iMac Wireless Keyboard Shortcuts

Posted on 30. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in technical

My new iMac has a wireless keyboard. It’s great because it’s shorter than a regular keyboard, since it doesn’t include the number keys to the right. That gives me more space to move my mouse around. Unfortunately, it also means that it doesn’t have page up, page down, home, end, or forward delete keys.

Here are keyboard shortcuts to compensate for their loss:

fn + ↑ = Page up
fn + ↓ = Page down
fn + delete = Forward delete
⌘ + → = End
⌘ + ← = Home
⌘ + ↑ = Top of page
⌘ + ↓ = Bottom of page

Here are some other keyboard tips I learned since switching from Mac to PC:

Emails:
Shift + ⌘ + U = Keep email as new
Shift + ⌘ + L = Flag email
Print Screen:
Shift + ⌘ + 3 = Saves whole screen as png
Shift + ⌘ + 4 = Drag to select which portion to copy

Mouse:
ctrl + click = right click
System:
Option + ⌘ + Esc = Force quit
Click while turning on computer = Eject disk

I’ve printed out this list and taped it on my monitor. I hope I memorize them all soon!

Photos from our roadtrip to Escondido

Posted on 29. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, travel

There was lots of traffic on Wednesday when we headed down to my mother and stepfather’s house in Escondido, so we took the 5 Freeway instead of taking the 210 to the 15. (For you non-Southern Californians, we put “the” before a freeway name. It’s a sign of respect.) My husband drove, so I decided to beat the boredom by taking a picture approximately every 10 minutes. Here are the most interesting ones:

It was raining off and on, so the clouds were very dramatic.

When you don’t know what to take a picture of, ask a teenager. My kids formed this heart with their hands in about 2 seconds.

I wonder who’s buried here?

What does Mickey have to do with feminine protection? I’m so confused by this truck.

Over the river and through the woods…yes, this is a dried up river.

My husband eventually agreed to hooking up my daughter’s iPod. I like her taste in music. “Love” by Matt White is one of my all-time favorite songs. I first heard it in the movie “Little Manhattan.”

Here’s the piano store where we bought our upright piano many years ago. I wish the kids still played. But, at least they’re doing what they enjoy now, and my son still plays an instrument (guitar).

This reminded me that we packed our new DVD set of Peanuts holiday specials. I love Peanuts, but these days it’s tied with Pearls Before Swine.

Here are the palm trees across from the gas station we stopped at in Anaheim.

Taking pictures got tough when it got dark. They all started to look the same.

Why don’t all 7-Elevens have restrooms? Why? Why? Why???

I didn’t take pictures on the way back. The 15 Freeway isn’t nearly as interesting. Even the immigration checkpoint was closed today.

67% percent of my mail wants me to part with my money

Posted on 28. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in environment, my life, startling statistics, things that bug me

When I was in college, I couldn’t wait to get the mail. I’d receive letters from home and faraway friends, and occasionally the package of homemade cookies from Grandma “D”. (Yes, that’s what we called her. Her last name was too long for young kids long ago.)

These days, I have to have a reminder on my computer to get the mail. After tallying up my incoming mail for a week, I can see why. Here’s what I received within the week ending this past Monday:

• 15 catalogs
• 13 charitable solicitations
• 13 other ads
• 8 bills
• 10 magazines
• 14 other pieces (invitations, college brochures, thank you notes, etc.)

Between the stores, charities, and bills that want (and demand) my money, that’s 67% of my incoming mail. The catalog count would be much higher, but a year ago I signed up for several services that promised to cancel catalogs for me. I’ve also actually sent letters to catalogs that are sneaking through asking to be taken off of their mailing lists.

I wonder how much paper is wasted on me? I’m going to cancel some of those magazines, since I don’t read them all anyway.

Now to figure out how to streamline my email. Thankfully, the Mail program on my new iMac is helping out with that. I love Smart Mailboxes!!

How we remembered Thanksgiving’s true meaning

Posted on 27. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life

It’s easy to gloss over the true meaning of Thanksgiving. Wake up late, watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, take advantage of the 25% off total purchase coupon at Sport Authority (hypothetically speaking, of course, hahaha) and eat lots of yummy food. Maybe someone says a nice, long grace, but that’s often about it.

