Technology Meme - Whew!

via Geeky Mom...

1. Do you remember when you saw your first computer? When did you actually use one? What about having your own? Do you own a laptop? (PC or Mac?) Have you gone wireless at home yet?

I’m not sure when I saw my first computer (Atari doesn’t count right?!). My brothers got a Commodore 64 sometime in the early eighties and my Dad bought a very tiny word processor a few years after that, that I do remember but I don’t remember its make. It was unusually small and flat (for the day), it didn’t work very well, and therefore we didn’t keep it long.

I first used a computer after I started a lab tech job while in college. My boss owned and used several TRS80s that used really big floppy disks. I worked for him for almost 8 years and during that time we upgraded to several PC clones. The first program I remember being pretty good at using a program I remember being called Word but I don’t think it was a MS product.

I got my first personal computer during my third or fourth year of college (1992). I bought a Gateway with all the fancy gadgets you could get at the time. What a beast it was. I ran into Z guy during this time. He worked at the university in the IS department. I had a new computer and he knew computers – what a perfect fit. The rest is history.

We now own multiple computers, laptop and big bulky beasts. We are somewhat of a geeky family but not too much. The majority are PC but we do have one Mac clamshell that is so old it almost doesn’t count anymore. We have gone wireless at home. A necessary evil as we have multiple laptops that reside in different places; under the couch, on the kitchen counter, next to the bed. We do have more computers than cars but that’s not saying much. Oh, most of them work but there was a time about a year ago when the reverse was true.

2. When did you first go online and/or use email? Who did you email back then? How did the internet change your life? When did you discover blogging? What about your home internet connection - is it dial-up, DSL, cable?

I first used email as we know it in college, during the nineties. I emailed colleagues regarding the research we were doing. However while writing this I remembered that my wee bub had a BBS back in the eighties. I did use it a few times but did not understand what I was doing. I think I only emailed him.

Email is now a big part of my life. I am not extroverted. I don’t always pick up the phone. I will now stay in contact with folks that are further away, in different time zones etc. It is indispensable at work. I love the evidence of it that shows you did contact someone regarding X and that it is their fault, they dropped the ball, not you – whaaa haa haa ahhhaaa. I digress.

I also cannot live without the interent. I feel very cut off of “the real world” if I have no access. I’m not sure what to do without myself if I can’t access miscellaneous bits of information.

I discovered blogging this year. I’m not sure I’m good at it. It requires active participation and action on my part. I’m more of a lurker than an doer.

We have DSL and cable at home – I think – Z guy is in charge of this. As I said, I just want access. I don’t care how I get it.

3. Do you remember your first VCR? What about a video camera (there were some bulky ones back in the 80s and 90s) and home videos?

Our first VCR was a top loader I think. We also got this in the early eighties. We never had beta. My dad had a reel camera (or had access to) as evidenced by some home movies of us kids that I’ve found but I don’t remember it.

My first video camera was purchased during the summer of 1992 for a float trip. Z guy and I took it with us down the river in a giant baggie. That was one of the best weekends ever and we have it all on tape. We were evil though and returned it first thing the next week because we were broke college students who could not afford such a thing. Wally world took it back, no questions asked.

4. When did you switch from VCR to DVD? How did it change your video viewing experience? Do you use TiVo or any such "contraption" to tape TV shows? Do you use Netflix or some other internet-based DVD "renting" service?

We still have both VCR and DVD players. The DVDs are fun because of all the extras. We had to keep the VCR because we had so many tapes and then DD came along. Many of her VCR tapes are beginning to wear out and we don’t buy any new tapes, so eventually it will be transitioned out. Since the VCR is easy to use, it has been nice to let her use/abuse the VCR. However, she has also become adept at managing the DVD player- scratched discs and all.

I CANNOT LIVE without TiVo. It is the best thing next to sliced cheese…After children, I could not keep up with my program viewing schedule. TiVo has allowed us to continue to watch the shows we want to, when we want to. I’m usually only off by a day or two when watching the shows. And this way, I can keep talking to my friends about whatever was going on on Grey’s Anatomy etc. We are also watching a bunch of other stuff that we never could have watched before; my gardening shows and his car shows.

We do not use any ‘renting’ service because TiVo keeps our viewing plate full.

