Timbrely's Tantrums

Shrooms!

2007-05-13T22:54:00.000-07:00

I never really considered mushrooms to be something I would want to grow. OK I don't DO plants in general, but mushrooms in particular. I mean, aren't we supposed to be wary of the little fun guys? Kudos to Jessica Jones at How About Orange... for enlightening me about the possibilities. (Not to mention the fact that she actually posts to her blog regularly!)

How cool is this? You can buy a log and grow your own Shiitake mushrooms. Wow, what were the odds of www.shiitakemushroomlog.com not having already been taken ;)

From the description this looks like the sort of garden ANYONE could manage. Room lighting, room temperature, and non-chlorinated water, oh, and a little organization, and you can have fresh shiitake mushrooms.

Do not count on a lot of posts about cooking and/or gardening on this blog, but there you have it. A garden that even I could grow, I think.... well, maybe not. But I like the idea of it. And I am a huge fan of the odd, so go out there and buy a log or two. These people deserve our business for the sake of novelty.

HP is not my friend

2006-10-10T09:26:00.000-07:00

I am so frustrated right now. I own an HP Scanjet 4670. Now this is a cool scanner. It is like a little window that you can either place on the provided stand and sandwich the photo to be scanned vertically, or you can place the window on a table facing up (flat) and place your photos face down on the glass, or you can use it flat, facing down and scan sections of a larger item (map, art, book etc - mind you, always following copyright law)

I pulled the scanner out to use it, and my computer could not recognize it. So I download the latest Mac software. Still nothing. I try online chat support. They won't support Mac via chat, I have to call or email. I call. The number which LOOKS like a serial number on the device is NOT a serial number. I have no idea what it is (it has a barcode and is a long ugly number like any self-respecting serial number would be) but it is not a serial number. The only thing HP can offer me is a $30 tech support call. If the serial number was on the device (I have NOT peeled any stickers off of this scanner... the serial number is NOT on the scanner) They would be able to offer me a $55 extended warranty, but they cannot tell me what that warranty would cover since I do not have a serial number.

HP cannot help me. I have a very useless, very high-tech, WINDOW now.

We are not amused.

This is not the first time HP has been unable/unwilling to assist me. They treat Macintosh users like the red-headed stepchild. There is no reason the scanner should have failed. And yes, I am ranting. I am furious. The only thing I have done wrong here is that I do not have my receipt. It is not my fault that the serial number is not on the device. The serial number is ALWAYS on electronics. And before you judge me for having a fit, remember the title of the blog.

And consider buying something other than HP. Canon perhaps.

Flood It

2006-09-29T07:59:00.000-07:00

First off, sorry. This game is addicting. There. You have been warned. It is not my fault if you fail to cross everything off your to do list today.

Captain Vincent Brunton

2006-09-11T06:08:00.000-07:00

The image above is a small tribute to Captain Vincent "Vinny" Brunton, who gave his life on 9/11. The text is a stream of consciousness compiled from the posts throughout the Internet dedicated to this fine man.

In reading the words written about, for and to Captain Vincent Brunton through the World Wide Web, one can paint a mental picture of this man. Certain words come up again and again as people remember the 43 year old firefighter who gave his life to save others on September 11, 2001. Brave, Hero, Gentleman, Determined, Loyal, Friend. These are not words written simply because he is gone from our midst. These are the qualities people noticed about him when they met him. It is quite apparent that Vincent had a deep impact on people even before he made his ultimate sacrifice at the World Trade Center. The people who knew him, were touched by his spirit while he was amongst us, and have chosen to spread his spark in his memory. Everyone who reads about Vinny has an opportunity to grow as a human being, to pass his spirit along in words, and action.

This post is a part of the 2,996 Tribute to those lost in the 9/11 tragedy. Bloggers around the world have united to honor them. Please take some time today to read a bit about these people and to lift up warm thoughts to them and their families.

Captain Vincent Brunton was a part of Ladder 105 in New York City. He was a firefighter for 22 years and gave his life at the World Trade Center. In addition to being a firefighter, Vinny was a husband to Cathy, a father to Tommy and Kelly, a neighborhood bartender at Farrell’s to the neighborhood, an inspiration, a source of endless knowledge, a role model, a friend. He was a lot of things to a lot of people, and his spirit will continue to touch us all.

ValleySchwagalicious

2006-05-30T16:59:00.000-07:00

OK, I admit I have issues... in particular, SHOPPING issues. I am well aware of this problem, but I also enjoy it.

