I Had An Experience Today!

Well it felt like an experience, but then again, it felt like being overwhelmed by technology. I went with Paul to the Apple Computer Store today. Now I want you to know I had no idea what that ment when we left the house. Indeed, a Computer Store was not a new thing to me. I have been in Office Max and Staples and seen any number of computers, but this was not that kind of an experience. No, it was rather an inspiring eye opener. I had no idea what a Mac Computer looked like. A small box, setting along side a huge screen and a very small and compact keyboard. White is the color.
I discovered the Mac Mini is no understatement. We have 'towers' that hold the makings of our computers. There sat this tiny flat box with more power and capablility than both of our present computers put together. One slot in the front that accepts whatever you are working with. The screen has a menu across the bottom which offers just about anything you would want to do, basically. If you need to be more business like, you might have to add one group of programs, but the only one we might use was 'works' so letters could be composed.
I could hardly get over the variety of things the store had going on. Different spaces for different things. One low space was for the children. Round balls for seats and two huge screen monitors that were connected to computers that were outfitted with darling programs for the small ones. Two boys that looked as if they might be 4 to 6 years in age were making them do all sorts of fun things. Music and games. One area with nothing but sound systems for iPods. Which was what brought us here in the first place.
Paul has been talking about getting a CD Player for some time. He waited too long it appears. When he went to Radio Schak they told him they did not carry them anymore. The iPod was what everyone was using. So Paul bought one. He has invested in a lot of CD's that have the Music he likes. Now he was excited to come back and get them down loaded so he could put them on the iPod. The only problem of course, his computer is too old and not capable of doing the job. He got on the Phone and called his brother-in-law Bill Nelson, who informed him he would probably have to get a newer computer, and that Apple Mac was what would the best upgrade. That is how we ended up at the Apple Store.
I had looked the Computers up on the internet last night, but when I saw that small flat box, I had no idea it was a Main Frame for the Mac. So small and compact it didn't look as if it could do anything. Was I wrong.
Paul even got a Bose Sound System that his iPod connects to so he can listen to his Music too. Should knock his sox off. I am happy for him.
He purchased the right to attend special one on one classes to help him learn how best to use his Mac Mini. He can make appointments on his computer and then go into the store where he will be able to spend time with a specialist who can lead him along. I think it will be great for him. As for myself, I am still dizzy from the amount of information I got while I was there. I guess I have to agree with Paul that the experience was pretty wonderful and we were impressed with the beautiful white units that we were faced with.
All the 'normal' things Paul has with his computer now will work with the Mini Mac, but he did have to get an adapter to be able to plug all the older things into. The ports on the back of the Mini Mac will not accomodate those bigger plugs. He has that special keyboard he bought with bigger keys, etc for his use. It would not be easy to replace. The mouse could be replaced with a wireless I guess if he needs to make that kind of a change. He isn't sure about his printer. It should work, but he can get one that is compatable for only $100.00 if it is needed. He really doesn't use his printer all that much, so I don't think it will be necessary.
All I can say is if you want to have an eye opener, just stop in at the Apple Store in San Luis Obispo. It is opposite Victorias Secret on Higuera Street. The place is like a bee hive, but there is still plenty of room to give the newest a test. I saw one women come in and connect her laptop to one of the monitors and do something. It apparently is user friendly for those who are using the Mac products. Any age you can think of is in the store. The Floor Director is carrying around an iPad to keep in touch with the staff and what they are doing. He got one of the young men to help us. Everyone seems to have a job and is very capable in giving all the information and help you could possibly need.
I guess the final or bottom line of the time I spent is that I am further down the ladder in todays technology than ever I have been. I can type and do my e-mail and get a bulletin out once a week for the Ward, and that is just about my limit. There are a ton of other things this Dell will do, but I haven't a clue as to how to use it. What I can do is only by cue cards I have made up. Some of them I have lost the understanding of what it means.
Once I could change the background on my Blog, but I have not been able to work out the notes I made of how to do it again. One of these days I will have to get together with one of the Grand Children to help me. Not that the back ground I have now is all that bad, but a new look would be nice. For those who read my 'ramblings' what I have is probably great enough!
Just to think, all that contraption Paul has on his desk now will be replaced with something smaller than a box of chocolates, much smaller in fact. It will take me about 2 hours to re-arrange things so he can get it up and working. They set him up with a new e-mail address as well. I think he will enjoy having that.
Now I have to come down off the high I found myself in just walking around that Store. How I wish I could have learned enough to play a bit, but as illiterate as I am I didn't think that was wise. After all - when you aren't up to such high tech equipment, best you don't 'tip your hand'.
Greatful to have lived long enough to know it is there and wise enough to realize it is more than anything I will ever need. Just amazes me as to how much my Grand Children and Great Children have to assist them in making their productivity expand beyond the limits my generation was impared with. Go get up kids. I am happy for you.

