Home Stretch...

Well... it's almost here. Patriots Training Camp is literally 24 hours away and I can finally say that I'm truly excited about its arrival (already). I'm starting to get that "wooohooo" feeling that only camp brings!

I'm bouncing off the walls right now because I've still got tons to do in terms of technical stuff to be ready though. Why I'm in this situation right up to the last minute is typical.... Time just flew this summer and things take time. I swore I wouldn't let myself get behind the 8 Ball but life just happens some times. Plus, I'm usually great in the clutch and actually got more done this week getting new sites up to snuff than in weeks past.

Unfortunately, I'm waiting for the internets to cooperate and didn't allow for "glitch time". Today is THE last opportunity to get things done and I'm sooo there, just hoping that things beyond my control don't crop up and shoot me down.

Time for more coffee... and perhaps some blasting Black Lab to help me through.

Technorati Tags: patriots training+camp mrsb patriotworld

On Getting my Life Back....

AHHHHHHHH...... yes, I see the light at the end of the tunnel and it's shining brightly. After spending most of my vacation week and two 14 hour work at home days, the ASSessment is done! (At least what I could do at home.) I still have some activities to do with the kids at school this week, then I'll gladly pack the binders up and ready them for UPS pickup.

So, now that the HUGE monkey is off my back, I can focus on moving forward. I've been thinking about which direction I want to go in terms of my whole brand and new media presence and have spoken to someone that I trust about revamping my site(s). That is definitely a priority at this point and will get the ball rolling for other changes coming down the pike.

During an evening of chatting with Chris Penn about a variety of things, the convo turned to the social media circles and I mentioned that there were sooo many things cropping up and that living in this world takes up time. He said something very profound which made me sit up and think:

"Just don't get too caught up in it. We spend a lot of time learning the tools of social media without DOING something with them."

So, that's it... not just spending time playing and meeting people, which is fun and nice, but to use them to work towards our goals. Trouble is, when you're not really sure where it is you want to ultimately end up. For me, my initial foray into the online world and community began as a Patriots Super-Fan but there is so much more out there and so much more that I'm interested in.

• Yes, I'm intending on continuing to use new media to move forward with my Patriots passion, but there's always that fine line that I walk between wanting to take it to the next media level and remaining "The Fan".
  
• I'm a Special Educator, and love what I do. Unlike many in the podcasting community, I don't share their aspirations of "quitting the day job". Of course, this may have to do with the fact that the Pats Passion which fuels my podcast is a past-time and hobby, while I love working with my students and if I HAVE to work, there is nothing else I'd rather do. (Of course, if I didn't have to work, I would be home in a minute, but that's not even a realistic thought.)
• I LOVE podcasting and the community itself. However, having a podcast about the Pats requires ample time in the Patriots community as well. Time that I used to spend hanging with Pats people in the forums and chats, is now shared (and at times replaced) with time hanging with the podcast/new media community folks.
  

• I still plan on starting a non-sports related podcast and it's just a matter of getting a chunk of time to get it up and running.
• Of course, I'm learning about the technology as I go along, as I'm a geek world "new blood". (I've been a book nerd my whole life, but fairly new into the tech world, so every day is a learning experience for me.)
  

So, where am I going? What direction am I taking this? What am I going to DO with it? Steve Garfield has some ideas on this subject as well Thing is... I love many things but they're not necessarily related... Yes, they are all tied together through this new media world but there are just so many hours in each day and we've just one life to live. I guess time will tell....

Btw.... just 37 days of school left so I'm REALLY going to get my life back soon!

Technorati: assessment, Chris+Penn, Steve+Garfield, Autism Podcast, patriots, brand

Podcasting gods hate me this week...

In a funk and feeling it all caving in on me... the mountainous list of things To Do that just keeps growing.... sigh.. I did finally get a podcast up tonight although it took a couple of days due to technical issues beyond my control. Two separate software clients had issues that prevented me from podcasting. Then, when I finally got things up and running, the usual issue of podcasting in the heart of my home and having to find the precise (quiet) moment is always an issue.

Yesterday, I was so upset because I really wanted to podcast; it's Free Agency and the Patriots have been totally active and had some BIG signings so there actually was news! I came home from work, and put all other things aside to make the show my first priority. Naturally, doing a podcast like mine, there's some research involved so I spent some time reading articles online and deciding what was most important.

