Hey Ubisoft, THPPPPT! :D

Your take down notice dismissed, my photo work doesn't violate your I.P. You don't own word Assassin. You never did and chances are you never will. You had no business issuing a take down notice. My photography work has been reinstated by RedBubble because:

1: My images predate your game.
2: My images aren't derivative of you game, and they predate your game.
3: UBISOFT doesn't own the copyright to the words/phrase "Assassin's Guild Meeting".

The vindictive part of me would really like to go after you in a legal sense, but you want to know something? I was right, you, UBISOFT, were wrong, and I made sure via Blogs, Twitter, Facebook and other social media that others knew what you did.

Oh yes, with me being a docu-rat, I have all the information should you try this bullshit on me again, or someone else.

So, have a nice.... No, don't have a nice day. I'm not feeling that charitable towards you, as I'm sure I won't even get a form letter apology from you, so you can just suck it.

I waited 15 days, not 14.

My message to RedBubble regarding UBISOFT's claim that my photographs, the ones that predate their game, violated THEIR Intellectual Property.

As you can see, it has been 15 days, not 14 days, and I haven't had any legal action taken against me for my photos. Nor have I taken action against UBISOFT.

I have given you (and Ubisoft) more than ample evidence that:

1: My images predate their game.
2: My images aren't derivative of their game.
3: UBISOFT doesn't own the copyright to the words/phrase "Assassin's Guild Meeting".

Please reinstate my images forthwith.

Regards
Sandra Chung

Dear TollGroup Priority Shipping

It was bad enough that you showed up on December 24th in the 30 minutes I wasn't at home. What do your drivers do? Wait to see the cars/people leave just so they can do a dump a card and run? Nevertheless, my complaint is this: You offered a service online, to reschedule the deliver for December 27, AND I tucked the card into the screen door as per request.

Thank you for not bothering to show up. But that still isn't the kicker. I called to voice my concerns, only to be told that the website wasn't "New" and should have offered me Monday, December 30th as the next available delivery date. Well, you saw my request for the 12/27 delivery, and had all my information, including email and phone number, and you didn't see fit to contact me to tell me about this? So I wasted my entire day waiting for a delivery that wasn't going to arrive?

Screw you... seriously, screw you.

To all my photography friends and their families

Maybe something we should remind families about photographs of family gatherings. Most of us, when taking photos at birthday parties, New Years, Christmas, etc etc pretty much want a chronicle of the day, when family and friends are with us. We don't get in their faces, like paparazzi do (well, I'm sure some do, but most of us don't).

The value of having someone do this chronicling of family events came home. The mother of dear friend of mine was ill, melanoma that went to the brain. for what seemed like an eternity to the family, but was really a very short time, she passed away.

The family was, as you can imagine, devastated. And the saddest thing was they could only remember what she looked like during her passing.

Although it ripped me apart, because Sue was my "Mommy Down Under", I went through each and every birthday, Christmas, etc etc, and got photos of Sue happy, healthy, being silly, wearing a funny hat. I sent them to her kids.

You have no idea how much that helped.

So, keep politely sneaking those photos, discarding the bad/embarrassing ones, because you're not just pestering them. You're treasuring them forever. And just maybe giving solace to someone who needs it.

Proof that those who can't do, review

Found this little tidbit about the Matt Smith's exit and Peter Capaldi's entrance as Doctor Who:

Hollywoodlife.com also reviewed the show, saying Smith had to go.

" ... the storylines had grown stale and, due to the poor writing quality, Eleven's relationship with Clara never quite blossomed like the one he had with Amy," the site said.

Anyone with an IQ above shoehorn knew that in the Whovian universe, 11th Doctor, aka Matt Smith's character, was ripped apart by the loss of Amy and Rory. We didn't see River, but we know what her fate was. After all of this, in keeping with how much the loss of all three of these people tore into him, The Doctor wouldn't have allowed anyone get as close.

As for the complaints that Peter Capaldi is 'too old'.. are you kidding me? Go check the ages of John Pertwee, William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton, and John Hurt. Then rethink that comment.

And for the record, I liked "The Time of the Doctor". If the story line was too complicated for you, that's your problem. I didn't have any problem. Were there plot holes? Sure, but every show on TV has some. Did Matt's departure make me sad? Yes, but no where near how David Tenant's exit did.. but then there was that glorious GERINOMO from Matt to make up for it.

So, if you want to rip it apart, do it on your own time and dime, because I will just yawn, and scroll on by.

This made me laugh

I opened VLC media player to watch video.

Me vs Ubisoft - 8 Days down, 6 to go

"Assassin's Guild Meeting" photo series.



It's a case of no news is good news. They have 6 more days to bring legal charges against me.

Ubisoft filed IP/Copyright infringement, saying Assassin's Guild Meeting photo series is the same as their video game "Assassin's Creed", and issued a take down demand. (why is it I'm assumed guilty and have to prove my innocence?). I filed counter with enough evidence to choke a horse that their claims were not valid. So, I have to wait the requisite 14 days for them to file legal charges of IP Infringement. If they actually do that, I have a strong case against them.

Hey, Pickles Auction, I want a word with you....

Just how 'secure' is your secure area?

How the f&&k could someone, obviously in your employ, steal our personalized license plates from your 'secure' auction house, and blithely walk out with them?

You'll investigate, you say? Oh goodie! (dripping sarcasm here) Have fun checking video from all those cameras I saw there... that's *if* they weren't just dummy camera shells.


Investigate? Fuq that. Would have been better it for you to have vetted your workers. I don't give a rats ass about your 'investigating'. We want our number plates back.

END

OF

F&#%$ING

STORY!

With all of the square footage on my body

Why oh why does everything smack/slam into my shin?

Three weeks ago, I slammed my left shin into a heavy planter. It was properly iced, leg propped, took care of it. The point of impact area, about 3 inches wide, 3/4 in high, is still tender and sore, and every #%@$(*&$ thing in the universe keeps banging into it. Loki head butting it, Keito rubbing against it, me forgetting and crossing my leg over it, cabinet door open a fraction of an inch, Wing putting his leg over mine, or kicking me with his heel at night, etc etc.

Plastic laundry basket fell from top of the washing machine, and landed exactly onto the sore area. Sharp radiating pain that had me swearing a blue streak.

Now the waiting begins.

So, AFTER the holidays, AFTER someone might have bought one, I MIGHT get my images reinstated on Redbubble.

The wording of this really bothers me. Take action against me? What the hell for?

"Assassin's Guild Meeting" photo series.

Dear Sandra,

We are contacting you with reference to the issues you raised recently regarding content available on Redbubble.

We have notified the complainant of our receipt of your counter notice. If the complainant has not taken legal action against you after 14 days, please contact us if you wish to have the content restored. We may be in a position to reinstate your content at that time if it otherwise complies with the Redbubble User Agreement and IP/Publicity Rights Policy.

Regards,
Redbubble Content Team

Disturbed a few crickets

Moved my potted plants into the shade of the pergola. Already have my thyme plants indoors, as last year, in almost identical weather, my thyme plant got scorched to the point it couldn't recover.

When I shifted the "Chili Tree", I spotted at least a dozen crickets of varying sizes. After I settled the planter they started hopping toward it. I guess any bit of shade

Got some laundry washed, and hung out. Was dry in under an hour. Now, I'm in a comfy cool house, not too cool, though. And if it feels warm inside, I have the perfect cure. I go stand outside for a few minutes.

Perspective is an amazing thing, yes?

43 kgs and climbing

Went to dinner with Wing , Alan and An for an 'After Wing's Birthday" dinner. It's amazing to see An eat.

She is built like this: |

But she eats like this: l.

She is up to 43kgs now (durring her illness, she was down to almost 35kgs), and she looks marvelous. She smiles, laughs and engages with people. She has become a social butterfly, which we go "YES!" when we hear about another date/luncheon/coffee klatch.

And they wonder why tech support gets a bad name

I accidentally deleted some photos off my SD cards. I immediately ran Sandisk Card Recovery Pro on it. No joy. It found some deleted images, 91 in total, but not the ones I just deleted. Clearned the search, and tried again. Same 91 images, not including the ones I had just deleted.

So, I ran Paretologic. It found 339 files, with the accidentally deleted ones included. I moved them off to the external drive where they belonged.

So, I sent a detailed report to Sandisk about it. What did I get in response?

A fewking copy/paste of their FAQ. The same FAQ that treats everyone as if they have an IQ of an shoehorn.

Looking into Webhosting

Looking at web-hosting services. One of the reasons I chose Redbubble was because they had a great set up, and they used to provide a website, not just their user pages. Well, they've discontinued it because it didn't work well with tablets or smartphones.

Not really in the frame of mind to make a template, code menus, and maintain a multi page site again, but after the rather high handed way Redbubble obeyed a takedown demand on my "Assassin's Guild Meeting" photo series,without looking into it first (guilty before proven innocent?) has made doing this a distinct possibility. Customizable templates would suit me just fine.

And yes, I will keep posting my "Assassin's Guild Meeting" set until either Redbubble reinstates them, or when I get my own website.

Assassin's Guild Meeting Photo Series

After posting 4+ messages on Ubisoft's facebook page about their erroneous takedown demand, someone finally gave me a link to contact them. It's a PR/Press office. This is the letter/email I sent:

Dear Ubisoft;

Iin early 2007, I did a concept photography session in my home. I made prints of these photos and sold them at art show and printed on demand, and have been selling them for the past 6, almost 7 years. I did this before your "Assassins CREED" game came out.

