Strange thoughts . . .

Most people who know me, know that I'm a lover, not a fighter, but . . I have come to a decision after watching some MMA fighting and the movie "Warrior" that I would like to be punched in the face.  Just once, but hard enough to draw blood.  I actually would like to see what a punch that hard would feel like.  So I brought it up at lunch yesterday, and apparently it's rare for a person to want this.  So rare, that I figure I'll take money and set a date for when I want to be punched.  The person paying the highest, is the person that will get to take the punch (man or woman - no matter).  I also figured that other people should do this same thing, because I know I would pay to punch some people in the face or neck.  I've really always wanted to punch or kick someone in the neck and watch the reaction.

So boys and girls, I did get another orchid from Gary yesterday.  He's blue and I am not sure what I'm going to name him.  The other blue one is a girl and named blueberry.  This one is a boy and I was thinking "water".  My other one is pink and a boy named Punkin - he's pink, he doesn't mind the name.  I do love me some orchids, more than any flower ever.  I really would like a red one some day though.

See my cute little android charger, and a beautiful new couch with an oversized chair on the way.  Pretty exciting stuff, but I had to let the bag chairs go (that was kind of hard for me, but Gary didn't like them at all).

So much more than today . . .

I stared doing a list of people in this blog and why I love them...I can't do that  I'll forget someone.

I don't just love you all today, and I don't just express it one day a year anyway.  I am very happy to have all of you in my life.

Neo - I love you.  kids - I love you.  Parents - I love you.  Family - I love you.  Friends - I love you.  Acquaintances - I love you, too.  Everyone has a little piece of heaven in them...I love you all.  I know some of you express how that doesn't make you special to me, well you're wrong.  Each of you has something unique and special.  I hope by naming generals that I have covered everyone.

Jenn - I hope you're feeling better, cherub. xo

Android Apps that I can't live without. . .

Today, like many days before today, I decided to clean up my phone of apps that I really don't use.  I download lots of apps weekly (usually free app of the day from Amazon), but anyway, every now and then I find one that is just GREAT.  Most of the time, I just use or play with them a few days and then get rid of them.

This blog, I'm going to tell you about some apps that you could never get on iPhone and why I think they're so awesome.  Actually, I accidently uninstalled one of them today and had to install it again when it disappeared off of my home screen.  

"Application Folder Pro" is that app..OH my gosh I love this app.  It allows you create quick links basically on your home screen to any app or contact.  For instance, I have a group for Work Contacts.  You click it and it brings up all their smiling faces, and it lets me have the choice once I click on them to call, text or email.  I highly recommend this app. I bought it while it was free, but Amazon has it for $1.30.

Next can't live without SwiftKey X.  What an GREAT keyboard.  I love that it learns me and knows what I'm going to type.  Seriously, I've never seen any as good as this, so don't try to tell me that there is a better keyboard out there.

Handcent is my favorite for a texting app by far.  I love the skins, and it's such a nice app with tons of preferences. This is again something Android allows you to be flexible with and iPhone's pail by comparison.

Circle Launcher is another one that I would never want to give up.  It's another app that is really a widget and allows you to add any app you want to a circle button.  You press the button and whaaalaaa..you see all 10 of you favorite games or whatever, and they don't have to have extra space.

As far as games go, I'm a tower defense junkie.  Right now, I have about 5 tower defense games.  GRave is probably the favorite.  I like Jelly Defense and Fieldrunners a lot, too though.  I have the Living Dead Defense right now also, and it is very similar to GRave.

Flixster is yet another app I would never want to live without.  (And it's FREE) This app you can find on iTunes, too for all you Applers.  It tells you current and upcoming movies at theaters close to you.  You can set up favorite theaters, and also it tells you current DVD/BluRay releases.  Good stuff.  I would say that I use that app at least once a week just to see what's out there.  

My weather channel widget is really cool, too.  It keeps me up to date on the current weather, just with the icon.  Also though, by clicking on it, you can get details. 

Shazam will be a keeper for me also.  I love being out somewhere, hearing a song, Shazaming it and it telling me what I'm listening to.  It will even take me to the song in Amazon to purchase straight away.  How great is that?  Oh and guess what - - - It's free too..and Applers can have it, too.  And yes sometimes while it's thinking after it's done listening, I do say "SHAZAM"..

Lately I've been using Audible a lot, which is cutting out the need for my iPod.  I like the iPod for working out, since it's smaller and can clip on to me, but in the car, I've been sticking to the phone.  

Personally, I like Amazon MP3 and Google Music Apps about the same.  I have different music now on either cloud, and sometimes I combine them, but . . . I care for each very much.  Some of my other favs are: Google Talk, Plants vs. Zombies, Pixlr-o-matic (I could do a whole camera app blog), Paper camera, Huntington Bank, Chase (if someone gives you a check, you can deposit it by taking a picture), Fruit Ninja, Facebook, Google +, circle batter widget, car locator (don't get to use that very often), and of course angry birds.

Maybe you could let me know, if there are some that are GREAT that I'm missing.

Starting again. . .

I have once again started writing.  This time I'm going to try to dedicate time to it every day.  It's hard when time is what I lack, but I'm going to try to keep up this blog, since so many of you read it. (weird but cool) Also though, I think I've found my book idea.  Not prepared to share it just yet, but some of you luckies will get to hear all about it.  Anyway, I needed a poem by a famous author to go into my book, and I stumbled upon this.