This year was different. I asked everyone at our celebration to name something they’re thankful for, and suggested that we go around the table a few times to make sure people didn’t feel pressure to come up with the “perfect” thing to give thanks for.

I’m thankful for so many things. I could have gone on for a long, long time. I’m thankful that my daughter hasn’t gotten into an accident driving, that our country hasn’t been attacked like on 9/11 again, that my family is healthy, that we’re doing ok financially, that I have loving family and friends, and so much more.

I love that I live in a country that’s made a holiday out of being thankful. I think that’s really cool.

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

What if we run out of ink?

Posted on 26. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics, startling statistics

According to today’s NYTimes,

The Federal Reserve and the Treasury announced $800 billion in new lending programs on Tuesday, sending a message that they would print as much money as needed to revive the nation’s crippled banking system.

Isn’t this throwing good money after bad? Won’t this lead to inflation? Isn’t this something that Third World economies do? What if we run out of ink and paper?

How about this shocking statistic?

In the last year, the government has assumed about $7.8 trillion in direct and indirect financial obligations. That is equal to about half the size of the nation’s entire economy and far eclipses the $700 billion that Congress authorized for the Treasury’s financial rescue plan.

Wow. Our children will be paying this back for a long, long time. Or rather, our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, etc. They’d better be pretty darn great to pay all this back!

After I wrote the above paragraph, I read Thomas Friedman’s excellent analysis of the current economic crisis. Here’s what he says about our progeny:

That’s how we got here — a near total breakdown of responsibility at every link in our financial chain, and now we either bail out the people who brought us here or risk a total systemic crash. These are the wages of our sins. I used to say our kids will pay dearly for this. But actually, it’s our problem. For the next few years we’re all going to be working harder for less money and fewer government services — if we’re lucky.

What would you do with these colorful CDs?

Posted on 25. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in art, technical

Back in the old days, before iStockPhoto, I spend oodles of money on CDs full of clip art. It seemed amazing at the time, but it’s so much quicker to find inexpensive stock photos and clip art on the internet that I haven’t used my clip art CDs in years.

Here are some CDs I found lying around my office. They’re so colorful that I didn’t want to toss them, yet I don’t know what to do with them. All I could think of was to hang them from our orange tree at Christmas time, but I think the oranges are prettier. I could make ornaments out of them, but my kids would react with horror if I compromised our tree’s gorgeous blue and silver theme.

If you want these, please let me know. The best idea in the comments wins. You can either pick them up here or I’ll drop them off at your house. Local deliveries only.

I just updated my “How to Join Facebook” page

Posted on 24. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in social networking

Do you want to join Facebook but you’re not sure where to start? Then check out my “How to Join Facebook: Easy Instruction Guide for Adults (or Anyone!)” page. It has step-by-step instructions on how to join Facebook, post pictures, send messages, and set privacy settings.

Here’s a quick list of some of the reasons I’ve appreciated Facebook this year:

• Reconnecting with gals who were in my childhood Brownie troop and people who lived in my old neighborhood
• Having lunch in Santa Barbara with a college friend who graduated in a different class who I don’t see at reunions
• Staying in touch with friends in Pakistan, China and France
• Easy sharing of pictures with friends, and the ability to “tag” the people in them
• Easy sharing of articles and websites with Facebook friends
• Great source for information and advice. My Facebook friends gave me terrific, unbiased advice when I was deciding whether to switch from PC to Mac.
• Having a group for people in my college graduation class, which makes writing class notes MUCH easier!
• Keeping up with what’s going on with my kids. Actually, I hardly do this at all via Facebook, since I talk to them all the time, but if they were in college, I’d REALLY appreciate this.

Facebook can take up as much or as little time as you wish; it’s up to you. Hopefully this guide will help you to use it wisely and get the most out of it.

Jack is Back!

Posted on 23. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in international, tv

I took a break from my love affair with my new iMac to watch “24 Redemption” this evening. Jack Bauer is saving the world once again, this time from African warlords and the people who fund them.

