Saturday, February 28, 2009

SO PROUD!


Today, February 28, 2009, my wonderful husband ran his first 10k race and finished!  Not that I didn't think he would finish but I thought I would just say that he finished so there was no confusion (:  I am truly proud of him.  He has worked hard to get to this point and yet has a bigger goal he's striving to obtain-a 1/2 marathon!  Now, I personally don't see the fascination of running and running and running.  It doesn't make any sense to me at all, but then again, I've never been a runner.  Not sure why..probably the fact that I've never done it without losing my breath and my chest hurting w/in 1 minute of starting!  It's just not "my thing".  To be honest, I haven't figured out what "my thing" is in regards to exercise.  I don't like it at all, although I know I should be doing something besides nothing.  One day...

Mike and his good friend, Jeremy Peterson, were up and headed to Fort Worth at 6:30 this morning to be there for the start of the race at 7:30 a.m.  Why do they have to start the race so early?  I'd be a much better cheerleader if it was later in the morning!  Unfortunately I did NOT go this morning for the race.  I have been sick and in bed for the last 2 days so I didn't want to postpone my wellness by going out in the 30 degree windy weather that greeted the runners this morning.  I did want to go and will plan on going for the next one and definitely for his 1/2 marathon but he was very understanding this morning.  So since I wasn't there to get his picture crossing the finish line I got a pic of him in "uniform" with his bib number on...in our backyard :)

Mike just came in and told me that there were 18,000 people in downtown Fort Worth for the Cowtown Marathon!  He said it was crazy packed with people.  Hard to run with so many people and I'm sure very frustrating especially if you're behind slow people!  He didn't come home scraped up or bleeding so he must have maintained a good speed and an upright position despite the mass of people!

I'll keep you posted on any other running activities he participates in and for sure when he does his 1/2 marathon!  That will be quite exciting!!  

He's off to bed now...he looks exhausted.  And I have a feeling that tomorrow afternoon will produce yet another opportunity for him to catch up on the sleep he ran away from early this morning :)

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

YES, FREERANGE IS ONLY REFERRING TO CHICKENS AND TURKEYS...

After my post the other day about finding FreeRange blog reader/RSS feeder it all came crashing down on me.  I was sooo thrilled with the application and how well it worked and was integrated with my desktop.  That was until I tried to sync it the first time...no workie.  After reading the message boards (one of my ways of investigating various things "techie") it appears that FreeRAnge is no longer in business. :(  Very sad.

So, I've resorted back to Google Reader and am trying to make that work.  I think I've said before that I'm all about Google.  I am all things google-they're easy to understand and to work so anything I can use that has to do with Google, I'll do it!  After about 3 days of using Google Reader on my desktop and my phone, it seems to be working fairly well!

I'm sure you're asking either "what is a reader" or "why does she need a reader"?  I have several blogs that I like to keep up with. (I think I've mentioned that before)  It was too much for me to have each one bookmarked and then go to them all individually to see if they had new posts or not.  I wanted a centralized place that I could see all of them that I follow and could see if they had new posts or not.  That is what started this whole reader search!  Google Reader seems to do a very good job at keeping track of all of the blogs I follow and keeping them updated, so that was the number one thing I was looking for.

I also use it as my one-stop-source for catching up on news-local, national news, entertainment news, Nascar news, etc.  I'm not one to want to hop around to various bookmarked pages-I like "page-at-a-glance" things, therefore giving me the necessity of finding an RSS reader.

I guess none of it is really a necessity enough that it eats up so much of my time.  It makes me feel like I know what I'm doing and that the things I consider important are easily attainable in my day no matter if I'm home or in the car w/my phone!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Stay-at-home techie mom?

As I spent most of the day today in front of my computer I started wondering what it is that I"m doing.  I keep really busy at whatever it is I'm doing but is it "productive"?  Probably not.  Am I getting done what I stay home to get done? Probably not but then again, yes, some of it.  Could I be doing more to accomplish  my domestic diva responsibilities?  Sure...but maybe this computer time is my "calling", my gift so-to-speak; to find easy ways for girls like me to become tech-savvy in a highly, technologically- advanced society where our kids know how to use multiple devices all at once to communicate, study and entertain themselves for hours!  Yes, this could be my niche.  I'm learning soooo much in my daily internet searches and discoveries.  Things to help make my life "easier", to keep order and neatness in my routine, and all in a way that integrates my home computer with my new BFF, my Blackberry Curve.

