I am technology illiterate.  I watch my children and even grandchildren use their gadgets so easily and I wonder what there is on there that they can spend so much time on their phone or computer.

I have to admit, I was probably one of the last people in Martins Ferry to get a cell phone.  I really couldn't see the since in paying for two phones.  It never dawned on me to just get rid of my house phone.  I had both until about a year and a half or so ago when I finally disconnected my house phone. Sometimes, I wonder if I did the right thing.  Now people have access to me 24/7 and this can become annoying but then again, people have access to me 24/7 and this can be a lifesaver.

Thanks to Dale, I got a new phone a couple of months ago.  I can now go on facebook and check my mail on there.  Yea.  I watch my girls doing all this different stuff on their phones and just can't figure out how to do it on mine.  On top of that, I don't have the imagination to figure out what I want to do with my phone.  Who comes of with these different apps to add to you phone and how do you even know what to look for? I am so confused. 

My technology illiteracy is not limited to the phone.  I am computer illiterate also.  I went back to school a few years ago and was told in my first class I would need to do a powerpoint presentation.  What in the world is powerpoint?  Thank heaven for my youngest daughter.  She walked my through the process several times and even "prettied up" some of my presentations. 

I have been doing some sewing and thought I would try to sell some things on ebay.  My oldest daughter casually says to me, "why don't you just make a webpage and sell them on facebook?"  Really, you can do that?  I have no idea how that is done but with some help, I am going to try to get it up and running.  We will see.

This blog has been a new experience for me.  I have done some writing and sharing and it actually is relaxing for me.  I know there is a way you can link this blog to your facebook account. I haven't figured out how to do that yet.  I just copy and paste and there you have it.  Oh well, maybe someday I will become the technology literate person I want to be.

I have become addicted to NASCAR.  I went to my first race in September and am planning to go again in May.  It helps that the races were both close to the beach but in all seriousness, the race was great.

We found a fantasy NASCAR game and decided to play.  So far I have done well.  I am currently ranked second (Dale is ninth but we won't talk about that).  To be fair, I have no idea about the cars, teams and drivers.  I picked my first car because it was purple. He has already won a race this season.

I have become obsessed.  I check the computer every day to see if there is any NASCAR news.  I have changed my teams and rearranged my driver's so many times, I can't remember who I have from one day to the next.

I am having a great time.  It is fun pretending I am really winning something. (this is a free fantasy so there are not any real prizes). 

I never thought that at my age I would learn to like so many new things.  I am enjoying my life and looking forward to the next new experience.

I am a Disney Freak.  I needed to admit that.  I love the movies, the Disney store and Disney World.  I have been there a total of eleven times, each one a new experience.

My first visit to Disney was between seventh and eighth grade.  EPCOT center had just opened.  We rented an RV and traveled to Florida with my parents, grandparents and my siblings.  I actually don't remember much of that trip but it started my love for Disney.

My next trip was not for 15 or so years. Alexis was just born and we took Dawn and Wendy on their first trip.  It was a great time.

My trips to Disney became more of an adventure the more we went.  My next trip consisted of taking a very active preteen girl and a sulking teenage boy.  To say it was an experience is an understatement.  We couldn't keep up with the preteen and the teenage boy just wanted to go to the hotel to the pool.  Frustrating does not even cover that experience.  The highlight of that trip was when Alexis signed us up to "preform" at Cinderella's castle.  We met at the assigned time and walked across the stage carrying a sign with 1986 prined on it. End of performance.

Our trips became more frequent as my grandchildren came along and they became more highlighted with "adventure". 

I learned a lot from our trips.  I learned never try to keep up with Alexis.  She is on full speed the minute she wakes up in the morning.  To her credit, I do understand her thinking, tickets are expensive and she wants to see everything she can.

I learned not to go to Disney World in August.  Enough said about that.

I learned to let the kids play.  On our trip with Kerrigan it rained one afternoon.  Kerrigan and Aunt Alexis played in the rain, running through the  puddles.  It was one of the best parts of our trips.

I learned going to Disney with each of my children seperately is so much more fun than going together sometimes.  Each of my children and grandchildren are unique.  Each vacation was unique also.  I can go with all three children and grandchildren and each would have a different perspective of the same trip.

