Welcome back...

...to regular time. One of the things I enjoy about Arizona is that we don't adjust our clocks twice a year. It's wonderful!

How Much Is Your Blog Worth?

I had no idea! Hat tip goes to LaShawn Barber. sspvideo.com/blog is worth:

My blog is worth $36,130.56. How much is your blog worth?

DigitalKaren.com is worth:

My blog is worth $15,807.12. How much is your blog worth?

Since my blog uses two URLs: sspvideo.com/blog and digitalKaren.com, if I combined both values is my blog really worth $51,937.68? Wow! Anybody wanna buy my blog? I could really use that kind of money right now!

Techie Stuff

In case you haven't noticed, for some unexplained reason my site feed has not been operating properly. I didn't realize what was not happening until a few days ago. When it comes to my web sites and especially my blog, I like to do it myself, mainly because I'm cheap economical. I mulled over the possible reasons for the malfunction and narrowed it down to something to do with the fact that I recently changed web hosting providers.* I have been perplexed as to how to solve the problem because I really don't know a lot about site feeds, and everything I had tried thus far had not worked. Well tonight I had a breakthrough and it is working now. Chalk it up to watching CSI: Miami -- apparently it honed my detective skills and I was able to fix it. Also, if you want to subscribe to my feed, I recommend BlogLines. Now would be a good time to subscribe so you'll know when I update my site and continue my Internet dating stories. *My new web hosting provider, DreamHost, did not cause the problem. If you are looking for a great, low-cost hosting service, I suggest you give DreamHost a try. (I get referral money if you do!) -- How's that for disclosure?

Cyberspace -- To Boldly Go...

Since I have been blogging I have been meeting some really nice people in cyberspace, some of whom I have linked to in my "Blogs I Visit" section. One of them, Pat, of Pat's Pond, reminded me of how cool it is to meet people we might never meet were not for the Internet. I think I might have said it here some time ago, but, if it were not for the Internet, a.k.a. cyberspace, I would have never met my wonderful husband Norm. Norm and I met in a chat room on AOL. He was not the first man I ever met through cyberspace, and he was not the last, but he was the one who won my heart. (More later on how that happened.) I had determined to boldly go where no one I knew had gone before. I was a college student who never dated. I never seem to find guys who could look past the four wheels I rode upon so, as Norm likes to remind me, it was their loss. About the time I hit graduate school the Internet had become a household phenomenon and provided new opportunities that were not limited by one's wheels, or lack there of, as it were. It was the summer of 1995 and I was a bored college senior. AOL or CompuServe were the only Internet service providers at the time, at least in my area, so I joined AOL and began to notice an opportunity to stretch my horizons. I dared myself one day to post a singles ad online. So I did it and within a very short time I began receiving responses. What a thrill and a disappointment at the same time. I neglected to mention in my ad that I used a motorized wheelchair for mobility, but when I responded to an inquiry, I shared that information, much to the dismay of some. Most of the responses I received were not from guys in my area so it was a few weeks before I found someone who was in San Diego. His name was Doug and he taught junior high school. He didn't mind that I used a wheelchair and he was glad to know that I was a Christian, like himself, who was just looking for other Christian singles to meet. We decided to meet for lunch on Labor Day at a local restaurant of my choosing. Talk about nervous! He was very nice and we talked easily, and overall it was a wonderful first-time experience for meeting someone online. The good part was that we both decided we were not interested in pursuing another meeting. I drove home from that date proud of myself but a little disappointed because now I had to start all over again. Little did I know what was waiting for me in my e-mail box when I got home. And that will have to wait until another post.

Home Sweet Home

It is so good to be home again with my wonderful husband Norm. My parents and I arrived in Scottsdale about 12:30 a.m. Monday after a somewhat stormy six-hour drive from San Diego which began with a minor fender bender at the Cosco gas station in Santee. Fortunately no one was hurt and we were not at fault. Norm greeted me with lots of hugs and kisses and a belated birthday party which was short and to the point. I've been busy catching up on things so I'll resume regular blogging as soon as possible.