I happened upon a fun little indulgence that feeds this weakness AND results in fun surprises.

ValleySchwag is a fun concept. Let's admit it, the best part about conventions is all the loot! My work does not send me to conventions. It is not in the budget. So I am missing out on great loot that companies throw at people.

Now I can get my mitts on the prizes without having to pack my bags or fork over registration fees galore. All I really want is the goods anyway. I can learn about products online. ;)

AND I get to hear about fun companies and check out their sites. It is like an "I feel lucky" Google search but with stuff I can hold in my hands.

As I explore these sites I will then post my impressions, but here is the package of treats I got this month:

Sir Isaac was particularly impressed by the M*A*S*H Up shirt!

So, for a mere $15 a month, I get a surprise and a hands-on set of search terms for my next Google session. Gads I do love the Internet!!!

I will definitely be creating something useful from the burlap wrap it came in too... stay tuned for updates.

Cheers!

Use those photos!

2006-03-28T00:37:00.000-08:00

OK everybody, it is time to get those photos out of your camera and into your life. There are so many terrific options for using your pictures.

You can get US postage stamps made with your favorite furson, kid, or wedding couple.

Have your photos bound in a nice photo book. These make terrific gifts too. There is no catch to this, I just ordered a free photo book. I paid $4.50 for shipping and handling. Nice deal! Also, if you are printing large quantities of 4x6 prints, they charge as little as 9 cents each! That is amazingly cheap. It is still high-quality, Kodak paper. Granted, that price is for 1000+ prints, but the most you will pay for the 4x6 is $.19 there. Not too shabby, considering even Costco is $.17 and they are usually a low price leader.

Take scrapbooking to the next level. Digital scrapbooking is fun and you can share your creations via the web, or print them out.

Flash! Shazam! Pow!

2006-03-27T23:39:00.000-08:00

OK, I love flash drives, I admit it. I just think it is great to have the option of bringing files with me in a tiny little gadget. And they have saved me many times over when disk drives or networks were not playing nicely. I want floppy disks to just go away. And CDs are not so high on my list of faves since they do get scratched up. (yeah I know, user error)

Some flash drives are a bit extreme but I enjoy that people are taking this medium and having a bit of fun with it. I think everyone who uses their computer daily should carry a flash drive. Just because. It is handy. You can be someone's hero when they can't print a document. You can get your friend's bookmarks. You can borrow someone's workstation and not leave junk on their desktop. It is just nice to have a way to get data.

I wish Leatherman would add a flash drive to their gizmos.

Everyone should carry a pen anyway... why not carry a smart pen?

You can be on time AND have a few tricks up your sleeve!

I love how tiny these things are getting. Pretty soon the plug will be the only thing you see.

Howtoons

2006-03-11T23:09:00.000-08:00

Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or a just plain curious person, these Howtoons are a nifty resource. I especially like the electric motor. Some other great resources for the tinkerers out there include Instructables and the Makezine blog.

The future is this spring.

2006-03-09T15:04:00.000-08:00

I have to admit I am excited about Sony's upcoming Portable Reader; not so much for the reader itself, since I listen to more audiobooks than I read the paper variety (except for Jan Burke's novels, which I read straight through in nearly a single sitting), but more because of what will follow.

I know most of my friends prefer a paper, in-your-hand, book to reading content on a computer screen. This new technology promises to bridge that gap. It could bring us that much closer to a paperless office and reading assistance for young or illiterate people. I see smaller backpacks and fewer back injuries for students of all ages. When you enroll in a college course you could download all of your textbooks to your reader. Library research could be portable. Combine this electronic paper with text-to-speech, handwriting-recognition, speech-recognition, WiFi, tinier bulk storage mediums, I could go on... this is REALLY cool stuff. Some of the big let downs to using a laptop is the screen readability in bright light, battery-life and the bulk. This new stuff combined could make paper into an art medium only. I think trees can still support art, but they should not be required to support TPS Reports and the like.

I like CUTE as much as the next person, but...

2006-03-09T14:29:00.000-08:00

I have to agree with Shiny Shiny's notion that it is creepy to refer to an electronic gadget as "Partner-Type." The name PaPeRo is an acronym for PArtner-type PErsonal RObot. That sweet little face does not say "partner" to me, so much as "pet." Based on the picture at NEC's site (click image to go there) it is packed with some pretty impressive technology, such as a stereoscopic camera for eyes, ultrasonic obstacle sensors, and more. At just under 15 inches tall, with no arms, I am not sure what it can do to "help around the house" or play with the kids, but I probably lack imagination. Shiny Shiny also notes the disturbing reference to a "hole sensor." Any guesses what our little partner needs that for? I am really hoping that is just a poorly-titled feature to prevent our little friend from falling into a well.