The reason I'm saying this is my 3 photo series is called "The Assassin's Guild Meeting". You filed an IP violation against my images on one my photo hosting/sale sites. My photos predate your game. The titles of my photos predate your game. You don't own the word ASSASSIN, although you did try to copyright it in 2009, a full two years after my concept photoshoot.

The name of my three (3) photo series is "Assassin's Guild Meeting". NOT Assassin's Creed, which I never heard of until now, I had to search the internet to find information about this game. My photos have nothing to do with your game, have nothing to do with the characters in your games, and doesn't violate any DCMA or trademarking of yours. (see attached jpgs of my image on RedBubble, and a google search of your game)

If your claim is my "Assassin's Guild Meeting" photo series is the same as your video game "Assassin's Creed", and since my concept photoshoot predates your game, including the trademark registration of your game, if anyone's copyright was violated, it was mine.


UBISOFT hasn't registered ASSASSIN. It has registered Assassin's Creed under Class: 28 Games, toys; appliances for electronic games other than those intended for television use only; action figures;board games; automatic games apparatus, other than coin-operated and those adapted for use with television receivers only; automatic coin-operated game machines... which doesn't include artwork,especially artwork that pre-dates your game, and have nothing to do with your game. I have the original images, with their EXIF data intact as proof of when they were taken. There are other photo salesites that host these images which also show the EXIF data.


Please, go to Redbubble and remove your erroneous takedown notice. I really don't want to have to hire a lawyer when I've done nothing wrong.


Regards

Sandra Chung

Sandra Chung, Photographer

Lights, Camera, Still Shots, and Action ® http://sandra.redbubble.com/

(attached jpgs)

Up yours, UBISOFT! My images, not your intellectual property, but MINE

Assassin's Guild Meeting



Assassin's Guild - Tools of the Trade



Assassin's Guild - Meetings End




All photos taken and first released in July , 2007.

Sorry, UBISOFT, you do NOT own the word "Assassin"

Although my photos pre-date their game by a year, UBIsoft has decided that the word ASSASSIN retroactively belongs to them and only them. Guess again. My response to them:



Dear UIBSOFT, in early 2007, I did a concept photography session in my home. I made prints of these photos and sold them at art show and printed on demand, and have been selling their for the past 6, almost 7 years. I did this before your "Assassins CREED" game came out.

The reason I'm saying this is my 3 photo series is called "The Assassin's Guild Meeting". You filed an IP violation against my images on one my photo hosting/sale sites. My photos predate your game. The titles of my photos predate your game. You don't own the word ASSASSIN.

The name of my photo series is "Assassin's Guild". NOT Assassin's Creed, which I never heard of until now, I had to search the internet to find information about this game.

I have filed a counter claim, as the EXIF data on my images shows without a doubt, they predate your game.

WTF to the max!

I got this from Redbubble after having these photos, that I took in 2007, on their site were taken down because of IP violation. Huh?

Dear Sandra,

We are contacting you in accordance with Redbubble's IP/Publicity Rights Policy and as a result of having received a complaint in relation to the following content:

Assassin's Guild - End of the Meeting : http://www.redbubble.com/works/show/876917
Assassin's Guild - Tools of the Trade : http://www.redbubble.com/works/show/898532
Assassin's Guild Meeting: http://www.redbubble.com/works/show/280486

As you will be aware from our IP/Publicity Rights Policy, Redbubble requires a certain amount of information before it acts on such a complaint, including that:

- the relevant content is specifically named;

- the complaint came from the owner of the respective rights (or someone authorized to act on their behalf); and

- they have a good faith belief that the use of the relevant content is not authorized by content owner, its agent or the law.

On the basis of that information and in accordance with our User Agreement and IP/Publicity Rights Policy, we've removed the above-mentioned content from Redbubble.


I'm the only one who has the rights to these images. I never signed my rights over, I am the photographer, it was my camera. I even own the objects IN the photos. I have sent a counter claim, attached scaled down versions of the images with the EXIF data still intact with a "please explain". I want to know who made the complaint.

Saddened, but not surprised

As he's been ill for a long long time. RIP, sir.

Nelson Mandela dies at age 95.

Nelson Mandela, anti-apartheid icon and father of modern South Africa, dies




(CNN) -- Nelson Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of decades of apartheid, has died, South African President Jacob Zuma announced late Thursday.

Mandela was 95.

"He is now resting. He is now at peace," Zuma said. "Our nation has lost its greatest son. Our people have lost a father."
"What made Nelson Mandela great was precisely what made him human," the president said in his late-night address. "We saw in him what we seek in ourselves."

The world could learn so much from him and his life, if they choose to.

Early risings suck

Was up shortly after 4am, not because of the purr kids, but because of local wildlife. There was a noisy, persistent bird in the back yard making this croaky noise (no, not a magpie, or mudlark or crow/raven). Think it might have been a Cuckoo Shrike, but didn't see it.

So, once that woke me up, then Loki decided "Well, you're up already, so tend to my needs." So, I did. Then I started in on domestic chores.

I emailed the printer of my photo book, as it arrived with the spine broken up near the top, and when you opened the cover, it sounded like it was breaking even more. So, emailed photos of it. They got back to me right away, and said they would send a replacement at no charge. Then I get an email saying that one of files from a different order was corrupted, could I resend. I tried to follow the instrucitons, but the button to upload wasn't in the book creator program. So, I called again.

I told her that I had ordered 3 copies of the same book, so couldn't they just use one of the other files and print two copies of it instead of one? She said yes, as long as I sent and email rquesting it. Done.

Been wearing my glasses all morning, close to 8 hours, and yes, I have a bit of tired eyes, but nothing like yesterday. That augers well for for wearing them all day.

Already starting to feel a bit groggy. Another cup of coffee to power the station, and keep awake.

Guess it's going to take a while

Picked up my new glasses. Wore them for about 3 hours. Then eyes started feeling tired, so I popped my contacts in. Instant relief. I guess it's been so long since I've worn glasses, with the exception of just an hour or so before bed, and when I first get up, that wearing them for long period of time is something I have to adjust to doing.

Masked Moggie Loki

Took a few days

But I now have an ankle brace/support on my left ankle. Not overly comfortable, as it presses onto the bruises on my shin, but at least my ankle isn't rolling and swelling up even more.

Got one to wear during the day and a 'night time' one to use as a compression bandage to reduce the swelling.

Wow, only took them 2 months. Speed record for Adobe

Old news: Someone hacked Adobe, stealing peoples' identities and banking details of people subscribing to their "Creative Cloud", stealing thousands upon thousands of dollars.

TODAY, I get a letter (not to be mistaken for an email) from them about it, telling me to change my password and to monitor my account. Seeing as I have Zero banking details as I don't do subscription software, I find this doubly funny.

2.5 months to notify me, and I don't subscribe.

It took a few days, but it seems The Secret Service is investigating this guy now

I posted about reporting someone on Facebook who was advocating the assassination/murder of a twice duly elected president. He said he would do it, and even tried to get other to agree to join in on the 'fun'. And after Facebook decided this didn't violate their TOS and wouldn't remove it, I told them I was sending the info to the Secret Service, which I did via Twitter, on November 21st, as there was no email contact to be found on their Secret Service Page:




Yesterday, I get this from Facebook yesterday:

Hi Sandra,

We revised our decision on your report of Everest Wilhelmsen's photo.

We reviewed the photo you reported for containing hate speech or symbols. Since it violated our Community Standards, we removed it. Thanks for your report. We let Everest Wilhelmsen know that his photo has been removed, but not who reported it. Facebook never discloses who submits a report.

Thanks,
The Facebook Team


And today I read the Secret Service is investigating this 'gentleman'. I wonder if Facebook got a call from the Secret Service.

I'm all for freedom of speech, but with that freedom comes responsibility.

I reported someone on Facebook who was advocating the assassination/murder of a twice duly elected president. He said he would do it, and even tried to get other to agree to join in on the 'fun'.

At first, FB said it didn't violate their codes of conduct, to which I replied "how is threatening the president and inciting others to murder him NOT a violation? Ok, fine, I'm sending the information to the Secret Service", and I did.

A few days later, FB admins have done a backflip and reversed their decision, and has removed the post and issued the person who posted it a warning.

I didn't like President Bush. He wasn't elected the first time, but was declared president by Supreme Court fiat. He got elected 2004 on the tails of panic and inciting fear about 9/11. I thought then, and now, that he was not qualified, and incompetent, but NEVER did I want him shot or killed.

I was aghast when someone disrespected the office of the president by throwing a shoe at him. He and his administration lied through their teeth about WMDs, yellow cake uranium, costing thousands of lives.

They cut the budget for foreign embassy security, and every time an increase in funding for security was asked for, the GOP quashed it. Look up how many died under the Bush Administration watch. And even with that, I never wanted him killed

Why can't the TeaPublicans and the rabidly bigoted Conservatives extend the same respect to the office of the President?

Another shifted to a larger planter

Chili Tree #2 is now residing in what used to be the pot for the lime tree. I had tried to put it in a different pot but hadn't realized it was so pot bound and in need of more depth. Had I known, I would have transplanted it into the old lime tree pot, and put the sage seedlings in the hanging pot. Will wait until the sage is a bit recovered from one transplanting before moving them.

Lots of Thyme on my hands

And sage, too.

Got some sage seedlings to replace the one that was destroyed by woolly aphids. Dumped all the potting soil out of the old one (shame too, as it look fresh an usable, but not taking chances of aphid eggs/larva being in it), put some news paper in the bottom of the planter, and re potted the seedlings.

Did the same with the thyme, but have them in smaller pots, to be hung out of reach of snails.

Used some SeaSol in all three newly re potted planters, and sprinkled in some animal safe snail pellets. Will head off to Bunnings t get some hooks to hang the thyme plants up. And *this* summer, when it gets too hot, I will bring them indoors.

