Today was one of those days that I just smiled, a LOT!
I found out a couple of weeks ago that I get to go on a vacation this summer. I really didn’t think I would be going on one. The really awesome thing is that it isnt just any vacation. I get to take Zaeda back east to meet some of her family that she hasn’t met before. I haven’t seen a lot of these family members for a few years( or more), so it will be really neat to go back! We are also trying to arrange two days in DC! I’ve never been to Washington DC so It will be really cool to get to see! The hard thing will be that Mike will not get to come with us. Two weeks without the hubby. That’s hard. Alas, I will still have fun. I will be con mis padres so I will still have travelling company.
On another note. Some of you have heard that we were getting pretty close to buying a house. Well… that fell through. It was absolutely the right thing to have fall through though. It felt so right to be able to say we did not want to move forward with the sale after we got the inspection. It made my heart lighter. So now its praying about God showing us the right house, helping us get into something that is safe, healthy, happy, room enough for family growth in the future etc.
I thought this was kind of funny…
http://www.engadget.com/2007/03/23/ps3-or-beer-microsoft-poses-the-ultimate-question/
Michael
Ξ March 23rd, 2007 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Life |
Being in the technology field continues to amaze me. Not only in my life but also how is it changing the way we think and how society interacts. My wife and I fit into the class/generation of the Digerati. Don’t know what that is? Well, back in 1992 the New York Times wrote:
“Digerati, n.pl. — people highly skilled in the processing and manipulation of digital information; wealthy or scholarly techno-geeks.”
But according to Matt, when used in the context of marketing, our whole generation can be summed up. We love information. We think it’s the greatest thing since sliced bread, which I have a hard time understanding that because digerati have always know about sliced bread…nothing new here. I know my wife is on the “The Drudge Report” (so am I) countless times every day and I’m also on slashdot, bink.nu and Channel9 the entire day! Why do we do this? Why do you ask why? For us, its second nature. I get the impression from certain people that it takes work or effort to go to the web and consume information. Who? I’ll give you a hint…they’re not in my age group.
I have always thought that there were two types of people when it comes to how they work, but now I can rest assured that there is some research behind this thought. The University of Pennsylvania’s Human Resources Education department, The Wharton School, has done some research into this very same thing of different types of people and how they deal with work. The article they published takes a look at Google as an example but many tech companies fall into this. The first half focuses on the benefits or perks that Google gives its employees, but the second half is what I’m focusing on, how employees accept and deal with those benefits. They sum employees up into two different groups: Integrators and Segmentors. I’ll let you read the article but here is a little teaser if you’re still not convinced, or one of those people who have trouble consuming information :p
Perks like Google’s appeal to integrators, people for whom work life and home life have little distinction. These are the employees who like to plug into the wi-fi system on Google’s commuter bus and do work as they ride to and from the office; who check office e-mail frequently at home on nights and weekends; and who like child-care facilities at or near their office so that they can bring a part of home with them to work.
Segmentors, by contrast, like to maintain distinct walls between work and home. These are people made uncomfortable by a workplace filled with perks related to one’s personal life. Even employees with children can dislike the fact that their employer provides on-site childcare.
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1690
-Michael
Ξ March 22nd, 2007 | → 3 Comments | ∇ Life |
Yesterday someone that I had never met face to face ( but had seen around my church for several months) asked me ” What’s your life story, Melanie?”
I quickly thought of a million and one things that I would never say outloud, but were definetely part of my life story.
I was stammering in my mind, I didn’t know what to say and I decided to play it safe and just start by discussing how I came to the church ( afterall- that is a fairly recent part of my life story.) As I began to talk I covered my daughter, my husband, living in Corbett for most of my life ( to which this person responded by being amazed that she KNEW people in Corbett! ( I love how that always happens- it’s just one of those places that everyone knows someone who lived or does live or has family from.) And then we were on to other things.
It left such a sour taste in my mouth.
It’s not as though I dont COMPLETELY LOVE my family and my living in Corbett. BUt is that my whole life story? It’s not. I don’t even have to question. There are so many things that I could have said, that I maybe should have said that would tell that person who I am. But, I never think of those things quickly enough, and sadly, If I did I would probably not say them. It would make me sound like a drama, a soap opera, a horror flick and a psychology textbook, mayb a dark comedy here and there.
After the person talked to me about my “Life story” for a minute, she looked at me and said ” WOW- I just knew we had COMPLETELY different life stories- Like we’re the same age, but you have a daughter. I just like being selfish and shopping!”
I have found myself having such a hard time fitting into my age group of women at my church. I am having a difficult time finding anywhere where I have a common connection with them aside from a child. It’s awesome to have the connection of having a child- but also awesome when you can discuss other things than a child.
You wouldn’t think that driving 45 minutes to a church across town would make everyone be in a completely different world! But, yes, that is how it seems.
