My Chromebook is here!!!

My brand-spanking-new Chromebook came yesterday. It was waiting all happy in its Amazon box in the BBE's garage when we got there after running our Wednesday errands (which currently consist of kid's meals at Sonic and dropping Number Four off at wrestling matches). I am just a tee-tiny bit in love.

Yes, it was bought for writing, and I will get to that at some point. Last night and this morning, though, it was all about learning the touch pad, looking for cool Android apps, and adding more free music to my Google Music account. The BBE advised me to play until I get the playing out of my system, then settle down to the serious business of making Emily live. He's totes smart, so I intend to follow his advice.

So far, it's looking like the Chromebook is going to do pretty much exactly what I need it to do. Here are some things I've discovered so far:

• It is wicked fast
• There are plenty of free Android apps that will let me do what I need to do and then some
• I cannot access my company's Citrix (at least not yet). I tried it via the web, and then tried a Citrix app for Chrome - both wanted to download a client. And while it has a hard drive, it doesn't have a "real" OS so it couldn't run the client once it downloaded it. If I can get that working, I can turn in my company-issued laptop.
• I had a ton of music in Google Music already. I may entirely kiss iTunes good bye.

I downloaded Google Music Manager on my "real" laptop so I could upload my iTunes library and once it's all up there, it's adios iTunes. My iPod is so stinkin old and small I may just give it away. I wonder if I could get like 20 bucks for it? Maybe I should get the BBE to list it on eBay. (What's the deal with capitalizing the second letter of words, anyway?)

In other news: we totally tried the first batch of beer last night and I LOVE IT! The BBE, not so much, but I've spoiled his sweet self with super good craft-brewed IPAs and this recipe was an American Wheat. I thought it was fabulous. It's smooth and lightly flavored - I can see lots of potential for flavoring it - I'm thinking blueberry or cherry, or maybe some sort of awesome blend of spices. The hard lemonade and the second batch are still fermenting. Maybe we'll be bottling the lemonade as our very own version of twisted tea soon - BBE has all the girls this weekend so I doubt it'll be this weekend. Maybe Monday afternoon - we're both off for MLK day.

The mini-quit of no-smoking-in-the-car continues. I'm doing really good with it. I got a little down yesterday and smoked more than I have since last week's group meeting (speaking of which - that's tonight! squee!) but not once did I smoke in the car. My plan for this week is to continue not smoking in the car and to add not smoking at work. I'm still waiting for the patches - I suspect they'll be here any day now. If they don't make it here by the 22nd, though, I'm buying some.

The 23rd is just a little over a week away! I'm totally stoked and can't wait. I've started telling everyone at work - "I'm quitting on the 23rd!" They're all wonderfully supportive. No one has made any snarky comments about how I'm doing it again and what makes me think I can actually do it this time. I remember the people who gave me that sort of you're-a-failure non-support last time I tried this and I intend to avoid all of them this time around.

I don't think any of my coworkers read my blog, but just in case they do, here's an especial message just for them: Good luck with DR this weekend! You guys totally got this shit!

I know you're not reading this as I write it (how cool would that be, though, right?) but this is the song I'm listening to right now. Enjoy!



Image from engadget