BYU/Graffiti/Moths... the perfect combination!

As mentioned before, we spent Friday afternoon cleaning out our entire garage.  We got rid of quite a bit of junk.  One thing I hate about garages is that no matter how organized they are, they still look junky.  Or maybe it's just me.  Anyways, here is a picture of our garage.  Who says Mac's aren't useful?  Ha ha!

Dustyn got 20 new iMacs for his classroom.  I decided to bring home the boxes to try and organize our junk.  Sadly, most of them are empty...  but someday when I want to have junk, I have somewhere to put it.  They work very nicely.  You can easily access the contents without removing the box, if you don't want to.

Dustyn I went to the BYU vs. Wyoming game (44-0) last Saturday with the youth in our ward.  Here are a few pictures that I took.  It was pretty fun!

On the way up to Provo we saw a train parked on the side of the freeway.  It was super long.  Maybe some of you Happy valley folk have seen it, but almost the entire thing has graffiti on it.  I am a sucker for cool graffiti.  I do think it has a time and place.  Foul words on the side of someone else's professional building is one thing, but most of the time I really enjoy looking at it.  I'm weird I know.  Anyways on the way back Dustyn pulled the camera out and took picture for me.  Of course we were on the freeway so they were all blurry.  Had we not had youth with us, we totally would have stopped and took some cool pictures.  Maybe it will still be there this weekend.  It's very cool.

 On the way back we stopped at a local burger shop and got a drink.  Ew, ew, ew.  I'm gagging thinking about it.  We love getting drinks there because they have good ice.  I really just wanted some soda soaked ice.  So I quickly drank my drink to get to the ice.  As I finished it all up, I pushed the straw all the way to the bottom and took one more large last drink.  Ew.  All of a sudden all the moisture was pulled out of my mouth and was filled with a sand of sorts.  I am thinking it was cleaner for ice machines.  Ew.  I was totally grossed out.  I started gagging.  (I have THE worst gag reflex ever.  Seriously.)  Of course I was driving so I was trying SO hard not to throw up.  It was so gross.  I doubt I can ever go there again, let alone just get a fountain drink somewhere.  Ew.

Let's see...  what's next.

Remember how I have been complaining about Moths lately?  So here is a picture that I took today.  I had a moth massacre.  Ew.  Here are all the ones I killed.  Here are all the ones that I hadn't caught yet.  It is so bad.  While I am killing all these moths there are 30+ outside on the window just waiting to come in and join in on the battle.  They are so bad this year.  AND this is only the kitchen! We are in the bedroom now and Dustyn has caught at least 5 or 6 just sitting here, without even trying.  They are still flying around in the fan, getting flipped downward onto our heads.  Gross.

By the way . . .

I will basically be MIA for a week or so. Miss me, okay?

We have a family reunion this weekend! Yay! Very excited!

And my computer is at Dr. Mac's getting fixed. She will be all shiny and new in a few days! Double Yay!

Until then, I will be around occasionally. Depending on how often I decide to steal Dustyn's computer. He doesn't really need it, does he? :) I already miss my bookmarks and RSS feed. :( But it will be coming home soon. :)

Have a fantastic weekend! I know I will! Life is fabulous!

Why your student should take a Mac to School. (or you)

I just had to post.  You know us.  Always ready to help someone by switching to a Mac.  Just in case you were wondering.

