Daily Friday 16 January

[Lesley]

G'day,
It's Friday and it's raining and I have to shoot a birthday party tonight and I hope that it stops raining by then.
I took some photos on Wednesday. At present the month long festival of Sydney is on and all sorts of activities are going on. Art works are being displayed everywhere. Here is a photo taken from the steps of the Opera House. The silver cars are an artwork. Interesting concept!

[Windy]

Morning all, it is wet as anything today, but it is at least a lot cooler. This is a good thing. Dentist trip for the crown was done yesterday. It is settling now, all I have to do is get my head around work stuff now, it is going to be a long day.
Hope you ll have a most wonderful day.
Hey Lesley when does the festival finish?
Sunny you are in the prime of your life now, enjoy it, you have earned it!

[Bobby D]

Hi Lesley Hi Wendy, just thought I would say good morning before I say good night ( It's six minutes after midnight here) so I'm going to bed,

[BeyondTheNineSquares]

Good Morning, everyone! (well, it's really good night for me since it's still Thursday, but I'm cheating)

Rob, did you have to pop your own dinner in a sauce pan, you poor thing? lol Just now, my Dad's misbehaving and my mom (who's housebound with him all day) can hardly stand being around him so if she runs off with me (she keeps hinting, but I must go to work) he's just going to have to open a can of something. She's in no mood to mix up any ingredients for him! Count your blessings and behave yourself, now! lol

Hello Wendy! Ooo! Dentist, not a favorite place for me! Hope you're not hurting.

Lesley, the festival sounds fun! Hope the birthday doesn't get rained on!

Well, since my last grumble, things have gotten a wee bit better. Yesterday I was in a meeting most of the day, so was isolated from the regular stress of the office. Some have suggested a job change, but with so many variables in my personal life, it seems like the constant of staying at the same job is a good thing. Who knows? I've been with the company 25 years, having started right from high school. I've done all sorts of things in that time. I guess that makes me quite marketable, although I've never had to market my self so it's not something I have much skill or experience in. I get 5 weeks vacation, and do have a good amount of freedom in that I can run to deal with issues with my elderly parents on a moment's notice if I need to and such things never affect my salary or even end up recorded. My manager and his boss both hold me in high regard and are eager to find ways to help me grow and find a position "higher up." These are good things, but I don't really know what the future holds.

Today, we had phone line issues that shut down our computers all day. Yuck! I got to sit there and mostly tell people I couldn't help them. I had the hours and hours I spent there doing nothing that could have been used at home for any number of things I need to do. Of course, when ever I'm home my Mom wants me to take her out somewhere (anywhere) to get away from my Dad who doesn't behave and upsets her. He does things that put him at risk of falling and seriously hurting himself and her getting upset sends her into seizures. So, I take her out and don't get my own stuff done, or art worked on, or relaxing done, or catch up on my reading, mending, laundry, the list goes on . . . . and the stress just builds. As for time to just be me, it never happens. Even when I go off with a friend, mom is generally brought along. My friends adore her, and so do I but sometimes I just want to be me. Sometimes, I can't help but feel envious of those who can come and go and what they want. Sometimes, I feel so stuck and trapped. Then I feel bad. Oh, well. To think that a short time ago I finished my undergrad degree. I don't know how I did it. I can't even think of grad school. Admitedly, as much as I'd love a Masters degree, given the choice and the freedom and the time, I would rather take an art class! Neither is going to happen, sadly.

I did join a gym not too long ago. I haven't had time to go there much, but I'm going to try and get some time to go. It'll be so good for me in so many way.

Well, the weekend promises to be warmer, maybe 20 degrees. I have to work on Sat and I'm less than thrilled, but I don't work many of them, so it's not so bad.

I hope Friday is a better day for me and a great one for all of you!

See you later, hopefully!

[sherloc]

Just want to pop in and say have a great Friday. Cause you all won't be here when I get home from work. Whatever will I do with my afternoon?

