So, do you know what metadata is? Consider this yer lesson folks. The conspiracy theory that is real.
You know how you are always seeing shows like CSI or Law and Order where they take old computers and find things that people thought were erased? And you think how did they do that?? Or how they determine when I file was written, who it was written by, when it was modified, etc? Well metadata is the information that is attached or embedded into each file (word, excel, pdf, jpeg, etc) that tells you when the file was created and edited, which program was used, who created and edited it, etc etc.
Metadata is technically text information, although it can also be a smaller (thumbnail) of the original image, and it can be stored in a seperate database or embedded directly into the file it is related to. Metadata is by default embedded into a photo the second that your digital camera captures it. Most cameras embed information such as the make and model of camera used to capture the image, as well as most camera settings, like flash, zoom, focus, mode, etc.
You can manually (with the right photo software, such as Photoshop CS) add other information like the author, copyright, description, keywords, and places where the photo was taken. This can be great for organizing, sorting, and storing your photos. But it can be bad if your photo is distributed with your name and address attached (which you would have to attach yourself) or if it gives information about where the file was stored on your computer, etc etc.
But. There are third party software packages, usually that have free trials or are available free for home and personal use, that are used to "scrub" or "strip" metadata from images and documents. Another positive note? When stripped, photos and documents can dramatically decrease in size, taking up less space on disks, hard drives, and CD's, AND loading much quicker when viewed in emails and on the web.
So that's today's lesson in metadata.
Friday, December 16, 2005
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Goodbye Youth!
Hmmm.... Feeling a little nostalgic? Here are some old pictures either of me, or with me IN them. The differences in my hair are the best, different colors, different lengths.... not to mention how YOUNG I look and How SKINNY in most of them. Ha ha. I am uploading them small, but if you click on any of them you can view them larger. See if you can pick me out!
Wal-Mart Pissed me Off
The "day off" is over. It makes me sad. I know that I only have to work two more days and then I will have two more off. I am really thinking that if I ever have an opportunity to work less than full time, I would prefer to have every Wednesday off. Like a break in the middle of the week. Wouldn't that be fabulous!
So. I didn't want to wake up this morning. I snoozed for 45 minutes. Ugh. Then Liz called and wanted to know what I want for Christmahanakwanzaa and I was so braindead I couldn't think of a single thing. I was like "can we talk about this when I am awake?" So I have been thinking of things that I would like that are NOT on my Hallmark 2005 Filigree bell. I collect Christmas Bells you see, and every single year I get one for a gift. Well I got one this year, but Hallmark came out with a new one, and it is rare that I see a bell and say I really love it and I want it. But this one I do. So I told Liz that. And she bought Evan's gift online also. He will be so thrilled to see it.
Wal-Mart pissed me off today.
Royally. I had sent like $50 worth of pictures to be developed, submitted online to the one hour photo. I also submitted our new year's cards. What was INCREDIBLY frustrating, was that when I picked them up (or tried to) they told me that I couldn't have any of the holiday cards or some of my prints because they "looked" like they were taken professionally. I said "that's flattering, really, but they are my photos" and the girl looked at me blankly and said "well I can't give them to you." and I was so upset. She said you have to bring us your camera to prove that you took them. And I said "well, they aren't on my camera anymore, they are on my computer. And I don't think you need my entire camera, you just probably need the card." And she said "bring in your card" and I said "THEY ARE ON MY COMPUTER. Do you want me to put them back on the card and bring you the card?" and she said "yeah. Bring the card and we can look at it." OK. So then I said, you have two telephone numbers associated with that order. Why didn't you call me and tell me to bring the card when I came to pick the pictures up, instead of having me make a special trip here, which I did, to pick them up and then tell me that I have to go home and get my card and come back again?" and she just shrugged and said "Because it happens all the time" and then stood there. So I said "Is there a manager I can speak with?" and then a kid about my age or likely younger came up. I posed (politely) several questions to him. Firstly, why did no one call? Now I have to make a special trip home, and I DON'T live in Princeton, so that is a royal pain in my ass. I was hoping that they would just give me the pictures this time, but not so lucky. The manager said "I don't know why they didn't call you" and then said "I am sorry." But of course no offers were made to reimburse me or give me a percentage off my orders. I mentioned that I spend HUNDREDS of dollars a year on photo developing in their store, and submit them all online. I also mentioned that I spend THOUSANDS of dollars a year in the rest of the store, and that a courtesy call to my home is not asking too much.