I was impressed that there were commercials encouraging people to donate to MalariaNoMore and to learn more about the use of child soldiers. Maybe this show will make a positive difference in the world.

It was also cool to see a woman president. I hope Barack Obama’s first day in office isn’t as eventful as hers is. Too bad Obama doesn’t have a real-life Jack Bauer to back him up.

I loved the preview for the upcoming season. My favorite line was Chloe’s: “I’m just a stay-at-home mom.”

Oh, Chloe. Never say “just” a stay-at-home mom. Like all other moms, I’m sure you’ll prove yourself pretty quickly!

Don’t forget the remote!

Posted on 22. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in local news

Yesterday was the last day of bulky item trash week in La Canada. The local trash companies picked up items that were too big for the regular trash. People piled bureaus, fountains, bookcases and much, much more at their curbsides.

Before the garbage trucks arrived, independent scavengers picked up what they wanted. It was common to see rickety trucks piled high with metal refuse, hopefully with the intent of recycling it.

When I walked my dog today, I saw these two tv remotes lying by the side of the road a few blocks away from each other. I bet that their owners put their big old televisions out in hopes that someone would appreciate them and use them, and were considerate enough to include the remotes. Either the people taking the televisions didn’t notice the remotes, or they didn’t need them since they were scrapping the televisions anyway.

If so, what does that say about how wealthy our country is that people don’t even want a free, working tv? Or that we’re willing to get rid of something that works?

Switching from a PC to a Mac is like a painful divorce

Posted on 21. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, technical

I’m divorcing Mr. PC. We were married 17 years, but for the last few years he’s been cheating and coming home with viruses, he’s aged prematurely, and he’s treated the children poorly. I’m moving on to the first home computer I met, Mr. Mac. He was too immature for me back in 1985, and would lose my data if I asked too much of him. By 1991, when I was ready to make a commitment, he was too expensive for my tastes. But our time has finally come, and I know we’ll have a beautiful life together.

There’s just one problem: Mr. PC and I still share custody of the kids. And boy, is he a bitter ex! I’m trying to prepare a space in my new computer for my kids: Money (17), Publisher (17), Access (15) and my little cutie, NetVisualize Favorites (3). Mr. PC will have none of it: he even made sure that Amazon.com sent me a corrupted Windows XP disk. What a sneaky guy! No wonder I’m leaving him!!

Thankfully, Amazon, who’s just a middleman, agreed to send me a new disk, and I should receive it on Monday. Until then, the kids will just have to stay with my Ex.

Divorce stinks.

Thankfully, I’m just divorcing my PC. My husband and I have been happily married for 21 years.  :)

Restaurants I Must Try, Cornucopia Salad and The Best Turkey Recipe Ever

Posted on 20. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in food

Susan C has a great post over on “Open Mouth, Insert Fork” titled “Baa Baa Gold Sheep” where she comments on Jonathan Gold’s recent post about 99 Essential LA Restaurants in the LA Weekly. I’ve linked to it on the right nav, and hope to remember it when I choose places to eat.

Here’s the recipe for the yummy Cornucopia Salad that Janna and I made for the gals at Parent Ed today. Allergies forced me to eat it sans apple, celery and almonds, but it was still wonderful. I think that as long as you add most of the ingredients and make the salad dressing, it’ll be great. It has lots of ingredients, so you might want to save it for when you’re feeding lots of people. Hmm…when might that be?

Also, here’s last year’s post about the Best Turkey Recipe I mentioned in class today. It really was wonderful, and I highly recommend it.

Gobble gobble!!

Why companies should hire editors for their websites

Posted on 20. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in technical, things that bug me

I’m trying really hard to purchase the best software for my new iMac. I’ve read reviews, talked to friends and Apple Geniuses, and visited company websites.

I finally decided to purchase Parallels so that I could run Windows XP (and therefore, Access and Publisher). I visited what I think (thought?) was the Parallels website, via a link on the MacWorld website, but I’m not impressed by the incorrect grammar on their landing page.

How can I trust that their software is correctly coded if their website isn’t correctly worded?

