Archive for previous entries this month
August 1, 2007
Welcome to August
Nice sunset tonight. I did a painting based on it, too. I hadn't played with Painter in quite a while again, and I can't get any better at it if I don't work with it.
We had a nice storm tonight. Lots of rain, but not much wind and just a bit of thunder and lightning. We could use a lot more rain. Maybe we'll get lucky.
Aside from that, not much going on. I have a new schedule that I've worked out, and I think it'll go well if I can stick to it. I need a list in order to get some of the stuff done.
August 2, 2007
Sleepy Pip
Yes, I've changed things a bit. I just suddenly decided I was tired of the old look and grabbed one of the Front Page Themes for now. I'll probably change it again in a day or so. I'm in that kind of mood.
Things are going well enough. I'm waiting for notes from the DAZ people, but I think I'm caught up on the work there. Yay! I've worked a bit on Vision today, and the Zoo site is next on the list. Literally, on the list. I've written out a schedule that has eight to ten things per day on it. If I can keep to it, I'll not only get work done, but also have a chance to do the things like the zoo site, which keeps falling farther and farther behind.
That's it for today, though. This is very early, but I need to clean up the website and clear off the old pictures, and better to do it now rather than wait until I'm dead tired.
So, off I go!
August 3, 2007
Pretty Colors
I did that with a free program called Chaoscope. It's interesting to play with.
Working, working, working. My new schedule is good, but it really doesn't give me any free time to do anything but get stuff done on the list. And that's all right in some ways, I put a few fun things in, so it's not all bad.
Writing is still not where it should be. I need to do more of it at the start of the day, rather than the end.
And that's about it!
August 4, 2007
The Bridge at Night
I forgot to upload yesterday's stuff last night, so I'll go ahead and do that now (in the archives) and write something for today. I'm feeling a bit lousy today, and I hope it clears up soon. I have things to do!
Really, not much I can say yet. I feel like a slug today.
August 5, 2007
Lovely Wings!
Yes, I'm actually early today! This is because writing this journal is now on my official list of things to do each day, so as I glance over the list, I start looking for the easy things to do to get things crossed off it. Amazing how well that works.
I'm pretty much finished with the newsletter. Yay! And I'm almost done with the current short story I'm writing. That's another excellent point for the day. I might have it finished tonight.
One of the things on my list is to start a new set of website material for some pictures. These pages will be collections from various places I've visited. Many of them will be wildlife areas, but there will also be spots like Rocky Mountain National Park and Chaco Canyon. I'm looking forward to doing them!
The problem, as always, is sorting out the pictures. But it still sounds like fun. Oh, and I think I'll use that Google map thingy, where you can pinpoint where something is. That should be fun.
Okay, now I'm actually excited about this. Part of it is because I'm done with the newsletter, and I have nearly everything marked off my list for the day. Including, now, this one. I'll go do the rest of my writing, and see what kind of fun I can have!
August 6, 2007
Playing with Paint Shop Pro and Picasa2
Once again, I'm working my way through the schedule list and seeing how much I can get done of the easy stuff. In fact, there's very little left on today's list so it's all easy and fun, which makes it nice.
I spent part of today cleaning up some paperbacks that had been on the porch for a long time. We have had a mouse problem and I'm sure a few of the boxes of books are ruined, but this set came through relatively unscathed, except for a few nibbles on the edges of a couple. Many of these books are unread. They came from our store when we closed it, and I kept one of everything we had. It's going to be nice to read many of them! That was twenty years ago -- hard to believe, but it's true.
I also catalogued everything at www.Librarything.com as I went through them. If I do this once a week or so, I might actually get somewhere!
That really is all my news for the day!
August 7, 2007
Tonight's sunset
Today was Russ's birthday. We had a nice dinner, but didn't do much else. Still, it was fun. And Russ is over working on things for an order that he needs to send out, and I'm learning new things in Painter. Hardly seems fair, but that's life, I guess.
