jessteronimo

SuperMom

My daughter texted me while I was at work all frantic because she'd discovered that her laptop was broken. She said that it wouldn't close. I told her we could fix it, but she said that dad said it wasn't fixable and that she'd just have to leave it open. It was the most she's ever texted me, so I knew she was super upset [background sobbing was clearly evident]. When I got home, she showed me the laptop, and while she wasn't still sobbing, her big, sad puppy dog eyes broke my heart. The laptop plastic was munched, but it seemed fixable to me. So I got her to agree to surrender the beloved tool to me for a day. The place I would normally take it to has gone out of business, so I had planned to take it to a chain store I'd heard of, but it was quite far from my office. I decided to get some errands run first and go on my lunch break. But while I was out driving around, I saw a little sign that said this little hole-in-the-wall store repaired laptops. I did a U-turn and screeched into the parking lot, startling a group of hispanics who were smoking outside the back door. Sorry, guys. I took the laptop into this little, dark, freezing shop filled with dead and distressed computers and laptops and a wild assortment of computer parts--and hispanic men. No one was speaking English, and all the workers were helping one man, talking loudly and rapidly and with lots of animation. For a bit, I thought I might have been too hasty and ended up in the wrong place, but I was determined to help my daughter feel better. When the other customer left, I set my laptop on the counter and all the workers turned to me: group help, apparently. Gasps and tsks as they surveyed the damaged computer. My heart sank as they all switched to English and began explaining how the plastic piece that holds the screw that stabilizes the hinge for the cover was busted beyond repair. I could replace the whole bottom if a part could be found, but a quick search online ruled that option out. I was about to go, but then I saw the creative wheels start turning in these men's minds. They all started throwing out other options in this weird but cool brainstorm. I left the laptop with them, and two hours later they called me back to say they'd fixed it. When I picked it up, I was pleased to see that they'd come up with a duct-tape-esque but very functional solution to the problem: they loosed the hinge so the tension wasn't so tough on the monitor, then they put in a screw that was way too large for the hole--but still somewhat concealed so it wasn't unsightly--so the screw couldn't pull through, essentially making the entire back of the computer bear the weight of the hinge. Genius. Sheer genius. My daughter was ecstatic, and I was SuperMom. Thanks, Super Computers at 1381 S. Main St. in Salt Lake (801.759.8012).

Oh Microsoft, Google You Ain't.

I set up a Microsoft AdCenter account for my company, like my Google AdWords account (Google being the king of PPC online marketing), because Bing was showing high in our lead generation. Once the account was set up, I tried to log in to make changes to the campaign using Microsoft Internet Explorer 8. It crashed. I tried again and again. It crashes every time. I had to use Mozilla's Firefox v. 3.0.14 to access Microsoft's search marketing tools. How classic is that?!

B-Bye, Laptop I Love

My laptop lease expires at the end of the month, and I determined that it wouldn't make sense for me to buy it out for roughly the same price as a new one. So I've spent the weekend cleaning it off, moving and deleting files, programs, and settings. It's a big task cleaning off a computer. There are hidden files and settings everywhere. Plus, my archive drive is nearly full, and I'm pretty sure that it's mostly with duplicates of music, videos, and pictures I haven't had time to sort through. I could probably free up a few gigabytes if I had the time to organize the files. But every time I try to start sorting, I keep getting sucked down the rabbit hole of memories and ideas that interrupt the task at hand. It's fun and all, but I have to go back to work tomorrow, and before I know it, it'll be time to send the computer back but I won't be ready if I keep this up. So now I'm resisting the urge to organize and instead am backing up whole folders without looking in them and removing installed programs, with all their settings and histories. It's nerve-wracking and sort of bittersweet.

For example, when I removed the desktop background that I've had for a while because I love it so much, I had a moment of panic thinking I hadn't backed the image up. A quick look on the archive drive didn't produce the image, and I spent the next 20 minutes combing through the images on digitalblasphemy.com looking for it. I didn't find it, but I found one I liked a lot. While downloading that image and saving it to my archive drive, I saw the other image safely backed up. Whew! I'm sure I'll have more moments like that, unfortunately.

