Digital Intervention...

Often times at the dinner table, the not-so-Swiss Family R. would often debate things. Which would always lead to the patriarch of the clan pulling out the Encyclopedia to anoint the winner of the debate. In the world of digital overload, I have realized that the Encyclopedia is absolutely obsolete. Wee donated our several years ago, while my Mom stated, "We paid a lot of money for those!"  And retorted back, "Yay, but now we have Google and its free!!"

I am starting to think I rely too much on the world wide web.

Here is a good example: Today a good friend sent me an article to read to help me in my quest to be a better graphic designer, and it maybe also to free him from my incessant need for HIS Illustrator assistance!! I digress. While reading this article there were several terms I was unfamiliar with, so what do I do, I go to my trusty source, Google, which leads me to my other trusty info pal Wikipedia. Here I read up on the terms serif and sans serif, for which some of you who may be unfamiliar with as was I, refers to a font and whether or not its has feet.  Currently I am using the font Times Roman, it is a serif font, it has feet.  Now I am using Verdana which is a sans serif font, it has no feet.

But again I digress. I realize as I am reading about this, how many times a day I Google something. Sometimes I Google to do some research, sometimes I Google to help me spell, I Google to shop, I use Google for my email, my pictures, my blog....the last time I looked up a word in a book dictionary was...well, I think when I was playing a friend in Scrabble, and they were trying to cheat!! You know who you are.

So I find myself wondering...what will our society look like in 10 years? So digital charged that we cannot connect with each other? I mean there are several people in my life that I NEVER talk to on the phone, or even see in person. We I.M. or email...Is that a real relationship? Sure it is, but are we using technology to help us connect with each other or using it as a defense mechanism.  Je no se pas. Yep, I just Googled that to see if I was spelling it correctly. Seriously.

I think I will challenge myself to weekend of being offline.  Next weekend I am going camping, but being offline in a location that doesn't get signal, does not count.  I need to do it on a weekend that I am at home, that I am forced to kick this dependency on my iPhone, email, Google, Tivo, basically the 22nd Century.  Yep had to look that one up too! Really, I don't even know the century we are in, super sad!! A fifth grader is probably smarter than me!

Okay, Here are the rules: 

• No e-mail.
• No texting.
• No iPhone.
• No .com, .org, .net. Nothing!
• Further more NO computer!
• No Tivo.
• No cellular phone.-I will be required to call my friends on my home phone. Yep I have one. I may need to write their numbers down though before I go offline, all my digits are in my cellie.

Just some good old fashion fun! Books, home phones, the radio (I don't think I have one), maybe a little scrap booking. 

Yikes, I am having with drawls already!! 

Hmmm when will I do this? Let me consult my Assistant, Irene iPhone. APRIL 9-11!! I have nothing going on that weekend.  I will document the experience, by journaling on paper, you know the O.G. way of blogging... Then I will share it with you, after I am allowed back online...

Can you go offline for an entire weekend?
Try it.
Journal about it.
And share it with me. 









 

Philanthropy and FEMA Trailers - Another Macy Posting

Mrs. Dove holding down the fort.

My Mom has been doing a lot of philanthropy work lately.  Kids in the Kitchen, where she is helping kids learn how to eat better...personally I think she should learn how to feed me more. I'm starving here!! Then she is helping the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Man/Woman of the Year campaign. Just being a good person helping others!  She has inspired me a bit! So I have decided that living the privileged life that I do, I too should give back!! So I have helped a homeless couple find a home!! 

 

Mr. Dove collecting building supplies.

 There is a lovely Dove couple that I have invited to live in one of my trees in my yard. But apparently the free home is not enough, they decided to remodel. They need a two bedroom, they are planning for a family!! They are constantly collecting twigs and leaves and stuff to create their addition.  I am no engineer, (have you seen my body, I am a bit top heavy, clearly not engineered for perfection!) but I do know the story of The Three Little Pigs, and how the wolf huffed and puffed and blew the twig house in! I have tried to warn them that a hefty wind could bring down their house, but they insist on building with shoddy materials on a precarious branch! I have a sneaking suspicion that a FEMA trailer is in their future!



A Post from Macy

Back Story: Apparently I snore.  This information is according to my Mom.  I don't hear me snoring, but I do hear her yelling at me, "MAAACCCYYYY" or "For the love of God, how can a body that little make sooo much noise!!!"  For the past 4 years I have been sleeping in the bed with my Mom, I help keep her warm and make sure she is alive by laying on her chest listening for her heartbeat. Its super comfy!! However a few weeks ago for no reason what so ever I was kicked out of the bed, onto a cold bed on the floor.  Luckily its a BLUEBLOOD bed!! Otherwise I would be forced to call the Humane Society and report Pug abuse!!


Last night though, I came up with my most brilliant plan yet.  I totally "faked" a tummy ache.  I was up several times wandering around the room, sniffing, rustling, and such.  This concerned my Mom, she doesn't like me getting into things laying around our room, so she quickly got up and helped me into her bed.  Although mission accomplished, it still wasn't enough. So I jumped down the from the bed and wandered around a bit more.  Mom opened the bedroom door, for me to exit, in case I needed water or to go outside.  This is where I took my plan to the next level.  I totally got sick, unfortunately it was on my other BLUEBLOOD bed.  (Fortunately, they are washable.) Still not feeling 100% I got sick a few more times, my mom was there to make sure I didn't get sick on the carpet or her dry clean only duvet.  Clearly shaken up by my tummy ache, I shivered for quite some time.  It's scary to be sick, plus my Mom's guilt will get me a one night stay in the Cal King with 1000 thread count sheets!! I played her like the banjo, oh and I have a good Mom, she snuggled with me and pet me until I was calm and able to sleep the rest of the night on her bed!!


I am brilliant!!! Or maybe I am a fool for eating whatever it was yesterday that made me sick!! Either way I spent the night in the big bed!!
Macy


Macy Moo Milly Robinson
Black Pug Extraordinaire

Are you home yet?

Have you ever wondered what your dog does while home alone? I wonder this all the time!!! Does Macy pout like she does when I am leaving her? Does she go outside and explore? Does she sleep? Does she play with her favorite toy carrot? What does she do??

While I was out to dinner tonight I was able to get a sneak peek at her activity while I am gone.  My roommate Stacie was home, and she took this picture....

Apparently she had been sitting like this for about an hour to an hour and a half, right at Stacie's feet. When Stacie told me this on the phone I suggested Macy was ready for dinner, as she often waits in the kitchen for dinner. However, this is not the "I'm hungry" sit.  This is apparently the "Are you home yet?" sit. Do we think someone is a bit co-dependent? Perhaps.

Creative Juice!! Flowing!!

The creative juices are flowing this week!! Finally. I have been laid off for 7 months and haven't scrapbooked once...I just didn't feel the creativity. I have all this time to catch up on my scrapbook, or better my sewing skills, and yet I just haven't felt like it. Until recently!!! I have buckled down, and I am almost done with my 2007!! Only two years to go!! Today I made my hat for Junior League of Fresno's Breakfast at Tiffany's Champagne Brunch...So cute. Okay not really so cute as it is wild! I was going to blog about my adventure in making it, but was too engrossed in my creativity to stop and blog.... Plus I need to create the cliffhanger!! My fabulous hat makes it debut on Saturday...Stay tuned!