I'm about through my entire list of things to do today again. That list stuff is really working for me. I even got the dishes done today. (grin)
I am about to finish the story. It's a novelette and nearly a novella. That's good enough, though now I am -- of course -- worrying about what I'll work on next. That's tomorrow's problem!
Right now I'm just going to get this posted and mark something else off my list. I know, it's silly. But it's working.
August 8, 2007
Pretty flowers
A bit later tonight. Obviously, I've been busy, though it doesn't feel as though I got very much done at all. Writing has suffered again today, but I'm going to go attack it now before I go to bed.
I'm still on my schedule, though. This makes a full week, and I think I'm mostly getting the knack of it. Tomorrow's big work is starting material for the newsletter and getting it all sorted out. I think it will go quickly enough this time. I hope so, though there are going to be a few new things to add in, too. I can do it.
You know, I can tell it's been a boring day because I can't come up with anything even remotely interesting to say. I think I'll stop here before I bore all of us any more!
August 9, 2007
Wispy clouds
I'm listening to a storm roll in tonight. I suspect it's going to be the last cool weather that we'll have for a while. We're supposed to be caught up in the heat wave that's hitting so many other places after tonight. Too bad. While I didn't like the muggy, damp feel, I'm sure I won't like the 100+(f) temps any better. Probably worse. Heat and I don't agree.
I need to get some more writing done -- and hope that this storm isn't so bad that we lose power. I still have work to do tonight!
I'm sure the storm will go past us anyway. They almost always do. But I'm going to go out and watch for a bit, and if it looks good, get the camera out to see if I can get a lightning shot or two.
Or, you know, I could go do that work I was just talking about.
Nah....
August 10, 2007 Trip to Ashfall Link
August 11, 2007
After the rain
Well, I'm busy today. That's what comes of taking a day off and then spending the only free time you do have setting up a long trip report entry. (grin)
Really, I'm doing fine. The current newsletter for DAZ Studio is all but done. I'm mostly waiting on a couple answers about things. I'm also making up the things I missed yesterday so that I can have check marks on everything on my list. Yeah, it's silly. . . but I get things done!
I wanted to get this one done early, though, so I could put the Ashfall Trip Report in it's own page. That way I can link to it and not the full archive. It will also help keep the pictures from being deleted since I'll keep it up.
Russ has company. Cats are all asleep. It looks like it's just me and the computer again. I'm sure I can get all kinds of trouble started. . . .
August 12, 2007
Somehow, I lost the entry that went here. We'll just all pretend like I said something interesting, shall we?
Then we can move along as though this all made some sort of sense.
August 13, 2007
Experimental picture for the day
At least it's finally cooling down in here. It was a miserable hot and humid day and I hate that kind of weather. Now I'm just hoping for the rain tomorrow so it doesn't get as bad.
The newsletter went off to DAZ tonight. I have a ton of stuff to get done for Vision now, and many other things piling up, but overall, it looks good. I just need to find a way to concentrate on things.
Tonight doesn't seem to be a good night for it, though. I keep leaping off to other things. I'm sure I'm going to have trouble getting more writing done. I had better get to it.
But the picture turned out nice, I think!
August 14, 2007
Tonight's sunset
I've gotten things done today. Unfortunately, not all of them were on my list, so I'm still working at those. (grin)
I am working on A Plague of Rats tonight and doing some little adjustments to a Carrara scene. Working with Carrara is amazing, but it takes some time to get used to, and then a lot more time to just move and adjust things just right. Part of that is because there are so many things you can mess with. (grin) And once I get it done, it's going to be a long render.
It's been an interesting experience to work with the program, though. I'm still at baby steps, but I'm picking up more about it every time I open it up.
I guess that's like writing, in some ways. Every time I start a new story or novel I learn a little something more. Well, at least I try to. Sometimes what I learn is that I'm still lazy. (grin)
But not tonight. I'm going back to work on the novel. It's been interesting so far!
