Photo backup for dummies

Photo backup for dummies


I got my Christmas present early and it’s an Eye Fi enabled camera. What is that and why should you care?

Right now if I took a picture while my camera is in range of my wireless home network, the photo would be saved automatically to my computer’s external hard drive and simultaneously saved online to Picasa Web Albums. If I were away from home while taking pictures, this same automatic backup would occur when I turned on my camera in a wifi hotspot or when I returned home to my wireless network. With endless memory set up, you will never run out of room on your card. A percentage of the oldest, backed up pictures are automatically deleted to make room for more.

The advantages are many and include automatic backup of your photos, quick access to online photos for blogging, Facebook sharing and more, and no more deleting pictures from your memory card on the fly. The saving format is flexible, the online sites to back up to are numerous, and the number of cameras that accept Eye Fi cards cover the range of budgets. Best of all, the Eye Fi cards themselves won’t break most banks ranging from $40-$140 for two cards, depending on capacity. Some cards will do the same for video that they do for your photos.

Eye Fi won’t delete bad shots, order prints, or put scrapbooks together for you, but it can make your photographic life a lot easier.

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Attachment Disorder

Attachment Disorder

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Last week I descended to a new all-time level of dumb. I pulled into a gas station, filled up the tank, got my kids some Slurpees, and headed home. A block and a half away from the station, I looked out my side-view mirror and saw that I had a new piece of equipment on my car: Yep, I drove off with the pump and hose still hanging out of my tank.

I promptly freaked out, imagining a geyser of gas emanating from that station I had defaced, and pulled over. I threw the pump in the back and returned it with very little fanfare. Thankfully there was no gas geyser. The nice clerk smiled like one does at a special needs child and told me that I couldn’t fix it. “No,” he said, “it doesn’t just snap back on.” Oh.

One great thing about being a writer and speaker is that I can always make good use of my gaffs and griefs. I originally thought that this was a new low for me, but that’s not exactly true. I have battled attachment disorder before. You know, when you think you can just drive away from a bad relationship, and it doesn’t quite work out that way. You pay your dues and you think you’re done, only to discover that the other person isn’t done and makes quite a stink about it.

At least this time I didn’t spend all my time trying to fix what was broken by myself. I left it to the expert. All I had left to remind me of the relationship was a little gas (I mean the odor) and six kids who insisting on telling their father what I had done.

Photo by Debs (ò‿ó)♪ – http://flic.kr/p/7oPDyC

– Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

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Wake Up O Sleeper!

Wake Up O Sleeper!

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That's the reminder I need as I see my kids' childhood slip away day by day while I am transfixed by lesser things. I don't know why exactly, but I am awake now and laughing at the incredibly funny things my children say. There's nothing more entertaining than kids!

Me: Nick, I need to cut your fingernails. They're long.

Nick: They're not wong.

Me: Look at me. Say "lllllong" not "wong." (At that moment I wondered what on earth I was thinking. I LOVE how he says long. I held my breath as I waited for him to say it the 'right' way.

Nick: Or I could just say biggew. (translation: bigger).

********************************************************************

Me: Who knows how God made woman?

Ben: I know! He took a rib from Adam…and an elbow.

********************************************************************

Nick: Would it be okay if I made a mess if I clean it up?

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Wake Up O Sleeper!

A Fairy Tale Vacation

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I have decided to get real about vacations from now on and stop living in my fantasy world. You know, the fairy tale vacation that goes like this:

I am packed way ahead of time and my house is completely clean and organized as we head to the car. The kids are sound asleep for several hours and when they wake up they are healthy, grateful, and easy going. They have very little need to eat or use the restroom.

My husband has been a huge help and ensures that we leave on time. He is so thankful for all I’ve done to get ready that he insists on driving most of the way so I can rest. He trusts my navigating completely and spends the whole trip telling me how beautiful I am and telling me I can go wherever I would like to eat.

When we arrive, the weather is idyllic and the kids jump to help unload the car. They tell me, “Well sleep with whoever you want us to, Mom.” They follow up with, “Mom, go ahead and put the video games away. We just want to enjoy God’s creation and time with our friends.” No one gets bored or sunburned.

I just love that story, don’t you?

A Fairy Tale Vacation

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Wake Up O Sleeper!

Goals Be Gone!

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I should have listened to Gregg and stayed list-less! Even a goal list can give me fits. I found myself feeling guilty and avoiding things that I honestly want to do simply because it was on my list! It has me agreeing with a woman in Playa del Carmen this January who told me, "I don't know what your experience has been, but I think psychologists are pretty crazy." Imagine the look on her face when I told her I was a psychologist. LOL But I couldn't have agreed more!

I'm going to adopt my 4yo's philosophy of life–I'm just going to go after what I want. It's what I was doing for four months and I was never happier. In fact, I am going back to making a happiness list. I have a dated journal that I will be writing in most evenings. It's such good therapy for me! My happiness list is a no-pressure way of looking not only for things to be grateful for but things I've accomplished.