Lesley those cars are too cool. Are they real cars? So what's the celebration for? My daughter went to Sydney when she was a senior in high school to perform in an Easter Celebration. Can't remember the name of it but it was the Royal something or other. She had a blast.
Have a great time at the birthday party. Even if you are working. Hope you get some cake.

Wendy, glad the crown is properly in place. I've been living with a temporary filling for four years now. So far so good. As long as it doesn't fall out I'm set. Crowns are just to pickin expensive for my taste.

Rob, Have you been fed today?

Martha glad things are looking a bit better for you today. If all things in are lives went smoothly think how bored we would be.

Love you all, see you tomorrow.

[Crias]

Just popping in to say hi. I was in a the winter blues last week too, but with the new camera, getting outside (to shoot) and the improved weather my mood has certainly improved. Tomorrow (Friday) I am going to go to the Denver Stock show to watch the rodeo and shoot lots of pics. I may go back on Monday in the daytime to get more natural light shots.

I hope everyone is doing better today. Hugs to Lisa, Sunny and Howard, and anyone else who needs one! Anyone know where Julie has been??

Goodnight everyone....

[VeldaJ]

Good morning Shutterbuggers everywhere, hope you all have or are having a great day.

Hi Lesley, interesting concept indeed. Is there a particular point to the display?

Morning Wendy, glad your trip to the dentist went well and that your crown is settling down now. I hope you had it fully implanted. I know it's a bit more expensive but the first one I had I was told it needn't be and it lasted precisely 3 days. I was not amused I can tell you. :mad: But since it's been stem posted I've had no bother - hope you won't either. I wish they'd been a viable option years ago and I wouldn't have had to end up with a partial plate. :eek:

Good morning, Rob dear.

Hi Maria, glad things are beginning to look up for you ust a little onthe work front. I'm sure you're wise to stay put - it must give you a great deal of peace of mind to know that no one is going to make a fuss if you have to dash off to see to your parents. It must be stressful at times having no personal time, but hang in there kiddo, at least they are both still with you. Are there no clubs or meetings in the area where you could perhaps take your Mum (and perhaps Dad) where they could enjoy some time with people of their own age and interest to give you just a few hours to yourself?

Don't work too hard Shirley.

Enjoy the new camera and the rodeo, Cathy. We shall look forward to seeing the pics.

Not a great deal happenning here today. You'll be pleased to know Rob doesn't have to feed himself - one of his many lady friends is doing that (mind you she is feeding me too :D ) Don't let him fool you - he has them all eating out of his hand - (LOL) They even ask how Rob is before they say good morning to me. :D

Have a good day all.

[meriadoc]

Cathy : i'm jealous - here its freezing, I keep looking at temps for denver and i wish to be back there ;)

Martha : I feel for you, I really do. My mum is in somewhat the same boat - well, kind of - my grandfather says he wants to go out, and mum gets all ready and then he decides that he wants to stay at home. He's become such a hermit since my grandmother died... There are friends that take him out and get him to do stuff, But it takes so much coercion to get him out. Its stressful on mum, as her brother and sister don't help her out, especially my aunt, unless it benefits her in some way.

Mum had the mental health people come in and they've arranged for someone to take care of my grandfather that allows mum to go somewhere, or they can take my grandfather out and do something..

I'd hate to suggest it, but have you thought about getting some assisted care? Not so much for your parents, but more for you - someone that can take your mom somewhere or your parents somewhere so you can be alone for a few hours? It does my mum wonders actually - that and they also prescribed her anti-depressants (a mild dose) just to take off the edge, because mum was a wreck (stressed out like anything)...

Its cold here -2F - but the kicker - WE HAVE NO HEAT!!!! And its not just our apartment either - its the whole building - the heater out in the foyer where we get our mail from the boxes probably burst - there's water everywhere in the entrance! No heat, no hot water :( :(

[sherloc]

O my gosh Lisa is it being fixed? Stay bundled. Or better yet go somewhere where the heat is on until yours is fixed. And keep boo warm too. YIKES!!!!

Hi Joy and Rob. Hope your day is smashing.

