Have you heard that Google has come out with their own …um… machine? There really is nothing like it out there at all. So what exactly to call it is kind of tricky to figure out. It is basically a small laptop that is cloud-based ONLY. When you log in, you are logging into your Google account.

Here’s Cali’s take on it so far:

So the machine is ALL INTERNET. And that’s it. If you want to, say, save a document – you are going to do so in Google Docs. In the cloud. Same with pictures, and everything else.

Want to type a report? Create a spreadsheet? Anything you do will be done in the cloud, via Google.

Definitely an interesting concept, if you ask me. Will be interesting to see how far it goes – in terms of users and popularity. This could be a great machine for someone totally new to computers, I think. I mean, I think I’d like it too, but, I don’t think I could depend on it as my sole machine. I really am liking the sound of it, though.

Storing information off of my hard drive has been on my mind a lot lately, having recently upgraded to a new hard drive after my crash. I know that I want to organize all of my photos and get them on CD’s. There is also the matter of documents, though. My son is a class at school that utilized thumb drives to take their information with them wherever they go. I think I would like something with a little more storage capacity, though. I’ve been reading about micro sd cards, and I’m thinking that might be just what I need. The only problem that I can see is that they are so small, I’d be afraid that I might lose mine. I’m always thinking that with the kids’ Nintendo DS games. Those things are tiny, and I just know they’re going to lose them – but, they don’t. Hmm…interesting. How on earth does that work? That a kid can keep track of an itty bitty thing like that, and yet, they often can’t find their shoes? Haha! Well, so maybe I wouldn’t lose it. I do need to do something – I need to prepared for another crash. I don’t ever want to go through that again! It was awful!

Lots of good things have come together to make it possible for me to work in any room of my house. I suppose I could even work outside. I know I can work on the balcony, as I’ve already tried that. I just don’t know how far that I can go. Can I sit on the swing under the pecan tree? I’m not sure yet. Can I put a blanket or a chair out front and hang out in the front yard with Lucky and the kids? I’m not sure yet. I do know, however, that I can now work in bed, which makes me so happy. It would be so awesome if I had one of those adjustable platform beds! I’m getting sick of leaning up against the wall, but, I shall not complain about my newfound computer mobility.

Here’s the good and groovy chain of events that made all of this happen, though…

1. First, my sweet Daddy gifted me with a new laptop, which I stupidly thought was a Dell. He has frequently bought Dells, so I think I just assumed it was a Dell. It is, however, a Lenovo ThinkPad. And I think I love it. Heh! Thanks, Daddy!
2. Secondly, my sweet friend, Amy – asked her husband, Rob, if he had an extra router for me, as mine was pitifully incompetent. He did – she sent. They rock. I’m now the proud new owner of a Linksys Router. Thanks, guys!
3. Thirdly, my friend, John P., told me about this super-mega-cool program called FolderShare, through which my two computers (my desktop and my new ThinkPad) can communicate with each other. So if I need access to any files on my harddrive while I’m blogging, it’s no problem! Totally awesome!

Sometimes the universe all comes together for us in such splendid ways, don’t you think?

Now if I could get someone to pay this darn electric bill – I think I’ll never catch up with Alabama Power! Where is my sugar daddy when I need him? Haha!

Aw, man! Dang me! My resolution here on my computer has completely revolted! Well, ok, it’s not actually the resolution – I know that, but, the resolution was the straw that broke the camel’s back!

Let’s back up a bit, shall we? Ok, when I turn on my monitor, there is a slight discoloration in one of the corners. It’s really a whitening, if you will. As I’ve been through this not too long ago with a TV, I knew the end was near for my precious, dear monitor…

So back to today, I’m working on some design elements that are baffling me on two of my sites, Lisa Marie Mary and Hippie Spelunker – H2. I get in touch with the designer to see if he can help me out, because, I am completely lost. He runs a really cool blog called One Man’s Blog. So he and I are going back and forth trying to see what the other is seeing. And I decide to change my resolution, just to get a different viewpoint, and possibly see it how he sees it.

And then….KABLAMMO!

My monitor now looks like my sons’ monitor, that I had to look at for seven months.

OH NOOOO! Just now, just this minute, I realized that the problem is not my monitor. Oh crap! See, when I was using the boys’ computer, I was using my own monitor, and that goofy thing happened on my own monitor, when using their computer!

The goofy thing is that it almost feels like you are looking at a strobe light. Headache inducing? Why, yes, how did you guess?