Even with the knowledge that I'll be buying a new laptop (one with the new Windows 7 operating system that I'm anxious to try out), but I know I'll miss my old machine and even its Vista OS. Ain't it funny how we get attached to things? *sniff sigh*

iPod Resuscitation

While I was at work today, I answered a phone call from my sobbing daughter. I could tell she was unusually upset. She started to explain to me how she'd dropped her iPod off the back porch and now it was frozen. Dad was trying to help fix it, but he doesn't know as much about iPods as me, so she called me in desperation. I told her she needed to try to reset it. She said she'd tried it, but it wasn't working. Now this iPod is her sanity. She carries it everywhere and uses it to decompress and relax and find balance with her world, usually while jumping on the trampoline. I knew it was important I get this issue resolved, but I couldn't do anything from my position stuck at work. I felt so helpless! Considering the possibility that the player could actually be ruined, I started to console her explaining that we'd replace it if it's broken and that I wasn't mad at her. She responded with cry: "I know YOU aren't mad at me. I'M mad at me!" Broke my heart right then and there! The minute I got home, I took that iPod in hand and willed it back to life within minutes. (Actually, I just reset it, but it FELT like it was sheer will force.) She took it gently and lovingly from my hands, her eyes all shiny and her ginormous smile returned. All was right with the world once again. I'm a hero tonight!

Cell Phone C-C-C-Crazy

Yesterday I took a giant step into the next realm of parenthood. I bought my youngest daughter a cell phone. [Insert shocked, derogatory remarks here.] Yes, yes, I know, I'm crazy and I can't go back. But the girls have been using Ben's phone for months now when on outings, so I think she is ready. We made a deal with her: she has four points of personal hygiene she needs to work on, so that's her proof that she's old enough to handle a phone of her own. If she can't do those things, she loses the phone. Of course, we bought insurance, unlimited text messaging, and the ability to lock down how many minutes she can use. We're crazy, but we're not stupid! Plus, I got unlimited text messages with the deal too. Yeah! I've been showing her how to use all the features on the phone, so she called and texted me on my way to work this morning. So damn cute! She thinks I'm the best mommy in the whole world. :)

But here's the really interesting part about all this madness: my oldest didn't want one! [Insert even MORE shocked remarks.] She'd rather have the money we'd spend, so she just got a raise in her allowance. Impressed? I sure am!

*Off to text my daughter*

Our Robotic Future

Have you been keeping an eye on the robotic advances in recent years? If not, you may be surprised by how far scientist adventurers have come. Ben has always been interested in artificial intelligence (AI), and he's passed the interest on to me. We are fans of the DARPA Challenge, a scientific Olympics of sorts (or maybe more like the X Games) in which robotic machines are built to perform tasks like driving obstacle courses unmanned and unguided. These vehicles aren't remote controlled; they use artificial intelligence decision-making routines to navigate the challenges. Check out one of the recent contestants, Big Dog. I can't wait for the day when I can get in my car and tell it where to take me--and feel safe and secure for the trip! (I can't wait for teleportation either, but I'm resigned to the fact that that's a much longer wait. For now, I'm content with our baby steps in that direction.)

Advances in biotech are especially promising. Here is an article about the first human cyborg, Dr. Kevin Warwick. Admittedly, he sounds a little ... um, is obsessed the right word? Over the edge or 'round the bend may be more descriptive. But it's exciting to think of the implications for us all, not just for people with disabilities. Gone are the days where talking to your computer and having it respond was science fiction. Imagine walking through your completely "smart" house and having the temperature adjust to your comfort level at the time, having lights turn on or off according to your whims, words appear larger or smaller based on your eyesight, selected foods are cooked and delivered to your couch while you watch TV, and so on. It's coming, folks! Well, it's here, actually; we just can't afford it, or it's not being commercially produced yet. Our kids' kids will laugh at how primitive we were living today. Of course, we'll scoff at how lazy and spoiled they are then. ;)

Technology truly does change us, and I'm excited to see where we're going.

Domain Name

My blog is official. I suppose it's about freaking time, but I finally purchased and pointed the domain name www.jessteronimo.com to my blog site. Aren't you proud of me? ;)

My New Toy

We're in trouble now. Jess has got a new toy: a webcam!