Geeking out
I’m typing this entry from an iPad. It’s not mine. Even if I were tempted to purchase one (which I’m not, I want to wait for the next gen. I already did the first gen iPhone for $600 and it still smarts almost three years later), I couldn’t justify such a purchase when the husband is unemployed. We have more important things to pay for, like the mortgage. That said, one of the benefits of my job is getting to spend a lot of time around technology. And tonight, I’m getting to test drive the iPad.
Mostly, I just wanted to see how it worked for couch-surfing. It’s a nightly occurrence in our household. The only problem is we have only one Macbook, so the husband and I have to share it. I hate my work PC laptop, so I only boot that thing if I have work to do. Therefore, if I forfeit the Macbook for an evening, I usually just surf Twitter & Facebook with iPhone in hand while half-watching the TV.
I never actually planned on wanting an iPad. I figured my iPhone was close enough. And we have a pretty newish laptop. I also considered myself closer to purchasing a Kindle, but I hadn’t quite gone there yet.
When the iPads hit the stores last month, I admit the pang of jealousy I felt when it seemed like everyone in my Twitter stream was getting one. Then I read a lot of reviews and felt grounded in my decision to not bite (of course, being a single-income household also helps with shutting down that impulse purchase).
And really? The primary reason for me not wanting one of these things was that it just felt like a big iPhone. I didn’t think it could replace a laptop. I couldn’t see myself composing long emails on it and I certainly didn’t see myself typing a blog entry on the thing.
Yet, here I am.
How many paragraphs have I just typed?
I’m impressed. I actually could write blog entries on this. I could also write emails. It wouldn’t replace my laptop, especially when files and multimedia and multi-tasking are involved, but this does work for the casual. And the screen is pretty damn nice for Web browsing and playing with the few apps loaded on here.
I will say: the unit is getting hot in my lap. And ive heard it isn’t something that works well in the sun (thinking hammock and a Kindle in my backyard would work better for sunny, summer afternoons).
But, I could do this. I’m pleasantly surprised. And when the next gen comes out, I’m hoping the income situation in our household will be a little more on the plus side to favor a purchase.
In the meantime, I’m grateful for the opportunity to play around. And I’m pretty enamored with how pretty our little website is on the screen:
http://img594.imageshack.us/img594/9184/3fe.jpg
(Note: for the record, I encountered an annoying and rough user experience trying to insert the above image link via WordPress – but I couldn’t cut and paste a URL from Twitpic – and scrolling down through a multiple paragraph entry in this small WordPress text input field was super-annoying and not intuitive – the ipad needs cursor keys IMO. That said, I’m still impressed I composed all this.)
Isa is making a home and a little update on a current finish line that’s been crossed
Okay, first off. Here’s the problem:
Recently, the cat has come out of the basement. Which is a good thing. We were starting to get worried about her adjustment to home life with the Lockwoods. The combination of slow adoption to the upstairs with SCARY DOGS and a food allergy (we switched her to a new, premium food that apparently she was allergic to and caused her to lose a bunch of fur and make her cranky) made Isa less than comfortable in our house. Luckily, more time with the dogs (and learning she can boss them around) combined with getting her back on a food that didn’t make her sick has turned her into a much happier kitty. A kitty who is now exploring our house, learning that sleeping on beds is comfy. A kitty that also thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to sit on a human’s hands when the human is on the laptop. In fact, it’s PREFERABLE to only sit on a human’s hands when the human is on the laptop.
Yes, I’m totally getting all the I can haz cheezbugr references now…
And, yes, the problem: whenever we’re on the computer at night, so is kitty. Say hi, Internet, to Isa. And, Isa, say hi to the Internet.
Ah, where were we?
Why was I updating?
Okay. Here’s the thing. Today was a big day. a BIG. DAY.
It was as monumental as any triathlon or marathon I’ve completed. It was as a formulaic slow, steady race to the finish as you can get. Patience, endurance and fortitude were essential and key. And it all paid off today.
Ironically, however, I’m not talking about anything athletic. At least not physically.
No, I’m talking about a long, hard project at work that has finally launched. Today. And while it isn’t sexy and shiny and even very apparent to our users, it is labor of love like none other and I’m very, very proud of what we accomplished.
It’s been almost a year in the making. As some of you know, I’m in the Web business. I work on BettyCrocker.com for General Mills (obligatory disclaimer: my views here on this blog are personal and do not represent those of my company). And today, we launched a major update.
It’s not exactly a big deal to our users. Our overall navigation of the site did have major changes. We have a ton of new content pages now available. But the overall look and feel wasn’t impacted all that much. The voice is still the same. And, honestly, the best experience I could hope for our users is an uninterrupted one. That said, this project spanned over the course of almost a year. I’ve been championing it for even longer than that. And finally, finally we’ve crossed the threshold.
And you know what that means….
What’s next?
Of course, for now, for tonight, I’m going to get some sleep. I had my “congratulations, Heather” martini. I’ve told myself it’s okay that I missed today’s workout. It’s even okay that I’ve spent the year more focused on work and content management than on some personal pursuits such as furthering (or evening sustaining) my athletic prowess.
Tonight I sleep.
And tomorrow… what’s next?
New Media
Okay. I just set up a Twitter account.
That means I can update the Internet with my phone.
Weird.
buy Churchill: The Hollywood Years
Today
I love my job.
And not just because we’re having our inaugural rooftop party today. And it’s 50 degrees and sunny.
No, it’s probably more because we get to start drinking at 4:30.
Salut!
The Winged Scourge download
The New Guy trailer Julia divx
Bomb the System full movie
Return Of The Magnificent Seven
download The Express movie Ulysses video
I bought flowers for myself
Say Anything… ipod
On Thursday night, I had to stop at the grocery store for soy milk and yogurt. Life has been so nuts that we were sorely lacking in necessities. Me without soy milk for my cereal is almost like me without shampoo or conditioner. So, I walked through Rainbow foods after work picking up what I needed as well as some splurges like fresh pineapple and a couple WW treats. The Gerber daisies just spoke to me. It didn’t matter that they cost $8. I’m usually pretty cheap when it comes to flowers. But Thursday was different. I deserved a treat.
I have a new job. I annouced the news in the middle of an entry on the Health blog, but I feel like talking about it again, here. The interview process consisted of four meetings and a bit of negotiation. On Tuesday I accepted an offer. On Friday, I will complete my work for my current employer and, on June 5th, I will enter the Agency world as an Interactive Specialist/Planner.
It’s an exciting opportunity. I feel like this is a real move into a real career path. But I’m also nervous and anxious as well. Life is going to change. And while it would be easy to stay in the same role and the pound out the same old work, this new opportunity is something I’ve needed to light a fire and worked on some real professional progress.
So, I bought myself flowers. I have to give myself some time to just bask in the accomplishment of having garnered an offer. The work will be hard. The adjustment will be severe. I know the rewards will be plentiful. But, honestly, all of that is still lays in the future so I’m going to enjoy what I have now. I will close out this chapter in my life and take some time off. Perhaps do some killer training (not to mention run a marathon) and get ready for my leap.
Life is about to change. Big time.The Hunt for Gollum downloadCorky Romano film The Break-Up Artist movie The Final Season film