The thing I didn't discuss, is the fact that they are charging me ONE HOUR PHOTO prices for photos that now I can't pick up until I go home and get my camera card, so probably tomorrow. And I had submitted them at 9pm Wednesday and was told that they wouldn't be ready till 10:50am on Thursday, even though they open at 8am and one hour would have been by 9am. They already have this problem in the Princeton Store, when you submit photos online for the 1 hour, they tell you that they are "too busy" and processing a high number of orders- and that the photos will be ready after xxx time. Usually 4-12 hours later. But they can still charge you 1 hour prices? That is a problem. To me, that sounds downright like cheating. If they are unable to keep up, then they need to hire more help and put another machine in there. How frustrating is that? And the problem? They have the corner on the market. There is no other place in Princeton that does one hour digital photos, let along prints them from your online submission. What we need is a Walgreens!
I also asked the manager why, a couple of months ago, I had all of my PROFESSIONALLY taken wedding photos printed at Wal-mart and I wasn't even asked ONCE between the 5 different orders that I placed, for proof that they were mine. Duh. And I DID have permission, as I purchased rights to them all from the photographer, and also had the CD that he provided me. But when the pictures WERE professional, and obviously so, they didn't bat an eye. Whatever. So, as a royal pain in my ass, I have to take my camera card back to Wal-mart to prove the pictures are mine before they will let me have them. Argh! You would think that Wal-Mart would have to realize that with the expensive equipment that we have today, namely digital cameras and photo editing software, that anyone can create photos that look professional.
So. I didn't want to wake up this morning. I snoozed for 45 minutes. Ugh. Then Liz called and wanted to know what I want for Christmahanakwanzaa and I was so braindead I couldn't think of a single thing. I was like "can we talk about this when I am awake?" So I have been thinking of things that I would like that are NOT on my Hallmark 2005 Filigree bell. I collect Christmas Bells you see, and every single year I get one for a gift. Well I got one this year, but Hallmark came out with a new one, and it is rare that I see a bell and say I really love it and I want it. But this one I do. So I told Liz that. And she bought Evan's gift online also. He will be so thrilled to see it.
Wal-Mart pissed me off today.
Royally. I had sent like $50 worth of pictures to be developed, submitted online to the one hour photo. I also submitted our new year's cards. What was INCREDIBLY frustrating, was that when I picked them up (or tried to) they told me that I couldn't have any of the holiday cards or some of my prints because they "looked" like they were taken professionally. I said "that's flattering, really, but they are my photos" and the girl looked at me blankly and said "well I can't give them to you." and I was so upset. She said you have to bring us your camera to prove that you took them. And I said "well, they aren't on my camera anymore, they are on my computer. And I don't think you need my entire camera, you just probably need the card." And she said "bring in your card" and I said "THEY ARE ON MY COMPUTER. Do you want me to put them back on the card and bring you the card?" and she said "yeah. Bring the card and we can look at it." OK. So then I said, you have two telephone numbers associated with that order. Why didn't you call me and tell me to bring the card when I came to pick the pictures up, instead of having me make a special trip here, which I did, to pick them up and then tell me that I have to go home and get my card and come back again?" and she just shrugged and said "Because it happens all the time" and then stood there. So I said "Is there a manager I can speak with?" and then a kid about my age or likely younger came up. I posed (politely) several questions to him. Firstly, why did no one call? Now I have to make a special trip home, and I DON'T live in Princeton, so that is a royal pain in my ass. I was hoping that they would just give me the pictures this time, but not so lucky. The manager said "I don't know why they didn't call you" and then said "I am sorry." But of course no offers were made to reimburse me or give me a percentage off my orders. I mentioned that I spend HUNDREDS of dollars a year on photo developing in their store, and submit them all online. I also mentioned that I spend THOUSANDS of dollars a year in the rest of the store, and that a courtesy call to my home is not asking too much.
The thing I didn't discuss, is the fact that they are charging me ONE HOUR PHOTO prices for photos that now I can't pick up until I go home and get my camera card, so probably tomorrow. And I had submitted them at 9pm Wednesday and was told that they wouldn't be ready till 10:50am on Thursday, even though they open at 8am and one hour would have been by 9am. They already have this problem in the Princeton Store, when you submit photos online for the 1 hour, they tell you that they are "too busy" and processing a high number of orders- and that the photos will be ready after xxx time. Usually 4-12 hours later. But they can still charge you 1 hour prices? That is a problem. To me, that sounds downright like cheating. If they are unable to keep up, then they need to hire more help and put another machine in there. How frustrating is that? And the problem? They have the corner on the market. There is no other place in Princeton that does one hour digital photos, let along prints them from your online submission. What we need is a Walgreens!
I also asked the manager why, a couple of months ago, I had all of my PROFESSIONALLY taken wedding photos printed at Wal-mart and I wasn't even asked ONCE between the 5 different orders that I placed, for proof that they were mine. Duh. And I DID have permission, as I purchased rights to them all from the photographer, and also had the CD that he provided me. But when the pictures WERE professional, and obviously so, they didn't bat an eye. Whatever. So, as a royal pain in my ass, I have to take my camera card back to Wal-mart to prove the pictures are mine before they will let me have them. Argh! You would think that Wal-Mart would have to realize that with the expensive equipment that we have today, namely digital cameras and photo editing software, that anyone can create photos that look professional.
