What Fun! Learning a New Computer!

Hi All!

Let me start off by saying that this post if NOT a computer instructional. If you have come here to find out anything about learning to work a new computer - sorry! That isn't what my post is going to be about.

With yesterday's post I had several people cruising by to find out info on computers and I am certainly not the person to look at for that kind of stuff! Sure, I can use a computer and I can do quite a few things on them but . . . other than that - I am out.

The reference in the title for today's post refers to the fact that I have started doing things on the new computer which I had done on the old computer. Uploading pictures, rearranging things, finding things in folders. All different on the new computer with the different operating software. Windows 7 seems to be working out okay right now!

As you will see in just a bit - I managed to load pictures onto the computer from my camera and then to get them into blogger! That is a major victory in my book!

For my class I need to upload some video to Facebook (it isn't required but it is a way for the other students to help me evaluate my video) and that isn't working out too well. Hopefully, I will get that worked out as well!

It has been a while since my resident rascal, Skor, has made an appearance so . . .




















Here he is looking at "his" new box which Hubby thoughtfully left on the floor in the office.




















Of course Skor had to investigate the box - inside and out!




















And when I say inside - I mean INSIDE! The box wasn't quite big enough for him to get totally inside but he did try!

Next is an update on my crocheting project. I am making a hot pad and my mom is making the same pattern in Ohio. Of course, my Aunt Donna (my FAVORITE Aunt Donna) had to try out the pattern. She got hers done in less than a week. What a show-off! She knits and crochets all the time so she has a bit more experience than Mom and me.

Unfortunately, when the old computer crashed, it took my beginning pictures of my crochet with it. You can check some out on previous blogs.

So -- what do you think? I have started on the top of the hot pad. It is all done on the grid which took me FOREVER to finish! This picture shows what I got completed the first day I started the top. I was a little enthusiastic!























This shot is a bit closer up. I am proud of my progress. I actually have done more on the top but apparently I didn't get that picture on this blog. I will show you tomorrow!


Well, that is it for today. I am going to try to upload those darn videos again . . . wish me luck!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing well. Even Susan was surprised yesterday when she gave me a quick massage. My throat isn't too crunchy and I have been working on those exercises. I did them in the car on the way to and from work. Pat on the back, thank you very much!

Up and Running?!?

Hi All!

Well, it seems like we are up and running with our new computer but I am still crossing my fingers and holding my breath. I have a lot of music and photos to transfer to this computer. Of course, when the old machine crashed I lost some (which I had neglected to back up in a timely manner! Back up people! Back up!) but most of it had been backed up a while ago. As I am typing this my computer is trying to transfer my iTunes info. Then I will have to transfer my pictures. Doesn't that sound like fun to you???

Anyway - I hope to be back to my "normal" posting schedule this week. As far as I know I don't have jury duty or any other weird thing going on so it should be a relatively "quiet"week.

I spent about 7 hours in the lab at my college on Friday and Saturday getting some things video taped for class. To do the video assignments you need at least two other people to be at lab - that takes some major planning! Anyway - that phase is done. Now I need to do some heavy duty analysis of my video to see what I did right and wrong. I HATE looking at myself on video but I must so . . . onward.

This morning in church our hand bell choir performed. It wasn't anything major - we had only had one practice - but it was fun. We played some pieces while the congregation was taking communion. I didn't realize how much I missed playing bells until I started again! Maybe I will manage to get some video or something of the bells in action onto my blog. We will see how that goes!

I am keeping this short so I can do other things - like crochet! I have started "phase two" of the project and have made some pretty good progress! I will show you a picture tomorrow is everything is still going well then!

I have missed my bloggy friends!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing fairly well. The stress of the past couple of weeks has made my voice a bit worse than "normal" but I am getting back to a nice, clear speaking voice with my exercises.

Monday

Hi All!

Well, it is Monday and . . . the computer is still not up and working. Hubby had the thing working until he tried to reload software. Apparently, the computer didn't like that too well and decided to crash and get rid of EVERYTHING (including the operating system) again. Not good! Hubby has decided to just buy a new computer and let this one crash. Now we just wait until he has researched everything and found exactly what he wants to buy. That might take a while!

