miscellaneous everything

Monday, August 02, 2010

setting up a new computer is hell

My laptop, less than three years old, bit the dust. The monitor puked pixels and zapped out. So Stanley hooked another monitor, which worked for a couple days before it, too, crapped out. Or rather, whatever controls the monitor crapped out. Pffffft—gone. The flowchart we found for diagnosing and hopefully fixing Toshiba laptop woes said “Shoot it and put it out of its misery.”

Fortunately, the first day of pixel death I headed to Toshiba to order a new one. Hmm, good deals, should cost me less than a grand these days. Hah. Not if you need it to do anything. Still, it ended up about $300 less than the one I bought less than three years ago, with twice as much hard drive and RAM and speed. And if I ordered via the chatline, I would get it within two or three days (off the shelf is what I ordered). Perfect. Thank goodness. Else I’d still be waiting for it.

I think setting up a new computer is like moving—it’s never gonna be as comfortable as you’ve gotten used to, tweaking stuff over the past less than three years. But I think I’m getting there, save some truly annoying quirks. I managed to find my very old version of WeatherBug, which I love (I hate the newer versions, too much crap and way, way too ugly). I found TClockEx, which makes the date thingie in the lower left corner display what I want it to. After several attempts, I managed to get rid of the godawful cartoon interface bubble bullshit that is the standard stuff for XP and Windows 7. You know, the twee look and feel inflicted upon us initially by Apple.

Most of the programs I need are installed—just a few more to go. I badly need to update Dreamweaver and PhotoShop, but can’t afford to yet. I still can’t get QuickBooks 2010 to send email properly—something about my profile that just isn’t taking in the Windows interface. Frekking annoying. And I think it’s AVG 9 that’s putting stupid green check marks on documents—gotta figure out if I can get rid of that nonsense. And Mozy backup is not working well at all—opened a case with them to figure out what needs tweaking to get it to work properly.

But I’ve got Pandora set up and managed to retrieve all my Firefox settings, apps, and bookmarks, so it’s starting to get more comfortable. I think I’ll be able to get some real work done Tuesday.

A DISCOVERY
Aside from my computer woes, I discovered something wonderful tonight: Blue Moon Pear Ginger Sorbet. Intense pear flavor, a hint of ginger, so good. It cost $5 for a pint—a shocking price, but there are four servings in it ... (she rationalized). Ingredients: pear, water, pure cane sugar, ginger puree, lemon juice. That’s it. One hundred calories per serving (which is half a cup). I’d be hard pressed to choose between the pear ginger sorbet and a Butterfinger Blizzard. Now I want to try the other flavors, like Lemon Zest and Peach Melba.

LESS THAN THREE WEEKS
Until we head to Oscoda. July was godawful, hot enough to kill brain cells, computer broke, lost a contract, got really sick. August is starting out better, weather has improved some, new computer arrived, work is still on the busy side, and I feel better.

But we really, really need a break and we miss Dad and the Michigan division of the family.

Our motel room is already booked for the trip out there, my new suitcase arrived a couple of days ago (I won’t get into why I needed a new one except to mention that cats can be evil creatures), and we ordered an audiobook to listen to on the trip out (Star Island by Carl Hiaasen) We’re ready already.

posted by lee on 08/02/10 at 11:36 PM
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

on the river queen

Kristine posted photos on her Facebook page—had to snag some of them because I love them so much. Jamie, Kristine, and Riley were up in Oscoda (where we’ll be, if all goes well, this time next month!) visiting Dad and on July 16, took a trip on the “River Queen,” a paddle-wheel boat on the Au Sable River.

I’m not sure in this case if “River Queen” refers to the boat or to Riley! At any rate, here are some of the photos—I’m not sure who snapped ‘em.

Jamie, Kristine, and Riley, River Queen, July 16, 2010

Papa Jim on the River Queen, July 16, 2010 (click to enlarge)

Papa Jim and Riley tell the boat where to go ... (click to enlarge)

Granny Jamie and Riley (click to enlarge)

Kristine and Riley Downey
Mother and daughter on the River Queen

Papa Jim and Riley (click to enlarge)

posted by lee on 07/22/10 at 11:20 PM
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Wednesday, June 30, 2010

just ‘cause i love the photo

Riley got her first haircut yesterday, and Kris posted the photos on Facebook. For the Facebook challenged (like PapaJim), I snagged my favorite one to post here:

Riley, here with Grandma Jamie, just got her first haircut. I think they both look pretty darned good! (click to enlarge) photo by Kris Downey

posted by lee on 06/30/10 at 09:46 PM
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Thursday, May 27, 2010

of kittens and hot may nights

Right now it’s 81° at just past 1 a.m. on a May night. May! It was 96° around 6 p.m. today. It normally gets up to 71-75° this time of year. Today it’s only supposed to get up to 79-80°. Strange weather.

We had a bit of excitement on Sunday—our neighbor Reneev and Stanley fished two tiny kittens from behind some shrubs next to Reneev’s garage. We noticed a black cat hanging around for a few weeks, so we figured they were her kittens. Another neighbor said there are four, but Blackie apparently moved a couple of them and two of them ended up in the street—not a good place given the insane and illegal traffic on our street. Don’t know where the other two ended up, but Stanley and I ended up with the two that were rescued. They looked for the other two, but they’re well hidden.