2005: A Year in review (humor)
THE TOP FIVE "SMART-ASS" ANSWERS OF THE YEAR
Smart-Ass Answer #5
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. Asa man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened histrench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, "Sir, I needto see your ticket, not your stub."
Smart-Ass Answer #4
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, butcouldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a butcher, "Do theseturkeys get any bigger?" The butcher replied, "No, ma'am, they're dead."
Smart-Ass Answer #3
The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolleddown his window. "I've been waiting for you all day," the cop said. Thekid replied, "Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could." When the copfinally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.
Smart-Ass Answer #2
A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that readsLow bridge ahead.' Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead of him andhe gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally, apolice car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to thetruck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?" Thetruck driver says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and I ran out of gas."
Smart-Ass Answer #1
A college teacher remindsher class of tomorrow's final exam. "Now, Class, I won't tolerate anyexcuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attackor a serious personal injury or illness, or a death in your immediatefamily but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!" A smart-ass guy in theback of the room raised his! hand and asks, "What would you say if tomorrowI said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?" Theentire class does its best to stifle their laughter and snickering. Whensilence is restored, the teacher smiles sympathetically at the student,shakes her head, and sweetly says, "Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.
Smart-Ass Answer #5
A flight attendant was stationed at the departure gate to check tickets. Asa man approached, she extended her hand for the ticket and he opened histrench coat and flashed her. Without missing a beat, she said, "Sir, I needto see your ticket, not your stub."
Smart-Ass Answer #4
A lady was picking through the frozen turkeys at the grocery store, butcouldn't find one big enough for her family. She asked a butcher, "Do theseturkeys get any bigger?" The butcher replied, "No, ma'am, they're dead."
Smart-Ass Answer #3
The cop got out of his car and the kid who was stopped for speeding rolleddown his window. "I've been waiting for you all day," the cop said. Thekid replied, "Yeah, well I got here as fast as I could." When the copfinally stopped laughing, he sent the kid on his way without a ticket.
Smart-Ass Answer #2
A truck driver was driving along on the freeway. A sign comes up that readsLow bridge ahead.' Before he knows it, the bridge is right ahead of him andhe gets stuck under the bridge. Cars are backed up for miles. Finally, apolice car comes up. The cop gets out of his car and walks around to thetruck driver, puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck, huh?" Thetruck driver says, "No, I was delivering this bridge and I ran out of gas."
Smart-Ass Answer #1
A college teacher remindsher class of tomorrow's final exam. "Now, Class, I won't tolerate anyexcuses for you not being here tomorrow. I might consider a nuclear attackor a serious personal injury or illness, or a death in your immediatefamily but that's it, no other excuses whatsoever!" A smart-ass guy in theback of the room raised his! hand and asks, "What would you say if tomorrowI said I was suffering from complete and utter sexual exhaustion?" Theentire class does its best to stifle their laughter and snickering. Whensilence is restored, the teacher smiles sympathetically at the student,shakes her head, and sweetly says, "Well, I guess you'd have to write the exam with your other hand.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Santa Baby....
Well, I just got done ordering our new year's cards. With so much going on, I am no longer sending out Christmas cards, but new year's cards instead. So if you didn't get one, now you know why.My sister Liz and I had our picture taken with Santa at the Festival of Trees on Thanksgiving day, my birthday. We just received the picture in the mail. Check it out!
We also took lots of other pictures that day, but they didn't all turn out. I look pale and dead in most of them. I think it was the blinding flash about 1 foot from my face in an otherwise darkened room. Here are also a couple more pics from the festival of trees, one with Mom, Dad, and Liz, and another with all of us outside with some lights. Mom and Dad in the back with Evan, Me, and Liz on the park bench.
They are a little dark, especially the one taken outside. But still cool.
Beads Galore
Well, today for my "day off" I got the "secret project" completed, which took care of 12 Christmas Presents. I also got three more Christmas Presents bought and the big surprise for Husband is on the way. I am pleased. Then I got myself a new pair of fuzzy jammies and some beads and I sat at home and started to teach myself how to make my OWN jewelry, without the kit. It's pretty cool. I made two bracelets and two pair of earrings today, of my own design, just playing around. I am happy. Now I can work on making them as gifts also! Yippee! I am a beading queen! 
Husband is out getting supplies to finish up the room. Contractor was here today, he found out yesterday that the tumor he has is non-cancerous, so we are all happy. He will be here working on little things until after the 1st of the year. We should be able to move into the living/dining room by The weekend. Yeah!
That's about all the excitement today. Spent time and money at Wal-Mart, and also drove in the slush a bit. It has been sleeting/snowing and occasionally raining all day.
