Technological Intuition

It's no big secret that a lot of the older generation (ahem, parents) lack a little of what the millenials are calling technological intuition. I don't even know how or why it exists - could it be that computers were such a large part of my formative years that they are embedded in my brain? Or is it that I grew up alongside the computer so we are on the same level? ... Regardless, I find it pretty easy to pick up a new program or computer and just figure it out - something that seems near impossible for Mom to do. Whenever we discuss the computer the notepad and pen come out. There she goes scribbling down "USB, cord for camera, on-switch" to know how to move photos from her camera to iPhoto. Maybe it's just me but something like that is second-nature.


For her birthday this year we got Mom a new macbook, it's beautiful, I am in lust with it and try to play with it any chance I get, which usually means teaching Mom something about it. So yesterday we first tackled how to create a playlist on iTunes and burn it to a CD. After multiple tries I began to feel incredibly subpar for not getting it right on the first try, I mean how many freaking times have I burned a mix CD for that guy in class!? It's the new mix tape which was the new love note passed in class ... which I guess was the new "stand at your window and throw stones" thing. Finally I realized Mom had her iPod plugged in and the playlist I created was in her iPod not iTunes ... duh. So then I had to explain how one cannot burn a CD from an iPod or transfer music from an iPod to anywhere but can put music from iTunes onto any iPod or CD ... complicated shit.

So we tackled that and moved on to putting music onto her own computer instead of always using the family computer. Ahhhh that big monster machine full of random school files and lacrosse team photos.

This is my life, seriously. I teach my parents how to use electronics. Go to yoga and the grocery store with my mom (which, let's face it, are kind of my new hobbies) and listen to music. Right now Big Jet Plane but Angus and Julia Stone is my favorite, it's so beautiful - check it out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFTvbcNhEgc

And their songs where Julia sings more than Angus are so ethereal and strange, some of my favorite qualities in female singers.

So other than that, yesterday my mom and I went to the mall, debated over the differences between wireless mice (mouses?) and finally purchased one, perhaps today's excitement will be educating my mother on the terms "nano chip" and "cordless mouse"

My life has become utterly thrilling in all aspects. This little sanctuary of four walls and a door that can close has become the place I am twenty-two in because otherwise I watch The Real Housewives of New Jersey with Dad and grocery shop with Mom.

Who knew graduating from college would be this promising?

Eventually I'll go on an adventure beyond Wegman's and the Bravo Channel, beyond yoga at the JCC and the apple store. Eventually ... I'll take a ride on a big jet plane and follow my dream to be more. But for now I'll stick to living rent-free.

The Great Bike Phenomenon

It all started one hot June. It was around the 4th, nay, it was the 4th. My mother, the illustrious Judy Masters, desired one thing for her birthday (the 4th of June) and that was to feel the wind on her face like she did as a five-year-old atop her very first Schwinn (she got it for Christmas that year, it was green and pink and had tassles on the handlebars). Since that time she has matured into a love of purple and wicker baskets. Being the genius children she brought us up to be, my sisters and I, along with the help of Dear-Old-Dad and his credit card, found the perfect beach cruiser in lavender for her. We got all the accessories except the tassles, some things are better left in the past. She was thrilled when we presented it to her and has ridden it almost daily since - with the exception of the brutal winter months of Buffalo.

Now the infatuation has moved past the honeymoon stage with her bicycle and they have found themselves in the depths of a normal, healthy relationship.

One year later around Father's Day, Dear-Old-Dad started snooping his nose around our local Bert's Bikes and cycling websites. He sniffed out a brand new obsession and brought it to startling heights that can only promise more opportunities for comical relief. We purchased him the opportunity to pick out his own bike from the store, and buy he did. What began as a seed of curiosity and a need to be part of the great bicycling his wife had partaken in, Dad discovered his perfect pal. The bike came home, shined and silver. Not only did the bike come home though. Along with it came a helmet, top of the line, of course "gotta have the best" he said, a neon spandex t-shirt that matched the neon green lining in his padded shorts (which no one saw, but that's not the point is it?) elbow pads for his aging bones, a tire pump, two waterbottles with holders that attach on the body of his bicycle, a computer program to track his progress, and a subscription to cycling magazine.


This man really knows how to take obsession the next level, it's sickening. What began as a soft glowing romance between mother and bicycling hobby was quickly turned into a gross obsession with all things cycling for my father.

This is the life I lead, hate or love it, there are vast opportunities for comedy if one takes the proper perspective. Who knew having a degree could be this useful?

the secret client

I started out the summer with a job - a good job with a good company. Good. not great, mind you. It's a job though and in this economy I have to be grateful. I didn't expect to be doing what I was - graphic design - in truth I don't know as much as I could, maybe I don't give myself enough credit but I'm sure there are people who know more than me and are my age. I know about books, I know about publishing, writing, editing, grammar, that's my jam, not keystrokes and Pantone colors. Pantone quickly became my jam though as I learned more and sometimes I even find myself loving it. The thing I miss most at this classic printing company is the excitement of risk and creativity. I so badly miss coming up with my wildest ideas and making them happen, whereas instead I follow the status quo and the designs that have been done before. That's all fine, it's a job.

Out of this job though, I have discovered books and authors. People who are friends with the boss and need help - need my help - finding publishers, learning about publishing etc. That's the shit I know ... so here I am free-falling into the world of publishing which I had no idea I"d breach so early on in my post-grad career and I'm faced with some really interesting clients. I can't say who, but it's pretty major, even if it is a potentially a little dangerous.

"Laura, I've been thinking, I'm not so sure about how much I want you getting involved with this {name of group}" said my dad ... MY dad, the guy who has been pushing me to do anything and everything, to follow the dreams I have always had and to throw ideas out and see what sticks, is telling me maybe he thinks it's a bad idea - but that's just because of the notoriety of the client.

Here's the thing, I'm a lowly designer, bottom rung on the totem pole, don't know as much as I could and am learning. This could be beneficial even if it was just a learning experience and on top of it I am thrust into a new arena with big names and people who want my, 22-year-old Laura's, help. WTF!?

If it all pans out this could be a huge leap. If it doesn't, nothing lost. I'm still 22, still working generating ideas and having a hard time figuring out which to do first. Here I am though, living in my parents house, watching Top Chef at night with my Mom and going to the grocery store with my Dad. My exciting life back in the nest just got more exciting.

Who knew life could get better than a brand new queen-sized bed!?