Turned 45 today...

Too bad it was a U-Turn. :)

Ah well, time marches on. People have asked "What's it feel like?"

Seeing as the problems I have now originated when I was in my early 20s, I really don't feel any different.

Went out for a micro wine crawl with Wing , Meegan and Daryl after a nice pasta dinner with Wing.

Heading out today to pick up new contact lenses, different 'script, as my myopia has improved, and current lenses are just too strong.

Will also be putting in order at the butchers' for Giftmus Turkey. I have to be a bit more careful in the kitchen this year, as it seems every year someone has some dietary no no (no lactose, no gluten, or other food allergies). It's no hardship to do this, I just have to make sure to keep cooking/mixing implements separate.

Well, heading off to order a pteranodon for December, of which I will cook to perfection again. :)

Productive but not much fun

Sorted out and washed, hung out, took down, fluff and folded 4 loads of laundry.

Broke out the vacuum cleaner and the carpets got its tender attentions. Amazing how much crud a bagless machine gets out of the rug. Emptied it, swapped out dust mite filter for a clean one. Cleaned the 'dirty' filter, then noticed how grungy the utility sink was. Scrubbed that out. New shade of color now... clean.

Attacked a 'clutter corner' in our bedroom, and have irritated Ziggy because of it. I removed a stack of book from there, and put them in the bookcase, thereby filling in Ziggy's bolt hole behind the scratch post.

Now I have the not so much fun part, as pain and nausea have arrived in equal measure.

Had a bit of an accident last night

Sometimes, those solar charged lawn lights don't got the distance. Sometimes they shut off but not because the battery charged went flat.

We have two solar powered floods aimed at the front door. Typically, I walk up to them at night, use my small flashlight on the solar panels for about a second, and they come back on and stay one for a few hours.

I did this, as usual,but forgot I had moved a large, recently emptied planter. I turned around, and walked smack into it, bashing my left shin very hard. Lost balance, executed a pirouette a ballerina would have been proud to see, regained balance, and walked to the door to go in.

Only thing that ran through my head is "please, no bleeding" because as hard has I hit it, I didn't really feel it because of nerve damage. Got into the house, checked the shin, and Hooo doggie did I do a helluva hit, but no blood.

Alan saw it and said "Holy shit." , went to the freezer and got a bag of frozen pea, wrapped in a towel, then got foot stool, and I applied the improvised icepack. Kept bruising to minimum.

Left hip is a bit sore this morning, though, so probably gave it a helluva wrench last night.

I just keep wondering

If Walmart spent all the money they're shelling out to highlight the few employees that aren't being paid wages so low that US taxpayers have to support the workers via family assistance programs, on ALL the employees, they wouldn't NEED to highlight the few that aren't being paid slave wages.

Teaborg Prom Queen Ann Coulter is either a liar, or thinks everyone as stupid at Sen Rafael Cruz

Senator Rafael Cruz' father (and others) keep making references about sending President Obama "back to Kenya".  Considering how all the TeaHadists have insisted President O wasn't born in Hawaii (as records clearly prove he was) that he was born in Kenya, Ann Coulter is trying to pass off this bigoted birther bullshit as "a joke" that just "kills em" at TeaFuq rallies and parties. The people aren't laughing, they are cheering and agreeing.

Now, I know this four letter word for woman ending in UNT and I don't mean aunt, is a talking head for FAUX, Rush Limbaugh, and whatever food group of idiots she has currently glommed onto, but no one, and I mean no one, who has more than two braincells thinks the 'back to Kenya' is a joke. And if she is so addle pated that she thinks it's a joke, please, stop giving that shrew airtime and have her fitted for long sleeved canvas jacket with buckles in the back.

The apple definitely didn't fall far from the tree.

Senator Rafael Cruz has had his father shilling for him. Now I see where Sen Cruz gets his insanity. He inherited it genetically from his father. Mr Rafael Cruz Sr not just a flat out liar, he also has no grasp on reality.

Mr Rafael Cruz Sr, a Cuban communist, is saying the US Constitution was written by men on their knees, divinely inspired, that the US Was founded as a Christian nation might fly in Cuban schools, but sorry, buckwheat, it's just not true. Secular men, secular document, secular nation.

He spouts debunked Birther bullshit. How about instead of sending our US born President 'back to Kenya' where he wasn't born, you take that daffy-assed kid of yours back to Canada, where he was born.

Claims that President Obama never says "under god" when he recites the Pledge of Allegiance. Dear Mr Cruz Sr, there is this newish invention called VIDEO, which clearly shows you're either lying through your teeth, or suffering from a psychotic break from reality.

But just like his lamebrain son, he is pandering to the lowest common denominator. Scared, bigoted TeaBorgs

Pinnacles, Stage 1

We left a bit later than we had planned, but taking mom out to lunch had priority. Still amazing the difference in her.

Arrived at the Cervantes Pinnacles Motel. Receptionist remembered us from the last time we were here. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Sometimes, old methods work best

Wing brought a Neti pot home tonight, for me to use. Heated up some filtered water, added it and the ph balanced salt mixture and flushed my sinuses out. It took a while for the solution to exit because of how swollen my sinuses must have been. But when it started flowing out, the painful pressure started easing. Tipped head and flushed out the other direction. Blessed relief about about 2 hrs. Repeated treatment.

I might still have a runny/stuffy nose but at least it doesn't feel as if my face is a pressure cooker. Here's hoping it means I can get a good nights sleep tonight.

Feeling a bit 'lazy'

Well, not lazy, but enervated. I've had the worst allergy attack in about 5 years. Not just a case of the sniffles, but painfully blocked sinuses along, itchy eyes, and ringing in the ears.

I don't truly have a fever, but I feel cold, and the only way I feel comfortable is when I'm buried in blankets. I know it's allergies rather than a cold because if I stay in the shower, allergic symptoms abate. Unfortunately, I can't stay in the shower all day, and right now, my face feels as if it's filled with quick-set concrete. :p

Allergies - 1, Me - 0

But I am putting up the good fight. Between Telfast, Azep and ibuprofen, I'm at least semi functional. At least my face doesn't feel as if the front of my face or eyes want to explode or separate from my skull.

Still feel so very tired. Ribs sore from the sneezing, too. :p 

It's called Hay Fever for a reason

Achy, sneezing, itching eyes, and fever.  Pressure and pain behind the eyes. I get some relief when I was in the shower, but can't stay in there all day. 

Also, sleepy. And that's without taking anything for it.  Bad timing, because I want to get some things cooked up for Mom in Law. She's back home, and we would like to make things easy on her. If she doesn't have to worry about cooking (something that Wing  will attest to that other than rice, she can't do very well) it will keep her relaxed and stress free.  Don't want to do everything for her, but the occasional roasted chicken, or grilled fish would be most welcome.

To say Ziggy is 'high strung'

Is an understatement.  Ziggy isn't allowed to roam free, but I do let her accompany me when I'm futzing around with my potted plants in the back yard.

She typically shadows me, meowing all the time as if announcing her presence to the world, and explores the back yard as I go along pruning, watering and feeding the plants.

When we came around to the gate area, Ziggy flopped down on a patch of sun-warmed bricks and started rolling around on them.  She was a little too close to the gate, and she ever so gently nudged it with her head. Of course, the metal gate rattled, startling her. She sprang to her feet, proceeded to inflate and dashed into the house.

I, of course, held off laughter until she was out of sight.

Amazing what three months of care and treatment will do

Today, we visited An at the hospital, to take her out on a lunch date.  An is like a completely different person than the wounded soul that was admitted to the hospital 3 months ago. She smiled, laughed, greeted everyone with a pleasant demeanor, hugged, kissed. Although still woefully thin, she's no longer 'starvation gaunt' anymore. And it shows in her face.

Then we took her to lunch. Let's just say she is absolved from having to eat afternoon sandwich today. We even told her nurses this. Still amazed at what such a tiny woman can pack away. Also, she wasn't obsessing over oil in the food. We didn't see her squishing squid between to napkins to the point her nail beds were white, trying to squeeze oil out of it. She just ate... and ate, and ate, and ate .

She isn't fully recovered yet, but she is on the road to recovery. And in two sleeps (three if she drifts into a food coma this afternoon) she comes home!

That was fun

Someone just got a new computer, and it has Win8 on it. Well, that horrid Metro Screen and other issue with Win8 were really annoying her but she didn't know how to fix it.

I popped her off a message, and then spent about 2hrs (I offered, not complaining, just showing how thorough I was) getting her up and going, annoyances abated, start button and menu back, unnecessary apps shut down.

Time to take my tech support hat off, take my contacts out, grab a good book, and get ready for some me time. After "Galaxy Quest" is over. :D

No wonder I was squinting

And taking my glasses off to read.  Eye exam showed that my myopia has gotten better, making my 'script  too strong.  No wonder my eyes got tired when wearing them. I would just squint when wearing the contacts.

Will be re-using my current titanium frames. Also, getting a trial 'script for different strength of contacts. They suit, will order 90 days worth.

Of course, this means I will have to reset all diopters on all the cameras. :)  Small price to pay to not have to squint, or have achey eyes.

I think OnOne needs to know this

I downloaded and installed beta version of  PhotoSuite 8. It worked great, but it caused some problems.

1: Disabled certain other OnOne plugins.  PhotoTools 2.6 Pro would open to solid black previews, and PhotoTune 3x kicked back an error and wouldn't launch.  PhotoTune not too much of an issue with me, but PhotoTools have custom presets that weren't transferrable to PhotoSuite 7x, so pretty sure I will have the same problem with v8x.