August 15, 2007
Oh yes, that's certainly a lot of help while I'm working
Zaphod has taken over Pip's spot on the desk. Unfortunately, he sprawls a lot more than Pip does, so I end up trying to type with his paw on my hand. I'm not sure which one of us is sillier for it.
I've done pretty well on work today. I kind of feel good about it tonight, looking at my list and seeing so much marked off already, and it's not even midnight yet. I need to do more writing, but I have gotten over 1000 words already, so I'm in a good mood about that. The things I have left to do aren't that bad.
You know, if this schedule stuff continues to work for a couple more months, maybe I'll make a daily page version for next year, and print it off at the start of the month, updating as I need to.
The weather here was lousy today, but cooler tonight. I plan to stay in my house until it gets better. Maybe longer. Unless Russ says we should go somewhere.
August 16, 2007
Cute bird
I seem to be running behind today. There's no good reason for it, I just am. I think I never really got up and going today, although at least the work on A Plague of Rats has been fine. I still need to do Vision work and a couple other things off my list, but I'm kind of worn down and I'm finding it hard to concentrate.
So, this will be short tonight and then I'm moving on to other things. I will get stuff done!
Or else I'll just go nap for a while. It's kind of a toss up right now.
August 17, 2007
Rain
Interesting weather. It's actually cool tonight, which is pretty nice.
I have work to do. Tons of work to do. I'm not certain how much of it I will get done tonight, but it's looking good. Lucky for me I got smart and realized the newsletter should go over three days of work and wrote it into my schedule that way. I tend to try to get too much done all at once.
The other things are going well enough. I just, as usual, need to concentrate on what I'm supposed to be doing. Instead, I find myself bouncing all over the place. Bad zette. Do work.
And I think I'll get to that right now, and do the county website work!
August 18, 2007
A secret place
I made that one in Bryce. It's one of my experimental pieces, and I really like the way it turned out.
I'm tired. I'm busy. I haven't gotten nearly enough done, and it's late.
I almost forgot this despite my list, but I have an excuse for that part. First Edmond and now Pip decided to sleep on my list. I can't see what I'm supposed to be doing. I think I'll have to do the things I missed tomorrow, because tonight I'm just worn out.
But really, got some good work done so I'm not complaining. The newsletter is really very nearly done. It's an odd issue because there isn't a coherent theme like the last one. I'm having fun with it, though.
It's oddly addictive, in fact. I keep going back and tweaking those few lines and adding a few things here and there. It takes longer to write than my usual stuff, and for far fewer words, but I enjoy it.
But right now I think I'd enjoy getting to bed!
August 19, 2007
Vacation, 1997
That was the view from our widow in Cortez, Colorado. It was our anniversary, too. I just love that picture. I've been scanning in pictures from that vacation -- another pictures. It's been great fun!
It's also been a long day, trying to get caught up on stuff. I'm almost there, but it's late and I'm tired. I'm going to get this uploaded and the newsletter (after one more read-through) and then play with Carrara for a little while. Unless I do some writing instead. I'm not certain yet.
It's been a busy month. And here I am on yet another first day of a week, looking over my schedule and adjusting things. I had too much real work on Sundays, so I shifted a couple things around. My house is cleaner than it has been in a while, so that part is working. Writing is still slow, but I think part of that is just that I'm in a slow phase.
But, finally, everything is falling together. Even though I got a little behind on my schedule last week, I was able to catch up on everything today.
So, off to do the last few things on my list!
August 20, 2007
Interesting Sunset
I have no Internet. None at all, all day. It's because we're switching over and something has gone wrong.
So here I sit, trying to get the newsletter out to DAZ and no way to do it. Or to no if there are changes they want made. We are, I think, trying to get them to reconnect the other cable for the time being because neither Russ nor I can afford to go without Internet for very long. In fact, it's been too long already.
