Patti O'Shea's Blog, page 114
September 13, 2015
Why Calculator and Phone Keypads are Reversed
This was the bane of my existence at the job I did while I was in college because I went from the keypad with 789 across the top to keypads with 123 across the top. I still transpose 1 and 7 and 9 and 3, etc.
September 10, 2015
Theme
One of the questions that I sometimes get asked is what's the theme of your book? Or what theme do you write about? I guess I should know these things, but I don't. Even after a book is done, I still can't figure out what the theme is. I guess it's acceptance? I honestly don't know.
But on the Work In Progress (WIP), I actually do know the answer to this question. The theme is forgiveness! Yes, I am all proud of myself for knowing this. :-) I've been published since 2002, but I've never figured out my theme before.
My heroine needs to forgive herself for not being there when she was needed. It really wasn't her fault that she couldn't be reached, but she blames herself anyway for being absent when those she loved needed her.
My hero needs to forgive his father, and because the man is dead, accept that he'll never get an apology or a chance to mend their relationship.
So, yea! My theme in this book is Forgiveness.
But on the Work In Progress (WIP), I actually do know the answer to this question. The theme is forgiveness! Yes, I am all proud of myself for knowing this. :-) I've been published since 2002, but I've never figured out my theme before.
My heroine needs to forgive herself for not being there when she was needed. It really wasn't her fault that she couldn't be reached, but she blames herself anyway for being absent when those she loved needed her.
My hero needs to forgive his father, and because the man is dead, accept that he'll never get an apology or a chance to mend their relationship.
So, yea! My theme in this book is Forgiveness.
September 8, 2015
Island Time
I was looking through my pictures a little bit today and ran across some from my trip to Hawaii in 2002. I love Hawaii, but this wasn't the best vacation ever. Part of that was the weather. It rained pretty much every day we were there and the locals on each island all said the same thing: this is really unusual for this time of year.
The other reason the trip wasn't the best ever was the cruise line. Service was terrible. It was my fourth cruise and the only one where the service was lousy. I wasn't the only one that thought so either. Everyone I talked to on the ship who'd been on a cruise before this all said the same thing: Horrible! The only people who didn't echo this sentiment were the first time cruisers.
There were still a lot of fun moments, though. I got to spend time with family. I think there were 16 of us on the ship. I went whale watching and I love doing that.
Whale watching--that reminds me of a story. I got on board the boat and this couple gets on after us. The woman was all dressed up as if she were going to an expensive restaurant and looked totally out of place on the whale-watching boat. I was mentally rolling my eyes. Here's some chick who's just going whale watching because her date wants to do it. She's going to be a total PITA.
Yeah, don't judge people by how they look. She and I ended up being the two most avid whale watchers on that vessel, and while we only exchanged a few words, we developed a rapport and helped each other locate whales. That was a valuable reminder for me. Appearances mean less than nothing.
Anyway, Hawaii. One of my very favorite things in Hawaii is the Polynesian Cultural Center. (This is my own opinion and I have NOT received any money or gifts or anything else from them for this mention.)
A lot of people told me that the Polynesian Cultural Center was boring and that I shouldn't waste my time going there, but I went anyway and I love it! I've been there twice now and it still hasn't been enough time to go to all the islands and have enough time there to learn and watch. I wish they were open longer hours so that I could immerse myself in each of the island cultures, watch the really cool performance on stage after the luau, and still see the long canoe show, too.
I know, I'm a geek. What can I say? I like to learn things and I'm hugely interested in Polynesian culture. I'd like to go visit some of these other islands for real, too, but that's for some day.
The other reason the trip wasn't the best ever was the cruise line. Service was terrible. It was my fourth cruise and the only one where the service was lousy. I wasn't the only one that thought so either. Everyone I talked to on the ship who'd been on a cruise before this all said the same thing: Horrible! The only people who didn't echo this sentiment were the first time cruisers.
There were still a lot of fun moments, though. I got to spend time with family. I think there were 16 of us on the ship. I went whale watching and I love doing that.
Whale watching--that reminds me of a story. I got on board the boat and this couple gets on after us. The woman was all dressed up as if she were going to an expensive restaurant and looked totally out of place on the whale-watching boat. I was mentally rolling my eyes. Here's some chick who's just going whale watching because her date wants to do it. She's going to be a total PITA.
Yeah, don't judge people by how they look. She and I ended up being the two most avid whale watchers on that vessel, and while we only exchanged a few words, we developed a rapport and helped each other locate whales. That was a valuable reminder for me. Appearances mean less than nothing.
Anyway, Hawaii. One of my very favorite things in Hawaii is the Polynesian Cultural Center. (This is my own opinion and I have NOT received any money or gifts or anything else from them for this mention.)
