Knitting Cybrarian

Dell Axim vs Palm products... Vista vs. Mac OS

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I became a biiiig fan of the Palm OS and their handhelds.  I went through at least 3 different models.  My Tungsten E (whichever letter) wouldn't hold much of a charge, so I ditched it for the Dell Axim v60 -- I think that's right.  Their highest end model.  I had to switch all of my programs over to MS (and not all of them were cross-platform).  It was pretty cool for a little while, but it seemed that there was a close correlation between when the warranty expired and when the battery stopped holding a charge AND the Axim would reboot -- losing everything installed on it.

Dell was not helpful.  But I could buy one of their newest models or a refurbished Axim v60 (or whatever it was).  I wasn't happy.  So the expensive Axim collected dust for at least a year (or more).

After living without a handheld (and the consequent embarrassment in the few meetings when I didn't bring my laptop -- where my calendar lives), I caved in.  I now have a Palm T|X.  I'm reminded once again why I loved the Palm OS.  Intuitive.  Easy.  Reliable.  I've got to pay for a few of the programs such as Pocket Quicken.  I love Pocket Quicken and my financial management wasn't so great when I didn't have my handheld to IMMEDIATELY write in the debit card transactions and then synch them with Quicken on the laptop.

Of course the funny thing is that I bought the Palm from Dell, because I have an account with Dell.

With all the hype about Windows Vista (vs. what it actually delivers and the installation +security problems) plus problems with Dell and customer support, I've thought about moving to the Apple platform.  I certainly know of several folks who have and are thrilled with their Macs.  Only hitch is that there are reported problems with printing wirelessly through the Mac.  I LOVE printing wirelessly at home.  However... I'm sure my friend will figure it out and unlock those mysteries for me (and other enquiring minds).

Too bad I can't buy a MacBook on my Dell account. 

More about Alzheimer's

Several of you have left me wonderful voice mail and e-mail messages about my upcoming visit home to Virginia.  Although I didn't mention it in my previous post, the aunt living with Mom has Alzheimer's disease.   

Some of you have expressed concern for me-- I want to let you know (all of my friends out there) that I've visited this aunt several times during the progression of the disease.  Last time I visited, when Mom asked her if she knew who I was, my aunt nodded her head.  I do know that she may or may not know who I am-- it depends on the day or how far the disease is at this point.  My aunt may think I am someone else.  At this stage in the disease, she sometimes speaks and sometimes she doesn't speak. 

Last time I visited, I washed her face, washed her hands, carefully cleaned and filed down her nails, then gave her a hand and arm massage.  Whether or not my aunt can call me by name, I can still give her a loving touch, and reassure her that she is among people who love her and care for her.  I can feed her and I can prepare food that she likes and will eat.  There may be other caregiving tasks I can help with too -- we'll see how things go.  I'm willing to help.  My aunt is not mobile on her own, and has not been for some time-- she wasn't last time I visited. 

Mom needs a break so she doesn't have to call someone to stay at home while she runs errands or goes to the library.  I'm going to encourage her to meet some friends for dinner -- these friends go out to dinner at a local Italian place each Thursday night.   Hospice offers massage services to caregivers; I've encouraged Mom to sign up for that while I'm home.  I'm also going to encourage her to go to church while I'm there -- I know she misses going, and it will nourish her soul and spirit to go.

Alzheimer's disease has been called the long goodbye.  You watch your loved one deteriorate, their memories fade, their motor functions shut down.  I'm reminded that much like with stroke victims, you never know how much one still hears and understands.   So, still talk to your loved one, even if they cannot respond in a way that you recognize.

And give their caregivers a much needed break.

This and That

I'm catching up before I go out of town...

To my Studio friends:  I mentioned the Mystery Shawl 3 knit along Saturday.  This list has a LOT of traffic, so you may want to go with digest or web only subscription.  I've not started my mystery shawl, but it seems a lot of other folks have swatched and are ready!

Saturday was quite busy at the Studio.  We'd be mobbed and then we'd have 10-20 minutes of quiet with one customer or two.  Sarah earns great kudos because she a-made all of the class signs and posted them, and b-pulled tons of needlepoint yarn for a stocking.  Thanks to all of the customers who were patient while we juggled several questions at once!

The hubster just picked basil to make pesto and our house smells like fresh basil.  It's a lovely morning scent!

I'm going to Virginia to give my Mom a caregiving break.  Will be gone about a week and a half.  Am taking knitting, my laptop and some DVDs.  I wasn't sure about taking the laptop, but Mom wants me to bring it, so I will.  I called the local library last week, and yes, they do have free wireless for laptop users.  No code needed, nada.  Free.  And it's closer than the McDonald's I used last trip home.   I won't be logging on every day, though.

Spent a little time in the kitchen yesterday.  I baked blueberry muffins for breakfast (sorry Carl!) and made Sour Cream Banana Pudding yesterday evening.  The version I have of this recipe is modified to use 2.5 cups milk (NOT 4!) and 4 oz. of sour cream.  I like this proportion, because the pudding mixture is thicker. 

Must get ready for work.  There was more, but it's escaped my gray matter.  More coffee, please!

Aren't you glad to know?

Mingle² - Free Online Dating

(I'm not advocating the Free Online Dating, but I like the rating bit)

Birds and bees.... and Bible school?

Last night was night 4 of Vacation Bible School.  Just one more to go!