2: Prevented Browse In Bridge from functioning in ALL versions of Photoshop. CS5E, CS6E and CC, both 32 and 64bit.

I uninstalled it, and all is working as it should again.

Now, this could be because it's beta, but going to tell them about it, because if this happens in the full release, I'll be very pissed off.

I spotted something odd

I was reading postings by Tea Party/GOP supporters, and whenever they posted something snide, or blatantly wrong (ie President is Kenyan, or Rafael Cruz is some sort of genius) I noticed they tend to put capslocked "LOLs" in their postings. Sometimes several in one posting.

I thought that maybe I was seeing things, so I scrolled through several different forums and sites, and checked out postings by what I call TeaBorgs (anyone familiar with Star Trek TNG gets the Borg, but for those who don't, they are part of a collective, incapable of individual thinking for themselves). I noted this "LOL" phenomenon over and over. Postings made by people who weren't TeaBorgs typed concise verifiable data, had TeaBorg rebuttals typically snide comments, links to usually debunked, debated, or flat out made up sites, mixed with many LOLs.

Are they laughing at themselves? I think so, and because of this, I read their venom, and shake my head with pity.

Now I can put "Puppy Wrangler" on my resume

A friend knocked on my window shortly before 9am asking for help with a neighbor.  Turns out their breeding bitch managed to slip her lead, escaped from the back yard, and her puppies were squirming through the fence/gate to get  to her. 

CODE RED!  Went to the neighbors yard, gathered up and held puppies (so CUTE Awww PUPPIES!!!), while dog sitter chased down momma dog, and put her back on her lead.

Then, scooped up the wriggly Houdini  puppies, put them in a container and pinned up heavy mats over the gate, and placed other things to prevent them from escaping again.

Give them another week, and they won't be able to squeeze out, but for now, it will keep them in their yard and safe.

PUPPIES!! Soooo CUTE!!!

DIY Project

The rope on the cats' claw posts/towers were pretty much shredded, and falling off.

Went to Bunnings, got a Heavy Duty Staple Guns, some heavy duty staples, and some of that scritchy rope.  Came home. Went back to Bunnings as the staple gun didn't work (my purchase curse is still in full effect.) Exchanged it for a different one.

Came back home, and stripped the old worn/shredded rope from one of the cat tower posts, and re-wrapped it. Looks brand new.

Before




After



One down, two to go!  Took all of 10 minutes to do it.

Well, this sucks

For the last 4 years, I've been entering the CanonEOS Photo5. You get this small box with everyday, or odd items, and you create something wonderful with them. A few years, I wasn't able to get all entries in (one year an eye infection sidelined me, two years later, one of the most vicious cases of the flu I'd had in years).

Last year I was able to. Last year, the individual entries were judged by professional photographers. Out of that, the judges would pick 5 of who they judged were the best in each category, and it came down to popular voite. That kind of didn't sit right, because if you don't have a few hundred relatives or internet friends, you have no chance of winning.

But this year... Not only did the boxes not arrive in time for many, they didn't extend the deadlines due to mishandling the on mailing out the boxes. I had to do a few of the briefs on my own before my box showed up (funnily enough, two showed up on one day, and then 4 days later a 3rd one showed up.)

After I entered, I found out that it's down to 'votes', not being judged by pro photographers. Photography skills, imagination and creativity right out the window, it's down to who can get the most people to vote for their images. Again, if you don't have a huge coterie of family and friends, you're shit out of luck. Not only is it voting, but the voting system is horrid! You get five random images, and you have to cycle through them, with constant repeated images, until you find the one you want to vote for. It took me 26 minutes to find one of mine.

I don't know who thought this new method was a good idea. I want to know who was handling the mailing of the Photo5 boxes? And who thought the constantly shifting images when you try to even view them was a good thing? So much fail.

Anyhooo, here are my CanonEOS Photo5 2013 Entries

Open Brief  - Reflections - Matter/Anti Matter



Brief #2 Flour - Evolution to Bread



Brief #3 - Jelly (Jello) - Bugles, Bangles and Beads



Brief #4 Cartoon Eyes - Mr Coffee and Family




Brief #5 - Stencil - "The Confessional"

Sorry, 16c isn't warm enough

When I'm wearing a sweater over a long sleeved knit shirt, and my feet are cold even when wearing shoes, I put the heat on.

I've been on a nostalgia kick again. This time, items from my childhood, that were taken away, or lost. And not just items I had. One of items, my sister had. Brings back memories of a happier time.

I also managed to get video of Ziggy pulling the peg/lock out of the door frame, and then opening the door. Someone suggested a lock higher up on the door. Already have one, and I've caught her testing that one out! No, they don't need thumb to take over the world. :D

The cold damp has taking up permanent residence

Right at the back of my spine. I got some things done today (laundry, vacuuming, cooking dinner) but no where near as much as I wanted to. Pain got to the point I wanted to vomit. I really wish Wing and Alan would actually see it, instead of seeing the after effects. Maybe if they actually saw it...

Oh well, not going to hold my breath. I might look good in blue, but I wouldn't look good cadaver blue.

Most excellent

Have just about finished updating all software (with notable exception of the graphics drivers that won't update for some odd reason), tweaked the system settings and have it running the way I want... for now. Waiting for Windows 8 update to 8.1, which will allow users to completely skip the metro screen. Yes, there are programs and utilities that jump to the desktop from metro, but 8.1 will give you option of not even pit stopping there first.

All set up

Got the last of the known Win7/Win8 compatibility problems resolved. More like irksome quirks than true compatibility problems. (ie having to select to run things as Administrator in Win8, which I didn't have to do in Win7). I know Microsoft thinks they're making things 'dummy proof', but all it does is annoy those of us who know what to and not to do.

Still can't update the graphics drivers to the 'official' Sony driver. Had to use AMD Beta version. Hey, it works just fine.

Next thing, I have to recalibrate the screen. It's too 'bluish'.

Well, that was a waste of time

Sony Support did replace the dodgy/faulty harddrive, and I re-imaged it to Windows 7. Was tempted to keep it there, but I kept getting that intermittent futz error that no one could figure out what was causing it. It was more a necessity, as the computer was Windows 8 ready, but Windows 8 hadn't been released. There was something with it that wasn't quite compatible with Windows 7, hence the error I would intermittently get.

So, after updating all software, uninstalling certain items I knew would need to be reinstalled, I made a Windows 7 full system image, girded my loins, and went through the Windows 8 upgrade.

Long tedious with reboots, updating, reinstalling, tweaking, all is set up and working (Yes, Jennifer, I was able fix the issues I was having this morning). Now, just waiting to hear back from certain software makers about new license numbers, as my machine ID changed because of the hardware change.

I seriously hope I never have to do this again, for a long long time.

Daily Chore with side of funny

One of the first chores I do in the morning is clean out the 'sandboxes'. What's funny about it is being supervised by Ziggy. She looks the sandbox, looks at me, looks back at the sandbox, looks at me, snorts and walks off. All I can think of is "Hey! I worked HARD to get that sandbox set up like that!"

No, not mentioned because I want pity

There was a weekly subject for a photo group, titled "I am.."

For me, I posted a photo of my 'breakfast' this morning. Some pain medication, and a class of water with the caption "I am.. in constant/chronic pain. Some days are worse than others. But I refuse to give into it."

This isn't said to garner pity, or sympathy. If anything, it's to let people know, if I'm not walking quite as fast, it has nothing to do with being lazy. If I'm not talking, just nodding to you to show I'm paying attention, it's because I don't want my voice to betray that the pain is trying to limit me.

I refuse to give in, but do have limitations.. that I ignore, then pay for at a later time.

Well, it's back and running

Sony Vaio has returned. I broke out the system image, and Win7 re-image was successful. With that, though, I have the "foo" error that seems to have no apparent reason (hardware, software, bios all check out fine) again. Concensus is/was that it's an error related to the fact this machine is made for Windows 8.

I have my documentation for the windows 8 upgrade.. yet again. Oy. Do I want to put up with the intermittent Win32k.sys error, or take the chance on installing Windows 8 again.

Technically, it wasn't the storm that woke me up at 3am

It was two cats who were spooked by the weather and demanded a snuggle, meeping and meowing, head snogging, pawing, trying to hide under the blankets.

Normally, I just sleep through stormy weather. I guess the winds were more intense than usual, and it made them skittish.

OH well, I can always get a nap in later... (pauses for incredulous laughter here) Yeah, right.

Never piss off an educated Pagan

I have a very dear friend, who has fallen on hard times. Her job vanished, and even after looking for a new one, things still aren't going well for her. She has one but it's a case of too late to keep her above water.

Now, this isn't being said to garner pity, or asking for a hand out, hand up, but to rant.

How DARE a self righteous relative of hers make fun of her. How dare he use re- written by his preacher passages in the bible meant to insult President Obama as his excuse for such piss poor behavior. I'm betting this asshole dislocates his own shoulder patting himself on the back as to how wonderful he is, totally forgetting that "But for the grace of God go I." when it comes to someone in dire straights.

What did (the historical) Jesus say about taking care of family?

Timothy 5:8

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

So, relative of my friend, suck it up, because according to your OWN holy writings, you have denied your own faith, and are worse than an unbeliever.

Did some macro photography over the weekend

Bee in a Large Mallee Fruit blossom (and an ant, too!)




Beetle between two Mallee Fruits



Bee on a Kangaroo Paw blossom

Dammit

Went to bed too early last night, and end up awake before 4am.  Tried to go back to sleep, but no joy.  There will be a nap today, no ifs, ands or butts.

