Final Thoughts

I didn't actually think I'd ever get to this point.  If I wasn't on a diet, I'd go out to dinner to celebrate.  Oh well.  As I got further and further into the Things, I got more comfortable with what I was doing.  I will admit I did get a tad worried when Blogger had a problem.  I didn't want to have gotten this far and not be able to finish.  But now I've done it - Woot!  Woot!  As to what was my favorite - I enjoy going on Facebook.  I'd gotten on that even before 23 Things.  Several members of my family recommended me.  And I promised my kids I'd not embarrass them.  And if truth be told, I did enjoy blogging.  That's sort of like when I send out my emails.  I'm glad I decided to complete the program and not just stop after Thing 3.  I'll probably not use a lot of what was covered, but at least I know about it.  I'm not totally in the dark.  And I'm kind of proud of myself for completing all 23 Things.  So thank you - and good bye.

Thing 23

I must say that for me, this Thing was a bust.  I decided to check out the popular magazine database.  Now I know there are a lot of stampers out there, but I couldn't find nary a stamping magazine.  I wrote title after title - drew a big blank.  Saw People Weekly and other such magazines, but nothing that I was actually interested in.  I am no longer in school and I no longer have school-age children at home.  Otherwise I could see where these various databases would come in handy trying to get reference material for papers and such.  So for me personally, this one doesn't interest me.  If I worked at Reference, oh yeah.  After all they are there to help our patrons find information needed.  They need to have all these references so they can get the answers for the patrons or can show the patrons how to find the information for themselves.  From looking at this site, at least I won't have to have such a blank expression on my face when a patron does ask me a question.  I can sound a tad more informed as I send them on over to reference. 

Thing 22

It's nice to be able to blog again - and to know the books I'd listed on LibraryThing are still there.  Right after I listed them yesterday, my computer started acting up.  Made me a tad nervous.  I really enjoyed this Thing.  I didn't think I would.  Making a list of the books I own or have read isn't necessarily exciting.  But all the other options that are available was really neat.  I haven't signed up for the Publishers Reviews (or whatever it was called) where you get a copy and write a review sounded very interesting.  Seeing what other books are available.  I had fun going through this one.  You can see my list at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MikeLueken.  And linking was easy peasy.  So today has been a good day.  My last two things have been reposted and this one was accomplished.  You know what that means - only one more to go.  I can do it - I can go for the count.   Darn, I keep forgetting to label these. 

Thing 21

I'll try this again.  For some reason it kept trying to underline everything I was typing and wouldn't let me un-underline (if there is such a word).  Trying to make an avatar was a lot easier.  I used DoppelMe to create my avatar.  I sort of liked the options.  Probably would have been a lot more options if I registered.  All of them were fun to play with.  I wasn't able to use Meez because I guess I don't have Java and I didn't want to download it (or whatever).  The Simpsons one was pretty good and I almost had a fairly decent, normal-looking person created.  I just now tried to preview what I'm writing, but it wouldn't let me.  Luckily only two more Things to do.  I will get there.  See you tomorrow (hopefully) to do my library extra.  I'm so excited.  But I did have fun with the creation, even if everything else is causing me grief.

Thing 20

After reading and listening to all the information for this Thing, I felt a little bit nervous.  I've never been good at trying to come up with a strong password.  Reading "How to Choose Strong Passwords" was very informative.  So my hope is to try to track down all my passwords and make them stronger.  However, since "remembering things" isn't always my strong suit, I worry about forgetting what my passwords are.  But that is definitely my main "what will I do differently from now on".  Most of the rest of the topics mentioned in this thing, we already do at home - or rather my husband does.  Our computer updates itself - sometimes at very inopportune times.  Like when I'm in a hurry to leave and trying to shut the computer down.  I know this probably isn't a smart move, I don't necessarily feel threatened or concerned.  My husband does.  And he is computer savvy enough to keep up with it.  And he tells me the basics - like don't read things from people you don't know, etc.  I do plan on going over all the topics on this thing with him, though, to make sure we are all up to date.  I'm happy to learn about this information.  Now on the Thing 21.

Thing 19

I enjoyed this thing.  My topic of research was shoulder replacement since a doctor recommended it for me.  Not soon, but in the next few years.  First I checked out Yahoo since I go there when I'm using my AOL account.  Found some very interesting information.  When I checked with Google at first I couldn't find anything at all.  I was beginning to think my doctor had just said I'd need surgery just to get me out of his office.  However, I felt better when I checked Yahoo.  Then I went to Phil Bradley's site and checked out a couple of medical search engines - Healio and OmniMedicalSearch.com.  Those sites gave me much more information than I perhaps really needed.  But at least I didn't have to worry about getting a lot of non-medical sites thrown in with the rest if a "word" matched.  For the meta search engine I used metacrawler.  I saw many of the same sites as I saw on Yahoo.  I don't know that I would necessarily need to use a meta search engine.  For my usual needs, Yahoo would do just fine.  And so ends Thing 19 - finally.  Hopefully we'll get to Thing 20 this evening.  See you later.

