It’s A Boy! I am not talking about ourselves or any other family member just having a new baby boy… I am referring to a book that I have the pleasure of reading. The full title is , “It’s A Boy : Women Writers on Raising Sons” .

There is a particularly funny part that Mike, a friend and I were reading yesterday. One of the authors, Andrea Buchanan, was writing about how she had baby girl dreams when she was pregnant the first time. Turns out she had a girl. She found herself pregnant again, and wanted another girl. Here is what she wrote…

———-
“When I first discovered I was pregnant the second time around, I hoped for another girl. I had visions of having two daughters, of seeing the special sister bond recreated in the next generation of my family. But I wasn’t as sure as I had been the first time. I had one baby dream early on in the pregnancy, and it was of giving birth to a boy. In the dream, he came out blond and big and more coordinated than a newborn really is; within minutes of giving birth, my room was populated with all the mothers I know in real life who have sons, all of them holding their boy babies and smirking at me because they knew I’d really wanted a girl. One of them asked me, “What’s his name?” and I realized I didn’t have a name for him. “Can you believe it?” the dream mothers said to one another. “She doesn’t even have a name picked out!” I started to panic. Before I woke up, I looked at my nameless boy baby and thought, At least he looks like Emi. The dream logic was, evidentally, that if he at least looked like his sister, it might make it easier to deal with the fact that he wasn’t a girl himself.

Even after this dream, I stuck to my conviction that I was having another girl. I contemplated girl names, I painted the baby’s room lavendar. But inwardly I began to doubt my firm girl-only stance. The dream nagged at me. I didn’t have the same fierce girl feelings I had had when I was pregnant with my daughter. I began to grudgingly acknowledge the possibility that this baby could be a boy.

At my nineteen-week ultrasound, the tech took her time, checking the kidneys, the heart, the legs, the head. She asked us if we wanted to know whether the baby was a girl or a boy, and I joked, ” Yes, but only if it’s a girl.” She said she couldn’t really get a great view, so she had the doctor come in and take a look.

“Well, look at that!” he said, right away. “Get a load of that scrotum!”

“What?” I choked back my surprise as I craned my neck trying to look at the grainy image on the screen. My husband gripped my hand tightly, warning me with his eyes that a freak-out would not be the most appropriate response.

“Yep, that’s a penis! We’re looking at a boy, here!” The doctor’s smile turned to an expression of concern as he tilted his head over to look at me. “Mom? Are we okay with this?”

My husband squeezed my hand tighter and looked at the doctor. He said, through gritted teeth, “She’s crying because she’s so happy.”
——–

I can’t wait to read more of this book! I totally understand the authors of this book since I have three boys of my own. With the first boy, we were very happy. With the second, we sort of hoped to have a girl. Turned out to be a boy and we were still happy. With the third one, who was a surprise, we and the entire family hoped it was a girl. Turned out to be a boy and the other family members seemed more disappointed than we were. I mostly just hoped all my babies were healthy. I didn’t mind that they were all boys. I had a bit of hope to have a girl, but it wasn’t meant to be. We will not be trying for a girl anymore! I just hope, even a little bit, that perhaps we may have a granddaughter someday.

This book is edited and co-authored by my online friend, Andrea J. Buchanan. She also has the flip side of this book coming out early next year called “It’s a Girl.” Get the “It’s a Boy” book - here and then check out her website - here.

Article/Review Copyright © Wendy Shepherd - http://www.wendyshepherd.com
**May be reprinted with permission, credit, and link

Yes, we have one smokin’ puter in the house. It was REALLY smokin’ this morning and the smell was wretched! We walked around the room, where three computers sit, and smelled to see which one it was. We even sniffed the fish tank since it seemed the smell may have been coming from there.

Alas, I found that it was my hubby, Mike’s, computer. Turns out the power supply was smokin’ and causing that horrible electric smell. Adding injury to insult, these Alienware computers are wired so neatly and clipped and tucked away so snuggly, that he had a heck of a time getting the wires unplugged from each area within the computer. When he was done, there lay a smelly tentacle like mess.

We will be purchasing a new power supply box today. I have no idea how long it will take for him to reconnect that baby. It seems if it isn’t one computer on the blitz, it is another. They need constant attention. Hopefully he can get it all reconnected today.
…………………………………………
Comments:    1.