Knowing that family would likely be in and out, I decided to record in Audacity because it offers easy editing and can be recorded in pieces. So, I finally got to record, got the whole spoken part done and went to listen and the cursor was stuck so it wouldn't play all of those beautiful looking waves. It had happened last week too and I needed to re-record. I had downloaded the newer version after that problem thinking that it would be ok. So... wasted time, and by then the house was so noisy I couldn't do a thing. I felt horrible too, because nothing else had gotten done because I had pushed it aside for the podcast. I jumped in Second Life for 20 minutes to hang with some podcasters, unplugged and got things ready for work before bed.

Today, I decided to record as soon as I got home and once again pushed everything else aside. Mistake #1 ... downloading the new itunes update the minute I walked in the door because I had to wait. (Don't forget, I'm running against the clock for limited quiet house time...) Got that all set then tried to fire up my usual recording software of choice, Castblaster. I had downloaded the newest Beta and lo and behold, couldn't open the program... grrrr. So, I re downloaded the prior version which did work. I was ready!!

I recorded for about 10 minutes then heard the infamous garage.... meaning that the family was home so I stopped. A couple of hours later, I tried to record again and although I said "append" it overwrote my prior recording so I had to start over. I was interrupted by kids coming in and hit "pause" but grrrr.. .it kept recording so I knew I would have to edit. Castblaster is a "live" recording experience and doesn't offer much in terms of easy editing. When I finally finished I tried to delete the selection that was messy but it wouldn't work.

So, I was forced to run the whole thing through Audacity (thankfully that worked) to chop out the crap but encoding takes forever. I tried to encode via itunes on the advice of a friend but it didn't offer an easy way to write shownotes. So, encoding through Audacity via Lame is what I needed to do, but then STILL run it through iTunes to add my photo and change the genre to Podcast since Audacity doesn't offer either of those...

Sigh... see where I'm going here? Hours and hours and hours for a 19 minute show! Then add on writing the shownotes, writing the rss feed, uploading to Libsyn, posting notes to Blog and myspace and updating the website. (sheesh, just realized I forgot Technorati tags but screw it now!) Crazy isn't it?!

However... I love it and don't want to give it up. I do wish for an easier recording solution though.. something that would allow me the "real" feel of Castblaster and the one stop show notes writing and fast encoding that it offers but would allow for easy editing if necessary. Let's face it, there are always far to many ummms and such in everyday speech but with CB I just leave it in because it's not an easy fix to edit out.

Although... right now.. I'd settle for anything that would work consistently.

Technorati Tagspodcast patriots patriotworld mrsb audacity castblaster libsyn To+Do+List funk

Friday Catch-Up and Branding Decisions

It's FRIDAY!!! woooohoooo! Can you tell I'm happy? :-) Most M-F workers usually are and I'm no different. It actually was a very good day at work today... come to think of it, it was a very good week!

I've got a busy weekend ahead with heading out to eat tonight then tomorrow we have tickets for PPAC to see Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. I've got tons of homework to finish and lots of web type stuff to do.

This leads me to the place I'm at right now. I've been thinking alot about which direction to go head in, in terms of the website as far as a redesign and hosting options. I've been contacted by someone who would like to overhaul it, and need to find a new hosting service as I haven't been happy with mine since the summer. There is so much to think about... I KNOW it needs an overhaul and have it on my infamous TO DO list as I've outgrown my initial footprint in the online world, but it's scary to think of someone else doing it... (Don't we mothers usually have trouble letting go of our babies?)

Then, there is the cost factor. If I decide to host with the folks that do the web design it will cost me more than triple what I'm paying now BUT things will be done right. I'm also SOOO at a crossroads in terms of my "personal brand" since I've always been known in Patriot Nation as Mrs. B and most of my online presence has been as a Pats fan. Thus, kcardoza.com was born for all things NOT Patriots football. (Too bad karencardoza.com was already taken although it's just "parked" as of right now.) So, there's so much to think about with all of my things going on. Patriotworld.com for all things Tedy Bruschi and New England Patriots. The podcast show notes site, for links and blog, and this blog for my personal ramblings. I think that CC Chapman has the right idea with a blog in his name as the hub with all of his other things linked from there.. Oh yah... of course, I still plan on starting another non-football podcast which will add yet another dimension... yikes! So, I'm quite overwhelmed with the decisions right now and need to take some time to really think about the big picture.