I must investigate further. I’d be much more willing to give them my money if I had more confidence in them.

MeOW! The mountain lion is back!

Posted on 18. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in animals, environment, local news

La Canada residents shouldn’t let down their guard since a mountain lion was shot and killed in Arcadia. According to Debbie Johannes, who is operating the mountain lion hotline, since that lion was captured,

The bad news is that the 180 pound male cat’s back and was sited again at 849 Green Lane. A little girl riding her scooter in her front yard came face to face with the cat.

This may be the same lion that nearly killed the dog up on Castle Knoll.

If you see a mountain lion in a residential area, you should call 911. Then, please call the Finney and Friends hotline number at . This group is keeping track of local mountain lion sitings so that authorities can have a clear picture of what’s happening in our area.

I always get confused about what to do with different animals. Should I stay or should I go now? If I stay there will be trouble, if I go it will be double. C’mon and let me know…should I stay or should I go?

Here’s the scoop on safety tips:

• Mountain lion: Stay calm, act bigger, gather children close, fight back if attacked. DON’T RUN! DON’T TURN YOUR BACK!!
• Coyote: Make lots of noise, throw rocks, appear as big as possible, chase IT away. DON’T RUN AWAY!!
• Black Bear: Make your presence known, stay calm, make sure the bear knows you’re human by talking and waving your arms, through something to the ground to distract it. If the bear attacks you, FIGHT BACK! DON’T RUN AWAY!! Once the bear starts to leave, be quiet until you’re sure it’s gone.
• Rattlesnake: Wear over the ankle boots and loose-fitting, long pants. If you’re bitten, wash the area, keep it still, and remove watches or rings that may inhibit swelling.

Here’s a picture of a mountain lion that was spotted beneath a bridge on the La Canada JPL campus back in January, 2008:

Perhaps I won’t be walking my little dog in Hahamongna!

Why I don’t trust Charter Cable

Posted on 16. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, things that bug me, tv

After reading an article about cancelling premium cable tv channels and switching to Netflix, I checked our bill to see how much money we were wasting on HBO, Showtime, Cinemax and Starz. Sure enough, we were spending $36/month on these channels that we hardly ever watch unless we’ve set our Tivo to record their shows. It didn’t cost nearly that much when we’d signed up, but at some point the price went up. I convinced my husband we should cancel these premium cable channels, and put a call in to Charter this morning. Their representative said they would lower my bill by $40/month, and I could keep my premium channels. I’ll keep this rate for a year, after which I can cancel the channels. So I set up a “Memo to Me” reminder to call Charter in a year and get another deal.

I’m glad I’ll save money, but I’m annoyed that I only got the good deal by being an organized, squeaky wheel. I wish they’d just price their services at the same price for everyone, and not only give good prices to people that complain. I wonder how much money I’ve lost by not complaining more often. Hopefully I’ve figured out their system now.

I’d still rather use Netflix, but I won’t go to the mat for it. I don’t watch that much tv anyway.

Targeted chewing

Posted on 16. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in animals

Is it coincidental that my dog chewed up the directions to his harness?

I don’t think so.

Small plane spotted in Temple City

Posted on 15. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in technical, videos

I watched an airshow today on the Temple City High School athletic field. As my son chugged water in preparation for his hydration test, I watched a man fly a 15-oz. plane against clear blue skies with the San Gabriel mountains as a backdrop.

The plane was made of a material that was a lot like foamcore, but stronger. It ran on a lithium battery that lasts 10 minutes. The man flying the plane said it was very sensitive, and therefore tough to fly. It cost about $250, and his controller cost about $180. Here’s what the underbelly looked like:

The man operating the plane was very good at it. He could make it stall out, spiral to the earth, and then recover just in time to avoid crashing. He did loop-the-loops, and could fly it like a helicopter. (see right) He was also expert at flying the plane upside down. He agreed that it was like driving on the wrong side of the road, since you had to do the opposite of what you’d normally do.

One of the best parts about this plane was that it was extremely quiet. Just listen to the video below: at most, you’ll hear something that sounds like a loud mosquito buzzing. I’m sure this didn’t bother any of the neighbors, unlike some model planes.

