Some Sort of a Record...

This is the first time I've typed on a computer today! I did sit down to log on once before, but my laptop was turned off and I didn't have time to wait for it to boot-up, so, I just skipped it!

I do have a growing list of things to do on the PC, but I also have been enjoying my productivity with it closed and or turned off more.

This morning I went to the gym (on my off day) and walked. I'd been walking around the Ice Rink while Frank skated, but classes ended last month, and I haven't been fiting it in. So, yesterday I thought I'd go in the morning, since I've got that routine down anyway three days a week, for my walking too. It worked well.

I've been feeling more invigorated and alive since I started working out about a month ago. Tom and I have also noticed that I'm MUCH more calm and patient... with others and myself! These are all good things... actually, I can't think of anything bad that's come from working out!

Technology Overkill

As I strive to simplify my life, I was thinking of some of the things we do without. Then I started thinking of things we do have and also of some that I would like.

Here is a list of some of the things we “live without” in our home…

• Scale (to weigh a person on)
• Blender
• Toaster
• Cassette Tape Player
• Coffee Maker
• Cable TV
• Satellite TV
• Video Game System for TV
• Telephone
• Answering Machine
• Television
• VCR
• Microwave

Many of these items are considered “necessities” of our times, and others have simply become outdated (tape players, for example). I delight in the absence of these things from our home, and often boast that we “don’t have a TV” (I especially boast about that one).

Some things that we do have - perhaps to an excess - are:

• Toaster Oven
• Mrs. Kitchen / Magic Bullet small blender
• High-Speed Internet
• 4 Computers (3 Laptops (2 personal, 1 work) & 1 Desktop)
• 4 Handheld electronic games (2 Leapsters, & 2 (old) Gameboys)
• 3 Cell Phones (2 personal, & 1 work), with Voice Mail
• I-Pod Shuffle
• 6 Sewing Machines (3 antique (1 treadle, 2 electric), 2 “regular” (1 for me, 1 for my son), & 1 serger)
• 2 Scales (to weigh mail on)
• 4 Digital Cameras (3 card-deck size (2 personal, & 1 work) & 1 video)

Sometimes I think that “one day”, I might like to have:

• Headphones / Speakers with Volume control (for use with Laptop)
• A Sewing Machine with a stitch-regulator for free-motion quilting
• Popcorn Air Popper
• Flat-Panel / Projection TV (something that will “disappear” behind a quilt on the wall)
• “Nice” SLR Digital Camera

Technology can help us so much, but I think sometimes we forget that it’s purpose truly is to HELP us. A big thing I notice is how so many people feel compelled to answer a ringing phone... I say, answer it if it's convenient, if not, they'll leave a message / call back. Sometimes we become over-run by things. It reminds me of a scene from the movie “Sabrina” (with Harrison Ford). Linus Larabee tells Sabrina that he has a personal helicopter to “save time in traffic”. When she observes that he never stops to look out the window of his personal jet (he’s busy looking at work documents), he says he “doesn’t have time to look out the window”. Pointedly she queries “what happened to all that time you saved on the helicopter?” We rush, rush, rush. Sometimes, I think it’s good to purge things from our lives; to reevaluate their usefulness, or how much they hinder us.

What are some things that you don’t have which others seem to consider necessary? What are some of the things that you “can’t live without”? What items do you think about acquiring?

Computers and The Internet

Do you ever think about The Internet? I do. I remember the first PC in my household (1983/4)... I also remember being told about The Internet (1995) and choosing to "stay away" from it as long as possible.

I knew that having all that knowledge at my fingertips would be a time drain. It is. I really have to start limiting my computer usage. I find it's easiest if I turn ALL the computers in the house off (which hubby doesn't like), but if I can just turn on a monitor and "check something out", I find time sucked away.

Of course, I remember my introduction to email and The Internet too (1998).

I marvel at what I've seen in my "short" life and wonder what jobs my grandchildren/great grandkids will have that I can't even imagine, simply because the technology doesn't yet exist. This then gets me thinking about my "elders" and what they've seen. Then, I think "I should spend more time talking with them about their "early" years."

What about you? Do you think much about technology?

To Microwave or Not?

Yesterday my microwave smelt like burning electronics. Today. It turns on, it spins around, it makes noise, but, it doesn't heat.

I cleared the counter quick as could be, happy to have some more space (even if for a little while). Now though, I'm wondering if it's worth buying a new one. The only three things I can think that I use it for are:

1. heating milk for hot cocoa (can do on stove)
2. POPCORN! (can do on stove, in air popper (currently don't own one), or down at the apartment club-house)
3. reheat dinner plates (rarely, I usually find they taste better when heated on stove or in toaster oven)

That's it. I actually have a friend that got rid of their microwave a couple of years ago... said it wasn't healthy to use it, etc. I wonder if she (Gabby?) is still microwave-free.

This microwave was a Freecycle item... and perfect for us, like new, clean, white, and a little thing (more counter space.) I've put out a request to Freecycle, but I'm not sure if I even want a free one.

What do you think? To Microwave or Not? This is the question.

Suzy

GIGANTIC TV's

You may have already seen this on TV, or perhaps SOME of YOU have a 13' projection system... but check out these GIGANTIC TV's!

I'm in the market for a new TV, but I have a few questions about something as BIG as this Panasonic 150" plasma screen:

1. who delivers it?
2. how do you fit it in your door?
3. how would you actually view it?... I mean, you'd have to be like 20 feet away from it!
4. What would you put it on?
5. HOW MUCH!?!
6. Kids. Objects. Large glass electronic fragile item... OUCH!

Not to mention, I don't think I'd even have a wall big enough for it!

Anyway, thought you'd like to see it too. I mean, WOW!

Suzy :)

Electric Car for SALE at Wal-Mart!

I just read an article that says as of next year you should be able to buy an electric CAR through Wal-Mart. Wow! That's interesting!!! I'd heard that Wal-Mart may have hit it's prime and was in need of revitalizing, but I just never pictured them selling cars!

This picture actually caught my eye on the story, because I took a couple photos in traffic in Chandler last October, of this car. I had never seen such a small car. It looked funny in rush-hour traffic amidst all the big vehicles, almost like a toy!

Suzy :D