You're Doing It Wrong

I couldn’t make my text look as good as in the tutorial. And I looked at this word so long I had to check the dictionary to make sure I spelled it right.

Remember when I started this class way back at Labor Day? I just finished it today. I thought it was 15 hours but now it says 13 Hours 46 minutes. I have 8 other classes in my playlist right now but none of them are that long.

I need tons more practice. Stay tuned.

So back during the holidays I went shopping at a big box sporting goods store. I was there pretty early but the posted hours were insane like 7am-11pm. I think I was in on a weekday at about 9am.

The store was empty. I was the only customer in there.

To be honest, it upsets me to see big box stores with insanely endless hours that are mostly empty every time I go in there.

I hiked around until I found the department I wanted and I needed help with what I was buying. There was no one around. I hiked back to the front of the store where the lone employee who wished me good morning when I came in was doing whatever she was doing to kill time. I asked her if I could get help.

Then I heard her on the phone, describing what I looked like to the person who was supposed to meet in the outback and help me with my question. I was thinking: Just say it’s THE CUSTOMER. How could he miss me?

I like the way this one came out but I could never figure out how to do it again. It’s fun to play but I’m an impatient learner. Once I’ve done it a couple of times, I want to be good at it.

Nice to have an excuse to sit around the house all weekend but I’m ready to get out in the world again.

We cleared the driveway and unburied my car to make it easier to get out of here in the morning.

Time to ditch the computer and do something else.

This afternoon I had an appointment in downtown Vancouver. Bob and I decided to walk to it.

The morning walk was terrific. It was semi-sunny and the air refreshing. We took lots of pictures and visited with some neighbors.

The walk home was less terrific. It had started snowing again, heavy and wet. The walk home is a gentle uphill. By the time I got home I was pooped and I still had to throw some dinner on the stove and mix up my bread for tomorrow. I make a sourdough loaf almost every week.

Then I somehow managed to stick my photocard (tired, not paying attention) in the DVD slot instead of the card slot and it plooped right in. I had a mild panic attack. Quickly powered down the machine. Powered up the laptop. Typed HELP! and my problem into a search engine because no matter what dumb thing you do, there’s always someone who did it before you.

I wouldn’t have cared so much except I really wanted my photos.

One suggestion was to tilt the machine on its side and shake it. Another suggestion involved a credit card and something sticky like a mailing label or tape. First I had to disconnect everything from everything. Then I shook and tilted my heart out. Nothing seemed to be happening. I wondered if I still have Apple Care and when the hell I was going to get around to carting my computer to some fix it guy. And whether I would be honest or make up a cover story.

I remained calm. I propped my machine on the bed so I could tilt it toward me while I held a baby flashlight in my teeth and wiggled a credit card in the slot. And [long frustrating bit omitted] it worked!

And now my brain is melted. Lots more snow photos *with filters* later this weekend.

This morning I was telling my sister that I’m nervous putting any of my practice pictures online because I’m afraid they’ll end up in some sort of mean-spirited click bait “12 People Who Should Be Outlawed from Photoshop” website. Am I the only person who worries about accidentally becoming the butt of some meme?

I couldn’t figure out any photos that would look nice blended together so I practiced on a bunch of random photos. I did some funny ones with the cat.

I was going to make a joke about creating a watermark for “my work.” A few years ago I was thinking of selling something on ebay and I was looking at similar items to see how people did it. On one listing there was this totally over-exposed crap photo of a pair of pants with a giant copyright mark on it. Right. Because someone is going to steal your crap photo of a pair of pants you’re trying to sell and then do what?

My insomnia continues. Last night was night #6. My poor tiny brain goes to mush pretty quickly so this is the best I’ve got for now. I’m going to curl up in front of the TV and watch a soccer match (USA) this afternoon. Have I mentioned Timbers pre-season starts at the end of the month? Yahoo!