I think my father-in-law would love this, since he used to be an airline mechanic.

On our way home, we could see both the Sylmar fire and the one out in Chino, and within hours, the sky darkened and we could smell smoke. Hopefully they’ll put them out soon.

Why I just ordered my first Mac

Posted on 14. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, social networking, technical, things that bug me

When I purchased my first home computer in 1991, I chose to get a PC because it was much cheaper than a Mac and there were more programs for it.

PCs have served me well enough over the years. I run my website design business and do lots of volunteer work on my PC.

But I’m sick and tired of:

• Being afraid to update programs because when I have in the past, my computer has stopped working
• Waiting forever for the computer to turn on or off
• Getting random error messages when I try to turn the computer off
• Pop-up ads, even when I try to block them

So this week, when my computer started giving me low memory issues (I had less than 1% of my hard drive free) I figured it was time to get a new computer. I thought my computer was much older than it actually is. I’ve been going around telling people it’s 6 or 7, when actually it’s 4.5. Bad genes, I guess. It just acts old.

I’ve always been intrigued by claims that Macs are easier to work with and cause less hassles than PCs, but I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to run some of my favorite programs (Access, Money, NetVisualize Favorites) on a Mac. I posted a “Mac or PC” question on Yahoo Answers, and 7 out of 8 people said I should get another PC. Most didn’t offer supporting details. When I posted my dilemma on Facebook, 10 friends responded, and ALL of them gave me good reasons why I should get a Mac.

I ordered my iMac this evening, and can’t wait for it to arrive!!

Google knows when and where you’re sick

Posted on 12. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in cool websites, health, my life, things that bug me

As much as I love the Minute Clinic at CVS, I struck out there yesterday. Besides the fact that they wouldn’t give my daughter a physical for her athletic clearance, they denied me a pneumonia shot because I’m 20 years too young. It didn’t matter that I informed them that I’ve had pneumonia twice, and that the last time I got a shot was at their store many years ago. They needed proof of my illness or of my shot, and I have neither. So, when I find the time and screw up my courage again, I’ll figure out where my doctor recently moved her office and see if she can help me. At least she takes my insurance.

If I do get sick this year, it probably won’t surprise Big Brother Google. Today’s NY Times details how Google has compared regional searches of certain terms like “flu symptoms” to Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports and found that they align nearly perfectly. Because Google knows its results instantly, and doesn’t require manpower to gather the data, this could prove to be a valuable tool in predicting the path of illnesses so that preventive measures can be taken.

Hopefully I won’t be a bad statistic this year.

My POW bracelet: Honoring John George Graf of Glendale, CA

Posted on 11. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics

On November 15, 1969, John George Graf was a crewmember aboard an Army aircraft that was shot down in South Vietnam. He and the pilot, Robert T. White, ejected safely, but were captured by the enemy when they hit the ground.

White was released in 1973, but Graf never made it home. It’s possible that he drowned during an escape attempt in February, 1970, but that hasn’t been confirmed.

I purchased the POW bracelet for John G. Graf when I visited the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, D.C. several years ago. His hometown is listed as Glendale, CA, which is the next town over from us. I can’t imagine the pain that comes from the uncertainty of not knowing a loved one’s fate. If you’re reading this blog and you’re related to LCdr. Graf, I’d be honored to give you this bracelet. Click here to see postings by people who wore the same POW bracelet and who knew John (Jack) Graf.

War is lousy. Whether the motives are good or not, it’s a sad commentary on humans that we wage wars.

I respect the people that fight for our country, and pray that they get home safely.

Landing at a parent’s cellphone near you: Helicopter Children

Posted on 10. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, parenting

We parents can be so neurotic. We read articles and books and talk to other parents about everything from when to potty train to how to apply to college. Some parents cross the line and become Helicopter Parents, ready to swoop in and rescue their children from learning life’s lessons, even as they grow older.

Or so the media tells us. We’re often so anxious that we’ll believe any bad thing said about us!

