OK, I just joined Facebook. For business reasons.
No, really...I'm not kidding. I'm on a committee for the new corporate intranet. The consultants sent us a Facebook link to an intranet group that's on Facebook.
I feel sad...my account says I have 0 friends. And I don't have a good picture. And, there are other people from work on Facebook! How weird...I guess Facebook isn't just for kids anymore.
I belong to LinkedIn and Plaxo. I still have no clue what to do with these social networks. There's something curious about putting all sorts of personal information on line that people can see. My 85 year-old father is baffled about this. "Why," he says, "Why would anyone put all that personal information out there for strangers to see?"
I dunno. But it does seem to be intriguing.
Task for this week...find a good picture for online! The social networking world may be a but perplexing to me, but I think I want to be a part of it!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
changing the wallpaper (electronic, that is)
Recently, a couple of people have commented that my PC wallpaper was...well, ugly. That it didn't suit me.
I've used the same wallpaper for years...more years than I can recall. It's a sort of neutral colored stone-like texture. I rather liked it.
On the other hand, considering all the options these days, having the same wallpaper, day in and day out, year after year, is a bit boring.
This morning, I changed the wall paper. Grabbed an image from www.nasa.gov of an exploding star. It's bright, it's bold, and has lots of pretty colors. Maybe I'll try changing the wallpaper on a regular basis...just to shake things up a bit.
I've used the same wallpaper for years...more years than I can recall. It's a sort of neutral colored stone-like texture. I rather liked it.
On the other hand, considering all the options these days, having the same wallpaper, day in and day out, year after year, is a bit boring.
This morning, I changed the wall paper. Grabbed an image from www.nasa.gov of an exploding star. It's bright, it's bold, and has lots of pretty colors. Maybe I'll try changing the wallpaper on a regular basis...just to shake things up a bit.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Changing what I do at work
A couple of weeks ago (6/1- 6/4), I attended the STC conference in Philadelpha. STC = Society for Technical Commuication. In other words, a tech writer/tech editor and related professions conference.
It was surprisingly good. I had low expectations. When I originally looked at the sessions, I didn't see a lot that interested me. But, there was an open slot and I knew I would be attending the conference with some of the really cool people in my group. So, I went :-)
And came back. With ideas about how to change my role at work. About time. I've spent the last year or so, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. I was promoted to a Consultant level position, but giving up the day-to-day writing projects that I was doing previously was proving very hard for me. (letting go of anything is a problem for me...more about that in an upcoming post).
But something "clicked" for me while out in Philly. I realized that I had to change my work focus in order to feel satisfaction that I was working up to my real capabilities. So, I had a talk with my manager and she was all for it...yes, I could start going into research mode and focusing more on content management, structured writing, and all the other stuff related to bringing our group into a more modern way of working.
Ironically, right after we made this decision, I ended up with another writing project on my plate. No one else was available and I felt it was only right to volunteer. Oh well.
But, I am feeling good that I finally have reached the point where I can let go of being "just a writer" and am happy to move into being a content managmenet/information engineer. I'm just hope I don't lose all this motivation too quickly!
It was surprisingly good. I had low expectations. When I originally looked at the sessions, I didn't see a lot that interested me. But, there was an open slot and I knew I would be attending the conference with some of the really cool people in my group. So, I went :-)
And came back. With ideas about how to change my role at work. About time. I've spent the last year or so, trying to figure out what I'm supposed to be doing. I was promoted to a Consultant level position, but giving up the day-to-day writing projects that I was doing previously was proving very hard for me. (letting go of anything is a problem for me...more about that in an upcoming post).
But something "clicked" for me while out in Philly. I realized that I had to change my work focus in order to feel satisfaction that I was working up to my real capabilities. So, I had a talk with my manager and she was all for it...yes, I could start going into research mode and focusing more on content management, structured writing, and all the other stuff related to bringing our group into a more modern way of working.
Ironically, right after we made this decision, I ended up with another writing project on my plate. No one else was available and I felt it was only right to volunteer. Oh well.
But, I am feeling good that I finally have reached the point where I can let go of being "just a writer" and am happy to move into being a content managmenet/information engineer. I'm just hope I don't lose all this motivation too quickly!
