I rarely stop to blog about something technology related, but I'm making an exception this time. I truly believe this product is worth shouting about. If you already use Firefox to browse the internet, then you can skip this message. If you aren't using Firefox, we need to fix that. What is Firefox? Firefox is a FREE internet browsing application. It is like Internet Explorer or Safari...only much better. Firefox is different in that it is shareware based, and regularly updated by people all over the world. The inherent nature of constant testing in a shareware environment also makes the program a more secure internet browser and less open to attack viruses and bad bots. Plus, the browser is more robust at showing web pages as they were truly designed. I'll give you an example from my own blog... If you view my blog using Internet Explorer, the fonts will look slightly different and the comment box will be slightly larger (especially evident in posts that only have one comment). That's not how I really designed the page. If you look at my blog in Firefox, the fonts are cleaner and the comment box is only as big as the comments need it to be, no extra gray space. So, if you really want to make your website reading more enjoyable and secure, do yourself a favor and download Firefox. It is free and works on either Mac or PC computers. (If you are into internet even more technically, you can also download the Firefox add-on tools FireFTP and FireBug which allow you to do FTP work and HTML, CSS, script work on the fly, respectively. But, that's probably too geeky for most people...LOL.) I've been using it for over 2 years and just love it! You can get the free Firefox download by going to www.mozilla.com or clicking HERE. The folks at Mozilla give really simple instructions on how to get rolling with Firefox. Promise, you'll be happy you upgraded.

I swear, I am almost done with NBA Finals posts. The games are done on Thursday for sure, hopefully tomorrow night. :) So Game 5 didn't turn out quite how we wanted. Celtics lost a tight battle. However, we were there in person to watch! On a last minute decision, Jason and I bought tickets on ebay for Game 5 (the last game in LA) and made a one day trip to LA. The seats were great, but to keep them affordable, we bought single tickets. Jason ended up sitting about 4 sections away from me. I had a fantastic view of the game (and a whole lotta fake and/or enhanced body parts in the section around me). Going to LA to watch a game was not my favorite adventure by any stretch, and the taunting was ridiculous (thanks so much LA fans). Mostly though it was struggle to get any of my camera gear in the Staples Center. They have a strict camera lens policy...no lenses over 3.5 inches long. And, apparently they measure EVERY lens if there's any doubt. I managed to get one lens in (the 135mm 2.0) despite being just over 3.5 inches long. Here's some of the photographic highlights. Wish I had a job during the finals being a sports photographer...what fun!!! My secret crush is on Ray Allen. Le Sigh. and, while it kills me to post this...the best shot I took last night was of Kobe Bryant against Ray. ugh. here it is.

I am just now finally getting to the photos from our trip out to Boston to see Game 1 of the NBA Finals. It was such an amazing trip! First, it was so cool to see how excited Jason was to watch the game. It is not often that you get to watch your spouse fulfill a lifelong dream. Second, it was almost 3 days to ourselves, no kids (thanks Marcelle!). Third, the Celtics WON! Here's a little montage of our trip photos. I didn't take many because I'd only brought my little cruddy point-and-shoot camera. I had read on the Garden's rules that I couldn't take in "any cameras with detachable lenses". So, I left the good camera and lenses at home only to see everyone around me with digital SLRs. ARGH. I wish I had my *real* camera with me for the game, but I suppose the benefit was that I actually watched the game more without a big camera in my eyes. I almost forgot to mention the other exciting part. If you pick up this week's Sports Illustrated, look at the two-page photo leading off the Celtics-Lakers main story. Look under the by line for the photographer on the lower left of the photo, and you can see me with my arm in the air and Jason standing up to cheer. That's right baby, we made it into SI. Sah-weet. Sorry Laker fans, you probably won't enjoy this video much.

Anna had her last day of kindergarten today, and I volunteered to spend the day helping out at the school's "Dia de Juegos" (Game Day). Anna has told us for awhile about her friend "Jorge"...or maybe that should be her "friend" Jorge. He is always giving her little gifts, and apparently plays with her a lot on the playground. We've suspected a big crush for the whole year, and I had yet to witness it first hand. Well, today was absolutely hilarious, sweet, and downright sappy at times. Jorge has quick to step in when I was taking a photo of Anna...he really wanted a picture with her. And, their squares are together in the classroom...and look just at Jorge. He spent the whole time stroking Anna's hair tenderly. He was squished all the way forward into his square to be close to her. That boy is whooped! They ate lunch next to each other. But, what's not to love in this face? Can you blame the guy?

 

Jason's dreams have come true. We are going to watch the Celtics play in the NBA Finals...in BOSTON! That's right, we're flying out to see Game 1 on Thursday. The trip has no other purpose, and we're returning immediately afterwards. It is completely based on Jason's childhood dream. He is officially 14 years old again, complete with making homemade signs for the game. Yes, we are he is packing these signs on the plane from LAX to Boston. Lordy lordy, the looks we're he's gonna get in LAX-Lakers airport with these signs! (edited to correct that...why would *I* carry those signs?!)