5. What about music? Did you enjoy listening favorite music in Long Plays or did you prefer cassette tapes? When did you buy your fist CD player and switched to CDs? Did you abandon them (and turned to downloaded music) for MP3 players or Ipods or do you still buy CDs? (I'm not going to ask or comment about "illegal" music activities in the internet, even though it was an exciting innovation, lest one of us gets arrested for it :)

I almost always buy and listen to an entire album. I always have. I used to buy the record, the buy the remixed single in LP when I was in high school. We used to make our own cassettes from the LPs we bought (my brothers and I). Toward the end of high school and into college, I was buying lots of cassettes. I got my first CD player in college and began that transition. I got rid of all my cassettes just two years ago. That was really painful for me. All of that music meant something to me but as was pointed out, I no longer listened to it. We only have one cassette player and it is in the house and I listen to most of my music on the road.

I got my first iPod this past November for my birthday. I have ripped almost all my CDs onto the pod and I love it. I will be sad to see my CDs go but I may not completely give them all up. I really like the artwork and effort they put into them however, they are bulky and I have to much junk in the house as it is. I like being able to buy music online. I have only purchased a few CDs since then that I can’t find online.

6. Do you own and use a cell phone? Do you think it's useful or just annoying?(Did you always have a telephone in your house growing up? Did you have a phone in your own room?)

Yes, I have a 5 year old Motorola. I use it only occasionally. We have always had phones growing up and I did have one in my room but not my own line.

7. When did you first buy a digital camera? What kind was it (3.2, 4.0, 5.0 mega-pixels or better)? Did you start taking more pictures or were you a photo aficionado before then? What about a digital video camera?

I got my first digi camera about 5 years ago. I think it was a Fuji. I loved it! I have since upgraded in 2003 to a Cannon that can do little mpg movies. I honestly have no idea how many pixels it does or any of that. It is point and click and easy to use. The pictures are often very good except those taken indoors (true I think of many cameras). I take way too many pictures of my darling children. It is nice for those family who are not near though as they get to watch them grow vicariously. I am not a photo aficionado but that runs in the family. If I would dedicate some brain energy, I’m sure I would be a very good photographer.

8. What about televisions? Have you already embraced the new technologies, such as HDTV, plasma, and flat screen? (On the other hand, you wouldn't remember black & white TVs, would you?)

We do not have a fancy new TV. Z guy wants one very badly but I think the cost to get into what he wants prohibits him from buying. Maybe next Christmas…

The Blahs

Blah - AB is no longer sleeping through the night (again). She was up three times last night with the last one at 3:34 until almost 5. She would not stay asleep by herself so I put her back in bed with me until 6:30 when Z guy got up and was starting the morning routine. I am supposed to BE at work at 6:30. I haven't been to work on time in I don't know when. I'm lucky that my boss looks the other way because when I'm there, I do awesome work. I'm not sure how much longer that is going to last.

Blah - Z guy tells me this morning that he thinks I should just quit work. We are barely making ends meet and with me home, we would save the daycare costs. That terrifies me for some reason. I was so angry after DD was born and I had to go back to work. Now, however, it is a break for me to come to the office and do adult things. I feel like such a looser that I don't feel 100% when spend every moment with my darling children but I do get worn out. I'm also afraid that I can't give the girls the richness of environment that they get at daycare. They get socialized with other adults and children. I'm afraid I would leave them in front of the boob tube too long (like they already get on the weekends). I don't have any friends here so maybe this would make me get out and meet some.

Blah - Z guy had a fender bender on Friday and crunched the front of our Honda. So now, every single one of our 5 cars is in need of repair. At least 3 of them run; the Honda is not really drivable since the lights are busted.

Last Blah - The winter weather here is back. Rain, rain go away. We had two beatiful weekends and got spoiled. The girls got to play in the backyard. AB crawled everywhere and got very dirty but had fun. DD went to the park with Z guy then we had a picnic in the backyard. Sigh. With the good there is some bad and 'april showers bring may flowers'. I look forward to the blooms.

Poetry Friday

The Truth

We're living in a land of make-believe
And trying not to let it show
Maybe in that land of make-believe
Heartaches can turn into joy.