Starting to wilt here

Been up since 4:30ish am, because Wing felt it was necessary to tell me he wasn 't feeling well. And I'm the type of person, once I'm awake, I'm awake. On rare occasions I can get back to sleep, but that wasn't to happen today.

Got up, fed the two male Purr Kids (Ziggy wasn't interested in eating yet) Didn't do too much as I didn't want to disturb Wing. I swear, if a gnat burps, the noise of that would wake him up.

Waited for the mail to arrive. Photo5 box still hasn't arrived, so I decided to read up on the Canon Photo5 site to see what the brief was about. Flour, texture and contrast. Ok, then pillaged my own kitchen to find what I would need to set that up and do it.

Three 20 minute sets, 2 clean ups and three set ups, checking images, and then being satisfied with some images. Now, just have to figure out which crop/size I want.

Re-ordered coffee yesterday, and they arrived today. Not too shabby, but the deliveryman giave me the creeps. Car parked in the drive way, and he walks up and yells "ANYONE HOME?" To which I answer "Yes, be right with you."

Normal so far, yes? I open the door, and he looks me up and down a few times, asks my name, which I provided, then he stepped a bit closer looking down then up but this time his eyes didn't reach my face.

Hey, I'm no prize, but I felt the hair on the back of my neck rise. I backed up and made sure the box of coffee was between him and myself. Wing, in the bedroom, coughed and this guys eyes darted over my left shoulder. I said "My husband is home, not feeling too well today." He handed me the thingamabob to scribble my signature and left with alacrity. I actually felt relieved.

Now, I'm starting to feel that early morning rising, compounded with going to bed rather late last night. Will try to make it until at least 9pm, then it's jammie time!

Guys wanting it both ways

Boyfriend, girlfriend.  Guy doesn't want children, gal does. Seemingly oblivious that sex can result in pregnancy, he doesn't want or like to use condoms. He knows she doesn't take birth control.

She gets pregnant. He doesn't want it, she does. Unbeknown to her, he gives her RU-486, causing a miscarriage. Although he has been arrested and charged, I feel the charges are incorrect. (Can't 'murder' an embryo, but we will leave that for another time.) He should have been charged with dispensing medications without a medical license, reckless endangerment, or whatever charges can be filed for illegally drugging someone.

But what got me was the comments.

"She should have kept her legs closed."
"She knew he didn't want children, so it's 100% her responsibility if she gets pregnant"
"Unless it was rape, she takes full responsibility for the pregnancy."

What th hell?  How about this:

"He should have kept his fly zipped."
"Sex results in pregnancy. Don't want that, kept it tucked, or put a cap on it."
"His right to what is done with that sperm ends when it leaves his body, and enters her vaginal vault."
"Took two to create a pregnancy, both parties are responsible."

I raised both my sons this way. I also told them should they do other than the above four statements, it wouldn't be the law they would have to be afraid of... it would be me.

But you get a flurry of men who still want to rule women. Men who don't want women to have the right to choose what to do about unplanned pregnancy, force her to carry to term. Then you get men who want to force women to abort (or drug her to miscarry) because he decided sex shouldn't result in pregnancy.  There are examples of men killing their pregnant girlfriends, and while in prison, calling it a "child support adjustment". No joke.

When are these knuckle dragging Neanderthals going to be made extinct?  When the HELL are these double standards going to %#$@%# stop!

I've never been one to just throw up my hands and quit

But I was >.< this close to giving up on Adobe Photoshop CS6E because of how glacially slow Bridge was. Bridge in CS5 was fast, but in CS6, snails could out run it.

So, ok, what's the different between CS6 and CS5 Bridge?  For months, I couldn't find a damned thing. Set up was the same,  same settings for thumbnails, disk caching, etc all the same. 

I did find I could use the faster CS5 bridge with CS6, if I was willing to do without a few of the tools, including the latest version of Adobe Camera Raw.  I actually did do this for a few days, but certain ACR tools were integral in photo processing. 

While I was setting up a new script with a nifty utility called Y-Launch, a great freeware program made by  to run  C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop CS6 64bit and C:\Adobe\Adobe CS5 64 bit Bridge I discovered that although there is 64bit version of Bridge for CS6, there is no 64bit version of Bridge for CS5.

*LIGHTBULB*

Kept Y-Launch open, and checked the Program Files (86) directory and sure enough, there was CS5 bridge for 32bit, and one for CS6 also. Hmmm, CS5 fast, 32 bit. CS6 slow.. and it's launching the 64bit version.  Let's see how fast it is if I launch the 32bit version of Adobe CS6 Bridge.

Holy f**king shit.  Once again, thumbnails loading fast, no more stalling at "Building Criteria", and no more of the program behaving as if every time I open a specific folder, that it's a brand new import.  Had I known that Photoshop CS5 Bridge was 32bit only... 

So now in Y-Launch, I have a script file that executes the following commands:

"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop CS6 (64 Bit)\Photoshop.exe"
"C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Bridge CS6\Bridge.exe"

Simon, I owe you a beer! A cup of tea, or coffee.. something.

Ah, the ubiquitous 9-3

Good news, my Vaio has been booked to be picked up by a courier tomorrow. YAY!

"Will someone be there sometime between 9 and 3?"

What is so difficult about planning a couriers schedule?  Look at the route, distance, directions, plan shortest from point to point.

A: Mr Smith, 8am
B: Mr Jones 8:20am
C: Mrs Cooper 8:45

Have some wiggle room, yes but this 6 hour window?  Can you imagine if you told your boss "Yeah, I'll be in... sometime between 9 and 3."

What's the hardship saying "Courier will be there near or at 9:45. Will someone be home?"  *sigh* At least it will get the new hard drive. Then it's just fussing with restoring the Windows 7 system image merry-go-round again. Easy peasy.

He is just soooo right

I have the worst luck when it comes to electronics/computers.

Right in the middle of the attempt (I guess the word attempt give it away) to restore the Windows 7 64bit Pro image to the Sony Vaio, something didn't work. Had popup error "320", said reboot (I did) and then got BootMng Error, Press CTRL+ALT+Del to restart system.
BootMng Error, Press CTRL+ALT+Del to restart system.
BootMng Error, Press CTRL+ALT+Del to restart system.

Seeing as it worked before, I called Sony Support.  Cliff Notes version, machine still under warranty, booked in for repairs,  hard drive replacement. Then when it comes back I restore the system image, and go through the joys of Windows 8 Upgrade again.

And I had such high hopes

Dashed upon the rocks of "Must be user error".

Quick recap: bought a Sony Vaio laptop with Windows 7 on it, but Windows 8 ready. Could purchase upgrade for $14.99.

First time, around, using the Sony Vaio update utility, I had problem after problem after problem (copy/paste not working, Windows Explorer crashing, video/graphics drivers issues, then the black blank screen) so I restored the Windows 7 system image I had.

A few months roll by, and after yet again getting intermittent BSODs during Windows 7 start ups, of which no specific reason could be found, I decided to update to Windows 8 again.

Once again, rolled out the Sony Viao update utility, updated to Windows 8. Knew about the graphics driver issue, the fix for the copy paste issue, and what to do about the black screen.

Ok, well and good. Let's go back to the Sony site and get the most up to date drivers. Therein lies the problem. Once again, when I tried to update the video drivers, I keep getting "You don't have the right hardware for this update". So, I head on over to the AMD site. Yes, they have the newer drivers, but it specifically says NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SONY LAPTOPS.

I emailed Sony. I had thought I was actually getting somewhere with them. How so silly of me. Want to know what their final response was? An hours long version of "Have you tried turning it off then back on?" Yes, their brilliant decision was to restore Windows 7 (again) and update to Windows 8 (again) using the Sony Viao update utility (again)

Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same exact thing over and over and expecting a different result?

Clue up: First attempt to update fails, could very well be user or software problem. 2nd attempt, there's something wrong with the hardware.

I'm betting she hiding it then throwing it away

Wing  just came back from visiting his mother. It seems that even with her being escorted to breakfast, lunch and dinner, having 2 snacks served, and being given the dietary supplements, she has managed to lose even more weight.

All tests have shown there's nothing wrong, no obstructions, digestion working properly etc. There is no medical reason for her to be losing the weight. There's only one reason she's losing weight. She's only pretending to eat.  I told Wing I'm betting she's not eating her meals, that she's stashing them on her person (pockets or between her arms and body), and when she gets back to her room, she is just flushing it down the toilet, or throwing it in the wards' large communal trash bin.  I showed him how easy it would be to do it. 

Well, if she hates being there now, she is really going to loathe it, as her weight loss is interfering with her medical treatment.  She will probably be put under constant watch during meal times, and not allowed to leave until she finishes what she is served.

Luckily, she likes the back yard

After I started a load of laundry, I started vacuuming. It's a good thing the washing machine have uneven load, and that Ziggy likes the back yard and didn't stray far.

Yes, Wing, you once again didn't close the screen door, and Ziggy yanked open the sliding glass door and headed out to parts unknown.. well, into the back yard. 

Yowza is she loud when she meows. 

Well that made my day

I get an email notice when AusPost has a parcel/deliveries headed my way. So, I waited.

I heard a knock on the front door. I went out the side, as usual and looked over the gate. I spotted a new delivery person. He saw me, came over, and I introduced myself, and told him that if there's ever delivery, come to the side entrance, not the front, as the side is where I'm editing photos, reading, or doing whatever.

He told me that at the Bibra Lake mail depot, that I'm known as "Oh, that nice lady at * ***** ******." The new delivery person agreed. :D

Kind of made my day.

I've upset Ziggy... again.

I cleared off the playground, aka cleaned off my desks.  She seems a bit riled, as she keeps jumping onto the windowsill, leaping to the sofa, down to the floor, repeat.  Now she's deliberately knocking things off the TV stand.