The kitties were about four or five weeks old. There is no way we could keep them—it just wouldn’t be fair to our gang of four, though Bingo was ridiculously in love with one of the kitties and probably would’ve adopted it. Bingo is a cat lover anyway.

We called Save Our Strays on Monday. They don’t save OUR strays—they only rescue animals about to be killed from New York. So they wouldn’t take them. They suggested we call PAWS here in Norwalk. We did, but the cat person wouldn’t be available for at least two days and could we please foster them until the cat person called. Well, no, we couldn’t unless we really had to—we attach way too quickly to the creatures in our life (except mice) and two days may as well have been 10 years ... So we called the Connecticut Humane Society in Westport, who took them and assured us they’d be adopted pretty fast. It cost us $20, which we would’ve donated to whichever rescue group took them anyway, and we gave them a small carrier that we didn’t need anymore (Slink is too big for it and Twitch knows how to open it and escape). We love the Human Society anyway since we got both Twitch and Ginger there.

grey kittie
This little kittie tried to play with Bingo, who was crazy about it.

The girls at the Humane Society named them Ross and Rachel, which cracked me up. We’re paying attention to see if we can find the other kittens—they must be around somewhere since Blackie keeps appearing. I don’t think Mom cat is feral—doesn’t act like a feral cat—but Stanley can’t get close to it. But we sure don’t need three wild cats hanging around so I would love to be able to find the other two and even catch Blackie, though nobody will take her if she really is feral. Too bad there’s nothing we can put out in some cat food to sterilize her so she doesn’t gift the world with more litters.

ASIDE FROM THE KITTENS
The roses climbing over the trellis this summer are so beautiful. The peonies are blooming, too, at least the ones on the sunny end.

With one light setting. (click to enlarge)

No flash on this one. (click to enlarge)

The peonies are more than two weeks early—they usually bloom in June. What’s really weird is none of our irises came up this year—I have no idea why as usually once those are established it’s very difficult to kill them. Maybe rabbits like them?

posted by lee on 05/27/10 at 01:16 AM
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Sunday, May 16, 2010

sunday break

We should’ve spent today getting the garden ready for the tomato plants—though last weekend is when we planned to but thank goodness we didn’t. We had a frost last week. Today a project supersedes gardening as we have to pay the mortgage. But we took a break.

Bingo is ready to play ball—always. (click to enlarge)

Ruby, on the other hand, would rather look for things to eat. Like mushrooms. Too bad truffles don’t grow here. (click to enlarge)

Oh please oh please throw it oh please (click to enlarge)

Keeping an eye on Stanley (click to enlarge)

Here is a rare shot of Bingo at rest. (click to enlarge)

Ruby is many times utterly content to just sit and love her world. (click to enlarge)

Roses are blooming—earlier this year than usual by about two weeks. And the false indigo is also early. The roses smell wonderful—there is one on my desk right now and I can enjoy the scent as I write this.

My false indigo is blooming nearly two weeks earlier than it should be. And there are lots of buds on the peonies this year—last year they were disappointing. (click to enlarge)

The climbing roses are loaded with buds already. I love the color—especially in the twilight because they just seems to glow. (click to enlarge)

We planted these trees about five or six years ago and they were, at the time, maybe a foot tall. It seems like they really grew a lot this year. I’m just hoping they don’t get so high they block the sun from the vegetable garden. We’re getting quite a wall of green—cost us more patience than money since we bought them so small. (click to enlarge)

Tonight I’ll watch season finales of Desperate Housewives and Brothers & Sisters, alas. But now for 60 Minutes, which is mostly about the BP disaster. At least I don’t think it can make me any angrier than I already am. I don’t think ...

posted by lee on 05/16/10 at 06:31 PM
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Friday, May 14, 2010

peaceful evening

Everything is gonna be ok. Really—we weren’t fighting ten minutes ago. We were just playing.

Slink and Twitch snooze while I earn their kitty kibble. (click to enlarge)

posted by lee on 05/14/10 at 06:14 PM
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Thursday, April 22, 2010

early lilacs & dogwood

It’s been amazing this spring to see how early everything is blooming. The Japanese dogwood, which would usually be in early bloom around now, is nearly finished—it’s been in bloom for nearly two weeks. I need to get a good shot of them before they’re gone.

The lilac bush. Oh my! It’s normally supposed to bloom around Mothers Day around here, but our lilac bush is in full bloom right now—it bloomed around April 18. The bush is pretty far from the porch, which is where the office is, but with the window open I can smell them, it’s like smelling hope and joy and warm memories and sadness. More than anything else, the smell of lilacs make me think of my mother and my early childhood spending time in Wyandotte at my grandfather’s house and in Detroit with my dad’s parents, with the huge, old lilac shrubs everywhere. A time like no other.

This is only the second time our lilac bush has bloomed—they take about five years to get established and it bloomed at about two years old in 2008, then not last year. This year, it’s magnificent, especially for such a young plant. I was so excited when Stanley told me they were in bloom—I can’t see them from the house. We planted another tiny lilac in the middle of the yard two years ago and hopefully that one will survive and will be one we can see from inside the house.