Gee, you two are not doing a thing to promote Alienware of late!
Hope the repair is smooth!

Comment by Xerraire — 11/22/2005 @ 6:06 pm
2.

Hi Wendy and Mike! I have missed reading your BLOGS so much! I have been diagnosed with kidney failure and been having a rough time, I will be having surgery in a couple of weeks. Needless to say, it has cut into my WEB time! You guys are just great and I love reading all the humorous things that you guys post. I just wanted to say, ‘hello’, and see what ya’ll have been up to! Have a great holiday!–Tasha

Comment by tasha — 11/25/2005 @ 8:59 pm

So, what are you doing next week? Are you going shopping during one of the biggest shopping weekends of the year? Are you having family visit or are you going to your family or friend’s home? Leave a comment and let me know.
………………………………….
(more…)

I came across a website today that had computer tech support stories that had me rolling on the floor laughing! I thought I would share a few of my favorites here and link to the others at the end of this post.

————————————————————————
One night there was a thunderstorm in the area, and one customer, notorious among the tech support crowd, called:

Customer: “Did you know about the thunderstorm? I heard that I should unplug my computer. Should I do that?”

Tech Support: “In most cases, yes, it is best to at least unplug your phone line. Lightning sometimes causes power surges that can damage your modem.”

Customer: “Can it damage other things as well…like the phone?”

Tech Support: “I’ve never heard of that happening before, but it is a possibility.”

Customer: “So do you think that I should unplug the phone from my computer and from all the phones as well?”

Tech Support: (frustrated) “Couldn’t hurt.”

Customer: “So when can I plug them all back in?”

Tech Support: (really annoyed now) “When the storm is over.”

Customer: “How will I know when it’s safe, though?”

My face lit up like a Christmas tree, and it was all I could do to keep myself breathing evenly.

Tech Support: “I will call you.”
Customer: “Ok! Thank you!”

————————————————————————
In 1989 I worked as a repair tech for a company that made Amiga and Atari modems and hard drives. On one of the Atari computers I used for testing, I added a screen saver that just made a blank screen. One of the female line leads used this particular computer for auditing floppy disks and was unaware that I had added the screen saver. One day when she came over to test a few disks, she asked if I would turn the computer on for her. I told her that it was already on and jokingly told her that there was a loose connection somewhere in the computer, but if you bang on the table by the computer it should fix it long enough for her test (when in reality, it was just bumping the mouse and turning off the screen saver). I even banged on the table to show her. She accepted this and continued to bang on the table whenever she tested some disks, and each time I had to hold in the laugher. I decided to see how long I could get her to believe this. A couple of weeks later she was training someone new to her crew and included the table banging to “activate the loose connection” as part of the training. This went on for a month before I finally decided to tell her what was going on when one day she banged on the table a good ten times trying to activate a computer that was turned off.

——————————————————————————-
An elderly lady bought a Mac Performa and when she got it home she decieded to give me a call.

Customer: “I opened my computer and set it up and I love it!”

Tech Support: “I’m glad to hear it how can I help you?”

Customer: “Well, I turned it on and can’t seem to get anything to happen.”

Tech Support: “Did you turn the power switch on?”

Customer: “Yes.”

Tech Support: “Is the monitor on?”

Customer: “Yes.”

Tech Support: “What do you see?”

Customer: “The same thing I saw in your store.”

Tech Support: “What is the problem?”

Customer: “I can’t get the arrow to move.”

Tech Support: “Ok, what do you have plugged into the system?”

Customer: “Well, the thing with the letters on it and this foot pedal thing.”

Tech Support: “Is the foot pedal on a chair mat?”

Customer: “No.”

Tech Support: “Well, you will need to get one before it will work.”

Customer: “Thank you, I’ll do that.”

——————————————————————————-
- Customer: “Hello, I have a problem. My name is Bob Murton.”

- Tech Support: “I’m sorry, but I can’t help you with that problem.”

I did call him back and helped him fix his problem. He didn’t complain about my response, but he did get members of the department asking for a while afterwards if he’d fixed his “other” problem.

——————————————————————————-
Customer: “I’m sorry. I think I just deleted the Internet!”

Tech Support: “That’s ok. We have it backed up here on tape somewhere.”

——————————————————————————-
Customer: “I think I broke the Internet!”

Tech Support: “So it was you!”

