Twenty-first Century

So I am not as old as my parents - good thing - but I have seen a lot of changes in this world.   Gasoline used to be 35 cents a gallon.  We didn't have video games in the home.  We didn't have video games.  We had pinball machines.  We had to go to the bowling alley to bowl.  Our arms got sore from throwing a 12 pound ball, not because we WII'd for 4 hours.  (I had to make up a word right there)  We didn't have VSH or DVR.  We didn't have cable - I remember when they first started talking about pay TV.  No way would anyone pay when you could get it for free.  How stupid!!  Well, here I am paying.  Stupid!!!  

Computers - wow - now I think even 6 year old kids can talk about the changes in this area.  I remember going to college in the late 70's and taking a computer language course.  The computers were big and we had to wait - I mean wait -up to two minutes -  for the computer to do it's thing.  No Internet  

Phones are another area of change.  House phones only.  Today we call it land line.  The receiver was tethered to the main unit by a cord that kinda stretched.  Was wound up like a spring or a slinky and would stretch out so you could stir something on the stove while you talked.  Teenagers would stretch it to the closet to have privacy during their conversations.  We had a rotary dial.  I bet some kids have never seen a phone like this.  Then came the push button phone.  Then the cordless phone.  Then the cordless phone with a finder beep so you could find the receiver.  Then the cell phone.  The first ones were pretty big and as time went on they got smaller and smaller.  Then they put cameras on the phone.  Then they made the phone a computer too.  All in the palm of your hand.  Crazy - just crazy!!


I held out for quite some time before I got a cell phone.  I liked not being reached at the store.  But with most modern conveniences I caved and got one for emergencies.  Then I got into all the "fun"  of a cell phone.  They added texting.  What a fun thing this is.  It can also be a bad thing but I won't go into that right now.  Quick little questions can get answered without long conversations.  Pictures can be sent to let people know you are thinking of them at this moment.  I love this!!!  It really helps when the grandchildren are so far away. I still have no desire to get a "smart phone".  The idea of my pocket being smarter than I - me - oh whatever - is something I don't want to deal with right now.   And when my phone dies I will have to upgrade but for now I am happy with my phone.  

Tonight I spent 2 and a half hours transferring pictures in my phone to the memory card in my phone.  Then pictures that were texted to me from the text folder to the memory card in my phone.  Then the videos I have to my memory card.  Then I had to remember how to take that memory card out - remember were the adapter was - put the card into the adapter and then put the card into my new computer.  I did that ALL BY MYSELF.  I transferred all the pictures and videos to my computer.  I had to - my memory was filling up.  So   now I will share some of the memories that were in my phone.

 Sa just got her ears pierced.

 Cristy with Troy during those first bad hours.

 Maddie saying Hi

 Georgey lost another tooth

 Don't know if Jack is too happy to say Hi

Kevin is growing.

 When you can't find your camera - grab the phone then send it to me.

 This is for Grant - I win.

Troy smiles!!

 Hallie growing

One chunky Gibson!!!

This video is one I took a long time ago and yes, I used my phone.  Can't you tell by the quality of this show.   This is Maddie - hard to tell - but she was having fun!!!

Now that I have deleted all my photos and videos I need more.  So get to it kids.   You know my number.

Just playing

I wrote a blog last week and it isn't coming up on any ones lists - so I've been playing around and updated my editor - can it be easy to upload videos too?  Here is my try

This should be Hallie - we are outside on the one day the air conditioning broke.     Hey it worked!
It even has sound - cool - I may have to share a few more clips!

Summer

Summer - a most enjoyable time. A time to enjoy the nice warmer air and sun shine. OK those who know me are now saying - "What? She doesn't like it when it gets hot?" True - I don't like hot days but I do like sunshine, sleeping in and not going to work. That is what I like about summer.

This summer has come and gone. I can't believe it is just about over. I made a "to do" list at the beginning of this summer and I must admit it was or is a long list. I have no idea what I have done this summer - I feel like I was busy everyday - but my list is still there with only a few things checked off. Now this is a great argument for journal writing. If I was a good girl I would have been writing in my journal all summer and would now be able to look back and see what I did the past two months. But I have not been a good girl - I am old and can't remember. Oh well.....

I do remember the big things ---Family. I was able to see all of my grandchildren this summer. Most of them came to see me and one I went to go see. I am going to be a good grandma or Nana now and share some of the photo's I have.
Da was here for only a day but he was nice enough to leave his wife and kids for a couple of weeks.
One day at Mandy's the kids played school. Nice class room here in the kitchen. I was sent to the principals office - a lot - & had to write sentences - a lot. The kids thought that was funny - a lot!!!

I call this - Pop goes the Jack. Or Jack in the Box.
Now here we are playing one big happy family. George is the Dad, Maddie is the Mom and the rest are the kids. I was the photographer that came to take their family portraits. This is how they posed. Not bad!!!
Gibson and Kevin loved playing together.
Maddie can hola-hoop like - well - like someone who can hola-hoop. She is amazing!! No effort - just stands there and well, even two at time didn't phase her.

Next - it was Mandy's 30th birthday this summer and to surprise her - Cristy flew out and through her a party - Surprise!!! This is a quick pose with Mom and Dad.

This is about the only picture I got of Cristy - but a very happy Mandy after the surprise. Mandy arrived at the house to "pick up an order from Schwans" but as she walked up to the front door she heard Troy crying and well - I had to quickly get her into the house. She saw Cristy - screamed - and in the middle of hugging her she noticed the kitchen loaded with a lot of her friends. Surprise!!! It was a fun night.
Darren came for a week and quickly got to work on the "favorite uncle" award.
I had to read to Troy.

Corn hole is a must!!
Picking of raspberries is also a must.
This is just a cute picture. Cristy left and that same day my brother Tom and his wife Sue came. Then the next day Matt and I left for Cincinnati. To see Grant, Liz and Hallie.

We were greeted by Hallie wearing a Big Sister shirt. It went right over my head. But with Grant pushing the point I finally got it. Yea, number 10 is on it's way. Poor Liz wasn't feeling all that great while we were there - I give her (and the rest of the Mom's of my grandchildren) what ever I should give because I don't know if I would have had 5 if I got sick like she (they) does.

So I'm not allowed to use the picture I took of Grant, Liz and Hallie together - Liz rules. So here is one of Grant and Hallie
And Liz trying not to be in the picture and Hallie. Hallie is so big and a total delight.
I made new pillows for their living room and Grant took the old pillow and made a dress for Hallie. Not quite as cute as he hoped. Maybe a belt would help?
Slides make her hair stand on end. She loves to slide.
Hallie knows the way to Sesame Street. Where is Grover?
While at Grant's we went to the Air Museum. We all had our picture taken in the space suit. I wasn't quick enough to get Hallie's picture but here is Matt.
Matt trying to dock the space craft to the space station. Lets just say he didn't do it.
Hallie showing Papa how to fly. The next day we looked around the city and had a great time the week that were in Cincinnati. I love trips that you come home and don't feel like you need a vacation after your vacation. The worst part was leaving and seeing Hallie crying at the door as we drove off. Made me cry too.
This is the important photo. The one we flew there for.

Now I'm home and just canned 48 pints of peaches. Yesterday I cleaned the carpets in the house - guess I'm finally checking things off my list. Rather be on vacation!!!