A lot of people told me that the Polynesian Cultural Center was boring and that I shouldn't waste my time going there, but I went anyway and I love it! I've been there twice now and it still hasn't been enough time to go to all the islands and have enough time there to learn and watch. I wish they were open longer hours so that I could immerse myself in each of the island cultures, watch the really cool performance on stage after the luau, and still see the long canoe show, too.
I know, I'm a geek. What can I say? I like to learn things and I'm hugely interested in Polynesian culture. I'd like to go visit some of these other islands for real, too, but that's for some day.
September 6, 2015
How Plants Tell Time
How plants tell time.
September 3, 2015
But I Don't Want It
The other day, when I went to get the mail, I have a magazine in there that I didn't subscribe to. Maybe it's a sample issue with a invitation to subscribe. At least that's what I'm hoping it is at this point. In the back of my mind, I'm thinking, please don't let that kid who went around the neighborhood have just signed me up without my permission.
Unfortunately, not only wasn't there a card saying, hey, try our magazine, but when I looked at the mailing label, I see that I have a year's subscription. Well, hell.
I find a website for the magazine and go to the contact us page. I fill out the form, type in all the information from my label, and told them I didn't subscribe to their magazine, that I didn't want it, and that I better not be getting charged for it. I said it very politely, BTW.
And the note bounced back because the email address I sent it to didn't exist. What?!? I filled out a form; the site automatically mailed itself to whatever address the webmaster put in there.
Frustrated, I go back to the site and start looking for some way to contact them. Then I noticed there was a place to check on your account and all I needed was the information from my label. Once I logged in and saw my account, I relaxed a little bit. Yes, I did have a year's subscription, but it said I did not owe them any money and it would not auto-renew.
Now I had to figure out the mystery of how I got the magazine. The only thing that's come to mind is I think there was something about a free subscription when I purchased shoes online. I don't really remember because I didn't want the magazine and I figured no action meant I wouldn't get it. I guess I was wrong.
Unfortunately, not only wasn't there a card saying, hey, try our magazine, but when I looked at the mailing label, I see that I have a year's subscription. Well, hell.
I find a website for the magazine and go to the contact us page. I fill out the form, type in all the information from my label, and told them I didn't subscribe to their magazine, that I didn't want it, and that I better not be getting charged for it. I said it very politely, BTW.
And the note bounced back because the email address I sent it to didn't exist. What?!? I filled out a form; the site automatically mailed itself to whatever address the webmaster put in there.
Frustrated, I go back to the site and start looking for some way to contact them. Then I noticed there was a place to check on your account and all I needed was the information from my label. Once I logged in and saw my account, I relaxed a little bit. Yes, I did have a year's subscription, but it said I did not owe them any money and it would not auto-renew.
Now I had to figure out the mystery of how I got the magazine. The only thing that's come to mind is I think there was something about a free subscription when I purchased shoes online. I don't really remember because I didn't want the magazine and I figured no action meant I wouldn't get it. I guess I was wrong.
September 1, 2015
Mars Boarding Pass? Check!
I am totally geeky about science and space. One of the many professions I was interested in when I was a kid was astronomer. And of all the planets besides Earth, Mars is possibly my favorite. Sadly, NASA has wasted a ton of time and it doesn't look likely as if we'll be colonizing the red planet any time soon. However, as if making up for this lapse, NASA is giving people a chance to send their name to Mars. Not quite as cool, but it will do.
NASA makes it even better, though. They give you a boarding pass with your frequent flyer mileage, your scheduled departure date, and your departure/arrival information. Now that is super cool!
Boarding Pass and All Images on Boarding Pass Courtesy of NASA
If you want to make your own boarding pass, you can do it at the .
NASA makes it even better, though. They give you a boarding pass with your frequent flyer mileage, your scheduled departure date, and your departure/arrival information. Now that is super cool!
Boarding Pass and All Images on Boarding Pass Courtesy of NASA If you want to make your own boarding pass, you can do it at the .
August 30, 2015
25 Ways the Internet has Changed the World
for better or for worse.
August 27, 2015
Digital Magazines
I decided to give digital magazines a try. I simply don't have room for paper copies, and since I usually have my iPad with me, it's theoretically easier to read a little bit here and there while I'm waiting. I say theoretically because it actually hasn't worked that way. It kind of goes like this:
I get a notification on my iPad that my new issue is available. This always seems to come in at a time when I can't download, so I think to myself, I'll have to remember to do that. I promptly forget. Days or weeks go by before it crosses my brain again.
Because I download so infrequently, I inevitably forget how to download and I end up with two (or more) covers of my magazine issue grayed out with an X below, saying downloading paused. Tapping the X brings up the question: Do you want to cancel the download. Um, no, I want the issue to finish downloading. That, however, isn't an option.