Silly but fun

2006-03-09T08:28:00.000-08:00

OK, I have to admit it, I love silly stuff. I mean, not fart machines or mooning butts that suction cup to the rear window, but these screwdrivers are pretty funny.

I especially like that they go all the way. They did more than simply mold tools in pink. They made a special mold and they accessorized. Nice job of going way over the top!

It's All Out There

2006-03-04T21:59:00.000-08:00

Every day I am impressed by the wide variety of stuff on the Web. I mean, you can find ANYthing! I love just wandering from site to site and marvelling. There are so many projects I would love to make and the instructions are out there for all of it. This article on about.com explains how to bead a pair of tennis shoes. I would love a pair of these! (perhaps with a different design more suited to my wardrobe) I imagine they must feel wonderful to just run your fingertips along the smooth, cool beaded surface. Nummy.

NAMIWALKS for the MIND of AMERICA

2006-03-04T15:18:00.000-08:00

I have been very blessed by kind donations for my 5K walk supporting NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

This organization provides support, education and advocacy for people affected by mental illness. Please spread the word about NAMI. You probably know someone who has a serious mental illness. There are affliliate locations all over the United States. They have helped families everywhere to cope with mental illnesses such as Bipolar Disorder, Major Depression, Schizophrenia, and many more. NAMI offers Family to Family classes, sibling support groups, and many other forms of assistance to people with mental illness and their friends and families. Companies can find information too, as there are many, many people in the work force who have these illnesses.

Mental illness should not be swept under the rug. There is no more shame in being mentally ill than there would be in having diabetes. It is not an attitude problem. It is an illness.

Please consider supporting me in my walk to raise money by going to http://www.cafepress.com/gethelp and purchasing items in my store (all profits will go directly to NAMI), or donate money directly at http://www.nami.org/namiwalks06/SDC/timbrely

Traditionally the participants in NAMIWALKS for the MINDS of AMERICA design t-shirts to wear while they walk. I will be wearing one of the shirts from my store. If you live near San Diego, wear one of the shirts and come walk with me. It will be a fun day and you will be supporting an important cause.

Innerspace: The Water Wonderland

2006-03-04T09:37:00.000-08:00

Ah the ocean. I do love that I live near the ocean. I certainly do not go to enjoy the wonders of the sea often enough, but it still brings me joy to know it is only 20 minutes away should I decide to go visit my fishie friends. I am not actually a big fan of swimming with Mother Nature's gilled critters, but when I was preparing to visit Thailand in 2003 I decided to force myself. I purchased an underwater case for my Canon S400 camera and a snorkel set with a little bobbling valve to keep more water out of my lungs. (note, this feature only works sometimes -cough cough spit) So I was financially committed to getting in the water with whatever might be swimming around the island of Koh Wai. I braved wearing a swimsuit (yikes) and risked being eaten by myriad fishies. Was it worth it? Heck yeah! Despite the anxiety over being attacked by something fishy, or stepping on precious coral, or drowning in 4 feet of water, it was heaven. I wish I had the courage to learn SCUBA. I love being under the water (I include having my face in the water in this category, since while I was snorkeling, I was completely unaware of the world beyond the surface of the big blue.)

I lack the vision and skill with the equipment to take pictures of note, but these pictures serve a very dear purpose for me. They take me back under the water, where all I could hear was my breathing and the occasional splash as my kick broke the surface. The feeling was better than any flying dream. I think I would rather be a fish than a bird (albeit a big fish, high up on the food chain) Snorkelling in the gulf of Thailand was not like what I have heard about Hawaii. The fish are not socialized here. There were not tons of them hounding people for food. It was raw and natural. If I saw a fish, it was pure serendipity. And I was happy to simply "be" so it was just as well.

Now, if I were actually a REAL photographer, with skill, vision, an artistic eye and could SCUBA, I would be in league with JP Trenque. This photographer has "got it." and received the BBC's 2005 News Photographer of the Year Award to prove it. The underwater photography is captivating and awe-inspiring and everything else wonderful you can think of. Take the time to check out these incredible pictures. For the full effect, put in earplugs so you can only hear your own breathing while viewing the underwater pics. ;) Give yourself over to the beauty of inner space. JP Trenque has really brought the essence of what I love about the sea up to the surface for those of us who are too timid to go there ourselves. These photos are fantastic. Don't miss the above-water pics either. This is your chance to find your happy place.

