Know It All or Know Nothing

It's kind of funny how life turns in full circles. In my mid-40's I never would have dreamed that my house would once again be filled with baby things like high chairs, strollers, and bibs. When my kids outgrew the need for those things I packed them away, held garage sales, or just threw out what was worn and overused. Here I am again surrounded by all the trappings of 'babyhood' though, now that I am a grandma. It's wonderful in an invigorating, almost renewing way to have small children around. They certainly keep you on your toes. I remember back when my children were little and my own grandmother (their great-grandmother) then in her mid-80's would say that being around my children kept her young. I used to smile and nod, sort of understanding, but now, I really do understand. Having young children about keeps you feeling young. Maybe it is the way they look up to you. You are all-powerful, all-knowing, and can do anything. It makes you feel like Superman (or woman as the case may be)... at least until they hit 13. Then you're back to being the old person who doesn't know anything. Kind of a bummer really. LOL

Medical Help

My mother-in-law who has been staying with us while she goes through chemotherapy was talking to her visiting nurse the other day about her desire to go back to her own house when she can. The nurse suggested she get a medical id bracelets for that time so that emergency help can tell at a glance what issues she has. I listened from the sidelines and wondered just where to find those and then I saw the webpage for them here. It's great. I will feel a lot better too with her having the information readily available when she goes to her senior club and other outtings, even to the store. Plus with her tendancy to not be able to get up from the floor if she falls, it will be a big help there too.

Just Amazing

I was crusing around the blogosphere yesterday and came across a bunch of blogs dedicated to freelance writing, which is what I do. It is amazing how many websites and blogs you can find on any given subject online. It usually isn't until you are involved in some opprotunity, or hobby that you find them, and then you are suprised to find out how many others are involved in the same things you are. I remember way back when my son began raising and showing rabbits as a part of his 4-h project (this was about 10 years ago) and started showing around the state and connecting states, and we found literally hundreds of people all going to the same shows... for RABBITS... wow. You can find things like that for everything from snakes and sugar gliders to horses and stamp collectors. If someone is interested in it, you can bet there are thousands of others interested in it too, and they have clubs, shows, and websites dedicated to whatever your favorite pastime or career is. Just amazing.

Really Exciting Times

There is so much going on in my life right now. I've never been busier. I forgot how much work it is really possible to get online when you spend just a few minutes every day looking for it.

There can be really stressful moments when you work from home, for yourself, but they are well worth it to be able to 'commute' to your office just a few feet away down the hall everyday!

Nudge, or Shove?

I was supposed to weigh myself this morning. I've been getting a little lax in doing that on a regular schedule. I've been blaming it on a very hectic schedule lately but I'm only hurting myself. Last week that 'time' of the month created a problem for me but that disappeared when 'it' did. If I don't start losing again pretty soon here I am going to have to consider doing some research on diet pills. They have changed so much in the 20 or so years since I used diet pills as a weight loss aide that I feel a bit lost in the market when I look at them.

Sometimes you need a little nudge in the direction you want to be going. I need a big ole shove I think.

Computer, Hello computer

Technology is pretty cool! Not perfect,and some days it seems to really want to balk, like today for instance. I am using Voice Recognition from the new Vista operating system to create this post. It makes you feel like you have really arrived in the future. I keep seeing Scottie in 'Star Trek-The Voyage Home' saying 'Computer, hello computer.'

The downside is there are times when it works great, and times, like today, when it doesn't want to recognize anything.

The COOL thing is that it will totally navigate your entire computer, opening and closing files on your command, opening pictures, etc... and it even works online to navigate the web via your browser with easy commands. In that I have not yet found a glitch, it seems to always work smoothly.

All in all, it's a pretty cool thing. For the most part in my word processing programs it works pretty well, and saves a HUGE amount of wear and tear on my hands.

You Know You're Old When

This comes under the title heading above:

You know you're old when... you have to take your glasses off to read.

I'm in that stage. Actually I've been in that stage for about two years. I'm about ready for a new pair of eyeglasses. I could use a pair of contacts too, but I'd probably never remember to put them in. I used to have them, and really liked it.

One of the biggest pains in wearing glasses is going outside when it is raining. It makes you wish eyeglasses came with windshield wipers.