It's back-to-school time again. So if you're about to send your kid off to college with a new computer, here are some reasons to make that computer a Mac:
1. Issues are the last things a kid needs at college and Macs have fewer issues with viruses, malware, and icky stuff like that.
It has also been my experience that Macs have fewer issues with almost everything else, as well. This was my daughter's first year away at college and she required technical help from me only once.
2. Most Macs sold today have a built-in video camera and iChat software. So it's easy to communicate by video, audio, or even plain old text chat. Of course this assumes that you have a Mac of relatively recent vintage.
3. Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) includes easy-as-pie remote screen sharing that lets you see and control your student's Mac from anywhere in the world. So, if your kid calls you up, frantic because Microsoft Word has disappeared from the Dock, you can take over the screen and fix it in just a few seconds.
4. Every Mac comes with fast 802.11n Wi-Fi built-in so your student can join most WiFi networks in the library, dorm, Starbucks or wherever — with just one click.
5. A Mac is the only computer that can run both Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows; a Dell, HP, Sony, Lenovo or other PC just can't do that.
6. Every Mac sold today can run the latest version of Microsoft Office and run it quite nicely, I might add.
7. Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition (Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Entourage) is just $119.99 at www.Amazon.com.
8. College students (and faculty and staff members) receive free iPod touches or iPod nanos if they purchase new Macs before Sept. 15. How could you not love a free iPod?
9. College students (and faculty and staff members) can save on any Mac, selected software and accessories via the Apple Education Discount available at Apple-authorized campus stores and the Apple Online Store for Education.
10. Excellent free software for producing masterful movies (iMovie), dazzling DVDs (iDVD), awesome audio (GarageBand), and wonderful Web sites (iWeb), and for managing digital audio, video (iTunes) and photos (iPhoto).
11. Free personal shopping assistance is available at all Apple Stores. I've shopped in a lot of computer stores over the years and Apple Stores definitely have the most honest and knowledgeable staffs.
And last but not least:
12. Because Macs are cool. You wouldn't want other students making fun of your kid, would you?
Bob LeVitus is the author of over 50 computer books including Mac OS X Leopard For Dummies, and a Mac consultant, troubleshooter, and trainer. Visit his Web site at www.boblevitus.com; e-mail comments to doc@boblevitus.com.

Meeting Anika's Momma and Daddy

On Saturday we had made plans to meet Arianne and Greg.  We we hung out at the Gateway Mall for awhile.  It was so warm (okay - HOT).  But so much fun.  There were so many kids playing in the fountains.  It was so funny to watch them.  Only - I wanted to jump in so bad, but finally refrained.  I mean who really like walking around in wet clothes?  Not I.  While we were wandering we went in all the favorite stores.  Of course the Apple store.  Can't wait for the new 3G phone to come out on July 11th.  Don't know why.  Can't use one down here.  Anyways, back to my story.  We also went into Anthropologie.  I LOVE that store.  Of course I could never afford anything in there, but I love looking.  Last time we went there we found a book with an interesting art project.  Dustyn went home and tried it and we never posted pictures. But I will soon.  You can get a sneak peek here!  Anyways we were wandering and suddenly I smell one of the best smells ever.  Ever.  I walked around for at least 15 minutes trying to figure out where it came from.  Finally I found the culprit.  A super yummy candle.  Now I don't usually burn candles, but I will make an exception for this one!  I LOVE IT.  There was no chance I was leaving the store without that heavenly thing in my little paws.  So we bought it.  And I have never been happier to spend $26.00 on a stinkin' candle.  But O it smells good.   Totally worth the $26.00.  For sure.  Oh yeah, by the way, it kinda smells like Grapefruit, but better.  YUM!

While we were sitting on the bench waiting for Arianne and Greg, this scary guy came up.  I still have no idea why he came up to us.  Just to shoot the breeze i guess.  But I couldn't help but scoot my candle under the bench a little farther.  No one was getting away with my candle.  No one.  And then, he left.  

We met Greg, Arianne and Anika at Costa Vida for lunch.  It was a good time.  They are such a fun family.  I wish we could get cute little Anika a little sister or brother soon!  :)  She is so excited to have a brother or sister.  But we had lots of fun talking and getting to know one another (well in person, of course we chat quite a few times a week!).  We went and watched Greg and Anika play in the fountains.  It was so cute.  Greg is so cute with her.  It was getting a little warm so we decided to leave.  It was such a fun afternoon.  

We were trying to get pictures, but the sun was so bright.  I thought Dustyn was taking pictures, but I guess he hadn't yet.  So this is the only picture we got - as we were walking away.  But Arianne has some more on her blog.  

I was totally hoping Kim would be able to come, but next time for sure.  I didn't plan well.  I think we need to have a girls night out with all you up north bloggers!  That would be so much fun!  Or a big BBQ with our families too!  

New Website

We are trying out a new blog/website on .Mac. Feel free to look around and try it out and tell us what you think. I can't decide if I want to stay around here, or go to .Mac where I have a few more choices and don't have to stick to the standard Templates and such! You know me. Always changing.

http://web.mac.com/dkallens/

There are pros and cons to both of them. I just can't figure out which one has more pros! Feel free to let me know what you think!