Marketing without the starch

2006-03-02T08:23:00.000-08:00

I prefer my ads to not come from stuffed shirts. I like a bit of humor and especially when it is unexpected. I came across this company on Shiny Shiny during my daily blog perusal. Any ad that can say "boogies" is alright in my book.

Modifications are so tempting

2006-02-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

I would love to have the skills, tools, time, and space to do some of the device modifications I see out there. I have come across a particularly impressive modder, ZapWizard, via the Makezine Blog. I was first drawn to his redwood computer case mod but has since followed the bread crumbs to his other projects.

The iPod and the Redwood PC are both beautiful and it is obvious he possesses more than just an interest; he is quite talented.

For now I will just hold on to the notion that maybe I COULD create something so beautiful if I lived under more ideal conditions. Cats are not particularly helpful when it comes to long term projects such as these.

>^..^<

I think my next little electronics project will be to send my DVR programs wirelessly to my bedroom tv though.

NAMI Walk

2006-02-10T17:31:00.000-08:00

On April 15th I will be participating in a 5K walk to raise money for San Diego County NAMI. This organization provides education, support and advocacy for people coping with mental illness. They also work to raise public awareness and understanding for this huge population subset.

We all seem to know at least one person who is dealing with a major mental illness and if you would like to support a great cause, please visit my walk page to donate whatever amount you feel comfortable offering. Thanks.

www.nami.org/namiwalks06/SDC/timbrely

Geometry in Glass

2006-02-10T15:12:00.000-08:00

My father has made some amazing leaded glass sculptures and when I get a chance I will see about getting photos of his work, but I found a reference on Makezine's site to another artist doing similar, but different, work. Hans Schepker makes and teaches how to make some amazing objects. His calendar of classes is out of date, so I don't know if he is still teaching, but the photos on his site are beautiful.

Audible.com ROCKS

2006-02-09T03:06:00.000-08:00

The Internet is so often a forum for spreading warnings, but today, I am spreading kudos. Audible.com is such an awesome site. First off, I love listening to audiobooks while I drive to and from work. Secondly, audiobooks are expensive to buy on CD or cassette. Thirdly, I have an iPod. Why would I risk melting my investments by keeping CDs in my car? CDs get scratched and then where are you? A partial story is not much fun; (yeah, yeah, I can transfer CDs onto my iPod and store the CDs somewhere safe, but why when I can skip a lengthy step and just download and import onto the iPod? And if anything happens to my iPod or my computer, I can re-download the books anytime I need to.

No one is perfect. We all are OK with that fact. What matters is not making the mistake, but how we handle the mistake.

Audible made a billing error. I discovered this at 3am. Obviously they are "closed" at 3am. I mean, the site is up, but the office is closed. I sent off the message to customer support so they would get it in the morning.

Then I proceeded to cruise around their site looking for the next book I wanted to get. As I switched from page to page I started noticing my account was being fixed already. It had been less than ten minutes since I had sent in the cry for help!! Audible.com is not a small mom and pop shop. This is a big organization, and yet I got incredible service.

I whole-heartedly recommend audible.com to anyone. And they'll even let you try them for free!

Frenzied in Firenze

2006-01-16T00:44:00.000-08:00

I was on a really tight schedule. I had gone from Chester to London and had had difficulties with that train. We missed the 5:30 and the 6:30 ended up being cancelled due to an out signal light. I took until almost midnight to get back to London (it took three hours to get TO Chester that morning) We decided it would be better if I headed straight for Stanstead airport since my flight to Piza was at 630 am. We found the closest/soonest stop for the night bus to Stanstead and got me on that. I was at Stanstead airport surrounded by people sleeping on their luggage. I was so beyond tired at this point I almost went and locked myself in a toilet stall. LOL

The flight to Piza was uneventful. Ryan Air is inexpensive (really economy!) and when I got to Piza I went to buy a train ticket and the clerk suggested the bus would be better. She said it left sooner. I was fine with that and brought out my Visa card to buy a ticket and she said cash only. Yikes. I had no Euros yet, the exchange desk was closed because it was Sunday and the ATM was broken. She gave me directions to walk to an ATM outside the airport. I had no map of Piza and do not have a good sense of direction. I had visions of wandering the streets of Piza for days LOL. I found the ATM, got some Euros and found my way back. So far, not so bad.