Added a new blog to my list at right.. Christopher Penn of the Financial Aid Podcast started a personal blog this week as well.

Technorati Tags patriots patriotworld mrsb cc+chapman Christopher+Penn
personal+brand

Sigh....

Sometimes looking at your To Do list, it's time to just say "Screw it!" Today is one of those days... nothing sounds better to me than the hottest shower I can bear then crawling into bed with a book, and it's only 8:45pm. This from the girl who rarely gets in bed and shuts the light before 12:30 on most work nights.

Call it lack of motivation, call it the effects of an extremely emotional week beginning with the anticipation of the game and the butterflies leading up to it, to Jake's concussion and the worry and concern, then relief at the outcome, to the highs of the game to the very lows which followed... Call it what you will.

Loss... I'm numb

So on this cold, cold night, I'm going to be daring: leaving the list untouched and heading in with a cup of tea and a book surrounded by nothing but down for a great big emotional hug....

Sigh.....

Ups and Downs

Great news... Jake's all set and has been cleared to go back to school. He's not able to wrestle or take gym for a week but other than that he's ok. The doctor said he most likely may never remember that day and what happened but he's remembering new things so all is well.

On another note, I'm still in shock over the outcome of my beloved Pats in the AFC Championship and it hasn't completely sunk in yet. To be up 21-6 at the half then end up losing.... I'm incredulous. The gammet of emotions swirling around that day (between Jake, the party and the game) has left me spent.

I just got an email last night from someone whom I don't know to tell me the outcome of the game and that I need to update my website... I needed a day away from it all and I DO have a job and haven't had a chance yet but that is on my agenda for tonight.... sigh...

Time for work.. and I'm smiling as we finally got a dusting of the white stuff last night :-)

Assessments Suck....

Whoever was responsible for developing the RI Alternate Assessment for kids with significant disabilities obviously doesn't have a life and thinks that people who have to do them don't have lives either. I can bitch about all the reasons why I think the assessment itself is wrong and bogus but that's a topic for another time... (I'm already ripped enough about it so don't want to bring myself down even more by drudging it back up right here....) Point is... I'm in over my head right now because of it and although I've done a great job this month of getting back to writing out my lists of things to do and sticking to it, I'm so behind and feeling the crunch.

Random things I would love to be doing right now instead of this crap:

• yoga
• podcasting
• reading some fiction
• knitting a scarf
• cleaning (yes... a clean house makes me happy!)
• working on my website
• surfing message boards and reading up on my AFC Championship game bound Pats!
• cutting some clutter (goal for 2007... pare down the "stuff")
• chatting in Second Life
• a soduko or crossword puzzle

So... my strategy to make it through is to schedule in a set time each day for Assessment and also some of the good stuff listed above so that I don't totally freak out! At least there is some good news for the weekend which will help. Nothing on the agenda except the Club on Friday night, church Saturday night, and usual errands. Other than that, I don't have to leave the house! Have I ever mentioned that I love being home? I'll settle in to watch my boys win the AFC Championship then get online to book a flight to Miami on Sunday night and go to bed with a smile :-)

SIGHHHHHHH......

....that's the sound of me finally exhaling! WHAT A GAME!! It wasn't pretty but we put together some impressive drives and got the job done. I was so worked up I had to keep getting up and running across the room and doing the stairs a few times to get the energy out! Now on to Indy to take on the hated Colts... I must say, that of all our opponents, I view Indy as our arch rivals.

I still haven't processed all that took place yet but can you say Troy Brown?? Nice to see a vet play a major role in a huge game. Also, the significance of the 54 yarder that their kicker missed to tie up the game did not go without notice!

Post game, there were tons of phone calls and texts being shared: Erdo Ed, Zip (and crew) Stephanie, Robin, Mike, Karyn, and of course my peeps on the Skype chat... Time for one more Bruschi Brew then hanging out online while Big Al heads out to the smoking lounge (screen porch) for a victory cigar.

Looks like it will be New England Clamboil (lobsters, steamers, sausage, potatoes, onions, linguica, hot dogs) again to keep the mojo going...

