Peace River Getaway

Although we like Fort Lauderdale, we don’t like sitting still for too long.  An easy, and wonderful getaway is Thousand Trails / Peace River in Wauchula, Florida.  It’s about a 3.5 hour drive.

 

 

 

It’s a bit chilly, but the sun is out and it’s warm and beautiful in the afternoon.  We want to go for a paddle, but I had work to do.  Our monthly newsletter *had* to get out today.  We had plenty of time for walks on the nature trail, and soaks in the hot tub.  Jim and I even played a couple games of pickleball.

 

Maybe we’ll get to paddle tomorrow. 

Meanwhile – here’s a nice sunset scene.

 

Work or Play?

I really do need to write in here more often.  Once 3 days goes by – then I feel overwhelmed and I don’t know what to write about – so I don’t.  It’s so much easier when we’re on the road and each day is it’s own separate event.  When we’re parked, the days all seem to run into each other – and so much of what we do doesn’t seem ‘bloggable.’ 

 

What I want to tell you about is Monday.  We tried to go kayak diving on Sunday (it’s the closest thing to church that we do) but it was too windy.  Monday morning, we woke up to a perfectly calm day … here’s how the conversation went:

Jim: “We should go diving.”

Me: “No, we have too much work to do.”

Jim: “Which is more important? Work or diving?”

Me: “Work, because it’s what allows us to pay for our lifestyle.” I said, unconvincingly

Jim: “We can work anytime. When conditions are right, we need to go diving.”

 

hmmmm … I think he’s right.  We went diving.  The ocean was perfect – see video below.  I still felt guilty though – we so often choose play over work.  So, if our newsletter is a little late, or you can’t get all our Picasa videos yet because we haven’t uploaded them to the right webpage, or you’re a website client still waiting for the finished product, or we haven’t answered your email, or …  well – you’ll know why.

 

I don’t think Jim feels guilty at all … do men not have the ‘guilt gene?’

 

Everyday Blogging

I don’t write in my blog every day.  But, you knew that didn’t you?

 

I say that I write when I have something to say – but that isn’t true either – I feel the need to write at least a couple times a week whether I have anything to say or not!

 

Anyway – my latest post is on my Facebook page  And, my latest facebook comment just links you to where I wrote on our Kayuba scuba club’s blog page.

 

… I’m getting so confused.

New Picasa Book for Version 3.5

With the visit to Google, and rewriting our Beginner’s Guide to Picasa, there hasn’t been much RVing to write about here.

 

So let me tell you about the book.  I’m really proud of it.  In the process of updating it to version 3.5, I also expanded it.  The previous book was 40 pages – now it’s 60.  And, I recorded several new videos to go along with it.  We’re selling the printed book with the DVD of videos in the back.  All the videos are available to our members, so they can buy the instant downloadable eBook!  I even made a video to talk about the book:

View Table of Contents and Sample pages

Buy the Book w DVD for $29.95

Buy the eBook for $9.95 with instant download

Become a Geeks on Tour Member to gain access to *ALL* our videos plus our private support forum - $39 for one year

 

Having worked personally with hundreds of Picasa users, I think I understand the most important things they need to know in order to be successful with Picasa.  Those things are in the book. Let the orders start rolling in! :-)

Impressions of Google

When you see things first hand, they’re never as good as the hype.

 

Except for Google!  Everything you’ve ever heard about their reputation for being a good work place, a crucible for innovation, and lots of energy … it’s all true.  It was a very memorable experience.  What we tend to tell people about the most is the food!  Every building – and there are lots of them – has a cafeteria.  But, you’ve never seen cafeteria food like this.  I had stuffed portobello mushrooms with goat cheese and sundried tomatoes.  Jim had savory roast chicken and couscous.  I had dessert pastries to-die-for.  We ate in the main building’s cafeteria with I’d guess at least 250 other people, all eating this gourmet fare.

 

FOR FREE

 

Yep, if you work at Google, you eat free.  So cool.  And – you’re encouraged to exercise and play, and get massages!  All at work, all for free or subsidized.  The company puts it’s money where it’s mouth is when they say that happy, healthy employees are productive employees.

 

You get the distinct impression that all the employees want to do good.  They want to make their bosses proud.  Because I was on a panel the first day we were there – lots of people recognized us on the second day when we were at Google’s offices.  They came up and shook our hands and said things like, “I’d really like to talk to you about an idea my team has …”  Or, “We’d really like to know how you, and your customers, use our products.”  The energy was just buzzing.

 

If we were 20 years younger – we’d be knocking on HR’s door – they call it People Operations.  As it is, we kinda like what we do even more!  But, we felt proud to be a part of the Google team even for a day!  We made sure to stop by the store and get a couple of t-shirts!

 

 

The recording of the Picasa Webinar is supposed to be available by the end of this week.  I’ll let you know a link then.