What Scrolling Does for Me...

When I scroll through my bloglist, I am touched in so many ways. There are stories upon stories upon stories that share the joy of life in so many places. I am touched to know there is such a community out there. And then I get sad because I just don't have (or is it "make") time to get out and read each person's blogposts like I want to.

Over the years blogging has brought me more joy than I can begin to explain to the "non-blogger". (Most people who blog get it.) And the fact that I've actually met some of you IRL is an even bigger blessing to me. With Summer fast approaching, I am hoping to get back out and really dig into blogs again. I want to get to know you better and actually let you know that I am more than a lurker.

Yep that's what scrolling does for me!

Wednesday Night Update

First of all, the good news....it seems that we may not have total loss on the hard drive. Today "computer man" did something different when DH's Dad was down there. Things started working sort of and now he's extracting files...he's just not sure what they are...YET. The fact that he can get to anything gives us hope that we'll be able to recover data.

FYI, I talked to the folks at Canon today and the guy told me that it is true that they can occasionally recover a few files that you "think" you have deleted from your digital camera's memory card. Something about "layering". Thanks, LeighAnn for the heads up on this one!

And now, I'll leave you with a glimpse of our evening:

Can SOMEBODY Tell Me....

Have you ever seen Linus sit and ponder with Charlie Brown? My favorite is when Charlie Brown shouts out "Can anyone tell me what Christmas is all about?" And Linus matter-of-factly steps up to the mike and shares the Christmas story from the Gospel.

This is no "Christmas Story" question...but it IS a "Charlie Brown" question....

CAN ANYBODY TELL ME WHY MY RSS FEED DOESN'T WORK ON MY BLOG????

Melli mentioned my RSS feed doesn't seem to be working. I tried to reset it on the template. I confess I had to ask her what to do...

Now, I've been wondering for a LONG time why my blogroll doesn't show "new" posts when I tell it to do so....I'm starting to think this is all connected.

I realize this is no where as deep as the real meaning of Christmas. But, I know some of you techies out there might be my Linus...step up to the mike and talk to me.

:-)

What Happened???

I use Blogger Beta. I cannot insert pictures. I want to insert pictures of my Christmas tree. It's like the buttons are all gone. Is anyone else having problems with this? It makes me a little cranky!!! (Updated to add...if this happens to you, it seems that hitting F5 and then the refresh button is the answer. It worked as you can see above. There is also a suggestion to empty the cache after you do this.)

Update Nuggets from the Homefront....

Here are some short updates on some of our happenings in the last couple of weeks:

• The broken computer WAS in fact able to be hooked up to a monitor and all data files are now safely on a DVD waiting for a new laptop to call home.
• DS4's pet frog is living happily in an aquarium on our porch. Last night, he and DH added a new "friend" to the cage. DS 4 announced proudly: "Mom, I hope this one's not a girl, cause then we're going to have babies!" As a reminder, I HATE FROGS! Heaven help me!!!
• DSs 1, 2, and 3 have spent the week at church for Youth Week. They continue to amaze me as they explore who it is that God wants them to be! Last night, they took a bunch of boys to see The Power Team in Clearwater. The boys all spent the night here. It was so funny because when they came home, after 11, you could feel the energy rise in the house---even though they were trying to be SO quiet. It's a GUY THING!?!?!
• I did a presentation yesterday...the third one this week. My FEET are KILLING me! I am not sure what the problem is, although a friend told me it's what happens as you age (she knows my birthday is right around the corner). That STINKS! Anyway, I came home yesterday and propped my burning, throbbing, feet up high on some pillows and pretty much did nothing until this morning.
• Now, I am getting ready to head off to church. DH leaves for a few days right after church. He is traveling more and more. I am happy for him...and know this is what he is called to do...but I am STILL not a good "single Mom". Although, as the guys get older, they are more helpful and that is good.
• School starts on Tuesday for teachers. I have to work tomorrow too to get files that I was supposed to have copied from that wonderful laptop!

That's all the nuggets I have to share now. Have a GREAT Sunday!!

