Thursday, July 21, 2011

Things I've Learned This Week & A Curve Ball

I'm pretty good at doing a large variety of things on the computer. But, start talking codes, html, FB, hardware, updating templates, and other terrifying things and you've lost me. I live in fear of somehow breaking the universe. I changed the blog template...once. Took me almost a week to get the thing to work properly.

Okay, that's a lie. It took me a week to get about 80% of the stuff working properly. The rest never has and I gave up. Yeah.

One of the things that never worked was the little orange and white coloured icon at the top - with the terrifying name of RSS - really simple somethingorother. Really simple. Yeah. Didn't have a clue what it meant or what it did.

Now it works! It really was kinda simple too. Hmph.

How did I figure it out? Google +. Some of you may know I never joined FaceBook - didn't need another site to absorb my time. But, I got pulled into Google + -- so many people talked about how much fun they were having so I signed up.

Don't really know what I'm doing - haven't spent much time there yet. I like the circle idea - being able to talk to different people when you post certain items. Debbi Ohi (inky elbows) is a genius. Follow her. She has lots of tips.

Are you on Google +? Do you have RSS enabled?
Are you more techie than me ... wait, that would obviously be yes, so don't answer that!!

On another note, life has thrown a rather enormous curve ball at our family. This particular curve ball is going to absorb a lot of our time and energy and I probably won't be around much while we're figuring out how to deal with everything invovled. Send us some good thoughts if you've got a minute and I'll be out and about when I can manage it. :)

105 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Part of my day job involves website design, so I'm probably a little more tech-savvy.
Haven't joined it yet, although the pressure is on. Never joined Facebook either.

Jemi Fraser said...

Alex - I don't know how much I'm going to use it - I honestly haven't even looked at it today. We'll see if it's worthwhile over time I guess :)

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

I keep hearing about Google +, but I haven't been brave enough to investigate it yet.

Definitely sending good thoughts your way. Best of everything to you.

Jemi Fraser said...

Cynthia - thanks! I appreciate it :)

Google+ is more or less a feed of everyone you list in your circles. It's kind of like a combination of Twitter and Google Reader :)

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sending many good thoughts your way. I hope everything is alright.

I'm on Google+ I'm not very techy but I thought I'd give it a try. It seems like just another facebook to me so far.

Old Kitty said...

Jemi - I'm sending you a million infinite good and wonderful thoughts for you and your family!! I hope things work out ok!!

Google+, RSS?? No idea!! LOL!! Take care
x

DEZMOND said...

I must check out this Google + thing, everybody has been talking about it :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lynda - thank you! We'll take all good thoughts available.

I'm not techy at all - and I've never done the FaceBook thing either. I don't know how often I'll remember to check it, but it seems fun :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Old Kitty - thank you - I appreciate that! :)

I'm so glad I'm not alone in my techy-don't-have-a-clueness!

Jemi Fraser said...

Dezzy - it does seem to be 'the thing' to do! :)

Amie Kaufman said...

Thinking of you as you work out what to do with your curve ball.

I'm on Google +, though still working out what to do with it, to be honest! I am hopelessly un-techy.

Julie said...

Sending you power wonder vibes and hoping everything is going to be okay for you and your family. You are such a lovely force in the universe and deserve all good things. :)

Google+... no idea what that is. I just tried to use Goodreads and griped about that with a writer friend for half an hour. Baby steps. :)

VR Barkowski said...

Every good thought I can muster is headed in your direction along with an extra large mitt to field that curve ball. Hope all is well.

So far I've rejected the Google+ invitations because I'm already too stretched. Can't seem to find the time even to jump back into Twitter. Maybe later.

Aleta said...

I'm not a techie. Just make it work and I'm happy. I'd rather hire someone to make it work than try to figure it out, because I don't think in computer terms. Hehe

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen - thank you - I appreciate the thoughts! We can use them :)

Technical stuff can be scary!

Jemi Fraser said...

Amie - I'm always happy to find out others aren't techy either!