Husband is out getting supplies to finish up the room. Contractor was here today, he found out yesterday that the tumor he has is non-cancerous, so we are all happy. He will be here working on little things until after the 1st of the year. We should be able to move into the living/dining room by The weekend. Yeah!That's about all the excitement today. Spent time and money at Wal-Mart, and also drove in the slush a bit. It has been sleeting/snowing and occasionally raining all day.
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Beads Look Great!
Well, the beading at lunch went well. I finished my bracelet with the help of Cari. It was fun and simple! I love it! I have had so many compliements on it, and when I say "I made it" I get even more compliments. It's so neat! Now I need to pop those earrings together tonight after the dog kennels and I will have it made.
Tomorrow I am off work, and I need to run to Wal-mart, but I can't decide if I want to do that tonight or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow, but I don't know. I have been trying for 5 days to make a Wal-Mart list but I keep forgetting. So I KNOW that there are things I am missing. Now and then I will remember one of them, but I keep forgetting to charge my Clie so I can't just put it in the PDA right now.
Tomorrow I am off work, and I need to run to Wal-mart, but I can't decide if I want to do that tonight or tomorrow. Probably tomorrow, but I don't know. I have been trying for 5 days to make a Wal-Mart list but I keep forgetting. So I KNOW that there are things I am missing. Now and then I will remember one of them, but I keep forgetting to charge my Clie so I can't just put it in the PDA right now.
Balancing Beads
I balanced the checkbooks last night. Ick. I hate it. Everything is slick, considering it is all in Quicken and all categorized into spending and tax categories, and the computer remember which vendors belong in which categories, and it remembers the vendor's names so I only have to type in the first few characters. Then I download to history file from the online banking, and synch and match it with my quicken file. It really is smooth, but it's the CHA-CHING of money sliding out of the checkbook as I pay bills that I despise. Things are looking good, however, for being able to pay all the bills and still purchase the rest of our "secret project" and also the remaining Christmas Gifts I have been holding out on, especially the "surprise" for husband. I am just full or surprises this year, eh? It's a good feeling to have that all done and not be so stressed that I will make all the ends meet by Christmas.
Today at lunch I have a "date" with Cari, she is teaching me to put together the necklace and earrings I bought from her "bead retreat" with consultant Renee Carlson. I couldn't go because I was in Chicago, but I did the thing I should and bought something- but not because Cari asked me to, because I wanted to make my own and because I LOVED the necklace and the matching earrings (the green bracelet and earrings shown at left and featured on page 11 of this online catalog) and I knew I would wear them to work lots. I can't wait to put them together.
Today at lunch I have a "date" with Cari, she is teaching me to put together the necklace and earrings I bought from her "bead retreat" with consultant Renee Carlson. I couldn't go because I was in Chicago, but I did the thing I should and bought something- but not because Cari asked me to, because I wanted to make my own and because I LOVED the necklace and the matching earrings (the green bracelet and earrings shown at left and featured on page 11 of this online catalog) and I knew I would wear them to work lots. I can't wait to put them together.
Getting to Know You- Holiday Style
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate I can't remember if I have ever had egg nog.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I believe that Santa has always wrapped the presents before putting them under the tree.
3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? White. I HATE COLORED LIGHTS!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I have for 5 years and husband has only kissed me once. See how much good that does?
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after thanksgiving, but not this year due to remodeling.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Turkey w/cranberry sauce. By far. And mashed potatoes but I only like the kind in the box.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I have a few. Probably Stacey’s last Christmas before she died, and maybe the year everyone else got snowed in and I went to Christmas Eve busting drifts in my little car.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What do you mean?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Only if I go to Evan’s Grandmas. But sometimes Evan lets me open one of mine for fun. This year I already got two of them from Evan, a new jewelry armoire and new flannel sheets for our bed.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get? I don’t remember. Probably the kind that you buy cheap at Aldi's because that's what I was raised on.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love snow. Love love love.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes. But I am best on Hockey skates.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I remember many great gifts. One year Evan got me my pooh bear fleece robe from the Disney Store, and another year a pooh bear sweater with a snowflake- I get compliments every time I wear it. Plus My mom getting me the digital camera, that was awesome. And I remember the John Deere pedal tractor when I was 5. I got to ride it in the living room.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Not working. Enjoying myself and spending time with my mom, dad, sister, and Evan. Lounging around. Seeing friends “home” for the holidays.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin anything.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Morning at Moms.