Thursday Thirteen #26

Thirteen Random Things SUSAN has learned this week Better late than never.... 1. A laptop can be run over and not look like it (until you turn it on). 2. Back-up files, back-up files, back-up files!! 3. Sometimes one of your kids surprises you and makes a decision that shows more maturity, wisdom, and spirituatlity than you EVER did at their age and sometimes even more-so than you occasionally do now. 4. When you stand all day in nice shoes...your feet can swell big time and hurt for MORE than a day! 5. I CAN wing a three hour presentation with little or no PowerPoint and still get a good response! 6. My boss thinks I am a black and white....always goes by the rule book....girl! Boy, I think I have him fooled!!! 7. Some people in entertainment have different names than their stage names. I knew this...but was surprised at WHO was on Greg and Christie's TT list! I am STUMPED!! Then I discovered Dan's TT and now I KNOW I have some things to learn!! 8. The Space Shuttle is delivered to it's launch pad by a machine made in the small town where I was born at the company where my uncle worked! 9. I am going to miss my kids when they are not at home anymore...the house has been too quiet too many nights this week (and for that matter, the entire summer---with three of the four often gone). 10. I will be speaking to 500 principals in North Carolina in October. I'm already "Goin' to Carolina in my mind"! 11. People who are not driven or passionate about SOMETHING annoy me!! 12. Laughter really IS a good medicine! I've had the opportunity to laugh a lot this week. 13. And, Mary, those NAPS are a GREAT revitalizer!!!!!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

And the saga continues...

I received my laptop back today and it looked fine. When you turn it on, however, it's obvious that the screen is cracked as you can see nothing. It's cracked on the inside.

Now, the good news is...it appears to be going on like normal. The bad news is...I can't see anything to save and back-up. I have emailed my friend who is a Mac expert and will see what she can do.

In the meantime, I found out (thank goodness) that the computer is covered under School Board insurance, so I don't have to pay for it.

I have to give presentations tomorrow, Thursday, and Saturday. They are on my computer. I DO have Overhead back-ups, so that is a good thing. Still, the presentations would be more impressive with the PowerPoint. Thank goodness, teachers are a very forgiving bunch.

Now, if you could, please whisper a prayer that I will be able to recover my files without too much trouble!

As my friend, Cindy says, "It's just an EVENT!" She's right. It could be MUCH worse!!

My Weekend Window: Act III

Act III: The Cranky Mother

All good stories have to have a little drama. Our weekend was no different. It was pretty much smooth sailing until today.

This morning, we slept in. Around 10:30, we checked out of our hotel. DS 3 played bellman and took all of our stuff down on the luggage cart. He and DS 2 emptied the cart into my car.

We loaded up and started the engine while DS 2 finished loading the last few things and DS 3 returned the cart to the hotel. It wasn't long until we were on the road.

Upon our arrival home, I told everyone to start unloading the car. They did without grumbling, fussing, or complaining. I'll bet you're saying to yourself, "So, where's the cranky mother and the drama come in??"

It wasn't long after the car was unloaded that I looked for my laptop case. DSs 2 and 3 said the "other one" loaded it into the car. I made them go look again..with no avail. Like a mad-woman, I started going through everyone's bags looking for the laptop (which isn't really mine at all...but is the school's!). They remained relatively non-chalant while I ran around like a chicken with my head cut off!

I nervously dialed the hotel and talked to a nice girl over there. She told me, "Yes, we found it in the parking lot!" The parking lot! I didn't know whether to rejoice or SCREAM! As I envisioned driving the 6 hour round trip to retrieve my laptop, the kind voice on the other end of the phone said, "I'm so glad you called. I've been worried about it all day. I'll FED-EX it to you." I said, "OK" and hung up the phone.

So ends my pretty calm weekend. It's true that "all's well that ends well." And while my laptop is not back in my hands (yet) I know that it is OK and that it will be by the end of tomorrow.

And that, my blogging friends, is the whole weekend story!!

Thursday Thirteen #25

Thirteen GamesSUSAN has been addicted to at one time or another 1. Most Recently....Beetle Bomp 2. Magic Vines 3. Bookworm 4. Word Racer 5. I used to do the Crossword Puzzle here every single day without fail. 6. After the crossword puzzle, I would play one to three hands of Spades. 7. Then I would play one game of Solitaire. 8. After I "left" Garfield Games, I discovered Poppit 9. I also loved "Sweet Tooth" at the Pogo site. 10. Then, my brothers got us started in Fantasy Football This has become quite the family event where everyone coaches a team and we compete against each other every week. 11. Tetris (We played this before we had "online" options.) 12. When the boys were younger I played quite a bit of Lion King Pinball. 13. And the game that "started it all".....PAC MAN!

