Trio Of Technology

I am not a techno geek. I am not up on all the latest technology that's part of the popular culture of the day. I'm not a caveman living in the dark ages by any means either.

I do have a Facebook page but I don't "tweet" on Twitter. I use it to keep in touch with family, friends and co-workers. I have an Ipod but it's a "classic" that serves as a portable jukebox for my music collection. It's also a means of listening to the podcasts and sermons I enjoy while I'm driving in my car or out walking my dogs.

I have a cell phone but I only use it to make calls. I don't send text messages or connect to the Internet. I use my personal technology but don't take advantage of all the conveniences they offer. However I'm trying to expand my horizons.

I'm considering getting a new cell phone with a QWERTY keyboard and complete Internet capability. One of my goals for 2011 is to start using programs on my computer to record my Rewind shows as MP3 files so they instantly digital. I currently record onto CD's then import them into my I-Tunes library. Learning to use the recording program, Audacity, on my computer will eliminate the CD part of the process. In addition I have now gone digital with another important area of my life: my reading habits.

I had debated for quite a while before the holidays about asking for an electronic reader for Christmas. After doing research I went back and forth about which version I wanted: Kindle or Nook. I decided to ask for the Kindle.

I think it was the fact that my son, Michael owns one and really likes it. Also there was that catchy little song that they use on their commercials. I couldn't get it out of my head; still can't. But then that could be because it's playing on I-Tunes as write this post. (singing) can you fly me away. Take me away with you my love.

Where was I? Oh yeah. The Kindle. My generous wife gave it to me as a gift this past Christmas. I really like it. The convenience of being able to shop for books in an instant is a great feature I'm going to appreciate for a long time.

However I can tell from just browsing through the user's guide that I'm only ever going to use a fraction what it's capable of doing. I'll search for, download, and read books. That's about all I plan on using it for. I may make notes and create collections but that's about all I see myself doing with it.

So now that I have a Kindle every day I take my trio of technology with me to work. Should you look in on me while I'm in the Shop NBC break room eating my lunch you'll see me with the technology triplets. I'll be reading my Kindle, listening to my IPod, just after checking my voice mail on my cell phone. Am I a slave to technology?

Don't get me wrong I love the fact that I'm blessed with all these modern digital gadgets. They have help make life a little better. They keep me "in touch". But I sometimes wonder how I got through my first 40 years of life without any of them?

If they were gone tomorrow would I miss them? I don't know the answer to that question. I really don't want to know the answer.

So if you'll excuse me I'm going to finish this post and go start reading my new book. I just heard about it on TV and downloaded it to my Kindle. I'll sit on the couch and listen to my "one hit wonders from the 70's" playlist through my ear buds while my cell phone sits on the table next the lamp in case I get a call.

Ah yes, technology is like the brain. Having it is good; even if you're only using 10% of it's potential.

Christmas Memories Pt. 4

Meet The Awesomes

This final "Christmas Memories" post is about T-shirts.

This year I gave everyone in the family a T-shirt. Five of the them were shirts from the TV show "Cake Boss".

It's the TLC channel realty show featuring baker Buddy Velastro and his family, who own and operate "Carlo's Bakery" in Hoboken, New Jersey. My son, James and his wife, Brandi; my sister-in-law, Theresa; along with Paula and I each discoverd the show and became fans sometime during the year. We talked about it every time we got together as a family. Brandi even started making cakes herself. I think she was partially inspired by the show.

As a themed Christmas gift I got all 5 of the Cake Boss fans a Carlo's Bakery T-shirt. I had intended to take a picture of all of us in our new bakery T-shirts on Christmas day but didn't. It's something I'm going to try and do sometime in 2011.

My son, Michael and his wife, Heather, were not great fans of the show. Still I wanted to get them a T-shirt that they would like.

During the summer at a get together at our new favorite local restaurant, Cheddar's, to celebrate a family member's birthday (can't remember if it was Paula's or Theresa's birthday) Heather talked about how Michael has started referring to himself as being "awesome". Michael added that he only said that because he was. She said that, as his wife, it was her "job" to constantly bring him back to "reality" in regard to his misconception of his self perceived "awesomeness" by continually denying it. The issue was a running joke between the two of them and they let the whole family in on it.

