Double-clap

May 17

If you are one of those people who knows their way around the Internet and blogosphere and you navigate it all with ease, you can probably tune this post out.  However, if, like me,  you are not on the Information Superhighway, but more on the side street, driveway, or cul-de-sac when it comes to computer literacy, then this post may help you.

People keep telling me they check my blog multiple times a day to see if I’ve written anything.  One dear girl even made me her home page.  If I didn’t know her well, that would be so weird.  Usually, the answer is no, I haven’t written.  And I feel pressure to write, but not enough pressure to actually write.  I’m not the kinda girl who will generate words just because.  (Sorry.)  Real life for me, just like everyone else on the planet, is reallyhecticbusy.  And I also have this two adorable children that live with me and call me Mom and want to eat three seventeen times a day and want me to play with them and occasionally, I even bathe them.  So, I write when I carve out time and sacrifice sleep so that I can find words, and the words can find a home, first in my heart, then, apparently, in yours.

Due to technology that I do not understand at all, you can put your email address in that box over there.  —>  (The box on the right side of the screen, kinda near the top.  It says “Follow Blog Via Email.”)  If you put your email address in that box, then you will get an email every time I post a new entry on the blog.  The email is auto-generated from a The Computer Gods (that is a lie, I have no idea how it happens, I just know it happens.)  No one will know, no one else will see your email address.  I will be able to see your email address, but I promise I will keep it a secret, and I promise never to email you, or jeopardize your identity, or lay claim to your firstborn child.  After you have entered your email and clicked “Follow,” you are now a “follower” of my blog.  Whoop dee doo.  But now you can stop clicking on my blog because you will get an email whenever I update it.  You will have like six more minutes in your day.  I’m sure you’ll start doing push-ups or something equally dazzling with that newfound time.

Some tech savvy folks have figured out how to “Follow” my blog, and others use a feed reader (like Google Reader if you’re interested.)  If any of these techies would like to offer advice for the rest of us, please do so in the comments, and anyone who wants more help can look there.  Because this is about the end of my technological know-how.  It’s not my fault.  Fifteen years ago, I remember my mother (sorry Mom) sitting in front of the computer screen wanting to switch from an Internet application to a word processing application.  At a loss for what to do, she double-clapped at the screen and simultaneously said, “Minimize!”  As in those commercials where you “clap on” The Clapper.  It is still funny.  And my sisters and I do still double-clap her and say, “Minimize!” way too often.  We are not nice people.  My poor mom.

12 comments

  1. Sue Nitz /

    Thank you Jen for the chuckle in the middle of the day. Reminds me of my dad and how he talks on his cell phone. He puts it to his ear to listen and then moves it to his mouth to talk. Funny, funny, funny stuff! What would we do without a sense of humor!!!!

  2. My father-in-law calls my iphone “that machine there.”

  3. Following via e-mail is great! I also have you in my Reader, so I am sure to be notified when you publish a new post.
    It took me about 3 years to figure out how to use Google Reader. I don’t think I could explain it… but it works.

    I think your mom is awesome. The next time my computer freezes up and stops working, I’m going to try her method.

  4. Karen /

    I follow you in my Google Reader also. GR is super easy to use, sort of like another email inbox if you are a fan of multiple blogs and want all of your reading in one place. Its super easy to set up for anyone who’s interested and wants a guarantee not to miss your awesome posts :-D!

  5. I literally LOL’d (which my 6 year old is convinced means “laugh out liquid”) at your mom. Sorry Mom. But that was funny! Thank you for the smile in a pretty grim week here! Hope you have a wonderful weekend and congrats on the news segment!

  6. Someone once told me they thought LOL meant “little old lady.” 🙂 Tell your mom this story: My sister and I were going to a baseball game (minor league) and it was “Quarter Dog Night” at the ballpark. When we got home, Mom was so curious to know how the tiny hot dogs were packaged in a way that could be sanitary. She thought they were cutting hot dogs into fourths, not selling hot dogs for 25¢!

  7. Bonniebj /

    Moms out there unite; I’m sure Mary has some pretty good ones on me as well!!! Your mom is the greatest-we had such a great time on moms day with you both. HUGE Memory for sure. Have a great day Jen- in the sun. Loved seeing your smile yesterday even though it was in a passing car 😉

  8. jacie /

    Can someone tell me how to add this site to Google Reader. I don’t see an RSS icon anywhere to click on. Is there another way to add it? THANKS!

  9. Regarding adding this blog to Google Reader: go the home page of this blog so that the web address line on your browser has “andersonfamilyzoo.wordpress.com” in it. Highlight the address and hit Ctrl-C on your keyboard to copy the address. Then open your Google Reader, click the “Subscribe” button (should be on the left side of the screen near the top), hit Crtl-V to paste the address in the box and hit enter.

  10. Cherie /

    I love your mother! She sounds a lot like mine (sorry Mom). I somehow (still not exactly sure how) signed up to receive your blog in my email, and it’s great because I NEVER miss anything, but I can just check in once in a while when I actually have time.
    Friend, you don’t know me, but I think of you and your sweet girls often and send happy calming healing thoughts your way. Thank you for allowing me to get to know you a little. Your strength and trust in our Father in Heaven are a sweet inspiration to me. Anyway, sending prayers and healing vibes to you and your fam.

  11. Julie /

    Wow, what a great story about your mom. I think I might start doing the double clap minimize command, it just might be my new thing. No disrrespect to your mom, if fact I thnk this story makes her sound pretty great.
    I too, am in the crazyhecticbusy phase of my life. I am not sure how long it will last, but at least for the next 18 or so years until baby becomes not-so-baby anymore. That is why I haven’t been so good about checking in on your blog. I actually feel kinda bad about that, so I was happy to read this post- I can relate.
    I also just wanted to let you know we keep breaking out the prayers for you! Even on days when blogs go unchecked.
    P.s. going running! You are my hero. Keep up the good work and keep fighting the fight!

    Julie + Baby

  12. But why? Why won’t you take my first born if I follow your blog? I can mail him to you. I’ll pay for the postage. I don’t mind. Are you sure about not taking him? Think it over. I’ll wait.

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