Thursday, October 21, 2010

iheaven


No I am not hooked on Apple …I don’t drink the Kool-Aid and I can see deficiencies because of it.


The iPad was a substitute for a second laptop (my dear wife hates it when I come home and need to use the computer that she has had all day to use (smile). So it was a choice between a cheap windows pc (plenty of past experience is why I didn’t go for this one), a new Mac at $1100 or an iPad for $500. I took the plunge knowing full well that there would be a learning curve and that there would be some things I couldn’t do, but at least it would afford some break from wresting away the Mac from my dear wife.



It was a good decision…I use the machine for about 5-10 mins to check my email and do a blog post or a quick browse, then turn it off. It gets about 9-10 hours of battery life so I never have to worry about it being charged. I also have started to download books (now that I don’t have a house to maintain I actually have time to read). It is a great device for all of these things – I love the touch experience with the big screen. Cropping pictures and browsing the web are simple tasks. I like throwing it in my bag when traveling and being able to read the entire flight while listening to my music library. I can download games (but I haven’t yet) to remain occupied at the airport, etc.

The big downside was the lack of flash, which I really need for a website that I manage our finances with. I also would have liked a front facing camera for Skype with my daughter in Brazil…she is in the states now so the need is not present, but will be in the future…I am thinking of hooking my TV up for that since it will provide a bigger screen. So I am learning to adapt to the new world at home and so far I like it...and no mor fighting since me dear wife hates it...but that's another blog.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Forecast

You are not going to believe this...


Sunny
Hi 81° RealFeel® 80°
Day

SSW at 7 mph
Gusts: 13 mph
Plenty of sunshine
Max UV Index: 5 (moderate)
Thunderstorm Probability: 2%
Amount of Precipitation: 0.00 in
Amount of Rain: 0.00 in
Amount of Snow: 0.0 in
Amount of Ice: 0.00 in
Hours of Precipitation: 0 hrs
Hours of Rain: 0 hrs
Clear
Lo 61° RealFeel® 61°

Our weather actually dropped below 90 degrees! To make matters worse, the forecast is for below 90 until march. Now that doesn't mean we won't see plenty of sun, and more days in the 80s...
If you don't believe just take a look.

http://www.accuweather.com/us/az/phoenix/85001/city-weather-forecast.asp





Eat your heart out NJ ...there has to be some reward for the 115 degree summers!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Changes to the move blog

I am making a few changes effective after this post:

...I am removing the automatic email feature...this way you won't get bombarded with emails anymore...this also means you will have to check the blog...put it on your follow list or reader or just check it when you have time

...I have already removed the security from the site...it is now completely open to the Internet....this should make it easier for you to link to the page and see current posts.

Thanks for following.

Calvary Reunion

The men of Calvary reunited in an outstanding weekend at LBI last weekend. What an awesome get together!



The event was organized by Paul C and Bob G and was attended by Ron G, Tim N, Eric L, Dave I and myself...I feel extremely fortunate in that the date was selected around when I had a business trip to NJ.

The weather was great, the food was terrific, and it was great to see everyone. We cooked bacon and eggs with French toast for breakfast, went to the beach midday and barbecued ribs for dinner --- all in all we had a great guy time. But the best part of the weekend was the time we spent sharing our hearts...this is the kind of retreat that I adore.

God blessed the weekend immensely both physically and spiritually. I have only praise and thanksgiving for all the enjoyment, refreshment and encouragement received.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

How funny? Tim funny

We went out to see Tim Hawkins at Cornerstone Christian Church this evening...this guy is the one who does the song "these are the things you DONT say to your wife" (check it out on you tube).




Tim is really funny and needless to say we had a blast. Another good reason to have family visit.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:E Cheyenne Dr,Phoenix,United States

Friday, October 15, 2010

Welcome home, CJ!

Christa Joy has come home to AZ for fall break...we are absolutely delighted to see her and to enjoy some family time together; our first chance to do so since the move.

And she is also looking forward to a few days of nice weather (we hope) and at least a partial break from schoolwork -- after all that's what "break" means, doesn't it? Let's have some fun!