We had to take Pip to the Vet today, too. Poor guy has been sick for a couple days. The vet says there's really not anything wrong, but he reminded us that the last time this happened, a week later Pip had an Upper Respiratory Infection, and this could be the prelude. We'll keep a watch on him. Needless to say, he was not happy.
But then, that's pretty much all of us today, I guess.
I'm getting all the extra little things done early so that if I get internet again, I can just leap into that and get the work done. I suspect we're out of luck, though.
Why can't anything just go without a problem? Russ specifically called them this morning and said that if there was going to be any kind of problem, not to do it because we can't afford to be without the connection. The people have been wonderful trying to fix the situation, but Russ has figured out that it's not at this end, and they don't have a proper server set up somewhere.
Gah.
August 21, 2007
Sunset
I have my connection back, though I seem to be having trouble sending email. We'll get that fixed next.
Rather than just post yesterday's stuff and then have to do another one later, I decided to go ahead and write my entry for today. I have absolutely nothing interesting to say, though. But it is a lovely picture, isn't it? That was yesterday. Just happened to be at the right place at the right time, because about five minutes later it was gone. It's odd to think that I'm probably the only one in the world who got pictures.
I am trying to get caught up on all my work. It's going to take a bit, but I'll get there!
Right now, though, it's time to post this and move on!
August 22, 2007
Tonight's rainbow
We've been having odd weather. We'll continue to have odd weather, it looks like. But it's been really good for pictures lately!
It's late. I've been working on things and not getting very far with any of it, I fear. But at least it's some kind of progress. I still have a few more things to get done tonight, though, so this will be short. Besides, it's been one of those kinds of days where I really can't say I've had many thoughts at all.
I have been editing the DAZ listings for online, and even that proved to be very difficult today. I appear to be having trouble focusing on anything.
So best to get over this. I think sleep will help. And that's were I'm heading -- after a couple more things to get done!
August 23, 2007
Flying things
That is such a funny picture. I was aiming at the birds high up. The dragonfly just happened past at the right moment.
I'm behind today. I mean REALLY behind this time. I had one of those odd days where, for a number of reasons, I couldn't get much of anything done. I'm doing as much as I can tonight, but I get the feeling that tomorrow is going to be a very busy day as I try to get way too many things caught up.
Should be interesting.
I should have something interesting to say. It's not working out.
Oh! I did get paid today, which is great! This is the July money, and after this I think I'll be paid at the end of each month. And July was a half month. I've been working there about six weeks now. Amazing.
I'm thinking about buy a new camera. Really. What a shock, right?
August 24, 2007
Mesa Verde, 1997
I only just now realized that was ten years ago. Duh. I was still doing film back then. it's been interesting to try and scan the pictures in. I must have gone to digital not long after this, though. And now, finally, the digital world has caught up to the quality of the print, at least for what I'm doing.
I need to work harder at getting stuff scanned in, though.
This was the day of really not getting much done at all. I know I worked. I know I updated things, wrote a few things, picked up a few things. I marked stuff off my list. I still don't feel like I got much of anything actually done, though.
And I am having a real hard time dealing with the idea that we're almost to the end of the month. Ack. Vision due. DAZ newsletter due. Major writing dare at the site. Maybe company coming.
I think I'm going to be busy!
August 25, 2007
Obviously a vicious cat. . . .
That's Edmond being silly. The guys have really been goofy lately, except for poor Pip who appears to be getting ill again. I feel sorry for the poor guy. He's pretty miserable tonight.
I've been working on the newsletter most of today. I've been fighting a headache for a couple days, and for some reason nothing was falling into place. I think I've finally got it very nearly worked out, though. I'm waiting on a couple things, but if they don't come in, I think I can get it all put together anyway.
