Reach Out and Touch Someone

We have had a network set up for computing ever since we got the netbooks.  Only trouble with the system was that Elder Daughter had to either sit on her front porch, sit on my back steps or else come into the house to access the network.  Outside worked on nice days but it's getting cold.  Did I mention we had snow flurries the other day?  We had checked with the Computer Guru, better known as Zeta's son, Steve.  He said get something called a Range Extender.  Well, first he said to get to get an N Router,  which  we did.  The signal was better but still not strong enough to reach from inside one house to inside the other.  So we looked into the extender thingy.

I asked at Wally World one day and received a quizzical look from the clerk.  She gestured with a hand and told me to look at the end of the aisle.  Okay, admittedly, she was with another customer who was asking multiple questions and he didn't seem to be getting any further than I did when she turned and smiled at me.

I took her raised eyebrows to mean, "What do you need, Hon?"  So I ventured to inquire about their Range Extenders.  I strolled in the direction of the aisle she indicated and found nothing that even vaguely looked like something that could extend the range of our N Router.  I left the Electronics section without attracting the attention of any other sales clerks and slunk away to pay for my groceries. 

Not to be defeated, I called around a couple of stores and was told they didn't carry Range Extenders.  Elder  Daughter began to speak about (shudder!) Dial-Up.  We were in the area of a store called Onyx and we stopped in to see if the owner could help us.  I've used the store several times in the past for my computer needs and always been pleased with their knowledge and service.  The owner didn't carry anything for networking but suggested we try New Egg or Amazon or Walmart.  Ah-hah.  Well, we knew Walmart wouldn't work but Amazon... there's a name to conjure with! 

Christmas Eve I did a search for the words NetGear and Range Extender.  Up popped a suggestion and a price.  Reasonable.  Delivery sometime in January.  I clicked to order and we sat back to wait.  Today, UPS delivered a box.  I opened it when I got home from work.  It was the Range Extender by NetGear.  Earlier than promised.  I love when a merchant comes through.  It's now New Year's Eve - Eve and Elder Daughter is cozily inside her home, connected to my NetGear Router signal which delivers Internet to her netbook - and if you take a  look at the photograph - all lights are green and the curtain is drawn across the window.  This Extender really does do the job. 

Thanks Onyx and John Gunther.  Thanks J & R (JR.Com) and Thanks Steve for your help.

Take that, Dial-Up!

But, Baby it's COLD outside!

Elder Daughter called this morning at about 7:45AM and told us it was sleeting.  The wind was blowing the rain out of the trees and it was ice.  Sleet was all over the top of her car.  Of course, I had to take a picture.  This is the cover of our grill on the back patio. 

What's next Florida?  SNOW?

Shared Christmas

 Nathan  and Matthew were up  early but so were their Mom and Dad; a neighbor's stallion got out on Christmas Eve and was in front of our property when Rich came home.  He called local law enforcement and they sent a car to try and locate the owner.  At the end of the event, there were three police cars running up and down the road and another neighbor finally identified the horse  owners and led the deputies to call on the owners.  The owners came down and finally tied the stallion to  the bumper of their car and slowly walked him back home. 

Because Sarah and Rich were up so  late with the horse visitation, they slept in this morning.  The boys were up at about 4:00AM but went back to their room when Mom and  Dad  seemed reluctant to open presents with  only  an hour of sleep.









Nathan got his bass guitar.

Matthew found a new bike on the front porch.

The faces tell the story.

Tommy and I enjoyed the morning spent with family

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday Jesus.

Winding down.

Went out shopping with Elder Daughter and the Grandsons this morning.  We had a few errands to do and one more gift to buy.  We began by mailing a double handful of Christmas cards.  There was no line to the outside mailboxes.  Traffic was light.  The mall wasn't too crowded.  TJ Maxx was busy but not so much that it deterred us in our quest for the perfect last minute purchase.  Odd Lots had some things of interest.  Home Depot was a source of one of my major purchases.  Relieved, we turned towards Walmart and found some things to fill out the stocking stuffer agenda. 

There is one more day, Christmas Eve - and then it will be Christmas Day.  All the stress will be worthwhile.  Presents to open, food to consume.  Telephone calls to keep in touch across the miles.  Love to share with family.  And,  amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday, we need to take time to dwell on the Real reason for the Season.  Two thousand years ago, give or take a few - a child was born in  a small town.  Angels welcomed Him and shepherds left their flocks and ran to worship.  Wise men came from far away lands to bring precious gifts. This child whose birth we celebrate is the real reason for the joy of the season.  Let us not lose sight of this truth during the hurry to get things done - the buying and wrapping, the cooking and serving and cleaning up.  The enjoyment of the gifts we exchange - let us recall the greatest Gift  of all.

Peace on Earth.  Good Will Towards Men!

