New Computer

Computers are supposed to make our life easier -- right? Wrong!!

 I have an 8 year old desktop computer at home, and finally upgraded to a fairly high end laptop. So, unlike my $300 (which was actually free) laptop which I had decided to basically use for travel, I decided to load everything onto this one.

Problem number one -- trying to get my ipod to synch and move my songs to the new computer. I got so far and then got stuck -- didn't help that the instructions were written for both a mac and a windows computer -- interspersing the two. Finally got my dear husband to help me with it and he approached in a different manor, and finally done.

It was a little easier to move Quicken that I use for personal finances, I bought an upgraded copy and the move went fairly easy last week. The biggest problem was setting up a disk (formatting) to do the backups.

The hardest part, was moving my contacts. I am one of those few homeowners that was still using Outlook. So, first I went through and deleted about 100 contacts that were obsolete. And, I had created a gmail account that all my charter e-mail goes to. But, to actually move the contacts, also involved my dear husbands help. But, the good news -- I can now easily contact all my friends and relatives when I am traveling, as prior to this my only cloud e-mail account was my work account. Yeah, I have moved up in the world.

I have a couple of things left to do such as backing up photos and word docs and figuring out which if any saved e-mails I want to print, or move their "important" information into my new world.


You will be happy to know I did manage to set up my new wi-fi printer all by myself, although I haven't quite learned all the ins and outs. For instance, I can print to it from anywhere as it has its own e-mail address. Hmmmm. printer seems smarter than me.

So, I am happy, have started to clean up my disaster of an office, and I know how reasonably fast internet access from anywhere in my house!!

PS -- I am trying to figure out the concept of ecologically sound. For instance, the cords for the printer were packed in a nice reusable nylon case -- and they made a big point of it being reusable -- but the cords were still also packed in plastic bags. Ditto for the printer -- in a really nice nylon bag, but it was surrounded in the box with Styrofoam. Go figure!

Chicago

Growing up, the only business trips I remember my dad taking were to Chicago. Later learned that they were for visits to UL for fire testing of doors. Only recently however, I figured out that he never went to downtown Chicago, but to the outskirts in a different direction. (Which may be why my presents were always from the airport).


When I joined Karpen Steel in 1986, my first business trip was to Chicago for the annual Door and Hardware trade show, with my dad. It was Karpen Steel's first time exhibiting at the show. It was windy, rainy, and not a nice introduction to the city. Now, it turns out I go to Chicago 1 to 2 times a year for meetings and so forth, and I have grown to love the city. The city of today is so much nicer than it was 25 years ago. Great restaurants, friendly staffs, and so forth. So, now I present to you just a few pictures of my most recent trip to Chicago (and third time there for the door and hardware show).

This was taken from Navy Pier where the convention was held.

This was the original entrance into the Palmer House Hotel - no longer used.

 

 

If you know who these look a likes are, you watch professional football. And, if you don't, you won't care.

Making a presentation during one of the educational sessions.

Karpen Steel trade show booth. It plays off of our advertising. We like to keep it clean, and bright.

Putting Life in Perspective

It is October 2nd and I just came out of the swimming pool. Life is good. Hard to believe it was warm enough to swim, but I truly think this will be our last weekend of swimming. Can't remember the last time we swum in October. Just before that we were at Vino Vino for a Saturday wine tasting, and tonight we are going to a friends house for a party.

Last week I was in Chicago for an industry trade show. It sure was hard to keep my perspective as our first major speaker was on how bad the economy is (and the title of the session was Forum for the Future). We knew it was bad because our lunch was a little skimpy. But, I was bound and determined not to talk about the economy while working on drumming up business for my company.




People that are closer to my age (or older) at the show understood my comments about, OK, so work isn't as busy as it should be... so more time for my husband, for Yoga classes, for cooking, and travel. We have a long weekend planned to the wine country in NC, which has really come into its own in the past few years. And, the good news is, I very rarely work a Saturday anymore. And, next week we are taking a half day off to go to the Biltmore Estate (they have a new area with a tavern that we want to check out).

So, putting life in perspective has been a good thing for me. I am working on a jigsaw puzzle, and not feeling nearly so stressed about quantity of work to do in a day. Someday soon I would like to be so busy that we all have to work on a Saturday. But, for now, we celebrate life.

I wanted to post some Chicago photos -- I have some great pictures, but am in the progress of changing computers, and just haven't had time to download them etc. But the weather was awesome. One day we walked about 50 minutes to a place for deep dish pizza. Sure, we could have gotten a cab or a bus, but the only way I think to see a city in on foot - and we had time.

I also bought a second T-Shirt with the saying "Optimistic by Nature". Now, many of you may not believe that about me, but truly I am. I look at all the possibilities, but I don't fret and worry. I act, and I act on my optimism. I ordered T-Shirts recently for everyone at work that say "Proudly Made in Weaverville NC". A real pessimist would have not spent the money, but I know that employee morale needs to be kept up during these rough times, and everyone loves a new company t-shirt.

I just wish I could put some energy into cleaning up my home office. It is almost hopeless - I let it get really bad during the times I was swamped at work and with home stuff. Now I don't know where to begin. But, if it is a sunny day, I'd rather be swimming, and walking, or sitting outside on the deck with a book.

It may seem like I am rambling but it is where I am at right now. Calm, fairly cool, working to better my life in a fun way, and taking time to enjoy whatever life throws at me. And, keeping up with my friends, some of whom I really need to have lunch with again.