Identity Crisis Again

Some REALLY interesting facts from a recent study surrounding the difference between men and women online:

Rapleaf conducted a study of 13.2 million people and how they are using social media. While the trends among the sexes indicate they are both massively using social media, women are far outpacing men.
For those under 30, women and men are just as likely to be members of social networks. Sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Flixster are extraordinarily popular.
For those above 30, men – especially married men – aren’t even joining social networks.. With the notable exception of LinkedIn usage
Women are are joining social networks in droves. In fact, women between the ages 35-50 are the fastest growing segment on social networks, especially on MySpace and Facebook.
It may be gleaned from the study results that men’s time online comes from spending hours playing video games such as World of Warcraft and many first-person action games. Men also dominate LinkedIn - the most transactional social network (with the exception of AdultFriendFinder). LinkedIn is all about getting information and introductions now.
Women, on the other, hand are much more relationship driven and less transactional than men. They spend more time on social networks building relationships, communicating with friends, making new friends, and more. Married women put up pictures of their immediate family on social networks and use their social network profile as a family home page to share with friends and relatives.

Considering the statistics about social networking--thoes emails I get saying I need to increase my penis size must be right--I am a guy.

On the other hand, I hate computer games--especially war games. So where does that leave me? Neither man nor woman? Ugh. I'm having a meltdown.

Crash and Burn

It never ceases to amaze me when I go shopping with my son and he is searching through the games for his x-box how may games are out there for PS3, and other types of game players. Everything from golf to first strike war games. You can be hitting a little round ball on a golf course one minute, stealing a car the next, and then blow up Japan, or some other unsuspecting nation. I have to laugh at the variety, but I admit some of them are a lot of fun to play. Bobby had a airplane pilot one that I tried once. Poor plane...

I guess I'm not that good at those types of games. :)

Dust off Your Butt and Get Your Self Respect Back

That's a line from a song that I've always admired. It's pertinent to everyone's life at some point or another. Setbacks happen to everybody. Problems occur in everybodies lives. It's easy to lose track of that when they happen to you. It is natural to wallow a bit in pity when you have something bad happen. The trick is not to let it get you so discouraged you stop trying. Not to let it seem like it's only you that bad things happen to. Go ahead and wallow a while. Grab a tub of ice cream (notice I said tub, not pint, do it up good), get in a hot bath, eat ice cream, soak, scream, cry, and do all you need to do to get it out of your system... then pick up your butt and dust it off. Get back in the game. Life's too short to let disappointments stop you from doing what you need to do.

The Coolest Gadget Ever

We have a brand new truck and it is the first I've ever owned that came complete with a gps tracking system. Is that not the coolest thing ever invented? Now on trips I don't have to mess with maps, or be the 'navigator' (translate that as 'the one responsible if we get lost), or worry about crashing into a cornfield when I'm alone and trying to read directions. Okay, laugh, cornfields are about the most you can crash into around here, and I try with all my might to avoid city driving. The GPS tells me exactly where I need to go. I used to always have to look up directions online before I left the house, and half the time forgot so I was stuck with reading messy maps... not anymore. Yippee, and I love it.

Watching In Style

Late last year we tore up all the carpet throughout the house because our aged dog had made quiet a mess of it before she passed away. She couldn't help it, but I was glad to get rid of the stains. I miss Justice very much, but she is gone, and now it's time to get new carpeting in the house. I think that home theater carpet would be excellent in the family room/turned entertainment center now that the kids are grown and gone (well my loving son is still here, but he is grown). I've been working hard to create a real 'theater' experience for relaxation. We have a big screen tv, and all the requisite viewing equipment along with our satallite feed. All I need is some really great couches or easy chairs, and the new carpet and it will be all ready for relaxing and watching movies in style.

The World Just Shrunk

This is so wild. I've been online for roughly 10 years, and very very VERY much ONline. I'm here a lot. LOL For the first time, EVER that I know of, I came across a blog today on Blog Explosion written by someone from WATSKEA! Yes, only a few quick minutes from me. My neighbor practically! 'It's a small world after all' was playing in my head. Suddenly the vast expanse of the world-wide-web shrunk into a little, cozy, warm place. How cool is that?

PS-Check out Blog Explosion, it's free, and it is a FANTASTIC way to get exposure for your blog for just a little bit of cruising work yourself, and that's free too, and you get to see some awesome blogs you might never come across otherwise--you might even run into a neighbor! :)