It’s time for the Revenge of the Helicopter Parents. The truth is, it’s not just the parents who hover; it’s the kids, too! In Cell-Free: My Great Leap Backward, NY Times writer Michelle Slatella introduced me to a new term: Helicopter Children. All of a sudden, it all made sense:

“But for now, I was taking a break from my helicopter children. After months of feeling them hovering, constantly phoning my cell and going so far as to buzz me from another floor to ask if dinner was almost ready, I was feeling free.”

I can relate! A quick search of incoming text messages to my email address shows that my teens have:

• requested pasta for dinner
• asked me to confirm babysitting plans
• apologized for arguing on their way out the door
• asked me to bring a math spiral / lunch money / so much more to school
• asked to go to a friend’s house after school
• and lots more

I’m not complaining. I love that my kids and I can and do communicate in so many more ways than I ever could with my parents. I’m just happy to shift some of the burden of excessive communication to my kids, and realize that it’s not just me. Perhaps we’re co-dependent. I hope and believe that underneath it all, they’re independent, competent people who will find their own path in life. I’m just glad that they (hopefully) won’t completely abandon me.

A parent’s review of “Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist”

Posted on 09. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in movies, parenting

I finally saw “Nick & Nora’s Infinite Playlist” with my family last night. We all enjoyed this story of NJ teens who spend a whole night gaining self-confidence, getting to know each other better and backing each other up as they search for their elusive favorite band. There were great lessons about true friendship, and not surprisingly, the movie had a great indie soundtrack. I’d give it four stars.

It was odd that no parents were shown in the movie. I guess that’s not surprising, since these kids clearly had complete freedom from parental restrictions. I can’t imagine letting my high schoolers run around in New York City until dawn. When I was a teen growing up in NJ, we never imagined doing this. At least the main characters made a point of saying they choose not to drink.

It was a bit awkward to watch with my kids, who were completely embarrassed when I softly whispered “you know that isn’t appropriate!” when there was an implied sexual encounter. At least it was implied – if it wasn’t, the movie wouldn’t just be rated PC-13. Even though it’s PG-13, I wouldn’t take a kid to it unless they’re at least 14 or 15, and even then I’d watch it with them to provide some perspective.

Prop. 8 contributions skew conservative in La Canada

Posted on 07. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in my life, politics, social networking

Here’s some solid proof that La Canada is a conservative community:

Prop. 8 (Marriage = between a man and a woman):

Opposition:

• 32 people gave a total of $17,940 to oppose Proposition 8. (=avg. $598 / person)
• 4,458 people voted against it.

Support:

• 69 people gave a total of $285,554 to support Proposition 8. (=avg. $4,138.46 / person)
• 4,830 people voted for it.

President:

• Obama: 4,597
• McCain: 4,602

I haven’t blogged about Prop. 8 before, but I wish I had. I voted against it. I understand that many Christians voted for it based upon their beliefs, but I voted against it based on my Christian beliefs. I believe that God made some people gay, and if they truly love someone and want to declare that love publicly, I think that’s a beautiful thing. Not only does it not threaten my 21+ year marriage, but it makes me appreciate my marriage since this is something that homosexuals want so badly. On the other hand, I know people who are turned off from marriage because they’ve witnessed the ugliness of heterosexual divorce. I don’t want to get into a whole theological discussion about this, but I just wish that people would appreciate that one can still believe and yet vote a different way. (Here’s a shout out to my pastor, who told us last week we should prayerfully consider our vote, but didn’t tell us to vote a certain way. Love it!)

Last week I logged onto Facebook and saw a picture of a friend and his husband and daughter (so cute!) at the wedding of another gay couple, and a picture of another friend after her Mormon sealing ceremony. I think both of these people are absolutely wonderful, loving people. I don’t think that either side should assume the other side is evil or malicious, and I appreciate the wonderful people on either side.

On another note, I won the Rattling the Kettle contest to guess the number of electoral votes that Barack Obama would get. Yay!! I won a “Yes on 8″ sign, and need to decide what to do with it. Any suggestions?