When i got to Florence, I was able to find my way around with just a cute little popup map that is the size of a postcard until you open it up like a flower. Great map. I walked to my cousin's flat. It is up 8 flights of stairs! Whew. I spent the first aftenoon sleeping :)

We walked around Florence, saw the palace, ate, looked at statues, and basically just enjoyed being in such a beautiful and unusual city. He also took me to his school and to see inside the Duomo (which you could see from his balcony)

We arrived back at the train station (I decided to take the train. I think it was cheaper) with plenty of time and we ate at McDonalds and watched to board for my train. It was delayed. Finally they announed a track and I got on the train and settled in to listen to a book on my iPod. Mistake. I was oblivious to the passage of time. Finally i got the sense I had been sitting there, not moving, for too long. I notice people speaking to employees in Italian, and eventually a bunch of people get off the train and RUN to another train. There was a train wreck on our track, blocking our departure. I found a conductor and verified the second train was going to Piza so I hopped on. Now on the first train I had a lovely seat, no one next to me. Now I was standing in the vestibule or whatever you call the little room by the doors. We were packed in like sardines and I got to stand all the way to Piza. AND there is more than one train station in Piza. One is at the airport. I have no idea where the other one is. I of course arrived at the one that did not offer the convenience of flights out of the city.

I was told I needed to take the city bus to the other station. I get on a bus and then notice people do not pay on the bus. You buy your ticket first. I could not make sense of the convenient ticket machines :) so I was thrilled when I saw a sign over a newstand that said something like bolettos. I know a tiny bit of Spanish and that struck me as sounding like tickets. YES! They sold me a ticket, the told me which bus to take and I got to the Piza airport. I had missed my flight by hours.

Next I find out how Ryan Air stays in business. They charged me $150 penalty to put me on the next flight, which was not for another 5 or 6 hours. It did not matter that the reason I and so many others had missed the flight was the train wreck.

While waiting, my cell phone died, my credit card stopped working and I became stranded with only a few Euros (which I really wanted to bring home to show my students) I was hungry by then and starting to doubt the wisdom of traveling alone. I bought a bottle of water and a kind English woman dialed her calling card number so I could notify my brother in London of my status. I had 15 British pounds. I was not going to arrive into London until right when the train station closed. I was going to be out on the streets.

He arranged with a cab company to take me to his place for the money I had, but when I called, they said it would be 3-4 hours before a driver was available. I asked the cabs that were lined up taking new arrivals and no one would take me for the amount I had. Finally an independent cab driver who did not end up with a fare said he would take me for what I have. 15 pounds in notes and a one pound coin. LOL Nice guy.

As we got closer to my brother's place, the driver asked where it is, and I told him I only had the address. I had never been there. He was not amused. I had to "borrow" back the one pound and he pulled to a payphone. I called and found out we were close enough and he took off. I then promply walked the opposite direction and went a good half mile away. They came out and found me and I got a good 2 or 3 hours of sleep before heading off to Gatwick and home.

I don't know that I have ever been as tired in my life, but I still say Florence is amazing. :)

Sorry for such a ridiculously long post, but it was a ridiculously long journey heehee

Photos on Flickr

Maybe it is the music...

2006-01-15T16:31:00.000-08:00

maybe it is the lure of lush green rolling hills. Maybe it is the accent? I just really want to tour around Ireland.

See more progress on: Ireland

Ah love.

2006-01-09T00:22:00.000-08:00

OK, I have been of the opinion for some time now that romantic love is not coming my way again in my lifetime. I was OK with that, but maybe now I am not. I do not know. I do not want some of the things that come with romantic love. I like space. Is there such a thing as falling in love while maintaining some time and space for myself?

See more progress on: Fall in love

Nifty Stuff that would never fit into my lifestyle

2005-12-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

Glasklasen Lamp

Ooh this is a pretty chandelier. I have never really gone in for the crystal chandelier concept. It seems like too much work to keep it clean, but goodness this is pretty. I also saw a similar lamp in a restaurant called "On the Border" but with beer bottles :)

Flickr Slideshow Wild Animal Park Photo Safari

2005-12-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the pictures I took at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. Most of these were taken while riding in the back of a pickup truck throughout the animal enclosures. If you come the the Park, I highly recommend shelling out for this added tour.

Life of Pi

2005-11-30T22:19:00.000-08:00

Yann Martel's Life of Pi is a terrific book. I listened to the audible.com version and the reader's voice was as much a joy as the story. This book is wonderful. It is a strange story, but if you open your heart, you can have a grand time. Do not try too hard to look for a deep meaning. Just enjoy. Relax. Believe.

