That was interesting

Just updated my Win7 phone to "Mango" OS. That went smoothly, but for some stupid reason, MS didn't bother to program the update to NOT overwrite custom ringtones with their own crappy ones. So, I have spent the last 30 minutes or so hunting down the ones I had been using (luckily I archive just about everything) making sure they are the 'proper' size (under 1 meg) and sync the phone. Just have one or two more left.

What a pain.

Other than that, I have to say I am thrilled with the OS updated. It's faster, smoother. BRB, going to get reacquainted with my phone.

Into the Gloaming

Cable Beach, Broome, sunset.



This was one of the photographs I asked Nigel about. I liked the original but there was something that kept me coming back to it, wanting to fix it. A simple cropping of water smoothed sand, which although wasn't out of focus, was so smooth it looked as if it was made this photo much better.

h.t. to Nigel for the tip!

Bit the bullet and went

And glad I did. Professional Photographer Nigel Gaunt of Red-Dirt Photography was there. Was great presentation and slide show. Got to ask him a few questions, and got some advise. I had two photographs that I liked, but they weren't quite right. He pointed out what was bothering me. Will be going to fix that asap.

Munching on Lime Cheesecake. (smacks tongue on roof off mouth) Just a little tart.... about 5'3".

One Lime Cheesecake, still hot from the oven!

5 Squeezed and Zested Limes later

A Lime cheesecake is baking in the oven. Not the fluffed up with flour variety, either. The thick creamy kind.

Took the cream cheese blocks out nice and early so they would be room temperature by noon. Had three rather old limes in the fridge, left there for juicing. Picked three fresh ones for grated lime peel (zest really) and 1/2 of juice.

Instead of grating the limes, I used a zester, and then minced it fine. Now, it's just a matter of waiting for it to bake, and to let it cool. :) Smells so good!

Colored by what happened

Wing and I joined a local photography/photographers club. Me, I'm rather ambivalent about about going to the meetings. Not just because of just barely being over the flu, but for other reasons.

The last time I belonged to any sort of 'club', the nano the shrew crew sucked everything thing from me that they could, they turned on me like the pack of rabid bitches they really were. (Stole a lot of things that were never returned, too) Then when we became rather successful in our endeavor, they hounded us with rumor and innuendo for years afterward. Even after a motorcycle accident damaged a disc in my back collapsed, leaving me partially disabled didn't make they draw in the claws and venom. That experience has really made me antsy about being in any sort of club/group.

This morning Wing asked me if I wanted to go to tonights meeting, and again the 'ice cold rock sinking in pit of stomach' feeling started up again. Whereas I don't mind, and actually enjoy, taking classes or instructional workshops with professional photographers, my guts tighten up when thinking about being around a 'peer group' again. When I do agree to go, what Wing didn't know (but will now) it's all i can do to not throw up because of the stress.

Now, intellectually I know the people in the group are nothing like the slugs before, but once burned....

*sigh*

Been watching "The Walking Dead"

It's a original series on AMC (US). It's a Zombiepocalypse. It's very well acted, and the FX can be gruesome (iows Wing is not going to be 'allowed' to watch it).

The only failing I see, is that people in a survival situation would NOT be self dividing, therefore easily conquered by the 'walking dead'.

Put that off too long

Have been going through photos taken at King's Park, Perth Royal Show, Photography Workshops and other photography sessions. It's amazing how many get stacked up. You always think "Oh, I'll get to them in my spare time." only to forget them.

Been brutal with the culling. Unless it's a really special subject, just deleting them.

It's been a helluva weekend.

Photography/Portraiture workshop was good. Got rained out at the end, but we got everything we needed. I had posted some of the photos so the model and instructors could take a gander. What I didn't expect was someone not involved to take the photo off where it was hosted, edit it, and then repost it on his blog. I will give him this, no problem when I politely, yet firmly, asked him to take it down, and don't take my photos for editing without my permission.

Went out to lunch with Mother In Law. She is such a hyper little thing. After her flitting from one subject to another, repeating herself, and seemingly discussing the same things over and over (no, she doesn't have dementia or Alzheimers, she just flitters from one thing to another over and over).

After we dropped her off at home, I asked Wing "Does she have OCD?" He kind of chuckled and said yes, not bad, but she does have it. That explains her need for the same routines, and even if she has checked to see if doors and windows are locked, she will make the rounds, even if she had just done it, one more time.

Wing cooked dinner tonight. It was something he had fixed a few weeks ago, but I was so sick, the smell and sight made want to hurl. It's actually quite yummy! :D guess I'm recovering.

I keep seeing ad from radio stations trying to bribe people to watch the latest reality show. No thanks, I'll pass.

