Give away #3 Animal stickers

My computer is back. Yes!!  Had to take it back.  Boo!! Hiss!!  Now I have a computer that works so much better in spite of the frustration of getting it fixed.  First I had to take it down because it was s--l--o--w and frustrating, overheating, but put it off cuz I didn't want to be without my computer no matter how frustrating it was getting.  Then the touch pad was no longer functioning properly and sometimes the cursor wouldn't move and I would have to restart.  Kind of hard to use a computer in that condition so to the Geek Squad it went. 

They backed it up, wiped it clean, reinstalled Windows, took it apart and cleaned out the dust and it worked amazing better.  However I had to reload programs and then data but could not get my one computer, one use programs  to reinstall.  Considering this included MS Works and my anti-virus program this was a serious problem.  I also tried to reinstall my photos onto my computer and then couldn't pull them up on my editing programs another big problem for me.  Back to the Geek Squad again.  They were able to fix all these problems and I am now back in business; however I was without a computer that was set up for me for quite a while.  I had to borrow a computer to put up the posts for the last week or so.  Unfortunately this has slowed down getting my themed sticker sheets out to my winners.

Above is the sheet for SheWhoSeeks; she choose animals as her theme as she like the frog on the bottom of the first sheet of stickers (see my post on Giveaway #3.  These photos were taken of critters from my garden and the Atlanta zoo.  Hope she enjoys.

The give aways for those I heard back from will be going out Monday as I had to re-install my printer, too and then the ink needs to dry before they can be sent. Helpful tip: when you print in color on an ink jet printer the ink needs to dry and cure for 24 hours before it can even be stacked much less shipped.  It has taken longer to do this than I had expected but they are going out as quick as I could get them out

Even though I am still reinstalling programs and getting things set up like I want, I'm back.  Thanks for you patience

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

  

Ding, Dong the glitch is gone...

 the wicked glitch is gone.  I've got my computer back and it is working so much better.  Hooray! for the Geek Squad.  Just in case you don't recognize the parody in the title; your really need to get hold of the Wizard of Oz DVD.  One of the all time greatest classic movies ever.
Anyway my computer's working better.  My new programs are installed and I have two new editing programs to play with.  I'm so excited.
Emily is going great.  The doctor is very pleased with her recovery.  She spent last week learning how to teach freshman English.  She said that instead of sprinkling them with knowledge; they used a fire hose.  This week she starts working on her Masters degree and teaching freshman English class on her own.  Well, sort of on her own; BYU provides plenty of support and their attitude is you are here to get your Master's degree and teaching comes second.  She has also found a study buddy who is doing the same thing and they have agreed to help each other.  Good deal for her.

I have recovered from the stress of the last couple of weeks.  Due to the fact that I have Addison's disease; it takes me a long time to recoup.  Having Addison's means my body does not make the hormones necessary to cope with stress be it good or bad.  It has caused my electrolytes to go kind of haywire, my blood pressure to drop dramatically and just those two things can make anybody so weak that walking more than a few steps makes them feel like they are going to fall on their  face.  There is so much more to what the stress hormones do that sometimes I do get discouraged.  Even with all my varied health problems this is the worst and makes the stress of my other problems so very much more complicated.  This is an orphan disease which means there are not enough people with it to warrant research.  It's the pits.
However I am learning to deal with it better and better.  Not near as many hospital visits as I am learning to deal with it at home and I have a PA who is helping me through the process of learning to deal.  How grateful I am for modern medicine. 
Between Emily and I we have truly learned the miracle of modern medicine and a miracle it has been in our lives lately.  Add to that the prayers and support from those around us and our lives have been so very richly blessed.
We are both alive and able to continue to see the beauty in this world in which we live.

 Enjoy

♥♥♥Johnina♥♥♥

PS remember to come back tomorrow for the drawing of my mail art giveaway- there is still time to enter- see the post Giveaway #1 Mail art

Catching up

Early morning light- taken through my rear view mirror

Between my healthy problems and computer problems I have been trying to catch up on putting programs and files back on my computer.  Not being real tech savvy it has taken me longer than maybe it would have taken others.  It was also somewhat frustrating, but I certainly learned a lot.  I had help from family, my Internet friends and the Geek Squad, for which I am very grateful.  Now that I have gotten most of that done I am working on organizing the data I have put back on.  In going though my photos I came across some skyline photos that I really liked but had forgotten about so I edited them to share with you today.



Early morning light




Early morning light



Early morning light- taken through my side view mirror

                                                                              Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina ☺☺☺

Ah-choo- my computer caught a cold- Part 2

A-R-R-R-G-H

That's pirate for 'Oh bother, but this is going to be expensive!!!'