Wench.

Short list of three

I've had this photoshoot concept, and have been hammering away at how to do it (solved) and who will be my female model (solved).  My problem was finding the right male model for it.

I had a list of about 6. I culled it back to 4.  Removed one more to make it a short list of 3.  Either of them would be great for what I want (want youthful, but not young, appearance, kind of not quite worldly, innocent).

Once the selection is down to one, it will be a matter of scheduling (her schedule, his schedule). Studio time is negotiable, as much of this could be done outdoors, with flash stands for extra or directed lighting.

Corel PSPX6 Update

Just for giggles, I opened up the 32bit version of PSPX6. Selected Preferences, File Locations, Plugins. I clicked on add and pointed the program to the Paintshop Pro X5 plugin directory and to my delight, all the plugins I had been used to using with X5 work in X6 32bit.

True, the 64bit allows to use full system resources when it comes to memory usage, but counter that with being able to use all the tools/plugins.

Plugins Compatible with Corel Paintshop Pro X6 Ultimate 32bit:

Alien Skin (all of them )
Athentech Imaging - Portrait Professional
ePaperPress PTLens Correction
Flaming Pear Plugins
Focus Magic
Nik Software; Color Efex Pro 2 and 3, Viveza 1, Define 2, Silver Efex 1, Sharpener Pro 2.0, Sharpener Pro 3.0 (RAW), Sharpener Pro 3.0 (Output Sharpener.) Hoping that Nik/Google and Corel get together to make the more recent plugins compatible with Corel.
Redfield Plugins
Richard Rosenman: DOF Pro and LensPro
Picture Code Noise Ninja
Virtual Painter

Corel Paintshop Pro X6

Corel has new version of PaintShop Pro Ultimate out soon. I had the good fortune of being able to get my hot little hands on it before the mass release.. LEGALLY

First up: it loads a helluva lot faster than any incarnation of Photoshop, and it's browse/collection feature kicks Bridge into the dust.

The built in tools are great, no doubt, and the camera RAW support is fantastic.

Supposedly, there is 3rd Party plugin support ala Photoshop Plugins working in it, but I regret to say.. not so good.

What does work so far is this:

Focus Magic
Alienskin Plugins
Redfield Plugins
Nik Software - Sharpener Pro 3 only
ePaperPress -PTLens Correction
Anthropics - Portrait Professional



This might change in the future, but this is what I have that works so far. None of the onOne plugins are recognized, but that's the same as Paintshop Pro X5. And with onONe Suite, it can be used as a standalone. With regards to Nik/Google plugins: in PSPX5, you could use Nik/Google Define 2.0, Silver Efex 1 and Viveza 1. Even those no longer work in PSPX6. Here's hoping that my emailing Corel and Nik/Google about this will bring results we want.

That being said, Corel PaintshopPro X6 by itself is one helluva good program. Adjustment tools are very good. The selection tools, especially the Smart Selection, surpasses Adobe Photoshops yet again. It's also more stable then it's predecessor.

So, if you don't want Subscription Photoshop, go for Corel Paintshop Pro X6. You will NOT be disappointed.

Uhh, more TeaBorg mental re-writing of Constitutional Law.. regardless of facts

Senator Ted Cruz has made the most outlandish statement. He's saying he's renouncing his Canadian citizenship, and that although he was born in Calgary, he's a natural born (ie by birth) US citizen, because his mother is American.

That's not how it works.

He can renounce his Canadian citizenship all he wants, but unless he was born on US territory in Canada (ie Embassy, military base etc) which he wasn't, he's not a US citizen by birth, but naturalized, as he was born in Calgary and MOVED to the US.


I know all the Teaborgs will deny this, but Ted Cruz is a Canadian by birth, and a Naturalized US citizen. Sad thing, is that this lie will be repeated over and over and over, just like when Cheney did it, that stupid people will start to believe that lie, and defend it unto death.

On an aside, he's one of the TeaBorg birthers that insists that President Barack Obama, born in Hawaii of an American Mother is somehow a Kenyan.

Mom-in-Law (and Yin) update

The doctor said there's a slight yet noticeable improvement in An's mental state. Small increases in her medications are showing signs of working. Yes, she still insists the medication is making her 'dopey', but she is told immediately that the meds she's being given aren't sedatives, and can't cause drowsiness. Also, now when she makes up or lies about something, she is brought up short on it, told flat out that that's not true, and to stop it. Her 'playacting' can be unintentionally funny. She was insisting her hands were too unsteady to sign her name. She had been holding them rock steady in front of her, and when Wing pointed that out, she darted a look around, unfolded her hands, put one slightly in front of the other and deliberately started shaking it up and down. Wing looked at it, laughed and called her out on it. Told to quit it, as she was doing it herself. She got a bit..huffy and told him it was time for him to leave.

She is still being 'not treated nice' by the hospital staff (translation, they make sure she eats her meals, takes the supplements and medications) and that won't be stopped any time soon.

Wing was advised to not come every day, to break up that routine, to make An go out and do something rather than hiding in her room.

Yin is her cat. Between 16 and 17 yrs old by my calculation. That poor moggie was in deplorable shape. Matted fur, underfed, in very poor condition. Much of it was because with An being ill and not eating properly, she was doing the same thing to the cat. She was give just extra lean hamburger, and canned tuna in water. No fats, no taurines, nothing.

After 3 weeks of proper care and feeding, the matted fur has been all but totally brushed off, she's put on some weight so isn't so bony, walking stronger and less wobbly. I also saw her jogging from one room to another. She does have obvious arthritis in the 'wrist' of her left leg, but seeing how senior of a cat she is, it's not surprising. But now, with the proper fats in her diet, she is moving much better, quicker and steadier on her feet. Her coat is getting softer and fuller, not so brittle feeling.

When An is out of the hospital, she will be given strict feeding instructions for Yin. She might be a 17 yr old cat, but she is active, alert, all bodily functions working, and toileting properly. There's not reason that she can't have another 4 good years with the proper care.

Change of dinner plans

I had taken the hamburger/beef mince out of the freezer early this morning. I wanted to start making my 3 burner Chili for dinner. I went out at 1pm, thinking the hamburger would be defrosted. *sigh* Nope, you can hammer nails into a wall with it. So, I guess it's not just me being cold, and that it's actually cold in the house.

So, have to decide what will be on the dinner menu tonight, as I don't like using microwave to defrost hamburger.

Long day today

But a very good one. Got up early, as Wing said we were expected in Leederville by 10am. I was up and ready on time, but Wing was running late like usual. So, arrived a bit late, and we all had a goodly breakfast, did a bit of street photography, then headed to Lake Monger.


What surprised me was how far around the lake I managed to walk without having to sit down, or starting to limp. Definite improvement from the last time. Doc did say it would take years for me to completely recover, but I would. And I am! :D

After a few hours there, Wing and headed into Fremantle to attend a Venture Photography gathering. Hung out there for a few hours. While I was taking photos, I felt someone tap me on my shoulder. I turned to look, and a very nice young man handed me a rose, and said "Thank you for supporting the "Sea Shepherds" I was wearing the 'official' Sea Shepherds hooded sweatshirt (keep Zimmerman away from me!). Then I got a hug from him. Kinda made my day.

Came home, and surprisingly my back is not too sore. Here's hoping that there's no being lame tomorrow.

It's been at least 50 restarts

I'm beginning to think that even though the laptop came with Windows 7 64 installed, I kept having intermittent BSODs on start up. and other odd errors. It was sold with a $15 upgrade to Windows 8. I have a funny feeling the laptop was made for Windows 8, but the OS wasn't available for installation.

The first attempt to upgrade to Windows 8 had problem after problem. The 'straw' was after setting up a custom theme, had to reboot, and got a solid black screen, and there was no way for me to boot in via safe mode, because some bright spark decided to set Windows 8 up that you had to start up in Safe Mode by choosing it while IN Windows 8 desktop. *boggle*

Restored the original Windows 7 system, as I was wise enough to make a full system image back up before the upgrade. After running the system for several more months, putting up with the intermittent BSODs at start up (all troubleshooting procedures were done, drivers updated, rolled back, etc etc) I decided to try to upgrade to Windows 8 again. But this time, I had all the drivers needed for W8, uninstalled utilities I knew would cause problems, but could be reinstalled.

Well, it's been at least a month, have had at least 50 reboots and not one BSOD at start up or at any other time. So, again, I'm betting that even though windows 7 was installed on this computer, it was really built for Windows 8.

Two steps forward, one step back

Wing 's mom has had a relapse. She's refusing to eat all of her meals, now, and lost the weight she put on the first 7 days she was there.

Trudi says it's not unusual and to be expected.

We think t's because she's resorting to emotional blackmail, as a way to be allowed/let out, as her ruse of sending us shopping for suitable clothing' , and nothing being 'suitable', so she needed to be there, aka out of the hospital. She was told that this wasn't going to happen, and the depression troll kicked in. She's been doing the moaning, rocking, whining, cajoling, woe is me, I'm doomed, we don't know anything, the doctors don't know anything, etc etc.

Well, her reward for refusing to eat is she has to now take a dietary supplement 4 times a day. It's about an inch worth, in a water cooler cup. She carried on and on for 15 minutes, about how terrible this was, moaning, moaning, saying no, I don't need this, I don't want this. Cue one of the NOT NICE NURSES. Told her yes she does and she was carefully watched to make sure she took it, and didn't just pour it down the drain, or spit it out. 15 minutes of fighting about it, less than 5 seconds to take it. sigh

She was told by me, and Wing (and the hospital staff) that if she doesn't eat her meals, she has to take the dietary supplements. Thing is, if she keeps this up for too much longer, the semi-hunger strike, they will force feed her, and we don't want it coming to that.