How'd we get so dependent on the technology stuff!

This morning, I put my cellphone in the top  of  my purse but inadvertently dropped my sunglasses on the rug.  I  leaned down to retrieve them.  This time of the morning,the sun is in my face driving to work.  I need those clip-on shades to see down the road.  They are quite necessary in my getting to work scheme-of-things.  Satisfied that I had all my equipment, I set off on my way to work.  I passed familiar landmarks and came to the bend in the county road where there is a chicken farm.  I put my hand in my purse and rummaged for my cell phone.  Rummaged.  Ru-u-ummaged.  Couldn't find  it.  I pulled over into a driveway and really tore the purse apart.  The phone wasn't there.  I turned around and double timed back to the road we live on, sped down to the house and stopped in the drive.  I had to unlock the door to get in and met T coming from the living room.  He offered to help me look for the phone, a Blackberry Curve in a shade of maroon that matches my netbook.  I'm really fond of that phone.

Long story short, we couldn't find the phone.  T said he'd continue to look, although he wasn't really sure what  it looked like.  I headed off to work and made it just on  time.  I felt somehow bereft.  Like an arm was tied behind my back.  Like I couldn't do my work without that phone  linking me to home and family. And the Internet and Facebook, which we can't access from our work server.  I slogged through and finally called the house about 11:00AM.  T.said he wasn't sure but he thought he had located my phone.  He described  the object in his hand.  Kind of reddish, with silver and black buttons and numbers and a-b-c...and the word Blackberry on the top.  Oh, yes!  That's it.  I asked where he had found the phone.  He said it was on the rug, just under the table.  We both had looked there earlier in  the morning and I hadn't seen the blasted thing.  Apparently - in addition to  all  the other features the phone has, there is an invisibility button somewhere and I must have switched it on before the phone jumped out of my purse.   It may be a smart phone, but it isn't all that bright. 

This is a simulation of the view it had to endure all morning before it made itself visible to  T and was returned to the tabletop to wait for me to come home after work.

Time to peek?

Tonight Elder Daughter came over and wrapped a few gifts to the boys from us.  She sent them into our bedroom to watch television while she worked and took the wrapping materials from the closet.  Sounding like a surgeon (Tape?  Scissors?  Labels?, Bows? Yes Doctor, here they are!), she  set up her work station (dining room table) and started with the first box.  She was able to complete the project and I wrote out labels and stole the tape back to attach them.  Slap a bow on top and add the box to the growing  pile. 

She called the boys to come and carry the pile of presents out to the van.  The gifts will wind up under her tree to be opened on Christmas morning.  She says the boys will not shake, pick at tape or rummage among the pile - they know what will happen should they be found trying to see what any box contains.  The threat dominates the conversation; if they are found trying to peek - that present will immediately be returned to the seller and will not be given. 

I'm not sure my DNA is present in these people.  I can recall carefully peeling scotch tape when it used to be only  the shiny variety.  If you went slowly enough, you could get enough tape off to be able to open the paper and maybe read the box.  I almost never tore the gift wrap when opening a present.  My younger brother could just pick up a present and shake it - then announce that it was clothes or toy soldiers.  He was almost  always correct and could remove a box from within the wrapping so deftly that no one could tell which gift he had been into.  Except for the year we wrapped up rocks and chains in a heavily taped box and put them under the tree.  He couldn't figure out that heavy present that clanked.  He was intrigued, though. When he finally got to open it on Christmas day his face was a mix of surprise and shock.  Huh?  What is this!  We brought out the real gift that had lain quietly hidden away.  I don't think he quite ever forgave us for that gift.  I don't know what he imagined it could have been - we just knew he would be all over it trying to outsmart us and find out what was inside. 

Still, we look forward to the joyful morning when family gathers and each gift is undone and the thanks are given and the older folks believe the younger ones had no idea what was in the box and under the paper and ribbon - at least until the moment of the opening and the squeal of, "Thank you, Grandma or Grampa!"

Shop 'til your feet drop...

So, I went out today with Elder Sister (our daughter who lives behind us on the property) and we went Christmas shopping this morning.  I had no idea the amount of people who were in the stores, business was brisk and the crowded stores were still offering dollars off on the items I wanted.  I got three people finished and part of the fourth 'lil guy has a good start, plus I know what I'm going to buy to finish his list.  That leaves his mommy and a son-in-law to buy for.  But not today.  The rest of the day is dedicated to putting my poor feet up and taking Tylenol to relieve the throbbing arches.  I'm not even going to tiptoe out on the porch to turn on the outside lights. Nope - just gonna' luxuriate in the feeling of having no shoes on.  Wiggle toes, go ahead, you can do it.  No groaning from down there! 

Well, maybe I'll turn on the Christmas  lights for a little while.  If I can get my feet to agree to get back down on the floor long enough to walk outside.