Written this 21st day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg

A Matriarchs Tribute to the Fathers of the Family

The year, 2010 Fathers Day, June 20th. Listening to "Music and the Spoken Word" this morning my mind flashed back over the years to the real meaning of Father in my own life. I was My Dads "little girl". We were close, and I found that I had a similar attachment to his Father who was a little Englishman with the 'cute' accent. I really didn't have much chance to get to know him all that well because we lived such a distance when I was young. He was in California and I was in Ohio and Pennsylvaia until I was 5 years old. When we moved to California in 1935 we lived in the same house, so I did have a chance to get close to him, however when we moved into our own home there was little time to continue that association and my Grand Father passed away before I turned 7. Sad tale is I lost all my Grand Parents before I was 9 years old.
Well that is far from the thoughts I had this morning.
Jay, my husband, was a terrific Dad. We only had two children to share time with him, but he enjoyed his family, and I believe was loved in return as all Dads are!
When our daughter married she chose a Father for her children that was every bit, if not more to his family than Jay was to ours. Greg always had time for the kids. The closeness has blossomed into his being a 'super' Grand Dad as well. Lucky Grand Children!
Our oldest Grand Daughter Keara, picked a great Father for their family as well. Jeremiah seems to have managed to be envoloved with their children in a very grand way. What a joy to watch him with Jedediah while taking time to help Jarom follow in the same foot steps. The girls love their Dad, and are close as well in their special way.
Nemiha found a Father for her family who is just as dedicated, and loving. What a pleasure to watch these young men step up and fill the shoes of other Fathers who have gone on before them.
Gower, our Grandson has given us two sweet Grandsons, and he too has shown the good qualities of a 'great' Dad. The support he gives to his family follows along the same lines as those of his Dad and Grand Father.
The example seems to continue on.
Shayla has just this past week advanced Curtis into the Father league. He hasn't quite learned all the steps of Fatherhood yet, but I have little doubt he will match all the qualities the others have exhibited in short order. It is hard not to slip into the mode when those darling little ones enter into the household. That overwhelming love that captures a person is hard to explain, and very difficult to understand how you had gone so long without such feelings. Something you never outgrow once you have experienced it.
Fathers are just about the grandest people in our lives. Or at least in our Family anyway. Young men who have stepped up to the responsibility of being their in every cituation. Who have, and continue to set great examples for their families. I am greatful for each one. Being Grandma has come easy with such fine additions. At this writting there are four boys and four girls in our family. We started with 2 children which was advanced to 4 Grand Children now there are 8 Great Grand Children. Pretty good arithmetic I'd say.
Well - Happy Fathers Day to all the Men in the Family from their olde Grandma "R". I couldn't be more proud of them if I had been Mother to the whole bunch. You add so much to my life everyday. We not live close, I may not see you as often as I would like, but you are ever in my heart and my love is with you where ever you may be. Thank you for being the kind of Men I can look up to and admire. Particularly, thank you for being the Fathers you are. Your children are most fortunate. God Bless and keep you all.

Written this 20th day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg

Swim Anyone?

