reminding us kids about not using cell phones while we drive. I, in turn, remind my son not to use his cell phone while he drives. It makes me wonder if my dad uses his while he drives. (Just think about that for a moment.) I don't think he does, though, considering he even hands the phone to someone else in the car when he's a passenger because he can't hear. Hehe.
Anyway, I've discovered that my fancy schmancy new phone is much more difficult to master while driving, so I have cut back considerably on my office hours in the car. I could use that old Nokia puppy with one hand, knew exactly how many up and down arrows it took to call the people I needed desperately to talk to at that exact moment, etc. Piece of cake. The new one takes two hands and three brains, which is pretty tricky while you're driving. It gives me new respect and much sympathy for all the people I've dialed who answered the phone while driving as if their lives depended on it.
Which brings me to my actual point. This is the funny part, I promise.
Yesterday, while working out at the Y, I was sitting on the recumbent bike, alternately spinning my legs and resting because my stomach still hadn't quite recovered from the bubonic plague I contracted last weekend. I was listening to my Once CD (don't forget, this is a movie you have to see while you still can!) and reading a book at the same time. You think this sounds difficult? It was, but not so difficult I couldn't observe an approaching Y patron.
She walked slowly toward the bike at the end, breaking Y rule number one: Use of cell phones in the exercise areas is prohibited! I casually watched with my peripheral vision as she approached the bike, sat down, slowly began to pedal, and held a heated conversation on her cell phone. All this while a 8 1/2 X 11 inch piece of paper printed very prettily with the words "OUT OF ORDER. SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCE." floated gaily in front of her face, covering the computerized controls of the bike. She didn't notice until she'd been sitting there for a minute or two and finally decided to select her speed when her conversation ended. Then she abruptly stopped pedaling, looked around to see if anyone was watching (not ME!!), and got up. In her shock, she went to a different type of machine altogether.
I said all that to say this. I think I'm going to stop talking on the cell phone while I drive. You probably shouldn't either. Friends don't let friends talk on their cell phones and drive.
(Anyone know a good 12 Step Program for this?)
I was much attached to my little tiny Nokia with all the buttons on the front and the super-dee-dooper flashlight on the end. I carried it around with me at night after all the other creatures were asleep when I finally shut down the computer and went to bed so I wouldn't stub my toes or other parts. (And, since we're being up front, I still carry it at night. I keep it charged, because it's the best flashlight and reading light ever.)
I got a fancy schmancy newfangled flippy-picture-and-video-taking-text-messsaging-ringtone-downloadable-voice-commandable-it-probably-babysits-your-children-while-you-go-to-the-grocery-store Samsung phone. They practically gave them to us (in fact, they are truly paying us to use them for the first three months, so if you are out of contract and want someone to pay you to use a new cell phone for three months and still end up with a cheaper bill afterwards, go to Costco!).
How could we resist? We gave up on our old company after we determined that: a) They didn't want to help us, really. b) They were going to charge us an arm and a leg for everything--phones, service, existing as human beings. c) They were going to make us change all our numbers just because we wanted to change the name on the account. d) They, obviously, were unconcerned about customer loyalty even though we've faithfully paid them, on time, and more than we pay for, say, WATER, or personal items per month, which are really more necessary if you think about it, for nearly a decade.
And they haven't even called us to find out why we left yet. I guess that's one thing in AOL's favor. They'll do anything to get you back.
I digress.
So, (there it is again), I'm now learning to use all the bells and whistles on my new phone. It is, in fact, harder than geometry, and that's saying something if you knew me when I took geometry. My children are patiently teaching me all kinds of tricks. I am a computer freak, but other electronics slay me, and frankly, I just don't care. People used to try to get me to make the copy machines or printers work when they were messing up in my old offices, because they knew I was a computer freak, and I just laughed in their general directions. Computers hold the key to my success. Other things that plug in? Why bother.
But, I have successfully sent text messages to Gail so we can have brief conversations about when we're going to work out (and this is quite an accomplishment if you know the two of us--yes, the working out and the brief conversations). I have installed a photo of my beautiful, yet feisty and death-wish-filled cat on the wallpaper. I have even mastered the art of calling a few people using the voice command. The lady who asks me what I want to do has serious pronunciation issues, though, and cracks me up with her inability to recognize names I have clearly YELLED into her ear. I apologize to everyone I have inadvertently called this week when the voice command lady interpreted (as a fake example) Sally Smith as John Doe.