My biggest regret was my mother didn't get to go on the trip she meticulously planned.  She became ill just days before we left and never fully recoved.  She passed away just six weeks later.  We spent a lot of time together planning that trip and I treasure those times so much now.   Sometimes the planning is half the fun.

My next adventure is with my sister, her nearly three year old granddaughter and my five  year old granddaughter Rae.  We are planning on heading out the first week of December.  This is a time of year I have wanted to see for a long time.  I am looking forward to spending some uninterrupted time with my sister.  She lives too far away and I miss her.  That is going to be the highlight of this trip. 

This has been a long weekend but with a feeling of accomplishment.  Saturday started early (5 am) with a trip to Mechanicburg OH to watch my granddaughter Kerrigan's soccer match.  Unfortunately, I apparently am not good with directions and once we finally found the Y, the match was almost over.  I did get to see Kerrigan play and it was fun. 

What I found interesting was the fact that you had to watch the match through a window.  Bleachers were set up outside the gym and family and friends watched from there.  After I thought about it for awhile, this is a really good idea. 

I remember growing up playing basketball on the outdoor courts in Martins Ferry.  I was always stressful when our parents and family made comments and "coached" from their seats.  I remember parents even being barred from attending games because of their conduct. 

I must confess, I was probably one of those parents when my children were growing up and playing sports.  I complained about bad calls and other assorted complaints.

I never bad mouthed coaches, ours or the opposing teams and NEVER criticized the kids that were playing.  That seems to be common practice.  Sometimes I don't believe people remember these are just kids playing and these games are probably not going to change the outcome of their lives.  I mean, how many pro athletes are there really in the scheme of things. 

I liked the fact that Kerrigan and her friends were not subjected to hearing negative comments.  They got to play just for fun and according to some 8 year olds present, for the snacks they get afterwards.

And to my kids, I am sorry for all the times I embarrassed you while I was in the stands, but I did do it with love.

I am starting my first sewing project today.  After a discussion at work, I discovered there is a market for handmade cabbage patch clothing.  Go figure.  Well, I did a bit of research and low and behold, they were right, so off I go to cabbage patch land.

I'm not quite as intimidated by this project as I am with making children's clothing.  I mean, I do have three granddaughters that could use the baby doll clothes if they don't sell and I really don't have that much in them to lose.

It is a start, a small leap into what I want to do in the future.  Wish me luck, I'm off to sew.

Recently, I attended funeral services for a long time fellow Bridgeport Firefighter.  I have not been active in the department for some time.  I was in awe at the amount of firefighters, both active and retired, that took the time to honor this man.

This brought back an abundance of memories associated with my time with the department.  Being a member of the department came at a time in my life when I was trying to find my niche in life.  I have always been around fire departments.  My grandfather and great uncles were founding members in Martins Ferry as well as my father being a photographer.  I think I found the itch to serve when I followed him on calls and watched as men (there were not women at that time), risk their lives to help others.

I made a lot of good friends with the Bridgeport Fire Department, people I could depend on in a time of need.  My father was very sick at the time, and I knew if I needed them they would have come to help. Some of these same EMS and firefighters sent their condolences when he passed. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of those couragous firefighters and EMS personnel for all they do. Keep up all the good work, the village of Bridgeport is lucky to have you all

Spring forward. Such a simple sentence but full of meaning.  Each spring we turn our clocks forward and start fresh.  With a spring birthday coming up, I have started thinking of ways to "spring forward" my life.

There is so much I can do to make some positive changes in my life: health, happiness, spirtuality and faith.

I have begun to watch what we eat.  I live with a junk food addict and that is a big downfall for my self control.  Anyone who knows me is aware that I am not a vegetable person.  I actually ate tomatoes in my salad tonight, that is a big step for me.

My daughters have decided to do a 5K and I am determined to join them.  I have half heartedly taken to walking but must put more time and effort into it.  I know this is what I need to do.

I have been questioning my faith and spirituality lately.  I was raised in the Presbyterian church and attended Sunday school, youth fellowship and choir practice every week, because my parents said I had to.  As I grew older, I continued to attend services and made sure my girls did too but I feel like I just go through the motions.  I don't feel that deep connection I think I should.  I can recite the Lord's Prayer and Aposteles Creed but I don't really understand what they mean. 

I need to look into myself and discover what my faith means to me. 

I will be 53 soon.  My family genes aren't all that great and I want to be the one to break that cycle.  Spring is a new beginning, and that is just what I intend to do this year.