Whatif by Shel Silverstein

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
some Whatifs crawled inside my ear
and pranced and partied all night long
and sang their same old Whatif song:
Whatif I'm dumb in school?
Whatif they've closed the swimming pool?
Whatif I get beat up?
Whatif there's poison in my cup?
Whatif I start to cry?
Whatif I get sick and die?
Whatif I flunk that test?
Whatif green hair grows on my chest?
Whatif nobody likes me?
Whatif a bolt of lightning strikes me?
Whatif I don't grow talle?
Whatif my head starts getting smaller?
Whatif the fish won't bite?
Whatif the wind tears up my kite?
Whatif they start a war?
Whatif my parents get divorced?
Whatif the bus is late?
Whatif my teeth don't grow in straight?
Whatif I tear my pants?
Whatif I never learn to dance?
Everything seems well, and then
the nighttime Whatifs strike again!

Seriously I love Shel Silverstein, but this made me think of so many people I know.  I'd point you all out, but I might hurt feelings in the process.  I offer this bit of advice, and it's hard for even me to follow at times, Whatifing everything just makes you crazy and scared of everything.  Life is so much more fun when you live it without fear of everything.  To those I'm talking to, and you know who you are, *SMILE*, you really do choose how you want to live.  I do realize that everything is not fun and games, but . . . everything does not have to be scary either.  There are times when I start doing "whatif's" and Gary will say, "and what if alien's take over tomorrow".  This is his way of telling me to stop it and live in the moment.  It always makes me think, "what if tomorrow doesn't even come, shouldn't I enjoy right now."  Okay, love you.  Off my soap box now.

Watched my first MMA fights last night.  I must say, I kind of enjoyed myself.  Shout out to Steve Ames, who is gonna try again in a few months.  I would have liked to see a little more blood though.  I'm a bit strange like that, but another thought I had this morning is why do people get cuts on their face in their eyebrows and such.  I think I want someone to put a boxing glove on and hit my face hard enough to do that, because it really doesn't look like the hits hurt that bad.  Anyone want to hit me with some gloves on?  Don't line up all at once, I'm thinking it needs to be the right person, and I get to choose.

My life is sometimes in hyper drive.  These classes I'm taking are tough sometimes.  It's really finding the time and energy to keep going with that, along with Zach and all of his stuff.  I have trouble keeping a watch on his grades, and personality, while trying to deal with the weird sickness he's trying to overcome, and now the play (which I have a much greater part in this year). I get so tired sometimes.  It is hard to stay positive through the muck some days.
My life is pretty great though, and I love (yeah that's right...LOVE) the people that are in it, so I guess that's really all that matters.  There are days, when I get overwhelmed.  There are times when it feels like the walls are closing in around me and I would just like to break out.  I figure it's been a few days since I worked out, so that's why I'm feeling like this.

On a positive note, I rode to work this morning listening to music for the first time in a while, instead of listening to an audio book.  Need to switch off more often.  I love music, and I love my new car stereo.

All of the answers to my problems. . .

I do believe that the Samsung Slate 8 might be the answer I needed.  Thanks to Nate, if he even reads this.  I have been doing some thinking lately.

First let me explain an issue that I have going on.  iPads, yes iPads...So as many of you know I am a Support Center Manager in IT.  We buy all equipment for our entire organization, and iPads and iPhones are plaguing us daily.  Well a while ago, we decided that pocketcloud (first rdp) was awesome, because you could vpn in and then your ipad could look just like your desktop.  (WINDOWS desktop)  This has it's issues because without rooting the ipad you can't get a mouse to work, which means you have a sucky virtual mouse.  Well anyhow...I've had a few really prominent workers at Wabash ask me to no longer have laptops but instead want to travel with their iPad alone.  I love this idea, except, well it's not ideal.  The iPad isn't really a good PC replacement.  Sorry, but it isn't.

Well....a few weeks ago at lunch, I was talking to someone (Nate) about what I geek I am, and he sent me a link to a video about the Samsung Slate 8.  They have a 7 too, but it's no where as cool as the 8.  I am really really excited about this.  It comes loaded with Windows 8 (microsoft, so guess what...guess what...computing power).  I know people think I'm crazy and I'm not a microsoft lover by any means, but I do love a solution that works for business with less complaints.  So, this is a TABLET and it docks when you set it in it's stand that comes with it, and it has a bluetooth keyboard and mouse.  Did you get that...??? Keyboard and mouse..
http://www.winrumors.com/samsung-planning-modified-windows-8-series-7-slate-for-late-2012/
I will be piloting one of these devices for work as soon as it's officially released, only wish I could get on a list somehow and get them ahead of the curve.

On a side note, been in Wisconsin with mom for a few days.. She is up here for training, and well isn't extremely well traveled, so i came up to get her settled.  She's up here for two weeks. Yuck.  I fly back tomorrow though, and I'm pretty excited to hug my boys.
Anyone that reads this and knows my family well, knows how unhappy mom was with her last job, well she's really loving this place so far.  Also, Roy...He's loving his too.  I'm really happy for both of them.

What the words mean. . .

For me it's really simple to say what I mean.  I know that people struggle with that, and I feel sorry for them.  I have no problem at all expressing myself, and honestly (and candid), if you're around me more than a few moments, you know how I feel about you.  I don't even think I'm hard to read.  There is no mystery here, I wear it on my sleeve.

I know I've hurt a few people and continue to do with my "put it all out there" attitude, but I don't try to be inconsiderate.  Actually, I've gotten really a lot better about how I handle myself professionally in the last few years.  I've worked hard to THINK before I speak, and to be courteous with my speech.

Lately, I have been trying to get to know what makes people around me tick.  How do I get them to open up or how do I get them to maybe shut up?  While doing this, I learned something very valuable about myself though, and that wasn't intended.  It's not that I don't have an open mind, and it's not that I don't "love you" when I say I do.  I just really get annoyed by people that I don't feel are as intelligent as me, or rather people that think if they hover I will fix their problems sooner, or people that complain all the time about everything.  And guess what...I don't really like annoyance.  I'm gonna work on it.

Well - Love you..all..unless I don't.