In the past eight weeks I have upgraded much of my technology – either because something died, I received a generous gift (I LOVE my new MacBook Pro), or because it simply was so antiquated it no longer worked with anything I owned.

Little did I know that you need to know your ABC’s – or in this case NGB’s – for everything to work RIGHT.

Over the past eight weeks I have spent three or four hours on the phone with Belkin.  Two hours on the phone with HP.  And at least five or six hours watching Keith try to be helpful, trying to figure it out by myself,  or letting my kids have a stab at it (they are little techno geniuses in the making).

Finally, after all of those hours, and after the whole configuration not working again and again, someone at HP (the third or fourth person I spoke to, not the first a few weeks ago) finally suggested a reason – something that made sense.

“Your printer has a G card.  Your router is an N.”

“What?”  I said, as politely as I could, my mind now turning to the XBOX 360 wireless adapter we just ordered and wondering what letter was atttatched to it and if that mattered or not.

“What is my Mac Book?” I asked the HP guy, hoping he would know.

“G,” he said.  “Call Belkin.  They can reconfigure your router for you so that it works with both.  And you may need to call Apple.”

“Really.  Does everyone know this?  And if so, why wasn’t it brought up eight weeks ago during the first ‘Hello, my router isn’t working’ phone call?”  Again, i tried to sound so appreciative, masking my utter disdain for the lacking consumer education.  Or was it just my education?

Long story short, I called Belkin.  Again.  For the fourth or fifth time since I bought the device.  Harry – yes, the last person I spoke to when I called Belkin was named Harry as well, they ALL seem to be named Harry -  walked me through it again.  Verified that my devices were G devices, that my router was an N, but that he could help me set it up to work with both.

Walking through the same windows I had visited and altered on previous conversations, he had me change nearly all the settings.  “No,” he said, “This is the best one.”  Why didn’t the last Harry give me “the best settings?”  Believing this Harry seemed no less wrong or difficult that believing the last Harry, so what the hell, I listened, did as instructed and finally heard him say, “You need to pay attention when you are buying equipment to make sure it is compatible.”

I pay attention.  I buy from the companies whose ads I like.  That’s attention enough.  Why don’t the companies themselves team up and say – “HEY!  You – CONSUMER! If you buy that router from Belkin, it will work with these HP/Epson/etc. printers, with these gaming systems, etc., regardless if you have Mac or PC or both!”

I would be GRATEFUL for that.  And if these companies gathered the selections of compatible merchandise – or at least ADDRESSED the issue so that we consumers would not waste nearly a day’s time of our lives trying get them to work, failing and ultimately returning a perfectly good product – I might just recommend them, showcase them, and talk about how they make my life EASIER rather than recounting what they sound like as they hit the floor and break into a million pieces after a gutteral scream.  (No, I didn’t, but it seemed a much more dramatic ending than, “And after all that, it appears the ABCs of my NBGs is in order and all of my hardware now communicates appropriately).

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“There are three types of people in the world.

Those who can count.

And those who can’t.”

-?

Reading the “Prepare for an Emergency” entry in the Every Monday Matters book gave me the chills given the disasters and aftermaths that have been all over the news lately. Watching the television coverage of everything from Haiti to the local storms and landslides horrified me, brought me to tears, made me feel helpless and afraid, and ultimately, forced me into action.

Disasters, of any magnitude or size are never truly expected, but as we have seen time and time again, they are inevitable. And the only thing that seems to alleviate the fear and anxiety that come up for my family and me is to do what we can to prepare for them.

I admit that it has been quite a while since the last one, so I am planning a Disaster Preparedness Day for my family. On these days we simulate what happens: if there is an earthquake; if someone is drowning in the pool; if there is a fire; if there is a heavy rain and the hill slides; and any other “ifs” my kids or I can think up to prepare for. Aside from the “appropriate” actions that are reviewed on a Disaster Preparedness Day, there are other things that need we need to do as well. Here’s my list.

