Life can be confusing.... a RANT about technology.

This morning, I checked my blog and discovered the links to all my photographs were not working.  I spent about 2 hours trying to figure out why.  No luck.

Because I got frustrated... I went and ate lunch (pork chops and cheesy potatoes).  Then I had a piece of nutella no-bake cheesecake.  Yummy.

I decided to see if my Google+ account was also messed up...  Well, no.  Not really.  But every picture that was posted in my blog was suddenly there, waiting to be shared.  Crap!  I didn't want to have all those things posted on my Google+ account.  Why does Google insist on sharing everything.  Why are my blog photo's automatically required to be posted on my Google+?  I don't USE my Google+.  I only have the darn thing because it's integrated with my Andriod tablet and phone.

Automation is NOT my friend!  I will post something when I want it shared.  I don't want darn Google deciding for me.  What a hassle! 

I HATE autocorrect when I'm typing!  I don't WANT to talk TO my darn phone! I don't WANT my location to be shared with the world! 

I guess I must be getting cranky in my old age.  Sure, I have a few apps on my phone.  The app Out of Milk is very handy for me.  Having new pictures on my phone downloading to my tablet is handy...  Dropbox is cool, because I can share the files I choose with several friends at the same time.

But, my phone is a PHONE!  It's not my extra brain.  I don't want the darn thing beeping at me all the time.  I don't want it automatically notifying me I had a Facebook "like"...  Hell, I didn't even KNOW that was why it was making all the distracting noise until my son told me.  The nice gentleman at AT&T linked all those things together "for" me when he was initializing my phone.  I know he was trying to help, but that wasn't what I WANT.  I want my phone to make a sound when someone is calling or texting me.  Period.  Nothing else...  well, maybe having it make a GODAWFUL racket when we're under a tornado watch would be nice...  but cripes!

WHY do I need my phone to tell me someone "liked" my picture?  I'll find out when I go on Facebook.  There's NOTHING in my life that needs someone else's "like" to demand my immediate attention.  Are the woods on fire??!!  OK.  That I need to know.  That my cousin in PA found my picture of a chicken amusing??!!  No.  I can find that out when I'm ready.

I don't WANT my phone to check me email for me.  Or tell me when I'm near a restaurant.  When there is a HOTSPOT... Is the HOTSPOT the result of a volcano?  OK, that I WOULD like to know!  Do I care that I could be browsing while we're driving down the road?  NO!  I DON'T! 

Back to my blog photos.  I finally got them to show up AFTER I gave in, and shared a few photos on my Google+ page.  Wizz!  Bang!!  Finally, all my blog photos were back.  What the HELL!!!  Why??!!  What damn difference does it make??!!  If I'd wanted my darn pictures shared on Google+, wouldn't I have done so?  Why do I have to relent and share all this?  WHY, WHY WHY!!!  Cripes.  Doesn't Google already know enough about me without demanding I share my pictures?

I live in rural Arkansas, in the woods, on a gravel driveway ON PURPOSE!  I don't WANT to share every facet of my life with the 'PUBLIC'.  If I did, I'd live in a glass house IN A CITY!  I want my privacy.  I want to share what I'm comfortable with, to the people I WANT to share with.  I don't want some company (or a *&^%$#$%^&* piece of technology) deciding for me.

I would classify myself as a Libertarian.  I want my FREEDOM OF SPEECH, my right to LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.  My right to bear arms (or bare arms for that matter)!  My freedom from unreasonable search and seizure.  I think our Government should follow the Constitution.  Hell, I vowed to protect those rights from all enemies, foreign and DOMESTIC.

And my damn pictures are in that category.  I want to share them when I wish!  Not when damn GOOGLE decides I should.

So, here I am.  Angry at GOOGLE.  And I can't decide how to remedy this.  Maybe I should stop using Facebook, Blogger, Google... damn "smart" technology and social media.  Yahoo.  Youtube...  No, I LIKE Youtube.  And that means I have to interact with GOOGLE.  I'm NOT happy about that.

There are some people in this world who believe that TECHNOLOGY is evil (or a serious threat, anyway).  I am sure that our Government will use all TECHNOLOGY available to it, to monitor each and every one of us.  I'm not happy about that either.  There are cameras everywhere.  Our little, local town of Hardy isn't too bad... but, what level of surveillance is too much?  A slippery slop... A dangerous game... a DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMNED IF YOU DON'T scenario.

Why can't I just have a nice little blog about my adventure in homesteading?  Why can't I live my private life, use what technology I want and leave the rest.  Why? 

Gardens, grandkids and crocheting

My son Joshua and I made a quick trip to East Ellijay, Georgia to pick up my granddaughter, Ariel.  She's 11 now, growing up fast!  She was 2 1/2 when John and I got together.  That first year we were together, we lived in East Ellijay.  Ariel's mom Tammy lived right next door and Josh lived next door to her.  We were all within shouting distance.  John's brother Jim and family lived a few hundred yards away.  Brother Joe and family lived across the street.  John's mom and stepdad lived just up the road.

Then we found our home in Arkansas and moved.  John had always wanted to live in Arkansas.  Tammy and Ariel came and stayed with us the first 2 trips we made out here.  Ariel came to spend the summer when she was 6 and 7.  The next 2 summers we weren't able to take her, but she's been here last year and this year.  Good memories in the making.

Who knows what we'll get into this summer.

The garden is growing, very weedy at the moment.  I spent 2 hours out there this morning and got 1 row done.  Here's what it looked like before I started.

I finished the crocheted baby afghan for my niece Tricia.  She's to have her baby in July. Raven, I believe is the name of the little one.  Now I have a birthday present to get done.

I also promised to finish a lockerhooked rug.  I enjoy making rugs.  But they do get hot and heavy after awhile!