Surprise! Well, maybe...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

After having written in so late last night, I'm sure you are just a bit surprised to hear from me again while it is morning. But here I am!

Today's image is a brand new creation that I titled Another Ornament. Last night, I finally figured out how to make one of my tools actually let go of stuff, short of saving and closing the picture altogether. I admit, that was fun! And now that I've finally gotten a handle on that, I'll be able to share more things with you.

I will have my hands full today: Some of the work that I meant to get done Friday wasn't. But that's not a problem: It's not really due until tomorrow. Still, I would like to pull ahead just a bit more so there will be less pressure on during the final weeks of the courses. Wish me luck!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Home Again, Home Again...

Good Evening, Gentle Readers!

My husband and I have not been home long, and we've been bouncing ideas off of each other for business ventures. So in honor of that, I am kicking off the after-Thanksgiving holiday season with Ornaments.

He is wanting to offer to consult individuals and small businesses in the use of Linux computer systems. Lately he has been quite disenchanted with Microsoft, and so has been using other operating systems. He has learned quite a lot, and has shown me a few times. In truth, the basic use of Linux is not terribly different from that of Windows. It does require some adjusting in one's mind set, but that is about all. I'll tell you more about that when he is ready to reveal more!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Over The River And Through The Woods...

Good morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image isn't my work, as you can see: I found it in Photobucket, and saw it had been placed there by a person called Steppyville. Thank you for sharing!

My husband and I will be going out of town for the weekend. I'm not sure if it will be today or tomorrow, but it has become a tradition with our family to celebrate holidays with my parents during the following weekend. I think my parents would rather we celebrated the holiday during the holiday, but given my husband's job that's not really practical.

Later on today I'll be making brownies. Mother won't be able to eat much of them since she's diabetic, but it is a small indulgence. And meanwhile I can always enjoy them myself!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Thanksgiving!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is an oldie but goodie titled Crystal Ball. I apologize for not writing yesterday: I was extremely busy trying to get some sizable homework assignments done. But it was well worth the effort, so now I can get back to writing here!

As you would have noticed, we are now into the Thanksgiving Holiday. So I will talk about things to be thankful for yet again.

I am thankful for coffee! That beverage has been my faithful companion through many hours of working, writing, and thinking.

I am thankful for my husband having the day off! He needs the break. A day of relaxing will do him a world of good.

I am thankful for my cats, who remind me not to take things too seriously.

And I am thankful for my friends of the Internet, who have been wonderfully supportive and inspiring in my endeavors!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Home Stretch!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

I managed to get my week's reading for one class done in the wee hours of the morning. Some of it I'll have to go back over: I'm required to make a power-point presentation this week, and I've NO idea how to go about it! I think I have a couple of ideas, though.

The other item I have due is an assignment that has been giving me a fit for days! I think I've beat it though. All hail the power of the yellow pad!

Wish me luck, Gentle Readers!

Until we meet...

Good News and Thoughts

Good morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Cupcake Crown. In itself, it isn't that good. But it does demonstrate a few of the surprises I've found while exploring my programs. The cupcakes are in honor of a bit of silliness a few friends and I have been enjoying recently.

Last night when I went to bed, I was feeling pretty overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of homework I have to do this week- before going out of town for the weekend. But this morning, it doesn't really look so bad. All hail the power of copy-paste! After all, some of it is just a basic reorganization of work I've already done. And I was sure to get a copy of a manual that I needed, so I don't have to go on-line to get it.

I do have another bit of good news: My husband thinks that he can get a sort-of vacation from his job this coming week. He does need the break, and we can see about setting up Starfire Images as an actual company instead of just a theoretical one. Wish me luck, and if you want a little something nice for your wall let me know!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

A Computer Thought

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Threads of Light. I had noticed a number of things happening when I tried adding lines then a distortion, so I thought I would see what I could make deliberately.

I have my coffee, and all is right with the world! My assignments are turned in, and after a night of web surfing to find some other stuff I decided it was time to relax just a little. I did install a different antivirus from my previous one, which was AVG. Apparently AVG 9 just doesn't get along well with Windows XP: I'm not seeing any lag now. I still am not sure what was causing the lag though.

No matter. Did you know that sometimes one feels like one can't breathe when one has to depend on a lagging computer? I suppose that it's a sign of how dependent I've become on the cantankerous machine.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

A Confession

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is one of a humorous series of them I was sent a few weeks ago. I'll have to look through mine and see which ones I can discard: The file is getting pretty big.