Also, she prefers to have only Wing visiting her. Not going to gloss over the reasons why, but the short version is I'm not a 'suitable' wife for Wing, in her eyes. Of course, the other reason she doesn't want me there is I'm more like Trudi. I will contradict her, and I will tell her to calm down that she's winding herself up, the same way Trudi does.

More improvements.. baby steps, but visible

An is showing definite signs of improvement. She wasn't obsessively clutching her hands tight, tsking and moaning over everything. Now, however, she has gone to the next, expected, stage: emotional blackmail. She tries to convince Wing that she is doomed, that we have sealed her fate, that she will die in there, how can he be so wrong, so optimistic, so naive. I told him to wait, he will be hit with even more.

Also told him to be prepared because even though I've been all for getting her well, and back home asap, she will probably start saying the stay in the hospital is some dastardly plan of mine.

She has also tried to bamboozle the hospital staff into letting her out to go shopping for clothing, as everything she has is suddenly 'unsuitable'. She told them it would only take 4 days. Doctor nixed it, as expected.

So then she tried it on Wing.
He said "How about if I get you some clothes."

An: "No no. Maybe not 4 days, but 3?"

Wing: If you need something we can get it for you.

Wing: How about I bring them from home?

An: No! They're filthy! (no, but hey, it's part of the depression). Just let me out and I can get something suitable

Wing: Sandra can wash them.

An: *sighs and gives up for now* Ok.

Clothing laundered, dried, brought to her, but one of them isn't 'right' for the hospital.

Wing did say she's having moments of total lucidity, then flips to scared depressed/anxiety ridden at the blink of an eye. But the lucid moments are getting longer.

Oh! Almost forgot: she might not be taking part in the gatherings in the TV room, or in Occupational Therapy, but she has poked her nose in for a look/see. Better than just sitting in her room adjusting the blanket over and over. :)

Even though she denies it

An is getting better. She's been in the hospital a week, and with regular nutritious meals, she has put on 1.2kgs. I told Wing she looked like she has put a bit of weight on. I was right. She now weighs 40.2 kgs, up from 39. Of course, she said she's losing weight, but Depression Troll is a liar.

She has had some positive results with the anti-depressant she was put on. The dosage was increased slightly (she was told this would happen) and she's not happy about it, but does take it, more out of irrational fear (she thinks "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was a documentary), rather than knowing it will make her better. Don't care, the end result will be the same.

We brought her some slippers and some track pants that we picked up at the store. OCD kicked in, and she was working herself into quite a state. Trudi came in (bless her and her infinite patience and skill at nursing) is one of the nurses that isn't 'nice', and told An to calm down over and over in a very soothing yet with firm voice, that she was working her self up over nothing. An might not have calmed down, but she stopped OCDing over it.

She is getting better, even if she refuses to or can't see it.

Resized cat enclosure all set up with new litter tray and fresh litter. Yin was very happy to have company, and Alan brushed her out. She liked it.

An's recovery is slow going, but it's going. And she will get better.

Group meeting

Definitely not the funnest thing to attend, but very necessary.

Without going into details: Prognosis good. An is already having a small measure of improvement. Nothing to write home about, and (No, An) not enough that she will be allowed to return to outpatient. We tried outpatient. It didn't work.

She has a major amount of resentment, and funnily enough, not towards me, but towards Wing for admitting her to the hospital.

Good News: all her tests came back, and there's nothing physically wrong. Even CT scan of brain is clear of Alzheimer, lesions, or other abnormalities. it's going to be a slow road to recovery, but she can and will recover.

Funny the things you read on "thar interwebs"

I've been watching Carl Sagan's "COSMOS". I thought it would be great if I could find it as an audio book. I looked, and could only find two Sagan books, neither of which were "COSMOS".

What I found funny was this: On Amazon dot com, some bright spark bought a printed in 1982 copy of "COSMOS". He gave the book a one star rating because the info in the book was 'dated'. What.. the..fu...? A 30 yr old book, and he's surprised the newer physics discoveries aren't in it?

I told him "Complaining that a 30 year old book you bought has dated info is rather silly, isn't it?"

But I digress: Audio book. I couldn't find one anywhere, so I came up with this idea: I have the DVDs, Who better to narrate COSMOS than Carl Sagan. (whistles innocently)

Translating her comments

Wing visited his mom last night, and we have translated what she meant about the hospital staff not treating her well.  The carers/nurses who don't allow her to sit in her room refusing to eat, and walk her to the dining room to take her meals, and making sure she eats, gives her her medication and makes sure she takes it are the ones 'not treating her well/not nice'. 

Again, even though she denies it, she is better rested. I wouldn't be surprised if she put on a wee bit of weight after just a week there. Not so much from just eating regularly, but from not getting up in the early hours of the morning, and surgically cleaning the house from top to bottom every day, and stressing out about everything.

We also learned what she is calling the 'house falling down around her ears'. All houses get what's called 'settling cracks' in paint or plaster. Typically, you just get some filler, smooth some in, and repaint or re-plaster. Again, she isn't having any of that. Yes, I know her inability to accept anything other than her negative world views are part and parcel of her depression.

Working on some of my herb plants

What I thought was dirt on my sage plant,  tossed up by the recent rain, turned out to be white aphid type insects. The poor plant is infested with them. 

Just spent about an hour  rummaging around for plant pots, then clipping off healthy-ish parts of the sage plant, cleaning/removing as many of the insects as possible, spritzing them with an organic insecticide (watched the rest of the bugs just fall off YAY), rinsed them, dipped cut end into cutting powder and planted about a half dozen of them.

Might have to buy fresh sage for a while, but with luck I'll have another crop of sage in a while.

It was like the twilight zone

Visited Wing 's mom at the hospital.  It was surreal, bordering on bizarre. First she insisted we had been waiting for a long time. No, we had only gotten there. Then it got odd.

She insists the place is filthy. The place is spotless, and I mean spotless. But to her, because she hasn't been the one making her skin raw scrubbing it, the place is filthy.  We gently told her, no it isn't, but she was having none of that.  I pretended I had to use the public restroom, and went out to tell her care nurse, because they need to be informed about her worries/delusions.

We gave her the bag with her clothing in is and she did nothing but go tsk tsk and moan, saying how nothing was suitable. It's her regular around the house clothing, pretty much what everyone there is wearing.  Then she was worried someone was going to steal them.

We also told her we are allowed to bring her dietary supplements from home, the ones she used to taking. That's when she starts in on that she has to take what they give her only, and if she complains, they will drug her even more. Again, not true, but nothing we can do to dissuade her.

Next, I missed a phone call. Whoever was trying to call me, then called Wing. He took it out of her room.  She then gets this very cunning, yet paranoid look on her face, and tiptoes to the door in an effort to eavesdrop. I speak loud enough so not only An could hear me, but Wing could as well. So he walked further down the hall out of her earshot.

That's when she started in on about how she was a prisoner being held captive against her will. Gently told no, she's in a hospital because she is unwell, and when she becomes well, she can go home.

There is a spot of good news. Although she denies it, she looks much better rested than she did last time I saw her.  And the nurses there aren't letting her get away with just hiding in her room and refusing to eat. Two of them gently, yet firmly, escort her to the dining room, put her meals in front of her, and she's not allowed to leave until she's finished.  So, not only is she sleeping, she is eating balanced, nutritional meals.

Kind of knew this was where we were headed

Mom-in-law is in the hospital. The psychiatrist and psychiatric nurse looked at her, spoke to her for about a minute, and they gently, yet firmly escorted her to the car and transported her to the hospital for immediate admission.

She's ill. In heart, mind and body. She's not thinking clearly because of the depression/malnutrition/insomnia. Nothing we say or try to do help her or get help TO her got through the filter of depression. She needs to be made well, and can't see past her anxiety and paranoia that we're or someone is out to get her. 

Of course, she didn't see it this way. When I arrived at the hospital, she loudly proclaimed her rights have been taken away, and she had been kidnapped.  I didn't laugh at her, but I did smile and tell her no, that she's ill, and she's somewhere to get her well again.

Wing is in a state. Blames himself. I checked that right away, asking him "Are you a mental health expert?" (no) "Could you get her medications and force her to take them?" (no) "Horse... water. Get it now?"  (yes)

It's not going to be easy. but at least we won't be watching her passively committing suicide by not taking care of herself anymore.

Meeting with the Chung Wah

Might have a spot of hope on the Mother In Law, An.  We arranged a meeting with Chung Wah Association to arrange a carer for An.  We had a lot of arguments of the passive variety.  So far, there has been a weekly shopping trip, and transport to her next doctor's appointment.   We've done a bit of an end run around her, as she is afraid of any expense, and have told CWA to bill us directly, and to not mention anything about the rates to An.

Have arranged for Mark, from Hire a Hubby, to make a small alteration to her cat enclosure, to make things a bit easier. I think the enclosure was supposed to be some sort of Zen garden, and a cat sanctuary, but it turned into a 20x20ft litter box. Well, going to block off a small section with some hinged panels, put some bricks over some of the sand and put a litter box in there for Yin to use. We will have to introduce An to the wonders of clumping cat litter.  Also, she isn't going to see that bill either.

I know she wants some control in her life, but since she's having trouble making decisions, and when she does make decisions, they're downright dangerous, we need to step up and give her a hand up.

Got the proof we needed

We thought Ziggy was opening the door, and even saw the after effects of her doing it. But this time I cold busted her.