Thing 18

I think Thing 18 is almost one of my favorites - partially because of the Google products I searched.  The first one I chose was Books.  I chose that one because I work in a library and actually deal with the books.  Plus I love to read.  I was able to read portions of books.  Of course, that was a problem because I'd get interested and they'd skip over the next several pages.  Now I have to see if our library has several books I'd like to read.  Plus I saw a lot of books mentioned on stamping.  So many books, so little time.  The second product I checked out was Knol.  That's almost like seeing yourself published.  Just write a paper and put it on Knol. I read up on Zombies - some guy had written a research paper on zombies.  Very interesting.  Another person had lists of movies you could watch for free and in their entirety on YouTube.  Called himself a chair-potato.  That would get uncomfortable after a while.  I checked out some of the other products - but most of them were too technical for me.  Just weren't things I was interested in.  There you have it - and there will be more to read by me later.

Thing17

For some reason when I tried typing this the first time there was an error with saving it.  So after I finished typing I couldn't preview it or publish my post.  And we wonder why I get headaches.  Anyway, I really enjoyed Slideshare.  I viewed several of rubber stamping.  It was wonderful.  This is really a feature I would enjoy using quite a bit.  The slideshare feature gave me some great ideas for my own hobby.  As far as it being useful at work.  I could definitely see the Youth Services people coming up with something for their programs.  Maybe if we used something like this for the adult programs - more people would show for them.  And if more people came, we could offer more programs.  I was definitely happy with this one.  Now on to Thing 18.  More from me later.

Thing 16

Well, I finished with my first document.  As seems to be par the course for me - I'm not able to actually follow the directions.  I'm told to Click Sign Out.  There was no Sign Out to click on.  Even had my husband in here looking for it.  It is still there, though.  I signed back in and there it was.  That's part of the reason I get so confused with what I'm doing.  I need explicit directions that cannot be varied in any way.  Sigh.  On to the questions I'm supposed to answer.  While typing the document I appreciated the fact that it was automatically saved - not something I had to remember to do.  Since I didn't do a spreadsheet or anything else fancy, there weren't a lot of features I used.  I did try using the bold, italicize, etc.  Mostly when I do typing on the computer it is basically typing letters to friends.  I don't need anything fancy.  Otherwise, if I had an office job where I did have to write reports and make spreadsheets, etc., this would be wonderful.  I acknowledge that.  When I deal with my patrons I'm basically just checking books in or out for them.  We don't discuss what type of computing they do.  We're just in it for the books.  Now.....on to Thing 17.

Thing 15

I'm back after a brief respite.  Now I have to get serious since everything has to be finished in 17 days.  Eeek!  It will get done however.  Okay, I had some fun with my iGoogle page.  I picked the luscious Mist in the Forest theme.  It was amazing how many choices there were.  The one I picked just seemed so serene, peaceful, cool - sigh.  I'd love to be there.  Anyway.....I didn't add many gadgets to my page - just the Smiles.  Basically pictures of smiley animals.  I like happy.  It's hard not to be happy when a critter is grinning at you.  And then I did some rearranging of things.  Just had some fun.  Then I checked out 30 Boxes - to see what their calendar system was like.  Impressive.  I also checked out several of the List Makers.  And I was impressed with those, too.  However, the problem with all of them - you have to have something turned on to see what's on your calendar or list (yeah, I know you can print it out).  But for me, it is just as easy to jot stuff down on a piece of paper and go from there.  My calendar is right under my telephone in the kitchen.  My list of birthdays is by my cardmaking desk.  I like my organization system.  So as impressed as I was, I think I'll stay with what I'm doing.  Til next time.....

Thing 14

I sort of enjoyed this Thing.  I always like looking for books, even if they aren't on paper.  I decided to look for a newish book, one that I am reading now - Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson.  I looked through all the sources listed and the only one that I could find (and that had books that I might possibly read) was Google.  To be able to use it, you'd have to have Google eBook, Web, Tablet/iPad, Nook/Sony or Smartphone.  A free sample was available.  Otherwise you'd have to buy it.  Most of the free ebooks are older ones.  So I don't think I'd be very interested in that.  I prefer to read more current books.  However, the prices are cheaper than hardback cover books so I guess I can't complain.  But if I had my druthers, I'd rather have a Kindle than the others.  It looks more like a book to me.  I know I've been saying the other Things haven't really interested me that much, but I might give ebooks a bigger look-see. 

