Cool Moment with My New Smart Phone

I experienced a really cool moment with my new smart phone today. I was headed to the closing for the Habitat Partner Family who lost their home in a tornado last year. While we were on the way, I got a call from the receptionist at the office. She said that the Partner Family had called and wanted me to call her. I was riding in the car but didn't have any paper or pen to write down the number. So, the receptionist said she would text the phone number to me. Sure enough she did that. When I received the text, I noticed that the phone number was underlined and a different color than the other words in the text. I asked my boss, who was driving, if she thought I could just touch the phone number and my phone would dial the number. She thought it would and sure enough that's what happened. I was able to connect with the Partner Family in just a few seconds. It was so cool!
I love discovering things like that. This is truly an amazing tool that I have only begun to understand how to use. I can't wait to discover more cool things about my phone. While it can often be frustrating, technology can be such a blessing.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Baby Monkey Riding Backwards on a Pig

This has been a long Monday for me, so I thought I would share a laugh with you.
One of my co-workers introduced me to this YouTube video that has gone viral. It's stupid. It's juvenile. It's poorly filmed. Watching it is a complete waste of time and brain cells. However, it makes me laugh every time I watch it.

WARNING: IF YOU DON'T WANT THIS STUPID SONG STUCK IN YOUR HEAD, DO NOT WATCH THIS VIDEO!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_sfnQDr1-o

Don't say I didn't warn you.

You can also find wonderful cover versions of this song on YouTube. There's an acoustic guitar version that is very moving.
If you can't get enough of monkeys, check this one out the chimpanzee riding on a Segway:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPGUIpv-JxI

Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Happy Father's Day!

I want to wish my Dad a very happy Father's Day! It was good to talk with you today. I love you!

We used the following Affirmation of Faith for Father's Day in worship today at my church:

We believe in God the creator, who made the world and the stars and the galaxies of space.
We believe God continues to care about what God has made, even as a father cares for his children.
We believe God relates to us as a thoughtful and loving father, providing all we need to be happy in life and grateful in spirit;
We believe it is presently God's will that we remain in the world and promote justice and peace for all God's children, whoever they are. Where they live, and whatever the color of their skin;
And we believe God will bring us safely home, when life is over, to dwell with God in unity of heart and soul commended by Jesus who knew God intimately and who said, "I and the Father are one." Amen.

Happy Father's Day to all fathers everywhere!

Birthday Wishes, etc.

I first of all want to wish my friend Sheri a very happy birthday! I hope you had a wonderful day!
It's been a long day. It's nearly midnight and I just got home from sitting for my nephew Cameron tonight. We had a good time together. We went to a hibachi restaurant where they cook your food right in front of you. It was delicious!
I'm up early tomorrow to head to the office for a Habitat Partner Family class. It looks like it's going to be a busy start to the weekend.
I hope you've had a good week. Thanks for being a part of my journey!

My First Day with My New Phone

Today was my first full day with my new smart phone. I must admit that it was a little unnerving. I received three calls and made two calls. I was grateful that I was able to do that. I was especially grateful that I had a functioning cell phone when I had car trouble today and had to drop my car off at the mechanic and call my friend Karen to come pick me up. Of course, I was kicking myself for being wasteful in upgrading my cell phone when I had a huge car repair bill. I continue to feel like my priorities are really messed up. I kept thinking that I probably should have waited until my contract was up to get a new phone so that I would have more money for emergencies like giant car repair bills and dentist bills.
I was grateful for my co-workers who took the time to help me with my new phone. I was afraid that I was connected to the Internet all night and that I would exceed my data allowance and then get a bill for $400,000. My co-workers assured me that I was not doing anything to cause that. They also were able to get my phone linked to the wireless network at the office. That will allow me to go on the Internet without using up my data.
Of course, everyone kept asking me how much data I have. I did not know. I guess I need to look this up online. I also got a little tutorial on apps. I haven't downloaded any yet. I'm not sure what is really out there. I definitely want to stick to the free apps right now.
I guess I would describe my current relationship with my new phone as one that is filled with anxiety. I hope that I will become more comfortable with it as time goes by. I'm sure I will never be as adept at using it as a teenager. I still plan to use proper capitalization and punctuation in my text messages. I am definitely "old school" in that way.
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

Hurling in the 21st Century (13 years after it started)

I have always been behind the curve when it comes to technology. Some of it has been that my budget won't handle how expensive technology is. Some of it has been that I am not always very comfortable with technology. I am always afraid I'm going to blow something up. I still don't understand what all of the buttons on my phone at the office do. I sometimes think I'm launching missiles into North Korea every time I try to get an outside line.
Well, the battery died on my really boring cell phone. I went into the Verizon store thinking that I would just get a new battery. Instead, I came out with a brand new smart phone. I had planned to get a smart phone when my contract was up in September, but he salesman said that I could upgrade to a smart phone and they actually had special deals on some smart phones that would cost me anything with the exception of additional monthly fees for data. I asked a lot of questions and I'm sure the salesman is still laughing about how stupid I am about technology. However, I felt like he answered all of my questions and while I didn't really want to spend more money, I took the plunge and got the smart phone that he recommended.
I don't know if I really understand what this thing does. I asked if there was a manual to read. The salesman said that it was all online or that they had classes at the Verizon store. I may have to investigate those. My big fear is that I am not going to get out of bed tomorrow. I have set the alarm but I have no idea if it's going to go off or if I will hear it. I read the directions but it seems like a great mystery to me.
I also have no idea if I'm hooked up to the Internet or not. I hope it's turned off and I don't get a $20,000 bill for downloading movies or something. I really feel anxious about this but also excited at this next big step in life for me. Who knows. Maybe I will figure out how to blog from my phone. That would be cool!
Thanks for being a part of my journey!

An Afternoon of Local History

I decided to spend the afternoon taking in some local history. I first traveled to Aurora, Indiana to visit Hillforest. Hillforest is a Victorian era mansion built by a businessman Thomas Gaff. The house was designed by architect Isaiah Rogers in the Italianate style. One of the unique features of the home is the rounded front porches topped by a round Belvidere. Built in 1855, it was owned by the Gaff family until 1926 when it was purchased by Will Stark, a local furniture manufacturer. In the 1940's the house became the local VFW post. In 1955, a group of local citizens purchased the home and it opened as a house museum in 1956.
The house has several pieces of Gaff family furniture. Much of the décor has been restored to its original look. It is really an amazing architectural gem that seems to be well cared for and in beautiful condition. I plan to write more about this home on my other blog. I have a lot of photos to share.
You can learn more about Hillforest at the official website: http://hillforest.org/

After visiting Hillforest, I realized I was not very far from another historic site that I visited a while ago - the tomb of President William Henry Harrison in North Bend, Ohio. I didn't get very good photos on my first visit, so I thought I would go ahead and drive over there. I also want to write a post about this historic site on my architecture blog as well. I guess I need to get busy writing. I've got a backlog of photos to post.
Anyway, it was a nice afternoon to be out. I'm glad I took the time to take a journey through history.
I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for being a part of my journey!