Dell Computers

Kids, Get comfy: tonight's diatribe is all about Dell.

Dell computers are the modern-day Samsonite.
I swear. Seriously.
This little Dell Lattitude (not so much the one in that picture, mine is old enough to show up in sepia tone) that I work with now has been passed through 2 whole other humans before it reached me. I've called it "My little dinosaur" and plenty of other less nice things. But, the bottom line is that it has been a work horse.
On one of my first nights with it, I carefully took it out of it's bag, plugged it in, went to just move it a little to the right and promptly dropped it on it's head from about 3 feet up. Yep. Hardwood floors. I think I screamed like a pink-panty-wearing girl.
It immediately fired right back up and has subsequently taken me anywhere and everywhere I want to go.
Kudos, Dell.
While that, all by it's self, is plenty cool.... Today I saw a re-enactment of that commercial Samsonite ran during the 70s. An extremely determined and hefty 3-year-old (not terribly unlike that gorilla they used for their commercials) slammed it closed (I know that sound from, like, a mile away) then threw it on the ground and jumped up and down on it.
For real. I'm going against all my natural instincts and NOT exaggerating here.
He had all of about 45 seconds to do with it what he would/could, before I could drop the pot of hot soup I was serving up for dinner and make it the 20 feet to my room.
My little (smack-talked) dinosaur was disconnected and upside down on the floor and Auron (the afore mentioned 3-year old) was in mid-air just above it. I think I screamed something like, "Heeeeey! What are you doing?!?!" and he lost his stride and fell on the computer (with all of his 46 frenzied pounds). All of this happened in slow motion, like one of those Kneau Reeves movies.
He did, indeed get something of a butt swat. Immediately followed up with some serious Time Out. But, less than 10 words from point A to point B (because I've heard that's the most words you get at that moment in time.)
I didn't cry even though it seemed like the most prudent reaction.
I finished serving dinner.
He wailed like an eviscerated racoon.
Dinner was great.
And, the computer is just fine.
So, Dell - Good job, dude! You'd'man.
If you're ever looking for some marketing ideas on your product's amazing fortitude, just call me.
I'm in the market for a new computer (as I was way before tonight's fun) and I can just about guarantee you I'll be buying a new Dell.

Elections and Arguments.

With a little less than a month till the election I am officially done trying to match wits with the witless. If somebody chooses to believe that we will be well-served by electing someone based on one small part of their platform, then so be it.
If those same people aren't invested enough to do their research, then I will be the girl with no opinion. I am left to wonder, however, if perhaps a little less time with reality TV and a little more time with factual research wouldn't be a better way to plant hope in the future.
Democracy is only as valuable as the people who help shape it. I know we are at a crossroads in the country and all I can do now is hope and believe.
Research could well be the one useful tool to bring about significant change. So, do your research and, I promise not to say "I told you so" if things don't work out like they ought to.

Still Being Hopeful

As election day draws nearer and nearer I find myself logging some long hours talking politics with people I never expected to talk politics with (the girl at the grocery, that Middle-East guy at the 7-11 and friends I have known for years who never gave any indication that they even cared.)
I could be an alarmist and launch an all-out attack on the misinformation that we are presented with but I have chosen to adopt a more personal approach and just try to persuade anybody I can that now is (seriously) the time for change.
We have to vote.
We cannot afford another moment of the same choices that we've seen for the last 8 years.
To ability to vote is one of the only super-human powers that we have left.
And, as always, it falls to us to use our powers for good - not evil.
Think about it.

Things I Never Thought I'd See

It is a chilly Tuesday night in Chicago and it's got me all contemplative.

