*blend

I know…confusing….first I change the look of the site, and now it has a new name. But it’s all for the better, for the good of mankind…I promise. You have to trust me…

I’ll do my best to focus on two main topics:

• Blending technology with everyday living
• Life in a blended family

It’s all about integrating…integrating technology in a useful, intelligent way without letting it run your life for you, and well, the exact same for the blended family situation. Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the demands technology places on them…being pulled in ten different directions and finding no way to control the swirling chaos of email, cell phones, technogadgets, and bosses really doesn’t have to think too creatively to imagine what living in a blended household is like.

Some people just don’t know where to even begin evaluating the powerful resources around them…iPods, handheld computers and internet-ready cell phones, blogs, web sites for their businesses….the list can go on and on. Here, I will offer practical and first-hand reviews, advice, and applications.

On the blended family end, I don’t know how much advice I can offer, because I sincerely think I’m a flop at trying to ‘blend’ this family…I get such a kick out that term…..”blended family”…..theres no “blending”, unless you mean getting chopped up in a canister with a sharp blade until nothing is recognizable…but that’s another story…. But I have found solace in reading about other families stories and trails and triumphs. It gives me hope that all is not lost. If all else fails, you can read our stories and laugh your head off.

When I left my job as library director, I never gave any real thought to my identity on the web. But now, I am really really bugged by my nickname…and I need new one! I’ve changed the look of my site, and am now sitting here needing a new name for not only the site, but ME. I’m enlisting the help of YOU dear reader….help me to solve my identity crisis and send me your suggestions for my new identity!
except techiehoodoo, I’d be too embarrassed to use any:
title, alias, appellation, brand, denomination, designation, epithet, eponym, flag, handle, heading, label, moniker, monogram, nickname, nomen, pen name, pet name, place name, prenomen, proper name, pseudonym, rubric, sign, signature, sobriquet, stage name, style, surname, tag, term, OR trade name
your devious mind can come up with.

On the other hand, I bet it would be original!

On Sunday, during a quick trip to Odessa for bulk groceries, we stopped in at Circuit City. I have been eying the new Blackjack from Sony, but I hate my cell service (because it’s a phone - not ‘them’ in particular) so signing another contract just to get a $100 discount on a $500 piece of hardware seemed a really stupid idea. I wanted to check out the newer generations of Palm devices. Here’s a quick summary of what I’m using now…. Read the rest of this entry »

this is pretty much just a test blog from my new toy. if it works, i’ll tell you more about it

Every year we have a Christmas Party at our home for our friends and family. Three years ago we decided that the party would be a great way to contribute back to our community, and began asking our guests to being a new unwrapped for our local Toys for Tots program. This is an image of this year’s toys. There were 3 new bicycles, many many stuffed animals, board games, and more. It was great turnout, and I want to thank everyone who came to the party last night and brought toys. We had a great time! Anne brought by even more today even though she and Michael brought in an armload of stuffed animals last night. Because we had to have the party later-than-usual this year, the Rotary club had already delivered the Toys yesterday morning, but they gave what was left to the First Presbyterian Church, so that is where these toys went, as well. Families who go to the food bank will be able to provide not only a meal to their children this Christmas, but a brand-new toy as well. I look around at all of the ‘junk’ my kids own, and realize that all too often we take for granted the little things we have everyday. Instead of spending a grand getting all 6 of our kids something ‘great’ this year, we’re focusing our giving on the community, and each of our girls contributed to Toys for Tots. We are hoping they carry the spirit of caring for those less fortunate than themselves with them throughout the year, and throughout their lives.
I’m already looking forward to next year!

This is one of those things the kids keep passing around, so I thought I’d post my answers here. Post a comment reply with yours!

A - Age: 29.95 plus tax
B - Band listening to right now: East Village Opera Company
C - Career: ex-librarian; current small-business owner: programmer, web designer, pc repair; mom
D - Drink or smoke: um…both the first not often, the latter too much
E - Easiest person/s to talk to: My husband
F - Favorite song/s at the moment: Tell Me Baby by Red Hot Chili Peppers
G - Gummy Bears or Gummy Worms: Neither…ugh
J - Junk foods you like: burgers, pizza with pepperoni and pineapple
L - Longest car ride ever: West Texas to Northern California. Never ever ever again
M - My favorite Sport/s: BASEBALL!!!!!
N - Number of relationships you’ve had: define relationships, geez. 2 marriages, a few boyfriends, and hundreds of friends.
O - One wish you have: Survive long enough to see all of the kids graduate college
P - Phobias: heights…but I love to fly…so maybe just heights that have to do with me standing on ledges.
Q - Favorite Quote: You are not wrong who deem that my days have been a dream
R - Reason to smile: Family all home and not fighting
S- Song: Bring Me to Life by Evanescence (it’s OUR song)
T- Time you woke up: too damn early
U - Unknown fact about you: then it wouldn’t be unknown would it?
V - Vegetable/fruit you hate: um….veggies are my friend
W - Worst habit: smoking
X - X-rays you’ve had: wrist when I was like 4, chest when i had pneumonia
Y- Yummy food/s: Italian!!! alfredo sauce, lasagna, manicotti, …. now I’m hungry
Z- Zodiac sign: Cancer

By the time the dishes are washed on Thanksgiving Day, I’m half done with my holiday decorating. The tree is up, the lights are twinkling, the holly is, um, hollying…but not this year. Here it is the 2nd week of December and I have done nothing holiday-ish. So here is the extent of my blog Christmas decorations…my Charlie Brown Christmas Tree. You can go get a real one to stand pathetically in your living room over at urbanoutfitters.com