Happy Birthday to Me

Yes, it's my birthday today! I've officially become fortysomething -- so it's all downhill from here. I plan on enjoying the ride wherever it may take me because I know who's driving the car and it's not me. Thank you God for another year and helping me to remain faithful to you and the purpose for which you created me. As the psalmist says: "Love GOD, all you saints; GOD takes care of all who stay close to him, but he pays back in full those arrogant enough to go it alone." (Psalm 31:23 -- The Message) This evening I will be traveling back to Scottsdale from San Diego. I so look forward to being with my husband tonight!

E-mail -- Technical Difficulties

I just discovered my e-mail for digitalKaren.com has not been working. I've created a new e-mail account which you can see in the column on the right hand side of this page. If you have written me and not received a reply it is because I never received your message. Please try again with the new e-mail address.

San Diego Area Restaurant Reviews

El Indio -- very good Mexican food. My favorite is the carnitas tacos. They use the best corn tortillas I have ever tasted. This place started out as a tortilla factory back in 1940. Our family has been going to this little place for eons. Pat and Oscars -- terrific chicken Caesar salad. Ottavios Italian Restaurant (no website) -- this one is in El Cajon on the corner of Jamacha Rd. and East Main St. They have a wonderful lunch buffet. If you're in El Cajon go there!

The Perils of Web Cams

Each morning my wonderful husband, Norm, and I chat online using Yahoo's Messenger with a web cam on my computer. It's not the best picture and sometimes it's rather choppy but it does the job so that Norm can see me each day. Last week my Aunt was visiting from the Midwest. I was chatting online with Norm one morning when my aunt informed me she was going in to take her shower. After she entered the bathroom, her cell phone began to ring so I called out to her, "your cell phone is ringing." She stuck her head out bathroom door and asked if it was all clear -- meaning, did my father leave the house yet. My mother informed her it was safe to come out of the bathroom. We set up my computer in a corner of the living room which is near the hall bathroom. I had the web cam on because I was chatting with Norm, but we were not using audio. My back is to the room and I'm facing the computer screen and there is a small window in the corner of the screen showing what can be seen on the web cam. Suddenly, I see my aunt's bare back in the web cam window. She was coming into the living room to retrieve her ringing cell phone. Before it dawned on me what was happening, she bent over to pick up her purse off the floor -- and there in the web cam window was her completely naked hind quarters! I quickly clicked off the Web cam. Thank God there is a delay in the transmission of the picture! I didn't say anything to Norm -- hoping he had not seen what I had seen. I kept typing into the chat window as if nothing had happened. A few seconds later Norm types, "what happened to the Web cam?" I ignored his question and turned on the Web cam. We continued our conversation and Norm knew nothing of what transpired. My aunt had no idea that she mooned cyberspace! I held onto the secret for as long as I could -- which was about 2 minutes -- and then I told my mother. We both laughed hysterically. Later I told my aunt what happened because I knew she is the kind of woman who enjoys a good laugh -- even at her own expense. She thought it was hilarious and it became "our story" to share with everyone we visited the rest of the week.

Yes, It's Been a While

Seems like forever since I last blogged about anything. I've been extremely busy working on a project so that has taken all of my energy. I have some really good news to report. As of last Wednesday my wonderful husband Norm is no longer connected to an IV pump receiving antibiotics. He got a good report from the doctor and he is doing better each and every day. I plan to return home in two weeks on my birthday which is the 16th. Being away from Norm for more than six weeks has been difficult for both of us but technology has made it bearable. While he was in hospital we talked on the phone at least once or twice each day. Yes, my parents phone bill was not a pretty sight. Since he returned home we have been communicating over the Internet both through e-mail and through online chat with a web cam on my end. We use Yahoo Messenger with voice but the voice part does not always work very well. Anyhow, we enjoy using Yahoo messenger because Norm can see me on the web cam which is good because it satisfies his manly visual need to see his beloved. We also have fun changing the outfits and backgrouds on our Avitars. It will be good to get home and be with my husband! 14 days and counting...