Thanks for the thoughts! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - I understand all about the baby steps! I haven't even done Goodreads yet!!! :)

Thank you - you're a sweetie!

Jemi Fraser said...

VR - thanks! That mitt should come in handy :)

I think (for me anyway) Google+ & Twitter are going to be those things I turn to when I have some extra time - but that I won't feel bad about if I'm not using it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Aleta - I agree - it would be great to just hire someone (or know someone!) for all those techy things!!

julie fedderson said...

I feel your pain, I am a total techno dork and just learning how to use blogger is at times mindboggling. Hope you answer that curve ball in life with a solid base hit. Take care.

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - I'm always so glad when I'm not the only one who is NOT techy!! :)

We're trying! Thanks :)

J.L. Campbell said...

I don't know too much about all the technical stuff to do with blog templates,etc. but I do so like to mess around with wall papers! I think I should have learned html a long time ago. Would have saved me mucking up stuff and having to fix it later.

Sending good vibes for you and your family. Have a good weekend.

Golden Eagle said...

No, I'm not on Google +, although a lot of people seem to be in favor of it! I think I have RSS enabled.

Sending good thoughts your way!

Jemi Fraser said...

JL - thanks! I appreciate it :)

I wish I'd taken a course on html and other technical goodies too - maybe one of these days when I've got a little more time :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Golden Eagle - thanks! :)

I seem to be a little behind the techy learning curve most of the time!

Emy Shin said...

I'm also terrified of breaking the Internet. I always have to test things thoroughly in another test blog before I dare applying changes to my real one.

And I've just joined Google+, too, but I'm not sure what to do with it yet.

Jemi Fraser said...

Emy - that's exactly where I am. I have to be honest and admit I actually forget about it most of the time! :)

Jennie Bailey said...

Sending you good vibes! I played around Google + but was not a fan. I didn't need one more thing taking up my time so I might have gone wanting it to be lackluster - or maybe everyone just built it up so high that it came crashing off that pedestal because I'm NOT a techie.

Theresa Milstein said...

Good luck with your curve ball.

I'm on Google Plus, but I'm not utilizing what's supposed to be so great about it.

Jemi Fraser said...

Jennie -- yeah, it's really just a different kind of blog feed. At least that's the way I see it so far. We'll see how it goes :)

Thanks for the good thoughts :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Theresa -- thanks for the thoughts! I don't know if it's because I've never done FB, but I mostly find it's just like a blog feed so far. We'll see. :)

Maryannwrites said...

I'm even more un tech savvy than you, Jemi, and I never heard of Goggle+.
Hope things work out on the personal front. Will send positive energy your way.

Jemi Fraser said...

Maryann -- thanks! I'm glad I'm not alone in my un-tech-savvy-ness :)

dolorah said...

I'm resisting the google+ thing cuz I just don't want to learn one more new thing. And, I don't like RSS, I don't like everything going through my e-mail. Makes me crazy.

......dhole

Jemi Fraser said...

Donna -- I feel the same about RSS. Who needs all those extra emails? It would drive me nuts, but I guess some people like it! :)

Helen Ginger said...

Lots and lots of good thoughts coming your way from Texas. Hope that ball gets thrown away soon.

I'm trying to find a class in Dreamweaver. I've been using it to build websites for years, but am self-taught. I really would like to sign up for a class. I checked a local community college but there are about 4 prerequisite classes before you get to Dreamweaver 1.

Jemi Fraser said...

Helen - thank you! The ball isn't going to go anywhere unfortunately - we just have to learn to deal with it :)

Yikes! I've always wanted to know more about website building. I don't know a thing, but I assume it follows a logical system - I don't imagine it's THAT hard to learn... maybe :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

Thankfully I have friends who are super savvy in techland so I lean on them. Just dipped my toe in Google +, still confused. I am sending lots of positive vibes your way.

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - thank you!

I wish I had more techie buddies - most of them turn to me!! :) I'm a bit confused too - don't know how much I'll actually use it.

TerryLynnJohnson said...