I mentioned a confession. And it's true: I've been slipping with the school work. I could try to excuse myself by blaming a rather unpleasant cold or the unbelievable lag my computer has been experiencing. And both are true. But the truth is that I've permitted myself to get caught up in a number of games. No more of them until I get things where I want them! And, Gentle Readers, I will beg your forgiveness. I've been talking about school and shouldn't let you down like that.

Until we meet...

Too Early!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Yes, I know I normally am not awake this early. But my computer has some bugs in it that are interfering with my school work (all together now- YUCK!), and I have some things that MUST be done today. So today, I am presenting a bright image I titled Shimmer Circles. Between that and a pot or two of coffee, I should be able to get the work done.

The sunshine we've had for a few days has gone away: The rain started late last night, and the sky overhead is still very grey. That might be simply because it is still early, but I won't be surprised if yet more rain comes.

Rain or not, there are things I have to finish. Wish me luck!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

What Season is This?

Good afternoon, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Red Moons. I added a red shadow to the original, and considered adding a green. But the green one was just too gaudy, so it didn't stay.

You know- we've had a few cool days, even cold. But it's starting to warm back up out there just a bit! I don't think it will last long, but the local plant and animal life won't know what to do. That makes me grateful for a nice little home to stay in!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Raspberry-Lime Ball. The reason is pretty much self-explanatory. I think the next time I try something like this, I'll use a brighter raspberry.

A few days ago, I took a deep breath and dove into the world of online shopping. Courtesy of my school, I had a gift card to use. It was a marvelous godsend to help with some of my holiday shopping. But oh boy, the hoops I had to go through to get the items! To be fair, the people I bought from did need to know where to send stuff.

Now, one of the objects that was supposed to arrive yesterday was not delivered: The carrier instead left a note about how I wasn't home. I've no idea what this person was talking about: While I can't watch the door while watching the screen, I most certainly was listening. And I didn't hear anyone on the porch. It might help if the carrier knocked to let me know it was me needed, not one of my neighbors.

That can be handled somewhat: Today is nice and sunny, so I can be outside raking the yard. No carrier will be able to claim I wasn't responsive to the door that way!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

More Gratitudes

Good morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled A Few Petals. Who would have known that computer graphics could be so much fun?

I promised I would talk about more things to be grateful for. So...

I am grateful for the sounds of birds chattering as they gather to go south. They can get loud at times, but it's the sound of life not of someone trying to pound my ears to death.

I am grateful for my health and mind. With these, I can help people who are in need.

I am grateful for chocolate! That warm dark sweet delicacy can make nearly anything seem better!

Believe it or not, I am grateful for paper. Paper is a wonderful medium for expressing and exploring thoughts, for holding words that I might wish to see later, or for holding pictures that can give so much pleasure.

What are you grateful for today?

Until we meet...

Give Thanks...

Good morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Monarch because of the colors I chose to use in it. The image itself is really apropos of nothing at all today, but I thought you might enjoy it.

Thanksgiving is approaching quickly, so I thought today would be a good day to talk about things one is thankful for.

I am thankful for the Veterans who gave their all so that I might have the power of choice.

I am thankful for my husband, who spoils me rotten whenever he can and supports me whole-heartedly.

I am thankful for Michelle, Heather, Sue, Vivian, Dana, and Kate- Six wonderful ladies who work as teachers for the University of Phoenix. Thanks to them, my education is no longer as full of holes as it used to be, but I have found more things that I can learn. Truly, I would be bored stiff if I spent all my time playing video games!

I am thankful for Galahad and Egraine, the kittens- now fully-grown cats- that my husband and I brought home several years ago. They have been endless sources of affection and entertainment with their antics.

I will list more things to give thanks for tomorrow, Gentle Readers.

Until we meet...

Things that make one go Awwwwww!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

As you can see, I did not make this picture. A friend of mine who lives in New Zealand, and who has a remarkable talent for finding the hilarious or unusual did. Thank you for sharing! My friend with the wee dog says that the said pup would positively demand that she bring this little guy home, if he saw it.

I've bothered you about school and so on for a very long time. So today, I thought I would talk about something else- such as the little donkey.

Lately, I've been shown a lot of pictures of love demonstrated by our furry little friends: Kitties cuddling with birds and mice, of all things! Puppies and cats being pals, children feeding baby skunks even. For those of you who have been following me a long time, you may remember that I talked of a video showing how an elephant even was best friends with a dog- and when the dog got hurt, the elephant wouldn't leave that corner of her range that was near where her friend was, until the dog was able to romp and play with her again.

We all need more aww! moments.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Update on the After-Effects!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled A Rosy Perspective. It does seem apropos of today's entry.

