Computer memory

Because I'm a writer, I really use up the memory on my computer fast. I'm always having to add more. Another thing is that I have a laptop that I use when we travel, and need portable devices so I can take my projects with me.

Well, today I ordered the greatest device. Portable computer memory that works with a USB port. I can save my project on the memory stick, take it with me, stick the portable memory into my laptop and I'm ready to go to work when we're traveling, or I have an appointment away from my desk.

This is only one of the many ways of adding memory to your computer. You'll be amazed. I certainly was.

Until next time,

Mary

What did we ever do without our cellphones?

We live in such an amazing period in history. I am just old enough to remember what it was like to not have a TV or even a phone, so my cell phones delights me every time I use it.

I had stopped in to see our son at work last week, and when I tried to call him to let him know I was there, I couldn't get a signal. He told me that they had just hired a cell phone repeater company to solve this problem. He said it's not uncommon for certain buildings as well as trucks and cars to have difficulty getting a good signal. He said that they make RV power boosters and antennas as well.

I truly didn't know these products were available.. Before we leave on our trip this summer, we're going to have a cellular antenna installed in our RV.

Until next time,

Mary

And Ladies Of The Club by Helen Hooven Santmeyer

Well, I started my tomb! This book is somewhere in the neighborhood of 1400 pages long. It begins in the middle 1800s right after the Civil War, and goes on through the process of getting electricity in homes and cars on the roads.

At present they all have a horse and buggy to get them where they want to get and do things like "call" on one another each day. That means that the women get all dressed up and go visit with the other ladies in town. They have "cards", like our business cards, only they are just cards with their names on them. They didn't have telephones yet so this was a necessary routine to keep in touch with your friends. That and church on Sunday and prayer meeting on Wednesdays.

I so enjoy reading about this period in history. Even books of fiction are full of reality and one gets a look into life during an earlier time. In the main ways, people are still the same, but there were a whole different set of social rules that they lived by back then. It's quite eye opening.

I wasn't going to do a book review on this because it's such a big book and will take me a long time to read it. I guess, though, that I could come back and periodically update you on what is happening with the ladies of the club. I could take you all on the journey with me. =)

Until next time,

Mary

Summer Is Officially Here

In South Texas summer means heat. To manage this, we have added a Four Seasons Porch to our home. We use it as we would any outdoor space. When we were ready to furnish it I found this great site online that has a wide variety of styles, colors and prices in patio furniture.

I can't tell you how much we enjoy that room. I read in there as the light is so wonderful. Early in the morning, I open up all of the windows and sit there with my cup of coffee and enjoy the morning breeze. It has become my favorite place to sit. The furniture is as comfortable as any we have in our house. We just love it.

What's for dinner?

I never considered myself a good cook. However, over the years of cooking for my family I have developed a knack and creativity in cooking that I do believe qualifies me as a good cook.

I must say, however, that I do get tired of making the same things and to find a new recipe is always nice, especially during the summer. I recently discovered a site online that has a wider variety of great recipes as any I have seen. There is something for every pallet and for every occasion. Quick and easy meals as well as fancy, company meals.

This is one site that I have bookmarked and will be visiting a lot. My family enjoys new dishes and so do it.

"Cross" by James Patterson

I just finished "Cross" and enjoyed it a lot. The main character in this series is a young man names Alex Cross. You can't help but feel you know this very engaging young man. A intelligent and talented detective on the police force in Washington, D.C., he's been dubbed "The Dragon Slayer" because if his ability to understand the minds of serial killers, and to capture them.

In "Cross" we learn more of the details of his beloved wife Maria's murder. One almost mourns his loss with him as we go back to the event and little by little hear the story of their love for one another and their family. We learn to love Nana Mama, Alex's grandmother, and his three children, Ali, Damon, and Jannie.

The villain in this book is called "The Butcher", and is a particularly twisted individual who enjoys torturing before killing his victims. As a release for the adrenaline rush that he gets from these murders, he then finds a young woman to rape. He terrorize these young women into not talking by showing them pictures of those he has sadistically and brutally murdered, and promises to do the same to them and their families if they talk. This vicious, cruel man is the very one who killed Alex Cross' wife

Another page turner by James Patterson, I highly recommend "Cross" to any mystery/thriller fans. It's a good read for sure.

I have started "And Ladies of the Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer, a 1435 page novel that is 3 inches thick. I don't expect to be doing a book review anytime soon. When I am done with it, however, if I'm not blind =) I shall review it here as well.

Until next time,

Mary

Father's Day

Today is Father's Day. What a nice day it is here at our house, Southeast Texas. The kids all called or came over to tell their dad that he is so very loved. He is that and more. Very loved, adored, honored and treasured.

The dad at our house opted to have a quiet day of not going anywhere, so he has been watching Tiger Woods and the guys play golf at the US Open. Poor Tiger has a bad knee, but continues to play "Tiger Style" golf in spite of it.

Were we to honor this dad this way daily, I fear his legs would rot off for lack of use as I have fetched and carried for him, refusing to let him do more than wipe his own nose. =)

I hope your dads/husbands/special men all know that they are appreciated today. They give so much to us all each day. They deserve this day just for them, to hear and see how very much we love them.

Until next time,

Mary

Teen grandaughter's complection issues

Our granddaughter just went on her first date with a young man she has had her eye on for quite a while. Wouldn't you know it, a few days before hand, her face became all broken out with acne. Bless her heart. She was heart broken.

Her mother is so smart, though. She did some asking around and a neighbor of hers told her about natural acne treatments that her daughter had used and had amazing results with.

Well, she gave my granddaughter some of the scrub to use and we were all amazed at how fast it cleared up Jenny's skin.