I think this all started when I got my Blackberry back in October, November-whenever it was that I got it.  I had this new gadget that could do almost anything and I wanted to figure out how to work it and use it to it's fullest capabilities.  And since I'm not a gamer, except for Guitar Hero and wii Fit, I didn't want to load a bunch of games on that I would never play.  I wanted to have my desktop/laptop all on my mobile device,  so the searching began and it's been going strong ever since.  I know there have been numerous times that Mike has come home and wondered what I'd done all day besides sit and play at the computer or w/my blackberry and to tell the truth, some days I'd done nothing!  BUT, I'd figured out how to get songs, ringtones, wallpaper, themes and IM on my blackberry!!  That's quite a feat for someone my age andwith my lack of technology education!   THEN, I found the wonderful world of apps for my phone, how to check free memory space, install a new OS, and how to take pics and post directly to Facebook!  Awesome!!  And once I started using the Twitterberry app I could take pics and post to twitter so how cool is that?!  Wait, I think I started getting  ahead of myself when I started talking about facebook and twitter!  I'll address those in another post!

As you can see, I've been spending a lot of time researching, experimenting, downloading and then removing apps, all to get me to where I am today!  Today's task was to find an RSS Reader that was easy to use on my blackberry AND is integrated w/my desktop.  I think I may have found one but not after trying at least 3 before this!  For now I'm going to use FreeRange for Blackberry.  It seems to do all I want it to do and it isn't hard to figure out at all!  (I decided against Viigo, NewsGator and Google Reader in case you were wondering.)

I've been busy over the last few months with trying to learn about all of this technology and I know for a fact that I'm not even close to being done.  So after saying that, I think I will try to start posting about different things I'm learning, either for my home computer or my Blackberry and maybe someone who reads this might learn something that I've worked at trying to figure out!  And if I can figure it out, it can't be too hard and I should be able to break it down in simple terms and steps so anyone can begin to learn new things about technology and the world that surrounds us!

When I get to where I think I've mastered the easy stuff, we'll get the Mac that I am praying we get someday and my learning curve will have to start all over again!

It's time to take my computer geek hat off and put on my stay-at-home hat.  I have to make it look like I've done something today so I'll start getting the things chopped up for dinner...foil dinner pack with sausage, potatoes and carrots and maybe some crescent rolls.  And my sheets are clean, dishes are emptied out of the dishwasher and one daughter has been picked up from school...I'm doing ok, I think!

Until later...learn something new today!
m


Thursday, February 12, 2009

February 12, 2009

I'm starting to get into reading more blogs.  I'm finding blogs of people and subjects that I want to learn more about but I'm having a hard time with where to keep track of all of these things!  I am currently teetering between Blogger (here!) or Bloglines.  Each of them have something I like but neither have exactly what I'm looking for.  Does anyone who's reading this have a particular reader/aggregator that they use and if so, what is it that you like about it?

Here are my ideals or what I like about the ones I use:
1.  Blogger-I like that it's what I use as my own blogging resource.  From the dashboard I can see blogs that I subscribe to and can read them from the "all posts" or something like that but can't really tell from that page which ones have new posts, etc.  I typically scroll through the updated posts which posts ALL of the updated posts and they're all mixed in together.  Of course, I can click on each blog listed on the left to go to that particular blog for updates, but I want something a little more user-friendly, customizable.  

2.  Bloglines-This one seems a little harder to navigate or customize to me.  Not easy to follow.  What I do like is on the left side I can customize the view of the blogs I subscribe to.  I can either have them all listed so I can see which ones have posts I haven't read or I can choose to only show the posts that I haven't read or have been updated since my last read.  What I don't like is the main section of the homepage.  It's plain and each time I go to Bloglines I get the same thing in that section...it's an overview of what they do, what you may want to look for, etc.  What I would like to see is something more personal, more my taste or what I want to see on that main page.  When you click on a particular blog to read it then kicks that blog over to the main section but again, it's plain and a little hard to understand.  If you know me at all, I like customization and personality to my web experience.  I'm all about cute and pretty and the ability to move things around, etc.  So to just have black words on a white page leaves me wanting more from my blog reader.