Getting ready to leave for work in just a bit. ANd Joy I never work ot hard. They don't pay me enough to actually expend energy. :D

[Mike Jordan]

Morning everyone.

I sure hope the weather improves for you people over in the Northeast real soon.

With the record heat in Europe, the record cold in the Eastern US, record ice and snow in the Northwest, fire and then rain in the south western US, heat in the down under countries... It's almost enough to start beliving in global warming. But I don't really think it is so much that as it is the Sun has moved into a extream sunspot cycle that we haven't seen for a lot of years. Some of you might remember the massive sun spots we had this summer. These were record sun activites that threw a lot of radiation and solar energy at earth. Being a Ham Radio operator I've followed sun spot activity for about 40 years. This summer were some of the most extensive seen in recorded history. And this cycle will probably continue for a few more years before it starts declining (there are cycles within cycles concerning sun spot activity).

If you look back 20, 30 or 50 years or more, the US had some pretty extream winters and summers back then as well. When I was in Germany from 1976 to 1979, 1976 was a record heat summer as well. Besides all the bad things that went on, it also produced some of the best wine that had come out of Germany and Europe in a long time (something to do with the very hot weather and how grapes produce their sugar). I wouldn't be surprised to hear that of the 2003 wine vintage as well.

But I know that hearing weather has been this bad in the past isn't going to help those that are going through it right now. I just hope it gets better for all of you real soon.

I've been reading the posts in the Glass forum here on WC. It's so depressing. Glass is the reason I found WC as I have an interest in learning how to fuse glass. I'm not really interested in beads although it's interesting to see what people can do. I would also like to start taking pictures of glass again so I've been looking for some good candidates to buy and practice with. What's so depressing about the glass forum? The talent that I see there. I look at some of the stuff people do and I think I could never do anything even remotely as good as some of what is shown. As is the case in most things (photography included) there are those that seem to have natural talent at anything they try and those that take a long time to learn what it takes to be good... and then there are those of us that have a desire and no talent or ability. But there sure are a lot of neat and beautiful stuff coming out of so many people.

The display of the cars is neat. We had one of cows here last year. They had dozen of full size cows made and painted up into different thymes on display throughout the Portland area and then they auctioned them off in support of something (I can't remember what right now, but I sure remember all the cows they had on the steet corners :D ).

We also have people statues like that along the streets and parks of Portland.

I might get to shoot some dogs this weekend (photographicly). They have a 4 day show in Portland that includes agility, conformation and obedience. My wife and I are going on Sat and Sun to watch and photograph our breed. I always take pictures of other breeds as well, especially in agility. It's indoors but in one of the better lit expo buildings so I should be able to get some decent pictures with my 2.8 lenses. I hope so anyway, I need to do some photography. Maybe I'll get some good ones that my wife can digitize and create embrodery stuff on her new embrodery machine.

At least it's suppose to be mild this weekend, although still some rain. We might get some sunshine in the middle of next week. It would be nice, even our moss would like to see some sun. :D

Everyone have a great day and weekend.

Mike

[meriadoc]

heat's fixed :) :) :)

what it was was the heating system stopped working during the night, causing some pipes in the entranceway to the apartment to freeze, and thus, burst..

so we all woke up to a mini-flood in the entrance this morning.. :rolleyes:

its all fixed now :) thankfully, mike is happy, he's currently in the shower which he says he'll feel more alive afterward...

but its still too stinkin cold to go out ;)

[geckonia]

YAY!!! I was about to tell you to go check into a hotel! Glad it's fixed... and at least your stuff didn't get ruined! :D

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jan-2004/3996-frozenpipes.jpg

Just checking in real quick... I've been busy with my web site. I figured out how to modify the automatic web templates in Photoshop's Image Browser and am actually having fun redoing my site!

[SuzyQ]

Hello! It's past lunch, I'm a little late. Finished counting everything!!! I just need to adjust my numbers in Quickbooks. But, that's o.k., a glass of wine and a quiet dark late night in my studio with the stars above shinning through the skylight. Heaven. (pardon the pun) Now if only my studio had heat!!!! I have a space heater. It was 33 degrees in here this morning! It is up to 63 now and I don't dare turn it off since it took 7 hours to get there.