God is soooo good!



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:E Cheyenne Dr,Phoenix,United States

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Rejoice over little

We are thankful that issues with Joe remained steady and uneventful over my (bruce) trip to NJ. This is to my fathers glory, as we have little to do with this. Many thanks to vickie's dear friend Lynn for spending the weekend with her...this was an incredible blessing!!

In fact, the labs now show Joe with a clean bill of health. He still isn't himself but at least we haven't had to take another trip to the hospital.

We have to learn to rejoice over little things, you know.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:E Cheyenne Dr,Phoenix,United States

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Back in NJ

I'm having the privilege of going back to NJ for a business meeting this week...it is great to see friends and family. It has only been two months but with all we have gone through, both good and bad, it seems like a lot longer.


The agenda has been pretty full with work meetings on Thursday and Friday and breakfast, lunch and dinner with friends and family all week. The real highlight was to see Stephanie and Jeyson, since I haven't seen them in two years (not counting Skype of course). We had dinner at one of our old haunts... Franks pizza in manville.


The week will conclude with a Friday evening and Saturday trip to LBI to meet with Calvary friends from various eras...that is if Joe behaves long enough for me to finish my trip out. Vickie's dear friend Lynn was so good to travel out to AZ to keep Vickie company while I am hanging out with the guys. Heading home Sunday evening to 90+ weather.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:Us Highway 202 N,Somerville,United States

Monday, October 4, 2010

Home sweet home

We had Joe over for his first visit to our new house over the weekend...we picked him up after church (we went to a place that was very close to his place, but that is another story).






He was sleepy for most of the day and has been having a high heart rate after feeding which happened today also. We just relaxed at home and Joe joined us for dinner which was just plain great (we ate the pasta and meatballs which he didn't partake in, of course). It was so nice to be able to just sit around with him...it would have been better if he was feeling good, but we'll take however we can get it at this point.

Towards the end of the afternoon we had a call from the nurse to let us know that his labs had come in and he still has an infection (more correctly this is again) since it is not the same bug.






Doctors say that if you kill the germs with antibiotics you end up killing all the germs, good and bad. That makes it possible for new bad things to grow since there is nothing to fight it off. So this becomes a game of germs...which is joe's biggest issue these days as we all know.


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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Something to get around in

One thing we left behind when we came to AZ was our second car..we had been offered a loaner from our gracious hosts and gladly accepted. The Toyota Camry I drove for 10 years had served us well but wasn't worth the price of shipping here. So we found it a new home and set our sights on a new Mini Cooper when our loaner needed to be returned. The deal was sealed for the Mini in our minds (well, at least mine).

But when shopping began there was some initial sticker shock to the price of a new Mini...then ensued the usual husband-wife dialog. Fortunately wisdom prevailed because in the end I think we actually did a lot better thanks to guidance from Consumer Reports. When the review for the Mini resulted in a less than positive report for reliability the cause for reconsideration became obvious...fortunately the article instead pointed to used alternative vehicles that had high reliability ratings...and MUCH lower sticker prices.

Hence the choice was made..now before I tell you what it is you have to understand that this WAS a very practical alternative...mind you the goal was still to get a FUN car and a CONVERTIBLE. So when the choices were presented they weren't undesirable at all...





Doesn't this look like a convertible? So we are still on track. We also needed it to be fun. So that means small as well. Of course if you are going to cut on price you have to give up something...so we gave up two of the seats.





I bet have guessed that this is not your grandmother's Model T, huh. But it does fit the bill for fun to drive (it's an automatic with something called paddle-shifting as optional, too). And with 300 days of sun a year we will have plenty of top-down drive time.

So here it is...


Not too hard to take, right? A 2007 Mazda Miata MX-5. A bargain by any accounts, and extremely practical for a 3.6 mile commute to work (it's good on gas, too). I think we are in for a little fun in the midst of all this chaos of our move. Unfortunately trunk space is limited. So when you visit we have to pick you up at the airport in our "Mini"van instead ;)



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Location:E Cheyenne Dr,Phoenix,United States