I doubt I'll sleep much this week with the butterflies... Go Pats!!

Butterflies

Up bright and early, showered, dressed, with a clean house, and I'm ready to dive into my school stuff... I've got butterflies in my stomach though in anticipaton of the Pats/Chargers game this afternoon. Last night I got a text from Karyn Paxton from the team hotel saying that they missed us and wished we were there. As I told her, if everything goes according to plan and the stars align once again we'll see them in Miami for the Superbowl in a few weeks. However, one game at a time.. and tonight is the one!

Go Pats!!

Busy, busy, busy!

Back to the grind and well into My List for today.. Our return trip from Nashville was filled with delays and flight changes so we got home 5 hours later than expected. I'm back to work this week and thankfully, it's been going very well. The kids have been behaving and the schedule has been a good one.

On the homefront, I'm being diligent about planning out my days and making The List for the following day. I'm committing to getting things ready the night before and getting to bed at a decent hour during the week... now of course, decent hour is relative and for me it means if I'm asleep by midnight that's early. So far so good on the lists and schedules....

Unfortunately, I haven't been able to get much accomplished on my website and podcast this week as I've had lots of other commitments such as Mommycab Duty (ie driving the boys to Wrestling practice), shopping, cleaning, and meetings. It's already Thursday night and I still haven't even updated since before going away. So, I HAVE to do an update tonight before going to bed so it's possible that I'll be violating my bed rule tonight. As for the podcast, it breaks my heart but more than likely it's physically impossible without pulling an all nighter. The only slight chance would be to pull a quickie tomorrow right after work... probably not feasible though, since I've yet to prep.

This weekend is chock full: The Madeira Club to eat on Friday night, lunch at Casserino's on Federal Hill in Providence, Wicked at PPAC on Saturday afternoon, then shopping and cooking on Saturday night for Sunday's game at Gillette against the Jets. Thankfully, that game is at 1:00 so we'll be home around 7:00pm.

Then of course, there's coming home with the mess and work next week and a pretty full schedule as well. At least next weekend's calendar is empty and (hopefully) will include just a playoff game on TV. With Monday being MLK Jr. Day I won't have school so that's a bonus day. YIPPEE!! Maybe by then I'll be able to take down my Christmas decorations... sigh....

Now... if I can just make it until then...

Farewell 2006...

Greetings on this the final eve of 2006! I'm sitting here in Nashville in the hotel lobby with Erdoboy who is also blogging away on his laptop while Bama and Big Al are smoking their final cigars of the trek (yeah, right!)...

It was a great trip; relaxing and delivering a Pats victory which is the best part of course! At the game, it poured buckets right up until half time and I was thankful for ponchos and for the very warm temperatures. So, sitting there in 65 degree weather getting wet is much different than a cold 35 degree soaking. It actually felt like a September game at home. Like our first trip here in 2002, the fans were very hospitable and friendly. The most obnoxious people that I encountered at the game happened to be Pats fans... (who started their New Years Eve partying early...) Pats closed out the game 40-23 and dashed the Titans hopes of sneaking into the playoffs this year... We just got the word that we'll be playing the Jets on Sunday at 1:00!! Yippee!!! My favorite game time!!

Rather than head out, the 4 mini-trekkers ate at the hotel restaurant then retired to our respective posts... (Ed and I on the couches and Al and Bama outside to smoke...) where we'll contendly remain for the rest of the night, until it's time to head up to prepare for our 6:40 flight.

I still can't believe that this year has flown by so quickly... It's been a year of change as well as a year of some constants. For each I am thankful for they are intertwined into the intricate being of me.... Each event and circumstance has contributed to where I am right now.. I am a very lucky person and I'm very blessed with the life that I have. In fact there are so many things that I believe we all take for granted. We each can find some blessings if we truly look, listen and reflect. Here's good place to begin:

You are so blessed

And while I have done so many things in 2006, there is so much more I want to do, read, learn, love, and live! Happy 2007 Everyone!

crossposted in 25th hour and patriot world

Greetings from Nashville

I'm happy to report that yesterday was a productive day. Of course, I didn't finish the huge assessment that I was working on because it should have taken quite a few days.. (those days lost to my teeth...) But, I did make the best of the time that I spent yesterday and pretty much stuck to my 15 Minute Block schedule..