Customer: (click)

——————————————————————————-
My senior year in high school, I spent about half my school day helping the computer teacher and helping to administer the school network. We had a program on the network that would allow you to pull up the screen of another computer and control it remotely. I was bored one day, and so I logged myself in as the administrator and proceeded to “check up” on the students in the computer room to see what they were working on. I found one girl I knew typing a steamy letter and decided to scare her a bit. I started by erasing a few of the characters in her letter. She paused for a minute, but then continued typing, so I did it again. This time, she paused for a longer period and then started backspacing her whole letter. I then wrote “hello” on her screen. After a while she finally responded, and we got a bit of a conversation going.

She asked who this was, and I told her I was stuck in her computer and couldn’t get out. She fell for it and asked how she could help. I told her she needed to lick the computer screen. She said she did. I didn’t believe her, but I continued: I said she needed to stand up and act like a chicken. A minute passed, and she said she did that, too. I didn’t thinks he had, and this time I told her so, but she responded by saying that not only had she done what I asked but had gotten detention for it.

An hour later, I went into the computer room, and the teacher told me that he had had to give a student detention. I asked why, and he said that he was watching her and all of a sudden she licked her computer screen and stood up and acted like a chicken. It was all I could do to keep from laughing.

——————————————————————————-
I work doing tech support for a company with a large home user client base. It was my last call of the night, and the last thing I wanted was someone with a serious comprehension deficit. That, of course, is exactly what I got.

A lady called up and said she had been waiting for three days for her computer to “resume Windows” (pronounced “res-u-may Windows”).

Customer: “It’s been sayin’ res-u-may Windows for three days. Now what should I do?”

Tech Support: “Have you tried to reboot the computer?”

Customer: “Yeah, it keeps on res-u-may-in’.”

Tech Support: “When you reboot do you see the [company] logo?”

Customer: “Yeah, it’s always there on the TV screen.”

Fifteen minutes later, I figured out that this woman thinks the logo I’m talking about is the monitor brand name on the frame of the monitor, and she has been “rebooting” by turning the monitor off and on again.

I finally got her to reboot properly (a miracle in itself), and then:

Customer: “It says, ‘Last try of hibernatin’ is no good, try again, mash yes or no.’”

Tech Support: “Is that exactly what it says?”

Customer: “Yeah, should I mash ‘yes’ or ‘no’?”

Tech Support: “Click on ‘yes,’ please.”

Customer: “I don’t know how to do that. Should I mash it?”

Tech Support: “Yes, [gritting teeth] mash ‘yes.’”

Customer: “Why does it keep on a-doin’ that? Tryin’ to hibernate and all — does it get tired if I use it too much?”

Tech Support: “Well, actually…if it keeps trying to hibernate, that must mean that it is way to cold in the room that you have it in. I suggest that you turn up the heater. That should help.”

Customer: “Really? What if that doesn’t work? Then what should I do?”

Tech Support: “Turn off the computer and–”

Customer: “By mashing the button right?”

Tech Support: “–uh, yeah, mash the button…then unplug it from the wall and wrap it in a few warm blankets for a few days. That always seems to help mine.”

Customer: “Thanks! You’ve been so helpful! I’ll go turn up the heat right now!”

What can I say? I couldn’t resist.

——————————————————————————-
- Click here to read more

Suzanne Perez Tobias of “The Wichita Eagle ” newspaper has reported my ChartJungle.com site as one of a dozen web sites “designed to keep your life running smoothly.” Suzanne is really sweet, so please take a look at her article for some great resources for organizing your life and home… - Click Here
……………………………………………..
Comments:    1.

Very nice!

Comment by Ken — 11/14/2005 @ 11:43 am
2.

I am from Wichita. I am so glad to see someone from my hometown reconizing your great site!

Comment by Kerry — 11/14/2005 @ 3:00 pm
3.

Thanks Ken and Kerry! ~Wendy

Comment by Wendy Shepherd — 11/14/2005 @ 9:25 pm
4.

I have to say I was so excited to find this web site. I am family therapist for a psychiatric hospital that works strictly with children and adolensece. ages 5-17. These charts are user friendly and the families that I have passed them onto appear to find them helpful. The greatest part is that they are free!!!!! I encourage all parents to began using charts with their children. Charts a a great way for a child to see their progress, and remember to focus the expectation on the positive behavior versus the negative.

