New Convert (not a blog on religion)

Beverly told me about it first.

So, I Googled it.

Then, I wanted it: I felt I HAD to have one.

RAH said it seemed like a waste of money, and that good old books would never be replaced.

But, my dear, awesome children went in to get me one for Christmas; I love, love, love it! I mean, what if you are on a long trip out in the middle of the desert in Arizona, and there are no bookstores nearby, and you've just finished the book you have?!?!?

What is one to do then, I ask you?!?!

The answer - download an e-book on your incredible Kindle!!!

Well, that is exactly what I thought and have used it for....

Now, picture this.

RAH and I are in a room visiting relatives; everyone is sleeping - except us - there is no tv, no computer, nothing except my Kindle. RAH - out of boredom - says, "Show me this thing." And, so I show RAH what I use it for; books and looking up words in the dictionary when I read.

Then RAH - always the techno wizard - pokes around and discovers so much more that can be done with this gizmo. Like looking up things on Wikipedia...who knew??!?!?!? RAH also discovers lots of public domain and inexpensive books, like the entire works of Dickens for four dollars!!! Or like buying a book for 99 cents that gives all sorts of short cuts and other uses for this incredible little hand-held device which I adore.

So, then, RAH asks, "Do you think we might need to have TWO Kindles?!?!"

He's converted.

Step This Way, Sir

On a trip a few months ago, RAH was stopped at the Atlanta airport by a security guard. She had looked in his black carry-on bag and wanted to look through it further.

Included in that black bag, was MOST of the gear seen above.

She then made a statement that was something like this:

"I've NEVER seen so much electronic StUfF!"

But, we need it ALL! And, we took it all on a recent trip to Arizona....

So, what is it?

Phone & charger

Extra outlets

Mini Lap top computer w mini mouse

GPS with home and car charger

Digital Key Chain - given by a friend, so I can't leave that home!

Kindle w charger

IPod w eternal speaker and cord for radio speaker

Flash drives

RAH's camera w charger and remote

Loni's camera w charger

Electricity charger for car

External hard drive

Now, I ask you....what could we possibly leave home and do without?

Gadget Guru

The last few years of my dad's life, he was really into electronic gadgets. His computer desk was a milieu of gadgets, cords, plugs, etc. He wanted the latest and greatest. I loved his enthusiasm for all the techno stuff. Sadly, as he got older he couldn't really use it or remember how to use it, but he still wanted it! Isn't that great?!?!

That brings me to MOI as a gadget guru. I'm like my dad; I want all the latest, and sadly like my father, I can't always figure out how to use it. So, guess who gets stuck figuring it out - you guessed it - the person who didn't want me to get it in the first place; and that would be Allen...my great-gadget-guru-fixer-upper-husband-of-his-wife's-toys.

Example of a gadget that needed help from my techno-savvy husband: slide scanner - or rather it should be called by its more appropriate name: slide scammer. It was a scam because it's a piece of junk, and Allen has had to try to figure out how to work it.

BUT, here's two gadgets that took no help from Allen and that I absolutely LOVE:

Are you ready for two great gadgets that I use A LOT- Here they are in full color:

You can buy these might fine products here:
http://hammacher.com/

Now, how do I use these mighty fine gadgets? Here's the answer: I take the IPod case to Primary and use it every Sunday to try to quiet down the little dears by playing soft Primary music? Has it ever worked? No, that is to say the IPod speakers work, but playing the music hasn't worked. I'll keep trying. I also use it when I exercise, so I don't have to wear annoying ear plugs.

As for the teeny reading light; it's awesome. It's four a.m. Allen is sound asleep, and I need to stay cozy and warm, but also need to read Bleak House. If I turn on my big reading lamp...VOILA! it wakes up Allen, so instead, I just put that little gizmo over my ear, it points right at the Kindle, and I'm ready to read without disturbing anyone.

Now, don't you agree that those are two fun gadgets?