Ah-choo- my computer caught a cold

 Stupid virus- anyway I'm back to using my husband's computer.  I could really get off on the evil-doers who create these viruses and I think that evil-doers is an appropriate word.  There are only two reasons for developing a virus; one is for criminal purposes such as credit card theft or some such or out of pure maliciousness since they never know whose lives they mess up. The only reason is to prove they can do it, just for the ego boost.   I find both these reason inconceivable especially the second one. I would never want to mess up someone else's life like that.  Do they realize how much angst they cause by such behavior?  At the very least there is the loss of computer time and most people rely on their computers now. But then there is straightening out credit errors, business problems to be worked out- time and money both lost- not to mention the loss of personal and precious documents and photos- so much of our lives are now on our computers and the pain that that loss brings.  Why? I suppose some of it has to do with what seems like a victimless crime because they don't know who they are affecting, although that does not always stop criminals.  Pranksters I just don't understand on any level, if you need to prove you can do something, try something constructive, try the next hot computer game or better yet if you're that smart try becoming the next Bill Gates. You'll laugh a lot harder with your wallet stuffed with money than you ever will by making someone else's life miserable.  Enough with the rant and venting I'm going in search of some pictures of beauty to reinforce the fact that in spite of whatever goes on in our lives there is always beauty around me.

Enjoy

☺☺☺Johnina☺☺☺

Home again, Home again

I'm home again, actually I've been home a couple of days, I just have not been up to my normal speed yet. After running a low grade fever with a high white blood count for six weeks, then having a horrible Fibromyalsia flare, then developing cruddy sounding lungs the doctor decided to put me in the hospital to find out what was going on. As it turn out from the tests I had pnuemonia. For me only having pnuemonia is a good thing. Anyway they started treatment in the hospital and sent me home. I was still running a low grade fever when I left but by then I could do for myself at home what they could have done for me in the hospital even if I was not completely well.

I'm certainly glad to be home and it has made me grateful for some things I normally take for granted, like hot water and the Internet. It's amazing how fast new technologies get accepted as part of our daily life and get integrated into our lives so we really miss it when it was gone. This hospital has no Wi-Fi and even if I knew it going in, I sure missed it while I was there. I can't even imagine what it would be like without TV. Even though I watch little TV in the hospital most others do. You can hear the many different channels down the hall; which is why I wear earphones and listen to music. It's just a cacophony in the hall. Until I learned the trick with the earphones the noise of the hospital used to keep me always on edge. Anyway back to to getting used to change and new technologies in our lives; I remember when TV was a luxury that you paid extra for; now it is a right and loud would be the protests if the charged 'extra' for it. I imagine that in the not too distant future there will be Wi-Fi in the hospital to. Already people bring their computers and use them, not long ago the would have been locked up as valuables or not brought at all. If you think about it Laptops have not even been around that long allowing people the option to even bring a computer. Come to think of it a personal computer of any kind has not been around for all that long either. I was able to do some editing while in the hospital. I was extremely grateful for having just gotten a laptop that I could take with me. While editing I even came across a couple more funny pictures.

The other thing I missed the most was hot water, a little step backward there. They turn down the water temperature so that sick people who are not thinking well can not burn themselves; which left me with cold showers. I hate cold showers and with a fever I hate them even worse. It might have been good for me, look on the bright side type thing but I couldn't think that way with cold showers. I hate cold showers period. I hate them even worse with a fever cuz they give me chills.

Of course I missed my family and Thanksgiving which wasn't fun at all. I did get lots of sleep in between everyone checking on me. I really needed that sleep. I really needed to be in the hospital.

I am really grateful to be here still to be with my family and friends, to feel of their love and concern, to know and feel their prayers and best wishes for me. Many people expressed their concern and kept me in their thoughts and it truly touched my heart. Thank you it was a most memorable Thanksgiving; one truly felt in the heart.

Cameras, computers, and the internet

To me cameras, computers and the Internet; living in this technological world is as great a blessing as the medical wonders that also come in this era. The medicines have kept me alive and in some ways have improved my quality of life, but they come with a price. If you listen to the commercials for these new "wonder drugs" they sound so wonderful until... they get to the side effects. Then they don't sound so wonderful; my personal favorite is "with some fatal occurrences". It really makes you want to take the medicine now doesn't it. I've gone thru the all natural route only to find that if you are taking anything in medicinal doses you have the same problem as with taking medicine. But still in spite of my complaining about my meds I would be much worse off without them. Actually I'd be dead in a matter of days without one of them so I am grateful for modern medicine and the technology that makes it possible.

But with all the meds I'm still disabled and sometimes house bound or hospitalized. I've had to learn to cope with that situation too. In times past I would have been very lonely and bored. Thanks to technology there are many options for those who are disabled to be active in many areas even if they are house bound. I'll talk about some I've used in the past later but for now I am really into photography.

Thanks to technology cameras are now lightweight easy to use and much cheaper to use. I could never afford all the film and developing that used to be a part of photo taking and I certainly could not use or afford a dark room. I can take literally thousands of pictures to learn on and just delete the ones I don't like. It really speeds up your learning rate when you can take a hundred pics at a time instead of 24 on a roll. Taking photos has also given me a great appreciation of this wonderful world we live in. I notice things around me more and how wonderful they are and by being able to see other peoples photo from all over the world I see how beautiful the rest of this world is. I've included some of my photos I hope you enjoy them.

Then comes the computer and the Internet where you can get free editing software. When someone else develops your film did the picture not come out because you goofed or the processor goofed. It's extremely hard to learn that way. Besides editing your own pics is a great deal of fun.

The computer and the Internet also serves another important service. I have met many people over the Internet with my same interests. My two favorite are Facebook and MyShutterSpace. On facebook I keep in contact with my family and friends of various interests and MyShutterSpace has my photo friends and is the best photo site I've found I've learned lots and met lots of friends there and gotten lots of encouragement as I've been learning.

In fact since joining these sites I've been able to get rid of some of my medicines, especially after joining MSS. Which is a real tribute to the quality of people on that site.

Right now I am trying to save up for a good Laptop that can go with me to the hospital. I still go into the hospital occasionally and the fall and early winter are the worst times for me to end up in the hospital. Doesn't look like this year maybe next year.

The Internet provides many different opportunities to go out into the world and get involved without having to leave your house and for me that is a major blessing. Try it out, find something that you enjoy, enrich your life.