During music time last night, all of the children sat on the floor and I sat on a chair in front of them.  I was talking to them, trying to get them settled, when there was a little surprise.  One of the younger boys, let's call him Owen, who is about 4, decided to check out the music teacher.  I wear long skirts during the summer, and he picked up my skirt to check out what was underneath it.

"Owen, please don't do that.  Stop."

He dropped my skirt.  The boy next to him decided it was a good idea, so he picked up my skirt and started to look underneath it too.  "Stop.  Please don't do that.  There's nothing exciting underneath there.  Boys, I'm not doing that to YOU."

I didn't think I'd be teaching this at Vacation Bible School. 

Why?

does morning have to come so early??  I didn't get to bed until 12:30am last night/this morning.  Getting things together for Vacation Bible School took longer than expected, and I was determined to have things ready for tonight's group.

Joel and I went to Baltimore this weekend.  My niece, Becca, celebrated her bat mitzvah this weekend, and we were so proud of her.  She did a fabulous job with her torah and haftorah reading.  And she sat up on the bimah like a lady, not a child.  I think she was a little embarrassed to know her Aunt Laura noticed that, but still, it's the little things that count.

We rented a car and got a large vehicle since we were driving Joel's parents around.  It was a Buick LeSabre, I think, and it was like driving a yacht after our little Corollas.  I usually bring AAA maps of the B'more area, but I didn't this time.  I had printed out some directions from Google Maps, and then forgot one of the crucial pages at home.  Ooops.  But it all worked out pretty well-- I kept a calm head and we got where we needed to on time. 

I took yesterday as vacation to finish getting ready for Vacation Bible School, which started last night.  I didn't get everything done, which is why I was up so late last night.  I have a few small final touches, and things will be ready for tonight.  Whew. 
I recorded CDs for the VBS kids of the music we're doing this week.  Recorded them at home, and while it's not bad for a first effort, I'm not entirely happy.  I've learned the basics of Audacity and I need to get the piano tuned.  And I'm not happy with how my voice sounds AT ALL.  Yuuuuck.  But I have to let go and hope my friends Lesli and Sharon will tell me it's not so bad, even if their kids turn their noses up at the CD.

It's Monday on a Tuesday for me at work.  Whoo hooo!

Hometown fun

I grew up in small town Virginia, in a county known for dairy farms and fruit orchards.  My father worked on farm machinery.  I try to keep up with hometown news, such as the breaking story that someone under the influence ran into a statue on the courthouse lawn that's been there ever since I remember and destroyed the statue.

My current favorite is how some couples drove to Prom this year.  Why didn't I think of that back in 1981?

VBS, prayer shawls, life

I finished hot gluing those bottle cap pins Monday night post-VBS meeting.  Joel said he really needed his beauty sleep, so he got out of hot glue gun duty.  No burns this time. 

I delivered said pins last night and chatted it up with friends from church.  Ran ideas by the two daughters and spent quality time holding Templeton the hamster.  Tonight I recorded most of the VBS songs using Audacity, a product with lots of potential.  I don't sound like anyone famous, though -- it doesn't have a "Babs" filter to make my tracks sound like Streisand.  Bummer. 

I started a Google Group for the Shawl Ministry retreat folks, and the coordinator and I set up meetings and announced them in the Studio newsletter.  I sent out an announcement to the group, and my coordinator said she didn't get the message.  I checked her e-mail address and then I checked her settings.  No e-mail.  Yeah, that would be the reason she didn't get the e-mail.  So what did I do?  I took a screen shot of the settings, changed them all to e-mail, sent the announcement and then restored the old settings.  Let's hear it for using one's powers for good, not evil!

Singing, gluing, ironing

Pretty much sums up my weekend.

Saturday morning I sang in the choir at an ordination -- six persons in our diocese were ordained to the transitional diaconate.   God willing, they will all be ordained as priests.  The ordination was held at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.  I don't know if I've been in the choir loft there before.  One has to climb two flights of steps to get to the choir loft, but it's a wonderful place to sing from, and of course, see the service.  We sang Palestrina's "Sicut Cervus," one of my favorite motets. 

After the service, there was a lovely reception with great food.  I snacked, visited, then headed north to Liberty to an open house for more great food.  Snacked and visited, then headed over to church for altar guild duty.   I was glad to get home, take the contacts out and just be with the hubster and her highness.

Yesterday I was at church again, with a choir rehearsal at 9am, along with setting up the altar, etc.  Vacation Bible School is coming up and a friend and I are doing the music for it.  I had volunteered my hot glue gun and my time to assist the two wonderwomen who are coordinating arts and crafts.  They brought me bottlecaps and pin backs to glue together.  Can I just say that these two women are brilliant?  Our VBS crew has been meeting each Monday night for over a month, and each week these two bring craft prototypes that just knock your socks off.  After seeing their work, I'm happy to lend my hands, 'cause these things just don't appear out of thin air.

So yesterday afternoon, Joel and I spent some quality time together with our glue guns.  Here's the result:

  vbscrafts3 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle

Our workspace.  Guess which work area is Joel's and which is mine?

  vbscrafts2 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle

Joel's workspace.  Note that while the bottlecaps are sorted in the middle, he has selections from all three different images in his completed work.

  vbscarfts1 
  Originally uploaded by lauragayle

Note the arrangement.  First I did all of one set, then another, then started a 3rd.  Anal-retentive?  Let's just say I have a strong J in the MBTI -- ENTJ.

Oh, and one burned finger each.  Ick.

Then last night I spent about 1.5 hours washing and ironing church linens.  I have a neat stack to take in tonight-- VBS meeting tonight, so it'll be another evening at church!