Needless to say, the big date went wonderfully, and they have another date for next weekend. It makes me happy to see a smile on Jenny's face again.

Until next time,

Mary

When you need more computer storage space.....

We are going to be doing some traveling this summer. I always take my digital camera and take a lot of pictures. Generally, I have to transfer my pictures onto the laptop to make room for more pictures. Then when I get home, I have to transfer them onto my PC to share or print. This is time consuming and less than efficient.
Well, I have found an amazing solution to my storage problems,
flash memory storage. This particular little gadget plugs into a port on my laptop and supplies me with several Gigs of added memory. So, all I have to do is transfer the photos from my card onto this device. When I get home, I plug the memory stick into my PC, and can access my photos easily and just leave them on the memory stick. It doesn't get more convenient than that.

Whatever your storage needs, there is a device for it. Photos, music, documents, anything. They aren't expensive either. Check them out. You'll be amazed!!

Until next time,

Mary

What I'll read next......."And Ladies Of The Club"

My next book will be the one shown here. It's "And Ladies Of The Club" by Helen Hooven Santmyer. As you can see in the picture on the right, this is a BIG BOOK. It has 1433 pages, and took the author 50 years to write.

Helen Hooven Santmyer was a very old lady by the time this book was published. The story begins in 1868 with several young ladies who live in the same town, attend the same college and form a club that goes on for generations. It begins with these young women meeting the men of their dreams, marry, have children, grow old etc. Through the generations the reader becomes entwined with these families and soon feels very much a part of them all. That to me is the trademark of a well written book.

I read this book when it first came out in 1984. I had just gotten out of nurses training at that time. One would think I would have been brain dead by then, and unable to undertake a book of this size. However, I enjoyed every word, enjoyed it so much that I am returning to read it again. Much has happened in the 24 years since I first read this book. I'm not the same person I was then. I suspect I will see this book through whole new eyes this time around. I'll let you know.

Perhaps I can inspire you to join me in the reading of this book. I got mine at a used book store, and I am sure you could too. Copies are available online at Amazon.com, though. Check out the link on my page here. You should be able to order it.

Anyway, if you do decide to join me in this wonderful journey, let me know. We can share it. =) Write me at mary1440@gmail.com. I'd love to walk this road with you.

Until next time,

Mary

Always looking to save money....

The price of everything is up these days. I don't have to tell you about how high gas is or how it's affecting everything else in our lives. I see no reason to panic about any of this. I've lived long enough to see this happen before many times. As the pendulum swings to the left, and then comes back to swing to the right. It's just a matter of when.

Meanwhile, however, I am taking strides to make our dollars go further. As an example, I am on a diet and have been using generic Phentermine. I found this site that offers reviews and generics on many of the most popular weight loss products. If I can buy a generic, that's what I will do. It just makes more sense to me.

Until next time,

Mary

Books, Books, Books

I love books. I love the look of them filling up a shelf. I love the smell of a new one and the totally different smell of an old one. Like old and trusted friends, I am never without a book that I am reading and a stack of books waiting to be read.

When I hear of a book I want to read I go to my favorite site for ordering books online, and send for it. That way I can be sure it's here when I am ready to read it.

I hope you'll excuse me now, I am off to read. =)

Until next time,

Mary

The Birth of a Child

I don't know of anything that brings more excitement into the lives of family members than to have a new baby on the way. What an incredible time of joy for everyone involved, especially the parents to be.

Our neighbors are expecting a new baby in a couple of months. With new technology, they already know that it's going to be a boy this time, their second son. We live in a smaller community, and I haven't been able to find anything really unique for this new one, so got busy searching online and found this great site for unique
baby gifts. They have so many cute things I had trouble decided what I wanted. Now that is a treat!!

I finally made a selection, though, and it should be here in a few days. I love giving gifts that I know will be enjoyed.

Until next time,

Mary

Summer RVing

I have posted many a blog post on RVing. My husband and I have been camping for years, starting when our children were very young. They are grown now, but we still enjoy it and go as often as we can.

One of our favorite spots is a place called Almost Heaven. They have a lake, lots of shade trees and the nicest friendliest people anyone could hope to meet. The last time we went up there the couple camped next to us had two inflatable boats, one for each of them. It looked like a lot of fun to us, so when we got home I got online and check out some sites that sell them. I found this site that has boats of all kinds and prices. We ordered one to take with us when we go on our trips this summer. I think they'll be a lot of fun. Good exercise too.

Until next time,

Mary

"The Overlook" by Michael Connelly

Michael Connelly is an authors that I really enjoy reading. "The Overlook" is one of his "Harry Bosch" books. "Harry Bosch" is an investigator for the LAPD. He has had several partners and in this book, has yet another new one. So far his partners aren't remarkable. His strong personality and penchant for breaking the rules is more than likely why Harry has a lot of new partners.

Harry is one of those guys who is very good at his job, knows it, and mows down anyone who gets in his way when he's on a case. In this novel, the ones who are getting in his way are the FBI. Someone has been killed, and it is discovered that the dead man's job was to transport cesium for use in gynecological cancers. This element does it's job when treating disease, but in the wrong hands it can kill. Terrorists are suspected as being behind the theft of the cesium and the killing. It is feared that the terrorists intend to use it to kill a lot of people.

Michael Connelly is a good writer and is able to grab your interest and keep it. A page turner and a very entertaining book, "The Overlook" is a novel I would highly recommend if you're one who enjoys a detective/mystery novel.

Mr. Connelly isn't "Voltaire" by any means, but I like to be entertained when I read for pleasure. I don't want to have to work too hard. He fills this prescription to a tee.

If you read it, do let me know. Tell me what you think. I'm always interested in hearing how others feel about things I recommend.

Until next time,

Mary