I did join facebook, but don't spend much time there. Originally it was to find a friend from 8th grade. And I found her! And I'm going to visit her in Grand Cayman this winter. On her sailboat. Yeah, I do like facebook.

I haven't felt the need to try Google+ though.

Jemi Fraser said...

Terry - That's so cool that you found a friend from the past. I think that's a great use for this kind of technology -- especially when it leads to the Caymans! Not sure how I feel about Google+ yet - we'll see how it develops :)

Crazy Life of a Writing Mom said...

I just got on Google+, but I have no idea what I'm doing LOL! I put everyone into one big circle :0)

Anita said...

I'll Google Google +, and am sending you good thoughts right now!

Lola Sharp said...

Oh Jemi, sending you oodles of positive thoughts and juju. If there's any way I can help, please don't hesitate to ask. *hugs*

As for the tech stuff...er, I'm LAME. I have zero skills. And I have not joined google+, mostly because I can't add one more thing, one more time suck, to my life.

Love,
Lola

klahanie said...

Hey Jemi,
Aha, all this technical stuff has got my last two brain cells, most confused.
And, as you might know, I'm now on Google +. And what a thrill it is for shy and humble me at my very unknown blog to have one of the superstars of the blogging world like you, link in with me on Google +
I reckon it's more interesting than 'Farcebook', or 'Fartbook', or 'Fakebook', or whatever the name of that social 'notworking' site, is.

On a serious note, Jemi. I'm sending you loads of peaceful, positive vibes....
In kindness and respect, Gary.

Julie Musil said...

I'm hoping all is ok with your family. Sending good thoughts your way.

I also know nothing about Google+ but it seems pretty fun. And I'm so terrified of changing anything on my blog. I'm using an old template and I'm afraid I'd never get it back! You are not alone, Jemi :D

Jemi Fraser said...

Elisabeth - I don't know much either - but I did make a couple of circles! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Anita - have fun with Google+ and thank you for the thoughts! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lola - thanks! I know I can always count on you. I'll let you know if there's anything :)

I have to admit I haven't even looked at Google+ in the last couple of days. I have the feeling I won't be using it much - but I could be wrong. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Gary - thank you! I'll take all the good thoughts we can get right now.

It's going to be interesting to see how Google+ works over the next few weeks. I think it'll either get super popular or drop out completely. We'll see!

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - yay! You and I can hang on to our templates forever - at least we'll be together :)

Thank you - it's going to be a while before we adjust to everything, but I hope we'll get a handle on it all soon.

Nichole Giles said...

I am on Google+, so I'm going to have to find you.

And Oi! So sorry about your family curveball. Hate when that happens. Sending you positive, good energy that all will work out well. Good luck!

Arlee Bird said...

I'm like you with technology in that I get a bit intimidated and cautious. Not yet on Google+, don't know about RSS, and there are a lot of things I'd like to know about but, gosh, there's only so much time in the day.

Hope your family situation is working out okay.


Lee
Tossing It Out

Talli Roland said...

Jemi, I hope everything is okay. I'll be thinking of you and wishing you and your family well.

I'm on Google+. I love it!

Jemi Fraser said...

Nichole - thanks so much :)

I'm slow on Google+ still, but I'll see if I can fine you :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Lee - exactly - there's just so much time in the day - certainly not enough to learn it all!

Thank you - I appreciate the kind thoughts :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Talli - thank you. We'll get adjusted and it will all be good - just getting there is a little tough.

I'll have to learn some ins and outs on Google+ to get better :)

Shelley Sly said...

I'll be thinking of you and your family Jemi. Hope everything is okay.

I haven't joined Google+ yet, but it's only a matter of time before I do!

Ciara said...

I can't get into Google+. Over twenty people have invited me and I haven't received on invitation. :(

Jemi Fraser said...

Shelley - thank you - it's much appreciated. :)

I'll see you there when you join up!

Jemi Fraser said...

Ciara - that's odd! I'll see if I can send you one when I'm on my laptop! :)

Nas said...

I have heard so much of Google + but haven't checked it out so far. FB and Twitter takes too much tiime as it is!