If you've read this far, this brings me to the subject at hand. Finally.
I have always tried to be a conscientious cell phone user and follow the rules like:
1) No talking on your cell phone in the library or church. Or ... in the middle of talking to an agent, as Kristin Nelson talked about in her blog one time. That is a bad idea, apparently.
2) Turn the ringer off during movies, especially when the super scary AMC employee comes in before the show starts and warns that you'll be forcibly removed if you are seen using a cell phone during the feature presentation. (This really happened when we went to see Premonition.)
And, of course:
3) Put your cell phone down while you're driving and you see a police officer approaching, because if you are breaking any other rules, the cell phone attached to your ear is probably not going to help your case.
Which brings us to my point.
My dad is always reminding us kids about not using cell phones while we drive. I, in turn, remind my son not to use his cell phone while he drives. It makes me wonder if my dad uses his while he drives. (Just think about that for a moment.) I don't think he does, though, considering he even hands the phone to someone else in the car when he's a passenger because he can't hear. Hehe.
Anyway, I've discovered that my fancy schmancy new phone is much more difficult to master while driving, so I have cut back considerably on my office hours in the car. I could use that old Nokia puppy with one hand, knew exactly how many up and down arrows it took to call the people I needed desperately to talk to at that exact moment, etc. Piece of cake. The new one takes two hands and three brains, which is pretty tricky while you're driving. It gives me new respect and much sympathy for all the people I've dialed who answered the phone while driving as if their lives depended on it.
Which brings me to my actual point. This is the funny part, I promise.
Yesterday, while working out at the Y, I was sitting on the recumbent bike, alternately spinning my legs and resting because my stomach still hadn't quite recovered from the bubonic plague I contracted last weekend. I was listening to my Once CD (don't forget, this is a movie you have to see while you still can!) and reading a book at the same time. You think this sounds difficult? It was, but not so difficult I couldn't observe an approaching Y patron.
She walked slowly toward the bike at the end, breaking Y rule number one: Use of cell phones in the exercise areas is prohibited! I casually watched with my peripheral vision as she approached the bike, sat down, slowly began to pedal, and held a heated conversation on her cell phone. All this while a 8 1/2 X 11 inch piece of paper printed very prettily with the words "OUT OF ORDER. SORRY FOR INCONVENIENCE." floated gaily in front of her face, covering the computerized controls of the bike. She didn't notice until she'd been sitting there for a minute or two and finally decided to select her speed when her conversation ended. Then she abruptly stopped pedaling, looked around to see if anyone was watching (not ME!!), and got up. In her shock, she went to a different type of machine altogether.
I said all that to say this. I think I'm going to stop talking on the cell phone while I drive. You probably shouldn't either. Friends don't let friends talk on their cell phones and drive.
(Anyone know a good 12 Step Program for this?)
Friday, July 13, 2007
Macy optional
Just for Bungi, and because many, many people would hate me and they would stop coming to my blog if I caused Macy Gray to pop up on my player and play automatically...
Click here to hear I try in Windows Media.
Click here to hear I try in Real Player.
(The image of Macy Gray on Real Player alone is enough to scare you.)
And, just for clarification, I did take the song lyrics totally out of context. It is a break up song, and I am certainly not trying to break up with my beloved daughters. Hee! But, for reasons still unknown to even me, I have always liked this song.
Looks like ProjectPlaylist is doing some new stuff. I need to go check it out.
Click here to hear I try in Windows Media.
Click here to hear I try in Real Player.
(The image of Macy Gray on Real Player alone is enough to scare you.)
And, just for clarification, I did take the song lyrics totally out of context. It is a break up song, and I am certainly not trying to break up with my beloved daughters. Hee! But, for reasons still unknown to even me, I have always liked this song.
