I read recently that teenagers spend all of their waking hours when not in school on computers, cell phones and iPods. I’m grateful that my children are grown and I didn’t have to address these issues.
But I realized I fit in the same category. As my dad used to say, I’m like the “pot calling the kettle black.”
When I’m not reading or working (cleaning, cooking ... just general homemaking duties) I spend an inordinate amount of time on my computer. And I love every second of it.
Some friends say they lose interest when I write about computers so forgive me here. But if you have one, the world, literally, is at your fingertips.
To research any subject, type in “google.com.” When the Google “search” pops up, type in a subject for which you have an interest and you will be rewarded in spades. This is called “googling.”
I use the Internet to find book reviews (goodreads.com), check local news (www.murfreesboropost.com) and look for recipes for tonight’s dinner (www.allrecipes.com/dailydish).
I download designs for my embroidery machine (google machine embroidery designs), get driving directions (mapquest.com or maps.google.com) and see what the weather is going to be (google: “weather”).
I visit with my closest – and not so close – friends on my e-mail account (and Facebook if you like), compare prices on cameras I’m interested in buying (buy.com) and look at beautiful photographs if I want to visit Red Square, Rockefeller Plaza or even Main Street in Murfreesboro (Panoramio.com).
I can check to see if my daughter’s airplane left on time (flighttracker.com), visit exotic locations (luxurylinks.com), and learn how to play (and play) bridge (ACBL.com).
If I have a specific brand of yarn left over from a knitting project, I can find a use for it, along with thousands of patterns (ravelry.com or straw.com) or find answers to knitting dilemmas (knittinghelp.com). I can buy pre-cut quilting fabrics (fatquarters.com), buy beautiful ribbons for a song (craftersvision.com), and watch a video of an author I’ve missed on the Oprah show (oprah.com search Elizabeth Gilbert). I even watched a several year old rerun of Bill Moyers interview art critic Sister Wendy Beckett (youtube.com/sisterwendybeckett).
A great Web site, How-dini.com shows you how to do anything from planning an affordable European vacation to upholstering a side chair. It also shows you how to make a bow for a wreath or even how to make a bunny cake, each demonstrated by experts in these subjects.
If you’re a “foodie” and want to get lost on the Web start by googling food52.com, a blog by cookbook authors Amanda Hesser and Merrill Stubbs, which basically touts home cooking. It in turn leads you to a lot of other fun Web sites.
If you love mystery novels, scout out stopyourekillingme.com, which has information on mystery writers and their characters. If you follow books written by mystery authors in a series, this is the place for you.
Among my very favorite Web sites is Amazon.com. In addition to selling almost ANYTHING – from rice cookers to sump pumps – it has reviews of the products it sells, including books, and I check there frequently to see if a book will appeal to me, from readers comments. Then I go to linebaugh.org to reserve it (it’s usually there).
I literally have to set my timer to make myself stop “surfing” the net, so if you’re bored, hit the Web.
I’m glad my kids aren’t around anymore to see me. They’d have to be policing ME.
‘Til next week. |
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