Is She Awesome, Or What?

Andi’s really been getting into photography, Photoshop and scrapbooking over the past year.  Since I don’t have an eye (or an inkling) for that kind of stuff, I’ve done my best to support her in other ways.

That generally means whipping out the debit card for cameras, computers, scrapbooking materials, etc.  It also means introducing her to the basics of Photoshop and what it can do.

The help generally ends there, though.

Andi does photo editing in Photoshop.  I do web work.  It’s a big enough difference that she’s really on her own.  (Although she’s pressing me to break out the card again to send her to a Photoshop summer camp that doubles as a cruise to the Mexican Riviera.  We’ll see.)

But yesterday she got me involved in something else I can help with.  She asked me to show her how to set up a blog and website where she can share her pics and thoughts.

Ahhh… now that’s something I can get into.

So I got her going on her Mac (she’s the one that introduced me to the Mac when she insisted that I get her one).  I bought her a domain (bandyranderson.com) and got her all set up with web hosting and the works.  (There are some benefits that come from having a complete geek for a dad.  Not a lot.  But definitely some.)

I think she was up until 3:00am working on her site.  And she’s put in another few hours today.

She has the same concerns I do about blogging.  What do I say?  Who cares?  Will this be stupid?

Whatever.  She’s got her first post up.

And I have to say that her blog is waaaaay better than mine.  Crazy better.

And I’m definitely having a proud papa moment here.

Check this out (and make sure and leave a comment).  Could you do that?  Didn’t think so.  Come to think of it, neither could I.

Andi, I’m proud of you.

My Human Sound Effect Machine

Saturday I bought Lauren a new notebook computer.  I think that was a good thing… but I have my doubts.

I got all the basics installed and asked her what else she wants to do with it.

“Image editing.”

No problem.  I use Adobe Photoshop routinely and I own several copies.  I would install that.

Nope.  That’s not the program she knows.

Corel PhotoPaint it is, then.

The only problem?  I don’t know Corel, so I’m not much help to her when she gets stuck.  I think we both underestimate how much that matters when Lauren wants to get something done quickly and easily on the computer.

So today she decides she’s going to use her new toy to make babysitting business cards for Andi for the summer.

And for the past 2 hours I’ve been sitting at my computer chuckling at her broad array of human sound effects as she figures out what she’s doing (it’s been years since she last used Corel).

Do you have anyone like that?

She chirps and squeals and grunts and growls.  Audible gasps.  Disheartened moans.  Brief fits of self-applause and congratulatory oooohs and aaaaahs.  All punctuated by random bursts of “No”, “Stop”, “What?”, “Why?”, “Wait” and my personal favorite…. “Hoooooneeeeey!”

That’s the drop everything voice where I know I’m about to have 1 less computer in the house unless I can hoof it into the other room in time to spare it’s promising and, as yet unfulfilled, digital life.

And this goes on for 2 solid hours.  High comedy.

I think the funniest part is that she clearly has no idea how comical it is.  Sometimes I hide right around the corner where she can’t easily see me and I watch her while she performs what I can only assume is some sort of traditional computer “rain dance” designed to deliver the results the desires.

Funny stuff.

How Competitive Am I?

When Holly announced she was running for student body president a few weeks ago I took it as my short-term mission in life to make sure she won that election.

I mean, how would it look if a supposedly big-time marketer couldn’t get his daughter elected student body president?  Exactly, right?

Of course, it helps that Holly has popularity and charisma to spare.  That makes it easier.

But that’s not enough… I wanted something the kids would be talking about for weeks.

So Holly gave her election speech as an American Idol parody that she says kids still quote her on every day at school (that was 2 weeks ago).

And I gave her what little boost I could.  Friday is my usual day to go to lunch with Holly or Sierra.  I moved it to Monday of election week and had Lauren make up a little something special for me to wear…

Yep… those are tattoos.

And apparently when your dad shows up for lunch with election tattoos on his bald head it’s a ready-made recipe for *lots* of buzz.

Go figure.

Now I’m almost as famous as Holly.

Oh yeah… and Holly won.  Of course.

Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the 2009-10 Quail Run President-Elect… Holly Harward.