Picking Wallpaper

Sunday, February 10, 2008 by Bethany

I've changed my cell phone wallpaper. Again.

If it's not as obvious as pig skin, I'm a geek about that sorta thing. I spend days (seriously, ask my husband) looking for the right wallpaper for my computer screens. When I have at least 3 computers with my name associated with them, it takes time. Unfortunately, when I get in a mood... they all have to change.

But today wasn't a computer day, it was a cell phone day. Same deal. I'm was on a mission until the perfect image was found. Fortunately, it only took an hour or so, since I stock piled over 30 images from my last search. And it would have been even faster, if I's only decide which cell phone is my favorite for the week. Because if you didn't know (another juicy Bethany tidbit), I'm a cell phone whore. Well a technology geek with an affinity for all things cell phone, accessory, or music related. Show me the next big thing, and well, I MUST have it.

Anyway, back to the wallpaper discussion. I must have been in a funk last time around. Over half the images were sorta *dark.* Or melancholy. For example, the last month, I had a side-angle of a woman, cupping a hot mug of what I pictured as strong coffee in her hands. She's bundled in a purple sweater, dark chocolate brown pants, and a green hat covering long locks that are brushed (in what I assumed was a quick action) from her face. Think, Colorado comfortable but hip. Love the image. But doesn't quite give off a Happy, Fun Day vibe does it?

Today was full of color, shapes, angles, more color... and definitely a cheerier vibe. One apparently that has red, yellow, orange, and white. And that makes me happy.

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9:57 PM | | 0 comments

Jump Start My World

Wednesday, December 05, 2007 by Bethany

[Nope, this post isn't about my first day(s) back at work. Those are incoming, because as always I have something to share about them. Just know I am managing. Exhausted. And juggling a kid that doesn't seem to want to sleep anymore even when lying next to me. But, I am making it this week.]

The folks over at Mom Central have asked for my opinion again (oh, oh!)--and as always I am more than willing to give it. This time it is about Jump Start World Software. We've had Jump Start World Advanced Preschool and in our house for about a year. The Kiddo loves it. In fact, he will just play the music tracks from the game and start singing them on his own most of the time. Which bring me to why we purchased it (at least initially) for him--it works on Apple/Mac computers. Yep, we are mostly a Mac house. And this software boasts its compatibility. So playing those music tracks was easy--iTunes. Now with the pre-populated 10 songs or so, my kid's started his own music library (awww, he grows so fast)!

So, when Mom Central offered to send me Jump Start World 1st Grade--I was jiggy with it. The Kiddo would love to jump into a new world of games (he's got a game collection you know! I mean, how could he not--we are a house of 3 laptops and 2 desktops. None of which are my work machine, but I digress). Only when it arrived I realized the one, ity bity problem--it's PC only software. See the above paragraph--the machine he uses for his games is a Mac. Sigh.

Now, we do have a PC in the house. We have 2 really--but one is just a server in our basement (it's ancient, but can hold files just fine). Another that sits unused in the extra bedroom just in case we just can't use a Mac for something. And I guess this is the first time it is going to be used in a while! (Seriously, he did have 1 or 2 other PC only games we loaded for him on this machine, but we typically by Mac games for him. Which he likes, because then he can play them in his room. That's right, he has his own computer).

And this software didn't disappoint--as I didn't expect it to with our previous experience with the Preschool version. The Kiddo is just a tad bit young for the games, he still had fun. And in fact did quite well at the "levels" (as he calls them). I'll keep the software on the PC for a while in case he wants to venture some more through the 1st grade game--because as with other reviewers of the software, i have no qualms about letting him jump ahead. And as you can tell--no qualms about him using a computer to learn new skills. If you've seen him click around on the Noggin, Nickelodeon, Disney, and Lego web sites--well, you'll know he's quite on his way to being a computer super genius (snicker here).

Also, we're pretty smart parents. We have parental controls on the computer in his room. Not only is it a modest iMac G3 relic, it also won't connect to the Internet unless we've approved the website. And he can't install a thing. Or print anything. Or well do anything that we won't know about. I am all about teaching him responsibility, and this is just the start!

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7:07 AM | | 1 comments