Never really sure just how much I have told on any given subject, so here is a thought that struck me this morning. Swimming is such a wonderful thing. A shame that everyone hasn't learned, or been able to enjoy it. The fear of water can be a pretty terrifiying thing. I know, I have had experience with helping people over come it.
Life Saving was part of my youth. I was fortunate enough to be hired at the Huntington Park High School Plunge for a number of summers. There was time in between swimming sessions for the life guards to have the pool all to themselves. It was during one of these times I had the opporutnity to wear one of the first pair of swim fins. They were rather expensive, and something way beyond my personal means, but one of the other life guards, who was older had a pair, let me try them out. Man I could get across the pool in half the time. It was great.
It isn't however about such things I am inspired to write about. No it was about regular gym class swimming that caught my thoughts. I was called upon during most of these classes to guard, or teach. I loved teaching but on the one occassion that came to mind was a day when I was guarding in the deep end of the pool that an incident happened. Normally I would have been holding a diving class at the very back of the deep end, but this day I was at one of the sides observing the more experienced swimmers using the deeper water to try their skills. Out of the side of my view I caught a great deal of splashing going on in the shallow end. I heard the teacher yelling at one of the students she was instructing. It didn't take long to realize the student was in destress. I took a running start and dove into the water and swam to the area. Two of the other guards had also hit the water shortly after I had. When I reached the girl, I grabbed her and took her to the side of the pool. I was barely 5 feet tall, the girl I 'saved' was around 5' 6" tall in 4' of water. Panic, sheer panic had caused her to nearly drown. The teacher pulled her out of the water and began giving her first aid. The three guards just stood there in 4' of water stunned at what had just happened.
Yes, people can drown in shallow water if they haven't the presence of mind to 'put their feet down'. That thought had never occured to me. One would naturally think you would put your feet down, stand up and get your bearings. Not the case. A girl who had, just a short time before, been standing safe and sound in 4' of water paniced when she got some water in her mouth and nose. Scarey to think of such a thing. It happens.
It pays to be aware of things around you when you are swimming, or just playing in water. You never know when someone might just lose their bearing and forget where they are. In panic, we can do some pretty weird things. Keep your wits about you, be careful, you could save yourself or even someone else. It doesn't take much to assist someone who has lost their confidence. Because in such panic mode however, a person can become dangerous to others. As life guards we learned a towel was a great aid in pulling someone free of their panic and stress. Other times we found a pole reaching further was helpful. Never, I say, never let a person who is paniced in the water get a grip on you. They can drown you trying to save themselves and both are lost.
There is nothing more fun, or refreshing than swimming or playing in the pool. Best, however, to be aware that danger can appear. Be alert, careful and willing to assist another, but not at the risk of your own safety. I am so happy my family loves to swim and learned at a very early age. Others may not have been as well trained - enjoy, but be careful!

