A Day In The Life Of A Cardboard Hobbit.

[dodger_sister]

Go Supreme Court! Suck it, Prop 8!! That’s one more step in the right direction - now let’s keep walking forward!

Today I spent almost two hours at my mother’s, teaching her how to use her computer. She’s had a computer, with one roommate or another, since 2001. The things she doesn’t know how to do yet is staggering; save a picture, drag a file, what her Favorites bar is, how to attach a picture in an email - (she sent me this email saying ‘I know you don’t have Facebook, so I sent you this picture of the baby!’ with just a link to the Facebook page which I obviously cannot access). I taught her many things, including how to do proper maintenance on her computer, which she’d never done before. She is utterly terrified of the thing and this is coming from me, who is pretty damn daunted by technology. I told her not to be afraid and just to try stuff out and look around and get to know her computer a little. She told me I was a very good teacher, which was actually quite nice, but hoyboy it was a long afternoon.

In other news, my sister still thinks it is funny to move Bilbo around from room to and make him do ridiculous things, especially to leave him in odd places in an attempt to startle me when I wake up. So far the only one that has gotten me is Bilbo in the bathroom, because it is the first place I go after getting up and my eyes are only half-open and there is a man in my bathroom! That one got me twice, once in my early morning pee and then again when I woke up for the day. Pervert, that Bilbo, watching me pee.


Bilbo in the kitchen on party day! & Bilbo drinks tea.


Bilbo watches TV. & Bilbo takes a nap.


Bilbo takes a shower (and scares the crap out of me).


Thorin's Map! & Bonus!Watchers.


I have come up with a few places to put him to make her laugh - I just left him propped up on the toilet with my Book Of Dragons open in front of him. That seemed like the kind of thing Bilbo would read in the bathroom. Tomorrow I’m going to leave him in her computer chair and open her internet to some Bilbo/Thorin MPreg on the screen in front of him.

In other other news, The Canadian Invasion is happening on Saturday. My brother and his family will be here from the 29th to the 5th, so I will be around, just scarcer. I am actually looking forward to their visit this year, now that the kids are older and my brother seems to understand that I need my down-time lest I have a seizure again - (the seizure will likely not happen as long I never again pierce my head on the bathroom cabinet, but he’s kind of let off feeling like he has to include me in All The Things since then). I also have a graduation party on Saturday for a kid who went to one of the daycares I used to work at. I hate graduation parties, especially when you don’t know a ton of people there, but it was really really nice of her (or more precisely her mom) to think of me. They lived in my old neighborhood for years and came by every Halloween so she could trick-or-treat, but I probably haven’t seen her since she was 11, so this will be nice. I have fic to go up tomorrow and then hopefully I’ll be around whenever The Canadians are visiting with other people!

Comments

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

I've a 93 year old friend who recently bought a laptop which she calls "the thing". I agree it is very tiring trying to explain how it works to her and she has been to classes.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I've a 93 year old friend who recently bought a laptop which she calls "the thing". I agree it is very tiring trying to explain how it works to her and she has been to classes.

The Thing! lol Like it's a monster or something. I actually usually give my computers legit names - the last one was Stewart and this one is Murray - and it occurred to me that my mom needs to have more of a 'relationship' with her computer, maybe she should give it a name.

My mom took classes too - (the exact same class I took in school actually - we both took one through an adult education program) - but it mostly was things like spreadsheets and office stuff, no internet things. Still, she was a pharmacy tech for years and that whole job is computers, so this is why I was so astonished that she knows how to do so very very little.

I guess we'll just keep on teaching them as we go, yeah?! :)

[ceitfianna]

I love Bilbo's adventures though I can see how he would be surprising in the morning.

My father used to be like your mother on the computer then he found the right computer for him an apple and a reason to use it with his photographs and it worked. But it took a while and he would get annoyed because the computer couldn't read his mind.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I love Bilbo's adventures though I can see how he would be surprising in the morning.

It's been kind of ridiculous fun discovering where she has put Bilbo each morning, but yeah, it can be startling. Yesterday she left him right next to my bed like he was watching me sleep, but I am so used to Bilbo being in weird places now that I didn't even jump, just sat a up and said, "Good morning, Bilbo."

My father used to be like your mother on the computer

I am so surprised by this because your dad is a professional, who had an office out of his home - wouldn't he have needed a computer for work? My own dad (who spent months trying to change the TV channel via the VCR when we first got one) knows how to do more things on a computer than my mom, which is just sad for her.

then he found the right computer for him an apple and a reason to use it with his photographs and it worked. But it took a while and he would get annoyed because the computer couldn't read his mind.

So you come by your love of photography through your dad! Oh yes, my graphic art and my video making back in the day where probably the biggest things responsible for me getting over my fear of my computer, because I had to self-teach with both of those programs. I thought my mom - who claims she is a writer - would have tons of word documents in her computer but there weren't any. Maybe it bothers her eyes too much?

[ceitfianna]

My Dad used an electric typewriter and there was a local company that helped him with his secretarial work so he didn't have to use computers that much.

