Email 2012

It's called "Inbox Zero". I already did some of these things before this year, but i actually watched this on January 1 this year and decided to try it. Now, 3 months in, i've figured out how to make it work for me... and I have to say, I highly recommend it. This is the one new years resolution that actually stuck!

Watch the video on youtube

If you have email - especially in a work environment - but really any email, I highly recommend this. The first 30 minutes is a great lecture. The second half is question and answers. He does pretty well, until the question about the "wait game". Don't laugh, this is totally how my work functions. :)

Divas Like Rubies

So this is a bit of a divergence from my normal blog type, so sorry to everyone, but I decided I needed to write an actual technical blog post, to be found by the googles. No bread making recipes here today.

I decided to learn Ruby on Rails over Memorial Day weekend last year. Now, we had some interruptions, what with the power going out, my house getting soaked, and the tornado repairs being set back, but even still I made some great progress. I thought I would document all the resources that I used to get going.

If you can program, but know nothing about Ruby (like me!), follow these steps, as this how I got up to speed.

Learn Ruby and Ruby on Rails:

• http://tryruby.org/ - A really easy tutorial to get you started with Ruby programming.
• http://railsforzombies.org/ - A great tutorial about Rails (web application framework), with short lectures, and assignments with instant feedback. And Zombies!
• http://guides.rubyonrails.org/getting_started.html - Great step by step getting started guide to get your database and server running

Write an amazing Ruby Website:

• ActiveScaffold - My coworker Ryan suggested I look at ActiveScaffold as well.

• Getting Started info: http://www.ultrasaurus.com/sarahblog/2009/07/getting-started-with-activescaffold/
• IBM tutorial with activescaffold: http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/linux/library/l-activescaffold/

Almost a year later, I'm still learning, but this Diva LOVES Ruby on Rails. :)

Curtains!

I used to have this beautiful makeshift slipcover which I made with the help of the ever creative Amanda.

Slipcover:













Amanda:










but then I got a jack russell terrier named Jazz and she puked on it and the ripped it up. :(

Jazz not noticing how sad she made me:










So I am attempting to make a new slipcover, but in the mean time, I salvaged what I could of the fabric, plus the scraps I had leftover initially and I made curtains! (and maybe pillows!)

Here are the finished curtains:









The curtains were really easy. I had the clips, so I just sewed one very large rectangle. (I actually wish I had just a tiny bit more fabric so I could have made them more bunchy, but you gotta live with what you've got.)

Garden, Year 3!

We got started on our garden a bit early this year, and it's going great! These seeds were all planted around the beginning of last month. (So early Feb) and we transplanted the peas and cucumbers into the bigger pots about 2 weeks ago.


We need to transplant those little ones probably this weekend. It's musclin (lettuce mix) and spinach (in the container where everything is falling over due to the last watering), two types of tomatoes that are coming up nicely, and Serrano and bell peppers - but for some reason the bell peppers haven't sprouted at all.

We also have a container with basil, oregano and thyme, but that's barely sprouted as well.

We're certainly getting a better feel for how to plant, how to water, what to do to care for them early - what we actually want to eat!

It's been a mild winter, so I'm not craving spring like I normally am, but boy I could go for some garden fresh produce!

German Quiz answers!

Did you take my German Quiz last week? (I was actually surprised how many people did in the comments here and on facebook! A lot of people know German!)

Well, here are the answers.

1. Wie heissen Sie?
What are you called/ what is your name?
2. Wo wohnen Sie?
Where do you live?
3. Der Vater arbeitet für Cisco.
The father works for Cisco.
4. Herr Clark ist hungrig.
Mr. Clark is hungry.
5. Die Kinder lernen Deutsch
The children learn German.
6. Das Haus ist schön und bequem.
The house is beautiful and comfortable.
7. Er will Deutschland besuchen.
He wants to visit Germany.
8. Herr Clark ist intellegent und flussing.
Mr. Clark is intelligent and industrious/hardworking.
9. Wie sagt man das auf Deutsch?
How does one say that in German?
10. Wie gehts?
How's it going?

11. We speak.
Wir sprechen.
12. I answer.
Ich antworte.
13. They talk.
Sie reden.
14. We buy.
Wir kaufen.
15. She learns.
Sie lernt.

P.S. sagen is to say, sprechen is to speak and reden is to talk. :)

Food Lion doubling coupons!

As an update to Erika's coupon post, I wanted to inform everyone in the Triangle area, Food Lion is going to be doubling coupons this week only (starting TODAY!) This is a very big deal to me, as I shop at Food Lion probably more than I shop anywhere else and I will probably do this, this week.

I'm not a very good couponer - it's hard for me to be consistent.... but this is absolutely worth it!

Details on Food Lion Doubling via Centsible Saver

In which the internet helps me finish my weird song.

From Dad To Me Subject Blood RH Factor?
Are you plus or minus?

Sent from my smartphone
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From Me To Dad Subject RE: Blood RH Factor?
Negative Why?
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From Me To Dad Subject RE: Blood RH Factor?
it's the zombie apocalypse isn't it? You're planning to sacrifice me first since my blood is so delicious? Oh wait, that's the vampire apocalypse. All this time spent preparing for the zombies and in the end, it's the vampires who destroy us all. Unfortunate, indeed.
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From Dad To Me Subject RE: RE: Blood RH Factor?
Just curious.

Sent from my smartphone
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From Me To Dad Subject RE: RE: RE: Blood RH Factor?
you were just driving home and were suddenly struck by an unquenchable curiosity to know what my RH factor was? What were you listening to the radio and they sang "I'd love you even if your RH Factor were negative, but I positively love that your heart beats positive"?
------------------

Ok, clearly, internets... this is a good [read: horrendous] lyric. Unfortunately [read: fortunately?] I'm pretty bad at biology sooo...

I'd love you even if your RH Factor were negative,
but I positively love that your heart beats positive.

......... take it away! ;)

German Quiz?

I have now had 6 weeks of German Conversation I. That's the halfway point. We had a popquiz this week.... Can you translate? (I'll post the answers later, but I would love to see your best guesses in the comments. No cheating!). I knew almost all of them!

Translate the following:
(and note that number 9 says "man das" not "mandas")