So, when it came time to order everyone shirts for Christmas I decided to get them each a T-shirt to promote their on going debate. The shirts turned out to be one of the more popular gifts of the day.

Michael told Heather that she would be "required" to wear her shirt in public at least once. Something Heather vowed never to do. The picture you see at the top of this post was put out on Facebook later on Christmas Day.

Now the on-going debate is whether or not this constitutes Heather wearing her shirt in public or not.

Anyway, I thought I'd do my part and introduce you to "The Awesomes" the 4th and final memory I going to post about Christmas 2010.

Christmas Memories Pt. 3

A Tale of Two Magnets
This Christmas story is about a surprise that I spoiled for myself.

The two Walt Disney World magnets you see in this picture look the same but they have different stories.

One was purchased off of Ebay by someone who couldn't wait and spoiled his surprise (me). The other was given as a gift by a very thoughtful someone (my lovely wife) on Christmas. Here's the story.

Back in September while we were in Disney World, my wife urged me to by a Disney World magnet (I get a souvenir magnet whenever we go on vacation or do a "touristy" thing) with a "2010". For some reason, and I can't remember exactly why now, I kept saying that I didn't want one.

Once we returned back to Kentucky and I started reviewing the items we purchased as keepsakes of my 50th birthday trip. It was then that I realized that I regretted not getting a magnet with the year on it. This was sometime in October, I believe

Well, at the time a couple from our church was at Disney World for a business conference. The woman was one of Paula's friends on Facebook. I had Paula send a message to her asking her to bring back a 2010 magnet from "The World".

I waited a couple of weeks and didn't hear anything from the friend so I figured that she didn't have time or had forgotten to get the magnet for us. I decided that I would have to find one myself somehow.

Paula very subtly tried to get me to wait. The friend had brought back a magnet because she had given it to my wife one Sunday in church. Wanting to surprise me, Paula put the magnet aside for a Christmas present.

Mr. "I want what I want when I want it" went out on Ebay and got a 2010 magnet; thus spoiling the Christmas surprise. Not only that but I got the EXACT same magnet.

I want Paula to know that I appreciate her thoughtfulness. Sometimes I'm my own worst enemy; especially when it comes to buying things that spoil surprises planned for me on Christmas.

It started back when I was 12 or 13 years old. I really made my mom mad when with my own money I went out and bought a very cheap electric football game 2 weeks before Christmas. My parents had gotten me a rather expensive deluxe model of the same electric football game as one of my "big gifts". I made my mom so mad that she took the present back. I never got it.

You'd have thought I'd learned back then but, as my wife now knows, I haven't yet realized that I shouldn't buy myself anything in the weeks before Christmas.

Once again, I'm sorry Honey, perhaps I've learned this time. You really have given me a gift that I needed without realizing it. Because now I have a visual reminder about an area of my life and a time of the year that I should exercise some self control. And I see it every time I look on the refrigerator at those two 2010 Walt Disney World magnets.

Christmas Memories Pt. 2

Nipper Bookends

Another moment of surprise for me on Christmas morning is captured in the picture you see to the left.

The pair of little white dogs that are cast iron bookends. They are sculptures of "Nipper" the little dog in the logo that used to be on RCA records.

If you're over 40 years old you know what I'm talking about. If you're under 40 go "Google" the name "Nipper" and you'll see what I'm talking about.

The hand and red shirt to the left, halfway in the picture, belong to my sister-in-law, Theresa. She was the mastermind behind this surprise.

As you can tell from the smile on my face I am rather pleased to have these little puppies. You see I'm holding them for the first time. But it's not the first time I'd seen them. Here's the story behind the surprise Christmas gift. A story that took 4 months to unfold.

Back in the summer, sometime in August, while I was walking my own two "nippers", Dory & Angel, through the part of our little town that's home to a series of antique shops I saw the Nipper bookends on display on top of a roll top desk near the windows of one of the stores.

The shop was owned by a local woman who was rather elderly and delicate health. Because of her condition the hours she open her shop were limited to Saturday mornings between 8 & noon.

