THE MOUSE

bellasmouse

So Bellatrix just walked out here and was like: Bellatrix: Mom Me: Yes? Bellatrix: The mouse won’t work again and it’s the new one. Me: Is the computer on? Bellatrix: [blank half awake look] Me: Because, ya know, I turned your computer off last night. Bellatrix: Wow, just, wow.

IT WAS MONDAY

We couldn’t even sit and write this post yesterday because it was still Monday and lemme tell ya Monday was one of those days all. day. long and for just about everyone in the house.

I was trying to get a painting tutorial done of course and you know, the card in the camera filled and cut me off.  Ok, no problem I emptied it.

So I’m back to painting again and about 30 minutes later the battery lost the last of it’s charge.  Ok, no problem I had one charging so I swapped it out.

So, I’m back to painting again and I’m darn near at the end of the turorial and lo and behold…someone used the bathroom next to my office (not naming names, lol) my camera of course picked up every sound echoing through the wall and seeing as I couldn’t just go back and repaint the steps because the part was done my second go at this painting was unusable.

So, I’m back to painting again the 3rd incarnation of the acrylic version of the Live Oaks of St. Augustine and lo and behold the paint decided to start lifting when I was adding the next layer because I started before the under-layer was dry because at this point I was just trying to get the blasted thing filmed and over with.  I had to re-cover the entire canvas with the first color :-/

So I’m back to painting YET AGAIN, and the remote access for the camera (via the tablet) cut off and I finally used some highly colorful words at this point only to discover once I got them connected again that the camera had just kept on filming and I might have potentially taught people a few new swear words if I dare try to use that video… So now I can’t use that work either and I have to start over from scratch today.

It was like that all day at the house, just one thing after another.

  • Nancy managed to cut herself while cutting a lemon.
  • The phone kept ringing
  • I had company (though nice to see them it still stopped my work)
  • The dog had gas and kept walking past people and spreading his flatulance.
  • I had hot flashes all day
  • I dropped a blob of paint on the canvas instead of the palette
  • And so on

And then Dave came home from work and we heard about his day.  It was also a bit gnarly with wonky paperwork, being sick, and of course …

Dave: So, today I was under the influence of DayQuil and held the stop-and-go sign instead of being on the machine because you know … safety. So, one of the other guys was driving the machine today and went to pull up a tree on the side of A1A and unfortunately for everybody, the trees roots had wrapped themselves around a pipe hidden underground. Whops!

Oh, there was a bit more but I’m over it and he’s over it and today is Tuesday which is trash day in our neighborhood and we’ve elected to metaphorically let all the crap from yesterday just go to the curb because we will only accept today being normal and good and we’re thinking good vibes things …even if Dave did forget his lunch and I somehow for the first time in a couple years didn’t wake up til 8:15.

MARRIED TO MY BEST FRIEND

I saw a video today of my Aunt Clara’s little girl…who isn’t so little anymore; she was marrying her best friend. Speaking as someone who got it right the second time and thus has also married her best friend I can say that there is no finer thing to do.

I am so happy for them, even though I haven’t seen Darla since she was a tiny little thing;  I am so happy for her and her new husband and rejoice that someone else has embarked on a marriage based on not just love and infatuation but rather a marriage that has the bedrock of friendship upon which to build. Don’t get me wrong, love is important as is attraction but there are some days that you just need a friend and if your partner in life is not fulfilling that roll and in turn you fulfilling that roll for them then you do not have a solid foundation.

Dave and I have had many ups and downs in our lives some of which were self inflicted and some that were because we were just plain stupid but we eventually found one another and built a crazy weird kinda thing filled with shared ups and downs and a whole lot of odd stuff to boot, it’s always interesting at the very least lemme tell ya!

And so to Darla and Tim I say congratulations and may you live in not so much craziness as Dave and I do, lol.

THE PASSING OF A FRIEND

What do you do when a friend passes away? It sucks. You have to go and say, “Goodbye” or “Hey, we’ll see you later.” Which is what we did Saturday.