1. Communication Plan. Choose a person in your area AND outside your area for everyone to call and check in with. Make sure those numbers are in everyone’s phones and on the Emergency List.

2. Emergency List. Have a list by the main phone in the house and one in the car with all pertinent contact information, medical information and life saving instructions-directions-locations (for medicine, supply kits, etc.)

3. Cash. Paper and Coins. Bank ATMs and registers that accept credit cards may go down. Cell phone service may go out. Make sure there is cash (in small bills so it is not necessary for anyone to make change) and coins so that calls can be made at public phones if necessary.

4. Supply Kit. Buy or make one that will last each person in the household 3 days. Make sure everyone knows where it is located. And make sure that it contains something to purify water, for clean water can be more difficult to find that food after a disaster. The supply kit may also be a good place to put the cash and coins. Build a kit with the provided lists or purchase one from Ready, a national public service campaign designed to educate us to prepare for and respond to emergencies. Click here.

5. Practice your Plan. Most kids and adults learn through repetition. In the event of an emergency, if a plan has been practices, panic will be less likely.

“Prepare today…for any kind of tomorrow.” – Every Monday Matters (link)

“Get out of your comfort zone.  Persistence and determination are more powerful than talent.  You are who you hang out with.”  These were just some of the messages that were spoken at a lovely motivational retreat at the La Costa resort in Carlsbad.  I was invited to be a part of the festivities by my dear friend, Julie Daradics, pictured on the left, and was thus privy to a private gathering in a beautiful home by the sea where I met some amazing people.   Rita Davenport, President of Arbonne was in attendance, beaming about her granddaughter turning one, and letting all present know that they “can have anything if they help others get what they want.”  Donna Wiser (www.thewiserway.com), second from right, is an inspirational woman with whom I felt an immediate connection and from whom I gleaned some fascinating tidbits which I will implement in my own life.  And nearly all of the women I met, including Julie and Carrie MacLean, pictured in the middle, are highly successful in a company called Arbonne.  I have no affiliation with Arbonne, but I now have the utmost respect for what they stand for after spending one-on-one time with the remarkable powerhouse women running the show.

If, like me at the time, you have no idea what the company really does or sells, it is a wellness company that offers state-of-the art products to help you achieve your ultimate health and beauty.  It is also a company that employs thousands of women and encourages them to run their own companies.  Yes, it is a multi-level marketing/network marketing company, but as I found out, it is a company based on support, ideas and darn good products.  And as a bit of a sneak peak, they are preparing to launch a whole new line up in March of this year.

If you would like more information on their services, products, or to become involved in the company, please contact Julie Daradics at juliesd@roadrunner.com or at 805-208-4830.

Epistemology

Noun.  Philosophy.  The theory of knowledge, especially with regard to its methods, validity, and scope.  Epistemology is the investigation of what distinguishes justified belief from opinion.

I guess there could be an epistemology as to the necessity of an episiotomy, but as someone who has experienced one and is studying the other, I’d like to suggest that we just focus on using them correctly in a sentence.

The first three hours.  Yes, three hours.  Those are the most crucial hours after a child is abducted.  The chance of an abducted child surviving decreases significantly after the third hour.

It is hard to even comprehend, but imagine for a moment, what might save your child if, god forbid, your child was abducted.  Probably not your first thought, but Amber Alerts have greatly increased the number of “people who can help locate an abducted child,” deter predators and cause the release of a child in time.

America’s Missing Broadcast Emergency Response – AMBER  – is the namesake legacy of Amber Hagerman, a 9-year old girl who was kidnapped and brutally murdered in Arlington, Texas.  Because of AMBER ALERTS, 336 children have been reunited with their families.

What can you do?  Download an Amber Alert ticker on your computer.  Sign up to have AMBER alert text messages sent to your cell phone.  And finally, take an AMBER Alert seriously, for you and the action you take could make the difference in the life of a child.