Tom took my computer down to have it fixed this morning, but I won't be getting it back till Monday or Tuesday.   Sooo... since my pics are almost all on my computer or my external hard-drive ( I'm so glad I just backed up last week, but I still might lose some from this week) I probably not be posting photos.  I'll just have to make due with my other artwork.  Of course you may get to know me better this way as drawings and paintings tend to expose one's deep down feelings and emotions.  The pirate picture was drawn last night when I was still upset and couldn't sleep (one did not necessarily cause the other) but the choice of subject and his expression certainly show how mad I was and I didn't even notice I had given him devil's horns until after I was finished.  How's that for a Freudian slip?

Anyway I hope you enjoy my artwork till I can get to my photos again.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Troopers

These are my flowers that have managed to survive the frosts that we have had and continue to bud and bloom.  My blanketflowers continue to add a bright cheerful invitation to my front door even when they are surrounded by the fallen brown leaves of the autumn trees.  These late fall troopers from my garden continue to gladden my heart.

These tiny daisy like flowers were tucked up next to the concrete of my driveway.  Tiny as they are they are somewhat sheltered by the little heat and protection from the lip of the concrete, one more flower to brighten my day.  I noticed it because when I walk with my dog I look around for the beauty of this world.  This photo reminds me of a quote I found  a couple of days ago while reading.

"The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm.  (or your sense of wonder)"   

~Aldous Huxley~

~parenthesis added by me~ 

There are times when I am able to capture that sense of wonder as I look around as a child might.

I try to be a Trooper too, bringing a little brightness into the world with my photos.  I also try to be a Trooper in a different way, in spite of the set backs in my life where I can't always post, I always come back.  In our house we have had the autumn crud going through those who inhabit this house.  Even Tom took a day off work today.  I think this was the 4th time in 30+ years of marriage that he has taken a sick day for himself (with the exception of surgery).  He has to be extraordinarily sick to stay home.  Jeremy has been sick and dragging for weeks and finally gave in, took the day off and went into the doctor.  I, myself have not felt good either and have had to contend with IVIG and other Doctor visits.  One of the reasons I had to go to one of my doctors shows up real well in my artwork.  I did a zendoodle of my hands, both my right and my left hand. 

 

I went to the neurologist because when I reached and grabbed something with my right hand I would get shocks down my arm and sometimes drop what I had just picked up not just from the pain but because my muscles let go.  I was suddenly losing strength in my hand.  I was no longer able to lift lids or twist lids off.  Sometimes when I hold something light and get distracted my hand 'forgets' that I am holding it and down it goes.  Not cool.  My fingers were getting curled and my hand will no longer lay flat and they are kind of lumpy and twisted.  I pushed my hand down to trace it but I think you can see the difference between my hands (the lumps around my wrist on my left hand is my watch).  The fingers are shorter, don't separate, are lumpy and look for the shape of the fingernails and you can tell my fingers are twisted on my right hand.  A lot of this has happened over the last couple months as I have worked so hard to build my blog and develop a network I truly enjoy. The doctor told me that we can test to see how bad the damage has gotten but we already knew I had peripheral neuropathy and carpel tunnel so unless there was a new underlying problem there was not much that could be done that we were not already doing.  I was really quite bummed and turned to prayer.  'Why be given these gifts and loves if I am not able to develop them?'   I kind of felt like Yentl in the movie.  I know that the Lord wants us to develop our talents and to share them to make this world a better place and to help build up the Lord's kingdom on earth.  I felt like I would be led to what I needed as has so often happened, my serendipity, and it will come.  Sure enough that night I saw an ad for voice recognition software that I think will help me tremendously.  It is now on my Amazon wish list.

  Dragon Premier 11.  I researched on Amazon, CNET, Best Buy to get what I think will be the best for me and my system.  Windows7 may have a lot of advantages but the program has to be Windows7 compatible because it is picky.  

I AM A TROOPER, A SURVIVOR,  

I'll FIND A WAY

PLEASE KEEP LOOKING OUT FOR ME

YOU NEVER KNOW 

WHEN I WILL SHOW UP
    ON TOP OF THE HILL.     

☺☺☺ SMILING☺☺☺ 

AND WITH PHOTOS.

Johnina

A different kind of pain

Boredom

Most hospitals are not known for their decor and the two hospitals I was at were no exception.  Blinds on the window, maybe some drapery sashes at the top and if you are really lucky a picture on the wall.  My room had a pretty nice scene form my window, but still it was small and to change it you had to get out of bed which was painful but actually helpful in recovery..  I took several photos out my window from different angles and then cropped and edited them differently which helped me to cope with time and the distract me from the pain.

Sylvan Grove; the rehab hospital encouraged patients to bring pictures and belongings from home, of course then you had to sign a waiver so the hospital was not responsible for them.  I noticed that those who had pictures or quilts or such from home got better so much faster and went home earlier after having passed their goals.  In the rehab hospital goals are set up for being able to take care of yourself and when you reach those goals you go home, if you take too long you go to a nursing home.  I went home a little over a week early.
One of the things that the nurses attributed to this early going home especially since I should have been there longer due to me many medical problems was my computer.  They were amazed at how much having the computer with me helped me in spite of the fact there was no wi-fi.  I could listen to music, movies of my choice, edit my photos, organize my photo.  Where all patients have TV how often is nothing on and you watch because you are bored and stay bored.  With my computer I stayed more alert and active and complained a whole lot less or so I was told, because I had my choice of activity due to having a laptop computer.  One of the therapist bought a laptop before I left because she saw how versatile it was.
I have packed for the hospital many time for many years and over the years what I bring has became more tech savvy form walkmans to MP3's to laptop computers and what I bring continues to help me through the tough hospital stays.