Gek - That's one cold car to warm up!

Mike - You're too hard on yourself. And, I too covet so much of the beautiful glass presented in the glass showcase show and tells. I own way too many beads as well! Perhaps one day I will take that lampwork class I keep talking about.

Windy - It always amazes me how beat up my mouth feels after the novacaine wears off. What do they use in there? a jackhammer? :rolleyes: I hope your having a decent day.


To the rest - Have an excellent evening!

Oh Sunny! Happy Birthday! And remember with age comes wisdom.
Your mailing snow reminded me of a sweet boy I went out with in my 20's. He tried to save a snowball I put in his mailbox. Of course the freezer defrosted it eventually. Did I mention I use to like them big and stupid? (quoted from a Julie Brown song of the 80's)

[meriadoc]

geck - looks good - I LOVE the eucalypts on the first page - makin me feel homesick!!

its still cold in the apartment, its gonna take a while to heat up, its so cold, I can't even melt wax in a burner!!!! by the time the heat reaches the vessel - its cold ;)

I suppose I should work on my website - but i'm so self critical of my own work at the moment, I don't want to go through and put photos on my website.

[moore hill graphics]

Good Morning All!

(((((((((((LISA)))))))))) - crikey woman, it goes from bad to worse :( Do you still have some power? Is there any way you can get somewhere warm for the interim? Any friends with fireplaces? I remember when I was a kid and there was a huge freeze-up and power outage in Montreal, we had a whole family of friends (five of them) camping in our living room around the fireplace. Are you totally snowed in too???

((((((((Martha)))))))) - I too think you are wise to stay in that job. It sounds like you are valued, and it gives you some freedom in emergencies, and in the longer term there may well promotion prospects. As you said, you really don't need the additional stress of trying to launch out into something new right now. I'm impressed out of my mind that you completed an undergrad degree with the kind of life you're describing. :clap:

Hi Joy - Enjoy being fed! I love it when someone else does the cooking etc. Particularly the etc.

Cathy - so glad you've got that new camera! Being able to get out with it does wonders for your view of life, doesn't it? I agree - I hope all's well with Julie, we miss her.

Sherl - hope withdrawl doesn't do you in ;)

Windy - glad the dentistry is behind you for a bit - not fun!

Lesley - neat photo! The cars remind me of some of the art at Expo 67 - it was a bit more people-friendly, though, the kids were climbing in and out of it all the time. I have a picture of that somewhere, I'll see if I can find it.

Well, I'll get this in while I can - if I can. Took some neat pics yesterday, I'll see if I can get them up too. Then better get to cleaning the cabin - B&Bs tomorrow.

Love to you all....


Edited to add - well I guess a few of you got in between my starting this, stopping to have breakfast, and getting back. duh. To be continued...

[moore hill graphics]

Lisa - disregard the above, I'm so glad it's fixed!!!

Geck - great photo! An ad for something, no doubt :p I'll look forward to checking out your new website.

Mike - I sympathize - but like I've said before - we always see our own work as compared to what we had in our head. Other people see it fresh, and appreciate it the more.

'mornin' SuzyQ! Your studio sounds gorgeous - could even make QuickBooks bearable. maybe.

Now - I wonder who's wandered in while I was typing this????

[kaleidoscope eyes]

Morning all, from the wet coast...at least its mild though, Lisa I feel for you in those unbelievably cold temperatures AND no heat - thats adding insult to injury. I was very glad to read on and see that you're now toasty again, and I wouldn't even think of going out either!

Love the silver cars Lesley, neat idea!

Wendy, a shiny new tooth eh? I'm going through dental hell at the moment, hopefully it'll all be better soon & I'll be grinning again!

Hi Rob. Hi Joy ~ dinner out eh? Very nice! My MIL's taking us out tonight so no cooking for me either!