The death of a robin...and the empty nest
Last night I came home to discover a young, dead robin at the base of the shrub where a local family had taken up residence. So sad.
I had been away for several days on a business trip, so I haven't been checking on my resident avians. After descovering the corpse, literally on my doorstep, I peeked in and took a look at the nest. Vacant. No one left.
I have no idea if the dead robin fell out of the nest, was attacked, or pushed out by siblings? I am hopful that the other baby robins have fledged and are off, doing happy, robin things.
If Mother Nature, in all her wisdom, has not urged some other animal to do the cleanup/scavenger thing, I will remove the poor, soggy body (it's been raining and raining!) and dispose of it. With a little bit of dignity. We all deserve that much.
I had been away for several days on a business trip, so I haven't been checking on my resident avians. After descovering the corpse, literally on my doorstep, I peeked in and took a look at the nest. Vacant. No one left.
I have no idea if the dead robin fell out of the nest, was attacked, or pushed out by siblings? I am hopful that the other baby robins have fledged and are off, doing happy, robin things.
If Mother Nature, in all her wisdom, has not urged some other animal to do the cleanup/scavenger thing, I will remove the poor, soggy body (it's been raining and raining!) and dispose of it. With a little bit of dignity. We all deserve that much.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Baby robins!
Yup, the eggs hatched into wonderfully, straggly looking baby birds. I peeked into the nest over the weekend and panicked for a moment when I didn't see the eggs.
But, then I saw a bit of movement and a teeny-tiny beak! I was surprised that the baby was so quiet...no cheeping, no sound at all. The next day I took a quick look and saw that there were at two birds there, maybe all three had hatched?
I've been very careful to not spend a lot of time around the nest...I don't want to scare off the parents. I was concerned that my comings and goings out the front door would keep the parents from tending to the eggs. But so far, all has worked out for my feathered neighbors!
But, then I saw a bit of movement and a teeny-tiny beak! I was surprised that the baby was so quiet...no cheeping, no sound at all. The next day I took a quick look and saw that there were at two birds there, maybe all three had hatched?
I've been very careful to not spend a lot of time around the nest...I don't want to scare off the parents. I was concerned that my comings and goings out the front door would keep the parents from tending to the eggs. But so far, all has worked out for my feathered neighbors!
Friday, May 23, 2008
NASA goes to Mars again, yay!
This Sunday, the Mars Phoenix Lander arrives on Mars (http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/05/23/mars.lander/index.html)
I've been overjoyed that the little rovers, Spirit and Opportunity are still happliy traipsing across the Martian Landscape. In those days, my cable company was kind enough to have a feed from NASA TV and I was able to watch mission control as the landings occurred. It was scary, thrilling, and just fantastic.
I haven't been paying much attention lately to NASA news, but now that I know about the landing on Sunday, I'm going to try to catch the broadcast on the Internet.
Everyone start thinking good thoughts about another successful Martian landing!
I've been overjoyed that the little rovers, Spirit and Opportunity are still happliy traipsing across the Martian Landscape. In those days, my cable company was kind enough to have a feed from NASA TV and I was able to watch mission control as the landings occurred. It was scary, thrilling, and just fantastic.
I haven't been paying much attention lately to NASA news, but now that I know about the landing on Sunday, I'm going to try to catch the broadcast on the Internet.
Everyone start thinking good thoughts about another successful Martian landing!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Teach your pet their name and address...
If at all possible, teach your pet its name and address. Well, this only works if your pet speaks your language. Like this parrot:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/21/lost.parrot.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
A parrot in Japan, Mr. Yosuke Nakamura, flew out of his cage and get lost. He spent some time at the police station but kept his personal details private. After he was moved to a vet, he must have decided he wanted to go home because he told them his name and address.
Clever parrot!
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/21/lost.parrot.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview
A parrot in Japan, Mr. Yosuke Nakamura, flew out of his cage and get lost. He spent some time at the police station but kept his personal details private. After he was moved to a vet, he must have decided he wanted to go home because he told them his name and address.
Clever parrot!
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