Pi Patel is a clever, serene boy with a wild tale to tell. This story is a bit like The Wizard of Oz. Let your inner child choose a book this time.

Enjoy!

Christmas Wrapping

2005-11-30T20:32:00.000-08:00

Hey, any thoughts out there regarding slaving myself out to wrap Christmas gifts? I mean, a lot of people grumble about the wrapping part of the gifting, but I find it kinda fun. I mean, when the cats are not helping and there is enough flat surface at the correct height for comfort. I especially enjoy weirdly-shaped objects, and wrapping things that there is no way to disguise. What sort of pay schedule would such a venture warrant? Anyone? Beuller?

A dream come true... facial recognition photo cataloging

2005-11-29T07:44:00.000-08:00

OK, Riya sounds absolutely amazing. This software, which is still in the alpha phase of development, can recognize and tag photos with the people in them (once you train it with a dozen images or so of each person) It can also figure out the text in signs in the photos, so you could search for "Niagra Falls" and find the photo you took of the sign there. I have thousands of digital photos and like with the other areas in my life, I am not good at keeping on top of the organization of them. I have so many pics without tags and so many duplicates. This could be a real sanity saver. AND IT IS FREE! Ok, sorry to scream that from the rooftops, but how cool is that?

Of course, if you are worried about Big Brother, you may want to shout it from the rooftops to warn us all. I welcome dissenting comments here, but I think this is a phenomenol tool and am not worried about the government being able to id me in photos as a result. Hello, they already have facial recognition software, don't they? If Big Brother wants to bore some lowly probationary agent with tracking me, have at! I am sorry to say, the life and times of Timbrely are not likely to spark a very large case file. I am just not interesting enough to be tracked ;)

Pride and Prejudice (2005) movie review and ramblings

2005-11-27T16:10:00.000-08:00

Pride and Prejudice (2005) with Keira Knightley and Matthew MacFadyen was a real treat. I have been remiss in reading the classics, and did not know the storyline going into this movie, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. This is one of those romance movies that reminds you what it feels like to be so in love that you physically ache to be with that person. OK, if you have never allowed yourself to fall that deeply in love, I am sorry for you. To be drawn to someone on such a level, to "love so much it hurts" is something we should each feel at least once in our life. It does not have to be a smart choice or the person our friends would choose for us. It does not even have to be the sort of love that can carry us through marriage, thick and thin, better or worse; it just needs to be deep down to our core love.

I am not talking about lust or stalking or anything dark and sinister. I am talking about youthful love. This is about feeling that your are in the wrong place if you are out of sight of your love. Imagine or remember feeling pulled like a magnet, flutters inside at this person's touch or voice. When this person touches your hand, feeling electricity.

It is in all of the love poetry, in all of the truly romantic movies. The truly amazing thing is to have felt it, and to be able to relive that feeling when you read a great poem or book, or watch a great movie.

"Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all" So true, because once you have experienced that feeling, you can relive it, and dream of finding it again, and imagine having found it again, if only for a moment before really knowing someone, and seeing that it is not to be. That is worth losing it. Never regret having loved. Never regret moving on. Only regret ignoring your true feelings, for or against love. If the love is not there, do not linger pretending or wishing it was. If the love is there, do not waste a moment of it. Carpe Amor

And yes, I am a sap. But that is what I have to say about Pride and Prejudice.

This movie is a bit like watching Shakespeare. The language is difficult to wrap your mind around initially, but be patient. This is a great comedy and if you relax and let yourself get into the language, you will have a great time. There are subtle interactions between the characters. So much is said in a look. The actors do a terrific job of this. I think if this had been played in French we would have still understood the story.

The costumes are great too. So many period pieces use luscious fabrics and impossible to fathom patterns. Pride and Prejudice uses beautifully simple costumes. The Bennets are not wealthy and they are down to earth people. Elizabeth Bennet wears wonderful dresses that look like cotton, wrinkled and plain, yet she is stunning. The viewer can imagine these dresses were hand made by someone, with the tools of the time. They look so real. I cannot explain it. I loved the costumes. They are not the most flattering (to the men or the women) but somehow they pulled me into the movie.

The settings in this movie are beautiful too. I would like to know where this was filmed and go there. There is a scene where Elizabeth is standing on a cliff and the camera is far away. It is a vast hilly countryside. Everything looks so wonderfully untouched.

