New HP Chromebook purchased on July 2nd, 2013....this is a Facebook posting on that event.

The test has begun.  Our kitchen notebook, a Toshiba we’ve had a real long time that originally had XP and then was upgraded to Vista, was showing its age pretty good and frustrating us.  I’ve used Google Chrome since it came out and have been very happy with it, and have followed the Chromebook development a bit....so, (you know where this is going) we ordered and received today the 14” screen HP Chromebook.  This post is being typed in Google Docs.

I’ve only had it up and running for four hours or so, but we’re impressed with it.  It’s fast, responsive, and it’s come with enough work apps to keep me happy.  Alice and my Google accounts are all available seamlessly and there was no transferring of files or data needed.

A nice surprise is Google Remote.  Using the wi-fi I have total access to my main PC upstairs that we do the web-sites on, and other application that require “local” apps such as Quicken.  Technology has improved tremendously since the day when I was using PC Anywhere to remote into the office from the house.  Of course those were dial-up days and it brought the early Windows to its knees....times they do change!

So, long story short we’re very impressed with the Chromebook.  It’s inexpensive ($329 plus tax), it’s reasonably fast, and it does the basic things we need:  E-mail, web-browsing and access, music and video streaming.  What’s not to like? :).

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892420542082864913

On June 22nd we visited the R.F. Orchids, Inc grow-house in Florida City, Florida.  The link above is to a public Google + photo album from this event.

On June 21st, the day prior and our first day in the Miami area, we visited the Fairchild Botanical Tropical Gardens....snaps from that visit are here: https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5892386518967407409

So, it’s 6/19/2013 7:20 AM and Kinkey has been at the Vet since yesterday morning.  He’s in to have some teeth work, and also to be altered.  Last month he had developed an infection which the Vet determined was caused by some oral inflammation.  While there we learned he had a heart murmur, and we brought him to Viera to a specialist who determined his heart is enlarged by 30 to 40 % L.  Long story short he does not need heart meds now, but we’re having his teeth taken care of, and while he’s under the general anesthetic having him “fixed”.  With the heart condition breeding is now out of the question, plus he’s approaching 7 years old so it’s time…..

It doesn't seem “right” not having him in the house.  I’m the one who walks him last at night, and first thing in the morning….Jo and Alice help walk during the day.  But the routine is off with him out of the house…..miss that pooch!!

Tomorrow we’re off (Alice, Kincaid and myself) for four days at the Miami-Everglades Resort, which is about a four hour drive South.  We’re hoping to see some of the botanical gardens in Miami.

Some quality time at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral Florida.....

We spent a few nice days at Jetty Park in Port Canaveral Florida.  Wonderful park, great hookups, just a short walk to the open Atlantic.  We're made reservations to go back the 2nd week in July for a full week. Port Canaveral is only 30 miles or so from Christmas where we store our rig.  Click here to view a Google album, with some video, from this event.

Space Coast Sams cleanup at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Sanctuary on May 15,2013

https://plus.google.com/photos/103565328419904276941/albums/5878264711921051873

Space Coast Sams cleanup at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Sanctuary on May 15,2013

Reflecting on our condition...just a little over a year after our relocation from CT to Florida.....

We “closed” on our Titusville town home on April 20^th, 2012 (just a bit over a year ago) and since then….wow!  The world has turned upside down and sideways for us, in a good way.  Since that date we’ve prepared and sold our home in Preston, sold all three cars, set up our daughter here in our town home (she transferred with her employer to Merritt Island across the Indian River).  We’ve joined a wonderful new camping chapter (Space Coast Sams), have joined the Board of our Homeowners Association and have set up web sites for the Association and the Good Sam camping chapter.  Our Florida room indoor plants are thriving as are our outside border plantings to include a lemon and grapefruit.  Our friends from Seaport Sams “winter” here and we visit with them and really enjoy catching up with them and their news of Connecticut.  Today I had my first “local” dental appointment, with a dentist referred by a Titusville transplant from CT who had formally belonged to our CT Good Sam Chapter.  This marks something,  I don’t know what, as we’d already hooked up with a local medical GP, cardiology and the Veterans Administration in Viera.  Tony and his good friend Alissa have flown in to visit, and David will fly in a few weeks for a brief vacation.  Since the kids are coming here to visit, I think we’ll stick around here and camp locally and learn and see more about Florida.  Every day when I wake up and walk through our neighborhood with Kincaid I feel guilty…don’t know WHAT we did do deserve this but we’re VERY happy here with our new life.  If you’ve followed me on Facebook you’ve seen me gushing on the local theater offerings and how much we’re enjoying them.  Preston was nice….but Titusville is where our heart is, and we’re blessed for having found it.

Click for my current (April 30, 2013) Favorite YouTube Playlist.