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen Things about WHY Susan's Thursday Thirteen was NOT UP until after 5:00PM on Thursday!! 1. I didn't plan it until this morning. Usually, I think about it throughout the week. This week, I simply waited and didn't really "plan". 2. When I logged in at 6:40am to do it, the computer was locking up and not being cooperative! 3. By the time I thought it WOULD cooperate, I decided that I needed to leave for work. 4. I was going to do it when I got to work...but ended up getting caught by three colleagues before school and couldn't get to my computer. 5. I was going to do it just after the bell rang and then remembered that I needed some paperwork for a 9:00 meeting. 6. The 9:00 meeting went straight to 12:00! 7. At 12:00 I had to leave to go to ANOTHER meeting at our school board building. 8. When I arrived at that meeting, people had to catch me up on all that I missed in the morning session. 9. When they took a break, I thought "I'll do it QUICKLY...but NO... someone else had to learn how to make a Powerpoint presentation in a brief amount of time. 10. By the time I left that meeting, it was 3:30. I was frustrated. 11. My car was displaying the "You're running on the edge of dangerous because your gas is so low" button. So I had to go get gas. 12. I also had to go to the bank. When I came home, I had to talk to DS 1 and DS 3 a bit and get the "scoop" on the rest of our family. 13. I got a phone call from a friend...that was well worth the time...and NOW here I am...finally finishing my TT for this week!! (Maybe next week will be more creative! ;-) Links to other Thursday Thirteens! 1. (leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!



The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

It's All About Being Saved...

OK, as one of my commenters put it: My "linky thingy" is now working.

Thanks to Mary for making me rethink what I had done. She told me that I needed to check out two different codes. When I received her comment, I'll be honest, the first thing I thought was: "Yeah, I already DID that." Then I started to think:

Did I do it in both of the "right"places?
Did the Mac have anything to do with it?

And then, the lightbulb moment:

Did I forget to hit save?

And the latter question was absolutely correct. It's all in the save button. If you make changes, but don't hit save, then they can't be seen and used to the outside world.

And of course, it brings up another life lesson....

If we want things to work well....then we have to "hit the save button". We MUST be directly linked and correctly linked to our God. Sometimes we think we "have it all figured out" and we don't. Our outward appearance, attitude and actions don't "line up" and work right. Sometimes it takes someone pointing out the obvious to get it all right.

Yep...with "linky thingies" and life....

It's ALL about being saved!

Overachievers Anonymous HERE I COME!

AGH! I would be surprised if those of you in the blogging world cannot hear me screaming right now! Several blogs I read use that cute little "autolinks" at the bottom of their Thursday Thirteens. So, in true "Susan-fashion"...I decided if they can do it, I can do it too. I clicked on the link to Mr. Linky and registered and followed HIS directions. The link box showed up on my site and then I noticed that you CAN'T add your link to it even though it looks like you should be able to do so. I hate that.

I hate not knowing how to do something! I know that it takes failure to truly learn it...but right now....I'm so frustrated that I cannot see straight. Sooo, I'll try again later. As I was playing with it just now, I realized that the overachiever in me sometimes creeps up and gives a surprise attack. Today is an example of this.

One thing I am trying to "get over" is my competative nature and "gotta be right/first/best" outlook. Just when I think I am doing pretty well with that something like this happens and I realize I've got a long way to go. I am SO GLAD that God doesn't give up the way I have given up on Mr. Linky today. Oh sure I'll try again to get those cute little auto links on my Thursday Thirteen...BUT for today, I'm giving myself permission to revert back and relax. It's not that important anyway...RIGHT????

I am once again reminded of the children's song, "He's still working on me...making me what I ought to be"....Keep working Lord....keep working!

The Blog Monster!

OK I don't get it....

I blogged last night. I know I did because KT commented on it in my latest Thursday Thirteen....

Now it's gone! What happened to it?

There must be a monster on my blog because now I don't see it in my lists of posts nor do I see it on my blog page. Weird, huh????

It's stuff like this that makes me crazy with the computer!! My post has to be flying around somewhere in cyberspace.

Anyway, for anyone who gets to read this and didn't see last night...here's a recap (as close as I can remember):

Title: I Can't Live a Day Without You

Post: {Cue up the Carpenter's music.} I have a habit. Everynight before I go to bed (and sometimes during the day) I check my email...check up on a couple of forums that I read daily...and then write and/or check out the blog world. I have put the blogs I read in my sidebar over on the right. I love visiting these sites each day...I am always filled with anticipation when I push the link button to "catch up" on what's going on. Some of these people I know and others I have never met...but somehow I feel like I have a connection to them.

I almost feel guilty for writing this post after I read my SIL, Heather's, blog. She had a very busy week where blogging had to have dropped clear to the bottom of a long list of responsibilities and "life stuff". And maybe that's true for others here too.

It's OK....

I just want you to know that I miss you when you are gone.

So maybe I should switch the song to say, "I Don't Like Going a Day Without You" OR "I Enjoy Catching Up With You"....

I don't know.....Forget the music, I'm going to bed. {End of Last Night's Post}

And now, after knowing that the above post has been stollen by the blogmonster...I am wondering if he's visited some of you too!! ;-)