From the moment I saw the cast iron doggies I wanted them. They represent 2 of my favorite things, dogs and music. I worked during the store's limited hours so I had to find someone to inquire about the items for me. I didn't want to ask Paula to to get up and go out of the house early on her only day of the week to sleep in just to ask about a pair of bookends I might not be able to afford.

So I decided to ask my sister-in-law, who always an early riser, to go to the antique shop and find out how much the little Nippers cost. She told me she'd to it. That Saturday passed and I didn't hear anything from Theresa about the bookends. I figured she'd forgotten about it and would ask her to try and remember for the next Saturday.

Well, when I walked past that same window again the next time the bookends were gone. I was really disappointed. Who knows how long they had been sitting there waiting for someone to buy them? Then, it figures, as soon as I notice them they get gone. I lamented the fact that even though I really wanted them I would never see the Nipper bookends again.

Now, what I didn't know was that Theresa, who knows everybody or knows someone who knows everybody (she reminds me a lot of my mom in that aspect) knew the woman who owned the antique store.

That same Saturday I asked her to inquire about them she called the store owner and told her to put the bookends aside for her she wanted them.

To make a long story short Theresa kept the Nipper bookends for 3 months, wrapped them in December, put them under the tree, and, much to my delight as you can see, surprised me with them on Christmas.

The doggies now sit on a bookshelf in my living room guarding a bunch of new DVDs I yet to watch. Every time I look at them from now on I'll always remember what a great Christmas surprise they were. Thanks to my favorite sister-in-law, Theresa.

Christmas Memories Pt. 1

Happy New Year Everyone. It's 2011 and I've decided that it's time to start posting blog entries again.

Since my favorite time of the year (Christmas) was just last week I thought I'd start off by posting some of the pictures that capture some of the best moments and memories of this year's holiday season. Don't know how many there will be but I promise to make them short and sweet.

Facebook Post Turns Into A Gag Gift

On December 16, 2010 I put up this post on my Facebook page:
"Gotta give the "it seems like a good idea but it still won't work" award to the guy who decided that making it in an army camouflage colors would make guy's decide that it would suddenly be "manly" to wear a Snuggie. What were they thinking? Camouflage or not it's not going to happen. Nice idea try though."

Of course my wife Paula read this post on Facebook. It came to mind while was out shopping one day.

Standing in line at CVS she spotted a camouflage Snuggie. According to Paula it was the last one on the shelf and was "calling to her". She just couldn't resist buying it and giving it to me as a gag gift on Christmas morning.

It really surprised me and I was very amused that my wife had pulled off a very funny joke.

She knew that I would get a laugh out of it but also knew I really would not ever ware it. The Snuggie has been returned but the memory of Paula's Christmas morning gag gift will always be part of my memories from Christmas 2010.

Thanksgiving Day 2010: A Family Day

I know this is only the 2nd post for this month and realize that it's more than likely the few readers I did have are no longer checking for new posts. However I'm going to try and get back to posting on a regular basis again. No guarantees just an attempt.

Today was Thanksgiving and I must admit I've had a difficult time feeling thankful this year. There are reasons for this but they have to do with personal internal conflicts (which are more appropriate for my personal journal than this blog) and failures rather than not being grateful to God for everything I have.

With all that I've been blessed with, the places I've been and the things I've experienced over these last 2 years or so I can be nothing but thankful to God for what he's given me and where he's taken me. I truly am grateful but don't feel like I've kept up my side of the bargain with God. But there again that's another subject for another place and time.

Now having said that let me tell you about my Thanksgiving day.

The Thanksgiving holiday actually started at our house on Wednesday. Paula had the day off from work. At about 3 o'clock her sister came over and they started cooking. In preparation for the family dinner the next day. They made dressing, hash brown and broccoli casseroles, baked the frozen pies I bought on Monday. They worked rather intently and for about 4 hours.

I had to work at Shop NBC but I did pick up some turkey gravy from the grocery store and some chicken tenders from Hardee's for dinner on my way home.

After the pre-turkey day cooking was finished Theresa went home and Paula and I got relaxed for a couple of hours. At 9:30 we left to go to the movies.We went and saw the new Disney movie "Tangled". I'll give you my opinion of this long anticipated Disney take on a classic fairytale in my next post.