My ideal: maybe a combination of the two plus some other stuff :)  Here are some ideas of what I like or would like to see:
1.  When you select a blog to read in Blogger it takes you to the nice, pretty homepage of that particular blog...sort of like clicking a link and going straight to the page.  Say I have 3 posts of that particular blog that I haven't read.  I can click on the one I want to read and it will take me to that post, not to the main homepage so I have to then navigate to the post I wanted to read.  I LIKE THAT feature.
2.  Bloglines lists the Blogs I read and then in parentheses it shows how many are new and how many I haven't read.  BUT if I click on that particular blog, it takes me to the black and white listing (no pretty pictures or actual website) and then it marks them all as read.  Maybe there are 5 listed and I only read 3, I still want the other 2 listed as unread but so far I haven't figured out how to do that.  And it appears that once I click on a particular blog to read and it's opened in the main section of Bloglines, if I were to click the link from the left side to read the ones I haven't read, it shows an empty pane.  Maybe I'm missing something but I really don't like that at all.
3.  I would also like a section in a reader where I can add notes or save links to other things I may find interesting but want to look at at another time.  For instance, if I'm reading Mike's blog and he puts a link in there to something I may want to read later, I can put that in another folder or something to look at later without having to find that particular blog of his.  
4.  It would also be nice for me to have my calendar and emails listed somewhere in this, too.  What I really am striving to find is a one-stop place for all I want to look at in the a.m.-open up a page to see my favorite blogs and if they've got updated material; my calendar for the day; emails; facebook status updates and messages to me; twitters from people I choose to follow more closely and headlines from my news sources that I follow; and my Youversion daily reading link or widget to go to from this one page.
 AND MOST IMPORTANTLY I want all of this to also be available in an app for my Blackberry!!  I have something now that has potential for this and I may figure out that it does have all of this already, but it's still a little choppy and non-fluid for my personal preference.  

I'm not sure if anyone can see my vision and desire for this, but maybe someone can and either knows of an app already like this for my computer or phone OR can create one for me (Mike).  I'd appreciate any and all ideas, suggestions and I am more than happy to share anything else that may help you help me :)

Thanks for reading this!  I'm wanting to streamline my most used things on my computer AND make it personal to me...and cute, pretty & customizable to me :)

Monday, February 9, 2009

February 9, 2009

BIRDS OF A FEATHER...FLOCK TOGETHER?
Last week was an interesting week for me.  Not that anything fantastic happened, but the sightings of some birds caused me to pause several times and try to "hear" what God was trying to teach me through these different birds.  As ADD as I am, it took me all week to finally get a glimpse into that teaching, although I haven't figured out what it means.  Interpretations anyone?!  

So here's my week with birds (and remember, nothing out of the ordinary, just unusual for me).  First up is the sighting of an owl...at dusk...on a highway sign.  Mike & I were on Hwy 114 and this large bird swooped down and landed on a road sign.  We both looked at each other and said "Was that an owl?!"  We're extremely used to seeing hawks around.  In fact, they're everywhere and for some reason I take comfort when I see one.  I guess I think they're patrolling the land, you know, like in Pocahontas' time.  Anyway, it was odd to see an owl when it was still semi-light out.  (Please, if you are bird experts,  just go with me on 
this.  I'm not stating that I know and understand all things bird related.  This is just my peon brain and the limited knowledge of I have.)  

The next day I was driving here in Trophy Club and spotted a beautiful robin...bright orange chest and beautiful.  Growing up in Indiana we saw them all of the time.  But when you DON'T see them on a routine basis, it's a treat and you realize how beautiful they are.  I thought it was weird to see a robin here in TX, but again, I chalked it up to just another bird sighting.  

Just about every day I am awakened to the sound of a Cardinal chirping out our bedroom window.  That's not unusual and I always smile when I hear it.  Well, most of the time I smile unless I'm really tired and the thing just won't quit chirping!  I've come out to the kitchen on numerous occasions to try to find the Cardinal to see what all the chirping is about.  Most times it's a momma Cardinal watching out for her babies or telling them that the "bath" is ready so they need to come and wash up.  Even though our birdbath doesn't hold water very well, it holds it long enough for me to sit in the kitchen in the A.M. and watch the birds take their baths.  So cute the way the dip their heads under water and then shake all the water through their feathers.  They look so fluffy and clean when they're done and it's comforting to know that they feel safe enough and trustworthy enough to come to our house just about every day for their bath time :-)

On Tuesday I was coming home from our women's Bible study and out of an empty field flew a quail!  Natural instincts were to duck to keep from missing the flying bullets of the hunters that reside in the state of TX, but no gunfire was heard.  Again, because I don't hunt and am not familiar with birds I thought it odd that a quail would be in town and not hiding somewhere more safe.  It just struck me as odd for some reason, but I went on and didn't give it a whole lot of thought.

