New iPod nano disappoints

Weren't you excited to hear about the Apple refreshing the iPod line of devices? I was in anticipation because my previous Nano, while still functional, had a broken LED display after a nefarious incident with a German Shepherd's curious bite.

I love the size of this new device since I like to run: it isn't bulky and my favorite thing of all is that it simply clips to my clothing. The previous iPode nano had Nike+ built in: it was capable of receiving information from the sensor in my shoe, recording my distance, pace and things like this. The Nike+ program is built in to my iPhone as well but I found running with my iPhone bulky.

The new iPod nano only offers a stripped down version of Nike+, it is strictly a pedometer now. BUMMER! Needless to say, this device doesn't fit my needs now and when I called the Apple store, the expert there indicated Nike+ is only offered on the iPod touch as well as the iPhone.

This small change may not make a big difference to many but for me, it has made all the difference, I'm returning my new Apple iPod nano.

Move forward

I caught up on some reading this weekend and ran across this article Changing your habits in 3 steps. Please read the article and comments but the key action points to change listed are

1.    Acknowledge
2.    Accept
3.    Act

Contemplating the basic truths of this article, I am reminded all over again how if we are not making progress, we are falling behind. The words of historian Arnold Toynbee “Nothing fails like success” ring true in our personal lives as much as business. Puppies finally grow up, tiny children turn into adults and habits that were successful in prior eras must now change due to changing metabolisms. Finally, individually we too grow and change and a healthy assessment of habits can be cathartic, freeing.

Did you notice that two of the three steps to change happen in your mind? Could it be that when the realization came that it was time to change, fear set in? That happens to me and then I feel paralyzed, like a deer with eyes caught in the headlights. Now is the time to forgive yourself for procrastinating, release the pressure. Take a deep breath and move forward because "Every day we have another chance to make a difference." - Jeff Pulver

Laundry can be fun

One could opine about the beauty of a good Brazilian, tight muscles or just a great bum. Needless to say, laundry has its merits.

the milky way

The White Mountain from charles on Vimeo.

When we glimpse into the sky to see the star studded heavens, aren’t you so glad to live in such a fine home? Our Earth is truly a jewel suspended against the magnificent backdrop of the Milky Way.

My cup runneth over

It’s my birthday this weekend and it only seems appropriate to reflect on the goodness that brought me here to another year of standing. I want to tell you about this collage and why I love it so much. I have deep affection for all of the people in these images of the last year:

My friend Kimberley whom I have known since I was 15, asked me to join her at Wolf Trap where we enjoyed hearing Cheryl Crow in concert. I am so grateful our friendship has endured through the years.

Cassie the GSD taught me the joys of this breed. I bet you didn’t know that I was afraid of German Shepherds previous to knowing Cassie? I learned so much that I eventually got a GSD rescue, Sarge. He unfortunately turned out to have problems but I wasn’t afraid to help him face these issues.

Shashi Bellamkonda, a very busy Social Media Swami for Network Solutions, has kindly spent time with me over the past year sharing his creative energy

My dear sister Denise, is a constant source of advice, arse kicking and laughter, depending on what is required.

Karuana Gatimu who is just one of many amazing SharePoint women I am honored to call friend, shares her positive energy and outright knowledge colleague to colleague.

My ex husband is a really great Daddy and I really respect how well he has helped raised our daughter to be the amazing young woman she is today.

My dear grandmother was an icon of elegance, patience and love for her family. I strive to imitate her best qualities.

My beloved daughter, was the center of my life for many years. As she enters adulthood, she is growing into a woman with her own life (!) that I find interesting and charming. She remains someone I would always want to be friends with anyway, even if she weren’t my daughter.

and yes, even the AIM running man. I have many dear friends who are current or former AOL players and I feel truly blessed to have them in my life, so the AIM running man means a lot of good things to me.

And of course, no discussion of what a great year I had would be complete without mentioning my best friend who has insisted on teaching me how to have fun! To wit:

We each have so much to be thankful for, have you told those people in your life how much you cherish them? The encouragement to live in the moment is powerfully good advice. My experience has been that when there is a deep appreciation for the here and now, one has greater satisfaction in life. So I leave you with the words of Dale Carnegie:

Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today.

My ninja poodle

My precious new dog was feeling a bit anxious until she found a rope upon which to expend her energy.

Have fun! Vote!

This video just tickled me - all the more reason to vote for this cuktural icon

My heart is here

Oh hi! Yeah, so that last post, you know, the one saying goodbye and all? *cough* Please disregard. You know what I discovered? Home is where your heart is and my heart was always here. I’ve came back here to my tiny blog home.

And oh boy, do I have stories to tell you! I have amazing things happen to me all the time, so let me tell you what happened just the other night. Err, maybe I will show you first what happened:

I hit a concrete barrier in a heavy construction area, somehow just caught that dern thing in my wheel well. So, I pull off to the shoulder, make some calls and think to myself, “This is really dumb! and a bummer!” I was safe but the Sheriff’s officer who came by was from the same small Southern Virginia town where I spent years working before I moved to Northern Virginia. We knew a lot of the same people and the fun tucked away little places to get great food that only locals know about (shout out to Midtown Market!). Since the officer stayed till the tow truck arrived, we had fun remembering those good things instead of focusing on the accident. The tow truck driver showed up, did his thing and we were on our way. It was during this drive that the fatigue began to sink in; it was after midnight after all. I guess I must have said aloud a couple of times how disappointed I was that I had damaged my vehicle. This driver took it upon himself to cheer me. His choice of words were of interest to me, particularly when he told me, “A positive attitude can heal you”. Little did this man know that I have been spending a lot of time focusing on this very thing! My latest read has been “You can heal your life”  by Louise Hay. This driver’s kindness really touched me.

Then the tow truck driver gave me his phone number “just in case” I was feeling bad but he totally surprised me in the morning with this text message: “Don’t be a weed. Be a flower, shine be cheerful. A flower makes more smiles than a weed".” I laughed and really, how could I not smile the rest of the day?

Where is your heart these days? Reply in the comments and let’s chat.

Served the purpose

Maintaining a personal blog has, for me, served a specific purpose: It was a place to maintain some level of communication with people I very much wanted to stay in touch with that were not available to me personally since they lived far away.

This blog has served it's purpose and will not be updated after today. I have made new friends along the way and that in and of itself was more than I could have ever asked for.

I will still be writing about the technical things that consume much of my day over here at Windows Admin Wench.

Thanks for reading.

Deanna