We're breathing in the smoke of high and low
We're taking up a lot of room
Somewhere in the dark and silent night
Our prayer will be heard, make it soon

So fly little bird
Up into the clear blue sky
and carry the word
Love's the only reason why - why?

Open up the shutters on your windows
Unlock all the locks upon your doors
Brush away the cobwebs from your day-dreams
No secrets come between anymore
Oh say its true
Only love will see you through
You know what love can do to you.

another poem (writen down by my dad), no date

UPDATE: jo(e) noticed that these words sounded like they should be set to music. My fingers did the walking on google and without much difficulty found that in fact, these are the words to a Moody Blues song. The song is Land of Make-Believe. Oops. I will remember to check his other stuff before posting. It must have meant something to him though to have written it down.

Death will come for us all...

as seen on zerodoll

well, i'm glad i have a few more years to go

My Dear Friend in Heaven

Today we had our 11 yr old Dalmatian, Roxanne, put to sleep. She was our first child. We’ve had her all of our married years plus one. She had been ill for some time and over the weekend I came to see that her time here, living happy and comfortable was over. They gave her a sedative first and she just went limp within two minutes. The vet said her kidneys weren’t functioning properly since she relaxed so quickly. It was over very quickly; I was grateful. I had known it needed to be done and after it was over I was more confident of my decision. She is gone and I will miss her so much. I will miss her as she was so many months ago.

This morning, first thing, I called a friend at work. I work next door to a teaching hospital and the vet there offered to help out for free. I had explained to DD before we left that today Roxanne would be going to heaven. I thought it would be a good idea to prepare her (I don’t like surprises myself). I’ve talked to her about some of her relatives who are deceased so she had some idea of heaven already. “So she’s going to die?”, she said. “Yes” I told her. This did not seem to faze her so much in the beginning. I wanted her to be able to say goodbye. She’s known Roxanne her whole life. It’s only fair. So we bundled everyone up and headed into Berkeley. When we got there, the girls and I went to the back of the truck and gave Roxanne our goodbyes. We pet her and gave her a hug. I told DD that we would not get to see Rox again, that Mommy’s friend was coming to help Roxanne get to heaven. This was her last chance to say goodbye. Then we went inside. Z Guy stayed with Roxanne. Once inside, a few of my friends came to help me keep the girls busy. DD asked if Roxanne was gone yet. I say no, not yet. Then she got upset when I wouldn’t let her go back out to see her. She doesn’t get hysterical, just fussy. (I felt it was necessary to be firm since I’d already told her that she had had to say her last goodbye at the back of the truck. I didn’t want her to think she might always be able to go back when you can’t) Finally when it was time to go, she wanted to know where heaven was and where Roxanne was and if heaven was over behind that building over there. We explained to her as best we could over and over. We explained to her that our friend’s dog who died last month was so excited that she was getting a new friend to play with. We told her that her Grandpa Ken was up in heaven and playing with Roxanne. We told her that Roxanne could now run and jump and play, something she hasn’t been able to do for months. Then DD got quiet. I think she was just digesting all the info. We were very careful to not use the word sleep in any of our descriptions for fear that she would be afraid to sleep.

We went to see my brother for lunch - to put a break in the day. I thought it would help DD (and me to). She was so excited to see her uncle. She told him only once that her dog had died today and gone to heaven. Then that was it. Time for play. Running wild through his place of work. I thought perhaps this morning’s events were put away.

However, within minutes of getting back in the truck and heading home the questions began again. Why can’t we go to heaven? Where is it? Can Roxanne come back to see me? Why not? Why, why, why? Do I get to go to heaven when I die? Will I see Roxanne when I die? (whoa – pretty heavy stuff for mom to handle even though I know she’s just trying to understand it all) Throughout the evening similar questions continued to pop up. When I put her to bed, I told her to dream of Roxanne and to be sure and give her a hug and tell her that she is loved. DD looks up at me with big brown eyes, smiling, and says, “I will get to see her when I die, right”. “Yes”, I say, “but that’s not for a long time. Right now, just dream of her.”

It's so funny, throughout the day I had so much that I wanted to write and now, when all is quiet in the house, it won’t come to me. Most of my family and friends have been contacted and have sent their condolences. I should say that as a family, we do actively practice any particular religion. I feel bad about needing the concept of heaven when I don’t feel that I need other aspects of religion in my life. It is a crutch, but one that I grab for the sake of my daughter and her feelings which are so fragile.