As the week progressed my mind began to recall all of my bird sightings and encounters through the week.  When things like that happen I usually tend to think that there's a spiritual lesson that God is wanting to share with me.  I'm a visual learner and learn much better by visual aids vs. reading (probably goes back to the felt story boards in Sunday school class :P )  Anyway, I started praying about it to see what I could hear from Him.  I wrestled in my mind about it referring me to Mt. 6:26&27, how God cares for the birds even though they don't sow or reap or gather food.  God gives them what they need for that day, nothing more and nothing less.  I know that...I get that, although I'm sure if it came right down to me living it out like some of you are doing, it would probably take on a whole different meaning.  No, I knew there was something else I was suppose to get from this so I continued to pray and seek God.

Here's what I think I finally "heard" and it sort of DOES go along with the verses above, but I think there's more to it than what is at the surface and that's where I'm not fully sure what it means. With the exception of the Cardinal, to me and for this purpose, the other birds were out of their "natural" environments.  Owls are night birds, not dusk birds.  Robins tend to be more from the north than down here in TX and quails aren't typically in the city (and aren't they in a group called a "covey" or something?)  Anyway, even though they were out of their natural environments and geographical locations, God still met their every need, no matter where they were.  He doesn't only care for the owl at night or the robin in the north or a quail in a covey...He cares for them and provides for them at their point of need. Period.  Does that mean that our family's geographical location is going to change?  Not that I'm aware of at the moment.  So I'm still pondering the lesson from the birds last week.  I'm sure that over time it will be revealed to me but for this moment I'm holding on to the fact that He provides for us at our point of need. Period.

In the words of one of my favorite singers, Norah Jones, "Fly Away With Me"... and keep your eyes open to see if God is trying to show you a lesson through nature!

(on a side note which I thought was funny-yesterday's message at church was called "The Never Ending Story" and my first mental picture is of the children's movie with the same title and what does it show on the front?!  Not a bird per se, but something with wings-and catch the phrase at the top...interesting)

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

February 3, 2009

Welcome to my world!  After that big long post last week about wanting to blog everyday, I failed the first day after that!  Obviously I'm not as organized as I thought I was, at least not at putting my thoughts together long enough to do a worth while blog! And after thinking about that post for a few days I have to admit that I'm just going to do a post about whatever comes up!  I can't be like others out there and post something meaningful every day.  Just not that together yet..

So, that's about all I have today.  Just wanted to clarify that so you weren't expecting a blog miracle from me!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

February 1, 2009

Friday must have flown by since I didn't post my "Favorite Friday" blog!  Honestly, I'm doing this for myself...it helps me to reflect and ponder things that I usually take for granted.  The fact that some of you choose to share in this with me by reading my blog is a good thing. (:

Favorite #1-this is seasonal, but when it's "in season", it is my favorite thing to do every weekend...
FOOTBALL!!!  I LOVE to watch football on TV.  The fact that today is Super Bowl Sunday is a little depressing since I won't have my favorite past time until August-ish.  So I'll carry my tissues with me to mourn the passing of yet another football season, and another football season that the Cowboys did not advance...

Favorite #2-another fav of mine these days are sweatshirts (:  They're big and comfy and warm.  They usually go well with sweat pants but I don't have those so jeans are a close second.  In the fall and winter, sweatshirts are the top of choice.

Favorite #3-my Blackberry Curve phone!  I absolutely love this thing and carry it with me everywhere I go.  I can't explain why I am so obsessed with this technological advancement, but I am.  Maybe it's because it makes everything so accessible to me no matter where I am.  Just about anything I can do at the home computer I can do on the Blackberry only on a smaller scale.  A stay-at-home mom with a Blackberry seems idiotic to some, but to me it's perfect!

As the song goes, "These are a few of my favorite things!".  Nothing substantial or eternally significant but they make this life on earth a little more pleasant (:  I know there are sooo many people out there who don't even have food or water and I'm talking about inanimate objects as favorites.  I get that.  But for now, on this particular day and this particular blog, I'm writing about these silly things...

Think about your favs...what do you absolutely enjoy having?
Until next time
m