Links:

• How La Canada Voted (La Canada Valley Sun)
• Proposition 8 Contributions from La Canadans: For  / Against / Summary sorted by name

The perfect art for a California office

Posted on 07. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in art

I was thrilled yesterday when we received an announcement from Scott Moore about two new lithographs he’d be offering. We had purchased his “California Highways” lithograph for my husband’s office awhile back, and everyone loves it. Now that the office has expanded, there’s more wall space to fill, so we’re on the prowl for more art.

Scott’s two newest pieces, “The California Desert” and “Rocket Inn” fit in perfectly with the vague “Route 66″ theme of some of the other pieces in the office. Besides “California Highways,” my husband also has Nelson De La Nuez’ “Route 66″ canvas work in his office. The Route 66 theme works because the office is on Colorado Blvd. in Pasadena, which is part of the old Route 66. Of course, not everything in the office has this theme. When my husband started his practice, we purchased some framed posters, several of which were of Ansel Adams’ work. That’s been supplemented by several of Ron Dietel’s exquisite black and white photographs of local nature scenes.

I highly recommend that you check out Scott’s website. Besides beautiful, reasonably-priced art, there’s a great section which explains how he created several of his pieces. After viewing his site, we also decided to purchase “America’s Railways.”

I can’t wait to receive the lithographs and get them framed! Too bad I won’t see them every day. I guess this means I need to visit my husband’s office more.  :)

Chipotle is finally open

Posted on 06. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in food, local news

Our little ‘burb now boasts its very own Chipotle. Woohoo! Let’s hear it for fresh, custom salads!

They were offering free food all day today, so that’s what I planned for dinner. When I brought my son over there, however, too many people in front of us and behind us were smoking, so I left. He stayed with a friend, and was done eating within 35 minutes.

Is there a limit to how close a smoker can be to a restaurant? Someone in line mentioned that. I’ve always hated the smell of cigarette smoke, and I didn’t want to be around it. I bet most smokers don’t realize how much their habit impacts others. Thankfully, it’s not usually an issue here in California,

What is “Private Suite”?

Posted on 06. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in things that bug me

I just got a phone call from , with a caller ID that said “Private Suite.” As soon as I started to speak, a recording said something like, “Sorry, wrong number.”

I think they were just trolling for valid phone numbers, and now that I’ve answered I’m destined to get more calls. Apparently I’m not the only one receiving these phone calls: click here and here and here.

I’m on the Do Not Call Registry, so I registered a complaint here. Hopefully that’ll work. I also tried calling the number back, and amazingly, I was able to press “1″ to ask to be removed from their calling list. I did, but who knows if that was wise?

The Obamas should rescue a dog

Posted on 05. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in animals, local news, my life, politics

Barack Obama promised his daughters that, win or lose, he’d get them a dog. Although Garrison Keilor may disagree, I think he should and will keep his promise.

This past summer, the American Kennel Club ran a “Presidential Pup” survey to see which dog people thought the Obamas should get. One of the Obama daughters has allergies, so the AKC narrowed the choices to the following breeds that are known to have hypoallergenic coats and stable, friendly dispositions: Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Poodle, Miniature Schnauzer, Bichon Frise, and Chinese Crested. The Poodle won, and the AKC has offered to help the Obamas choose a puppy or adult rescue dog.

I think a rescue dog would send a great message. There are far too many dogs and cats in need of good homes, especially in these difficult economic times. Locally, the Pasadena Humane Society installed two large trailers to house pets because they have about 33% more dogs and cats than they did a year ago.

Too bad their daughter has an allergy to some breeds, because it would be cool if the Obamas got a mixed-breed dog. We joke in our family that since we’re all such a mix of different races (esp. my husband and kids), it’s neat to have a dog that’s also a mix.

Either way, I’d recommend that the Obamas aim for the friendliest dog they can find. It’s easier to deal with annoying puppy behavior when the dog is full of love.

Re-visit the Oval Office you visited a week ago

Posted on 05. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics

Remember my Palin as President post, where you could click on items in the Oval Office and hear her messages? Check it out now.

I cried, I danced, I am in awe

Posted on 04. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics, social networking

It was a good night:

Breaking News Alert
The New York Times
Tuesday, November 4, 2008 — 11:08 PM ET
—–

Senator Obama Will Win Presidency

The New York Times projects that Barack Hussein Obama will be elected the 44th president of the United States, sweeping away the last racial barrier in American politics with ease.