I have been a super hot mess of distracted the past few weeks because Geoff had to leave his earthly shell, I know that his soul that very essence of who he is – is fine because he was a good, honest and loving man in life, but I tear up every single time I think about how going home after a stint in the hospital became a frickin tragedy.

My heart is so very heavy when I think about him being gone because he was an absolute peach, like you have no idea, he was really really nice … and I downright weep for Sandy because she hurts so much; she will not have her husband for the hugs they shared and planned on sharing for years, the laughter, the music that he made and all of those moments of chatter and discussion they had, the morning cups of coffee, the everything .  They had a beautiful life together, sure with ups and downs like everyone else but beautiful and loving and with two wonderful girls that just made their life all the more bright.

Geoff was a person with a zest for life, there was always a quip on his lips to make people laugh, there was a diligence to him that everyone respected, he would do anything for his family including selling plasma if need be.  He would work all week and drive all the way from Ocala (where they had finally settled) to come to Jacksonville to pick Dee up to spend the weekend with Courtney since our girls have been BFF’s forever and our car wasn’t the greatest which it proved yet again yesterday morning when we tried to start it at their house to come home and it flooded.  I could almost hear him standing there laughing at our stupid car and the irony of it doing what it does at the worst possible time.

Geoff was a protector, a friend to just about everyone because I honestly don’t think he’d ever met a stranger,and a fabulous fabulous father.  He glowed with pride when Megan, Courtney, and Dee graduated, he was a source of encouragement for anyone who needed it, he would give you the shirt off his back, and was an all around damn fine man the likes of which you don’t find many of nowadays.

I just don’t know what else to say, my eyes keep leaking man, we’re all going to miss you.

WHY THE HECK WON’T MY PRINTER COOPERATE?

11:25 AM

Ugh, I mean seriously [sigh] I finally get new ink for the epson to print a photo and I can’t do it because even though there is new ink the head is clogged or something.  Now mind you I also have a sweet laser printer but of course it does not print photo quality stuff and it needs new color toners anyway to the tune of $40 for generics.  My little epson though was $8 for ink with free shipping.

I just want to print something ya? WHY??? Why can’t stuff just do what the heck it is supposed to do? Frog darn it, poo, ka, ugh.

Naughty print head…guess what piece of office equipment is not on the card list? Well, its not on it because it currently cant even print the cards! :-/

So it turns out that Epson printers have a built-in permanent printhead which allows them to go high on quality or something.  Unfortunately if you’re like ME and let the ink run out in a color or something completely before replacing it even though I do make sure to keep the machine off when not in use, then you’ve essentially just mucked the whole thing up.

Of course!

So now I’ve got the windex soaked paper towel under the head for 15 minutes and I’m hoping that helps, the black ink is already doing it’s thing again and I got some yellow stain on my fingers from putting the towel under the head too so I’m hopeful.

I don’t know why Monday type things keep happening on Fridays, but there ya go, lol.

So, to clean the printhead on your epson xp-410 take a stroll over to Ink Magic and check out their how to page. 

1:00 PM

^&%($#*(@*(&!!! Thing still won’t work

Broke out the ancient 1280 to see if I could get it up and running again after years in the closet

Guess what’s printing a frickin picture right now? That’s right, the blasted Epson 1280 that we haven’t used in years after putting on an continuous ink system because it kept eating paper. To be fair it’s still eating paper but if I’m quick like one of those street magicians I can make sure the paper goes where it’s supposed to…the dothingie that goes back and forth has already whacked me more than I care to admit but if nobody saw that bit, did it really happen?

The good news is that it’s printing, it’s not perfect but at least I can have a color example to go by for the paintings if I really really like the color aqua which is the color everything is coming out as in the pink, white, and grey winter picture I snagged to test the printer with. At least the blasted thing is actually attempting something eh?

I’m done, it’s time for lunch.