17. What tops your tree? We have a really cool “north star” that is silvery and glittery. I eyed it all year at Ivy Cottage In Princeton but it was too expensive. Then after Christmas a few years ago, I bought it on clearance. I love that thing.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving because I try very hard to get someone what they would like.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Christmas Island as sung By Jimmy Buffett – but close following: Baby it’s cold outside by Dean Martin, Song for a Winter’s Night by Sarah McLahlan, Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt…. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Kenny and Dolly Christmas CD, “Once upon a Christmas.” We have had it since we were little and in my family it wouldn’t be Christmas without it. We wore out the tape and then luckily one year found it on CD and made copies for everyone. It’s a must have. I also recommend Christmas Cocktails Volume II and Jimmy Buffett Christmas…. As well as Beach Boys Ultimate Christmas. I am a Christmas Music Connoisseur.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Not a fan. I like peppermint, but not in candy cane form. Too messy and sticky. And I HATE all those other stupid flavors they try to cram into a candy cane.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? I believe that Santa has always wrapped the presents before putting them under the tree.
3. Colored lights or white lights on tree/house? White. I HATE COLORED LIGHTS!
4. Do you hang mistletoe? I have for 5 years and husband has only kissed me once. See how much good that does?
5. When do you put your decorations up? Usually the weekend after thanksgiving, but not this year due to remodeling.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Turkey w/cranberry sauce. By far. And mashed potatoes but I only like the kind in the box.
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I have a few. Probably Stacey’s last Christmas before she died, and maybe the year everyone else got snowed in and I went to Christmas Eve busting drifts in my little car.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What do you mean?
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Only if I go to Evan’s Grandmas. But sometimes Evan lets me open one of mine for fun. This year I already got two of them from Evan, a new jewelry armoire and new flannel sheets for our bed.
10. What kind of cookies does Santa get? I don’t remember. Probably the kind that you buy cheap at Aldi's because that's what I was raised on.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love snow. Love love love.
12. Can you ice skate? Yes. But I am best on Hockey skates.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I remember many great gifts. One year Evan got me my pooh bear fleece robe from the Disney Store, and another year a pooh bear sweater with a snowflake- I get compliments every time I wear it. Plus My mom getting me the digital camera, that was awesome. And I remember the John Deere pedal tractor when I was 5. I got to ride it in the living room.
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Not working. Enjoying myself and spending time with my mom, dad, sister, and Evan. Lounging around. Seeing friends “home” for the holidays.
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin anything.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Christmas Morning at Moms.
17. What tops your tree? We have a really cool “north star” that is silvery and glittery. I eyed it all year at Ivy Cottage In Princeton but it was too expensive. Then after Christmas a few years ago, I bought it on clearance. I love that thing.
18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Giving because I try very hard to get someone what they would like.
19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Christmas Island as sung By Jimmy Buffett – but close following: Baby it’s cold outside by Dean Martin, Song for a Winter’s Night by Sarah McLahlan, Santa Baby by Eartha Kitt…. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Kenny and Dolly Christmas CD, “Once upon a Christmas.” We have had it since we were little and in my family it wouldn’t be Christmas without it. We wore out the tape and then luckily one year found it on CD and made copies for everyone. It’s a must have. I also recommend Christmas Cocktails Volume II and Jimmy Buffett Christmas…. As well as Beach Boys Ultimate Christmas. I am a Christmas Music Connoisseur.
20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Not a fan. I like peppermint, but not in candy cane form. Too messy and sticky. And I HATE all those other stupid flavors they try to cram into a candy cane.
Almost "finished" product
Ya'll are gonna be so sick of house pictures before we are done.
In these pics it looks finished. To the untrained eye there are a few things left, like a coat of stain on all the built in woodwork and trim, and the doors and windows. After that it will look really snappy. Re-painted the old registers with that Rustoleum hammered spray paint and plain old Rustoleum black. I love rustoleum. Who am I kidding... I love spray paint. That's why when Jeff Foxworhty first came out with the term "say it with Krylon" I was feeling a little redneckish myself. So these are pics I took this morning when I got up, because I could just walk on the floor barefoot as the floor sealant had just dried that much. Note the two dogs who have been prisioners of the front porch since Saturday while the floors are drying, to ward off claw marks and dog hair. Soon they will be free to roam again. Tomorrow is the last day of staining and such. Photo #1 is the living room. Photo #2 is the dining room, obviously the two rooms are divided by the pillars, beam, and built in leaded glass cabinets, where we usually store our wine glasses and other fancy glassware, and sometimes my Christmas Bell collection. Photo #3 is another view of the dining room, and Photo #4 one of the old registers that we refurbished. Photo #5 is of the dogs imprisioned on the porch. See their beady eyes shining?
