Writer's Block: Internet: Back in Time

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Well, I was an early adapter to the Internet -- using e-mail back when I was in college. 'Course, back then everything was text, but that wasn't a bad thing. Some of those early services like Listservs (now almost exclusively Yahoo Lists), Fanfic Net, various forums, etc are still around.
I think the biggest changes have been two-fold: Social Networking (AKA Web 2.0 or anything defined by User-generated content) such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and LifeJournal; and second - how I access stuff (I use my 3G-enabled Web OS Phone for an awful lot these days).
Social Networking is great because it allows you to keep up with friends, family, and acquiantences quickly as well as following news (iGoogle is great for that) or favorite celebs/causes/etc. 'Course, it can also get to be too much, and become a timesink - esp. the games on Facebook. And when it's not working right - that becomes a real bummer. I actually find I use Facebook and LiveJournal differently (tho' I do cross post stuff). Facebook I use for quick updates to friends, family, and people I know from work. LiveJournal is still where I feed my creative side when I have time -- posting about the fic I've posted to Fanfic Net (or other sites), write DVD and movie reviews, post my monthly Music Memes when I remember, and to be honest complain about "Life Stuff" I didn't dare post to Facebook where my boss could read it (since I no longer have a job at that particular place it's not as much of an issue).

Accessing the Internet from my phone is great! I have a Palm Pre, so it more or less runs off the Internet (which means I can read Fanfic Net wherever I am). But I actually get frustrated by websites that I can't view on my phone (no flash for example), like for example, I can't sign into Live Journal from my Pre (or Fanfic Net, for that matter - I can read stuff, but I can't post reviews, use storymarks, etc). But this morning, I checked my e-mail (both accounts), posted to Facebook, read the top status updates, checked the weather for my area at NOAA's website, and read a blog -- all from my phone while drinking my morning coffee on the sofa in the living room. I love that type of access!!! ('Specially since my main computer has dial-up, the Gateway has no Internet access at all, and the LapTop only gets Internet access in free Wi-Fi spots).

In some ways, I occasionally get nostalgic for the "old days" on-line -- when it was mostly college students, computer geeks, and media fans -- rather than now when everyone is on-line, but overall I think the progress made Internet-wise has been a good thing.

Now if I could just got high-speed at home!

--Olivia

First Snow Storm of the Season and it's a doozy!

Hi all,

Sorry to be so long since posting - life has been a complete mess, but more about that later, possibly in another post.

Last night (December 3rd) it really started to snow, pretty late, just before I went to bed.
I woke up this morning to eight inches of snow on the front deck and the proverbial "Winter Wonderland" - and it was still snowing! Kent County (mine) and the county directly south of us (Ottawa) were both under a Winter Storm Warning from the National Weather Service. The rest of West Michigan was under a Winter Storm Advisory. Most of the local school districts were closed (Including GR Public), and throughout the day whenever I checked more businesses, churches, schools, and services were closed due to weather. According to the local news, scores of minor accidents littered the local roads; and the expressway I-94 was closed at midday due to numerous pile-ups. And the original weather alerts are supposed to last 'til 4pm today, tho' looking outside it seems like it's stopped snowing. Glancing out the back deck, I'd say we got at least 10 inches of snow total. Some of the LakeShore communities were reporting a foot of snow during the noon local newscast (NBC, WOOD CH 8).

Here's the current lowdown from NOAA:

Temp: 28 Degrees F (-2 Degrees C)
Humidity: 75%
Wind Chill: 19 F (-7 C)
Wind Speed: SW 9 MPH
Percip: Light Snow
Winter Storm Warning in Effect Until 4 pm

But I must admit, after the extremely wet and rainy October and November -- having nice, bright snow today and last night has raised my spirits a little bit.

Now -- onto the personal things, eg why I haven't been on here that much lately.

I lost my job in September. I really liked my job, so this made me depressed.
But, I DID go to my training class in Chicago (SQL Server 2008 - Microsoft's Database Platform). Overall, it went pretty well, EXCEPT that I was supposed to have four classes in 10 days -- and when I got there it was two classes in eight days, and I didn't get any refund for the difference. However, I did get to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Hancock Tower, and the Field Museum during my trip. (Note for any travelers going to Chicago -- Citypass? Definitely worth it!!!) I was in Chicago for almost two whole weeks, so during the weekend between the first and second week of training I took the Metra train downtown. I also found that using the Metra is real easy, and inexpensive (this was true the last time I was on a business trip to Chicago). The CTA, otoh, is really confusing. Not too expensive (get a daily pass from a CVS Pharmacy or a 3-day pass in Union Station when you get off the Metra) but trying to figure out the bus lines, and even worse -- the schedules, on a weekend, was a bit of a mess. (I got where I needed to go eventually but it took a while sometimes).

Since getting back from Chicago, I've been trying to pass my Microsoft Exams. Right now, I'm still working on #70-433 (MCTS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Database Development). I failed the exam twice -- and I don't normally fail tests. The second time, though, there were equipment problems at the test office, so I got a free re-take (which is Monday), so I've been going through my books again, plus doing practice tests.
I just need to pass the &%$#@*%* thing, so I can go on to study for the Admin test (MCTS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Implementation and Maintenance), which I figured I'd take second because I thought it would be harder -- and now I'm beginning to think it would actually be easier. And then I can really, really job hunt. And I SO want to move out of Michigan, hopefully to a bigger city.

Oh -- and last weekend, my sister-in-law's mother fell down the stairs, broke her tibia, fibia, and patella, and she's STILL in a hospital in Traverse City. My sister-in-law was up there with her; leaving my brother alone with the twins. Fortuantely, she is getting better, and I haven't had to do too much extra running over to Grand Haven (just don't tell Microsoft that!)

OH -- and one other thing. This week, Weds, I found out my cat, Cal (short for Caligari) is diabetic. So now he's on special food (not a big deal) and needs insulin shots twice a day, which I need to give him. Fortunately, he's good about it - but it still freaks me out a little bit.

--Olivia

That'