I See A Light

AB woke up three times last night - but she went back to sleep within 10 minutes each time, without being picked up or held. I just patted her on the back, turned on her musical thingy and to sleep, to sleep she went. Yeah! May this be the beginning...

Last Night

Well, I totally screwed up last night; wiped out several weeks of hard work. AB only took one AM nap yesterday but it was for 2 hours. By the afternoon, she had no interest whatsoever in napping. That was fine. I expected her to go to bed easily and she did around 8pm. However, she woke again around 11:30pm. I picked her up and she wrapped her little legs and arms around me tightly. I gave in immediately. I had no fight in me at all. I took her straight to our room and put her in bed with me. I let her nurse as long as she was interested which wasn't long enough to put her back to sleep. I still have the arms reach bed beside ours so when she started moving around, I put her in the small bed. That way I could pat her on the back and rub her tummy. She was honestly content enough and soon fell asleep. Then at 1am she woke again and I put her in bed with me and hung on to her until she fell asleep. Although we neither one slept deeply, at least I got some sleep. In the morning, I woke before she did because she was restless. I watched her little eyes open and look at the window as if to say, "The sun is up, it must be time for me to to get up too". Then she turned her head to see me looking at her. A smile bloomed on her face. "Good morning mama".

Personality Test

Your #1 Match: INFJ

The Protector You live your life with integrity, originality, vision, and creativity.Independent and stubborn, you rarely stray from your vision - no matter what it is.You are an excellent listener, with almost infinite patience.You have complex, deep feelings, and you take great care to express them. You would make a great photographer, alternative medicine guru, or teacher.

Your #2 Match: ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed.Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections.Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down.You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

What's" Your Personality Type?

as seen on scrivenings

Married

This morning I put an organza bow headband on DD's head.

DD: It's so pretty

BBB: Yes, it is.

DD: It makes me so I'm gonna be married.

BBB: Oh, how cute. Let's go tell Daddy. He'll love this. (tee hee)

So we find Z guy.

BBB: Daddy, look at us. Aren't we pretty.

Z Guy: Oh, you're beautiful.

BBB: DD, tell Daddy what what you told mommy about your bow.

DD: (smiles but has clamed up)

BBB: DD says that now she can get married.

Z Guy: Oh...who are you going to marry?

DD: You! (and with that she runs out of the room smiling)

Update: (later that evening)

BBB: Hey Z, J thinks it's funny that DD wants to marry you.

Z Guy: Well, at least someone wants to [marry me] (sarcastically) - DD, do you still want to marry me?

DD: I'm already married

Z Guy: You are! To whom?

DD: To you. I married YOU this morning. I marry you every day!

Z Guy: Aw, you're so sweet.

I Got Sully

DD helped me make the bed today. She brought in two of her stuffed toys, Mike and Sully from Pixar's Monsters Inc. I wasn't paying much attention to what she was up to except that I kept asking her to get off of the bed while I was trying to put on the sheets. She would get on the bed after every layer was added. Anyway, AB started crying so I picked her up when I was finished. I tossed the last pillow on the bed and headed to the den with baby in arms. I was just getting into bed where I found Sully tucked in on my side of the bed and Mike tucked in on Z guy's. What a sweet little girl she is. She melts my heart.

Friday Poetry

DEATH!
COMES WITHOUT WARNING!
THOSE WHO LIVE FOR THE FUTURE
WILL GET NOTHING FROM LIFE,
AND THOSE WHO KNOW NOT
THE TRUE MEANING AND REASON FOR LIFE
WILL GET NOTHING FROM
DEATH!

(My dad wrote this one all in caps although he had added some layout issues which I am not going to fight with on the blog. Basically the phrases were all within the vertical boundaries of the words Death!)