In these pics it looks finished. To the untrained eye there are a few things left, like a coat of stain on all the built in woodwork and trim, and the doors and windows. After that it will look really snappy. Re-painted the old registers with that Rustoleum hammered spray paint and plain old Rustoleum black. I love rustoleum. Who am I kidding... I love spray paint. That's why when Jeff Foxworhty first came out with the term "say it with Krylon" I was feeling a little redneckish myself. So these are pics I took this morning when I got up, because I could just walk on the floor barefoot as the floor sealant had just dried that much. Note the two dogs who have been prisioners of the front porch since Saturday while the floors are drying, to ward off claw marks and dog hair. Soon they will be free to roam again. Tomorrow is the last day of staining and such. Photo #1 is the living room. Photo #2 is the dining room, obviously the two rooms are divided by the pillars, beam, and built in leaded glass cabinets, where we usually store our wine glasses and other fancy glassware, and sometimes my Christmas Bell collection. Photo #3 is another view of the dining room, and Photo #4 one of the old registers that we refurbished. Photo #5 is of the dogs imprisioned on the porch. See their beady eyes shining?
Monday, December 12, 2005
4 years of debt, and here comes Christmas. BAH HUMBUG!
I am having such a hard time focusing today. I am thinking about Christmas, about the house, about moving back in, about everything and anything except the task at hand.I have a website to build for a non-profit organization, as well as a powerpoint presentation to completely revamp and restructure for an environmental scientist that I have worked with for a few years. And these are projects that I do when I am DONE with my day job. But at the same time, I have house to keep up with, namely dishes, laundry, and dog hair to contain…. Plus I am lazy lately. But I desperately need the money. But even If I get that site built before Christmas, will they PAY me before Christmas? Probably not. So that isn’t much of an incentive to bust my ass.
I am wondering if I could telepathically connect with husband and tell him to switch the laundry when he gets home? Probably not. He refuses most telepathic conversation with me, because it usually ends up in work for him.
My brain needs to make a meeting with the checkbooks, to balance them and plan upcoming bills. This is my official last paycheck before Christmas, and I haven’t bought anything for husband. Unfortunately, everyone wants a piece! If it were up to me, I would exchange gifts with my family and be done. And with my extremely close friends, of which there are Four. Except we have to all exchange gifts at work, so that’s another $50 if I spend 10 per person on co-workers, but it’s hard to find much at that price, so it ends up being more like $15.00 per person, adding up to $75, plus add in drinks for the holiday parties (two of them) and dinner at one of them. Not to mention if I want something festive to wear. I am easily over $100 here, just to celebrate Christmas with co-workers.
Then add in all the family gift exchanges, most of which I have opted out of this year. My family, Evan’s family. Ugh. I really don’t need anything. I don’t have room for anything. We have needs for big things. Like furniture. All things that I would like to pick out myself. All things that people can not afford to give me, which is why Gift cards are an exceptional idea for me. Give me some help towards things I want but can’t afford. I have eyes on a baby crib at JCPenney, and on table lamps at Sears, and other things. And I love to scrapbook, so gift certificates to scrapbook and craft stores are always fun for me. Plus I need a new tire. And some new shirts for when I am not at work.
Problem is, besides my mom and Evan, no one ever even asks what I really want. I end up getting more of the same crap over and over again. (you know, endless lotion and bubble bath (which I only use some of because of eczema) and other things like pot holders that don’t match my kitchen and I don’t have room for, and more cookies and candies than I know what to do with.) I know that it’s the thought that counts, but that money could be spent so many other ways! Or on someone who really needs something! Or as a donation to a charity or an organization I care about, like friends of strays, who is trying to raise money to fence in the dog kennels. It frustrates me to be dropping $100 of my money on other people, when I don’t know what they want, and I don’t know if they are getting anything they need, and it’s just seeming so wasteful. This year I encouraged my co-workers to make wish lists. This is in an attempt to get them something they actually want, and have the same happen in return. But when I think that $100 could buy groceries, or could pay off that one credit card that I have finally gotten the balance way down on.But when I think that I have one thing that I really want to get my husband, that I really really want to get him, and it is a tiny bit costly, and I want to surprise him and give him a happy face on Christmas morning, and see him enjoy it day after day, and I can’t afford to buy it because I spent $250 on people who don’t need anything and aren’t nearly as close to my as my own husband. It’s not fair. I don’t know how to deal with it, and I don’t know how to explain this to my co-workers and family members- without seeming like a heartless cold bitch with a scrooge or grinch attitude. It’s not my parents and my family members that I am worried about. They have the same attitude as I do. I can get them each something meaningful or small that they could really use. They take the time to research presents and get what you really want. It’s exciting and it really brings home the spirit of Christmas. I have to believe that the spirit of Christmas isn’t just about giving, it’s about taking the time to pick out something special that the recipient will enjoy. It’s about not just finding something in your house to regift, but actually researching, and awaiting the surprise on someone’s face when they open something truly lovely, that means something to them, that they will remember forever.
