There's a hammer in my back pocket!

At least a year and a half of my life is gone...let me explain.  Photography is a passion since retirement. I spend an enormous amount of time on it.

Because my laptop computer is ancient (9 years old) it is unable to store the photographs taken with my new camera.  Each photo that I don't delete right away, is saved as a RAW file, and a corresponding JPEG file.  In addition I process most of the RAW files to create a second JPEG and sometimes a TIFF file with edits.  Lots and lots of memory is necessary for storage.

To get around the memory issue of my ancient laptop, a year ago I purchased an external hard drive (XHD) for storing all of these huge photo files.  This XHD has lots and lots of memory. I have moved all photos previously on my laptop prior to January 1, 2013, as well as all the RAW and TIFF files to the XHD.

The sad news is the XHD has just crashed and burned. The good news is I download many photos I like to Flickr so all is not lost. Nevertheless I'm going through the grieving process.

Step 1. Denial and Isolation

Day one: My first reaction when discovering my XHD would not load like normal is to deny the reality of the situation.  I'll simply forget about it not working tonight, and try again tomorrow morning. 

Step 2. Anger

Day two: Upon discovering the XHD would not work on my laptop, or sweetie's laptop came intense emotion.  I'm angry!  I didn't do anything different! Why did this happen to me?

Step 3. Bargaining  I need to regain control

* I'll try a different power cord

* I'll send an email to the manufacturer asking for help

* I'll order a new adapter - surely that will make it work

Step 4.  Depression 

Day three: Manufacturer response indicates the XHD is "toast".  It is under warranty so they'll replace it - but what about all the photographs?  Data restoration isn't covered in the warranty.   I'm so sad...perhaps I need a hug.

Step 5. Acceptance  Not there yet!

Sweetie is still looking into the issue but I've got a hammer in my back pocket ready to smash the device to smithereens!  The “ancient” laptop will be next as soon as the new one arrives - it is on order.

Craft Class III

The final three projects at the Craft Class were all very interesting...here they are:

String Design:  Embroidery Floss stiffened with a mixture of glue and water; wrapped around stick pins; more glue and lots of glitter then just let it dry. It will be hanging on my Christmas Tree.

Whirley Gig:  I really enjoyed this project.  It took two sessions and still wasn't finished, but didn't take long to finish at home.  Plastic canvas; wire; cord and BEADS!   This one is hanging in my living room.

I made another one to hang by my back door - red/white/blue.  I also made a green/white one but didn't take a picture - that one is by my front door.

Iris folding cards:  These two were made after I got home from class as birthday cards. Of all the cards we made during class, this one is my favorite.

The craft class is now on summer break.  Our instructor is not returning in the fall so we are not sure if there will even be a craft class - but if there is, I'll be there!

Etched in my mind

Recently, we traveled to Medford, Wisconsin to attend the memorial service for a cousin who has passed away.  Dick Gruener, 83, my oldest cousin is from my mother's side of the family.  He never married, nor had children.  In fact he never left home so to speak.  He lived and worked with his parents in their bakery from the time he left high school until they retired about 25 years ago.  His father passed away in 1985 and due to poor health eventually both he and his mother entered a nursing home together.

This is their home and is forever etched in my mind.  Every summer we spent two weeks "up north". Part of that time my bedroom was in the upper left hand corner.  It is such a wonderful, huge house. Many wonderful meals were shared there. I loved going up and down the stairs as they were "open" and "winding".  At the bottom of the stairs was a cuckoo clock that fascinated me as a child. I am still fascinated by cuckoo clocks.

Another memory etched in my mind is Gruener's Bakery.  It was located on "Main Street" quite close to their house. If you walk out of their house, turned right, crossed the street you'd see a very steep stairway going to "downtown" main street.  These stairs were called the "angel flight".  As you reached the bottom immediately to your left was the bakery.  The most wonderful smells in the world came from the back of that building.  Six days a week my uncle would arrive in the middle of the night to begin baking. He'd be back home in the early afternoon. My cousin was a baker's assistant. My aunt would arrive prior to the bakery opening and would wait on customers and do the books. I'm pretty sure they employed one or two others, but during my vacation I would be a "helper".  I sliced buns, breads, sugared doughnuts, dusted shelves, waited on customers, and ate my share of the wonderful baked goods.  Two items were specialties of "Gruener's Bakery":  "Barrel bread", which was baked in a coffee can like device; and "Pretzel" which was a filled Kringle. I believe the recipe actually came through a distant relative from Racine.

This is the Gruener Bakery building.  Just to the left, is where you would come out from the "angel stairs".  When I saw the new business sign I just had to take a photo.  Someday I hope to learn the story about the DAMM financial tax service.

I sure do miss that Barrel Bread and Pretzel!

Getting Crafty II

If you missed it, I blogged about getting crafty in February.  This will update what I've made at this semester's craft classes I attend through the Milwaukee Rec Department.

I find myself enjoying anything involving embroidery and beads.  A dismal failure however are fabric eggs.

T-shirt decorating - this was surprisingly so much fun I've been going through my dresser and pulling out old shirts to decorate.  I love bling!  After class I visited the craft store and bought embroidery patterns, hoops, thread and more beads.  A useful craft!

Embroidery/string/button Cards and Bead Banner - I'm getting better at using my imagination in creating cards. I really enjoy giving them to friends and family. The bead banner was a lot of fun too...once I got the hang of it.  I don't see myself doing these outside of class though.

Fabric Eggs - The most challenging craft yet.  Tracing and cutting a design on a styrofoam egg wasn't bad, but getting the fabric to stay put was nearly impossible.  After I took the photos, I tried once again using glue, but got so frustrated that this is one craft that hit the circular file.

May Baskets - OK so I didn't exactly make baskets, instead I made gift boxes.  This is so much fun I now have ten boxes ready to fill with gifts.  Because this was enjoyable and useful, I once again visited the craft store after class to purchase more paper and a paper cutter to make more.  Another useful craft!

Only three more projects remain on the list for this semester.  Watch for Getting Crafty III soon.

FORE!

Last year it was photography - this year golf.

I have decided to get back into golf.  After poking around my basement here's what I found:

• Golf bag (looks pretty new)
• Collapsible golf cart (might be sweeties as I think mine was busted)
• Two golf umbrellas'
• A putter. four irons, a driver and a 3 wood
• Eleven golf balls (variety of colors: white, orange and pink)
• Three tees
• Two pencils
• One burgundy towel (matches the golf bag nicely)
• Two ripped golf gloves 

I started golf lessons this week through the Milwaukee Recreation Department. For now we meet at a nearby school's gym to learn the basics. In six weeks I should be ready to hit the links!  I plan on golfing at least once a week this season. If you hear me yell fore, DUCK!

PS:  The camera will be in my golf bag just-in-case.