Does Facebook Replace Time or Enhance It?

A new Time article: Does Facebook Replace Face Time or Enhance It?

What do you think? This has long been a debate over Internet usage in general, but this is one of the first discussions I've seen regarding FB.

Not a good time . . .

to get sick this week! This week was very busy with surveying for my NSF XO laptop project. We were originally scheduled to be in a school all 5 days this week. One school ended up being postponed to next week, but still surveying 4 schools in one week is a LOT. Monday evening I started feeling like I was getting sick. I've had a cyst for 15 years or so that flairs up every once in a while. Well, this was the week for it to go out of control! I was in so much pain Tues - Thurs! I got in to see my doctor Thursday morning and she told me it was infected and I'd have to go in for outpatient surgery so she could put me to sleep to open it, drain it, and stitch it to keep it from happening again. Friday was spent in the hospital. It definitely feels better but I'm very sore from the anesthesia, stitches, etc. I'm hoping tomorrow will be a better day as I've mostly slept today. I'm very grateful that the pain from the cyst is gone! Here's hoping for a pain free week!

My New Grant

I just found out this week that a grant I'd submitted to NIH/NIA for a big randomized trial project has been funded. The goal of the project is to go into assisted living facilities, train older adults to use computers and the Internet, and assess the impacts on various aspects of their quality of life over time. I think it will be a great project, which will hopefully have a very positive impact on quality of life among older adults.

I'll report more info on it as the plans progress.

Coming Attractions

I promise that later this week after my grant proposal is submitted I will post new pix from our holiday travels and our trip to the Liberty Bowl! Until then, time is very short. So, Taylor - don't have that baby before Thursday : ). Just kidding!

Hope everyone is well and having a great new year!

Behind on Many Things . . .

including posting to my blog. This has been a busy few weeks with finishing up the semester, working on a grant proposal, trying to get ready for Christmas, etc. Last week we were also out in schools surveying students all 5 days! In addition, I was really sick with a chest cold last week; unfortunately I'm still experiencing a lingering cough that annoys the heck out of me. I'm so behind on so many things.

I'm looking forward to some down time, but unfortunately will have to work on the grant proposal next week. It is due soon - WWWAAAYYYY TOOOOO SOOOON in fact! I do plan to relax some though.

On a good note, however, my XO project team surveyed over 800 4th and 5th graders this semester! We have another 8 schools lined up to survey the first couple of weeks in January. It has been a huge amount of work, but hopefully the data that we're collecting on these students BEFORE they receive their XOs and then afterwards will yield important information about the impacts of the XOs. I hope so anyway!

In case there are no blog postings before the holidays (I hope there will be though!), I hope you all have happy and safe holidays!

The First Time

Callen has mentioned wanting Santa to bring her something for Christmas was today. I think they were talking about it at her school today as there was a list on the board of what everyone wanted Santa to bring them.

Anyone care to guess what she said?

Memory of a 3 Year Old

Tonite I was wrapping some presents, with the help of Callen. I suggested she should make some cards for presents. She got excited about that. She made one card and I asked her who it was for. She said "Shelby" - a cousin that she last saw in May at the beach! Then, she made one for "Erin" - another cousin that she saw at the same time.

I am constantly amazed that she remembers her cousins, who she hasn't seen for 6 months. I'm glad she does. I hope that it will help keep her close to her extended family given that it is very likely she'll be an only child.