Sunday, February 27, 2011

I love my MacBook Air computer

I have had my MacBook Air computer since the day it was available some time last year.  After ? number of months I can say I love it.  It took a little work to figure out the "user friendly" software that never seems to function instinctively to me.  I also needed to put a Cars R Coffins sticker over the Apple symbol to avoid Apple rubes thinking I am cool and PC users assuming I am more of a douche bag than I really am.   Other than these two minor issues it has been great.   One piece aluminum case is super durable.   The no moving parts no hard drive kind of memory is instant on like a smart phone which means I don't hesitate to use the computer for a minor reason and battery life is so long I don't bring the tiny power brick with me when away from home.  I just charge it every 3 or 4 days.  I will never again have a computer that needs more than a second or two to come alive.  It is like going from the old time dial up internet to the current instant on internet.  I also really love the giant touch pad.  I would give up a mouse to use it on a desk top even.  You can use 1, 2, 3 or 4 fingers to do different controls along with two finger moves to expand or contract things.  Much faster than a mouse.  A side reason I like this and our other Mac desk top is the photo booth program.  Both Maya who just turned 3 and Ella make photo's and video of themselves with and without special effects.  They are both doing it without my help and it is serving as a little unintentional journal each is keeping of themselves and their childhood.   I am sure solid state laptops can be made in a PC format and the photo booth thing could be done on other computers but the fact is that I didn't do it on other computers and am enjoying having it now.



Monday, February 21, 2011

Feb Festival in Chanhassen



Ella and I had a fun time this year eating food, watching the fishing contest, roasting smores, going for a sleigh ride and seeing friends this year out on Lake Ann.   

Thursday, February 17, 2011

I made some pretzels

 I have never made soft pretzels before and I love them.  I never eat them because you have about a 30 percent chance of getting a good one at a game or other event.  It was super easy.  I used Alton Browns recipe easily found online.   Just make a dough with yeast, flour, a little sugar and salt.  Let it rise for an hour to about double size.  Divide it into 8 pieces.  Roll each piece out 24 inches and make a pretzel shape of your choice.
 You then put each one in boiling water that has some baking soda in it for about 30 seconds.
You then rub each with one egg yolk/1 tablespoon water mix and sprinkle with salt.
 I think I baked them at 450f for about 12 minutes.
 They are great out of the oven.  They store poorly in the refrigerator and just ok on the counter.  The ones I put in the freezer after they cooled are really good and just need to be warmed in the microwave.