WOW

This is going to be short and sweet; I'm stealing time between setting up my new computer and transferring data. This photo is the WOW I got from my new computer. This little beetle has been in my files waiting to be edited, but it was not very high on my list of priorities because it was just a little beetle on the brick wall with a reflection on it's back. Kind of dull and ordinary. Then I put one of my back-up disks in my new computer just to see how the pictures would look on the new screen with the new computer. I set it up for slide show and when this picture came up I realized that the reflection was not just a streak of light but a reflection of the sky and the trees. WOW! I almost couldn't believe my eyes (giggle with delight). I love my new computer and I have a feeling that it is going to make even more of an improvement in my life than I thought.

Wonderful day

Yesterday was a wonderful day. One of the first things I do in the morning is check out MyShutterSpace to check and see if I got any comments on my photos. not only did I have nice comments but I got a personal comment from one of my friends asking how I was. It was really nice to know that I was missed ( I hadn't been posting photos like usual) and they were concerned enough to ask how I was. Sometimes things like that can make a positive difference in one's day. It sure started mine out nice.
I'd gotten a good night's sleep, the best in months, so I decided to run errands while I was feeling good. Went to Wal-Mart and had this flower collage made into a poster so this winter when things outside are kind of blah I'll remember the flowers from my garden. In talking with the cashier I mentioned the poster and why I was getting it and that last year I had done one up for my husband. She thought that was a wonderful idea for Christmas for her husband. I hope she does it, and she gets one for herself. She really liked the idea of the picture coming from my own garden and thought she would look though her pictures so she could give something truly personal. That's one of the things I love about photography or any piece of art is that it is always personal. No one will take the same picture even if it's the same subject. One famous fantasy artist said that he did not worry about copyrights, that even if you traced his art you put so much of your personality into it that it would always belong to you and not to him. I'm sure he feels different about scanning and photocopying, but that's not creating art.
Wal-mart has this secret plan to get you to spend more money while one is in the store. It's called one hour photo. They put photo processing in the store, charge less than sending it out or about the same and then tell you to come back in an hour. What do you do during that hour? You shop. In my case I had to go back 3 times, because of problems with the machine. The poor girl running the machine was trying so hard to get things right. By the second time I went back the manager was getting quite rude with her and the machine representative, which flustered her even more. By this time I was looking at my list and my cart and realizing how different the two were so before I went back the third time I made the list and the cart come alot closer to matching. The manager was getting ready to leave, to the salesgirl and my relief but she did give directions that I only had to pay for one of my posters instead of two. The poor girl was all red in the face and I told her I'd worked retail before and understood there were days like that. However Wal-marts secret plot was foiled that day. I was there long enough to realize that I was spending too much and I got a free poster so their plan was spoiled.
While I was shopping I did finish Christmas shopping for all nine grandchildren; I already had a couple of boxes filled at home. I was real proud of having finished before Thanksgiving and now all I have to do is ship the gifts. One of the things I did this year is I went with my camera and took pictures of toys I thought they would like so I could remember what there was and if necessary e-mail the pics. All my grand children live far away and I have no idea what they have and I thought this might cut down on returns. So far it seems to be working. The last two presents are pictured here.
Then when my husband came home from work; he asked me to go with him and to bring my drivers licence with just in case he could not drive. This was a really strange request but I went and we stopped at Best Buy and pulled into the pick up parking. My husband had bought me the computer I wanted online and I needed ID to pick it up. I was THRILLEDSo much of my worries about becoming useless and isolated was relieved. I felt like crying except this time with joy. I don't think I expressed the appreciation as well as I should have. It really was a stretch on the family budget but to get it is going to make a world of difference in my life. There have been times in our married life were no matter how much Tom would have liked to give me things we would not have been able to afford it. I'm very grateful for Tom's generosity and his willingness to work hard to provide for us.
Then to top it off he took the long way home to show me a pretty place to take pictures. He watches for photo ops for me and I think that's pretty nice of him. This time was especially nice as he had to go back to work and work the night shift that night and only had the opportunity for a couple of hours of sleep as it was. Taking the extra time to show me this lake was very sweet of him.
The only difficulty I had was my computer froze up which is why I'm doing this today. It was probably a blessing in disguise as I had done a lot that day and I was very tired. I listened to my body instead of getting frustrated with the computer after all Benn is coming Saturday morning to get my new computer set up and hopefully I won't have that problem anymore.
Hope you have a wonderful day.