Big on my list today was surprising my kids by taking them to a new restaurant. I ordered them into the car with shoes and coats on. The oldest were certain that I was taking them to the dentist. LOL I even took time to turn the car around so the 4yo could see the neighbors' snowman. I have also enjoyed starting a sane organization of digital photos (I'm putting them in folders by year and month and noting any special events in the file name, but that is ALL!). Thank you Bit Literacy by Mark Hurst! Finally, I'm happy that the summer I spent writing So You're Not Wonder Woman was not wasted on an acquaintance I talked with tonight. She was so glad that I was real in the book. She makes me want to be real ALL the time.

I'll check back next December and see how many of those goals I accomplished. Right now I plan to accomplish some dessert. LOL My little guy is making me hungry!

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One Month Gone Already?

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I wanted to update my goals list which Toodledo has rearranged into a crazy mish-mash. Sorry. I'm going to highlight all those that are on target and cross off those that are complete. I have changed a number of them again. 😉 I'm on track with 23 of them and finished with 5. I still have my work cut out for me. LOL

52.  Get up early for devotions consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

65.  Read blogs regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

66.  Document 1000 hours of instruction
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

67.  Set a fitness goal for summer and reach it
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

68.  Spend time outside consistently in good weather
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

69.  Have a family movie night regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

70.  Create fitness ministry video
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

71.  Help fitness ministry with publicity before I leave
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

72.  Have house clean and orderly before I go to Cancun
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

73.  Purge files from each computer at least twice
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

74.  Write four hand-written letters
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

64. Create another video for church
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

63.  Organize and start a ministry to get kids involved in worship
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

53.  Thoroughly clean and organize kids’ bathroom
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

54.  Plan and prepare for next school year
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

55. Post on Facebook regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

56.  Spend at least 20 hours working on motivational book
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

57.  Purge and organize main floor and basement pantry
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

58.  Plan a family trip to Chicago and Michigan
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

59.  Clean out MBR closet
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

60.  Make a list of potential subjects for What Kids Need to Know
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

61. Make Happiness List daily
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

62.  Develop a list of ideas for a speakers series at church
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

75.  Spend at least one evening making homemade cards
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

76.  Limit kids’ total media use consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

77.  Take the kids somewhere on the train
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

90.  Memorize Psalm 34
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

91.  Read College Prep Homeschooling
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

92.  Have niece and fiancée over for dinner
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

93.  Take other niece out for dinner
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

94.  Plan homeschool co-ops for the rest of the year
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

95.  Eat at Dave & Busters
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

96.  Finish retreat publicity
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

97.  Prepare for Idaho retreat
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

98.  Reduce use of omgosh and the like
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

99.  Focus thinking re: Philippians daily (pure, lovely, true, etc.)
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

89.  Have another food competition with neighbors
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

88.  Work on junk journal once a week
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

78.  Go on a hot air balloon ride
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

79.  Use a craft kit with kids
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

80. Purge MBR bookshelf
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

81.  Draft a women’s Bible study video series idea
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

82. Dh or me take each child out for breakfast alone
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

83.  Complete videography course that I own
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

84.  Create a homeschool forensics team
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

85.  Work through singing videos
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

86. Lead a youth Bible study
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

87.  Organize junk journal class
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

100.    Write Creative Connections
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

1.      Purge and organize basement storage room
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

15.  Bake from scratch twice a month
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

16.  Focus on staying relaxed
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

18.  Get kids up on time consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

19.  Do laundry more consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

20.  Use a meal plan the majority of the time
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

21.  Read most scheduled Omnibus books
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

22.  Limit recreational computer time
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

23. Clean email inbox out regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

24.Purge blogs and mail lists to most important
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

25.  Develop tennis serve enough to serve hard every first serve for at least 1 league
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

14.  Make 22 meals for the freezer in a day
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

13.  Wash MBR comforter
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

2.      Organize printed photos once a month
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

3.      Have Disney photobook printed
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

4.      Clean out office sewing closet
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

5.      Finish Impossible People Bible Study
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

6.      Clean upstairs carpet
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

8.      See dentist
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

9.      Have youngest’s cavity filled
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

10.  Take dog to vet
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

11.  Organize contents of over-sized art files
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

12.  Work on home photo projects once a month
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

26.  Read at least 24 books for recreation
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

27.  Teach piano once a week
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

28.  Practice piano regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

41.  Finish filing in the school room
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

42. Purge school room files
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

43.  Organize all digital photos into mo/yr files
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

44. Clean out all freezers
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

45.  Watch at least one full season of Little House on the Prairie
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

46.  Take friend out for lunch 4 times
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

47.  Organize marriage Bible study
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

48.  Keep closet floor picked up consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

49.  Plan and hold Caleb & Sam’s birthday party
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

50. Play laser tag as a family
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

40.  Enforce bedtimes consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

39.  Read bedtime stories to youngest regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

29.  Refuse enough unnecessary purchases to donate $1000 to charity
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

30.  Train dog regularly
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

31.  Purge my clothes
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

32.  Blog on both blogs consistently
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

33.  Have a family game night at least once a month
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

34.  Have a family reading/devotion night at least twice a month
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

35.  Finish reading chronological Bible
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

36.  Plan an outing to the winery with friends
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

37. Take the kids somewhere new
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

38.  Plan a picnic in Sullivan with Mom
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

51.  Finish and edit The Playbook
               Due: Dec 31, 2010

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