MacBook Pro

An iPad has been my primary computer since it's release one year ago. Though not a fully implemented PC I was able to work around Apple's various constraints and quirks. Blogging was made possible with an App called BlogPress which provided a usable front-end for eBlogger. The App handled uploading PICs from the iPad to Blogger's server where they were then Hosted, the same as we have always done with our Blog. But recently the Bidnessman at BlogPress made a change such that PICs are now Hosted either at Picasa, Flickr, or on the BlogPress server but not on Blogger's server. We don't want people to have to deal with Flickr because it takes several steps to get to a full-screen PIC (the whole purpose of "clicking" on the Thumbnail in a Blog Post) so I set BlogPress to use their server. That worked OK until the Bidnessman got the bright idea (NOT) of shrinking the PICs some and surrounding them with advertisements. For us that was a Deal Breaker. Our Blog doesn't exist to provide an advertising venue to some Bidnessman. But there are no other (usable) Blogging Apps for iPad. Hmmm.

The small size of the iPad screen and the lack of Photo handling capability has been a disadvantage for Blogging and PIC viewing. The BlogPress Bidness Boner was the last straw so I ordered up a refurbished MacBook Pro.

I even paid twenty Bucks

for FedEx next-day.

Yup, it's a Mac

(see the Apple?)

That man seems excited

with his new toy...

...oops, I mean "tool".

I am delighted with the results of the change. The MacBook has a larger, brighter screen which is much better for my eyes and IMO iPhoto can't be beat as an organizational tool with enough included simple editing capability for Blogging. With Apple's multi-function touch-pad I can seamlessly zoom as needed to suit the condition of my eyes at any given moment. This Thing is soooo easy to use that I am quickly redoing each Post that BlogPress messed up. 

Violet's First Birthday

The Crocuses are Blooming so...

it must be Violet's Birthday.

Grandpa got the job of

assembling 

Violet's first Ride.

Two pages of Instructions....

Can he do it?

No Problemo!

 The Birthday Girl

in her Finery.

 At Violet's house the Crocuses are

of course

Violet.

 Big Sister Cordelia

made this beautiful sign.

 Aha! Birthday presents.

Blocks from Aunt Amy, Uncle Chris

and Nate.

 A Talking Bear from Aunt Missy,

Uncle Kevin, Cousin Robbie

and Cousin Kayla.

PJs she can grow into

from Great Grandma.

Violet and her Cousin Robbie

admire the Bear.

Looks like a bib is

Violet's first "blanky".

 Her first RV

from Grandma&Grandpa.

 Time for

Birthday Pizza.

Violet Loves Food.

All Food.

Just bring it on.

Birthday cake from

Bethel Bakery.

Looks like Cordelia

approves.

 Of course Violet

had her own Cake.

 Cousin Kayla and Sister Cordelia

enjoyed a visit and the Cake.

Baby Nate Pays a Visit

Amy had a few days left of her three month Maternity Leave so she and Nate got on the Tin Bird and made their way to the Steel City.

How they do grow

and change!

 Baby Violet got to

visit

her Cousin Nate.

Visiting is Hungry Work

so a lot of Silk Road

Takeout was required.

 Next morning it was time

for Nate to have a

Walk in the Woods.

These new-fangled

Kangaroo Pouches

are ideal. Nate just

loves going for a

Walk.

 Walking is such hard work!

So a Nap is just the Thing.

 Grandpa makes a good Nest,

don't you think?

Grandma, Nate and Amy

think Bath Time is

lots of Fun.