My New Toy: Sansa Fuze

28. February 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Technology

Several months ago, I lost my iPod shuffle and when I recently found it, the plugin to charge it was broken.  So, I’ve been entertaining the thought of getting a replacement for awhile now.   Today, I went to Best Buy and bought one – an 8GB Sansa Fuze, and unlike me, I bought it without doing any research.  I was looking for one that was not an iPOD; nothing against iPod, but I knew part of the cost is the name and I just need a basic mp3 player.  I also wanted one with a lot of space. 

sansafuze

My Sansa is a grey color, but this is what they look like.  It holds songs, videos,  and pictures.  When I got home with it, I was VERY much delighted to find out a couple of other benefits of the Sansa Fuze

  • it is a voice recorder — this means I can record conversations and interviews I may have with family members for genealogy purposes. perfect! I can record the kids talking and share that with family.  I am very excited about this. 
  • It is compatible with Rhapsody!  A couple of years ago, I signed up for a Rhapsody account, but have not lately had a paid membership.  I liked the variety of music, but felt stifled being limited to listening to it online only. Now w/ the Fuze,  w/ a monthly membership, I can transfer any song on Rhapsody to the Fuze and listen to it while disconnected. Sweet!!!!!!!  I’ve spent this evening going thru my physical CD collection and grabbing them from Rhapsody to add to my computer library.   Now, if a CD comes out and I’m not sure if I want to buy it, I can also most likely get it from Rhapsody to listen to, and then purchase it if I like it.  And, w/ a Rhapsody membership, this means too that from any computer that I’m connected to online, I can listen to my favorite songs that I have as part of my Rhapsody playlists. 

So, excuse me while I go play…..

Pictures from the Swimming Pool Party

22. February 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Fun, Jihad, Kaleya, Photos

 

On Friday night, I took the kids to a birthday party for my coworker’s grandson who turned 5 this week.  The great thing about this party is that it was a pool party! Kaleya & Jihad enjoyed themselves and Kaleya was particulary distraught to have to leave.  Neither of them know how to swim, but it doesn’t stop them. However, this summer, Iam going to have to get them in swimming lessons. I can’t tell you how many times I panicked if Kaleya got too close to leaving the shallow end of the pool!

From Early 2009

And, here is Kaleya w/ Jackson’s daddy. He took her around the pool so she could at least feel like she was kinda swimming :-)

From Early 2009

More pictures here.

Nostalgic for Chapel Hill

18. February 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Fun, Video

I’m feeling a little nostalgic right now.  Last night, I caught about 45 minutes of American Idol.  Besides from watching maybe 15 minutes of the auditions, I’ve not watched it this season.  One of the contestants is Anoop Desai representing Chapel Hill (my grad degree alma mater!).   So, I looked him up and I see he’s part of UNC’s male acapella group, the UNC Clef Hangers.   I’ve been watching YouTube videos of them and this one in particular, where they are singing at the Old Well makes me wish I was on campus again :-)

I hope Anoop continues to make it through.

Cats Enjoying the Catnip

11. February 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Cats

This weekend, I laced their scratching post with catnip. All the cats had in on the fun, but I took these pictures of Horus and Osiris.
From Early 2009
From Early 2009

Cross-Stitch Magazine Database Has A New Home

07. February 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Uncategorized

Back in 2003, I started an online database of patterns from all the cross-stitch magazines that I owned, it was a project that I very much enjoyed doing. Over time, it became a resource for other cross-stitchers as well for helping look up patterns. It was never comprehensive, but I was always presently surprised by how much others seemed to enjoy it and use it. My site usage from Google Analytics from just June until now show more than 42,000 page views with visitors from all over the US and many countries elsewhere. I always thought that was cool.  Doing the site was also a way for me to further learn PHP and MySQL and while it was a challenge, it was educational as well. 

But, since having Kaleya and beginning to enjoy genealogy as my main hobby, I’ve not had the dedication nor interest in the database as I used to have. In 2008 I tried to revive my interest and began a redesign process, but did not complete it – again, the passion was not there. So, I knew that fellow stitcher Anita and her husband of CyberStitchers.com were interested, so I transferred the content to them and they now have it up and running.  They have made some modifications as well as enhancements and I am glad they were interested enough to take it on. 

Please visit the new home of the Cross Stitch Magazine Database.  You can get there by clicking on the image below. 

xsmagdb

U Can’t Touch This

02. February 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Fun, Jihad, Kaleya, Video

The kids on the DDR this weekend.  On Sunday, I bought a second mat b/c one is just not enough.  I love how much Kaleya is concentrating.  She doesn’t really know how to coordinate her feet with the arrows yet, but she’s trying!