So - until that entire process is completed I will be working on my podcasting computer upstairs. And this computer has its own issues. Poor thing! At least it is letting me online. For now!

This weekend was busy for me. On Saturday I led a SD support group meeting. Because of my lovely sedate life lately (read that with about 2 tons of sarcasm, if you will!), I neglected to get the notice for the meeting out in a timely manner so not too many people attended the meeting. Including me there were six of us. However, it worked out well. We got to chat and the one new woman said that she really enjoyed the meeting so . . . it went well. I didn't have my normal preparations completed because they are usually done on my computer and we all know how the computer is doing lately!

Grocery shopping was also on my "to-do" list for the weekend. Luckily, I had made the major "meat run" trip last weekend so this one was a light shopping trip. Unfortunately, it wasn't an easy trip because Sunday is the day when the store restocks and that means that there is someone in nearly every aisle with a HUGE stack of boxes which is nearly impossible to circumvent with a shopping cart. Add other shoppers going the opposite way down the aisle and you have quite an adventure!

After grocery shopping I headed to church to partake in hand bell practice. I haven't played hand bells for several years but recently the leadership has changed and so I thought I would give it a shot! Music is something I really enjoy and so hand bells was fun. The people are friendly and the ringing is fun. I think I will keep it up for a while. We will see how it goes. Right now it actually fits into my schedule but there was some talk of moving practices to Wednesday nights. If that happens I won't be able to attend.

This would be where I might mention my interpreting class. However, I am still not in a mental place where I can talk about it objectively so . . . I decline to comment!

When I got home from hand bells, Hubby had dinner in the oven (he is soooo sweet that way). We had baked stuffed shells (which we buy from Sam's Club already stuffed), English Muffins and fruit. Yummy.

Then we headed to Wal Mart. I decided to make a "care package" for my friend, Beth, who is in college. Since I don't have any children who will be heading to college, this is my chance! I loaded up on "dorm food" which can be microwaved and doesn't need to be refrigerated. Hubby contributed peanut butter and jelly - he says no college dorm room should be without it.

That is the extent of my exciting weekend. I hope your weekend was just as exciting - or more so!

Oh - I almost forgot! I am finished with the "grid" section of my crocheting project. I am making a grid hot pad and you make a grid first (you may have seen some pictures while I was working on that part) and then you fill in the grid. I am not too sure how to get started on filling in the grid but . . .I always appreciate a challenge. When we get a new computer I will make sure to show you some pictures of my work!

Trisha

Voice Update: Still really struggling. The people at the support group said it was great (and one guy continued to insist that I didn't have SD at all - what a dork!) but I was really having problems later in the day and on Sunday. My voice always seems better in the mornings and then gets weaker in the evenings. Several people at the support group said their voices are just the opposite. It is interesting how SD can be so individualized.

Keith and Crochet

Hi All!

Thankfully, I was able to get a lot of rest this weekend so I almost feel refreshed this morning! I am not sure that I will ever feel totally refreshed but . . . for now, I feel good! I am looking forward to another full week of work, class, and, joy of joys, jury duty on Tuesday! I can hardly wait!!!

Speaking about class, I must admit that I am a bit apprehensive about the whole class thing. I "turned in" one assignment via the computer already and still have one more to complete prior to class on Wednesday. I have also read my two chapters and taken notes in my overly cautious style. So, why do I still feel like I won't be prepared for class?? I really think that this is the path I want to go down - the whole ASL interpreter thing - but . . . the teacher makes me wonder about myself.

Speaking of ASL, this weekend I joined up with a group of friends (Hubby calls us "the gals") to take in Keith Wann. If you don't know him, he is a CODA performer. What is a CODA, you might ask? Excellent question! A CODA is a Child of Deaf Adults. That means that both of Keith's parents are deaf and he is hearing. Technically, a CODA can be deaf also but traditionally, CODAs are hearing children of deaf parents.

