[Ed. note: I have invited my sister-in-law, Kelly Hall, to write about home-tech and interesting toys for Gear Diary. I thought it would be good if she could introduce herself to you all, as well. As you will learn, she has a very unique perspective...]

From the time I could say F-16, I was fascinated with serving in the US Air Force.�I wanted to live and breathe in a fighter or stealth bomber.� Kinda strange, if you consider my Southern Belle roots from Baton Rouge. �Despite the Cajun influences and my �Lowsyana edjimication�, I graduated from Louisiana Tech University and became a commissioned officer.�For 8 years, I served in the USAF and saw all parts of the world, but only from the �cockpit� desk or mainframe.� For some strange reason, I was placed into the Communications-Computer Systems career field.� Which, sorry to say Gear Diary readers, I thought anything computer-related was going to be boring.�This was 1995, I had just turned 22 and had no idea what e-mail or the Internet was, so where could this computer thing go?�I know, what a shocker of thoughts!�

Much to my surprise, my passion for the field grew as I learned more about technology and the cool toys the AF had.�I still remember back in 1996, going through the field with this GPS thing (it looked just like a plotting calculator).�I remember going, �What the hell is this and why would anyone (civilian types) ever need a GPS?�They�ll need to remember coordinates to get somewhere!� Little did I know, they would be used for computerized maps on PDAs and vehicles in a few years.�

A definite advantage in the military was testing the technology.�I�m embarrassed to admit, BUT even down to the little-man level, we wasted sizable tax dollars on gadgets. One boss (not the ones pictured above) was notorious for his mindless spending.�If he heard of a new device, he would find a way to justify buying it on Uncle Sam�s dollar. Just an example of his wastefulness was after he attended a technology expo. There on display was a lustrous Microsoft PC Tablet, so the boss was determined to get one.�I was ordered to buy 3 at $1,300 a pop.�Ouch!�At the time, I thought he was a total waste of a boss�matter of fact, I still do�but, thanks to his self-serving nature, I saw some incredible devices and learned the need to enhance our computer systems.� �

Not to completely knock the mishandling of government funds (or former bosses), the most fabulous technology was seen in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI).�This was where the technology was needed and the money was well spent.�I served as a federal agent for a few years in AFOSI.�They are comparable to the FBI, but serve at the AF level.�We carried weapons, busted bad guys, and used smart technology to get the job done.�BTW, did you know the original term Men-in-Black came from AFOSI agents?�They wore black suits and ran the Area 51 investigations, thus the title for the Will Smith & Tommy Lee Jones�movie. Anyway, I digress.� �

While I was a special agent, I saw things that would make some of you jealous or maybe weep.�:lol: �The computer forensic capabilities and the surveillance equipment were phenomenal.�Who knew (well before the days of �CSI�) such cool stuff was out there!�So, after shooting things up and catching creeps, I took on a new adventure in life and got married to a brilliant guy named Ronnie.�Two years after that, I woke up with morning sickness and my relaxed life came to a screeching halt.� �

Shortly after our daughter was born, my husband and I honorably separated from the military and moved to the Midwest.�What an interesting place this is for a Southern gal! Our decision to leave the AF was made when we realized #2 was on her way! We did not want to continuously deploy overseas and miss our kids� lives, so we became civilians.�

What a HUGE change of pace resulted from that decision!� I went from leading with �ease� some 96-intelligent airmen to fumbling over the role of homemaker. I no longer had to order gadgets for bosses, but for my kids�who are just as demanding! �

As most new parents can attest, each child is different in personality, desires, and abilities.�With that comes the challenge of fulfilling their developmental and physical needs, while not breaking your budget or breaking the seams of your home with toys.� �

As far as this household goes, we search for things to enhance their education and motor skills.�You name it and we probably have it, lost it, or donated it to charity.� There are some wonderful products out there, as well as some misrepresented toys.�Over the years, I feel I have discerned which direction to go for each child and when to leave a product on the shelf. �I�m on to the marketing folks! :-)� But, it took some learning to get here.�

With our first, everything had to be �perfect� and we needed all the fun gadgets for the nursery.�You know, the Diaper Genies, diaper table, crib, and expensive developmental toys.� Only to realize all that stuff can be excessive and unnecessary!�I mean, no matter how tough a Diaper Genie�s marketer claims, it is nowhere near tough enough to withstand my kids� stench.� It is so much easier tossing those nasty things into the garage trashcan.� And a crib, please, each baby got to enjoy our awesome Select Comfort!�Then there were the $50 talking gadgets Alyssa (#1) tossed to the side, just to get to the $5.00 building blocks.�I slowly realized I needed some perspective/experience when it came to supplying toys.�

I started to figure things out with Alyssa, only to have Ashley come into the picture.�She did not like the same toys because she developed differently from her sister.�Whereas Alyssa wanted to sit and read books or manipulate toys, Ashley was a natural athlete and wanted things that moved or could be pulled and destroyed.�And now, I sit with number three who is even more different from his sisters.�Jason wants things that roll and bang, plus sing and growl at him.� �

All of this, as well as a tech-savvy sister-in-law, brought me to Gear Diary.�As I read Judie�s reviews, I was drawn to her layman�s approach to writing reviews.� When I would read parenting magazines or check out Consumer Reports, I would notice the products were not realistically home-tested.�For example, a simple vacuum would be tested for amp ability, cord length, and lightness.�Like that matters when you need to pick up 40 lbs of scattered dog food.�

You need to know if the vacuum is strong!� Or, when a toy is rated 9 months � 3 years, does it really reach every child developmentally, plus last for more than 5 minutes?�

Since I was already an avid fan of Judie’s, I asked if she had thought of using her skills toward the home side of technology.�To my surprise, she invited me on as a contributor to do this. It is exciting to head this new direction and I look forward to reviewing home-related products.�But, it sure is a long way from toting Berettas or migrating a 4,600-user system to Active Directory.�Oh, those were the easy days!�

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