Last night, I was clicking around and somehow ended up in the store where it showed the current issue of my magazine with a Download button. I got my issue! Hurrah! Too bad for me, the second copy of the same issue is still grayed out and I can't figure out how to get rid of it.
Now I just have to read the one that did download. The setup seems weird to me, though. I want to page through it like a magazine or like an ebook, but there's some paging and some scrolling. The magazine doesn't seem to have as much material as the paper version, but I'm not sure if that's true or of it's a problem with my not realizing it's there. I wish it was setup mostly like the paper version so I could flip around and browse.
So I get frustrated with the digital version and I tell myself I'll look at it later, but again, I forget that it's there. Then I get the notice that the next issue is available and the cycle starts again.
I think when my subscription runs out, I'll either cancel or go back to paper. The digital version isn't working for me at all.
I get a notification on my iPad that my new issue is available. This always seems to come in at a time when I can't download, so I think to myself, I'll have to remember to do that. I promptly forget. Days or weeks go by before it crosses my brain again.
Because I download so infrequently, I inevitably forget how to download and I end up with two (or more) covers of my magazine issue grayed out with an X below, saying downloading paused. Tapping the X brings up the question: Do you want to cancel the download. Um, no, I want the issue to finish downloading. That, however, isn't an option.
Last night, I was clicking around and somehow ended up in the store where it showed the current issue of my magazine with a Download button. I got my issue! Hurrah! Too bad for me, the second copy of the same issue is still grayed out and I can't figure out how to get rid of it.
Now I just have to read the one that did download. The setup seems weird to me, though. I want to page through it like a magazine or like an ebook, but there's some paging and some scrolling. The magazine doesn't seem to have as much material as the paper version, but I'm not sure if that's true or of it's a problem with my not realizing it's there. I wish it was setup mostly like the paper version so I could flip around and browse.
So I get frustrated with the digital version and I tell myself I'll look at it later, but again, I forget that it's there. Then I get the notice that the next issue is available and the cycle starts again.
I think when my subscription runs out, I'll either cancel or go back to paper. The digital version isn't working for me at all.
August 25, 2015
Cyber World To Real World
With the organization of my computer files a success, I decided to expand from the cyber world to real life. My office has been in disarray since I moved 2 years ago and my spare room is getting kind of cluttered now too because every time I go home to Minnesota, my parents give me more stuff to take back to Atlanta. But I wasn't ready to tackle the house without some guidance and I found it in an audio book I'd bought a while ago.
I started listening to it while I was at work and after one chapter, I knew I actually had a winner. Too often these declutter, organization books are completely out in space for how I live and I know it won't work, but this one seemed different.
The first piece of advice was have a spot where you always put your car keys. Not loose, but in a container or on a rack or something. I already do this! I have a little paper box that I made from scrapbook stock that I have out for my keys.
The second suggestion was to always have your purse/bag in the same spot and ready to go to work the next day. This suggestion included keeping the cell phone in the same location and charging. I do this too!
Before you think that I loved this book because I already do everything in it...well, if you saw my office, you'd know that wasn't true. The very next part of the chapter was on mail and this is one of my biggest problems. I get pretty much all my bills electronically, so snail mail is usually junk, and because I hate dealing with it, I usually just toss it in a box in my office and let it sit until I can't stand the sight of it anymore. I've developed a high tolerance, which isn't a good thing.
I actually went ahead and ordered the book in paperback because just hearing something doesn't seem to anchor it in my brain. Once I have it to read, I plan to tackle the mail in my office and then on to chapter 2!
I started listening to it while I was at work and after one chapter, I knew I actually had a winner. Too often these declutter, organization books are completely out in space for how I live and I know it won't work, but this one seemed different.
The first piece of advice was have a spot where you always put your car keys. Not loose, but in a container or on a rack or something. I already do this! I have a little paper box that I made from scrapbook stock that I have out for my keys.
The second suggestion was to always have your purse/bag in the same spot and ready to go to work the next day. This suggestion included keeping the cell phone in the same location and charging. I do this too!
Before you think that I loved this book because I already do everything in it...well, if you saw my office, you'd know that wasn't true. The very next part of the chapter was on mail and this is one of my biggest problems. I get pretty much all my bills electronically, so snail mail is usually junk, and because I hate dealing with it, I usually just toss it in a box in my office and let it sit until I can't stand the sight of it anymore. I've developed a high tolerance, which isn't a good thing.
I actually went ahead and ordered the book in paperback because just hearing something doesn't seem to anchor it in my brain. Once I have it to read, I plan to tackle the mail in my office and then on to chapter 2!
August 23, 2015
Misconceptions About Disney
Misconceptions about Disney--the man and the parks.
