Feely

When you are a ukulele…

I was asked to speak at the church I am currently attending as part of their “stewardship minute” series, which is a regularly scheduled time for someone from the congregation to make a short talk about why they attend and why they give to the church. I had been asked before but it was never a good time. But, this time around — the timing worked. This is what I said. (I used a prop – a travel ukulele – which is about 14 inches long and about 6 inches wide) **************** This is a travel ukulele. Apparently, you need… Read More »When you are a ukulele…

Oh, the times they are a’changing (or at least I have..a bit)

I know that the only thing constant is change. I get that. And, I have been dealing with a huge change in my life for almost 5 years. But, there are other changes that are happening around me all of the time and I have suddenly become aware of one that is more related to my techy-feely self. I am slmost three years into a new gig at my place of employment. This new job spread out my interests to well beyond what I was doing back in, what I consider, my heyday of my professional life. Back then, I… Read More »Oh, the times they are a’changing (or at least I have..a bit)

Back to the Future

  This week is not one that I have looked forward to for the past three years. Today marks the anniversary of the death of my partner from an accidental fall. The sudden ripping away of her life from mine was terrible and still resonates through my being. Some days more than others, of course. It has softened and I have made many strides in building a new life and finding my new normal including finding new love. But, I still dread this week. And part of that dread is because of technology. Primarily Timehop and Facebook Memories or On… Read More »Back to the Future

Escape Rooms: On Both Sides

I recently posted on Facebook something like this:  “Audrey: 4  Escape Rooms: 0” Yes, I suppose it was bragging. But, I have done four different escape rooms (Escape Game Nashville, Which Way Out Knoxville, Escape Game Knoxville, and The Chamber in Columbus, OH) and I have been in a group that has escaped successfully all four times. In two of the rooms, I knew everybody in the group. In the other two, there was a group I knew but we were joined with another group for the experience. That makes a difference. I have enjoyed them all but some more… Read More »Escape Rooms: On Both Sides

Something to consider

“In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don’t try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.” – Lao Tzu (Philosopher – 6th century BC)

Processing Out loud and Online and Finding Awe Again

Two months ago, I lost one of my best friends to cancer. His decline was quick and unexpected as we were told the day before he died that treatments would begin the next day and had a high percentage of success. He was a professor and choral director. The students who he taught have been processing the death ever since, mostly on Facebook. We used FB to organize choirs for his service and a college concert that turned into a tribute to him. They also post (at all hours of the day and night) how they are feeling, how they miss… Read More »Processing Out loud and Online and Finding Awe Again

Legacy Contact – Facebook

I swear, I do not intend to turn this blog into a tech after death kind of blog but right now, that is what I keep finding is blog-worthy of my energy. Related to my earlier posts on dealing with social media after death, Facebook has taken it a step further now and provided a means for someone to add a Legacy Contact to your account. You can find it from the Security Settings in your account on the site. And, yes, it is also in the mobile version.   When you add a Legacy Contact there, you can also choose… Read More »Legacy Contact – Facebook

Technology After Death

In the aftermath of the recent death in my life, there has been a lot of work to “close” a person’s life.  In addition to dealing with clothes, shoes, books, memorabilia, CDs, financial dealings, retirement accounts and automobiles, I have also been faced with several decisions regarding email accounts, social media, cloud storage, web sites and blogs. What do we do with these electronic artifacts after someone dies? I really don’t have a good answer. But there are services and resources out there to help. I have left the email accounts open. I was fortunate to have access to the… Read More »Technology After Death

Funding via Kickstarter

Kickstarter is really becoming a part of my life as I have helped fund at least four projects there now. They offer such a wide variety of opportunities to help folks with interesting ideas that just need a little financial support. It is limited to projects and not for fundraising for causes or “fund my life” kinds of things. The idea of micro-funding is so great. A little from a lot of folks can go a long way. So far, I have helped: a movie director create a film in Brainerd, Minnesota a new social networking platform a bakery/blogging business… Read More »Funding via Kickstarter

CheerLights

I totally love this idea. Connecting people via social networking AND spreading lovely holiday lights all over the place in sync.  Fantastic. Visit CheerLights for the details. And, if you don’t have a strand of the CheerLights (like me), then get the Android App! (I will soon) Maybe I need to learn how to build one of the actual strands…..