I knew persistence would pay off, and I would get photos of her doing this. If I didn't have the door latched up higher (which she then stretched and tried to reach THAT) she would have pulled the door open and snuck out.

I think we have to do something a bit more drastic

After hearing what's been happening when Wing  goes to visit An, with Alan going along, the more we are thinking she's got dementia and is irrational.

1: She says hot water system, newly installed because she said the other one wasn't working, is also faulty. Wing turns on the water, waits until it gets warm, uses appropriate amount of cold water to prevent scalding. Water stays consistently warm. When he points this out to her, she said no, it's faulty, and 'proves it' by shutting off the cold water, thereby having nothing by scalding hot water coming out. "See, the temperature changes".  Neither Wing or Alan telling her that's normal if you turn off the cold water matters one iota.

2: Claims medication for depression gave her diarrhea. Turns out she's pouring fresh milk into smaller old milk container, topping it up, because the smaller container is easier to handle. Bets? Of course, now she is refusing to take anything for her depression, which is making her OCD/insomnia/memory problems accelerate.

3: Claims plumbing leaks. When you shut off water in the kitchen, the pressure forced two, count them, two drops of water left in the pipes to drip from bathroom tap.

4: On the advise of a 'friend' (we want to have words with this friend.. so rather harsh ones) she keeps saying she wants to Euthanize the cat. But thinks all this means is the cat will nap more often, cannot get her head around the fact that this means the cat will be dead.

5: Is now saying anything we do for her will give her a heart attack.

6: Thinks we're 'out to get her'.

We might end up having to put her in a constant care facility, one that will make her take her medication, make sure she eats, and prevents her from OCD cleaning a 2 story house from top to bottom for 12+ hours every day, for a couple of months. She can't keep going on like this, and neither can Wing. We aren't equipped to handle someone who is mentally ill due to depression. But we love her and want to get her as well as humanly possible.

Yeah, right, but all I care about it myself and want her turfed out and alone. (can't tell you how much I cried privately when I heard that's what she really thought of me)

Well, wasn't that 'special'

Wing  and I have been doing every and anything we can do to make his mom, An, safe, happy and living well.  She has depression, anxiety, OCD, and she is anorexic. Also, her hypochondria is in full swing, adding to her delightful attitude.  Everything we have tried to do for her, or arrange to have done, she says no. No, no, no no no.

Well, she crossed a line tonight. I've always known she didn't 'approve' of her son's choice of wife, but hey, I can deal with that. But tonight, she let her true feelings out. She pretty much thinks I'm a gold digger after her money. Uhh, sorry, no. I've been four square in favor of her selling off a block of land and getting a custom built house for her, one designed to her needs and specifications. She keeps going on and on about how she wants to leave us (Wing) a legacy, but both he and I say we don't want it.

I told Wing that I want nothing to do with her. I've been dragged down that black path, totally mindf**ked by someone else with depression who refused to have anything done about it, and I refuse to do it again. I will be there for him, to support and care for him, but no, not her. Not until she gets better.

Well, that's a spot of good news

As I posted earlier, my Canon 5DMkIII was having dust/dirt building up in the viewfinder after I sent the camera off to have a battery draining problem fixed, because of Canon Repair fixing a 'light leak' problem, that I had nary an issue with.

I sent Canon an email, and one of their reps called me, and told me they would review the problem and my comments, which I took to mean "Suck it up, we're going to charge you some more."

I was wrong. Both the focus screen and prism have been replaced, and I haven't been billed for it. I guess I was right as to how the dust was finding it's way in.

It's alive... IT'S ALIVE..

Or at least running the way I want it.

Figured out the "windows explorer crashing when copying and pasting" on my own. My ability to troubleshoot, research, try different things, and then and only then open a support request is why even though I give them all the information, even step by step what I've already done, I'm treated like a know nothing.

So, I fixed the problem. Then I found a Windows 8 Aero Tweak tool that works (still in beta, so I get a nag screen every once in a while, but have told the programmer I wouldn't have a problem buying it when it comes out commercially, as long as the nag screen goes away).

Made the touch pad a little less sensitive. No more moving cursor but accidentally moving oxygen molecules over it.

Still no BSODs after the Windows welcome screen anymore. I still believe that even though the laptop was sold with Windows 7 installed, it was built for Windows 8. I wonder how many other Sony Vaios have been having a lot of BSODs at welcome screen?

All up and running... with one exception

Windows 8 upgrade went fairly smooth. Didn't have all the hug issues I had with it last time, as the update was Win 8.1 not just v8. Still had a bunch of updates to install and set up.

The one thing I had a problem with, again, with the Native Windows Copy/Paste crashing Windows Explorer. I uninstalled all the 3rd party file managers, but to no avail. Copy/Paste still crashes when I try to drag and drop, or right click/copy/paste.

There was also the issue of Win8 desktop colors... to say they're hideous is insulting hideous, IMO. I managed to find something to help with that. Less eyebending color theme.

Wing didn't understand why I did this. The thing is, this laptop was Windows 8 ready, but was one of the last ones shipped out with Windows 7. I l also kept having boot up BSODs with it running Win 7. No amount of tweaks, driver updates, driver roll backs, hardware removals fixed it.

Installed Win 8 and must have rebooted at least 20 times, and not one boot up BSOD, which leads me to believe that upgrading to Win 8 on this particular computer was a good idea.

"All chickens coming home to roost"...

To say the past few weeks have been stressful, would be an understatement.  It's caught up to both Wing and me.  Feel emotionally and physically wrung out.  Trying to rest hasn't been a simple matter of closing eyes.

Going to go try now, early-[ish for me tonight.

Now the real hurt starts

It's not the funeral that rips you apart. It's the realization that now you have to deal with the pain of loss, the feeling of being gutted and to be there for others who may need a shoulder to lean on.

Platitudes just don't cut it.  I will miss Sue, my "Mommy Down Under".  I have an empty space where she used to be.  I know it will get better, but right now..... not so much.

Once more unto the breech...

First, my Canon 5DMkIII kept draining batteries within hours. Turned out to have a short in the battery terminals. I sent it in to have just that fixed.  When I got it back, the repair sheet said you also fixed a 'light leak', something I didn't have an issue with. After I got the camera back, I, and one of the techs, at Camera Electronic noticed a 'squiggle' of dust in the view finder. I figured it was just one squiggle, and ignored it.

I shouldn't have because more dust motes showed up to the point it was impeding my vision through the viewfinder.  I brought the camera into Camera Electronic, thinking the sensor or mirror needed to be cleaned, and it turns out that somehow dust is getting sucked up into the prism. It didn't have this problem all the months prior to the battery terminal/light leak repair. And that includes trips to the Pinnacles,  Trigg Beach, and other sandy environs.

As this camera is barely past the 12 month warranty, and this wasn't a problem prior to them dismantling the camera to do the 'light leak fix', I should not have to pay to have it fixed yet again. Or maybe just have it replaced as it seems to be a lemon.

Of course, when I explained this to the Canon Repair Rep, I was told "we'll look into it, and review it", which I take to be the politest "Kiss off, we're going to soak you for some more money."

If I wasn't so heavily invested, I would jump ship to a different brand, because I seem to have the worst f**king luck when it comes to high end Canon gear. Two L series lenses needing repair, now the 5DMkIII needing a 2nd repair? 

I really don't need this shit right now.

Dear Adobe, pull the other one. It has bells on it

I got only what I can call a 'propaganda' email from Adobe titled "What are the common myths about Adobe Creative Cloud?", singing the praises of how just wonderful Creative Cloud is.   All I can think is that their move to mandatory subscription only isn't taking off as they thought it would. And some of the myths they listed, I've never heard.  All I can think of is people who are really tech naive would have said these 'myths'.

Other than that, Adobe still doesn't address certain things that users have asked about.

If I don't want to rent anymore, how do I open or access the files? 

You're still stuffed and stuck paying rental/subscriptions fees in perpetuity if you want to use your images/work, if you don't have an older working copy of Photoshop that isn't cloud based.

So far, if I want to keep using the same tools/plug ins that I use with CS6 46bit, I will have to us CC 32bit. So, I will be staying with CS6 (and I still have CS5)

Enervating and exhausting

We had the meeting at Wing 's mom's house, with the doctor and nurse. Her depression is as obvious as the rising sun. She is, no joke, crippled with it. Turns out she was proscribed anti depressants.. took 2 pills, said they made her dopey, and then stopped taking them, and didn't tell her GP.

It was heart-wrenching to watch her worrying about every little thing as if it was a matter of life and death. Her house is so clean, an anal retentive Marine drill instructor would be proud. But to her, it's a slovenly mess, something that she she strip cleans every day, starting from the top to the bottom.

If there is heavy rain with wind, she might get an overflowing gutter, with MAYBE some water dribbling into the house. But to her, it's falling down around her ears. She obsesses over the slightest thing, until the point of full blown agitation/hand wringing/constant pacing. She's worried about being a burden. Wing told her that the only way that would happen is if she didn't do anything to treat the depression.

The goodish news is we might have gotten through to her, and got the ball rolling on getting her some assistance. We have to get her eating regularly, and better nutrition, sleeping better, and feeling better. Possibly a companion to drop in on a daily basis, even if it's just for a cup of tea and a natter.

Bells Rapids Photoshoot

Photoshoot in Brigadoon W.A. Absolutely beautiful spot for photography, but as one person described walking the trails as "The Death March". Both Wing and I climbed one hill, saw another even steeper hill, looked at each other and said "nope". Between his knee and my left leg, there was no way would could climb the hill and be able to walk today.

Got some great images using ND and Polarizer filters, giving water both a glass look, and a misty look.













Monochrome Version..............................................................................Color Version