Keith is a comedian who travels around and performs with the hopes of broadening understanding between the hearing and the Deaf worlds. He is funny, funny, funny. His humor is particularly funny to both people who are deaf (as shown by Beth's boyfriend, Zach, who is deaf and who was laughing the entire time!) and people who are involved in ASL such as interpreters, CODAs, and people who know deaf people.

You can check out some of his videos on uTube, I do believe. He gives hilarious insight into living with Deaf parents.

Despite the fact that I had to travel about an hour to get to the show, it was well worth it.

The ride home was interesting too since I saw an accident where a car ended up on its roof with the driver side window in the next lane of traffic. Everyone was okay - which is what made the accident interesting and not tragic!



















This is our group posing with Keith. Keith is in the center back. Mark is the guy hiding behind Beth's head for some reason.

The other thing I have been doing this past weekend is crocheting. Once again I had to take a number of rows out to redo them but, I feel like I am making progress! I am finished with 20 out of 27 rows! Yeah!




















Have a super Monday!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing well, doing well.

Really?!?

Hi All!

Well. This week has really been a "piece of work." I have been packing and working and crocheting and Wii-ing and feeling exhausted. Yesterday I said the week seemed like it would never end and, guess what! It won't!

Yesterday I got home from work at 7:00 with the knowledge that I "get" to get back THIS afternoon! To unpack. Doesn't that sound like "fun?"

Well, I am going to try to block that from my mind until I get there. I managed to get my tired hide outside this morning in the lovely weather - 49 degrees - and walk. It was beautiful. A bit damp from the rain we got last night but beautiful. I didn't realize how much I have missed walking each morning until I started again.

When I got home (sweating) I headed straight to the Wii where I proceeded to get even sweatier (if that was possible!). I did my Yoga and my strength training and one balance game. Eventually I hope to re-introduce the short weight lifting routine I used to do. However, one small baby step at a time, right?

Speaking of baby steps. . . look at this picture and try to see if you can find what is "wrong."




















Have you figured it out? Yes! This "grid" is MUCH smaller than it was the last time I showed it to you. Why? Just to add to my week . . . I realized yesterday that I had made a major mistake in the grid - in the second row - and so I took everything out to redo it. Like it isn't taking me long enough to do this project in the first place! Mom is already working on "part two" of her project! She might be done before I even get this darn grid finished!

I had planned to have a quiet day today. I want to go to the DAC since I haven't been there for a couple weeks and then I was going to come home, take a nap, wake up and work on my crochet. Not happening.

*sigh*

I can hardly wait until next week - the fun of unpacking what I don't get done today PLUS a class on Wednesday night from 6 to 10!!!

Please keep praying for Linda. She needs strength and hope right now.

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing really well despite the fact that I almost choked to death yesterday on some orange juice! My SD makes swallowing tricky and there are times when some liquid or another "goes down the wrong way" and I choke. This is NOT fun and I end up coughing and red-faced and teary eyed before the experience is resolved. This is one reason many people with SD find it easier to drink all liquids through a straw - to minimize choking. The choking is NOT fun and seems to always happen at the worst time (I can even choke on my own spit!) like yesterday when I was in the middle of talking to a client at work!

The Neverending Work Week

Hi All!

This week just seems to be expanding and growing longer and longer. Even though today is my last work day of the week it just seems like it will never end! Yesterday was stressful for me at work. It started out slow and then . . . can you say avalanche?

By the end of the day I wasn't sure if I was coming or going and things just seemed to get out of control! Luckily, there isn't anything which is VITAL just stuff that the bosses want done ASAP.

Today I "get" to go back and try to figure out what I still need to do. Plus, I get to make signs for the office to tell patients that we have moved and for the neighboring offices to "apologize for the moving noise on Friday." Fun, fun.

Then I got some bad news about Linda. Apparently, she has been told that she will be on chemo for the rest of her life. She isn't sure about the strength of the chemo but she is really, really bummed. I can't say that I blame her at all. Please keep Linda in your prayers.