We planted this lilac bush about four or five years ago. (click to enlarge)

Here is a closeup, though the color is much richer than this—the petals are in the direct sun so everything is sunwashed. (click to enlarge)

Everything is so lush. The pollen count is through the roof and we’re feeling it for sure—I’m in a fog for a while and it takes a while to get my eyes open in the morning. But it’s such a pretty spring.

This is the only one of these tulips left—I need to plant more, but they’ve been hard to find. The bleeding hearts is early this year too. (click to enlarge)

Riley had her first birthday on April 21, and David’s is on May 1. Trying to decide just the right gifts for each of them. I don’t know just when we’ll get to Michigan for our spring visit yet, but I’m looking forward to it so I can see for myself how all the grands are doing.

Here is Great Grand Papa Jim holding Riley on their trip, with Jamie and Kristine, to the Toledo Zoo. They went to that zoo instead of the Detroit Zoo because Papa Jim had never been there. (click to enlarge)

posted by lee on 04/22/10 at 11:59 PM
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Thursday, March 04, 2010

just testing a slideshow thingie

Just testing out various slide show thingies.

This is the slideshow embed directly from Flickr:

Same set, with SlideFlickr:

A slideshow from Picasa—these are Dad’s photos from Bermuda (and one of Kate’s Carbonator) from June 2009:

From flickrSLiDR:

Made with FlickrPro

posted by lee on 03/04/10 at 07:57 PM
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Monday, February 22, 2010

in florida

Dad rented a condo in a hi-rise on the beach in Panama City Beach for the month. Why anyone would want to leave Massachusetts in February, I dunno, but he did in order to give family folk a warm destination for a winter break.

Jamie and Keith, Kristine, and Riley were first on the scene, followed by Maureen and Ben and later Kelly, Leo, and Dale. The latter five are there now—and I wish we were too. Alas, the logistics of dealing with two dogs and two cats and getting there were just not do-able this year. We watched the snowstorms instead.

Dad sent along some photos. I don’t know who took the one of Riley, but it’s a great photo. Keith took the second photo (I’m assuming, because he’s not in it!)

Riley enjoying the condo in Panama City Beach, February 2010. (click to enlarge)

Kristine, Riley, Granny Jamie, and GreatPapaJim at the condo, a cold Florida February, 2010. (click to enlarge)

Dad will be back in Massachusetts by March 1st or 2nd. Then we’ll head up there the next weekend to visit and to eat good food and watch the awards on TV for our annual Oscar party (Superbowl—feh!) We’ve only seen two of the movies so far, but it’ll be fun anyway.

posted by lee on 02/22/10 at 02:55 AM
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Sunday, February 21, 2010

funk creeping away

It’s been more than a year since I fell into a hole, a funk, this low-level paralysis. After Mom died, I couldn’t seem to shake the sadness off. Not that it was unremitting—it wasn’t, or isn’t, just mostly. But lately, it seems to be lifting more and more. I don’t know if it’s the St. John’s Wort Stanley gave me to try that’s finally kicking in, or if it’s just time, or a weariness at being immobilized helping me emerge. Maybe a combination, and the telling of how bad I’ve been feeling to my sister and to Stanley a couple of months ago.

That’s not to say the blue is not kicking me in the ass still. It is. Hard sometimes. But I’m starting to get out of my way more. I love this song—it’s kind of my current anthem because, oddly enough, it cracks me up and helps me keep things in perspective:

I’m thinking about the garden, and what I want to do this spring. I even ordered tomato plants from White Flower Farm.

I’ve started to dig out the house. I’m so shocked about how messy, no, dirty it’s gotten. Clutter, cobwebs, dust frankenbunnies. Crap just piling up. Stanley’s been good about taking care of the day-to-day stuff, the dishes, cooking and cleaning up, the trash, cleaning up after the creatures. But I sure haven’t been pulling my weight. It’s amazing how much just piles up from just living. So I started by unburying the living room this weekend—the easiest to start with.

And started on the parlor, which we’ve been using as a repository of everything. This room, decluttered, is gorgeous—very plain, very New England, but something about the dimensions are just right and it’s just so, serene is the word, when it’s tidy.

Worked quite a bit, and have, in my head, a to-do list that’s quite long. I started feeling bad that I wasn’t getting as much as I wanted done, but stopped that train because it’s taken a year to get this bad and because I know it would go faster if Stanley could help, but he’s been working on a job that has a tight deadline and has been coming home exhausted every day (he even got blisters on his knees). So I’ll be content to get a little done every day until my house is back under some form of control (it’s never completely under control—200-year-old houses are in no way easy to maintain and we have a lot to do). I know it will get done. And I know it isn’t necessary to get it done yesterday.

Work is starting to get better, too. I’ve been able to get more and more done. I’m still way behind, but I can feel things starting to get back to my normal output.

There are some more issues I really need to deal with. One step at a time, though. I can’t get frustrated at slow, as long as it’s mostly forward.

posted by lee on 02/21/10 at 11:47 PM
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