I Want! Macbook Air 11 or iPad?

Image from article "Netbook Feeling the Heat from iPad"

I've been thinking about getting a new device for awhile. Part of me wonders if the stress from work/school is fueling this insatiable will to buy something. I've been stress eating the past week or two - notice no sunday health post. I also think this might be shopping therapy. For awhile I wanted to get an e-reader, the Nook. I played with the color and e-ink versions in the store, and to my surprise, very much preferred the e-ink version. Didn't get it, but still it's on my mind somewhat.

Then I got to thinking about getting a netbook. They installed work spyware on our computers to see how much we browse/surf. I've been so busy at work that I haven't had much time to browse anyway. Mainly I don't like the big brother feel, but if I want to do personal emailing, blogging, research or learning, I don't feel comfortable anymore doing it at the work computer.

So we went to Frys. I loved the macbook air 11 inch, so we've been to the apple store twice so far. One day I was convinced I loved the air and would get it. Then next time I liked the iPad better. Decisions decisions.

So anyway, overall it looks like the netbook is winning. Overall functionality better for school/life. Also, I've sorta been in love with netbooks since I saw someone with it quite a few years back, and loved the idea that it fit in her purse if she wanted to bring it with her - especially for work, but for me more for fun :)

I still think of getting an e-reader. Part of me knows this is shopping therapy, but part of me also knows I've been wanting a new laptop for awhile. My current laptop gets hot, heavy, and slow. I'm not terribly patient, and the few times I've taken it to the library or on trips, I find it heavy and a nuisance.

Anyway I just want one, real bad. Husband says sleep on it and wait. I wait a lot, and the feeling often passes, but how great it is it to buy something you really want when you want it and it can be really useful? Considering that, a trip only lasts a week, but a laptop can last a few years. I calculated that my last laptop costing about 1k, in use for 4 years, has cost me $20 a month since I owned it and is reducing its price the longer I use it, you know?

Of course, now I have no trouble on this laptop, and I'm typing now with no issues. Could keep it and be fine. Still... we'll see how I feel.

Part of me uses school as an excuse, like I need to keep up to date with everything to stay clued-in and knowledgeable. We shall see....

Stuff Mom Says

I might start a series called "stuff my mom says". She's pretty randomly funny and gets us in stitches sometimes with her off the wall comments. Here's a few.

One time while playing a game with game cards

Sis: What color was it?

Mom: You know, that one that's color triangle.

At lunch today

Mom: Hey, did you guys see that baby over there? He's wearing a helmet like Magneto.

And my favorite, from today, talking about a new restaurant

Me: So that new restaurant, what kind of food does it serve?

Mom: They have breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Really Mom? :) We love you!

Oddly Specific

Saw this at Costco. Yes we are at Costco on a Friday night. Party. Anyway, this is oddly specific.

Hungry Hippos

Another animal calendar of the day. I want to draw in word bubbles. So many great possibilities.

"it's Hawaiian shirt day!"
"Can you hear me now?!"
"Han shot first"

The possibilities....

War Dogs

Saw this on the news today and wanted to say how badass dogs are. They're helping the military in missions overseas.

Doggles - from article on Yahoo about combat dogs.
Intense interest surrounds dog who may have participated in bin Laden raid

Also another article showing a dog jumping out of a helicopter. Dude!
War Dog Article

Here's another article about parachuting dogs.
Dog joings troops on parachute jump in Norway.

Home Stretch!

I just turned in my 2nd to last project and checked my list of assignments and am 2 weeks away from Finals. Although I'm still up to my ears in reading and homework, with another major paper still needed to punch out, it's really nice to be able to see the finish line. I cannot WAIT to be on the other side. Just gotta make it, and hopefully with a good grade.

Agreeable

I'm not someone who needs people to agree with her. In fact, I respect differences of opinion. Although it is very reassuring to be agreed with.

