by Heather Plett | Apr 18, 2007 | computer
For those of you who asked (and even for those who didn’t), this is my new bed-mate. Yes, we decided to go Mac this time around. It’s a MacBook Pro.
We’ve never had a Mac before, but have several friends and associates (particularly those who are in creative fields) who swear it’s the ONLY way to go for all things related to design and creative expression. Since I like to dabble in design now and then, and hope to do more of it some day when I can shake off the shackles of a full time job and do some consulting work (which will mostly be about writing and workshop/leadership facilitation, but may involve some design), we decided to “invest in the future”.
Yes, Lucia, it has a camera. See that tiny dot at the top, in the middle? It’s an itty bitty camera, and it has already provided the girls with hours of pleasure. It’s a rather clever design, actually – the screen flashes when the shutter opens, so you actually have light on your subject too. Plus there are lots of fun special effects that the girls like to mess around with. (I’m on the wrong computer right now, or I’d show you some of the results of their efforts.)
We’re still learning the new technology, but so far, so good! (Oh, by the way – if you’re our friendly neighbour who is so generously sharing your wireless hook-up with us – THANK YOU!)
by Heather Plett | Apr 17, 2007 | blogging
Marcel’s gone out for a night on the town with his university friends – some of whom are half his age, attractive, AND female. But hey – I’m not jealous. Nope, not me. Why should I be when I’m curled up here in bed with my new friend Mac? He’s young, he’s smooth, he whispers sweet nothings in my ear, and he lets me blog without interrupting me with conversation (or…ahem… other things…). In fact, he LOVES it when I blog – he says my keystrokes tickle his skin. He even likes to take pictures of me and seduce me with gentle music. Now if only he came with a candle holder and glass of wine, he’d be nearly perfect.
Yes, through the wonders of modern technology, I can increase my laziness even more, and blog from bed. Woohoo! (I’d take a picture with the built-in camera, but my purple flannel pajamas aren’t really screen worthy.)
We’re not normally the type of family that HAS to have the latest in technology (we don’t even have a cell phone), but I do believe I’m falling in love with this little baby curled up in my lap. Aaahhhh….!
by Heather Plett | Apr 16, 2007 | Spring
Ladybugs on the lawn
Pale green iris shoots poking through the dirt
Breezes lifting kites in the air
Soccer balls bouncing off the fence
Children drinking Slurpees on the front lawn
Shrimp skewers on the barbecue
The old familiar feeling of bike pedals under my feet
Spring has finally arrived!
by Heather Plett | Apr 13, 2007 | blogging
Vicki and Robyn recently nominated me for the “Thinking Blogger” award, and I’m flattered. Truly I am. Sometimes I feel like Sally Fields accepting the Oscar – “You like me! You really like me!” (I do that almost every time I get a few comments too – it still surprises me that people are showing up.)
Accepting the award means that I’m supposed to pass it on to five more people. I’ve tried to do that a couple of times, but every time I tried, I had some kind of mental block and never got it done. WHOM should I pick? Out of all of those blogs I love to visit, which ones are written by “thinkers”? Well, they ALL are – otherwise I wouldn’t waste my time. (Oh, and by the way, I haven’t updated my blogroll for a long time, so if you’re not on there, don’t take it personally.)
Here’s the thing… I’m not going to pass it on, even though there are lots of blogs on my blogroll that deserve it. The truth is, I’m starting to have an itty-bitty problem with all these blog awards floating around the internet. I know they’re meant to be genuine and generous, but there’s just something about it that makes me squirm a little – like I’m back in high school and stuck in a popularity contest time warp. “Aw, so-and-so got FIVE thinking blogger awards and I only got TWO. What am I doing wrong? Maybe I’m not wearing the right shoes with my outfit. Maybe I need to sit with the cool kids in the lunch room.”
It’s the same thing with comments. I try not to do it, but it happens almost in spite of myself. “Oh – that post only warranted 5 comments. What did I do wrong? Maybe I’m losing my touch.” (Yikes! Now I sound like my mother every time she bakes buns!) Ridiculous, I know. That’s why I’ve stopped looking at my stat counter. I don’t want to obsess about how many people are showing up. I just want to write for the fun of it. That’s why I started my blog in the first place. If people show up, that’s a bonus, but I don’t want to feel like I NEED that for validation.
So – thanks for the awards. (And please, PLEASE don’t take offense – I’d hate to sound ungrateful or self-righteous.) But I think I’ll pass this time. I’ll keep thinking, and if my thoughts provoke yours, you’re certainly welcome to let me know, but I don’t need an award for it.
by Heather Plett | Apr 12, 2007 | art, Beauty
How much are we missing every day? The sunset? The child skipping down the street? The poem we don’t have time to read? The way the petals on the lily curl at the edges? The music wafting out of a subway station? The intricate arc at the top of the building we pass every day?
I was intriqued by this article and accompanying videos. (If it doesn’t load properly, keep trying.) A world class musician plays in a busy subway station, and almost nobody notices. Too much work to do. Too many deadlines. Too many meetings to attend. Too many bosses breathing down their necks.
Would you have stopped?
Updated to add: So, I’m sitting here thinking about beauty and art and – on a whim – I typed the following into my browser: www.beauty.com. Oh, this is too rich. You have to look. What do YOU think the wise ol’ internet thinks beauty is? I think that’s one of those words that has lost its power. (What was that quote from C.S. Lewis again, ccap?)
Perhaps if some of the people who are visiting beauty.com spent a little less of their time looking in the mirror for beauty, they’d have a little more time on their hands to stop when it’s right there in front of them in the subway station.
For those of you who asked (and even for those who didn’t), this is my new bed-mate. Yes, we decided to go Mac this time around. It’s a MacBook Pro.