DeeDoo’s Digital Scrapbooking Blog

We held out for a looooong time before jumping on the smartphone bandwagon. We don’t really use our cellphones very much, but we knew we were missing out on the experiences smartphone users take for granted. And we thought the text messaging feature could come in handy when it isn’t convenient (or wise) to be talking on the cell. It IS nice that you can send and receive a message without someone overhearing either end of the exchange. And it’s less intrusive than a phone call. So, right before the new year started we signed up with Verizon and we each got a Fascinate by Samsung, which uses the Android OS. Needless to say, we are now avid converts and never fail to sing the praises of our new phones whenever we have an opportunity.

Today’s photo was taken with the camera in my phone. I set it to use the ‘cartoon’ filter prior to snapping the picture, and what you see is the result. I did take it into Photoshop, just to see if I could enhance it a little, so the saturation and contrast is a bit more than straight out of the phone. I should say, though, that I could have made adjustments for both of those in the phone, but failed to do so. Anyway, I think the filter makes a great cartoonish photo, and with really no effort or special skills needed by the user. Couldn’t be easier.

As good as the phone’s camera features are, of course, they are no substitute for Photoshop – I was just teasing about that! Still, it’s so much fun to be able to snap a photo and then send it immediately to friends or Facebook, etc., without the hassles I have gone through in the past! Sometimes it’s more important (and fun) to share the event immediately, and the quality or fancy finishing just isn’t necessary. For times like that, the camera in the phone includes enough fun elements to give the photos a little boost above the ordinary.

Now I need to get back to my latest addiction – Angry Birds – but that’s a subject for another post!

We are glad that we are still standing and able to bid goodbye to 2010! It has been a rough year for us in many ways, as it has been for so many others around the country. We are fervently hoping and praying that 2011 will be better, not only for us, but for all our family, friends, and YOU, as well. I wish for each of you a new year filled with all the positive things you need in your life to help you grow and be happy. Happy New Year!

Do you ever stop to wonder how you lucked out to be born during the twentieth century? I do. Every time I do laundry I can’t help but take a moment to thank heaven that I live now when we have washing machines and dryers and they’re inside our homes and they work most of the time. Years ago, when my son was a baby and we lived in an apartment, our laundry had to be hauled to a laundromat. Very inconvenient, but still, I didn’t have to beat it with a rock in a stream somewhere. And air conditioning! I wouldn’t have lived to see 20 years if born before air conditioning. And I might have been a heat-wave killer, my patience and tolerance evaporating and leaving me a quivering bundle of ‘aaaaghhhhhh!’. And central heat. And electric lights. Can’t forget cars, no more horse and buggy, you can travel clear across this country in 4 days instead of 4 months. The list of inventions, medical breakthroughs, and improvements that enhance our lives is endless. Ever so often I’m reminded how lucky I am to be here now. But hey! Makes me wonder what great things are coming in the future that I’m too early to enjoy?

That would be three days, actually! Getting ready for Thanksgiving is always a hugely busy time for me. I do most of the cooking myself, and all ‘from scratch’, so whose fault is it that it might be the death of me?! This year I bought some frozen pies for back-up, just in case I falter and fail to get it all together in time. It’s nice to know I can fall back on some pies that are, truth be told, probably tastier than the ones I make myself! Plus, my son will be here, and his specialties include brining and baking the turkey and making oyster dressing – bonus!!! We are looking forward to a fun day this year, filled with laughs and bonding and good food. Here’s wishing all of you a very happy Thanksgiving, too!