For example, I was still debating whether or not to take 2 classes in the Fall semester. Part of me wondered if I was just disorganized, unprepared and procrastinating got me in this mess. Maybe if I tweaked and streamlined a few things, I would succeed much better with the 2 classes at once. Today is registration day so yesterday I emailed my adviser letting her know that I was thinking of reducing to one class per session, but still may take 2. She replied that it was refreshing to hear I was thinking of reducing and that many students rush through and don't get the full experience and enjoy or appreciate the class as much. She seemed fully supportive and that was really cool. Also I think that taking one class at at time allows me to focus, do more librarian interviewing and networking, maybe volunteer at a library and get more out of my class versus just doing assignments and keeping up with work.

I've found that the more important things about life and career isn't necessarily the work you do, but the people you know and the relationships you build. Of course the work is important, but that's not necessarily everything. There's a balance of relationships and work that must be kept.

Anyway on top of that my online group projects have stressed me out because honestly I'm behind on the work and research, and my group was suggesting to do their own thing and not really follow the professor's instructions on the project. I kept saying nicely that we should probably do as the professor assigned and not get creative and do something else. I finally had one of my classmates email an agreement with me - oh that was sweet sweet reassurance. I thought I was going nutts with the other members trying to pull the project in a different direction. Anyway we have a skype date this Sunday and we'll see if we can workout a good way to divide the work and get going on the project. It's pretty close to deadline so it's a bit stressing.

Of course my husband agrees with me a lot and I don't always appreciate it. I think he's biased, but of course, he and I are together because we think alike and are compatible with a lot of things. He agreed with me on both of the above, but there's something about a stranger or acquaintance agreeing with you - that makes you feel more validated. Like they have no vested interest and they're different or more removed from you so it's cool when you feel like you're not alone in your ideas. Anyway, so that's that. It must be the social animal in us that likes to have agreement and feel a common connection with people.

Back in the saddle again

I disappeared from blogging for awhile and after yesterday's post, I really miss blogging and writing. I may have overloaded myself with my other blog. For awhile I was trying "One New Thing Daily" and blogging about it. I wanted it to be more anonymous, and it was fun, but got really tiring after awhile. I found I wasn't reflecting or doing as much as I wanted because I kept having to find something new to try. It got too heavy to carry and in 2011 decided to let it go. Although there are a lot of great posts in there so check it out.

I think I'll go back to blogging intermittently with no schedule. I will try once a week, and for anything new I try I'll link it to my One New Thing blog - no longer daily. For my more thoughtful posts, I'll put them here. And I suppose I'm losing the anonymity with the new thing daily blogs, but oh well. At least, I will write once again.

Tea Soup

So, I've decided to try or do, one new thing a day. That'll be a running theme in my blog. We'll see how this works.

Anyway today's new thing is tea soup - or - Top Chef Ramen. Joking around with a coworker on how to get creative with my mish-mash meal of Watermelon, Chicken and Ramen, I decide to try something different. The inspiration came from "cooking" my Ramen noodles next to the teas at work. I remembered an old dish we used to have in Malaysia called Bakkutteh. Basically it's a soup made with tea as an ingredient. I decide to spice up my Ramen with some black tea.

After heating up the noodles in the hot water/microwave, I steep the tea for a few minutes, then drain most of the water and add the beef seasoning. I know most people like their Ramen as soup, but I like my Ramen dry with just noodles.

Anyway it turned out pretty tasty. The aroma was good and the taste had a little extra special flavor, not super tea like but still good. I looked up a few recipes and there are quite a few tea based soups. It sounds bizarre, but actually it makes a lot of sense to put tea into soups.

Anyway that's my new thing of today. Black Tea Ramen soup :)

Traces

Sometimes I wonder what anthropologists will say about our society, 100 or even 1000 years from now. What will we leave behind? What will our footprints say about us? Will our culture disappear? Something like Atlantis, where computers and technology will be an ancient mystery. Or will we just slowly fade from history like the glory of Rome. Just curious.

Cars with hats

What is the world coming to?

Zebras

Creepy painting that stares while you eat bagels.

Ask the Doctor