Who started the anti-button war???

Ok, so I LOVE my iphone... and I understand the advantages to the multiple levels of screens with a variety of button patterns and button sizes... BUT sometimes you just miss that feeling of physically actuating a button. The fact that you know you pressed on a button and it should start an immediate action of that buttons purpose/functionality. Gizmodo recently posted a short article on the application for a patent by Canon for the first touch screen DSLR.

http://gizmodo.com

This obviously will allow for a larger LCD on the camera, but I wonder what this will lead to? I mean first its the fact we've gotten rid of film and we use "D" SLRs, than we get rid of being a slave to the view finder and you can now use your LCD screen for "Liveview," now we are getting rid of buttons... will we eventually just have an oversized point-n-shoot? I mean we have to physically put on a lens, and physically turn them, and they're sooo stinkin' heavy :o)

Overall I am thrilled at the advancements in technology, and can't imagine how overwhelming this all is to our grandparents who have watched cars go from horse and buggy to Bugatti!!! from Wright Brothers to Space, and from classical music to Emo-metal-jazza-techno-core-tronica. Not necessarily complaining or praising... just in awe, and I hope that we don't get so far "Advanced" that we don't take the time to appreciate the little things in life, like the smell of rain, the oceans way of rolling in sets of waves, sunsets, the change of leaves in fall (if you live anywhere but SoCal LOL), snow, and as said in my last post, time with family.

Last month of 2009

Is it already December??? Wow, last month flew by for me... was a great month though!

I just have to say I am blessed with the most incredible in-laws and couldn't imagine anyone else's being better than mine! I had sooo much fun at Thanksgiving and can't wait for Next Christmas! If you didn't already know, my wife's family is very close. Her mom is one of 5 Pardue kids, and every year all 5 kids and their kids, and now grandkids, get together and every year it is so much fun.

However there is a schedule to all of this madness, every other Christmas we all get together, and every other Thanksgiving... and it is planned to where every year we know we'll see each other at least at Thanksgiving or Christmas. Its Brilliant! And if you marry into the family, you have to get on board with the schedule. Out of the 5 original Pardue kids 4 of them had Children, and of those 4, there is one kid in each family that is yet to be married, so if you are planning on marrying one of those remaining 4, be aware that this will be part of your life, and you WILL like it! LOL :o)

Some people might dread the thought of seeing each other every year, our Family (Pardues, VanSoests, Boerios, Ours, Hansens, Coronados, Lyons-Pardues) looks forward to it in anticipation! We all usually have a mini Christmas together with our individual familys, but the day after, it time for a big family get together where we eat and play games. All of us guys have our own tradition, and heres a look at our Turkey Bowl fun:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpardue

And I must give credit to Sara's grandparents for raising kids that raised kids that are continuing to raise kids with love and Christian Values. I hope that I can one day leave a similar family legacy.

My Dads side of the family is Also starting a tradition. He is one of 7 boys and 3 girls, and all of the brothers are starting to get together. They get together and do "Man things" like ride motorcycles, go fishing, play golf & tennis, etc. They've done this for the past 3 years or so, and this year it was in San Diego. In years past its been in Texas and Oklahoma. I was stoked that it was in San Diego this year, because I got to see a few of my uncles that I don't see too often.

So yeah, it was a family filled past two months, and Sara & I are really looking forward to Christmas where we'll spend time with my family, than we'll be back to New Mexico to spend New years with her side. I love family, and love family time, and if you don't spend enough time with your family, I would highly recommend it. I know family dynamics can be really interesting and bad sometimes, but I hope that things can work out for any of you going through hard times, because as a lot of us know, you don't want to regret not spending time with those you loved once they're already gone.