Jemi Fraser said...

Nas - I think Google+ is kind of like FB, but I've never been on it so I'm not sure. The advantage is supposed to be that you can share items with some of your circles of people and not with others. Gives you a little more control I guess. :)

Buttercup said...

Definitely sending you good thoughts. I'm probably less techie and am leaving Google+ alone -- of course when one of my young relatives asks me to join I will change my mind.
Take good care and keep cool!

Jemi Fraser said...

Carol - thanks - much appreciated :)

That's usually what happens - someone invites us to join something & we get drawn in :)

Lydia Kang said...

I think I did my RSS thing okay a long time ago, but it's still a bit of a mystery! I'm on google + too, and still figuring it out.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lydia - I'm glad I'm not the only one. :) It's easy to let those techie things slide!

Carolina M. Valdez Schneider said...

This is the only reason why I haven't changed my blog template yet. I just can't figure it out. I managed it once before, but now I need a new one and don't know how to do it.

I'm sorry about that curveball :( Wishing you all the best, thinking positive thoughts for you. *Hugs*

Jemi Fraser said...

Carol - exactly! It's not an easy thing to change a template - I don't believe 'them' when they say it is!

Thanks Carol - I appreciate all the good wishes :)

Lisa Gail Green said...

Whatever is happening, I really hope it's resolved quickly and in a positive way. :D I'm on Google+ I'd like to play around with it more, but I've been so darn busy!! I will have to do that though.

Jemi Fraser said...

Lisa - thank you - it's not something we can fix - just something we need to adjust too. It'll take some time but we'll get there.

I agree - I'm too busy to spend much time on there too - but it's fun :)

Julie Flanders said...

So sorry you're going through some tough times, I'm sending all kinds of good thoughts your way. Best wishes to you and your family.

I don't know about Google + but I'm getting more and more curious as it comes up more all the time. I'm just now starting to get the hang of Facebook and Twitter, I don't know if I can manage another one!

Jemi Fraser said...

Julie - thank you. I appreciate your wishes - we will put them to good use! :)

I don't do Facebook, so that's a little bit of time I do have I guess. Although I haven't been on it much at all :)

M Pax said...

Haven't joined Google+. Will if everyone else goes, otherwise, I have enough to keep me busy.

Sorry to hear you have a curveball. I hope it all turns out all right. Wishing you well through all the stress and strife.

Jemi Fraser said...

M Pax - I know! Life and internet life are busy enough - I have to admit I haven't been on Google+ much. Maybe one of these days... :)

Thank you - I appreciate the kind thoughts!

Anonymous said...

I'm on practically everything, and that includes Google+.

I have a subscribe to atom/rss on my blog. Some previous templates had the orange icon.

I'm pretty good at html. If I can't figure something out, I Google.

Anonymous said...

I am NOT high tech. Took me forever to figure out Blogger. Don't know if my RSS is enabled on my new blog. A young woman helped me set up my new WordPress blog--just couldn't figure out how to use the widgets--but I didn't want to get in too deep financially, so I stuck with her teaching me the basics. If the RSS isn't enabled, I can live without it. I'm on Facebook--occasionally. Sometimes I Twitter but I really don't understand how to really use it. And I keep hearing about Google+. One day I'm going to look into it! But like you, I hesitate boggling my brain, at least right now. I keep getting curve balls, too. I hope yours isn't too bad. I'm sending good thoughts right now, hoping whatever it is in your life gets resolved!
Ann Best, Author of In the Memoir, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - that's what I do too - when I have time. It's just so hard to find that time - there's usually something else I'd rather do :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Ann - thank you. It's amazing how many curve balls life can throw and never even break a sweat.

I'm getting better at the techie stuff, but it's slooooooow going :)

Samantha Vérant said...

I used to code web sites and I still get thrown. Things keep changing and I can't keep up!

Jemi Fraser said...

