Mom, are you reading this?

I would not consider myself to be technically savvy, but I suppose when you spend 8+ hours on a computer a day, you learn a thing or two. Apparently you also forget how basic computers were in high school, and how far they've come in the last decade (ouch).

Mom and Dad (read: Mom) bought a new computer today. This computer replaces the one we bought when I was a junior in high school. That's a good two years before I was introduced to some of my best friends. Anyway, I was really proud of Mom's technical prowess in setting the machine up by herself this afternoon, IMing me by mid-afternoon.

Mom: "It's telling me you're typing right now!"

Me: "I forgot you couldn't see that. That's how I know when people are paying attention or are ignoring me."

Later...

Mom: "When I was in Word, I could see what all the fonts looked like in the menu. I didn't even have to type them to test them out!"

Really? That functionality wasn't there 11 years ago?

Somehow we got on the conversation of Google Images. She uses Google regularly, but not the Images function. Even though I knew a photo of her probably wouldn't be there (and it wasn't), I found this image of "Bonnie Collins." Apparently there is a woman named Bonnie Collins who is a West Virginia storyteller. Click here to to listen to her sing "The Piggy Song," or here to read the lyrics.


So then I started Googling Brian and me. Here's what I found for Brian:

And me... I can assure you I am neither a talented diver or a recorded artist. At least not yet.

So if Google Images is that much fun, imagine how much fun Mom could have on Google Maps. Unfortnately, their house isn't even captured by the Satellite image feature, but it's still interesting. At least Paris has some level of Satellite functionality now. You can see how big our town is in basically one frame! I know these tools aren't new, but they're always entertaining. And I actually know how to use them.

Mom: "Can you give me a tutorial on Excel?"

Me: Um, no...

"Maybe the game has passed me by"

You may not realize this, but it's baseball season. Sure, you saw Billy Crystal make contact during his one-day contract with our beloved (?) Yankees. But the guys down in Florida aren't the only ones in spring training.

I'm proud to announce that Brian has joined the real world this year. Not only is he participating in a fantasy baseball league, he's also playing in a real person league here in SF. Saturday was a particularly busy schedule that went something like this:

6:30 a.m. - Brian wakes up earlier than he ever has in his life
6:45 a.m. - Brian calls brother, Tim, and thoroughly annoys sister-in-law, Nicole, for the next three hours.
7:00 a.m. - Fantasy baseball draft begins (after weeks of intense research).
8:15 a.m. - The draft drags on. Luckily for Brian's safety, Katie is still sleeping.
9:05 a.m. - Katie rises after a peaceful 10-hour rest. Brian thinks it's time for lunch. The draft continues. Strategies are discussed. Pay me and I'll tell you what they are.
9:35 a.m. - The bottomless pit of a draft finally ends. I think there are two high school sophomores on Brian and Tim's team.
10:00 a.m. - Brian talks about how tired he is. Blah blah blah.
11:10 a.m. - Brian decides what to wear to his first scrimmage for the Bay Area Legends.
11:30 a.m. - Brian leaves for his scrimmage, which starts at noon. "It will probably last a couple of hours," he says.
4:15 p.m. - Brian returns home from the scrimmage, and he doesn't even remember the score. The game was 4 hours long and you didn't get the score?!
4:16 p.m. - Brian says he took a ball to the shin, his arm is killing him from throwing, and that he even sprained his big toe. I've never heard of a sprained toe! Apparently you can sprain anything with a muscle.
5:00 p.m. - Nurse Katie ices Brian, who astutely comments, "Maybe the game has passed me by."

Poor baby!

"I was always injury prone," he says.

Close-up of the sprained toe. Eww.

Brian's favorite new word

A little older, a little colder

Aloha! Our trip to Hawaii was awesome! We started off our vacation surprising my Dad on the Big Island for his 60th(!) birthday, stayed there for 3 days, then Brian and I headed to Kuaui for 5 days on our own. It's the first vacation we've taken alone together since our honeymoon (aside from long weekends). It was great.

Thanks to all who sent birthday wishes - via phone, email or card - all good thoughts are appreciated. Our mail was delivered today, so it was really nice to come home to a big stack of cards after a long day back at the office! :)

Here are a few pictures for now. Enjoy, and mahalo for reading!

Surprising Dad on our first night

Brian & me at South Point - the Southern most tip of the United States

Kickin' it in our Mustang convertible, the official rental car of Kuaui

Spectacular aerial view of the Na' Pali Coast

One of the many beautiful sunsets

The unforgettable view from our room

By the Kilauea Lighthouse

My view on my 27th birthday - pure relaxation!

Happy birthday to me outside the Beach House Restaurant

Chiquita girl