Amazon.com ruined Christmas!

In addition to the awesomeness that is the iPod Shuffle (mmmm…transferring podcasts), I received a nifty little surprise today in the form of a book! Now, as you all should know, books are a great holiday gift to give a geek, most especially because geeks love geeky books!  And none is more geeky than Robert Heinlein…at least so I’ve heard. 

Having never actually read a Heinlein book … hmm … perhaps I’m not as big a geek as I thought I was.

Who am I kidding?  I’m super-excited to have something to read while I’m in Michigan for the holidays.  Thanks, Scott!

Not that I won’t have plenty to do.  My Newphews/Neice-in-law are going to take up some time, and of course, there’s the (perhaps irrational) trepidation I’m feeling over Ethel meeting Baxter (their dog). You haven’t lived until you’ve watched your 140-lb Newfoundland puppy chase after the wiley cat around the back of the Christmas tree.  Wanton destruction!  I wish I had a picture of that from last year. 

Jesus-in-the-Manger at the foot of the tree was traumatized!

Please be a C++ GUI Programming Guide!

I lost my virginity today…my iPod virginity you dirty birds!

Scott had two iPods…a 5.5Gen and a 2Gen Shuffle. He wasn’t using the Shuffle, and I had recently made it known that I was in the market for a Shuffle, and voila! A half-a-Benj later, pure Kismet. The exchange was made!

My first, ever, iPod!

Sadly, my iPod is not a virgin; I had to settle for sloppy seconds. Scott? What did you do to this cute little box-o’-music? What did it ever do to you? Don’t be surprised if you get a phone call from the Philadelphia Department of iPods and Families, the municipal agency responsible for investigating reports of iPod abuse. Myleen Andres***, Agency Coordinator, has got your number.

My first impression was that it’s a whole lot smaller than I thought it would be. I mean, I’ve seen the new “Put on some Music” ads for the 2G Shuffle (in glorious Hi-Def, I might add…kudos to Apple for releasing Hi-Def commercials!), but I guess I didn’t get the full sense of its proportions. Step 1 is to install iTunes, and subscribe to all of those NPR podcasts that I love to listen to!

Actually, Step 1 is to purchase some headphones; the package didn’t include them (she’s used, after all). I’ve got my eye on some nifty Bose, in-ear jawns that I hope to audition and purchase soon.

***Myleen Andres is a fictional name, and not affiliated with any municipal agency that I am aware of. If you get a phone call from her or the Philadelphia DiF, it is a gremlin.

[UPDATE: iTunes + iPod Shuffle doesn't work in Windows Vista.  Luckily, I have access to a plethora of non-Vista machines, and was able to get transfer some podcast from one of them.  Mucho thanko to Scott-o for helping me get it up and running!]