In my visits to England I have only been through a very small portion, but now I want to go all over and find these hills. Then I want to sit on that cliff (not as close to the edge as she stood LOL) and simply be.

Audiobooks

2005-11-23T08:07:00.000-08:00

I listen to audiobooks while I drive. I have a subscription to audible.com so I get two new books each month. Prior to this website's offerings, I was paying $35-$75 for a book on CD. Now I pay $19.95 for two, and I can re-download them if I lose a CD. I usually just put them on my iPod nano and listen there. (I use a cassette adapter to pipe the sound through my car stereo)

I am listening to
Robin Cook's Marker and Michael Connelly'sThe Lincoln Lawyer right now. (when I carpool I listen to one, and when i am alone I listen to the other)

To get into the holiday spirit, I highly recommend:
Roger Highfield's The Physics of Christmas especially for your favorite science geek. This book explains the science behind all of the mysteries of Christmas, including how a turkey cooks and why Rudolph has a red nose. You can listen to a sample directly from the website.

If you have plans to visit London, you can have your own personal guided tour by bringing
LondonWalks along. These audio tours take you through popular London sites while giving you an indepth perspective.

You should also checkout the San Diego Zoo's podcasts on iTunes for a similar offering if you are ever in San Diego. (Our zoo is amazing, with or without an audio guide)

The Physics of Christmas
LondonWalks
The Lincoln Lawyer
Marker

Holiday Crafts

2005-11-18T14:09:00.000-08:00

I have borrowed a Sizzix die-cutter from a friend and will be attempting to make gift tags and bags with it.

I am using WunderUnder fusible webbing and cute Christmas fabrics. I bought plain brown gift bags with the handles and cardstock and will adhere them. I plan to use the alphabet dies to make custom gift tags as well (maybe just the first initial with to and from written on them)

I am also stitching felt stockings for my niece and nephew. I found some cute kits with all of the pieces drawn on the felt, so I just have to cut and sew. (oh and stuff and bead and sequin and cut replacement pieces for when I lose one and line them with sturdier fabric)

Every year I do a little painting. I am not a painter really, but I enjoy painting the little wood shapes. It takes patience but it very relaxing. This year I found glossy acrylic craft paint (at Michael's) and it is great. It looks much more "finished" with very little effort. A Sharpie permanent marker covers a lot of sloppiness. I outline the design when I am finished and I like the look. It is very coloring book-ish. I have not gotten into the whole shading concept. I like bold solids.

When I am not bouncing between these, I also am making some of those Quilt Magic thingies mentioned in a previous post. Never a dull day because it is never the same craft. :)

Cheers.

Su Doku

2005-11-15T21:41:00.000-08:00

I have just been introduced to the puzzle called Su Doku. I enjoy logic puzzles, and while this one has very simple rules, it is pleasantly challenging. 'Not so challenging as to be too frustrating, but enough so that I will stick to pencil for now. (a coworker solves them in ink!)

The premise is a 3 by 3 grid, with each square subdivided again into 3 X 3's making it 9X9 overall. The goal is to fill in the digits one through nine while never repeating a digit in either a row, a column or a square. You are presented with a smattering of digits already placed and you must complete the grid.

I have seen smaller grids in books, as well as larger grids requiring letters to allow for enough unique characters. There are also grids with different geometric delineations to restrict the duplicates (two criss-crossed squares etc) and even one that requires that no duplicates be entered in either of the two diagonals.

My father has written an app to assist in solving (managing your digits) but I have not yet seen this. I have been playing with FileMaker Pro to design a workspace, with varying degrees of assistance.

The book my father gave me suggests jotting in the possible numbers as you find clues, but I prefer to use elimination. I mark tiny x's in the nine positions within a square until I have only one possible number left. Then i erase the x's and write the number. Unfortunately, sometimes by the time I have erased the marks, I have forgotten the number and have to figure it out again. :]

This is where the FileMakerPro would be convenient. I have even considered using Excel as a workspace, but with FMP I could make a stand-alone app, if I ever work it out to my liking. If I do get there, I will make the app available perhaps.

I am curious about the rules for generating these puzzles. They always indicate the difficulty level. Are there more than one possible solutions for the easy ones, or simply more obvious correct numbers?

OK, it is time to go check woot.com and then go to bed.

Cheers.

Su Doku
Woot!

Santa is on his way

2005-11-14T20:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, Santa is getting his stuff together. I have a feeling time is going to begin to accelerate very soon and many of us will feel the crunch. I am just glad I do not have to deliver to the entire planet.

