The Grateful Geek

The internet is full of people giving thanks during this holiday season.  Family, friends and home; all things that this geek is also truly thankful for.  I knew that I wanted to do a post about my appreciation of these things as well.

For this particular post, though, I wanted to take a slightly different tack then the norm.  This Thanksgiving has really reinforced for me, the importance of giving thanks through adversity.  Though my circumstances this holiday were certainly far from horrific, I did find myself in circumstances that allowed me to give thanks through some minor inconveniences and annoyances.

1)  My kids got very sick, the night before Thanksgiving.   Both were coughing and miserable.  One had a temperature of 102.

----Grateful for a good mommy to help them and love them through these times.


2)  The Doctor said take them to the emergency room as a precaution.

----Grateful that we have insurance and that there were doctors and nurses trained and willing to help us.


3)  With the holiday, the pharmacy would not be open until more then a day later.

----Grateful that the hospital was willing to give my child the initial dose to get him through


4)  I was asked not to come see my parents home for Thanksgiving.  There was a fear that I would be introducing a nasty virus to a grandmother and a baby niece.

----While disappointed at not getting to go to see my family, I was grateful for the delicious care package of food delivered to us, early Thanksgiving afternoon.


5)  I kept getting interrupted while messing around on the computer by a wife needing things, one son sick and grumpy, and the other constantly wanting to play with me.

----So grateful for a family who need and value me, and actually want to spend time with me.


6)  Didn't get to sleep in my own bed (the kids were piled in with mom in our makeshift recovery ward).

----Grateful for a roof over me and a relatively comfortable sleep through the night.


7)  I had to try and think up a good post to put up on the blog.

----Grateful for the precious freedom of speech in this wonderful country, to speak my mind to others without fear.  I am also, of course, grateful for you.  You took time out of your day to read this entry, and I am humbled and thankful.

May God bless you and your family abundantly this season.  I hope that you always take the time to look around you and recognize the many things that you can truly be grateful for.

~ ~ ~ ~
I looked for a relevant quote for today, and found two good ones:

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."  ~Socrates

"We have no right to ask when sorrow comes, 'Why did this happen to me?' unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our way."  ~Author Unknown

Rise of the Junior Geeks

It never ceases to amaze me, how every successive generation of kids, are so inherently able to quickly pick up and adapt to the latest technology.

I saw a video posted online of a woman who filmed her infant daughter, playing with mommy's iPad.  She was opening and closing her fingers, moving and adjusting the picture on the screen.  Later, she handed her daughter a magazine, where the infant took it, and tried to manipulate the pictures inside and on the cover with her fingers.  Frustrated, she ultimately pleaded to get the one back that did something.

The mom's comment at the end of the video was:

"For my 1 year old daughter, a magazine is an iPad that does not work.  It will remain so for her whole life.  Steve Jobs has coded part of her OS."

Okay, I don't know about the whole iBaby inference, but I certainly agree that kids quickly pick up tech.

I had a fun example of this the other day with my just turned five year old.  In the mornings when I get up, I like to grab my tablet to read my Bible, check out the Amazon free app of the day and toodle around a bit until I have to take my shower.  Usually about that time, my oldest is up, and wants to have a go at Daddy's favorite toy.

When I am finishing getting ready, I will have to warn him "You have about two minutes, then Daddy needs to take it with me, so I can go to work."  That day, I decided to give him a treat.  "I tell you what, man. One time offer, just for today.  How about I leave it with you guys this morning, and just pick it up later when I come home for lunch."  He replied in the coolest kind of voice he could muster "Ohhhh Yeeeeaaaaahhhhh!!"

Later at work, I was regaling my friend at work with this tale, when I realized something.  The Internet on my tablet was still turned on.  Oooops!  I have only been tripped up a couple times by kids making an in-app purchases on my friend, but maybe today I would stay safe.

When I returned from home and checked my tablet notifications, I saw that indeed a purchase had been attempted, but blocked.  I noticed that the airplane mode (block all internet) had been enabled.  Phew!  I thanked Mrs. Geek for switching off the internet for me.  She said that she didn't know how to do that kind of stuff.  Sure enough, I checked with my boy and he had selected the notification bar, clicked on the settings tool, and toggled on the airplane mode.  He had seen that I did that for them, and knew that I would want it done.

That's my little geek!  A computer chip off the ol' block.

TGCD

**Click the picture at the top of the article if you would actually like to order those bumper stickers.  They were a collaboration between Think Geek and another technology blog called Geek Dad.**

Dating My Wife

It was a Saturday, November the 5th.  The head geek wanted to take out his sweetie on a date.  A good friend from work who was involved in the theater, had mentioned an upcoming performance that his wife was involved in, and it seemed like the perfect venue for our little "night on the town".

The finest laid plans of mice and men had been made.  Another very good friend/co-worker and his wife had graciously agreed to supervise our progeny whilst we were gone.  Though there were reports of a minor revolt in progress at their household (not unusual for small children countries, such as theirs), one half of the daring duo was able to break away and lend us a hand.  Armed with a Game Cube, Netflix computer password, remote control and instructions; we left our liberator and bade a fond farewell.

In the car, your typically trivial husband and wife conversation ensued.  "You remember how to get there, right?"  "I'm pretty sure."  (beware of the Ides of March, eh?)  The Geek's wife had given him a choice of three different restaurants.  After choosing one and inquiring inside, the 30-35 minute wait time made him rethink his plans.  After not too tortuously a drive later, we arrived at one of the alternate destinations.  No waiting?  Score!

The food was delicious of course, but I ate way too much.  I tried carnitas there for the first time.  Not bad, actually.  After paying the bill, it was off to the ATM to get the cash necessary for tickets. and then on to the theater.  After cruising around the area where we were "pretty sure" that the theater was located, we were "pretty sure" that we needed help.  A quick phone call to our hero back at the home front, and we were back on track.  Like a Tom Tom, he helped us recalculate our route.

We arrived a few minutes after 8pm to pick up our tickets.  We were met with a look of dread by one of the staff who endeavored to find us a place of rest in the sold out community theater.  She came back and had found exactly two seats. Huzzah!!!!!  Unfortunately, they were in two separate parts of the theater.  Ooooooooo.  Relatively undaunted, my wife and I plunged ahead.  She took the high road, and I the lower.  After a short bout of shimmying and squeezing, I made it to my seat.

From where I was seated, I could see a direct path to my wife at the back.  I smiled, and would look back at regular intervals to gauge her reaction and catch her glance (we were after all, on a date.  Long distance to be sure, but certainly still a date)  On about the fifth look back I realized there was a lady about two rows back and over that did not know the rest of this story.  From her vantage point, I was just the psychotic man that kept staring in her direction.  After that, I kept my gaze in a more forward position to avoid any further misunderstandings.

The play was a a quaint little comedic murder mystery called the Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop.  My wife and I enjoyed it, and were glad that throughout our date, we were able to keep our sense of humor.  Life is truly unscripted.

I love you Mrs. Geek!

**EDITOR'S NOTE:  Okay, am I not the only one that totally "geeked out" when I read the first line of my entry?  Saturday, November 5th?  Great Scott!!!!  Gotta love being a geek.  ;-)  **