Looks like ProjectPlaylist is doing some new stuff. I need to go check it out.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
My world crumbles when you are not there
Just when I think I've seen and heard everything, I look up and Macy Gray is singing on Sound Stage on PBS, and my daughters are standing behind the kitchen counter ... they're finger painting, but now they're also following Macy's directions—waving their hands in the air, throwing their heads back, screaming, and looking especially beautiful. Just as Macy Gray promised they would if they would just do what she said.
And I'm sitting on the couch, rolling and laughing, and it's so funny it is especially beautiful. And I'm just a prisoner of their love. J
I may appear to be free
But I'm just a prisoner of your love
And I may seem all right and smile when you leave
But my smiles are just a front
Just a front, hey
I play it off, but I'm dreaming of you
And I'll keep my cool but I'm feignin'
(From Macy Gray, I Try)
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Bungi's blog
If you are interested in the things I've posted the last few times, you should check out my new Blogger friend Bungi's postings, especially the last few days. She happened upon my blog randomly one evening a few months ago, and we linked up to each other's blogs and have been passing comments back and forth since. I like Bungi's attitude and writing--she is an intelligent, fun, interesting girl with a passionate heart for the things she believes.
She lives in India and works with people living in poverty there through a microfinance and women's financial services organization. (Hope I got that right, Bungi.)
Life goes on...
She lives in India and works with people living in poverty there through a microfinance and women's financial services organization. (Hope I got that right, Bungi.)
Life goes on...
Friday, July 06, 2007
Little drops of rain
Since my last post, I've been doing some thinking and looking around. I believe I'll try to post things here on my blog as I come across them. They might be areas in which you, too, could help others, or if they're local to my area, they might spur you to check for similar needs in your own or around the world.
As I pulled up my search page this morning, it occurred to me that I'm already doing this.(Thanks to my son, who changed my home page default a few months ago.) You can use SearchKindly for your default search or home page. Any searches you do there, while still powered by the omnipotent Google, generate funds for a particular organization around the world. Each month, the users vote for the organization to receive the next month's funds. It's not a huge amount, but usually around $500-$700 per month goes to good causes simply by using this search portal. The funds are generated from the advertisers on the page.
Check it out here.
Then, this week we received word that the Family Crisis Center of Cleburne, TX, is in desperate need of twin- and full-sized sheet sets, bath towels, and wash rags. They can be new, but used ones in decent shape are welcome. Our church is collecting them this Sunday. How many of us have piles of these things in our linen closets collecting dust (or in our case, constantly getting dragged out by kids who are bored and really have plenty of other tent-building or sleepover supplies, and who daily forget to hang their bath towels up to dry, and so get another one out every time and toss the other one in the laundry)? If you think about it, this could even contribute to family harmony. Heh. What organizations in your area could use this help?
Just some thoughts.
As I pulled up my search page this morning, it occurred to me that I'm already doing this.(Thanks to my son, who changed my home page default a few months ago.) You can use SearchKindly for your default search or home page. Any searches you do there, while still powered by the omnipotent Google, generate funds for a particular organization around the world. Each month, the users vote for the organization to receive the next month's funds. It's not a huge amount, but usually around $500-$700 per month goes to good causes simply by using this search portal. The funds are generated from the advertisers on the page.
Check it out here.
Then, this week we received word that the Family Crisis Center of Cleburne, TX, is in desperate need of twin- and full-sized sheet sets, bath towels, and wash rags. They can be new, but used ones in decent shape are welcome. Our church is collecting them this Sunday. How many of us have piles of these things in our linen closets collecting dust (or in our case, constantly getting dragged out by kids who are bored and really have plenty of other tent-building or sleepover supplies, and who daily forget to hang their bath towels up to dry, and so get another one out every time and toss the other one in the laundry)? If you think about it, this could even contribute to family harmony. Heh. What organizations in your area could use this help?
Just some thoughts.
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
Taking it all for granted
Happy Fourth of July. We just got back from spending the day with friends grilling and swimming (YAY! NO RAIN! For the first time in ... um ... forever!), and then the grownups watched a movie while the kids watched another and played.
