Technology time SUCKS

And, no, that's no typo. Here it is, 2:36 p.m., and I've been "with" the computer/tech stuff since 8 a.m.

The good news: wireless is now working. Finally. I've only had the router 6 months. (We used to pay TW $10 a month, b/c I thought that was the only option - then I find out that you can purchase a router and set it up through TW for NO monthly charge.) I actually called a tech support place yesterday and asked them to come out and set it up. His response? "Oh, it's EASY, you can do it!" So, after labeling every cord (in case I need to reset everything to conditions I KNEW worked), I started tinkering. Router to splitter; splitter to computer; no, nothing. You get the idea. And then all of the sudden - success! (When Tony asked me what I did to get it to work, I truthfully answered "I have no idea.")

My next task was to hook up the new desktop. Oy vey. Okay, right, this really IS an easy task under normal circumstances. But NOT with the Tony "desk I just can't live without." It's a rolltop, almost as tall as me, probably around 300 pounds of solid wood. With ONE (ONE) single, 4" hole at the back that you run all the wires through. To make bad matters worse, the hole isn't at down-on-the-floor level, but up about 2 1/2 feet. So, when you're down on your hands and knees trying to poke stuff through this hole, there's no possible way to see AND get your arms over your head enough to do said poking. You crouch, then stab blindly towards the little hole, hoping the cord falls through. I finally went and got the kitchen tongs. Poke. Hope. Get up. Go to the back of the desk. Use tongs to pull cords through. SHIT I pushed it BACK through to the front. Around again. I'm exhausted. Time for a drink.

New beads

Took kind of a last minute class with Jill Symons at Blue Moon on Saturday (Jim and Rose are determined to get every last dime out of me). The class was on inclusions, and turned out to be quite useful. We mostly just did copper inclusions, but also some mica flakes - which I'd used one time in a Japanese beadmaking class, but never again. (And the verdict for me on those is still out, although a woman here at work immediately snagged one for herself.)

I'm particularly partial to the first one, the copper flowers on turquoise. I'll definitely do more of those. One other one that I'll try to photograph and get up needs, I think, etching, so it's not quite ready. Jill also loves the Picasso silver glass; I've worked with it a little, but it's still not one of my favs, although it does look spectacular with the copper. I'm most interested in trying some freeform copper cutouts rather than the little punched pieces....

Feast or famine - pictures!

I'll provide commentary tomorrow - don't want to wear myself out....

Pam as the mad scientist

Took an electroforming class at Vickie Hallmark's house on Sunday. Although my result wasn't so good (let's just leave it at that she's taking it with her to her Bead and Button class as an example of what NOT to do) I had a splendid time. Lydia and Leslie were there, too, two people I see way too seldom. And, kudos to Vickie, who recently took a tumble, and is spending her time between a wheel chair and a walker. Also doesn't help that her bedroom is upstairs, and her studio is downstairs. And she's literally stuck in the middle. Her humor is much better than mine would be. Anyway, I did snap a few pictures, mostly so I could remember what to do later.

This first one is just a snap of my beads in the beaker, ready for their bath. At this point they've been coated with copper paint and processed:



This one is of the beads all hooked up, ready to coat:



The last one is pretty boring, but does lend to the whole mad scientist thing. It's also a reminder of how to hook stuff up once I get the equipment home.



Vickie has a PhD in Chemical Engineering, so she was able to give quite a bit of insight on the whole process. Needless to say, I'm anxious to try again. Take a look here to see some of the amazing electroformed work she's done.

Emily - deer (almost) slayer

I went out to get the mail on Saturday - and looked up just in time to see a deer clear the back fence, hurtle towards me, and bound off to the neighbor-across-the-street's yard. And who was on her heels? Well, okay, until the back fence, at least. Miss Emily! She of the arthritic hips....LOL Her muff was about fours times normal size. I'm sure she was dreaming of venison tacos.

Tomorrow is bead making day!

So, Saturday is the day I get to sit down at the torch. Maybe I can get super motivated and even take some pictures.

Later!

Another day....

And not much to say. Work is winding down - today is the last day of finals, and it's QUIET around here. I got two major projects out the door - one yesterday, and one today. Did I say it's QUIET?!

Too bad I can't bring my torch up here. I guess I can spend some time thinking about designs, doing some sketching, maybe. I'm just totally not good at wasting time.

On the bright side: a guilt-free hamburger!