Last night, went to a party at Louie and MJ's house and man... ate WAY too much! What a cook she is!! Unfortunately my mere 3.5 hours of planned sleep was cut short since I was sooo uncomfortably full that I couldn't sleep.

We got up at 3:45AM to get ready to head to the airport for our 6:15AM flight. Things went off without a hitch... nice smooth flights even though the planes were those mini 1 seat on one side and 2 on the other deals... I was totatlly pysched too because I finished two and a half good books on the flights :-) I hadn't heard of them before but the trilogy: The Christmas Box, Timepiece, and The Letter by Richard Paul Evans caught my eye in the library the other day and I'm thoroughly enjoying them. :-)

Right now I'm sitting in the hotel lobby in Nashville with Al, Bama and Judy checking mail, blogging away and catching up and awaiting the arrival of Erdo Ed. The team should arrive around 5:00 but in the mean time I'll hang here just doing my thing! Just give my my internet, a good book and buds to chat with and I'm good.

Two Oops.... forgot to clear the iriver and it's full so no ss tour unless I dump the last home tailgate to make room and forgot the ipod charger...sigh...must conserve some battery for return flights!)

More later on the trip...

(crossposted in patriot world and 25th Hour)

Harried Holidays

Home and insanely busy... have yet to Christmas shop, have a game tomorrow, still have to cook for the tailgate, got online banking to do tonight, have tons of posts and mail to read, and haven't podcasted in two weeks... sigh........................ I finally just finished the Miami Trek report and picture posting http://www.patriotworld.com/MrsB/Treks/miami06.htm THIS afternoon...

As I'm typing this, there's chaos in the house as Kelsea's setting the timer on the camera to take our Christmas card, and Jacob's screaming.. of course pictures should have been done and in the mail last week and we planned on taking a shot on the beach in Miami but the weather didn't cooperate. As soon as this is posted I'm going to get moving on all my stuff:

1. Finish putting away the groceries.
2. Do my online banking.
3. Choose a picture and head to CVS to make cards.
4. Start cooking for tomorrow.
5. Try to get a mini show out if Al ends up staying at Louie's house for awhile.
6. Clear iriver and camera and get stuff sorted out for tomorrow's game.
7. Sigh....

I just had to make the list as my way of not dwelling and making a plan. It's like when you wake up in the night with something on your mind and you need to write it down so you can forget about it and get some sleep. I'm not a bah-humbug type per se' but it wouldn't kill me if "The Holidays" never took place... too much spending, too much eating, too much running around, way too much stress, right smack in the middle of football season!

Ok.. things are moving along on the photography front so hopefully, my photographer daughter will have a nicely produced self-timer Christmas Card photo for me momentarily. God.. my head is starting to bang... I think I could use a nice cup of flavored coffee right around now!

More yelling... and still no pic... SIGH......................

Ticket Turmoil

Miami greetings... I'm sitting here in the lobby of our hotel in Ft. Lauderdale the night before the Pats/Fins game and it's cold in here but quiet. Most of the folks have retired early, but a few smokers are outside having a last minute stogie so I'm here alone. The AC is cranking... brrr.. I'm not too keen on that but thankfully I have on my down vest that I brought from home. Weather reports there are in the teens so I guess I shouldn't really complain.

It's been an emotional trip this time around... We've done this trip for the past 3 years in a row with the kids, Bama and Steve and have usually gotten great seats through someone we know. We thought it was going to happen again this year but found out on Wednesday, the night before our flight that the connection fell through this year. So... I've literally been feeling sick to my stomach over the fact that there were no game tix, most especially because of Bama and Steve...

Well, after an ebay marathon, extra tickets through Lonie Sr. and extras from Joephoto, we're all set. Thank God! I feel a lot better now, and can relax and enjoy the rest of the weekend. They totally didn't blame me or anything but it really bothered me because I felt responsible. I'm so relieved that it worked out and that they didn't end up either in crappy seats or none at all... I so hate to disappoint people. It was especially hard for me because had it not been last minute they would have secured something a long time ago.

But.. no worries since we're all set! Now, it's time to get out of here and thaw out.. I think I'll head outside for a bit because it's warmer out there...

Go Pats!