Now this is disappointing

Last 10 days, I have been sick with some sort of flu. Exhaustion, fever, body pain, 'digestive' issues. Because of this, I missed the deadline for one of the Canon EOSPhoto 5 brief, and now only have one day to get the one for #5 in.

I don't know what it is with the Universe, but this is the 2nd time I have participated in this, only to be brought up short by illness (first time was eye infection, had to stay in darkened room, wearing sunglasses for 6 weeks)

The reason this is so disappointing is I know I can do the brief, and excellently. Now, I have to wait until next year to enter again, and try one more time. :(

There went those plans

I forced myself to not rest during the day so I could go to bed early, and sleep through the night, which I felt would be much more restful than 3 or 4 hours sleep, up for 3, then asleep for another 3.

I like to read before going to sleep. I planned to go to bed early (which I did) read for a short while ( 30 minutes), then go to sleep. Every time I started getting drowsy, Wing would come in and comment about a show he was watching, starting the read to get sleepy cycle all over.

So, instead of going to sleep before 10pm, I was lucky if it was midnight. :/ I guess he forgot I wasn't feeling well. Lack of sleep/rest might also account for slight relapse of some of the symptoms.

Ever the opportunists

Still not feeling too great, but sort of coherent right now. Whatever this is, all I have is body aches (understatement) and a fever. I woke up this morning, twice, wondering my I felt so crowded.

I was surrounded by Keito, Loki and Ziggy. Or as ShadoutCarver said "Mom's warm! Everyone pile on!"

When my fever broke for a while, I kicked off the blankets, and laid back down. During lights out, I felt itty bitty feet climb on my leg, up to my hip, and then off the bed. Then I felt itty bitty feet mincing back up on the bed (from Wing 's night stand) onto my leg and hip again, round and round... until I pulled at least one of the blankets up over me, and spread part of it out for Ziggy to sleep on.

A nifty side effect of Ziggy being there is Loki didn't do his usual "Mom's a trampoline!" to get me up. He walked around the bed, head butting me in the face, meowing at me.

Even way back then, he understood the danger that has become current events

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control issue of their currency, first by inflation, then deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around these banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered. The issuing power of currency should te taken away from the banks and restored to the people, to whom it properly belongs" Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States.

Entitlement?

People paid cash for their Social Security insurance. Their benefits aren't some kind of charity or hand out.

Congressional benefits - premium federal health care, outrageous retirement packages, 67 paid holidays, three weeks paid vacation, unlimited paid sick days. Now that's welfare/entitlements.

And the GOP had the gall to call Social Security retirement 'entitlements'? Hullo?

Why is it

When you write up something in a forum about a program not working, and you even list how you already have everything set up properly, have already uninstalled and reinstalled, but the problem persists, you get some @sshole (or @ssholes) saying "Works fine for me! Did you (insert instructions to what you have already stated you have done) and make sure you have (insert the proper set up you have already informed you have done)."

1: Works fine for me!

I am just so effing happy for you. How does this help me?

2: Did you set it up correctly?

Hey dipshit, did you miss the part where I told you I did? Do I need to make the letters bigger so you can READ IT!?

As much as I wanted to reply with the above, I didn't. I did, however, state that their comments weren't of any help, that I already did have it set up, and what I don't need is someone telling me it works fine for them, but for someone who has had this problem and knows what the solution is.

To all the Tea-hadists screaming for President O's head

for daring to say he will raise taxes, I present to you, a bit of cold hard facts, provided by the US Treasury Department.



So, care to give up that hoary old lie? Or do you prefer to keep deluding yourself? How's that working out for you so far?

Ok, who's asleep at the switch?

For the past few days my automated tweets have had headers in Russian, and days of the week in Russian. I've been editing to correct this problem.

After posting the problem to LJ Support, I scrolled through other submitted tickets. Funnily enough, it seems to a a common issue, but with no answer as of yet. Let's see if it happens again tomorrow.

Doctor Who, Season 6 finale

I make no claims to clairvoyance, or being a genius (although I probably could in some instances) but I was right!  It was a well written episode and felt as if it was only 15 minutes long.

SPOILER SPACE (makes hand gesture.. these aren't the droids you're looking for. Move along!)
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I just knew the 'camo-bot' would be The Doctor's 'salvation', his escape from certain death.  And Amy, even in an alternate time line, she is still Amy.  Rory is also still devoted to her, no matter what the time line has become.

As for the kidnapper of Melody Pond?  She got what she deserved.

And the question which must never be answered... "Doctor Who?"



h.t. to the writers! They did a marvelous job!