Joining the 21st century

I am leaving on vacation in the morning and should be finishing my packing but what am I doing?  I am going up and down my alerts reading entries and watching tv but at least I am doing some laundry.  I have been soooo excited for two days now, I can hardly contain myself. 

I have purposely not had cable television for the last three years.  I had an older television that I hooked to some rabbit ears and have made myself content with four channels.  It was particularly difficult during the writer's strike but I caught up on a lot of movies during that time and I read a few more books than I would have normally. 

I go through stages like this where I just decide I am going to do without something and I dig my heels in.  I cut off my personal internet for over two years and survived.

Well, two days ago I went hog wild.  I upgraded my internet connection to top speed and had cable put in with all the channels on two televisions.  I can now record 8 shows at once!  But what am I going to do with over 20 sports channels?  Now, don't hate me 'cause I have "connections"! 

I looked around for a long time for what I really wanted and did some bargain hunting as well.  Then, when I was working my way through the maze of options on the phone with the salesperson (over an hour), we suddenly got cut off.  He was having some trouble with his computer and had me on hold while he worked with the help desk. I just sat there and looked at my phone in stunned silence.  He did not call back.  When I called back I got the recording that the office had closed for the day.  Fine!  Guess they did not want my business after all.  When they did call back the following afternoon I ignored them.  They were trying to set up my installation.  Guess again!  After five days I answered their call.  I let them know that I had since decided that maybe Iwas not getting the best deal afterall and now I was shopping around. 

When all was said and done I got another forty dollars a month knocked off.  I may never leave the house again!  Oh, yeah ... there is that trip to Denver tomorrow. 

When I return I am going to find out all about PhotoShop.  Or is it PSP?  Or are they one and the same?  I have much to learn! Help!

                

                         

Tags: cable, high speed internet, PhotoShop

Remembering ...

             

Of all the tributes I have seen on line about September 11, I still like the one a fellow JLander did in 2005 the best.  Thanks, Jimmy.

 

       

                                                  

 

Tags: America Remembers, September 11, Never Forget

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What an awesome mom!

I just read about Stephanie Nielson, a young mother, who was critically injured in a private plane crash, along with her husband.  She was a blogger and her blogging community has rallied around the family and already raised $2 million toward her medical costs and the needs of her four children. 

From just the few minutes I spent reading her blog entries, I could tell what an exceptional person she is.  So creative.  So dedicated to her family. So in love with her husband. What an inspiration!  I have loaded her website in my side bar, The NieNie Dialogues and here is the MSNBC story about her.   

Tags: Stephanie Nielson, NieNie Dialogues, inspired

Learning something new every day

 Now this is a blast from the past. 

I was actually searching online for a picture of McCain and Palin to add to my side bar.  No, I did not find this picture of Superman and Lois Lane in my search although that would have been funny.  I started searching for images of Bear Collector and this picture was one of my choices.  Go figure.

I have been actively using the internet for over 10 years and today was the very first time I used the MicroSoft "image" feature when searching the web.  I feel smart and dumb at the same time.

So now I am curious as to where these images come from and do I need to be concerned with the small print at the bottom that says "Images are scaled down and may be copyrighted."  How would I be able to tell if I am guilty of copyright infringement?  This Dust Bunny Protector does not look good in horizontal stripes.

 

 

Tags: images, Superman, McCain, Dust Bunny Protector, copyright

It's a big deal to me

I was just thrilled to be invited to be a Guest Editor at AOL's Magic Smoke and get to share some of my thoughts as well as point readers in the direction of journals I enjoy. I hope you get a chance to read that entry. 

I am looking forward to traveling to Denver soon to visit my son (Sport here online.) I already had a ticket purchased to go see him last December but my accident in November prevented my travel until now.  So, this year I am a big chicken when I even think of being there when the snow and ice are on the ground.  I will just be happy to be there to see the Aspens changing colors.   

Tags: Guest Editor, Sport, Denver, travel

Do I know how to pick 'em or what?

I want to point you in the direction of Stephen.  Stephen is what I aspire to be - a blogger who made it big!  When I first started my journal, I read a lot of other journals for inspiration and entertainment. I found Stephen's Waiter Rant and added him to my sidebar.  His old entries in 2004, 2005, et al are the basis of his recently published book by the same name.  Stephen was a waiter when I started my journal but not any more.  I was sooo excited when I saw his book featured, among other places, on page 50 of People Magazine's Aug 18 issue.  The special double issue with Brad and Angelina and the twins on the cover. How cool is that??

Just think about it. How would you feel if you wrote something that was so well received it was featured in magazines, television (he was interviewed by Matt Lauer) and on the best sellers list? Stephen's book has been on the NYTimes Best Sellers list for a month now. Hardcover Nonfiction

Do I know how to pick 'em or what?! 

I wonder who in my sidebar is next.

Tags: Waiter Rant, Best Sellers List, blogging, books

What's in the water?!

I just took a little cruise around the ol' internet and then read some of my alerts.  What is going on? Everybody seems to have a burr under their saddle today. I'm not surprised when Jon (Lone Star Concerto) is stirred about something. It wouldn't be Jon if he were calm and passive. But today, even Sonya (My Southern Home) was bent out of shape and Sonya always stays calm!  The next four entries I read were assorted grumblings about one thing or another.  The neighbor's dogs are always barking.  The critters ate the tops off my flowers.  Why are reporters in New Orleans when there was an evacuation?  What about those Democrats? What's up with those Republicans?  And, so it goes.

Don't get me wrong.  It is just a coincidence that the first few journals I read today were rants and everyone is entitled to vent.  But the rant that put the candle on the cow paddy was P Diddy's rant about having to fly commercial because he can't afford to put gas in his private jet! 

Of all the asinine examples of someone who believes his own hype!  Spoiler Alert: Diddy filmed himself as he was preparing to fly on American Airlines. He says he has been having to fly back and forth to LA pursuing his acting career twice a month and if he takes his private jet "that's like $250K round trip!"  He then gave a shout out to all his "Saudi Arabian brothers and sisters."  He wanted to name other brothers but ended up saying, "All my brothers and sisters from, umm, all the countries that have oil.  If ya'll'd send me some oil for my jet I surely would appreciate it."  "Can you believe it?!" he asks.  "This is really happenin'!!  Can you believe it? Even your boy is flying commercial.  And, I'm in coach!!

Forget helping those affected by Gustav.  Forget watching the conventions.  I feel a Diddython coming on!!

Tags: P Diddy, gas prices, rants, flying