September 8, 2014 by Born To Organize

When Technology Takes a Hike

Slinky lending moral support

Our resident tech support, aka, Mike, spent hours this weekend rebuilding my computer from the ground up. It’s extraordinary my dependence on that technological gem known as a laptop. Though grateful for Mike’s technological prowess, I’m also painfully aware of how little I know. The mechanics of operating systems, platforms, routers and all the other things that make computers go leave me cold. Don’t you hate it when technology takes a hike?

What I do know is that I want my computer to go and I feel like a spoiled child when it stops. [insert stomping of feet, pouting face and colorful language here].

Okay, so it wasn’t that bad, but I can’t tell you how often I headed to the computer, only to encounter the latest system ‘updates.’ They’re not nearly as interesting as the updates I’m after: the blog and Facebook variety. I’ve got a social life to run here. I live with two teenage boys with zero interest in monopolizing my attention. So while they’re dipping into the latest and greatest on their mobile devices and dad is watching fall ball, I like to log on and catch up.

Instead I headed outdoors and pulled a few weeds. I did some pruning till it got too hot. I treated myself to an hour at our local craft store, shopping and chatting about the merits of water-based versus alcohol-based inks. I even read from the miniscule print on my phone, but these old eyes were never meant for teenage technology. Yes, I left some comments here and there, but it wasn’t long before my hand cramped and my battery failed. Then I was back to my panting dog impression: is it ready yet, is it ready yet, is it ready yet?

I started a craft project, but needed my Silhouette to cut some block letters. Nope…the computer wasn’t ready.

I went to address a few envelopes for my blog postage giveaway, only to realize I’d trapped the addresses in email limbo. The individual email was too old to be on the server, but not new enough to be on my phone. Addresses would have to wait for my Outlook rebuild.

At least I had Pauline’s address. I’d asked her for it twice. Alas, it still had not synced to my mobile phone. Tapping in the requisite letters, the phone turned up nothing. It was taunting me. I KNOW I have her address! Nope. Siri is never wrong.

Today, in need of a good Skype with my bestie, all technology-based bets were off. Sigh

These are all first-world problems. I know in my heart the extraordinary privileges of my life. But just for today, I’m reminded of the Judith Viorst classic: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

When’s the last time your technology took a hike?

February 10, 2014 by Born To Organize

Bloglovin’ and that Strange Post

I signed up for bloglovin on Sunday. It’s a simple and uncluttered way to follow all the blogs that I love. WordPress has a reader, but it only works for WordPress blogs. Other platforms, like Blogger, BlogHer, TypePad, etc. show up in different places, via email or in an RSS reader.

In order to “claim my blog”, I had to send a short post with code, hence the strange post.

Here is the scoop from the bloglovin site:

Why did you build bloglovin’?

We started building websites in a garage in Täby, Sweden, and before we started bloglovin´, we were working on our second failed web project: a fashion-community. To get feedback on that idea, we got help from three fashion-bloggers — one of them was Carolina Engman. Somewhere between discussions and coffee breaks, she checked if any of her favorite blogs had updated. So she picked up a laptop and started typing in their web-addresses. A bunch of new windows flew up in her web-browser. Some blogs were updated and others weren’t. It. Was. Chaos.

Here was an opportunity for improvement. Wouldn’t it be sweet if you had one site that notified you every time one of your favorite bloggers had written something new?

We scrapped the fashion-community and started over from scratch. Two weeks later, we had our first, somewhat rusty, version of bloglovin´ up and running. One week later, over 1000 people had signed up.

Sure, there were other blog readers out there, but they were technical, boring, and cluttered with features. We wanted to build something for the rest of us. For everyone who doesn’t care about the technology behind it. For everyone who just wants things to work.

Check it out when you have the time. It was quick and easy to set up. It’s also free! Happy reading.

July 3, 2013 by Born To Organize

Celebrating the 4th

Showing our colors, gardening style with blue Delphinium and red and white petunias

Tomorrow is Independence Day in the States, simply referred to as ‘the 4th.’ Many years ago one of my teachers presented us with a series of logic questions including ‘do other countries have the 4th of July?’ Of course the answer was, ‘yes’ referring to the date, not the occasion. I probably got it wrong too, but hey, I learned from my mistake.

On the subject of mistakes, here are a few to avoid altogether, as told from the perspective of a garden fairy:

Keep your animals indoors. More animals go missing on July 4th than on any other day of the year. The fairy garden critters are under wraps for the next 24 hours. Please keep your cats and dogs, deers and frogs safely indoors as well.

Safe and sane fireworks. Anything with the word ‘fire’ in it deserves our respect. I’ve set up extra chairs and few lichen-covered logs for fairy garden fireworks viewing at a safe distance from all the action. If you’re watching the works, be sure to keep your distance, too.

Safe celebrations in the fairy garden

If you reside in the US, happy Independence Day. Happy 4th of July to everyone else. 😉

January 10, 2013 by Born To Organize

Falling in Love with Phoebe the Hummer

Visiting our Yard Today

Phoebe is an Allen Hummingbird living in a rose-bush in Southern California. Through the magic of modern technology, you can watch Phoebe and her young on a live webcam, courtesy of Phoebe Allens WebCam. It is a sight to behold.

According to the site owner, Phoebe built several nests in their garden rose-bush over several years. Sometimes she spruces up a nest for reuse or she builds a new one. She’s been coming back to the same rose-bush since 2007! In addition to the live stream, they’ve kept a nest log, detailing the number of eggs laid, hatched and fledged.

Nature being what it is, not all of the eggs or fledglings survive. I would be an emotional wreck if I saw one of the crows swoop in while I was watching. That said, peering into a nest up close like that is incredible. Over 12 million visitors have come to the site. Once you take a look (day time hours, Pacific Standard Time) you’ll see why.

So far I’ve seen Phoebe feed her babies (twice). I’ve seen infant birds wiggling alone in the nest and I’ve seen mama fly in and out several times. I’ve already trained my ears to the sound of her wings, so I click over when I hear them.

Here are a few more details about Phoebe from the site:

Phoebe is a non-migratory Channel Islands Allen’s Hummingbird She builds her nests in a rose-bush, and the nest is about the size of a golf ball, with eggs being about the size of a tic-tac candy. The season for nesting is October through May/early June, and Phoebe will lay four to five clutches per season. Two eggs are laid per clutch, they hatch after 17 days, and the chicks typically fly three to four weeks later. Phoebe will sometimes build a new nest, but frequently repairs old nests.

Special thanks to Boomdeeada for sharing this site. I keep it open on my computer when I’m working at home and pop over whenever I can. If you take a peak, please let me know what you think. I’m in love. ♥