Seasonal changes have a way of doing that to me.
Last weekend I saw an older lady in Union Square, pushing one of those wheelie-grocrey-cart things that you often see older people in urban areas pushing (or pulling).
In her cart she had a sleeping bag, a whole bunch of aluminum cans, the requisite boom box, a piece of firewood, what I could only assume was a backgammon board (or her briefcase) and a single ski. She had on flip-flops and mismatched socks, some way-wicked "I Love Kitty" capri pants, a hooded sweatshirt (that made "sweat" an integral part of the description) and she was wearing goggles that I thought only welders wear.
I don't think her hair had visited a brush or comb since Reagan was in office. And, I couldn't take a picture for fear that I'd capture her soul.
There's just no way, even with my wildest imagination, that I could have ever thought I'd see that.
And then there's my life. There are so many (Seriously, I'm talking sooo freakin' many) things I never thought I'd see....
Meet JT (my son, aka: Justin Thomas) and his son Felix Oliver.
I'm old enough to be a grandmother.
Never thought I'd see that.
Wow. Rock on.

Dream Big Dreams....

When I was way too young to almost remember I believed I would grow up to be Mary Poppins. Christmas of 1964 Santa brought me her hat, her umbrella, her bag, a tea set and a table and chairs.
When my daughter was 4 she announced (repeatedly and to anyone who would listen) that she was going to be a doctor. She's scant moments away from making that real. I'm completely in the moment and way more Mary Poppins that not.
It's only been very recently that I've remembered that all I wanted to do (when I was 4) was to be that person who could show up with flashlights and monkeys and socket sets and duct tape and oatmeal and hot chocolate in my purse. And, here it is.... today...and I am that person.
I am a nazi... I expect everybody to use their manners. I believe that we all wake up... every morning, and we do the best we can... and, every once in a while...somebody will show up with all the tools we need to do our job right...or have our backs tickled....or we'll spoon and laugh and sing the songs our mom taught us.
I'm just amazed at how everything you wish for will come to you.
You just have to remember what it is that you wished for.

Meagan Has A Birthday

My Sister turns 40 Today
Meagan is my little sister. She was born 7 years behind me and we share very limited memories of living in the same house...growing up together.
Over the course of the last year I've gotten to know her more than I could have ever hoped. And, she is one amazing person.
She lives in Colorado (as she has for the past 17 years) and she has 4 amazing boys. She has perfect nails and unbelievably enviable hair. She can sing like a lark and either doesn't know it or hasn't realized it yet.
When she laughs it's like a perfect wind ripping through a strand of evergreens.
She has some serious back bone.
She will sometimes tell me things I don't want to hear and other times tell me things that nobody has ever told me about myself. I value her for both of these.... Her candor is so precious.
Once, when she was very little I told her that my best friend had a tail. She believed me. Another time I told her that all those little utility stations along the turnpike were UFO tracking stations. I think she believed that till she was in college. And, once Meagan believes something it IS the truth. You've really got to work overtime to make her believe otherwise.
She still sends my brother money in prison.
She has hope.
I am so blessed to have her in my life...as are my children...and her children...and her great big ol' Irish Catholic family.
She is amazing.
And, it's her birthday.
So...Good vibe Meagan today.
Life is short...good vibes are forever.

Things I Remembered

To be fair, I may have known a lot of this stuff at some point in my life, but apparently that information got squeezed out and replaced with (what I can only fiugre is) random stuff that doesn't matter all that much.
1. You have to have the right tool for the job.
2. Even though something may look like it works and it's all good, it could be tragically and dangerously broken.
3. You really can't believe most anything you hear or read and it's probably best to hedge your bets.
4. You simply can't go back.
5. If you do lots of dishes by hand all your callouses will magically disappear. And, not in a good way.
6. Warm and clean clothes can turn a day around.
7. There really are no bad kids, just sadly misinformed and/or lazy parents.
8. Holding people to the same standards you hold yourself to will only lead to heart ache.
9. Expectations may, indeed, only be premeditated resentments, but there's no real way to live a full life without them.
10. There seriously is NO gain with NO pain.

So, there y'have it. Perhaps I just needed to leave this here so I can come back and find out what it is that I think I know.