New Toys

   I got 2 new toys this weekend. Well, ok, one is mine and the other is ours. Mine is a NookColor. I really like it. I was beginning to have my doubts about using it up here in the sticks.
   To start with, it had to be registered and you can only do that through wifi. We don't have any wifi out here, so we were going to town to go to Barnes and Noble and use theirs.
   On the way there, we stopped by Best Buy to look for a TV antenna, since we don't have cable or a dish or anything, since we're cheap. We found one, and then we stopped to look at their ereaders. One of there continuous, overly helpful  until you need them, staff came over and I told him about no wifi and not being able to register the Nook. He mentioned being able to get our own wifi for home and sent us over to the computer department. When the man helping us found out we were using broadband, he sent us over to the cell phone department. The employee we had there was very helpful and told us if we just got a new broadband thing, we still wouldn't get any wifi, but he showed us this little thing that was wifi.
   Verizon,  and probably other companies, make a portable wifi hot spot. We looked at Verizon because our broadband is through them. This neat little gadget is the size of a cell phone, plugs into the wall and we can run up to 5 computers on it at the same time. You can use it unplugged for as long as the battery lasts, as well. Now, my Nook works and the old computer is faster than it has ever been. You can even get a car charger for it and use it in your car. It's range is 54 feet, so you don't need to really worry about anyone getting your signal. I have since discovered we can get the signal for more than 50 feet. I hope no one is using our signal and using up our allotted air time, or what ever it it.
   Another thing we were going to do yesterday, was get an upgraded broadband device at the Verizon store. Now, we didn't need to. The guy at Best Buy told use were were eligible for an upgrade 3 years ago. So, we're a little slow. Anyway, this little gizmo is our upgrade. We did have to sign a new 2 year contract to get this thing free, and our bill is $10.00 a month cheaper. If we didn't sign the 2 year contract, the gizmo was $249.99 plus tax and whatever other fees they could dream up.
   One of the most important things I did get yesterday, is some more O'Keefe's Working Hands. It works great on my poor cracked fingers. Now, in a few days, I will be able to crochet again.
   The NookColor is great. I can get the internet, gazillions of free books, play internet radio on it, download Mp3's and play them on it.  I read that eventually Barnes and Noble is going to make it so you can get apps and download programs for it. It is the only ereader out there, besides an iPad or some such, that has color. It's kind of like an iPad. I can also read at night if the power goes of since it is back lit. I'm going to have to play with it a lot to figure it out. It's a good thing we bought cookies yesterday, too, so I'm not baking today.
   The antenna is great also. It makes everything look high def, like our converter box was suppose to, but now, it really does, and the picture is so much clearer. There is still nothing to watch on TV, but at least it comes in clearer.
   Also, yesterday we made it up to 52. A heat wave. It is so muddy here. You sink and slide in the mud and then you manage to track it all over the house even after taking off your shoes. The wind really blew hard last night. At least there was no snow. There is rain and more snow in the forecast, just so we don't get too excited about the heatwave.