Martha, after reading about the positive side of your job IMO you'd be nuts to pack it in! You'd never have that sort of leeway in a new one. So, go with the flow as they say and trust that things WILL get better..I know its not easy but there is a positive side to almost everything((((((((Martha))))))))

Hi Shirley, Fridays nearly done so have a great weekend! Glad to hear you're not one to fritter your energy away - very wise ;)

Mike, you never know what you can do till you try, glass, photography, whatever....but I agree it can be depressing :rolleyes: Although we have had extremes in the weather over the years it seems to me that we're getting them on a much more regular basis. It could well be that these things have happened often over the millennia and we just don't know it, us humans have only been around a very short time but boy, have we made a mess!

Scary looking carsicles Geck, roll on summer! Your site looks terrific and loads very well even on my sloooooow connection. Got to get mine sorted, its been up unfinished for a couple of months now, this years motto for me has to be: Stay Focussed (in every way :D )

Well done Suzy, bet it feels good to have finished the inventory - hope it's severely depleted after the show! Your studio sounds lovely, if a tad cool.

Mike's wifes embroidery made me think of Julie, has anyone heard from her?
"Juuuulie, where are you?" I'm missing your posts :(

Veronica, do I have to bow now, your Ladyship? :D Way to go!!

[VeldaJ]

Hello again, just got in from our evening out. Superb meal.......I swear I'm now at least another 5 pounds heavier. Oh dear, diet day again tomorrow!! :(

Glad you've got the heating fixed, Lisa.

Hi Mike, have a good weekend at the dog show.

Wow!!! those sure are Cccccooold cars, Anne!

Enjoy your quiet night with the glass of wine, Susy - sounds like you've earned it.

Goodevening, Milady Veronica, Ma'am. (Touches forelock and curtseys deeply :D ) and to think one still has to clean up the cabin for the peasants!! :D

Hi Kate, hope your dinner was as good as ours. BTW Julie's Okay - I had a PM from her yesterday. Just had a great deal to do with the plant closure and coming home exhausted. Says she'll be back soon.

Well, it's almost midnight and I'm sleepy.

G'night John Boy!

[Windy]

Shhhhhhhhhhhh
It's really Saturday but I wont tell if you dont!
(((Lisa))) you sounded like you eeded it, I think that would be worse than power off in summer, at least then you can have cool baths to get more comfy.
Dentistry is settling down, for this I am grateful. The dentist also wants to put a splint on my teeth at night so I dont grind them (I will have to take his word for that, I dont know what I do in my sleep :D ) More $$$$, it will have to wait.
Friday was very busy (its really Saturday morning) here, email stuff workwise in the morning ... 5am ... after coffee :D (both photographic and wedding) then a ceremony of name giving in the afetrnoon (3pm) and then a wedding at 7pm, back home and an interview to sign paperwork at 9.30pm, tumble into bed feeling like I am on overload, back up at 5am this morning, to find computer playing ap and water in the stairwell from yesterdays downpours that have leaked in, soggy cardboard boxes stink!~!!!@! :(
Back out today for a wedding at lunch time, and then another at 4pm this afternoon ........ now if I could do photographing at stuff like that I would be rolling in the $$$. Not that I am complaining a wedding celebrant is a romantic job.
Mike dont beat yourself up, remeber people have a tendency to post their best work on sites like this (A...it is good for the ego, B... its good for networking...etc) Get in there do it, you have heaps of talent so I a sure you will be successful.
Martha look after yourself ((((hugs))))
Hey Joy I went to the dietitian yesterday and I had only gained 200 grams over Christmas (I ws sure I had got at least 2 kg on there so I am a happy chappy!) ... oh yeah that was before the weddings (I think yesterday was busy)
anyway bye all , see you tomorrow/today :confused:

[bairam]

Hi everyone. More activity in here than I expected due to down time.
I went to my Weight Watchers meeting today and was very disappointed to fine that, even though I was good, I thought, this week, I still gained 1.6#'s.
It's just not fair......boohoo....and I drank all that water and everything.

Oh well, a new week and hope that I'll do better this week. It's such a struggle....