I hope this is a watershed moment for our country, so we can move forward and effect positive change here and around the world.

Here are some of my favorite Facebook statuses my friends posted:

…can see clearly now the rain is gone…
…wants this man to succeed so much, wants to join in and do whatever is possible to make this only the first night of a long journey toward a better world.
…is SI SE PUEDE.
…Omg omg this is amazing… Everyone dancing. (from a friend at Grant Park in Chicago)
…has renewed faith in the intelligence of the American people!!!
…is surrounded by other cheering Americans, tears in his eyes. (a friend in China)
…is grinning like an idiot.
…thinks maybe this is our Berlin wall.
…is shedding tears of peace, love & joy.
…is remembering what it’s like to feel hopeful for our country. Got the chills!

and mine:

Kathy says “All Right Now!”
I’ll sleep well tonight.  :)

T’was the night before voting – A California poem

Posted on 03. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics

T’was the night before voting, when all through the town,
Not a creature was stirring, be they white, black or brown.

My ballot was mailed at the post office with care
In hopes that Obama’s chances would be more than fair

The teenagers were nestled all snug in their beds
Wearing “Obama” shirts just like they said.

While I at my computer, my dog on my lap,
Had just settled down for one last YouTube rap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Pulled up the miniblinds and knocked over the trash.

The moon through the branches of palm trees below
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects I know,

When, what to my wondering eyes should stop,
But a miniature hybrid, and the eighth mischievous prop,

With a talented driver, such a brain and a jock,
I knew in a moment his name was Barack.

More rapid than eagles the propositions they came,
So I whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;

“Yes on 1A! On 2-4! But no 5 through 7!
No on 8, 9 and 10! But yes on R, 12 and 11!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Be gone with you! Gone with you! Gone with you all!”

As dry leaves that before the wild Santa Anas fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,

So up to the house-top the Prius it flew,
With the car full of hope, and Obama too.

As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Obama came with a bound.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
Inspired all the voters; no task did he shirk,

And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;

He sprang to his hybrid, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew with the speed of a missile.

But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
“Happy Election Day to all, and to all a good-night.”

My vote for President isn’t worth much

Posted on 02. Nov, 2008 by kchristieh in politics, startling statistics

Each of the 55 delegates to the electoral college from California represents 410,647 eligible voters. If I lived in Wyoming, my vote would carry about 3x as much weight: each of their 3 delegates represents 134,783 eligible voters. At least I don’t live in Florida, whose 27 delegates each represent 479,878 eligible voters.

What ever happened to “one vote, one person”? It’s great in theory, but since the Constitution apportions electoral votes to states based on the total number of senators and representatives, and gives each state a minimum of at least three electoral votes, some votes have more influence than others.

Here’s a great chart from today’s NY Times article, “How Much is Your Vote Worth?” that graphically demonstrates how many people the electoral delegates from each state represent:

According to the aforementioned article,

The presidency could be won with just 22 percent of the electorate’s support, only 16 percent of the entire population’s.

That’s shameful. It encourages presidential candidates to do what they can to influence a small fraction of our country’s citizens, when they should actually care about all of them. It’s time for the system to be revised. The easiest way would be to do away with the electoral college. Another possibility would be to have electors cast their vote based upon the majority winner in their congressional district, and the two that are allocated to senators would vote based upon the popular vote of the state.

I’d be inclined to go with the first option, and scrap the electoral college, but the Oxford University Press blog points out some very valid points to consider before doing this:

The Electoral College is likely responsible for the American two-party system, since it encourages broad-based, inclusive parties, and discourages ideological or regional third parties. Texas billionaire Ross Perot got 19.7 million votes in 1992 and not a single electoral vote. If half a dozen parties put forward serious presidential candidates, would a plurality of the popular vote be convincing enough to elect a president? How small a percentage of that vote would be sufficient? Would we require a run-off election between the top two vote-getters? The replacement system might not be perfect either.

What do you think? Something needs to be done!