Fall Update #2 - Visit from Dad

This summer, my dad's side of the family had their annual reunion. It's usually a pretty big deal that lasts several days with camping, lots of games, and a live auction. Lately, they've started holding it at a camp only about 40 minutes from our house in Pocatello. I was really hoping to go to the reunion since I haven't seen my Grandma Page or my Aunts in a few years even though they lived near by when we lived in Shelley. I wanted to go even more badly after I found out my dad was coming from Pennsylvania to attend. Except for a very brief "hello" at my Grandma's 90th birthday a couple of years ago, I hadn't seen my dad since I was pregnant with Hyrum. Unfortunately, Emily was sick with an ear infection, so we weren't able to go. Instead, my dad came out to visit us at our house. It was nice to see him again. The kids (and our cat) loved getting to know him.

Fall Update #1 - 4th of July

So, I knew I was behind on blogging, but I didn't realize I was this far behind until I checked my blog today. Well, needless to say, there's a lot to blog about, and since we're college students at midterm, little time to do it. Because of this, I've decided to break it all up into segments I can write between classes.

Since my last post, I finally moved back in with my family in Pocatello. Yay! I aced summer term and got onto the Dean's List. Yay again! We spent the next few days just getting settled in and unpacked, so there's not much else to report there.

My oldest brother James and his kids came to Idaho for the 4th of July. Well, actually James and his youngest daughter only passed through on their way to Montana, but the other kids stayed at my mom's house. Hyrum and Emily were so excited to spend some time with their cousins and enjoy a picnic at Grandma's house before we headed to the fireworks in Idaho Falls. If you've never been to the fireworks show in Idaho Falls, you should try to go at least once. It's the biggest fireworks show west of the Mississippi. I kid you not.

Hyrum, Emily, and Piper eating outside at Grandma Crooks's house. Piper and Emily wanted me to fix their hair the same so they could match.

Short video Mike took of the kids eating.

Hyrum and Isaac reading a book together.

Hyrum, Emily, and Mike looking for a spot to sit long the Green Belt. The kids were pretending to ride horses, but Emily got camera shy and stopped doing it as soon as I took out the camera.

Hyrum and Emily at the river before the fireworks started. I love the sky and the temple in the background.

Hyrum and Emily bundled up watching the fireworks. They were cold.

Part of the fireworks show.

Mike actually got a better video of the finale, but he filmed it sideways. I couldn't figure out how to turn it without having it shrink down too small to see well, so this will have to do. If you want to see the other one, check out my youtube account (KittyJaypea).

Well, off to meet my accompanist. More later!

Moving... Again.

So I haven't written an update since before Mike's Google blog. I do have a legitimate excuse this time though. First, we had finals for winter semester all while looking for a new apartment in Pocatello. Then a few days after the semester ended, I started summer term. Then, once Hyrum got out of school, Mike and the kids moved to Pocatello while I moved in with my mom to finish the summer semester. Well, Thursday was my last day of school, so I finally get to post all the videos and pictures we've taken and haven't had time to post. I'm so glad to have the rest of summer off, and I'm so glad to finally be able to move back in with my family! Be sure to check out my posts on Hyrum's field trip to the zoo and Hyrum's Spring Concert. Nothing much to read, just videos and pictures.

Our old apartment in Shelley.

Our new apartment in Pocatello.

Hyrum's Spring Concert

Hyrum's school had a spring concert. Both Hyrum and I are short. I was standing against the back wall of the gym and Hyrum was standing on the front row, so I could barely see him when I zoomed the camera in all the way. Sorry for the shaky camera work. It's especially hard to stabilize it while zoomed in that close. Emily couldn't see him at all, but had fun dancing to the songs.

Not to be outdone by her brother, Emily asked me to video her dancing. She got a little camera shy for a while, but got over it quick enough.

Zoo

On Hyrum's last week of school, Mike and I volunteered to help out with their field trip to the zoo. Here are some pictures and videos.

Emily loves zebras. Listen close, and you'll hear her say, "They're my zebras!"

She also loved this goat. Before I started the camera, she was hugging it through the fence.