Thanksgiving day began at 7AM when Paula prepared our 14 pound turkey and I lifted it from the counter to the oven. Four hours later it was succulent and juicy to the point of falling off the bone. It was probably the best Thanksgiving turkey we've ever had.

The rest of our family got here about 11:30. Michael and Heather were the first to arrive soon followed by James and Brandi. Once Theresa got to the house it was time to eat out Thanksgiving dinner.

Before I said the blessing we went around the table and everyone said one thing they were thankful for. Mentioned were the blessings of family, health and electronic devices (Michael was really thankful for his Kindle e-reader).

Everyone had plenty to eat and then some. James out did us all moving on to dessert when the rest of us were so full we could hardly move.

After dinner we moved into the living room and watched the movie "Gremlins". It was fun being together. I love every time our living room in the way it was designed to be used; for family gatherings.

Once the movie was over James wanted to play cards or some kind of game. We had a bit of difficulty trying to decide what to play. We ended up playing a game dice called "Farkel" (aka "Greed"). Of course like most of the time we play games on the holidays Michael won.

We all took a break and had some more of our thanksgiving goodies for supper. Then we played a rather long game of "Apples to Apples." It was a lot of fun and a battle to keep Michael from winning yet another family day game.

We started out with the goal of playing until someone won 10 rounds. But after about an hour everyone was getting a little tired. So we decided to stop after one last. At that point the one with the most cards would be the winner. Well the last round became yet another battle to keep Michael from winning. Luckily Brandi beat him 9 cards to 8. She using her phone she even posted on Facebook about beating him.

We put the game away and everyone was getting ready to go home. The mass exodus included dividing up the leftovers and sending them home with whoever wanted them. Both the boys took home a bounty of casseroles and desserts. It was a wonderful day and we had a great time together.

I went to bed around 10:30 because I had agreed to go to Sam's Club with my sister in law at 5AM on Black Friday to help her get a really good deal on a notebook computer. More on that later.

That was my Thanksgiving day and I had a wonderful time. I'm a real "family guy" and enjoy having my son and spouses over for any holiday. As they left I told them, "Let's do this again in about a month. Only we'll do it over at Theresa's house and everyone bring presents." I can't wait until Christmas.

The Original Cast Album Aquired

One of my favorite TV shows when I was 10 years old was Sesame Street. Last November I wrote 2 posts (on the 10th & 18th) about how much I enjoyed the show and Jim Henson's Muppets.

A year ago I finally managed to get an Ernie puppet just like the one I got for Christmas in 1970. It's the one of two pieces of Sesame Street memorabilia I've always wanted to own again.

Now after watching Ebay for a little over a year I finally found the 2nd. I now have a copy of the Sesame Street Original Cast record album. It really captures the essence of the early days on Sesame Street over 40 years ago. Although it's only audio it effectively conveys the relationships between the human cast and the puppets in addition to teaching some of the early curriculum.

The album (which I can now convert into a digital form thanks to the turntable I bought earlier this year) has songs on it that I haven't been able to find anywhere else. Really good songs by Joe Raposo and Jeff Moss such as: Somebody Come and Play, Nearly Missed, What Kids Are Called, and A Face, as far as I have found, are only available on this album.

Of course there are some of the show's early signature songs such as the show's theme song by the kids, "Rubber Duckie" by Ernie, "Bein Green" by Kermit the Frog, "One of These Things Is Not Like The Others" by Bob & Susan, and "People In Your Neighborhood" sung by Bob and with the help of the "Anything People".

Just like "Mary Martin and the Do-Re-Me Children Choir's "Songs From Mary Poppins", Lawrence Welk's "Merry Christmas From Our House to Your House", and the Chipmunks' Christmas Albums this Sesame Street Original Cast album is part of my personal time machine. All of these recordings take me back to those hours I spent in my bedroom listening to them on my Show N' Tell record player (see February 19, 2010 post).

I know I'm 50 years old and should have started acting like a grown up long ago. But remembering and enjoying things I did as a kid helps me keep tapped into the perspective I need to be able to make a connection with children enabling me to minister to children from a genuine perspective.

It also helps me to realize the all the blessings God has given me over the span of my entire live and not just the last few years.

Anyway I now have my copy of the Sesame Street Original Cast Album. It's music I have loved and now will be able to enjoy for years to come.