Worth Well Over 5,000 Words.
Prepare to be bored senseless, because today? I got a new digital camera. I would like to thank the federal government for the student loan that financed this purchase. I am out of money, now, but look at this picture of my sexy girl-cat, Willie!
Grrrowwl!
As you may remember, I recently moved. Here is a picture of our new duplex (we have the second floor):
And a few more, with annotations:
You may have noticed odd blog-happenings here over the past few days. Sidebars disappearing, only to reappear (unformatted) moments later. My new “about me” page converted into a difficult-to-read font called Appalachian Tongues for an hour or so. Links migrating to the bottom of the page.
You see, I am teaching myself html. I have just mastered template tags–I got my list of infertility blogs to display a new set of randomly chosen links each time my page is opened or refreshed (which is actually becoming a bit annoying, as I can’t find certain links when I want them, and I am getting email from people wondering why I have suddenly stopped linking to them—which, of course, I haven’t)–and I am dabbling in CSS. None of the changes are permanent, I am just mucking about because I am hoping to redesign my blog next month. I spent last night alternately cursing and dosing myself with wine as I attempted to create a new banner with Photoshop. No, I don’t have any Photoshop experience. No, I didn’t read the instructions. Instead I randomly clicked on buttons that looked like they might do what I needed, then inadvertently ruined my picture, shouted COCKSUCKER! a few times, poured myself another drink, and started over. The wine was meant to fortify me, but instead merely impeded my understanding of the tech-y websites I trolled for advice.
I am good at most things I try to do, as long as they are not sports-related. Also, provided they do not require manual labor. Or teamwork. Or, you know, specialized knowledge.
Anyway, most many some things come easily to me. Computers used to be one of those things, back in…oh, 1985. I even entered a computer programming competition in the second grade, on a team with two boys from my elementary school, boys with large, button-heavy digital watches and vast amounts of scorn for the computing abilities of the fairer sex. Little did they know I had a manic depressive father who spent the time other fathers spent sleeping writing code—(my favorite was a program he wrote called “Escher-sketch” that took any doodle and turned it into an MC Escher-esque pattern) and who taught me Logo before I read my first chapter book.
At the competition these boys, concerned about the performance of our “team,” gave me one problem to work on while they took the other four—you know, so A Girl wouldn’t ruin their chances of geeky glory. Happily, when the judges ran our programs, mine was the ONLY ONE THAT WORKED. Also? One of the boys broke his elbow on the monkey bars later that school year, which gave me great (and evil, I know) pleasure.
Where was I?
Ah yes—computers! I blame my current lack of computer savvy on my parents’ divorce, which coincided with the release of the Apple IIGS, which had a COLOR! SCREEN! After that, I didn’t own or use a computer until college.
The years during which I had nothing to do with computers? 1987 to 1998.
Yeah. I missed some important developments. Like, oh, the Internet.
Anyway, computers now baffle me entirely. And patience may be a virtue, but it is not one that I currently possess. Because I am used to things coming easily to me, I have an unattractive tendency to react like a frustrated toddler when they do not. Also? Coding now makes my head hurt like it does when I attempt to imagine what existed before the universe.
But god help me, I am going to do this redesign myself. Besides, I have four papers for school due this coming Sunday, which makes now the perfect time to teach myself web design!
EDITED TO ADD: Great. The vast pictures in this post have forced the sidebar to the bottom of the page. How delightful. If anyone knows how to fix this…
EDITED TO ADD SOMETHING ELSE: Fixed! Smaller pictures, but they should click through to the larger version. Thanks, Laura!
17 Comments
I’ve recently had to start learning more html for our company’s website. One of the programmers in our IT department recommended “HTML for the World Wide Web” by Elizabeth Castro. I’ve found it to be very helpful and written in a refreshingly readable way, rather than totally dry techie talk. I also picked up “Visual QuickProject: Creating a Web Page with HTML” by the same author. It’s a step-by-step manual for creating a specific web page that includes how to optimize graphics for the web and how to create stylesheets.
Loved the photos, too, by the way. The duplex looks very pretty and cozy. The trees, the grass - a desert girl can only dream of such greenery!
That house is beautiful! It is a traditional four square almost just like the one I owned for 10 years. Mine had a hip roof like that and a single window above the door. Mine had a porch across the front and the large windows were larger doubles instead of quads. The living room was just the same, fireplace flanked by square windows. You’ve brought back such memories. I loved that house. Hope you all enjoy your duplex.
I see you set up a flickr acct. Did you know you can add “notes” to the pixs instead of manipulating them via edit? It’s kinda fun.
Your house is lovely. With those trees and living on the 2nd floor, it’s like your own tree-house.
No advice on the code. Sorry. I’m just here to look at pretty pictures.
That is the ONLY way to learn computer programs- just clicking on stuff and going, “what does this do?”. To hell with manuals! To hell with them, I say!
I know html, design websites, etc (and have been lurking on your blog for about a week). The only way I know how to get the side bar back up is to a) look at your website with a larger computer screen or 2) make your pictures smaller. They’ve just made your posts a little too wide.
With flickr you can choose a smaller size (but you can also have the link to the flickr site still go to the larger picture so if folks want to try to read the title of you books or something, they can).
I love your blog, btw.
Wow — lovely pictures. Looks like you got a great camera! And of course you have very photogenic subject matter to work with. Nice place you’ve got there.
I have a little bit of HTML and CSS knowledge too, if ever you’re in a pinch and need a quick consult — just send me an e-mail. :-)
Love the house. What is the big news. I check everyday. It can’t be that you got a camera?
Come on you are killing us here.
Wow. That really is a sexy cat. Me-ow!
(Congrats on the move, BTW!)
Oooo…pictures. Purdy. What is it with cats and slut poses? It seems every photo we have of our US-based cat shows her in various acrobatic positions of questionable taste. Whores, the lot of them.
I know nothing about computer programming and hardware, but I was “progressive” enough to have the internet way back in ‘94/’95. I’d go to school and tell all my friends about the cool people I was meeting online and they’d look at me like I was the biggest loser ever. Hmph.
Oh, Alexa! I so know what you’re talking about.. I have been through my own personal redesign HELL the last few days. Biggest thing you need to know about photoshop is the edit/undo. Just use it. Again and again. And save a new copy everytime you get to a point you like, before you stuff it up. I have banner1.jpg through to banner21.jpg saved!
PS Just wanted to tell you how cute and character-y your house is. Love it.
Your new place looks so homey. I’m glad to know it doesn’t take long to get resettled, I am in the midst of moving hell at the moment.
Darling house! I think my favourite part is the head. It looks slightly lobotomized.
And the cats!!! Can’t forget the cats… so darling I want to EAT them. Figuratively, of course.
What a pretty house, I somehow had imagined you living somewhere more urban. I hope it’s a very happy home for you.
Have fun experimenting. I’ll be checking back regularly to see how much mess you can create on your way to greatness.
What a great looking place! I like up/down duplexes much better than side-by-side. Love your kitties, too.
Like the new pad, and the kits are so cute! Hope the papers came out okay :-)