Samantha - that actually makes me feel better! I'm not surprised that it keeps changing on the inside too - the outside sure is changing at an incredible pace! :)

Lenny Lee said...

hi miss jemi! for me im not so techie yet but im learning stuff all the time and my brothers help me lots. for that curve ball i could know bout that cause i got a lot of them in my life. so im sending you lots of love and big hugs and bunches of good vibes. i care bout you soooo much.
...big hugs from lenny

Jemi Fraser said...

Lenny - Hi :) It's nice to have a brother who will help with stuff like that!

You've got me teary eyed again! Thank you. You've got great skills with dealing with curve balls - I'm hoping mine will be as strong as yours. Thank you!! Your hugs and best wishes mean the world to me. :)

Unknown said...

I actually hadn't heard of Google + until a few days ago (this is now the second place I've seen it mentioned.). So I just looked it up... Still have no idea what it is!

Hope you're managing that curve ball...

Jen said...

Webdesign has always indimidated me. I love changing up my blog look, but I can't do anything more than mix and match what they give me and upload a picture or three :)

My husband plays around on Google+. I'll have to ask him about it. And I LOVE Debbi Ohi and her work :)

Sending good thoughts your way to intercept that curve ball. May the force be with you...

Hugs,
Jen

Jemi Fraser said...

Rachel - thanks! :)

For me, Google+ is like a combination of Twitter and FB (from what I hear...). It's like a stream of blog posts from the buddies in my circles :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Jen - thank you! The force should come in mighty handy :)

I'm getting better with the techie stuff - just have to find the time to actually play with it a little more :)

Beth Zimmerman said...

I'm on Google+ but haven't had much time to really invest in figuring it out yet.

Hope all is well! Will be praying for you and yours!

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - I haven't done much with it yet either - just no time :)

Thank you. I appreciate your efforts. We're getting a handle on things... I hope :)

Anonymous said...

Google + is all over my Yahoo! Groups right now. I'm just so darn busy I haven't looked into it. But I will . Some time. Soon. Maybe. Perhaps.

Yaya' s Home said...

Oy, vay! I totally know what you mean. Who do you s'pose came up with the idea of mixing those two words together; 'computer' and 'easy'? They should be hanged by the toenails until sundown.

I hope your curve ball doesn't cause you too much stress. You're in my prayers.

~ Yaya

Elliot Grace said...

...I have a difficult time adjusting from my comfort zone, whether it be an upgrade or not. (I think I just answered your question in a round about way ;)

"If it ain't broke, why fix it?"

EL

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - that's kind of where I was. Curiosity won out so I'm checking it out. Don't know a whole lot yet, though :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Yaya - thanks! I appreciate the thoughts.

I know what you mean. If I had more time - and more energy - for new things and twists, it would be better & easier, but that's not the way life works. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Elliot - that's probably my problem. I get comfy with procedures and really, really don't want to learn another one. :)

Helen Ginger said...

I am sending tons of good thoughts your way. I'm on Google+, but don't quite understand how to use it.

My tech problem is one of the websites I maintain. Having trouble getting it to update. I'm at the point where I'm trying to find a class in Dreamweaver (I'm self-taught).

Jemi Fraser said...

Thank you Helen - I appreciate the thoughts :)

I don't like updating anything. That always seems to be where the problems crop up! If it could all just update magically... :)

kathrynjankowski said...

Sending lots of white light your way. Take care.

Jemi Fraser said...

Kathryn - thank you! It's been a bizarre week or two, but we're getting a handle on things.

Anonymous said...

Am tempted to join Google+ too, but I fear it'll go the way of Google Wave

Jemi Fraser said...

Eeleen - I didn't do Google Wave, in fact, this is the only 'new' tech I've tried :)

Theresa Milstein said...

I am on Google+, but I'm too lazy to check out its special features and I don't go on it much. I can't keep up with everything as it is!

RSS feed - so much blogging stuff to figure out too.

Jemi Fraser said...

Theresa - that pretty much sums it up for me too. I don't worry about it much - just check it when I'm in the mood :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I'll look for you on Google +. I haven't really done much with it, but it's fun putting people in the right circles for me. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Sharon - I do like the circle idea too - I've made about 6 I think to keep it organized :)