Late Night

Here we are at the start of another evening. Last night was not great. AB woke up only an hour after I'd put her to bed so I nursed her back to sleep then went to bed myself. She woke up the second time at 1:50am. I tried letting her cry a bit at first because she wasn't really upset and I thought she might just put herself back to sleep. But no. When I went in to see her, I kept the lights out, I turned on her music machine quietly and placed her back down in her crib. She cried and crawled up the side of the crib to a stand. So I kissed her, told her it was bed time, time for sleep and placed her back on the bed. Sometimes I would gently rub her tummy while she stared at the music machine. She was less apt to cry when I would rub her tummy or her side. This went on for well over an hour. When I thought she was calm and ready to go to sleep I would either sit on the bed that is in the room (where DD seems somewhat obliviously sleeping) or I would step out of the room. Every time she realized she was alone and would begin to howl. In the end, I gave up and brought her out to the rocking chair and nursed her back to sleep. I was so glad this worked because on other nights she just wants to play and isn't interested in sleeping or nursing. When I crawled back in bed the clock read 3:55am. I was so pooped.

Holy Crap - Another Tooth

Duh - AB has another tooth which seems to be coming in faster than the lower incisor - this one is her upper right, right incisor; not the one directly above the ones that have broken through below. Well, this could be the explanation for all of the awful nights as of late.

Lost

DD is taking a nap - so should I. Instead I'm watching Lost on the tivo. Sometimes the show is good and sometimes not. Lately the writing has not been so good. I am such the critic on tv programing - like I could do any better...I keep watching though so I guess they don't have to work much harder, huh.

A New Tooth

Little AB has a new tooth. She now has her two lower incisors - Yeah! Except, and it may just be coincidence, AB has decided since last Wednesday to stop sleeping through the night. It has been a giant strain on my nerves. She has been waking up twice during the night, only sleeping for two or three hours at a stretch and it was taking at least an hour but usually two to get her back to sleep. I tried nursing, walking, rocking, tylenol and letting her cry - none of which seemed to work. I was at my limit on Saturday (I had not yet noticed said tooth). So, after an outing on Sunday, we stopped at Toys 'r' Us and picked up a light and musical device called "Little Ocean Wonders". One of the other moms I know had recommended it but at the time, AB was only having minor issues and would get back to sleep after 10 minutes or so. We strapped the sucker onto the side of the crib and it seemed to at least give her something to focus on. The first night was the same but the next few nights were much better. The longest time it took her to return to sleep was thirty minutes and Tuesday night she only woke up once. But last night - when I didn't feel so good - we were back to the same routine. The last waking period was 2.5 hours. Ugh! We never had these problems with DD. AB has always been fussier, more demanding. I don't know if it is the new tooth or separation anxiety. I know that it will end but I prefer sooner than later.

We're sick again!

Ugh! I can't believe it. I woke up yesterday morning yacking - very sick. I don't get sick like this very often. Z guy took care of the girls like he always does and pretended that I wasn't there - thank you. Then I got a call at noon that DD was also loosing her lunch. I was only running a mild fever and Z guy is an hour away so I jumped in the truck and picked her up. She was pretty sick. She couldn't keep anything down. I couldnt' either but after two attempts at trying, I'd given up any hope of eating for the day. Poor DD is hungry and wants to eat so we let her have a few cheerios and some water. Until late this morning, every time she ate, up it came. I know, gross, who wants to hear about all this. I just feel like whining. On a positive note, neither of the rest of the family is sick.

Where did this come from?

BBB: DD, what do you want to be when you grow up?

DD: A monster!

BBB: Oh, how interesting.

Z Guy: A good monster like Mike & Sulley? (oh, you wish dad)

DD: No, a scary monster.

Z Guy: Scary fun?

DD: No, I'm going to eat people up. Raaaaa Raaaaaaaaaa!

BBB: What color of a monster will you be?

DD: Yellow with fur.

Poetry Friday

I don't actually own a book on poetry nor do I really seek it out very often. The poetry I love is often the lyric of a song. This didn't occur to me several weeks ago when I thought I would start blogging poetry on Friday's as suggested by jo(e). I didn’t post last Friday because I had nothing. Then I remembered that I had in my possession some poetry written by my dad. I found it when cleaning out his house after he died. The majority of these poems, there are about 20, I'd never seen before and most are dated from May of 1988. I don't remember what was going on in his life then; I was too wrapped up in mine. The themes are of love lost, pain and death. My grandmother told me once that he had been born under a black cloud and that it followed him all his life. I remember him having happy days too but the angry and depressed days are just as prominent in my mind. I will be posting some of his work over the next few weeks.