Now those are some cool autos....brrrrr I'm sure glad I live in California where we think it's cold when it get below 40....

On the Uploader thing....I'm really dense about computer things and need some help in using the Uploader link that Geck gave us. I don't have bookmarks, only favorites and that didn't work for me. When I tried to use it I lost my post. Any help out there??????

[BeyondTheNineSquares]

HI guys! This week is almost over! I do have to work tomorrow, but it's a half day, thank God!

Things are really stressful at work and will be for another week or more at best. We'll be really short handed for the next 3 weeks. The final stages of the merger will happen next Saturday and after that about half of the staff, many of whom I've worked with for 20 years, will be either quitting or relocating to the corporate head office several towns away. It's as much an emotional issue as anything else. It's also a whole different culture to get used to. We try to keep things "the way the were" at our branch, but the bigwigs at the head office are the sort that expect your to send a written request for foolish little things. The clerk receiving the request then has to run through channels and get the right big shot to review and sign off and then return it to the originator. By the time it gets back a ton of wasted time has gone by and maybe they didn't even get the story straight anyway and you still don't have the answer you need. It gets really frustrating when the item in question is something that until two weeks ago would have been handled by any clerk on staff and now requires an act of Congress to accomplish.

This is still evolving so the answers to simple questions are generally multiple choice. That means whatever you do you're getting somebody's back up.

I do, inspite of all this, have it pretty good, current stress aside. I don't know if it will stay this way moving forward. If I go for a jobposting/promotion within the company, it'll mean another location and working outside of the two branches that two weeks ago were a separate company, the one that I chose to work for 25 years ago. That doesn't have to mean it'll be aweful. It's just the complete unknown. I don't know what the future holds and I am torn between the need for less variables in my life and the need to grow.

Anyway, enough about me. Lisa, I'm so glad you have heat! You and your Mom have my sympathy, too! Thanks!

It's very windy here and my front storm door has been damaged by the wind, so I have to figure out how to get a new one and get it installed on the doorway. My dad, of course, wants to "take care of it" but the man really can't do it. My poor dad has always been involved in all aspects of remodeling and rebuilding homes and there was never a tool he couldn't handle or a job he couldn't do around the house. He practically rebuilt two or more houses from scratch. With parkinsons he can't eat his cereal in the morning without making a mess of the floor. He has repeatedly tried to "do things" against my wishes and it just makes a mess and a costly one at that, since I cannot physically do the construction type things. It's a constant battle to keep him from doing things that will hurt him and damage my house, etc. He's so bored, though. Those are the only things he likes to do. I have to be the monster and that hurts, but it's that or see him hurt. I have no other choice.

Anyway, the men my own age in my life aren't handy. I have a friend coming down on Monday (a bank holiday) to go shopping with Mom and I and her two kids. We may leave the kids and mom home and see if we can buy a door and put it in, between the two of us. That ought to be funny to watch. lol

I do miss running off with her without her kids or my mom. I love her kids and I lpve my mom, but sometimes it would be nice to be me, not somebody's daughter, etc. Oh, well.

If I can just get through the next three weeks, I am going to SC for a week. I may not, in a week, be able to separate emotionally, but it will be physically restorative! Besides, I'll be visiting my best friend AND my favorite 13 year old!

Life will get better!

Hugs to everyone, and thanks for listening!

[BeyondTheNineSquares]

Maria, we cross posted. Bookmarks and Favorites are essentially the same thing. If you save it to your Favorites, as you would any favorite website, etc., you should be fine. Was your problem in trying to save it?

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Community/images/16-Jan-2004/11269-Donald_n_Daisy_2.JPG

I did save the link to my Favorites folder in Internet Explorer, and used it to upload Donald and Daisy shown above. When the uploader finished it's work, I copied the entire link that appeared (selecting the text and clicking copy) then went to my post and clicked paste. Here they are!

If you're really frustrated and this either didn't help or you just want visual help, PM me and I'll do better. Sometimes when I get frustrated, the answer can be hitting me on the head and I get too blind to see it, so don't be shy! I can help you!