Monday, January 31, 2011
A Little Light Reading
Last night when I went in to say goodnight to Ryan I found him reading a book that he had gotten from the library on the Holocaust. How is that for a little light reading at bedtime. The page he was on had the famous picture of the piles of shoes. Ryan does have a great interest in WWII (mostly from the Call of Duty video games, but whatever gets you to learn), but this Holocaust interest was new. When I asked him about it, he said that on Gene Simmons Family Jewels they went to the Anne Frank house because Gene's mother was a Holocaust survivor. Who knew you could learn from Family Jewels? Ryan and I discussed the Holocaust a little and he spoke with such intelligence and empathy that I was really impressed. Then he asked if we could take a cruise to Poland and visit a death camp on an excursion. I told him no, but there was a museum in Washington, DC that we might be able to visit one day.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Ramblings
Gee, it has been so long since I have updated that I don't know where to start, so I will just ramble some random thoughts:
First, I am typing this post on my new IPad. Yay, I GOT AN IPAD FOR CHRISTMAS!!! This is exciting for me because I am so technologically delayed it borders on embarrassing. This is made all too obvious by my circa 2005 Nextel two way radio flip phone - no camera, no Internet, no texting. The only person I know with a worse phone is my Dad. So needless to say I feel very cool.
I did have one strange experience with an app on the Ipad. The kids had gotten some itunes gift cards for Christmas so the itunes account recently had like a $12 credit. Sam went to download a song the other day and I had to come put in my password for him (we all share the account but they don't have the password to buy anything). The account showed a balance of $.38, so I checked to see where the $12 went, and the account records show an ipad app called the Lucky App purchased for $10. Now this app is not on my ipad or on the computer in the itunes library so I know we didn't purchase it. Like I said the kids don't have the password. Anyway, the point of this story is to describe the stupidity of the "Lucky" app. I had to research a little to find out what it was, because of course, I don't actually have the app, I just paid for it. For $10 you get an app to open when you need good luck and you can make a wish. That's the whole app! WTH!!! I am embarrased for myself that there is a record somewhere that I purchased that. My second point is that the only way to contact apple/itunes customer service is through e-mail. No phone contact. What I want to know is how do I get that deal. I think that my happiness level would skyrocket if my only contact with customers at work was through e-mail. Oh, and I have yet to get a response.
We have actually had two significant snows already this winter. And by significant I mean more than two inches. This is Charlotte, North Carolina, so we need to keep it in perspective. The first was on Christmas night, so that was really special. The second was in early January and that was snow that was good for some sledding. Speaking of technologically advanced, sleds have come a long way since I was a kid. I didn't see one single old school sled with runners and a steering handle. Perhaps that is a northern thing, or perhaps I'm just old, I don't know which but Sam is leaning towards the latter. Anyway, these "sleds" were all across the board from inner tubes, to flexible snowboards, to discs, and even the occasional pool float (eh hem, Darnell). I saw one poor child on her laminated thanksgiving placemat. I guess we make do with what we have and everyone was having fun. Midday it all turned to freezing rain, which left a good 1/4 inch coating of ice over the snow. When Sam and I went back that evening to sled some more I felt I was on a luge course in the winter olympics. Scary, but oh how fun it was.
My children and I did differ on a few critical areas of how to spend your time on a snow day. I tried to explain that perfect days have to have the elements of a nice nap, a long hot shower, and eating good food. The first two they were totally not on board with, they consider sleep and showers someting akin to punishment. They agreed on eating, but we differed on what qualifies as "good" food.
Sam is in the middle of his basketball season, which is going so-so. He really likes the kids on his team, but the games don't seem to be going their way. Last nights game prompted Ryan to declare the car a "whine free zone" after any sporting events.
Ryan is gearing up for the spring baseball season. He has been practicing hard and is ready to get back on the field after his championship season. Ryan also has been practicing long and hard on his guitar, as he is finally officially learning a KISS song, Lick It Up. I'll post a video when and if it actually starts to resemble the song in any way!
First, I am typing this post on my new IPad. Yay, I GOT AN IPAD FOR CHRISTMAS!!! This is exciting for me because I am so technologically delayed it borders on embarrassing. This is made all too obvious by my circa 2005 Nextel two way radio flip phone - no camera, no Internet, no texting. The only person I know with a worse phone is my Dad. So needless to say I feel very cool.
I did have one strange experience with an app on the Ipad. The kids had gotten some itunes gift cards for Christmas so the itunes account recently had like a $12 credit. Sam went to download a song the other day and I had to come put in my password for him (we all share the account but they don't have the password to buy anything). The account showed a balance of $.38, so I checked to see where the $12 went, and the account records show an ipad app called the Lucky App purchased for $10. Now this app is not on my ipad or on the computer in the itunes library so I know we didn't purchase it. Like I said the kids don't have the password. Anyway, the point of this story is to describe the stupidity of the "Lucky" app. I had to research a little to find out what it was, because of course, I don't actually have the app, I just paid for it. For $10 you get an app to open when you need good luck and you can make a wish. That's the whole app! WTH!!! I am embarrased for myself that there is a record somewhere that I purchased that. My second point is that the only way to contact apple/itunes customer service is through e-mail. No phone contact. What I want to know is how do I get that deal. I think that my happiness level would skyrocket if my only contact with customers at work was through e-mail. Oh, and I have yet to get a response.
We have actually had two significant snows already this winter. And by significant I mean more than two inches. This is Charlotte, North Carolina, so we need to keep it in perspective. The first was on Christmas night, so that was really special. The second was in early January and that was snow that was good for some sledding. Speaking of technologically advanced, sleds have come a long way since I was a kid. I didn't see one single old school sled with runners and a steering handle. Perhaps that is a northern thing, or perhaps I'm just old, I don't know which but Sam is leaning towards the latter. Anyway, these "sleds" were all across the board from inner tubes, to flexible snowboards, to discs, and even the occasional pool float (eh hem, Darnell). I saw one poor child on her laminated thanksgiving placemat. I guess we make do with what we have and everyone was having fun. Midday it all turned to freezing rain, which left a good 1/4 inch coating of ice over the snow. When Sam and I went back that evening to sled some more I felt I was on a luge course in the winter olympics. Scary, but oh how fun it was.
My children and I did differ on a few critical areas of how to spend your time on a snow day. I tried to explain that perfect days have to have the elements of a nice nap, a long hot shower, and eating good food. The first two they were totally not on board with, they consider sleep and showers someting akin to punishment. They agreed on eating, but we differed on what qualifies as "good" food.
Sam is in the middle of his basketball season, which is going so-so. He really likes the kids on his team, but the games don't seem to be going their way. Last nights game prompted Ryan to declare the car a "whine free zone" after any sporting events.
Ryan is gearing up for the spring baseball season. He has been practicing hard and is ready to get back on the field after his championship season. Ryan also has been practicing long and hard on his guitar, as he is finally officially learning a KISS song, Lick It Up. I'll post a video when and if it actually starts to resemble the song in any way!
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