BTW if you enjoy science, and want to get into the holiday spirit, I highly recommend "The Physics of Christmas" by Roger Highfield. It is a terrific book (the audio version is available on www.audible.com) that explains the science behind the holiday, including why Rudolph's nose is red, the thermodnamics of cooking a turkey, how to deliver toys to all of the world's children, and so much more. Surprisingly, the book does not get bogged down by the science. I mean, yes, there are certainly some highly technical explanations for some of the holiday magic, but there is such a wonderful tone throughout, you are left feeling holly and jolly.

So I vote we all start getting into the holiday spirit as soon as possible; let someone else have the good parking space, smile at the movie ticket tearer, say "please" to the gas station cashier, wave thanks to the car that let you into the lane, even though you did not even give them a chance to refuse. And plan ahead. We all grumble that the stores put out the Christmas stuff earlier and earlier, but think of it as giving you more time to enjoy it. Shiny things are nice.

Remember, Santa is a busy guy. Make sure you get your letters sent off soon!

Gift Giving

2005-11-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

I feel as though Christmas has become more about stress than joy. It is important to me to give gifts which show that I have some inkling about a person, or at the very least that I gave it a lot of thought. I personally do not want random stuff, and I figure other people feel the same way. I mean, any gift is appreciated, and I am certainly not a minimalist. I love my toys and gadgets. Still, I would be just as happy if the gift exchange could be trading off taking eachother to dinner or a movie, or something we both enjoy.

In surfing the web I came across something that intrigued me. I am not so inclined toward the "a donation was made in your name" gift idea, unless it is a charity which is dear to the recipient's heart and life. This is different though. I have seen companies that name a star for your recipient, or adopt a whale/wolf/sloth/whatever. I have even heard of purchasing a plot of ocean as a gift (pretty cool in its novelty) but this site offers tree planting in honor of your friend or family member. There are no plaques or signs or maps to go visit their tree, so it is like the donation in someone's name but I still think it is a warm fuzzy. The Christmas gift they offer is a nice little package. They plant a tree in your choice of state or country, and send a certificate, a card and a leaf ornament.

They also sell seedlings that you can plant yourself and create a memorial that can be visited and nurtured. For the trees that they plant, treegivers.com enlists the help of youth organizations around the world to do the planting, with the help of experts to ensure these trees are going to thrive.

Maybe most of us could stand to get a little less under our tree this Christmas and put a few more trees out in our world. It can only help, right?

Quilt Magic

2005-11-12T17:49:00.000-08:00

About a year ago I was visiting a friend and noticed she had a craft project sitting, unfinished on her countertop. She had lost her motivation when she found out she had to cut out 160 little triangles of fabric. I enjoy mindless tasks and managed to blaze through the fabric. We finished her faux-quilt and it now hangs in her dining room.

Basically, the QuiltMagic is a piece of one inch thick dense styrofoam, with a 1/8 inch layer of foam padding glued to the top, and then the surface is lasercut with a design, which you then lay fabric over and tuck the edges into the lasercuts. It comes out looking like a hanging quilt and you only need scissors and a butter knife to do it. It is surprisingly relaxing (except for the really small, odd-shaped pieces that won't lay straight or tuck too far into one side, leaving too little fabric for the other side.)

Quilt Magic

CraftROBO

2005-11-12T17:34:00.000-08:00

I REALLY want one of these nifty gadgets. The CraftROBO is a desktop cutter. It functions similarly to a plotter printer... but instead of a pen there is a knife. You create or delineate your graphics in vector form on the computer (propietary graphic format I think) and then you send your printed image (with registration marks) through the cutter and it cuts out your designs. You can make fancy pop-up cards, scrapbooking accents, vinyl stickers, paper sticker (you can set it to "kiss cut" through only half of the material, leaving the backing intact)

There is another device called the WishBlade, but from what I gather, ttf fonts are not supported on WishBlade, but they are on CraftROBO.

Apparently there are some legal agreement conflicts floating about and vendors cannot sell the CraftROBO in the US until January. (no guarantee they will not re-enter into a similar agreement, but here is hoping) The unit is much more expensive in the UK (duh) and I do not want to have to get a power adapter.

If I ever get this gem, I will post pics of my chops.

CraftROBO
A wonderful WishBlade dealer

2005-11-12T17:13:00.000-08:00

Here I plan to post everything from craft projects to computer info to editorials. Hopefully someone will find something I say interesting enough to reply.

Cheers