This is where I should show you a picture of my crocheting project. However, I didn't do any work on it last night so there is nothing new to show! I was so tired when I got home that I just couldn't imagine working on my crochet - even though I enjoy it! My eyes were/are tired because the lighting in the office isn't too good now that they removed the upper cabinets which had lights under them.

Anyway . . . I hope you all have a super day!

Trisha

Voice Update: Still holding my own. Susan was even happy with how things are sounding. We talked a bit about cutting down my sessions and decided to wait until after I stop working to see how things go after I am not using my voice as much as I have been.

Half Over and Yet Just Beginning!

Hi All!

Happy Wednesday! That means that the week is half over, right? If only it was the simple at work! This, you see, is the week the office is FINALLY moving! That means that everything has to be ready to move - by Friday! If you have ever watched an episode of the show "Hoarders" you have an idea about my working world lately!

In my office they have removed all of the cabinets and installed them in the new office. That means that everything in those cabinets -half of which I use daily - had to be packed. The stuff I use all the time is now in plastic tubs. Some stuff I used is packed up in larger tubs waiting to be moved so I just don't use it!

And then there are the patient files. Boxes and boxes and boxes of patient files. Patients who are not currently seeing the therapists but whose records they are required to keep for at least five years. Let me tell you, these four women see a LOT of clients!

I have been assigned the task of going through this multitude of boxes to cull out the client folders older than five years. Such fun! One therapist had her files labeled with the year of their last appointment - that made it easy to cull. The others . . . let's just say that the files are labeled NOW!

Plus, once all of the boxes and tubs and things are actually moved into the office, take a wild guess who they need/want to unpack everything for the office! Yep - me! So, basically, even if I am finished packing (which I am not), I am really only half done with the task.

Talk about making the week seem longer!

In other news -here is my daily crochet update.

Yesterday and this morning I have had a very "special" helper with my project. I'll bet that you can guess who it is! Yep. Skor.

"Hmmmm. I have watched Mommy do this for a while. I am pretty sure I can do it. First you grab this stick thing."

"Next you twist it. I think this is the way. Wait - there is something you need to do with that thread stuff. Too bad Mommy won't let me near it. Last night I helped Mommy by cutting that thread into pieces while she was working. I still don't understand why she knotted it back together!"

So far I have seven of the needed twenty seven rows of my grid completed. I am getting better at the whole crochet thing though and almost have how to hold the thread figured out. Now it is just a matter of time!

sdghfds

Trisha

sdfgh

Voice Update: Doing well. I have been doing inhale a lot - singing to the radio (which is very tough to do!). Plus I did do my massage yesterday - not as long as I should have but . . . tiny steps!

Oh My! Birds!

Hi All!

Well, the "blahs" are receding. They were helped on their way by the following sight while on my way to lunch with my friends. In fact, I did a u-turn (legal of course) and headed back to take some pictures.

There were HUNDREDS of gulls on this pond. It is a bit difficult to see in the pictures because I wasn't going to walk all the way around the pond (which is pretty big) in the cold (36 or so) to get a better shot. There were also some vultures/buzzards on the wing - HUGE wingspans!

The gulls all congregated on one side of the pond - near the road. I actually was in my car when I took this shot with my hazard lights on stopped at the side of the road. Luckily no one passed me while I took my shot!

Another shot of the birds in flight. The sheer number was amazing. Of course, I should mention that this pond is next to a landfill . . .

Once I got to Starbucks to meet my friends I was in a bit of a better mood. Then we headed across the street to Cane's for lunch. This is my friend, Beth's, favorite restaurant (she is in the black hat in the photos).

We had a nice time eating and talking and catching up. Then we got a bit crazy with the photos!

This one was pretty nice. I look a bit loopy because I was the one doing the timer on the camera and then sitting down before it took the picture!

Of course we had to take a "silly" one too!

We have such fun when we get together! They are such great friends! They certainly helped to chase the "blahs" away!

After lunch I headed to Jo Ann's Fabrics hoping to pick up some bright, multi-colored thread for my hot pad project. They didn't have any! I was disappointed. I guess I might have to venture into Internet ordering IF I finish this hot pad and decide to embark on creating another.