Respectfully Submitted,

Kathy Windsor, MSW

Comment by Kathy Windsor MSW — 11/18/2005 @ 2:21 pm
5.

My youngest daughter Tanna and I really enjoy chartjungle.com. We are finding new ways to do the impossible, keep organized. We are sharing this site with our family and friends. Thanks

Comment by Gary Waller, II — 11/19/2005 @ 2:47 am

* This came across my email today and I thought it was neat to share with you…

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the was jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous “Yes.”

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

“Now,” said the professor as the laughter subsided, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things— God, your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your favorite passions— and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter– your job, your house, and your car.

The sand is everything else— the small stuff. “If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

“Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled. “I’m glad you asked.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.”
………………………………………..
Comments:    1.

An oldie, but a goodie.

Comment by Ken — 11/9/2005 @ 12:48 pm
2.

Very nice thank you for sharing. Stephanie

Comment by Stephanie — 11/9/2005 @ 2:52 pm

I don’t mean any good or bad by this, I just received it in my mailbox and found it humorous (add more if you like)…

DEMOCRAT

You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
You feel guilty for being successful.
Barbara Streisand sings for you.

REPUBLICAN

You have two cows.
Your neighbor has none.
So?

SOCIALIST

You have two cows.
The government takes one and gives it to your neighbor.
You form a cooperative to tell him how to manage his cow.

COMMUNIST

You have two cows.
The government seizes both and provides you with milk.
You wait in line for hours to get it.
It is expensive and sour.

CAPITALISM, AMERICAN STYLE

You have two cows.
You sell one, buy a bull, and build a herd of cows.

BUREAUCRACY, AMERICAN STYLE

You have two cows.
Under the new farm program the government pays you to shoot one, milk the other, and then pours the milk down the drain.

AMERICAN CORPORATION

You have two cows.
You sell one, lease it back to yourself and do an IPO on the 2nd one.
You force the two cows to produce the milk of four cows.
You are surprised when one cow drops dead.
You spin an announcement to the analysts stating you have downsized and are reducing expenses.
Your stock goes up.

FRENCH CORPORATION

You have two cows.
You go on strike because you want three cows.
You go to lunch and drink wine.
Life is good.

JAPANESE CORPORATION

You have two cows.
You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk.
They learn to travel on unbelievably crowded trains.
Most are at the top of their class at cow school.

GERMAN CORPORATION

You have two cows.
You engineer them so they are all blond, drink lots of beer, give excellent quality milk, and run a hundred miles an hour.
Unfortunately they also demand 13 weeks of vacation per year.

ITALIAN CORPORATION

You have two cows but you don’t know where they are.
While ambling around, you see a beautiful woman.
You break for lunch.
Life is good.

RUSSIAN CORPORATION

You have two cows.
You have some vodka.
You count them and learn you have five cows.
You have some more vodka.
You count them again and learn you have 42 cows.
The Mafia shows up and takes over however many cows you really have.

TALIBAN CORPORATION

You have all the cows in Afghanistan, which are two.
You don’t milk them because you cannot touch any creature’s private parts.
You get a $40 million grant from the US government to find alternatives to milk production but use the money to buy weapons.

IRAQI CORPORATION

You have two cows.
They go into hiding.
They send radio tapes of their mooing.

POLISH CORPORATION

You have two bulls.
Employees are regularly maimed and killed attempting to milk them.

BELGIAN CORPORATION

You have one cow.
The cow is schizophrenic.
Sometimes the cow thinks he’s French, other times he’s Flemish.
The Flemish cow won’t share with the French cow.
The French cow wants control of the Flemish cow’s milk.
The cow asks permission to be cut in half.
The cow dies happy.

FLORIDA CORPORATION

You have a black cow and a brown cow.
Everyone votes for the best looking one.
Some of the people who actually like the brown one best accidentally vote for the black one.
Some people vote for both.
Some people vote for neither.
Some people can’t figure out how to vote at all.
Finally, a bunch of guys from out-of-state tell you which one you think is the best-looking cow.

CALIFORNIA CORPORATION

You have millions of cows.
They make real California cheese.
Only five speak English.
Most are illegals.
Arnold likes the ones with the big udders.
………………………………….
Comments:    1.

That was cute

Comment by Xerraire — 11/5/2005 @ 11:41 am
2.

Very funny.

Comment by Ken — 11/9/2005 @ 3:22 pm