Minivans

New Baby
My good friend Katie had her second baby last week! Steven Robert was born on July 23 at 7:58 a.m. He was 7 lbs/4 oz and 21 inches. I was just talking to Katie, and it sounds like everything's going good. They've been home since Thursday. Big Sister Sophie is very happy with the new arrival, so far.

Congratulations Katie, Erin, and Sophie! Ready to pick up that minivan?

Minivans
Speaking of minivans, I just trading in my SUV for one. I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it yet. I was kind of sick to my stomach when I left the dealer. While it is a really nice car, I've had 4 wheel drive for so long, it's odd. And, I also realized that there's only like two other minivans at work.

I probably wouldn't have done it, but after 95,000 miles of no car problems, I've had two wheel bearings, a cv joint, and something that I had never heard of go bad in my car. So, I traded her in at 99, 680 miles. I have a 6 year/100,000 mile bumper to bumper and 200,000 mile powertrain warranty now, so that's nice.

Craig is coming around, I think. He said, "These doors are kind of nice. I wonder why they don't put these sliding doors on SUVs? That'd be nice."

Why can't I let go?

So, most of you know already that there's a manager from my past that still haunts me. He really was worse than Michael on The Office. He was an "Idea Guy". We would bring a problem to his attention, but he would choose to ignore it, at least until he could swoop in and "save the day".

When I couldn't take the crap from him anymore, I asked to be removed from his group (where I was working on video deliverables) and go back to the writing group. First, he gave me a horrible review, full of straight out lies. And second, he told my new project managers that they shouldn't give me anything even slightly challenging because I wouldn't be able to handle it.
Really he was just insulted that I didn't want to be in his group.

When I left his group, he decided to try his hand at creating (and starring in) the video projects, and in turn, proved my point that he had no clue about what he was doing. Here is the resulting video.



And if you're wowed by what you've seen, he's available as a voice talent.

But, I guess that he did do one thing that I appreciated. MM, thank you for making me hate working there so much that I moved to a different state. And now I work at a WAY awesome company with a great boss and a great future, where I get to document great products.

Ah, I guess that should be enough revenge for me, but still, I wonder, should I put it on YouTube?


Oh, I thought that this was really funny too:

This is real. Here's the link to the page it came from.

Are "nerdy" things getting cooler, or am I getting nerdier?

So, way back in 2003 when we started using this IM thing at work, I wasn't really on board. We were doing the same thing with email, weren't we? After the initial resistance, I gave in, although it still seemed like a nerdy thing to do at the time. Now, I can't get through a day, or possibly an hour, at work without using IM and the smilies I used to think were so lame.

Next, it was blogging. First off, I'd hear about it randomly on tv and it seemed dumb. Then my friend Tim started one and I loved it! Then Jodie started one and it makes me smile (or laugh uncontrollably at least once a day. I thought it was fun to read someone else's blog, but no way I would ever to do one. Hmmm... We all know how that turned out...

I'm also never getting a cell phone for my kids.

Anyway...
At TechSmith we have a really neat new project called Jing. It rocks! And I'm not just saying that because I work here! But, if I didn't work here, I might not have tried it because of my attitude described above...

On that note, since you're my friends, you really, really, really should try it. There's a quick, fun video about it that you should watch. It's free to use right now, so why not try it?

The best thing about it for me is to be able to send a link in IM so someone can see what I'm talking about instantly, without having to stop to the conversation to create, send, and wait for them to get an email. Also, if your company blocks media files from email, this is a good way to share without sending through email.

And besides all that, it's just cool. I have to say, this is the most excited that I've been about something like this. So, you agree with me, right? I'm not nerdy, it's just that Jing is that cool.

Floods can't happen here, right?

So, whenever I see stuff about flooding, I think, "Wow. It's such a good thing that I'll never be affected by something like that."

Well, I guess that I still haven't been affected, but a water main break in Livonia has me thinking a little.

This was the expressway right next to the last place I worked.


Isn't that nuts? You should read the story, if you're interested.

I'm a Bad Blogger

I know I totally need to get my vacation pictures on here. I just haven't had a chance. I'll try to get to it today or tomorrow.

But until then, let me tell you all what is making me happy today:

1. I'm going to see Wicked one week from tomorrow
2. The Singing Bee
3. Websters added "ginormous" to the dictionary
4. Craig's new St. Ignace souvenir
   

And of course, these little monsters