Class Day - Progress. . .

Class day occurred as scheduled and it went very well. In fact it went extremely well, so well that I lost track of time as we keyed in data - Quicken data. It was 6pm before we stopped. Initially we worked on finding various examples of Clip Art so that it could be used with the sewing machine. You bring the clip art in, digitize it, outline it and then add colors thus creating a pattern in color and stich for use on the sewing machine. So in reality you could also bring in any picture and do the same to it.

Now I have thoughts going through my mind - setting up a Filing System so things are easier to find - writing up some procedures for backing up the Quicken Data - writing up procedures for creating reports of interest income, dividend income, taxes paid etc. That will be the difficult part, plus we need to do some clean up of catagories and security names - all of which requires some research on my part.

And I got the Round Robin as well.

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Today I go to LaFayette - a doctor appt - finances no doubt - and quite possibly a look at the garage. Lots to do there...I should probably take my laptop and paper ... still need to create the photo disks too!

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Better mood at the moment - need to lose weight, exercise and so forth. Also need to plan for winter - winterize house - especially cellar windows and any nooks and crannies - should cover the outside cellar door with plastic...the old one has long gone. It did help with the rain seeping into the cellar. Then there is the mailbox, another avenue for heat to escape etc and the garage...work at making it mouse proof - LOL - an almost impossible task. Then there is the yardwork - lots to do there as well.

Winterization will be a priority, especially now that energy prices have risen and will probably rise even more...first it was Katrina and now it is Rita...bad year for hurricanes.

Class Day ... Possibly

Tuesday. A typical class day. We'll see how today goes. Yes, I suppose I am going up there, but I am not sure what it is that I will be "teaching".

I should remember to bring the Harry Potter movies, they are sitting on the couch.

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Thunderstorms in the area, getting dark and I can hear the thunder in the distance. A storm passed through this morning around 6AM for it woke me up ... for a short while. not long almost a non-event to me. I suppose I should get off the computer, but it does not appear to be too severe. We need the rain though most if not all of the gardens veggie and flower are well past their peaks. The leaves are falling too, so that means that we are in the midst of the waning days of summer. Actually Summer ends tomorrow and Fall begins.

Wednesday I take Thelma to a doctor's appt in Tully, maybe we'll check out the Apple Orchards afterwards...not sure but possible some of the apples are being picked about now. In a couple of weeks definately. Then there is Halloween and the inevitable question should I decorate - I 've always thought I should make some crosses or tombstones etc. But usually that is all it ever amounts to is thinking about it as too many other things interfere all too often.

Actually I need to look at Finances, Genealogy, Photo's and the like - in short I have a ton or more of paperwork to do. At least I did arrange the computer room and have a bit more flat surface to work with. I need to continue that process and get my files in order.

Cutting costs for everyone but the consumer

I now have a 10 foot USB cable (compliments of Radio Shack and $29.99) to attach my "New" printer - the Wide Format HP 9800 to my computer. You'd have thought that the cable - any cable for that matter would have come with the printer, but NO...

Of course it says so on the box - that it does not come with the cable, and I recall when I ordered it from Officemax.com (never seeing the box etc) that they suggested accessories at the time which included a cable etc, but I never gave it a thought until I opened the box. Just another way to cut the cost of the product for the manufacturer as I am sure that after eliminating the cable they did not reduce the price of their printer. My God printer cartridges cost enough. Oh well live and learn and read the fine print...a rule of thumb we must all follow in this day and age.

Now to get some big paper - 11 x 17, or larger and test it out...more money.

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No yardwork yesterday. I did manage to go get the cable - see above - and a battery for Thelma's phone and groceries, but that was about all. My back, my hip joints really were in agony. Enough that I took two pain pills and sat against a heating pad for much of the afternoon. Probably due to all the furniture moving and lifting and the change in weather. Getting cooler and damper and that always seems to affect those joints in my lower back - the two dimples either side of your spine. Usually it isn't too bad, but yesterday it was difficult getting in and out of the truck and walking - they stiffened right up and it took awhile for them to get limber...sighhh I guess I'm getting old or out of shape or both.

Hopefully today they won't be so alive as I have a class to give and the chairs there are none too comfortable.

The rat race continues...

August was a busy month...of the 31 days that comprise it, I had only 5 to myself, all the rest I had something going on, an appointment, an activity or an obligation. September seemed to start out that way as well, but at least I had the past weekend to myself and I used it moving furniture, re-arranging the computer room/den and kitchen. I am, I am afraid a "flat surface addict". I need flat surfaces in abundance upon which to stack paper, books, and assorted other stuff...LOL I moved the dropleaf table from the kitchen (it expands with two leafs in it) to my computer room/den. I built two risers - about 4 inches high upon which I put the legs of the table on and thus gave me the clearance I needed to put three two drawer file cabinets under the table. In the kitchen I replaced that table with the small round dropleaf table I got from Thelma and put one of two pantry cabinets there as well. Now I have a table sutitable for my needs and room to strore can goods and so forth.

On top of the table sits my Apples IIGS computer and printer - it actually still works - I have some genealogy on it that I need to transfer to the Windows Computer and then I need to go through the files and either sav'em or delete'em. Computer books, and Office supplies neatly arranged of course. I then had to re-arrange the other side of the room where the printer, scanner and computer was as well. Now to finish up the few odds n' ends and install the new printer - an HP 9800 wide format printer - one that will print on paper bigger than 8 1/2 by 11 or 8 1/2 by 14. It will be a godsend for my genealogy charts. Though to get things to work efficiently I suspect I will have to buy printer cables - USBs that are longer than the ones that came with the printer and probably a USB hub since I am attaching more and more USB devices. I also got at the same time a LEXAR 1 GB USB drive...will make things easier to transfer files between the laptop and the desktop or so I hope.

The garden has been fruitful. All that is left is a few tomatoes - waiting for them to turn and pole beans. Lots and lots of pole beans, they just don't seem to want to quit. I've given quite a lot away and have blanched and froze about a dozen quart bags already. Next up is the garden cleanup for which I should get some lawn and leaf bags. This weekend is brush pickup for September and I should devote some time to cutting branches and cleaning up the yard and then hauling the assorted debris to the road. Probably today since....

Tuesday is computer class.

Wednesday is Dad's cataract surgery.

Thursday is Thelma's bill day and garage re-organization. But I don't know if Dad's surgery the day before will impact this.

Friday is my day.

Then Saturday & Sunday are the days we're allowed to placed yard waste etc on the road side.

I suppose I should stay up nights and concentrate on the paper aspects of everything, then devote the daytime to the physical aspects of everything...seems like I am busier now than I was when I worked!

And the things we desire most remain elusive at best...