An open letter to Google Corporation

Dear Google, we're on the verge of another technological revolution, and I want you to lead it. Please consider the following life-altering changes:

• Google Cellular
  Purchase T-Mobile.  They're a carrier that hangs around, but really never competes against the big boys of cell phone companies (Verizon, Sprint, AT&T).  Once purchased, make all your rate plans just $30-$40 a month -- only for unlimited data access and messaging charges.  The voice charges will come from replacing the ringing (or, in some cases, music) the caller hears with advertisements.  These would be selected ads you would feel comfortable letting your callers listen to (ie. I would never want anyone calling me to hear about RedBull or Trojan condoms ads).  I feel it's a small inconvenience to pay for free voice service, which of course, will be using the cellular data network and not the POTS.  Besides, if the subscriber doesn't like it, there would be incentive to answer their phone quicker.  Much better than the alternative.
• Google Medical
  No, we don't need a hospital run on Google Wave, although you wouldn't have any problems with your own WebMD.  What we need here is an intervention with our government medical paper trail.  You see it every hospital, clinic, and outpatient care you visit.  It's costs billions (un-sourced and un-researched) and is behind the times.  Digital records held in the cloud is what we need: a universal health-care filing system (read that again, carefully, conservatives).  Would we go to the extent of tattooing or implanting a scannable ID on our bodies?  Probably not.  Use a digital ID card or a SIM card in phones from your new cellular network.  People leave their wallets at home, but never their phone. This would consolidate your whole medical history, current medications, donor status, recorded biometrics and make them accessible for any certified medical care providers the whole world over allowing personnel from emergency response to your family doctor to access updated records every time they needed it.  People may go conspiracy theory on you, but the idea that we've been living in an archaic (this Internet capability has been accessible for ~15-years) system baffles me.  Get some senators on board and get your government grant.

• Google OS .. Google TV ... Google Netflix?
  You're so close to this one I can smell it.  With the advent of your hard-driveless operating system and the launching of Google TV, all this dilapidated redundancy in my house is frustrating.  With 1 desktop, 1 server, 2 laptops, and 2 external storage drives, Picasa and Google Apps, I feel I have the digital household makup that John Kerry would be envious of.  My family photos, videos, documents, music, and now recently, my backed up DVDs reside in multiple places and are often duplicated with no stapled method of organization.  I want all of this out of my hard drive and into one accessible place: the Internets.  No more purchasing a physical DVD.  Make it virtual.  Same price as an off-the-shelf DVD, but no physical media to speak of.  That way, there's only one copy of the movie in the world, but with millions of people owning the rights to it.  Your TV at home or in the car will access your purchased DVD online and on demand.  I think you're right there... Netlfix is almost there, but it's still just a rental, we don't own anything.  Hopefully your WebM video codec is an indication that this was your plan all along.
• Googlezon
  Credit for this goes to a former co-worker.  A Google shopping search gets unreliable results.  It's time to open your own web store and shipping centers and replace Amazon.com's supremacy.
• Google Entry
  QWERTY needs to die.  The English language is too complicated and cumbersome to be the ongoing solution to command input.  The console interface designers of Star Trek had it right.  We need a group of linguist and mathematicians to create a universal visual entry language.  One that uses sentence conjugations, tap-swipe entry, series and sequence patterns to develop a thought provoked input language.  This, integrated with our Google Pad (not trademarked... yet) will grant Gene Roddenberry an eternally restful slumber.
• Google Movers
  I need someone to come pack and move my house.  After doing it 11 times in 10 years, you would think I would be a pro.  However, it's quite the opposite.  Instead of becoming efficient at the task, I've become burnt out and often find excuses to avoid packing.  Things like writing an open blog letter 3 days before we move.

This entry came about as a tangent as my wife discussed how Apple is not the Apple that Steve Jobs created.  He wanted to "stick it to the man" and give consumers another option than buying a PC.  However, his interests have changed, along with his company.  His advancements in "iTechnology" have been fabulous, but now outwardly bashing Adobe Flash 10.1 and Google WebM codec make him more like Bill Gates version 2.0 .  MicroSoft is all but done, having created innovations, but lacking the commitment to follow through to the bigger picture.  They did it with Windows Media Center PCs, attempting to integrate the PC and media experience, but needing so many requirements to have it work just right.  They did it with MicroSoft Surface, but wanted too high a price that only larger corporations could pursue.  Now they're doing it again with the Kin.  A social networking tool that no doubt will repeat the MotoBlur experience.

It's up to Google to make our dreams realized.  They can get this cloud thing going and make the literal Universal network in our hands (let's not mention the SkyNet possibilities).  Our cell phones are almost our computers, car operating systems, garage door openers, remote controls, radios, and one day, mind control devices.

Have any more Google _____ ideas?  What's your take on the advancement toward a more simplified (yet complex) technological experience?  Are we heading down the wrong path or moving towards a more Utopian society?  Share your thoughts in the comments.