So with one paycheck left, I can purchase $250 worth of piddly gifts to pass around to everyone, or I can purchase the one thing that I really am excited to give to my husband, who I love dearly, and make both of our Christmases. Every year I say that I don’t want to exchange gifts at Christmas with co-workers, and every year I do it. I am afraid to do otherwise. Shun and be Shunned.
I also find people frequently wanting to get me something because THEY think I should have it, whether I want it or not. That is frustrating. They are giving a gift simply to satisfy themselves, and not to see the happiness that I would receive from getting what I really want. That is annoying.
Sorry to be such a grinch.
The other side of this is that I have been struggling for YEARS to get myself out of debt that I incurred during and right after college. Credit Card debt, medical debt, student loan debt, car loans, etc. It wasn’t pretty, or easy, for me to have 6-8 months without a job, looking for employment, living on unemployment that was less than ¼ of my previous salary. I had a car payment, and utilities, and credit cards to pay on, and It wasn’t long before I was way over my head.
But instead of claiming bankruptcy, which I have been constantly advised to do by every debt management expert around and for the past 4 years….I bust my ass and pay out 60% of my income to debt. I cut up all those credit cards 4 years ago and haven’t charged to those accounts since. I only keep one small credit card and I use it to finance my laptop. I don’t run around bragging about debt, because I am not proud of having that much debt. It’s mostly my own damn fault, although losing my job was no fault of mine and I could blame others for the circumstances that they put me in…. But when I spend over $900 a month on just loan payments and credit card/medical debt, and I don’t make much more than that, plus I have utilities and insurance and living expenses…. I don’t have fat cash for Christmas Shopping. I don’t have fat cash period.
I desperately need to get myself out of debt. Priority Numero Uno. I have been paying HUGE chunks of payments for 4 years, and I have just about 1 year left until I have everything paid off. Can you imagine, me going from having only 40% of my salary, to suddenly having 100% of it? And if my car keeps running, and I stick to my payments, I have one year left to go to get there!
It is extremely hard to not let Christmas put me right back into debt and ruin everything I have struggled to hard to get to for the past 4 years. People who don’t have debt have no idea what this is like. For everyone to think that I have all this money to spend- but they don’t generally know that I am trying to get out of debt…. Because I don’t talk to everyone about that. They don’t know that my checking account is empty right after I get paid and that I buy all my clothes at Wal-Mart or Target or whatever. They don’t know that I usually make Birthday presents or bake something for my friends so that I can save money. They probably don’t care. That’s my problem, right? But isn’t the holiday season about more than spending $500-1000 on presents for others? Especially when that is like an entire month’s salary for some people? I read an article on MSN today about how Generation X is the Generation of debt, so I know that I am not alone. But my co-workers aren’t in my generation, and neither is 99% of my family or Evan’s. Maybe I am just selfish. But if I have learned anything, it’s that I have to look out for number one. I got my first credit card at 17. It was a good idea. I established my credit early. I paid it off. But when I needed gas to get to school or money for books, I would use my credit card. I couldn’t get financial aid and my scholarships didn’t even make a dent…. So I had to take out loans. I had to buy my own cars and pay for my own car insurance. I wasn’t handed anything.
Ah. Why am I posting all of this on my blog? Well, I feel better venting to someone, even if it is a bit personal.
SO this year the top secret project was designed to give everyone close to us a Christmas present that means something, and that doesn’t cost a lot or add a lot of stress. It’s cost has been broken down over 3 months to make it less painful, and it will hopefully make some people happy. It makes me happy. It will make my family happy. It’s a gift from the heart, well thought out and planned- and that’s what really matters.
Feed the IT Guy
Wow. This Game is SOOO hard. It reminds me of how hard it is to get lunch (in real life) on a busy day at work, in the IT department. This game gives me hand cramps!
Try it! Click on Bugs for energy, coins for money. You have to keep the IT Guy fed and you have to keep up his energy level, while protecting the server from bugs. Plus you have your boss popping in all the time to piss you off, and you can hire help, but whenever I hire help, It costs me $$ and there seems to just be more work. Just like my "real job"
But you have got to try Feed the IT Guy
Try it! Click on Bugs for energy, coins for money. You have to keep the IT Guy fed and you have to keep up his energy level, while protecting the server from bugs. Plus you have your boss popping in all the time to piss you off, and you can hire help, but whenever I hire help, It costs me $$ and there seems to just be more work. Just like my "real job"
But you have got to try Feed the IT Guy
Monday Monday
Wow. for all of the posting I did over the weekend, and new house pictures, it is pretty quiet on here. Apparently I am the lone ranger.
Today my Buddhapad arrived, I love it. For those of you who missed it, it's a mousepad with a smiling buddha on it and every time yourmouse rubs over his belly, it is supposed to give you good fortune. Now I am not saying I believe that, but I do believe that looking at it everyday may help me to remember karma, and that the donation that was made to charity because I purchased it, was worthwhile. I also have the matching screensaver, and they sent me a free sticker.