Crap – all this time (this past hour since it happened) I’m thinking, ‘Oh no, I’ll have to get a new monitor. But that is not so bad, since I knew it was coming anyways and it’s not so bad, since I’ve been wanting a flat screen, anyways.’

But now – having realized that when my sons’ computer did this, it was actually the computer and not the monitor – well, hell’s bells! I might as well go back to bed.

At the same time this is happening, my brand new ThinkPad is not cooperating.

I think I quit.

I have issues connecting, sometimes with people, but, the ‘connection issue’ that has me so flustrated right now has more to do with electronics. My dad (the Coolest dad EVER!) gave me a very nice laptop recently. I have frequently been the receiver of his techno-hand-me-downs when he purchases new stuff for himself, but, this time – after a couple of twists of fate – I wound up with a brand new IBM Thinkpad T61. This bad boy ROCKS! Rocks my socks – I’m completely in love, I tell you!

So, what, in Heaven’s name, then, could be the issue?! Let me tell you! I cannot stay connected to the internet unless I am in the room with the wireless router. It is really bumming me out.

Take now, for instance, I’m not feeling very well (icky migraine again – ugh!) and I am much more comfortable in my bedroom. It is a very comfy room, after all, and I’ve got my grandmother’s blanket on my lap – you just can’t get much better than that! So I came in here and I’m typing my posts up in Word, to be transferred later.

There were two times that I was actually able to connect while in my bedroom, but, they were very short-lived. It was funny, though, because, the second time, I got so excited – I actually got sick to my stomach! What a goof! Well, I really thought I had figured it out and I was just thrilled that it was actually going to happen! (Or so I thought.)

I think I just need a more powerful router, as it is obviously not a compatibility issue, since I can connect while I’m in there. It might just be that this super-duper snazzy new machine is just too much for that old router!

And this lovely, but, somewhat jumbled, post – I wrote Sept. 30th. Heh.
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So here I am again, blogging in bed – only, with no connection to the internet. My router is probably less than fifteen feet away and I just can’t seem to get the two to hook up. It’s like when the kids were little and I would introduce them to new, potential friends and none of them would talk, and the other mother and I would just smile at each other nervously, wondering what is wrong with our children, that they just can’t seem to connect.

I did, actually, get this laptop connected…although it was less than one foot away from the router. 😛 Not entirely exciting, but, it juiced me up. I took it as a small victory, and excitedly told my Skype buddy on my desktop I had to go to bed… I was finally getting a chance to blog in bed! (Funny dream, but, that’s my dream right now. Hey, I’m easy to please. Or – apparently not, since it’s not happening….) Anyway, by the time I got to the bedroom and opened the laptop back up, it had disconnected.

I have only been able to establish a connection once since then, and it only lasted for a minute or two. And I’m afraid I’ve messed something up with the settings now, because, I’ve been working with it so much to make it happen since it actually did happen, you know? Mark says I should take it up to our computer guy in town and see if he can set it up for me. I hate letting other people touch my computers, even if they are professionals. I will probably do that, though. And this week would be a good time, as Mark is not working that much. That is, of course, if the computer guy doesn’t charge me, as Mark isn’t working that much.

There is some good that is coming out of this, however. For starters, this new machine is running Vista, and there is a lot for me to learn on it. And one of the big things is Word – it is so different! Lots of new features and toys! Or maybe they are just more laid out for you to see, I don’t know, but, it seems like a whole different banana. And another good thing – I’m not online – where there are ALL kinds of distracting things…like email and message boards! So what am I doing? I’m actually writing! Just writing, no distractions. That is a good thing!

I can’t believe I’d actually say this, because, I’ve been wanting mobile internet for so long, but, I think a part of me will actually be disappointed when it does happen.

Now that’s just crazy talk.

I’ve been wanting to do this forever. Why? That’s just the kind of bum that I am.
And now with this fancy-schmancy new IBM Thinkpad, I can do just that!

Unfortunately, I am way too sleepy right now to really enjoy it even in the slightest – in fact I am sure this is just a downright boring post. There’s really not much I can do about that – except to just give up until morning. And who knows – things might not be any more exciting then, either.

But, at this point, I could really care less whether my words are exciting or not, I am just pleased as freaking punch to be stringing words together from the comfort of my bed.

I love it. I truly love it.

And tomorrow I may ‘Blog from the Balcony’.

Life can be sweet – sometimes.
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Ok, so I’m a major goofball – I wrote this post on September 16th, and I am just now getting around to posting it. HA!