Writing has been odd. Good days, poor days, days when I'm not sure what I'm working on -- it's just been odd. I know I'm making progress, but even still, it's looking like I'm going to fall down on my totals for this month, too. Could it be that I won't make a million words this year? Oh, how terrible! I'm sure the world is going to come to an end if that happens!
Maybe I better get to work on it, right? (grin)
You know, I never realized how often I use that (grin) in my work until someone recognized me on a new board based on it. Interesting.
Oh, I'm starting to get some requests for the NaNo book already. Yes, we're slipping up to that dreaded month, aren't we?
August 26, 2007
Small Town View
That view makes South Sioux look even more like a small town. And flatter than it really is, though, to be honest, it is pretty flat.
I've had a busy day getting everything done that I can. The newsletter is up on the review site, but I'll have to email people to let them know. Ah. Just corrected a little bit of prose on it, so just as well that I didn't send it out yet.
I've rearranged some of my schedule for next week. Friday, Saturday and Sunday are work days for the Newsletter, and I've discovered it's a good idea to have as much of the other hard work shifted off to other days as I can manage. We'll see if it helps!
But anyway, here we are heading into another week. It's going to be a busy one!
August 27, 2007
Playing with Black and White again
I had planned to go to the zoo tomorrow, but things are not going to work out for it. That leaves me only a couple more days this month, so I suspect that I'm going to miss August. It's not the end of the world. It's not even the first month I've missed this year, but I do wish things had worked better. I could stand a few hours away from home again!
Other than that -- latest newsletter is done and approved, so I have a few days free from that work. I have Vision to put together, and I think I can get most of it. Everything else is kind of floating along. Not getting a lot done in writing, but not falling farther behind, either. I don't see how I can do the challenge over Labor Day, though. I have Vision, the next newsletter, and maybe even company coming! Looks like it is going to be a busy weekend.
So, right now -- back to work on things!
August 28, 2007
Flower in the rain
Long day, lots done, including a good section on A Plague of Rats. I hope it keeps moving as it is, because this is a lot of fun again!
Beyond that, though, there's really not much to say. I have decisions to make about my next reading. I have work to do on a number of things yet tonight, though, so I'm not going to stick around here and bore us all again.
Life is just odd, I think.
August 29, 2007
African Egret
Russ woke me up this morning saying he thought I was going to the zoo today.
I was up and dressed and ready to go so quickly it even surprised him!
I had a great time, except for two incidents. I think I might be allergic to what they use as a cleaner there. It made me very ill. Then, later, I had a run in with a wild child who nearly ran into my camera and tripod. In an attempt to yank everything out of his way, I twisted my left leg and it has hurt like hell ever since. And the mother glared, of course.
I am so far behind on everything now!
So, off to get some work done, and then to rest for a while and hope the leg feels better soon!
August 30, 2007
Watching the world go by
I hate the kinds of days where it doesn't matter how much you do, you still feel like everything is piling up. That's me today. I got caught up on the few things I missed yesterday by going to the zoo, and I have most of today's work done. . . . and it's not enough. I just can't get there.
I want to take part in the major dare at FM this weekend, but I just can't do it. I'm afraid that if I tried, I'd just get more annoyed. Best, I think to skip it and maybe do my own version next week, when I don't have the DAZ newsletter, Vision, site updates and company all at the same time. Yes, that sounds far wiser!
Oh, and the car died tonight. Russ hopes it's something simple, but it's sitting about twenty miles away right now.
August 30, 2007
The new car....
Yes, we have a different car now. It's much like the last one, but, you know, actually running.
We couldn't really afford to do this, of course, but we couldn't live without it. Russ has only three more days on the current job in Omaha, so at least he won't drive this one to death right away. The last one had more than 20,000 miles on it since we got it on May 1. No wonder it fell under the pressure.
I'm busy today. Vision, newsletter, new things for FM for the month, 2YN classes, and out-of-town company. And going with Russ while we got the car. It's been a busy day!
And I still have things to do. So, this is it for August. I'll see you all in September!