I’ve chosen a pretty mild lifestyle. I like to put my heart into things that matter to me. Therefore, I don’t usually wear makeup, I dont get dressed up a lot. I’d most often rather stay at home or hang out with a small group of friends than go somewhere where a lot of people are.
I am happiest when I have a job set out before me, when I am serving and helping. That is when I can make connections and be comfortable with myself.
To all of the Mac/Unix/Linux users who just can’t get a grip with Microsoft and Vista’s new security, please read the following article.
Should Apple be making fun of Vista UAC? by ZDNet’s George Ou — Windows Vista UAC (User Account Control) has an additional security feature called Secure Desktop that hardens the UAC privilege escalation prompt, but some people seem to be upset with this feature because they say it’s annoying. Apple has even gone as far as making a new TV commercial out of it with “PC” being bossed […]
George Ou is a well respected blogger/journalist from ZDNet, although something tells me that nothing in this article will change enthusiasts opinions. People are just to dead set in their ways…
-Michael
I saw this post on the Zune Insider about someone who had his Zune stolen, and they were able to track it down to the personw who did it by using the wireless feature. Follow the link for more…
http://zuneinsider.com/archive/2007/03/16/stolen-zune-recovered-using-wireless.aspx
-Michael
Ξ March 20th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Life |
So I’m back into the blogging world! I spent the better part of the weekend with my good friends Matt, Jay & Kurt on a Men’s retreat called Every Man Conference. If there was one thing missing from my mental diet, it was fellowship with other men. There was definitely some bonding and good worship and Jay just knocked it outta the house with that. The songs weren’t all “foo foo’ed” up and it was loud and powerful, just the way I like it. The speaker Stu Webber was awesome and his sons did skits that unlike most church drama scenes were quiet funny and slightly dripping with testosterone. It was simply awesome.
I wish I had more of it.
On one hand, I missed my wife and kid horribly, but on the other hand all of my friends that I grew up with (about 4-5 of them, and I have known them since kindergarten…yes Matt, it’s called Corbett) are away either in Iraq, Coast Guard, school or other places not easily accessible. Spending time with Matt, Jay & Kurt was definitly some needed time for me and my collective inner self. One thing I had asked God to help me with was confidence regarding myself raising my family the way God intended it to be. Stu gave some statistics that were simply shocking, probably the most notable one was that on average in the US, about 40% of children don’t have their fathers in their life. Probably the most profound statement that took me back (and I think everyone else there) was that the feminist movement was not the fault of women, but us men. We have dropped the ball in running our families and in the end, we carry the burden (not to be used as guilt though) of responsibility.
Men, we only have ourselves to blame.
Getting back to the conference though, I must admit I was unsure of going. At first I thought I wasn’t going to be able to make it period. But once I discovered that I could go, I paused. I’m not too sure why, although I have a sneaking suspicion that it was because I was afraid of what God was going to tell me. In the end though I stood up, went and had a total blast with some friends that I grew closer with. I think that I got a different experience though compared to Matt, Jay and Kurt as they were already close and I was the newbie.
It will be interesting walking this path…
-Michael
I’ll post some pictures when Matt get’s off his lazy butt to send them to me :p
I’ve been looking forward to this release for some time now. This release is mostly a cumulative update for all the patches Microsoft has released since SP1, but I work with alot of servers so this will be nice.
For more information, click this link.
For those who aren’t tech savvy, I’m sorry :p
-Michael
Ξ March 13th, 2007 | → 2 Comments | ∇ Kids |
The day started out with the thought that Zaeda and I were going to go to a playgroup in Troutdale. Zaeda was so excited to get to go play with other kids, she jabbered about it all the way to the location of the playgroup- which we then found out wasnt going to happen today due to the instructor being sick! Zaeda was distraught. She begged to go in the building and play. I frantically thought about what fun thing we could do, and I remembered that yesterday I read a great blog by Jen Singley about the Children’s Museum. Zaeda and I had never been to the Children’s Museum so I thought it would be neat to go. SHE LOVED IT. She didn’t throw one fit, she didnt get tired of anything at the museum. She had a BLAST. We talked about so many things while we played. She painted her face for the first time ever- which she did very carefully as she told me she was putting on her “make up.”
Zaeda loved all the rooms, but the thing that made me really laugh was that in the kitchen area she played for a moment and then her eyes got really big and she asked me ” WIPE” “Clean it up!” ????? And when I told her that she couldn’t have a wipe she continued to pretend to clean (wipe down) the ENTIRE pretend kitchen. I thought that was pretty good, since I am sure it really was quite germy what with all those lil kiddos about. So Zaeda has a bit of clean freak in her. Im glad. All in all it was an amazingly fun day.
Ξ March 13th, 2007 | → 1 Comments | ∇ Kids |
Mirror mirror on the wall…who is the fairest of them all…
ZAEDA!
Isn’t she cute?
-Michael
Next Page »