My Day In Court

Today I had the honor of going to traffic court because a computer scanned my plates on the pickup and decided that it was not registered - because my insurance computer did not talk to the DMV computer.

Humans were not involved with this...it was all computers.

So imagine my lack of joy at finding a week's worth of posts missing from my blog this evening after coming home from straightening out this DMV computer mess.

Sometimes modern life is so terribly frustrating!  I think I'll go play with my pup and leave this latest computer glitch until tomorrow.

Train Views

It's hard to get a good picture from a moving train, so when I saw this one came out, I just had to share.  The thing that makes my commute really worth it (most days) is this view out the train window.

It may not seem like much, but this is the beginning of "The Great Swamp" - a huge wetlands area filled with lots of plants and creatures.

Everyday there is something to see.  The heron nests and red stags are my favorites this week.  Next week it may be the water lilies and buffalo (they're on a farm).

I like watching the changing seasons - especially when I am toasty warm on the train and watching the snow falling outside, or sweltering outside and a/c cool on the train.  Either way, it's a good thing.  There's one part of the ride where it has been changing from swamp into a field.  The trees fell and built up the soil, then the grasses came in.  Each year it looks more and more solid - although I've heard from some of the locals that you wouldn't want to go for a walk - your legs would sink in about 8-feet deep.  But it looks solid from the train.

This little bit of water is at the north end of one of the reservoirs where the swans like to nest.  I can tell when Spring is coming because that's when their chicks start to hatch.  They're kind of funny the way the swans and ducks stay mostly to themselves - the swans go to the south end, the ducks are in the northern end and every so often they meet in the middle and socialize a bit.

I guess you could say they're "strange ducks".  Doh!

It's An Honor Just To Be Nominated

My friend pointed out that I have been nominated for the Bloggers Choice Awards in the categories of Best Blog About Stuff, Best Food Blog (they must not have tried the chili!), Best Hobby Blog and Best Humor Blog.  I'd love for you to vote for my site - if you think it's worthy - if not, you can vote for other worthy sites!

Cool!



Thank you and Happy Valentine's Day!

This Time I WonÕt Panic

I am without the internet, but this time when faced with a computer crisis of the utmost magnitude, I am completely prepared. Well, sort of prepared. Well, a little prepared Ð at least I think this will work.

I have checked and rechecked everything I can check and I think that the problem (for once) is not me. It is my carrier! All of my house computers are talking and chatting o each other as if nothing strange is going on, they just won't talk to any strangers.

I've tried to convince them that you Ð my dears Ð are not strangers. Some of you have even met my computer! But still, after reboots and pushed buttons, nothing is convincing them.

I will resort to Ôplan BÕ. Posting by email. I looked into this when I first set up the bucolic manor. Knowing computers are the way they are Ð and knowing that one day (probably the most inconvenient of days) my access would be dropped Ð I planned in advance.

So really, this is more of a test (even though I am totally counting it as a post) to see if I can accomplish a technological feat of wonder and amazement!

First, I write the post (this) on my trusty steed (laptop).
Second, I will transfer the post via Bluetooth to my sidekick (handheld).
Third, I will import the post from my document reader into my email feed.
Fourth, I will send the email out to the destination address that I have handily set up in advance.

There's no guarantee, but at least it's a fun challenge!

Fingers crossedÉ

Darn File Conversions!

ZamZar!

Okay.  This actually falls into the category of organizing.  The thing is, I worked all day on a programme for my little town event.  And it looks sort of okay.  Still needs a but of work.

But the thing is, I saved it in Microsoft Publisher format.  (That's sort of a cross between Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint - for you Windows users.  Or sort of a cross between Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop - for you Mac users.)

And the thing is, I have no software on my Mac to view - let alone edit - the file.

And the other thing is, I have to send out the file for editing tonight.

So.

I went online and found ZamZar.  They have a convertor.  And it's free.  And it works pretty good.

They saved me!!! Yay!

So if you're stuck in a conversion meltdown, check them out. 

Okay, that's the thing then.

(Disclaimer:  I am not affiliated with ZamZar and they have no clue who I am.  And tomorrow I plan to have no more computer issues.  Honest.)