Caleb and Owen seemed to thoroughly enjoy watching Elf with us last evening. I think the adults were enjoying it as well … at least this one was. I think it might get added to our Christmas classics short list.
Thanks, Lyn and Bob, for another very special Christmas gathering. We really enjoyed seeing everyone and eating and drinking too much. Just wish I’d gone home with the yodeling pickle. ;D
insane: one who does the same thing again and again while expecting different outcomes (aka: Me).
To explain, I installed Windows Vista on my laptop (for the “ump-teenth” time). I’m too cheap to upgrade to Windows7 ($119 for the least expensive upgrade), and I keep hoping that Microsoft will take pity and FIX Vista.
It’s been a while since I immersed myself in computing, and the ChromeOS netbook (Cr-48) was feeling a little constraining . . . having to set up a private “cloud” server on our XP desktop to archive files; needing to use remote desktop to the desktop to unzip the morning paper; not being able to make quick edits of photos before uploading to our web album; needing a Windows or Mac to print (at least until ChromeOS printers become available).
However, after a day-long series of Windows updates and a dozen or so reboots (many of which would not complete without intervention) I again see the beauty in an OS that maintains itself without my participation. Even if I screw up and have to restore the system entirely, it only takes about 15 minutes, and all my data (bookmarks, passwords, documents) are still available on the “cloud”.
While not as capable as OSX (the other hands-off OS), ChromeOS does most of what I need to do — without 3rd party anti-virus programs; backup software or manual backup sessions; buying, installing and updating office suites.
My OS preferences:
1) Ubuntu (or other Linux distribution) — I also installed it and updated it yesterday (in about an hour);
2) OSX (up to one per household);
3) ChromeOS (with pre-existing OSX or Windows XP);
4) Windows (if I’m feeling the need to punish myself yet again).
We had a great, albeit brief, visit. Mike’s roast cow for dinner, “Despicable Me” with the grandsons, Kewpee burgers, Frontier (Lincoln-like) Logs, and Simon Says. We even learned about Harry S Truman, thanks to Caleb’s thorough research and excellent report writing. Thanks for having us, Mike and Jenn. You have so much to be thankful for and proud of in those boys.
In case Ma forgets her 2nd Kewpee:
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| From 2011 |
The Master Builders:
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| From 2011 |
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| From 2011 |
When we went to bed last night the forecast was for light snow today, as the expected storm was breaking up . . . ha!
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| From 2011 |
Last evening Spring flinched, and Winter returned. Now we have a light blanket of snow. The relapse is only a minor annoyance, though, since the snow has stopped, and what’s on the ground will probably not survive the next 24 hours.
The first sunny day in the 50′s for a good while, and we took advantage of it — in our small way. We went to the French Coffee Shop for lunch. Then we visited Stein Mart and Mustard Seed, then continued on to Sears, Aurora Farms and Aldi. Do we know how to live, or what!? I guess being out in the sun in light or no coats made it all feel quite invigorating. Now we’re waiting for pizza to come out of the oven — spinach, goat cheese, onion, mushroom, garlic, and walnut on whole wheat crust. It’s beginning to smell pretty good in here. While we wait, Mom’s enjoying some wine and I have a Great Lakes beer (Dortmunder Gold) from Mustard Seed. Hope you’re all having a day as good as ours — full of things YOU enjoy 
Here are a few snapshots from the birthday party Bob and Lyn had for Poppy. Deborah and Kris were in town (Kris to pick his next car at the Auto Show), and we got to meet Cooper for the first time. Cooper is a very cute and very easy-going baby. He was watching everything, and he was engaging in baby conversation with Lynda. The red hair makes him seem very “Westbrook-ish” for now. I think everyone is hoping he keeps the color — much like Zach’s. We had a good time, and Poppy seemed to enjoy everything.
My three year old Lenovo laptop is beginning to crumble before my eyes. In the past three months I replaced the battery (after the better part of a year constantly tethered to the AC adapter), then the keyboard (several keys stopped responding), and yesterday the hard drive failed in the middle of submitting my taxes online. So, today I replaced the hard drive. I’m still less than half way to the price of the cheapest netbook out there, so it’s probably all worthwhile. I just wonder what the future holds. On the bright side, each component was replaced in less than five minutes — formatting and installing the OS (and updates to the OS) to the hard drive took a good bit more than five minutes, but I do that for fun anyway.
Fortunately, Ma’s five year old Apple Powerbook continues to hum along. Apple does some things better.
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