Written this 11th day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg

Japanese Tea Garden

I have just finished watching on the Smithsonian Channel all about these lovely Gardens. It wasn't until I had watched and listened to the sounds that eminate from these peaceful settings I could imagine why Jay had always wanted to return for a visit. He had a number of R and R leaves while he was in the area and though he did not talk about just what it was that had interested him so, I could well see why he was so facinated by the place. Mostly what I have seen of Japan is the crowded, narrow streets with too many people and not enough space for them. The cars have to be small, the streets are not built for anything else.
While Jay was there he had the opportunity to visit a number of interesting places. One being the pearl harvesting area. It was here he picked up some 'cull' pearls. One we had set in a solitare setting that we gave to Keara some years ago. Another, I had set in a rustic mounting that I still have. He had so enjoyed the time he spent there watching the girls dive for pearls and the specialist who sorted; and those that were responsible for putting them into lovely jewlery. Most of which, he said he could hardly afford.
The time he was in the Navy he had 'made port' in a number of interesting places, even Hong Kong. That didn't impress him all that much but he did like Japan. He had opportunity to spend time on a number of the Pacific Islands and of course many places along the California Coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. He missed the Panama Canal. His first ship went through the Canal on its way to the Pacific Campaign. He was not on board at that time. He joined the ship later in San Pedro, California.
When he was recalled to Korea he again had R and R in Japan. I am not sure just what all he did then, but he did have a suit made, which turned Pink after it was cleaned here in the States. Nice suit, but hardly the color for Jay. He also had a jacket made for Paul, who was very small at the time. Amazing with all the visits to such places, he avoided being tatooed as most Sailors fell err to. He always kidded he wanted one, but in reality he thought better of such folly.
Well, after viewing the gardens, and listening to the soft sounds of the birds and the water, I could well see what might draw him back for another visit. I think we would both have enjoyed such a trip very much. It wasn't that we could not, it was always that spending the money for such a trip, or taking time away from the business was more than he was willing to give in to. It was easier to send my Mother and I off for a couple of weeks, doing 'girl' things. Great for us, but sad to say leaving him to work and keep things at home on an even keel.
How I wish now that I had been able to convince him to fulfil the desire to revisit the places that had so interested him. It may have been he was too afraid that time would have changed things too much for him to enjoy it again as he once had done. I learned in the video that some of those gardens have been there for 300 years. I doubt they would have changed, however, I imagine a great many things would have.
When we went to Hawaii in 1985 he was so disappointed he could not even locate where their 'liberty boat dock' had been. Pearl Harbor was far from what he remembered from the 3 months he had spent there training.
We should never be surprised by such things, I guess. Nothing stays the same even today. If you aren't in an area while things are being built and re-arranged, coming back later seems as if the whole town is different. Not that staying away is all that good either. It just seems we need to expect change, and look for those things that may never change in a number of years. With the traditions they have in Japan, I doubt you could go back there in another 50 years and not find those lovely gardens just as well manicured as they were when he first saw them, or as they are today. Such beauty is worth the time it takes to maintain it, and the reverence with which it continues.
Puphaps Jay has found his Japanese Garden equivalent where he is, and is enjoying it far more than ever he would have in another visit to Japan. Might well be!?

Written this 10th day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg

The Experience at Dobsons'