How was your morning? 😀

NA CHORS

So we just got back from talking with the landlord about the not even possible (we thought) situation of a frickin cashiers check (you know those neat checks you get from your bank to pay bills that are absolutely guaranteed) being returned to him.

Now mind you kiddo was on lunch and we’d run up to get her a slush and some nachos as a treat while we were out but of course when we first attempted to swing by the office on the way back the landlord was also out to lunch, because, yeah, food.

So I waited a while and called to make sure he was there first and went on up there…Bella left her lunch sitting on her desk.

Bella (after we got back): Hey Mom, have you seen my nachos?

Me: No?

Bellatrix: Well they’re missing.

We both turn to look at the dog who is sitting there trying to look innocent.

Bellatrix: Gus, do you have something to say?

Me: [giggling]

Gus looks away and back in his version of a shrug.

Bellatrix: Gus, those were Nah Cho nachos.

Me: ROFL

WEDNESDAY IS NOW MURPHYSDAY

I am just sitting here shaking my head in wonder because our landlord dropped a line that says;

“Your cashiers check was returned to us.  I didn’t know that could happen.  Said they were unable to locate the account.  If you could check into this I would appreciate it.”

bitstripquestionmarkwondering

Yeah, my first thought was, well, cashiers checks are guaranteed funds how the heck did that happen?

So I called the bank, and mind you I’ve been giving the landlord cashiers checks from my account for years I mean I have banked with Navy Federal Credit Union since 1994, yes that 22 years, and yes that’s longer than I’ve been a coffee junkie since I didn’t really start drinking so much coffee til after Madeline was born because keeping up with two kids was tiring.

I don’t need this stress I was in a groove of painting and now my muse ran away screaming hysterically and looking to hop a boat to Hawaii for a bit of inspiration and maybe a nice block party.

Well after talking to a super sweet lady named Karen she and I both ended up shaking our heads I think and she basically said,

“…this item was never presented to Navy Federal for payment.  Please advise recipient to inquire with their bank where item was deposited as to why the check was not accepted.  We have no further information because the check was not presented for negotiation. ”

I of course asked if she could send that in an email so that he could take it to his bank with him, which she did.

So basically the ball is back in his court and I went to take him the letter but he wasn’t in the office, because…..Murphysday!

HAMBURGER TURKEY DAY

burgerday
Happy Hamburger Day!

Dave: : Of course

Christy: [nodding] Of course

Dave: : One of those days

Christy: Yep [laughing]

So as many of you know we were supposed to be in Winter Garden for Turkey day, alas we did not make it because the car decided it didn’t want to cooperate.

🙂

Dave: : Of course we missed the pumpkin pie which is is like the best part of gathering, well, that and seeing the family 

Christy: I swear, you and sweets [shaking head] now I know where Bellatrix gets her love of anything sugary.

Dave: : Of course

Christy: Annnnyyyyyway, so we had to limp the car back home since home was closer than Dad’s.

Dave: : And all the auto parts places are closed

Christy: At least we had google

Dave: : I’m still amazed at the things that you can find on the internet nowadays.

Christy: You and me both

Dave: : So our Turkey Day was Burger Day and that’s ok because it’s not about the food it’s about the company and being with the ones you love;  and family, even if you aren’t able to spend time with the whole family … even the few you can gather is something to cherish.  I suppose you can look at our car problems and having to come home as an adventure.

Christy: True, it was a good day and after our feast I have to admit gaming for the evening was most enjoyable, lol. You know, most of what we call “One of those days” are actually just funny or weird adventures.

Dave: : Truly, I mean we had to hunt down some hamburger buns and chips on a day when all the grocery stores were closed.

Christy: At least at the end of the real life adventurering there was no boss level dragons or some such, just a slightly freezer burned meal and funnily enough a sweet roll, lol.

😀

Dave: And if they’ve never played Skyrim they won’t even get that reference, but I would like to note that I was pleased I didn’t end up with even a scratch for a change let alone an arrow to the knee, lol. Happy Burger Day 

🙂

Christy: Happy Burger Day