Words can describe the beauty
Of stars and starfish
Of sunrise and sunflowers
Of mountains and mountain lions
But no words can picture
The beauty that is within
Certainly not the beauty
Whose lovely grace
I have found in you

(no title, no date – written on a scrap piece of paper)

A Meme

1) Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4.
"apartment houses and tenement housesc…"

2) Stretch your left arm out as far as you can and see what you touch.
a kick and play toy

3) What is the last thing you watched on TV?
Lost

4) Without looking, guess what time it is.
9:35pm

5) Now look at the clock. What is the actual time?
9:51pm

6) With the exception of the computer, what can you hear?
the next TV show I am watching - Bones

7) When did you last step outside? What were you doing?
~5:40pm. I was bringing my children into the house from the car.

8) Before you started this survey, what did you look at?
fishfood (I read his meme and decided to do one myself)

9) What are you wearing?
kermit the frog pajamas

10) Did you dream last night?
No, my darling AB decided not to sleep practically at all last night. I only got 4 hours of reasonable sleep so no dreamy…

11) When did you last laugh?
I think earlier this evening, however I distinctly remember laughing several times at work while speaking with my co-worker.

12) What is on the walls of the room you are in?
photos of my girls, a blues brothers poster, my BS diploma, calendars, Z guy’s fraternity ‘stuff’

13) Seen anything weird lately?
not that I can recall

14) What do you think of this quiz?
I didn’t realize it was a quiz…

15) What is the last film you saw?
in the theater, the chronicles of narnia; at home, the incredibles

16) If you became a multi-millionaire overnight, what would you buy?
I’ve always wanted a wide-body porche

17) Tell me something about you that I don't know.
I used to be a pretty good bowler, I used to average 230, however the last time I played I nearly threw out my hip

18) If you could change one thing about the world, regardless of guilt or politics, what would you do?
I would fix gravity so that planes couldn’t fall out of the sky

19) Do you like to dance?
oh, yeah baby, yeah

20) George Bush
I find him to be a weak, uninteresting pathetic individual

21) Imagine your first child is a girl, what do you call her?
easy to imagine – I call her my first blessing

22) Imagine your first child is a boy, what do you call him?
should my first child have been a male child, I would still call him my first blessing

23) Would you ever consider living abroad?
yes, I would consider it but only if we HAD to. I’m afraid I’m very spoiled to my way of life here.

24) What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates?
Welcome dear one. See, I do exist…

The Collection of Sound

I've been to itunes over the past several days, buying music for my little nano. There is so much that I like but so little money to devote to the collection of sound...

Yesterday I bought the new CD from Jack Johnson called Sing-a-Longs and Lullabies for the film Curious George. I LOVE it! My favorite songs are Jungle Gym, With My Own Two Hands, and The Three R's (this is a rewritten form of '3 is a magic number'). I can't recommend it enough. Jack Johnson has been getting a lot of praise as it seems he should. I just hadn't gotten on the bandwagon until now. I thought DD would really like it. After a few seconds of playing it, she said, "Momma, I don't like Curious George Music. I want to hear Lilo & Stitch". So clickity click and the music emanating from the speakers changed from Jack's Nutty Crunchy Guitar to the Hawaiian He Mele No Lilo by Kamehameha Schools Children's Chorus & Mark Keali'i Ho'omalu.


I've also been buying some John Denver songs. It is amazing to me that he, as musician and songwriter, can make me feel so many emotions; a lot of happiness, some sadness and a longing for my yesteryear childhood. He was truly a talented guy. I can't say that I have a particular favorite but I did download all of the ones I knew and liked the best. This was somewhat unusual for me because I typically buy whole albums. I like to hear other music from artists that weren't necessarily popular. With JD, however, I still bought twelve songs and am still eyeing several more.


My other latest musical acquisition was Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. I heard her live on Regis & Kelly and thought she was pretty darn good. The album is fairly enjoyable. My favorites include the two popular songs, Unwritten and These Words but I also like Drop Me in the Middle. This album is marked as pop but I think some of the songs have a little R&B beat to them too.

I'm all over the place - I think my next purchase may be some Marty Casey, maybe his song Trees. Hmmmm