I said I would check on a few of the neighbors. Boy did I get an earful! In addition to the general flooding and power outages, two major grocery stores were without power. One of them had a generator set up to go in case of such an emergency- But lo and behold, the generator caught fire! That would explain the howling of the sirens. That is a bit ironic to someone who lives in a place that before for power company purposes was viewed as a sort of red-headed stepchild.

I suppose I should explain the power company thing. Our area is prone to outages, or was. And when there were area-wide outages, we would be among the last people locally to get electricity back. I can't really fault the power company, though; They do need to have an order for attending to the grid in order to get anything done at all, and even their repair people haven't mastered the art of being in more than one place at once.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is tentatively titled Flipped Garnet. I apparently haven't shaken the color-combination bug after all, but it is something that can be used to good effect- so I think I won't try to.

As I said last night, that storm did provide a bit of excitement. When I checked the news, it has effected most of the state. Unlike man, nature is not a respecter of boundaries it seems! I now am going to see how many of our neighbors are still without power. It is still very grey outside, and I did sleep in a lot more than I usually do. I was amazed to see we still had electricity, for all that the power did threaten to go.

Until we meet, Gentle readers...

Talk about excitement!

Good evening, Gentle Readers!

Please forgive the lateness of this post: Mother Nature has not been cooperative, and the power has been threatening to go out all day long!

The remnants of Tropical Storm Ida have been giving us a Nor'easter with plenty of wind and rain. For those who are not familiar with the term Nor'easter, it's a kind of wind and rain storm that comes from the northeast. It's not quite as strong as a tropical storm or hurricane, but it can get pretty strong. In areas with plenty of trees, it can and will cause power outages.

My husband and I have been fortunate: For once, we were among the people that kept power while some of our neighbors didn't.

I did manage to get my required school work in for the week and make a start on the other project. But I need to get a few final details squared away on it before I really dig into it.

I do have one more piece of good news, albeit minor: Other than just a teeny bit of sneezing and coughing, the cold is gone! Yay! Now I can concentrate on the stuff that needs to be done! I guess the germs couldn't stand the floods of hot tea I aimed at them.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Any School in a Storm...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Well, I have a couple of things that I MUST get done for school today: apparently a nor'easter is moving in. There is some light rain and wind right now, but the sky outside is mighty grey.

So today, I introduced a new image titled Threads of Light. I wasn't really sure what would happen if I changed the color-types for my free-hand drawing, but I admit I am pleased. So what's new?

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Turn The Page...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Hillside Light Show. Looking at it, I can see that in many ways it's incomplete. But it does provide a backdrop that I might use for something else later.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of meeting Kate and Dana, my new instructors. I think I've made a good impression on them, but I do have work that is as of yet undone. That doesn't really matter, though: I'm ahead of the game with the weekly work at least.

I also stepped into my former classrooms to post good-byes to my previous classmates and teachers. Now, I'm not one to wax nostalgic about school, or about any place that I used to be: Far more often, things have happened that I would just as soon forget. But the people I've left behind are good people, with big dreams. And some of them are putting down problems even bigger than mine. I wish them the best of luck- The very best.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Sniffles and Spring...

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Spring. Of course, we haven't had winter yet and I don't want to wish a season away. But right now, I could use that warming sensation.

Something has happened that hasn't in a while: I've come down with a really-truly cold! That's not really special in itself, of course. But I had successfully dodged them for a number of years, and the last thing I want or need is to be distracted from my school work by sniffles.

Not that I'm going to let that stop me, of course: I've already tended to a couple of assignments for my new courses, and an item for my capstone project for one of them. I'm going to spend an awful lot of time studying though: There is some unfamiliar terminology I need a handle on.

Until we meet...

And Now For Next Week's News!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Lime. It's probably the easiest thing I'm going to do this coming week: When I got a look at my syllabus, I found that the coming Discussion Questions were what would have been considered Essay Questions in my old courses!

I set myself up for it though, all but daring the instructors to let me have it! I daresay it surprised them just a bit. I will miss talking with Sue and Vivian, but I do still have their contact information. One thing I should try to do tomorrow or Tuesday is write them thank-you notes.

Another thing I need to do is sort through the stuff on my shelves and see what I can store away: I need the space for my school work.

So it goes!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Delay is NOT a Student's Friend!

Good Evening, Gentle Readers!

I know I normally write in the mornings, but I didn't today. I promise, I have a good excuse!

I spent the morning and most of the afternoon downloading texts to my new courses. One of them easily has 40 to 50 pages per chapter. A lot of it is old information that I had learned some 25 to 30 years ago, but a refresher was in order.