Speaking of hot pads . . . I actually started crocheting yesterday. Hubby had to work late so I checked out Internet videos to get started. This is how far I got.

I have to think that starting to crochet with a TINY hook and THIN thread might not be the best way to start! I was working on the chain that is the one side of the grid for almost all afternoon before I got it to the point where it was good enough to move on to starting the grid! Now I have to make the grid into a square . . . that might take me a while!

I will show you a picture each post to keep you informed. Aren't you excited?

Trisha

Voice Update: I freaked Hubby out when he got home by talking to him on the inhale. I needed to do some more inhale and wanted to talk to him at the same time so . . . it was convenient! I also did more massage yesterday - while watching TV and being frustrated with crocheting! My voice is pretty darn good at the moment! We will see how it is after a day at work!

My Neighbor's Surprise

Hi All!

Remember when I told you that I planned to "steal" my neighbor's porch decoration to repaint it? Well - here is the finished product.


As you may see - our friendly "inspector" is keeping an eye on everything to make sure it is on the "up and up."

I think the pink and blue flowers look nice. The old flowers were yellow daffodils and were beyond saving!

After totally finishing all the painting and assembling I put the item on the floor for inspection. As you can tell, the inspector called in an associate to check things out thoroughly. They both spent at least ten minutes going over every part of the project to make sure it is perfect.

Then the associate left and the inspector continued on his own. Such dedication to his job!

Now I will put the decoration back on the porch. I don't plan to tell my neighbor I did anything to the decoration at all. It will be interesting to see how long it will take her to figure it out!

Hubby absolutely loves the fact that I won't tell her. It got him chuckling last night and he wasn't in a good mood! Impressive!

Painting the bunny and the sign was fun - now I am looking to see if there is more stuff I can paint!

Trisha

Voice Update: Doing really well. I guess the relaxation really helps!

The Violin Case

Hi All!

Remember the violin case from the wedding this weekend? I constructed the case to be the card holder. How? I am glad you asked - I will show you!

This is the final product at the wedding. The brown thing is the wedding "logo" which is a fedora and a string of pearls. I copied the logo off of the wedding invitation, blew it up and decoupaged it on. I am sorry I don't have a better picture of the logo to show you - it is neat.

Okay - to make the case you need to get some black poster board. In my case, you need to go to the store twice to get the stuff because the first time you buy it and then leave it by the bagging area in the store!

Cut out two violin shaped pieces and several strips of poster board. These pieces can be any size you would like. My pieces were about 18 inches long - the violin pieces. The strips were the entire length of the poster board.

Use a hot glue gun to glue a strip along the edge of one of the violin shaped pieces. Be careful you don't burn your fingers too much!



Make sure to follow the shape of the violin shaped piece. You might need to hold the strip in place for a couple seconds until the glue cools. Once you get going it isn't too hard!

When you finish gluing the strip onto the first violin shaped piece you get to do the same thing to the other violin shaped piece! The two pieces should fit together like a gift box. To ensure this I glued one strip on the inside of the shape and one on the outside to make a little size difference. You might also want to make one violin shape a bit bigger than the other so you can glue the strips on the same way. That could be easier!

After getting the pieces glued together, you need to cover up the edges where the hot glue is because it doesn't look too darn good. I used actual decoupage paper in silver. Of course, I didn't have the real decoupage glue so I used good old Elmer's!

Then - make a card with a picture of a Tommy gun on the front. Put the card in the violin case. I did turn the card around so the barrel of the gun was in the "handle" of the violin case. That is the more authentic way to do it I am told.

Finally, have the whole thing inspected. My inspector really got into his work. And the violin case!

sdfg

And that, my friends, is how you make a violin case. Oh - I forgot - you do need to make a handle to attach to the outside of the case to carry it with. I did this free-hand with some extra poster board and then hot glued it on. I am pleased with how it turned out!

sdfg

Trisha

sfg

Voice Update: Good and bad. It is varying widely this week! My unvoiced consonants are really giving me fits but sometimes they behave. Not too much fun. More work for me!