#iSad

in ,

I've been working on this post for days now.  I actually began writing it when the announcement was made heralding the arrival of the iPhone 4Gs.  Sadly, that news was quickly shadowed with the passing of Steve Jobs.  Steve Jobs: talk about an amazing man.  Suddenly my post seemed trite and completely inappropriate however; I am completely inappropriate so - I'm running with it. I am an incredibly loyal apple customer.  As I type on my MacBook Pro my iPhone 4Gs sits on the pillow next to me - my iPod classic is playing in my Bose dock (my iPod nano is in my purse - along with my old iPhone 3G).  While the previous sentence may have very clearly illustrated the fact that I'm a consumer whore it is none the less a testament to the fact that apple makes a quality product that people enjoy using.

I grew up in the Mac generation.  My elementary school had a computer lab filled with the Macintosh Classic.  I played on them for hours after school - claris works, Where in the World Is Carmen San Diego?, Oregon Trail, Kid Pix (that one was my fav).  When I was in 6th grade my Mom bought a computer for the house - a big bulky desktop - I think it was the Macintosh II.  I remember my Mom getting issued an ibook at work - it was a gorgeous clamshell design - that was colorful - blueberry!

What's my point?  I literally grew up with Apple.  As Apple was getting an education in the needs of their consumers - I was getting an education in the way of the world.  We learned what works and what doesn't, we learned what people like and what they don't, we learned that change is constant, and we learned that we're far more successful when we trust.  Trust in anything - whether it be an idea, a person or ourselves.

I have been looking forward to the release of the iPhone 4Gs for quite some time - I've been trusting that Apple would work out the kinks they experienced with the 4G.  The 4Gs is amazing.  The newest bit of coolness?  Siri!  It is a voice recognizing talking assistant.  I can pick up my phone and say 'Do I need my umbrella today?' - Siri will provide me a weather forecast for my location.  You can actually train Siri - you can teach it when you leave work and schedule reminders around such times.  My favorite part is that you can dictate text for emails or texting.  Lovely.

I find the 4Gs to be incredibly impressive - which is why I was dismayed that it didn't get rave reviews.  People wanted more.  They thought it was too similar to the the 4G.  A voice recognizing talking assistant that you can train isn't good enough for you?!  What more do you want?!  This is your phone - not your super computer!

I'll tell you what, Steve Jobs (like myself) knew that the iPhone 4Gs is badass.  He didn't wonder if he could have done more - he didn't wonder if they should have changed the design - he knew that he took a quality product (the iPhone 4G) and made it better.  For the record, adding Siri is waaay more than making it better....it's going to change everything.

I stumbled across the commencement speech given by Steve Jobs at Stanford in 2005.   During the speech he said:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

I don't think more valuable advice could be given to recent graduates.  Listening to my inner voice and trusting my intuition has been the greatest contributor to my successes in life - when I crash and burn I almost always wish that I had done what I knew I should have done.  I truly believe that Steve Jobs success is directly related to the faith he had in his intuition.  He knew what he knew - and he trusted it.

I recently read a short piece by John Gruber.  Gruber was wondering why Jobs would deliver an address with grass stained shoes in hindsight he realized that Jobs was using his time and that the grass stains equalled time well spent.  I hope that in my own life I can cut through the bull shit with the same dexterity that Jobs was able to.  Grass stains - they just don't matter.  People not being impressed by Siri - who cares - they'll still buy the freakin' phone!

There is a quote from Jobs 2005 commencement speech floating around quite a bit where he speaks of death being Life's change agent.  Jobs' brush with death allowed him a daily change agent.  Allowing him to wake up and assess on a daily basis if change was needed.

So today, I'm going to follow Steve Jobs advice.  I'm going to live life to the fullest.  I'm going to enjoy my coffee - I'm going to enjoy my iPhone 4Gs and text with Siri - I'm going to take some photos of fall foliage and I'm going to read a good book.

What are you going to do today?

 

 

*Stay Hungry.  Stay Foolish*

Holy Smokes!

in

I finished up my weapons class today. I passed the 9mm and then I failed the shot gun (not too many people actually fail the shot gun). However today was amazing because I actually qualified on the m14! Holy smokes! The instructors have never seen someone fail the shot gun and then pass the rifle. What can I say I may not be Annie Oakley (or a sharp shooter) BUT I qualified on the m14 - woot woot!

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Florida

in

A brief update for my Nautie Friends: The weather in Florida has been abysmal.  Truly depressing really.  Here I was thinking I'd get a little fun in the sun.  No such luck!

Randomly, I'm taking small arms training.  The 9mm, the M14 and the shot gun.  Good times, good times.....NOT!

Today I sliced my finger open while combat loading the shot gun.  Yeah, you heard me....combat loading the shot gun.  As if I would ever actually need to combat load a shot gun....

October 6th 1004 @ 59 deg F

in

I woke up this morning and it was 59 degrees in the house.  Does anyone else think that's too cold?  I upped the thermostat to 65 and turned the heat on.  The problem is that it is only October 6th!  Yikes! There was actually a frost alert last night!  I learned that while getting my hair styled - since I posted about bra's yesterday I won't go into the details - although I will say that I got it highlighted and it made me feel like an adult - I'll also say that I like it and that it looks good.  My plan was to go downtown for the hair appointment and then walk around downtown taking photos.  This didn't happen because I was too flippin' cold!  The wind was whipping down the streets and then every now and then there would be raindrops in the wind.  Next time I go on a photo safari I need to wear gloves (and my down parka).

When I was apartment hunting in Maine I kept seeing references to the 'time and temperature building'.  I just assumed it was a building that had a billboard featuring the time and temperature.  When I spotted the building yesterday I had to snap a shot - it was also incredibly appropriate because the time on my parking meter was running low and the temperature was frigid!

What temperature do you all keep your thermostats at?

Dad and Russ - Earmuffs!

in

Nautie Ladies! I had a life altering experience.

It seems like the washing machines at work destroy my bras - and this time out I wasn't as careful about having work bras and fun bras.  I've been wearing my three favorite bras over and over again - the lacey bits literally had holes in them!

I went to Victoria Secrets to buy some new bras.  The girl in the changing room area asked me if I wanted to get measured and I said, 'nah - I'm all set'.  I put on the first one and it was okay - then I put on the second one and it was okay too....then I notice that I grabbed the wrong size for the second one.  I thought it was kinda weird that they both seemed to fit since they were different sizes.  I poked my head out the door and said, 'excuse me - can I take you up on that sizing offer?'.

I've been wearing the wrong bra size for my entire adult life!  She kept handing me bra after bra in this new magical size and every single one of them made my boobies look fabulous!

I used to have trouble with the top of the cup gaping if the bra had padding...not anymo-0re!  Now I just have perkier boobs!

So ladies, the next time the lady asks you to get measured say, 'yes please!'.  Also, a public service announcement:  you should be remeasured every 6 months.

Yay for boobies!