Some was very much new information that either corrected old errors or filled in blanks that some of the ancient texts had. Methinks my hands will be quite full for the next 9 weeks! As it is, I started reading some of my new material and comparing it to the course syllabus.

Wish me luck, Gentle Readers!

Until we meet...

Things to Think About

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Floating Amethyst. I really want some way to define it just a little better, but I presently am not sure how to do that without damaging the whole. Perhaps I'll find a way later.

My academic counselor called yesterday. I have to say I was a bit flabbergasted: I really don't consider myself to be a genius, but I was successful in my attempt to maintain that 4.0 grade average. Can we say Faint-Thud? Anyway, I was looking over some of my requirements for my background education and found a number of items I could really sink my teeth into. That's not hard any more, though: Contrary to expectations, Introductory to Business was a lot of fun! Even if I did get scared by that power-point presentation that was due early in a week after I had spent a weekend out!

So now I have a page full of notes about the various courses, and I've read a chapter from one of the new ones coming up. Early starts are good!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Time to relax?

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

Today's image is titled Blue Star. It was one of the first things I made when I decided to step away from autumn and holiday pictures, and as you can see it is in my preferred range of colors. I might try making this in yellows, oranges, and so on. There's also another picture I want to try to remake: I'm not at all happy with how it turned out the first time, though there were no problems until the save. I think I know where the bug was, though.

This morning since my classes are pretty solidly taken care of, I'll start reading through my new texts. Watch out, whoever my new teachers are!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

Wednesday Wow!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

First, I must beg your pardon for the rushed tone of yesterday's post: Yesterday my computer system warned me that it was going to restart after getting a few upgrades, instead of giving me the option to wait for a while. I was lucky, in a way: The entry of the day was the last of my usual morning correspondence.

Today's image is titled Pink Tourmaline. The original background is a deeper pink, with a lighter one becoming the star image. Then I used blue to give it a shape, rather than have it float around like a kind of ghost.

This may sound strange- but I think school has been good for my health! I was getting pretty flabby for a while, and was getting concerned about how winded a walk up to the local mall was making me. But I started pacing a lot while thinking about the answers to some school stuff. Today when I stepped out after the power went out, I wasn't breathing that hard at all when I got to the mall! I may get back into my former trim yet! I should tell Sue and Vivian: I think it would tickle them no end.

Speaking of the power outage, when I went out to get some breakfast and especially coffee, I saw a steam shovel that had been used for digging in front of a home. I do wonder if that was what caused the outage. I met a gentleman at the mall who goes there to walk: Apparently the same outage got him too. At least, he reported an outage about the same time.

I've finished my assignments for this block of classes. Now I can start reading the texts for my next block! A friend and I have a bit of a joke about how we're going to scare the teachers by diving in like that. A couple of days ago, there was a letter announcing that the end dates of the classes were being adjusted to allow for a winter break. I'm figuring that will just give some extra time to study and do whatever else was needed.

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

A Few Scrawls...

Good morning, Gentle Readers!

I only have one more assignment to do for this block of classes, then I will have a few days to do whatever I wish! What a rush!

I also got a letter saying that my next block of classes has been paid for.

I took a look at some of the stuff I'll be reading- and I can really sink my teeth into it!

I've little more to report this morning, but I plan to have more later!

Until we meet...

Woo-Hoo Part Deuce!

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

I'm down to two assignments for this block of classes, and one of those is most of the way done. The second half proved to be a bit more difficult to handle than I bargained for, but so what? I still have it pretty solidly wrestled to the ground! The other assignment will require some thought, but it will be a form of thinking I am familiar with.

Today's image is titled Red-Green Shadows. It is indeed an experiment with shadowing, though it probably doesn't look like it. I think I finally have a handle on how that tool in my program works, though I still have to figure out a few of the quirks. I suppose I ought to see what else I can do about winter images as well as autumn. Wish me luck!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...

The Begining of November

Good Morning, Gentle Readers!

It is now the first day of November. The time change has occurred- which means the kitties won't be happy campers because they have to wait an extra hour for their meals. It's wet and rainy outside, so it will be hard to see the leaves at their best colors. I'm not going to complain about the rain, though: Having lived through several droughts and seen more, I think I prefer the alternative!

Today's image is titled Stained Glass. I'm not sure exactly what I was trying to do when I made this, but like most of my work, this is the result of a happy accident.

Yesterday was quite busy with my assorted groups: I decided to add a couple more to my reading list, and thinking about what to do with a couple more of them. There is one that I have a tale started on that I really ought to get back to and finish: Right now I've got my poor hero stuck out in the middle of nowhere- literally!

Until we meet, Gentle Readers...