We watched Blood Diamond, and can I just say, Wow. Wow. Wow. I am still somewhat speechless. (But as you know, I always recover fairly quickly from speechlessness.) This movie is set in 1999 in the midst of the Sierra Leone civil war. Through the viewpoints of a family torn apart, a soldier of fortune, and an American journalist, it explores some of the situations behind the war, most specifically the conflict diamond trade (smuggling diamonds out of the country to sell for arms and ammunition), with a subplot about the children forced to fight in the revolutionary army.
Movies like this are always quite sobering and leave me feeling a little ... blue? ... sad? ... helpless? All of the above.
Todd and I had an interesting discussion when we got home. I asked him what he thought about the movie, and he said it was good, but frustrating, kind of like Hotel Rwanda or Sometimes in April (both excellent movies, but like this one, not for the faint of heart). He said learning about situations like Sierra Leone almost makes him want to shrug and say, “Yeah, that was interesting and sad, but so overwhelming, what the heck can *I* do about it?”
Then we considered that the point Blood Diamond and Hotel Rwanda make is that while we certainly cannot as a single person or family have a huge influence on the horrific conditions in many parts of the world (including some in very our own backyards), we can start with small actions or helping one or two people. It is still baffling and frustrating to know which one or two to help, or which small actions to take, of course. In the Sierra Leone situation, the actions of a few led many governments to join together to create public policy, which, while it may not keep people from continuing to perform illegal actions (smuggling, etc.), at least sends the message that these things are unacceptable and attempts to foster an environment of change.
I recommend you check out this movie, then do your own research to find out what horrors are taking place around the world or under your own nose, and carefully consider what small actions you can take to make a difference. At the very least, consider how much most of us (if you are reading this, probably you) take for granted our comfortable Independence Day celebrations—complete with endless supplies of grilled steak, hamburgers, and ice cream, beautiful yards and swimming pools, comfy living rooms and DVD players, and most of all, the ability to walk down our streets without fearing for our lives or those of our family members. Be thankful. (Then do something.)
I’m pointing one finger at you, and three back at myself, while I look at the wedding ring on my finger and wonder if the diamond there caused anyone to lose their life.
We watched Blood Diamond, and can I just say, Wow. Wow. Wow. I am still somewhat speechless. (But as you know, I always recover fairly quickly from speechlessness.) This movie is set in 1999 in the midst of the Sierra Leone civil war. Through the viewpoints of a family torn apart, a soldier of fortune, and an American journalist, it explores some of the situations behind the war, most specifically the conflict diamond trade (smuggling diamonds out of the country to sell for arms and ammunition), with a subplot about the children forced to fight in the revolutionary army.
Movies like this are always quite sobering and leave me feeling a little ... blue? ... sad? ... helpless? All of the above.
Todd and I had an interesting discussion when we got home. I asked him what he thought about the movie, and he said it was good, but frustrating, kind of like Hotel Rwanda or Sometimes in April (both excellent movies, but like this one, not for the faint of heart). He said learning about situations like Sierra Leone almost makes him want to shrug and say, “Yeah, that was interesting and sad, but so overwhelming, what the heck can *I* do about it?”
Then we considered that the point Blood Diamond and Hotel Rwanda make is that while we certainly cannot as a single person or family have a huge influence on the horrific conditions in many parts of the world (including some in very our own backyards), we can start with small actions or helping one or two people. It is still baffling and frustrating to know which one or two to help, or which small actions to take, of course. In the Sierra Leone situation, the actions of a few led many governments to join together to create public policy, which, while it may not keep people from continuing to perform illegal actions (smuggling, etc.), at least sends the message that these things are unacceptable and attempts to foster an environment of change.
I recommend you check out this movie, then do your own research to find out what horrors are taking place around the world or under your own nose, and carefully consider what small actions you can take to make a difference. At the very least, consider how much most of us (if you are reading this, probably you) take for granted our comfortable Independence Day celebrations—complete with endless supplies of grilled steak, hamburgers, and ice cream, beautiful yards and swimming pools, comfy living rooms and DVD players, and most of all, the ability to walk down our streets without fearing for our lives or those of our family members. Be thankful. (Then do something.)
I’m pointing one finger at you, and three back at myself, while I look at the wedding ring on my finger and wonder if the diamond there caused anyone to lose their life.
Monday, July 02, 2007
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