I Know This Expert!

Recently my graduating class of South Garland High School has been e-planning a reunion. Although I don't think I'll make the two day drive to Texas, I've read the e-mails as they've circulated and last night took a look through the e-mail addresses to see if there were any folks that were in my small group of friends. One I noticed had a URL with her own name: askandrea.com, so I decided to check it out. Andrea and I took almost every class together during four years at SGHS. She was the team trainer when I played soccer our freshman year. We were on the Math Team with Mrs. Shoemaker together. Andrea's the one who found the special kitten for my Mom our senior year. She graduated early the end of first term and I graduated the end of second term. When I've visited Texas, she's the one I would try to see or talk to. Needless to say, I haven't been to Texas lately. Her radio show is all over the Internet and so are her TV appearances. No matter what the topic, when Andrea was interested she become the expert. So it was no surprise to find this quote: "Andrea Ridout is considered to be one of the hottest home improvement experts today." She's an awesome lady and a friend that I wish I would have kept in contact with. It's really cool to hear her voice again. All the best!

I have missed every reunion of my class from SGHS. The fifth I had planned to attend and even put in my two cents with the planning group, but I was busy that weekend. It was the weekend that one of my sons was born. Bad timing, lack of funding, or the curse of having to cross a vast desert in the heat of August has kept me away every time. No wonder folks gave up on me. I have however kept up with a few of my graduating class via the Internet. I learned that one of our Math Team died very young. He was a quiet guy, but must admit when I see his picture on the cover of the yearbook I miss him. He was always willing to help me understand math. Can't recall if I ever needed to assist him. We had this awesome group of students who pulled together to learn the stuff, because it was fun!

One of my classmates, also a neighbor who happened to share a love of the skies, has travelled the world. Another has visited Utah as an actor at the Shakespearean Festival. (Mrs. C would be so proud!) Those that I knew best have all found that they have had to follow their passion, even if it didn't (or did) make business sense. If you aren't excited to get out of bed each morning, then life needs a few changes. Although I'm excited for the new day and hate each day to end, I still have a few passions to follow. I think I'll follow Andrea's example and the others, too and do what I love...I find that when I do, each day is a wonderful adventure!

And maybe there is some tie we all have to our alma mater...all hail to thee!

Guess the Kids Can't Be Too Embarrassed

My friend, Rachel had this link on her blog, so instead of going to bed and sleeping as I should, I decided to take the test. I'm only lightly nerdy..."Somewhat nerdy. I mean face it, you are nerdier than about half the test takers." That's less nerdy than Rachel, but I suppose I could hide it if need be. I actually prefer geek girl myself, although that avatar is taken. I'm highly motivated by a great technical conversation or success over a difficult problem. I enjoy science, web coding, online learning, digital video editing, digital scrapbooking, podcasting, and communicating with the world via the Internet. Fortunately though, when necessary I can dress up and hide the geekiness, so I won't embarrass my children.

Or maybe I might:




What does this mean? Your computer geekiness is:

Low Ranking Computer Geek. Definitely a Computer Geek, but low in the computer geek social structure.

Podcasts!

A few months ago I learned about a fairly new medium called podcasts. They're like radio shows, but instead of the content disappearing into the atmosphere, they are preserved to be listened to at any time. Some can be subscribed to through RSS feeds, or through iTunes. I even took two days at UEN to learn how to create my own...it's fun. The West Kearns Growl can be found at http://westkearns.blogspot.com and the Bennion CyberCorps can be found at http://bennioncybercorps.blogspot.com. A professional development site is also in the works. We've created a family podcast, too, but that's only been distributed via e-mail so far, although there have been requests for additional episodes, so guess we'd better create another!

I've enjoyed listening to Dan Schmidt who produces KidCast and David Warlick who produces Connect Learning. Being a rather social person I really appreciate having something to listen to while I work in a lonely computer lab. The other morning I actually found myself disappointed that my workout on the treadmill was over...I wanted to listen to one more podcast! (I did have a treadmill incident when I first got my iPod. When reaching to turn down the volume on a podcast that had suddenly become too loud, I accidently hit the STOP button.) The ideas I've listened to in these and other podcasts have been quite thought provoking, but I haven't quite been able to pull all of my sparks and flashes into anything succinct.

I've also learned about new music called podsafe. Musicians post their music on the Internet for use on podcasts. It's a way that artists share their works and podcast listeners get to hear some great stuff. One place to find this music is at the Podsafe Network. I particularly enjoy Geoff Smith's Not on the Radio. His wife made an awesome music video to go along with it. Thanks!

Now that I have an iPod I can organize what little music I actually own, along with my podcasts and photos. Last time I even uploaded my calendar. Just wish that it wasn't so difficult to keep charged. I had to choose which computer to use with it and chose my laptop, but I don't always have the laptop out, so it's currently dead...better get it charging so it'll be ready for tomorrow's workout!

Wonderings...

Have you ever peeked at what people around you are purchasing? A late night trip to one of the few stores opened and having what we needed got me wondering. It was obvious to anyone who saw my selection why I was at the store at that late hour, but I was curious why a twenty something married man would be purchasing plastic containers. Perhaps he has a wife who's right in the middle of that big cleaning the kitchen project and needs just a few more organizing boxes, so he rushed to the store to support her efforts. Was she cleaning the kitchen at this late hour because, like me not too many years ago, it was the only sane hour of the day to do anything without being interrupted? Or maybe he's the one trying to find order to life.

Funny, seems I've been inspired. After a very long quest for an important piece paper, I decided that I'd spend some of our lovely spring break getting a little more organized. I stopped and picked up some plastic containers to finish an organizing project I started when the snow just kept coming down.

Who knows...perhaps the Christmas lights will be retrieved from the roof this lovely spring weekend? Not by me though, I'm too chicken to go on the roof!

Spring Flowers!

Finally after weeks and weeks of winter, then lots of spring snow and rain, the flowers have come out!