Actually I get my love of photography from both parents, they're both involved with a camera club and lately its my mother who wins the prizes. She's even sold some photographs and bought herself a really nice photo printer. My father's more into his woodwork though he still loves taking pictures, its just my mother for now who's more into it.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

My Dad used an electric typewriter

Oh wow, that takes me back. We had one when I was a kid. I wrote so many things on that typewriter. And then we had a word processor machine and that was what I used from like ages 13 to 20, until I got a computer.

She's even sold some photographs

Oh, how cool! I used to be so into photography - it was one of my hobbies back in the day. I even took a few trips that were solely for the purpose of taking shots. It's too hard on my arms these days, but I still enjoy a good photography exhibit once in awhile.

How's the conference going?

[ceitfianna]

It hasn't technically started yet, I got here early to settle in. I spent all of today walking around Chicago and getting sunburned and a little footsore. I went to the Field Museum and it was great. It was wonderful, tomorrow things start though I think tomorrow might be technically the pre-conference and the actual conference is Saturday to Monday. I'm not certain about it, but there are librarians arriving.

[shirebound]

Bilbo traveling from room to room on his Adventures would definitely startle me! Truly 'fun with hobbits'.

My mother (age 81) is still terrified of her computer after owning it for ten years. In all this time, the only thing she's willing to do (and tentatively at that) is send and read email. There's almost nothing else she's willing to learn. Good luck to your mom, and good for her!

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Bilbo traveling from room to room on his Adventures would definitely startle me! Truly 'fun with hobbits'.

I am so used to it now that I didn't even startle when I woke up yesterday and found Bilbo watching me sleep! lol You know, I have the Four Hobbits but they are all attached together which made this kind of ridiculousness much harder with them (though we are fond of putting hats and scarves on them) so Bilbo has been a real treat to play around with. My sister wants to take him to the office (full of geeks her office is) and put a sign on him that says "Office Assistant". ;)

My mother (age 81) is still terrified of her computer after owning it for ten years. In all this time, the only thing she's willing to do (and tentatively at that) is send and read email.

That seemed to be all my mom does with hers as well. I set up her homepage for her so she has easy access to her email and showed her how to use her Favorites and how to use the url bar, so getting to Facebook just got easier for her as well. There isn't much else she seems to want to do with it.

Good luck to your mom, and good for her!

Thanks! I'm proud of her for trying, for sure! She was so freaked out to try anything, but I think having me there doing it myself - (I would do the action a few times in a row while she watched and then I'd make her do it so I could see that she got it right) - made her feel more comfortable.

[vikingprincess]

If there were a man's silhouette in my bathroom when I was half-asleep, I would have punched it in the head. Or possibly kicked it in the balls. And then my prankster would have been sad to have her cutout bashed! I think you showed great restraint.

You could stand him up in the backseat of her car, like a creepy stalker waiting for work time....

It sounds like your mom's lessons in computer were LOOOONG overdue! Hopefully she will have more fun with it, which will mean less showing up uninvited. ;)

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

If there were a man's silhouette in my bathroom when I was half-asleep, I would have punched it in the head.

lol Well, I guess we know how I will react in a home invasion - I screamed and then jumped backwards and almost fell over. My sister would have been sorry if she'd had to take me to the ER with a broken leg because I fell over running away from Bilbo! (plus, imagine explaining that to the doctor!)

You could stand him up in the backseat of her car, like a creepy stalker waiting for work time....

Oh, that's a good one! I'll have to get The BFF to help me with that tomorrow - (going down the garage ramp carrying him is a bad idea for me, but she could do it!) The cats all crowd around the door when it is time for my sis to get home from work so the other day I put Bilbo there too, so it was like Bilbo was waiting for her to get home from work. I also put him on the back porch with his face all pressed to the glass and then closed the door, like he got locked out of the house. It's been fun!

sounds like your mom's lessons in computer were LOOOONG overdue!

No shit. She was a pharmacy tech for years and that job is all done with computers - how does she know so very little? Still, if this does nothing but lessen her asking me to do things for her on my computer, I will be happy! Maybe next we can install Skype for her so she can talk to her grandbabies that way!

[vikingprincess]

Hopefully the doctor would have been as much of a geek as your good PT people (how is K?), and they also would have laughed only after making sure you were okay.

Doo eet! And was he between the doors, or what? Like Flat Stanley. (Actually, you've sort of already started your Flat Bilbo adventures. It could be a book, too!)

Hooray for fewer computer-related mom-queries... though it's not too surprising that her data skills aren't PC compatible, since doctor's offices tend to use older programs that are more like spread sheets and nine-key entry. You know, the old school amber screens with a space for each letter or number you type in? It's amazing to me how quickly computers have changed, tbh. I remember living without home internet, and it wasn't all THAT long ago, either. If I had insomnia, I had to get up and go to the college computer lab to get my late night writing fix... and while I could talk to people overseas, it was hella laborious and really not easy to access as an ordinary student. And now look at us!

