Wifi, Blue Tooth, On Sat and Garmin

Technology sure is moving along. Us old farts can either embrace it or become hopelessly lost.

Wifi, now that is some word..and how do you pronounce it.  Why-fy or Wiffy?

The Grandkids roll their eyes and laugh out loud if you say Wiffy..so that is what I do.

I had Far Guy ask his sister if they had Wiffy yet?  She had no idea..but someone brought out a box and hooked it up and they can use their laptop upstairs.

I contacted Bethany (our niece) and asked her..she said LOL yes. 

Blue Tooth.  Why in the world would anyone name something Blue Tooth..and why is that important and what does it do?  Our new car has Blue Tooth..Far Guy can answer his phone by pressing a button on the steering wheel..and the voice comes on over the radio.  It will make hands free calls for you.  I can tell it to call Jen and it will.   It only works if Far Guy has his phone in the car or within 30 feet of the car.  Bethany’s beau is a computer guru and he helped Far Guy get the Blue Tooth all set up to recognize the cell phone.

On Sat..another new word..let me tell you those people want your credit cards very badly..we did not give it to them..I am not sure why I need On Sat but I have it free for awhile.  I could have bought minutes for their phone system..not sure why I would want that either.

The Gremlin..or Garmin..we call it the Gremlin.  Four years ago, I drove aimlessly around South Bend Indiana looking for a motel that would take a dog..and got lost..hopelessly lost..the only way I found my way back into the city was to go where the bright lights were.  Yes..I followed the light.  Far Guy was so tired..he said “Lets just sleep in the car.”   Eventually I found us a motel.

I wasn’t up to a repeat performance..so I went shopping..the Gremlin works great..she may be re calculating a lot whilst I am driving.. she only got us on one almost cow path in Indiana.

This is a Indiana road..not quite sure where it was..some place around Paoli maybe. No center line..no fog lines..no shoulder and not much of a ditch. Far Guy and I had no idea where we were..but the Gremlin kept directing us..and sooner or later we saw something familiar.

I like that I can program in stops..rest stops and look for gas stations and look at area attractions and for dog friendly Motels!  If I get real bored while Far Guy is driving I can just watch the little car move along on the road map on the purple path:)

Lost in email

I had to come up for air..I was being swallowed alive by emails.  They were calling my name..demanding attention and organization.  Do you remember this..where is that info?

I was born in September..us Virgos like to be in control of everything around us and we will micro manage everything that we can..if we have enough time. 

I have three email accounts to manage..two of my own and one for the museum. Not everything can be saved nor should it be.

At the museum I often print out important emails… and I printed out a list of all of the museums email contacts!!  Yes..I am organized!

Over the summer I got a little behind in my personal email..in one account I had over 500 emails.  I had to send out a couple of apologies..and an inquiry or two or three.  I still have 80 messages in that account..progress..but still not completely organized. 

Last June when I got a new computer I could no longer use Outlook Express so I called our Internet Provider and went to Live Mail.  Did you know that  they can take over your computer remotely and move your mouse around and click here and there and get it all set up in just a few minutes.  I did not know that anything like that was possible and I am sure I sat here at the computer with my jaw dropped very near my keyboard. Anyways I lost every email address I had..and I had not backed them up or printed them out.  Who knew?   I got caught up on that email the hard way by losing it all.  Not organized.

I make folders for important stuff and after I read something I folder it or delete it..unless I just need it for a short time before it is deleted..it is that short time that gets me behind. I suppose it all depends on what your definition of a short time is..days ..weeks..months.

I do not allow the snail mail junk mail to stack up at home..I love my shredder..now if I could just use that same mentality with my email.   How do you handle your email?  Do you have any helpful hints to help control email?

The snow has not melted yet:(

Unexpected Gifts

A few days ago I received a packet of old photos from a gal in Fort Myers, Florida.  They are interesting old photos that I have scanned and I will mail back to her shortly.

Included in the package was a unexpected gift. Artvelopes.  She designed them to help keep letter writing alive!  The process to make them includes drawing, copying, glue making, folding, glue application and packaging.  I haven’t  seen anything like them before.

I am a letter writer..imagine that!  I have several friends that have refused to join the computer generation. I should write them more often. I try for one letter a month, but sometimes time just slips by. Sometimes they call and ask “Are you guys OK?”

Can you imagine opening your mailbox and finding an Artvelope inside?  Pam takes decorating envelopes to a whole new level!  She showcases some of her artwork on her blog. Spirituality 101: Introspection and Reflection ..check it out ..tell her Far Side sent ya over.

What was your last unexpected gift?  During the Christmas Season perhaps we get all wrapped up in what we will buy.  The last four unexpected gifts that I received were all homemade or gathered gifts..what were they?  A jar of plum jelly, these Artvelopes, a box of Cyprus knees and a bag of catfish! :)

Land of Sky Blue Waters

One day last week I went up to the resort that my parents used to own. It is only about a mile away. It was a very nice day and the water was beautiful. Tammy one of the owners and I walked and chatted..she is a hoot...and a hard worker..you have to be one of those if you are in the resort business.

I took some photos from the top of the hill, ah the memories this brought back. Carrying cleaning buckets, or having my arms full of clean linens and stumbling over tree roots. The time I saw the snake..I know exactly where it was..and it might still be there..but that was thirty years ago. I remember how the cabins looked back in 1975, I spent that entire summer there managing it for my parents..and I was pregnant. Trica ( she was three) and I stayed in the office cabin where there was only cold running water and no indoor bathroom..but a very usable outhouse. I remember some of the people I met that summer. and how I still enjoy visiting with them when they come up for their vacations. Yes, some people still come..you see they came as children with their parents and the really lucky ones came with their grandparents..they made memories..on a small fishing lake in Minnesota. Fish caught and fish fried, picnics, lazy days spent on the docks and splashing in the water, no phones, no televisions..a real relaxing family vacation. Perhaps that long forgotten thing called communication even flourished:)

Thanksgiving Afternoon

We spent the afternoon with our daughter Trica and her family at her in laws home in nearby Park Rapids. Our son in law is the baby in a family of eight. Most all of them were there. It was a full house, so two more added to the mix didn't make much difference as I was reminded several times during the afternoon.

I did enjoy my time visiting with Granddaughter Madison, we talked about school and hockey. She got a chance to talk to me one on one. She is struggling with her Math, thought she knew the material, but totally blew a test. She still wants a horse, and a puppy. Both ideas I tried to gently put to rest, you live in town and horses aren't allowed and the best time to get a puppy is right after school is out for the summer. She talked all about the books she is reading. When she was barred from the adult table because she wanted to sit next to me, I just told her we would sit together on the floor by the fireplace and eat our dinner. So we did. After dinner, we played a game called Phase Ten with Granddaughter Paige and one of their other cousins, Matthew who is also 10. I tried to find the rules of the game. Those kids made up rules right and left. Funny how you can have such a good time with three nine and ten year old kids.

Madison, Gizmo and Matthew

I pods, phones and hand held games seemed to be the order of the day, as all of the children had them. Even the adults were checking their pagers and phones. The teenagers had multiple devices. No one was really communicating (as in talking to each other) ...I found it strange..I would have made a pretty little basket and checked all electronic devices at the door. That may have sparked some lively conversation:)

Yes, the Lake is totally frozen! It is one huge reflective surface.