Things 13

Okay, so I'm not crazy about listening to a bunch of political or newsy stuff.  But I did go to Podcast.com and found something interesting to watch and listen to - Divers Plumb Depths for U-Boats.  My husband is really in to U-Boats and has an extensive library.  And, I believe, he dived on the U-85 back when we lived up in Virginia.  Shame he wasn't here to watch and listen with me.  He would have appreciated it (he's out of town).  Listening to podcasts is not something that I would choose to do once I'm finished with all 23 things.  I do have an IPod and Itunes, but do not subscribe to any podcasts and don't plan to.  Now on to Thing 14 to learn about eBooks and Readers.  Stay tuned.......

Thing 12

I'm finally here and was able (in a round-about fashion) get a video on my blog.  I love this little fella.  He reminds me so much of my dog, only mine is a female.  I enjoyed looking at the various YouTube videos.  And I can see where it would be useful in a library - it would be great for advertising the youth department's Summer Reading Program.  It doesn't just have to show things as they happen or what has happened, but what is going to happen.  Really get the kids and their parents enthused. 

Thing 11

It's me again.  No, I'm not finally getting the geist of this stuff.  But I did manage to get this picture done of me as a Motivational Poster.  And, with a little help from my more computer-savvy friends, I was able to actually put it in my blog, rather than on the outside of it.  Of course, I have no idea how I managed to do that either.  Ain't life exciting.  Anyway, onward and upward to my next Thing.  Keep watching and reading.  Darn, I keep forgetting to write comments related to the topic.  The mind does wander.  This thing was kind of fun.  And from reading the stamping blogs, I know being able to do this makes for beautiful blogs.  And, as for libraries, being able to insert pictures makes for more interesting fliers, pamphlets, etc.  Kids especially enjoy the more picturesque things.

Thing 10

Okay, besides being a stamper of cards, I love chihuahuas.  Cutest little dog in the world.  The URL for the picture I chose from Flickr is http://www.flickr.com/photos/misssockmonkey/2580863837/.  Isn't that just the cutest?  My baby is a little (okay, not so little) girl, too.  Hope you enjoy the picture.  Modest, isn't she?
More from me later.

Thing 9

I know I've already answered Thing 9.  But I  was checking out Delicious - and it's still there.  So if it's supposed to "go away", it hasn't gone yet.  Just thought you'd like to know.  I forgot to mention this yesterday.  And I figured out how to write on my blog page without wasting half my day.  I'm happy.  Now if I can just get this headache to go away.  Later.

Thing 9

I'll get this blogging thing down yet.  That is my primary goal right now.  Took me about 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get to New Post.  Got tired of reading my old blogs.  Now on to the task at hand - Thing 9.  I read the various things about bookmarking and tagging.  Yes, on my computer I do have some favorites, but if I'm not at my computer and I see something I like, it's no big deal for me to just write it down.  That way I can take my time going over the material to really see if I want it or not.  Most of my favorites are stamping related.  I'm not really all that into technology.  So I will probably not use any of this.  But it was interesting looking at Delicious and the other sites mentioned in Thing 9.  Especially the scary movies on line - made me think of my son - the bloodier and gorier, the better.  Anyway, getting back to the subject - I figure the labeling of the 23 Things pretty much matches up with how I'd tag them.  Very forthright and to the point.  For the more technical minded and the librarians, all this may be quite handy.  It's not anything I would probably get in to.  And that's my thoughts on this beautiful Easter Sunday. 

Thing 7

All righty.  I already have a Facebook account.  I got it because my kids are on it as are quite a few of my relatives and friends.  It's a very neat way to keep in touch.  I enjoy it.

Thing 5

Well, I must admit I enjoyed playing around with my blog.  I used up all free time at lunch playing.  And I like playing.  I'm actually excited that I was able to do what I was asked to do and could find all the different things to click on.  I'm feeling a little more confident about what I can do.  Now on to Thing 6.  Stay tuned.

Thing 4

Well, I've finally done it - I've made my blog page.  This is really deal for me since this terrifies me.  I've decided I must have a phobia about computers.  Wish I didn't.  And hopefully after finishing all 23 Things, I won't feel that way.  This is sort of my 12 steps.  We'll see if it works.  Join me when I write again.