You know, I only thought of this today. I don't know how it had slipped my mind, but it had. I have talked a lot about shopping in Huntington Park, California, where I was raised, but I don't remember ever telling about Dobsons'. Purhaps because it wasn't on Pacific Blvd. In fact I don't recall the side street it was on, now. I can't even recall when I first was inside the store. I can see it in my mind even now. Pretty hodge podge it was. Not like any other store I had been in, in my life, or since for that matter. Some of the merchandise was decidely 'soiled'. You see everything in the store had been brought there from either the scene of an accident of a truck, or train. Some from other places that had been either destroyed or damaged by fire.
Labels on cans might even be missing. Those you could buy without knowing what was inside the can. Maybe it was fruit, vegetables, or who knew what. You took your choice then had a surprise when you opened the can. The price was always right, so, take a chance!
You could find almost anything in Dobsons'. There wasn't much of a system to their purchasing. If the merchandise was worth the effort to go and salvage it, it turned up in the store. Any shopper could just mull through the various isles of things. If there was something that caught the eye, then pricing was the next item of interest. Work clothes were a big sale item. You have to remember this was still the depression era and everyone who liked a bargain found their way into Dobsons'.
I remember I bought my Cowboy Boots there. They were pretty neat as I recall. Don't have a clue as to why I thought I needed a pair, but I had them for years. Have'nt the faintest idea what I ever did with them. They were pretty "snazey" however.
I don't recall my Mother ever shopping in the store. I think I found it quite by accident. The boys I think found their way in and out of it a number of times. I gues we kids were more adventureous. Mom may had felt it was for those who had less than she did. Of course the way she was raised, it might have been, she wanted to put that kind of thinking behind her. She would rather do without than take something less than what she really wanted. She and Dad had learned early on that you didn't long for things you could not afford. If you got anything, it was after you had priced it, saved for it and then purchased it for cash.
Maybe I have never mention her and the 'white wool coat'. If not, this is as good a place as any to tell the tale.
Mom had gone to work in the Pottery Shop when she was still very young. All the Hall kids seemed to have done so. One of her pay checks she decided to go shopping for a new coat. She found the prettiest white wool coat, but didn't quite have enough left over to pay cash for it. The sales person talked her into buying it 'on credit'. A little each pay check, and she could enjoy the coat long before she had the cash up front. Being young, and seeing it was a great way to go, she allowed herself to be 'talked into' opening a charge account. Sounds pretty simple. When she took the coat home, I guess her Mother wasn't very well pleased that she had bought it on 'credit'. Mom felt she had enough sence to know what she was doing. (Didn't we all feel that way at one time or another?)
Well she and her friends were planning a fun evening out. I don't recall now whether they were walking, and were picked up later by a friend in a car, or just how it was that she was in this 'big touring car'. However she came to be riding rather than walking, I can't remember. I do, however, remember her telling about how they were all laughing and having such a great time riding along when another car came alongside them and splashed mud on them, the car, and of course Moms new 'white wool coat'. Mud you say. Well back then the streets were used by horses, as well as cars. Mud was more than just dirt and water. The white coat was ruined. The stains didn't come out. She wore the coat one time, it wasn't paid for and that was that. Maybe that was why she always told us kids not to worry about what we had to wear, it was always: "clean and paid for". I don't think Mom or Dad ever bought anything, wearable or not that was not 'paid for first'!
Back to Dobsons'. It wasn't the best store in town, but it was certainly one of the most interesting. One never knew just what they would find there. If you saw something that you liked, best buy it because it probably wouldn't be there when you came back, and it was for sure it would not be replaced. Some things were not worth buying. If they were smoked damaged, they might even fall apart when they were cleaned. Only a seasoned shopper would dare be serious about some things the store had. As for myself, I just loved the variety. Can't say I ever bought much, but the looking was great fun. Some of the characters you would see in the store were pretty interesting as well.
Strange how an innocent conversation can dredge up in the mind things that haven't been remembered for years. You know, I would enjoy a stroll through that old store again. There isn't anything like it around today. Well maybe some of the 'thrift stores' come close, but still they are far from the character of Dobsons'.

Written this 9th day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg

What a word!

I am truly surprised at some of things I discover as I read, or work on my 'word puzzles'. Take for instance the word 'level'. I just noticed that it is the same spelt forward or backwards. The meaning becomes even more meaningful when you think about it! Then I came across the word 'radar' another that spells the same one way or the other, and the meaning is just as amazing. It 'sees every which a way'! Seeking out things as it passes over the surface.
Two words that mean a great deal in our lives everyday nearly, Mom and Dad. I am sure there are any number of other words I will discover now that I am looking for them. Language is so important in our lives, and like so many things we have, we pay little attention to it. Learning to talk is such a fun thing for parents when they have their first child. After that it is pretty much the work passed over to the siblings in the house. We are always amazed at how the kids 'understand' each other when they are little.
I am greatful for being able to read and write, but have to admit, it is not something I have given a great deal of thought to until I started noticing these 'amazing' things lately. Expressing ones self is a really great gift, and one we should take a little more time to appreciate I suspect. We are so thrilled with the children as they learn to express themselves and even when their words are a bit different than what we would use, we are pleased to see them put sentences together. We need to take a keener look at such things I think. What a waste to have such wonderful moments come and slip away without really appreciating the wonder that is taking place right before our eyes and ears too.
Well, purhaps I have sparked some interest in you to start 'looking' for those great things that are around and not miss the wonder of life as it passes us by. When I was a kid they had a Saturday Short at the Movies called: "The Passing Parade". I use to love those, sort of newsreels. I just did not realize that such things were happening around me everyday, and I was 'shining them on'. What's in a word? More than we can guess I would imagine.

Written this 9th day of June 2010
by: Eileen Rosenberg