I am planning on taking Wednesday off work. My secret project needs finishing, as does the house, and I am thinking I would like to be there on the last day before they all disappear into the sunset. That way if something isn't right, I can mention it, and I can also make sure that there is working happening for every last minute they are there.
I have noticed a certain way of doing things that doesn't make much sense to a task oriented, focused person whose time is worth money. Let's say that today, for example, their main goal is to get one more coat of polyeurethane on the floor. Now there are about 50 thousand other things to do, but that is their main goal. Now the second coat will take no more than an hour or maybe two tops. So in my opinion, you work all morning, and afternoon, and two hours before the end of the day, you would start on the floors, just before you go home. Not the way it would happen if I weren't there, they would work for maybe an hour or two, and then they would do the floors. Then, because the floors are wet, and they can't walk on them to get into the room, they would likely go home at noon or 1pm. Now my problem with that is that there is tons of shit left to be done. Things to be hung on the wall, touch ups where knicks were put in the walls, where paint got scratched. Lights that need re-wired. Windows that rattle now. Light switches that need replaced, a new outlet needed for the freezer, the mess they made in my garage for them to help clean up- and this is just in OTHER rooms of the house, where they could go to fix these little blemishes and finish out their day. But without someone watching, that stuff won't happen. They would just call it a day.
So on Wednesday, I will be working on the secret project and also hovering around home.
Tomorrow night I clean dog kennels on a new night with a new crew.
That's about it. The story of my life.
Today my Buddhapad arrived, I love it. For those of you who missed it, it's a mousepad with a smiling buddha on it and every time yourmouse rubs over his belly, it is supposed to give you good fortune. Now I am not saying I believe that, but I do believe that looking at it everyday may help me to remember karma, and that the donation that was made to charity because I purchased it, was worthwhile. I also have the matching screensaver, and they sent me a free sticker.
I am planning on taking Wednesday off work. My secret project needs finishing, as does the house, and I am thinking I would like to be there on the last day before they all disappear into the sunset. That way if something isn't right, I can mention it, and I can also make sure that there is working happening for every last minute they are there.
I have noticed a certain way of doing things that doesn't make much sense to a task oriented, focused person whose time is worth money. Let's say that today, for example, their main goal is to get one more coat of polyeurethane on the floor. Now there are about 50 thousand other things to do, but that is their main goal. Now the second coat will take no more than an hour or maybe two tops. So in my opinion, you work all morning, and afternoon, and two hours before the end of the day, you would start on the floors, just before you go home. Not the way it would happen if I weren't there, they would work for maybe an hour or two, and then they would do the floors. Then, because the floors are wet, and they can't walk on them to get into the room, they would likely go home at noon or 1pm. Now my problem with that is that there is tons of shit left to be done. Things to be hung on the wall, touch ups where knicks were put in the walls, where paint got scratched. Lights that need re-wired. Windows that rattle now. Light switches that need replaced, a new outlet needed for the freezer, the mess they made in my garage for them to help clean up- and this is just in OTHER rooms of the house, where they could go to fix these little blemishes and finish out their day. But without someone watching, that stuff won't happen. They would just call it a day.
So on Wednesday, I will be working on the secret project and also hovering around home.
Tomorrow night I clean dog kennels on a new night with a new crew.
That's about it. The story of my life.
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Today- more house accomplishments
More things accomplished today. New Orange is painted on the wall. It looks much better darker. Rewired a light that was shorting out, sealant coat put down in the living room. Hung pictures and the clock.All the Trim went back up nicely. Everything will need another coat of stain, floors and all the woodwork/trim/doors. But overall it looks great. It is a great feeling to be getting close- should be moving in by the end of the week.
House
Last night I stayed up reading wicked till 10pm, then I watched my Tivo'd episodes of the O.C., Reunion, and Law and Order SVU. Then I watched the pam anderson roast (again) and went to sleep a little after 2am. Today the contractors are back and the new coat or orange is up. I am mystified that it is barely darker than the other coat, but it has to dry yet, so oh well. And I don't think I will make him paint it three times. Plus Evan would kill me if I made him buy another gallon of orange paint. Really we probably didn't need whole gallon. Oh well. If you need some orange paint, you know who to call. Trim is going up today in the dining room, and a couple of pictures and a clock, and then the last coat of polyeurethane on the floor in that room. The contractor will work Monday and Wednesday and then we won't see him again till after he has recovered from Surgery. SO- I am trying to remain calm, cool, and collect- even though I know the trim between the baseboards and the floors won't get installed, and neither will the trim between the walls and ceiling, or the curtain rods, the green blinds, etc. Oh well. Live and learn. Nothing happens like you want it to, especially when you aren't doing it yourself. This is why I hate to be at the mercy of others. I love to be IN CONTROL.
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