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Hopefully the doctor would have been as much of a geek as your good PT people (how is K?), and they also would have laughed only after making sure you were okay.

I mean, at least they would have had a good story to tell at the dinner table! K is good, what little I see of him these days (baseball season is upon us and his kids are far enough apart that they all play in different age ranges). He had to call me the other day to get all emo because his 19 year old got a tattoo and was hiding it from him, but I politely reminded him of the things I was doing when I was 19 (even just the ones he knew about and was on my ass for!) and then he was glad the worst she was doing was getting a tattoo. (I think he was mostly upset that she was hiding it.)

Doo eet! And was he between the doors, or what? Like Flat Stanley. (Actually, you've sort of already started your Flat Bilbo adventures. It could be a book, too!)

It could be a book! lol Bilbo was on the sun porch, so the sliding door between the house and the porch was closed, locking him out. It's what happens with the cats when it is too hot to leave the door open (we don't want to air condition the sun porch) so if they ask to go out, I let them out but close the door behind them and then ten minutes later they want to come right back in. So I let Buddy out and then I put Bilbo out and then Buddy asked to come right back in, but I left Bilbo out there and I told my sis, "He asked to go out and then ten minuets he wanted to come back in, but I told him he could just stay out there!" lol

I remember living without home internet, and it wasn't all THAT long ago, either.

Right? I remember when we got our first dial-up modem and only my older brother understood what it did or even used it and he tried to explain chat rooms to my mom and she was all freaked out because she had read in some news article about how predators get your children through the Internet. I don't know what happened to that computer though, because I never used the Internet until I was like 21 (I was a little behind the curve but I didn't go to college so I had no access to it anywhere).

while I could talk to people overseas, it was hella laborious and really not easy to access as an ordinary student. And now look at us!

Ikr? I have a very good friend, like on the level that you and I are, who lives in mother-fucking Sweden!

[vikingprincess]

Aw, baby girl's first tattoo! I can see how the hiding of it would be a bigger deal than the getting of it, based upon what I've learned about K from your posts.

BOOK! Do it before Disney gets their claws into the Hobbit franchise. (No, I haven 't heard any such thing, but you KNOW how they are!)

That is EXCELLENT. I feel the same way about an online-buddy in Greece.

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

I forgot to tell you but your idea about putting Bilbo in the car? The BFF came down on Friday and before I even got the chance to ask her to help me with it, she said, "Your sister sent me a text picture this morning of Bilbo driving her car." She stole your idea!!! I was like, "But that's what I was gonna have Bilbo do today!"

[vikingprincess]

DUUUUDE! That's so unfair!

Okay, how about:
bus stop Bilbo
golfing Bilbo
Bilbo on line at the zoo
Bilbo gardening
Bilbo in the kitchen with an apron and oven mitts?

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Just thought you should know that Bilbo came to our 4th of July cookout. He was wearing a red/white/blue top hat and everything! But the wind kept knocking him over, so he had to go in on the porch. He was staring out the porch window at the party he wasn't allowed to attend, all forlorn. ;)

[vikingprincess]

Poor Excluded Bilbo! LOL

[lizibabes.livejournal.com]

Yes go supreme court. A good step.

Bilbo!! God that is awesome. I'd probably pee myself if I walked into the bathroom and thought I saw a person there.

Have fun with the family visit!

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

Yes go supreme court. A good step.

After the bullshit they pulled earlier in the week, I was worried about this vote going up - but this is an excellent step in the right direction!! Go America!

Bilbo!! God that is awesome. I'd probably pee myself if I walked into the bathroom and thought I saw a person there.

Right? I mean, I was going into the bathroom so I already had to pee and then I got so scared by him standing there!! She is lucky I didn't pee all over the floor! It really has been a fun and interesting time with us and our new Bilbo toy. But whenever I move him myself, the cats always come and tell me about how that belongs to their Mommy! And then they have to follow me around to see what I am doing with Bilbo. lol

Have fun with the family visit!

Thanks! I hope it isn't too tiring but I am really excited to see everybody! And also we will be doing another Fourth of July cookout, so there will be Friend Time in there too!

[lizibabes.livejournal.com]

Awww I love the idea of the cats coming to tell you Bilbo has moved, sounds so cute. It must be fun to play around with him.

The cookout sounds great as well, it's always good to get time with friends.

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

A friend of mine went on a road trip to Forks with a friend of hers and a cardboard Edward. They posed him in various locations from the book and people must have thought they were insane. She has an album on her FB page and it is hilarious. I swiped one of the pics to show you:

[dodger-sister.livejournal.com]

That? IS HYSTERICAL!!!!

You know, The BFF was telling me about someone doing this. I wonder if it was your friend?

I am not a Twilight fan but this is still the best thing I have ever seen! Oh man, if we wanted to do that with Bilbo, we'd have to take him on the plane all the way to New Zealand - then people would really think we were crazy!

[matchboximpala.livejournal.com]

The airline would make you buy a seat for him.

But that would be an amazing photo essay.

I will ask my friend if her FB album is public and if it is, will send you the link. You will laugh your ass off.