So what’s Tabs been up to while I’ve been gettin’ my conference on? He’s been holding down the fort back at MBB headquarters with the help of a temp (aka a petsitter).
He still insists on twice daily meetings, though, and thanks to technology, it’s totally possible.
We use Skype set up as a pet cam. I’ve talked about it a couple times before. It works like this: I have Skype installed and running on my computer at home using one account, and set it to automatically answer video calls that I make from a second account using a laptop. That’s it, and now that Skype has an iPhone app, we can even teleconference literally from the road (it works over Wi-Fi or 3G).
I was at the pool today when he called with an “emergency.” He needed to go to yoga, and the car service was running late. It fell to me to “make it work.”
But seriously, technology has revolutionized the assistant-cat relationship. Using a combination of Log Me In, Skype, iTunes, iPhones and computers, we’re able to continue working with each other remotely.
Cat/Blogger Road Warrior Tech Tools
Log Me In: It lets me access and control my computer at home. I use it to change channels in iTunes for Tabs because he can only listen to techno for so long (he also fancies country music).
Skype: I have it set to automatically answer video calls placed from a second account (because Tabs is a diva and won’t answer the calls himself). Now that there’s also an iPhone app that works over Wi-Fi or 3G, Tabs can reach me anywhere there’s a cell phone signal.
iTunes: Tabs listens to free iTunes radio stations pretty much all day long while I’m away, but I remote access the computer in the evenings to turn off the music while he sleeps.
iPhones: Our smartphone of choice. Tabs is a stickler for design and has insisted on Apple products ever since he gave up his Blackberry.
Computers: Skype, Log Me In and iTunes are all available for both Windows PCs and MACs. The mobile Skype and Log Me In apps are also available for Android phones (Log Me In Ignition and Skype for Android).
Other Apps: Tabs and I also use a few other iPhone apps for work. PS Express (a simplified version of Photoshop for adjusting lighting, contrast and applying a few basic filters to pics), the Cat-O-Matic (has a bunch of prerecorded cat meow sounds that drive cats crazy; FUN!), Camera Genius (an app for the iPhone’s built-in camera that lets you trigger the shutter by tapping anywhere on the screen), the official WordPress app for remote blogging, and another remote blogging app called BlogPress, which I use as a fallback when the WordPress app gets on my nerves.
What does Tabs really do while I’m away? Well, he stress eats, partakes of the catnip plants that are placed throughout the house, watches birds through the windows, plays with the petsitter, does some modeling, and also blogs (of course). 🙂
Some Recent Tabs Beauty Shots…
I’ll be home soon, tabby! Don’t forget to pick me up from the airport. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Aw, did Tabs at least have El Hubs home to keep him company or did he come with you? Also, does Tabs recognize you when he sees you on the computer? I think my dogs would be too dumb to understand what was going on.
LOL too cute! That Skype graphic is amazing and Tabs is photogenic as always! I asked the bf to download Cat-o-Matic asap to try on my cat.
Your cat is so adorable 🙂
Awww… so sweet and funny!!! I love reading about you and Tabs. Bless your hearts. It’s good to know there are still some sweet souls in this world.
Aw how cute Tabs has a a harnass. Lol!
im sad that you miss Tabs. i know how you feel … but youre going to be together again soon! imagine how sweet that reunion will be!
One of my coworkers says her cat Skyped her at work. She thinks he was walking on the desk and accidentally stepped on the right key on the keyboard to place the call!
I think it is so great that you love your cat and you’re proud to tell people you care! I used to get teased for having several cats and people used to tease me that I’d be a crazy cat lady, Lol…but years later and I have just one cat…but he needs a cat friend. (once I can afford the vet bills for a second, he will have one!)
Anyway! I wish I had a friend like you (an animal person) in my city. 🙂
Thanks for the info about different programs. I only knew about and used skype.
HaHa this is too cute.
Thanks, Fefe! Hope you’re having a great week so far. 🙂
O. M. G. The paw and the tail. I die.