The other day I was working on my computer and was attempting to get it to read my stupid memory card (actually I was trying to get my butterfly pictures from my camera to the computer--see my garden blog, link at right). Of COURSE Vista had to be its stupid self and once again not read the card reader.
[aside] There's some issue with the computer--when I click on the "safely remove hardware" and tell it to disconnect my memory card, it will disconnect the whole card reader...which just happens to be the printer. Not a problem, except that the stupid computer WILL NOT ever read the card reader again unless you RESTART THE COMPUTER. And no, it does not help to click "eject" instead. It does the same thing. Bill Gates, you are the devil.[/aside]
And so the conversation goes as follows:
Me: SHAAAAAAWWWWWWNNNNNNNN!!!!! the computer is being stupid again! it won't read my memory card! FIIIIIIXXXXXXX IIIIIITTTTTT PPPPPLLLLLEEEAAAASSSEEE! [damn...that's a lot of capitals.... Also, this was after I had turned off the printer, turned it back on, turned it off, unplugged it, plugged it back in, turned it back on...and STILL to no avail]
Shawn: Get to your computer properties, click on device manager, right click and tell it to Scan for Hardware Changes. Anything?
Me: No...it's still not reading.
Shawn: Well, it IS Windows. Just restart the computer.
Me: Uh...ok... (click on the little windows icon, click on the power button)
Computer: ZZZZZZZ
Me: huh. The computer sounded funny...like it didn't really turn off. :::press the power button on the tower::::
Computer: [immediately wakes up] Welcome Katina!
Me: Dammit! how do I turn this thing off?!
Shawn: HAHAHAHAHAHA You don't remember how to turn off your computer! HAHAHA :::gasp::: When was the last time you turned it off?
Me: I don't know, I normally never turn it off! Windows is stupid and reboots itself! That's how I end up using Linux all the time, remember?
Shawn: HAHAHAHAHA!!! :::gasps for air, falls over and is grabbing his stomach he's laughing so hard::: BWAHAHAHAHA!
There you have it ladies and gentlemen, the reason I use Linux 70% of the time is because Windows tries to be all helpful and reboot itself. Little does it know that KUbuntu is the first OS in Grub, not Windows...actually, now that I think about it, Shawn's put Windows at the bottom of the Grub list...I wonder if that's because he's trying to get me to use Linux more.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The 21 day challenge
I need to reinstate my 21 day challenge.
If you'll remember, I chose to do a 21-day challenge of cleaning every day for 20 minutes. By the end of about week 2, I had reached a point where I was looking for things to clean. Of course, since the end of the challenge I immediately went back to the way I was before so now nothing gets cleaned.
Thus, I am going to make a challenge with myself to go a whole month on the cleaning front. Furthermore, I'm only going to do 10-minutes per day this time.
If all goes well, then I'll add in exercising for 20 minutes a day as well (yes, yes I know, I'm supposed to be doing this already, and since it's getting to be summertime, I'm more likely to go out for walks every day...but really, I need to start jogging for those 20 minutes instead of just walking.)
If you'll remember, I chose to do a 21-day challenge of cleaning every day for 20 minutes. By the end of about week 2, I had reached a point where I was looking for things to clean. Of course, since the end of the challenge I immediately went back to the way I was before so now nothing gets cleaned.
Thus, I am going to make a challenge with myself to go a whole month on the cleaning front. Furthermore, I'm only going to do 10-minutes per day this time.
If all goes well, then I'll add in exercising for 20 minutes a day as well (yes, yes I know, I'm supposed to be doing this already, and since it's getting to be summertime, I'm more likely to go out for walks every day...but really, I need to start jogging for those 20 minutes instead of just walking.)
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Quazi = Guard Cat (round 2)
So a couple weeks ago, Quazi growled at the guy who was walking around our neighbor's house at 11pm.
Today he was sitting on the couch between Shawn and me while we watched World Trade Center. It was about 8pm and the doorbell rang. He started growling. Shawn answered the door to find a couple of the LDS girls on a mission (the same one the boys do--they go door to door in a neighborhood and proselytize).
That's right, our cat growled at the Mormons.
Actually, it's kinda cute--it's like he knows that when it's dark out, people aren't supposed to be around the house.
Today he was sitting on the couch between Shawn and me while we watched World Trade Center. It was about 8pm and the doorbell rang. He started growling. Shawn answered the door to find a couple of the LDS girls on a mission (the same one the boys do--they go door to door in a neighborhood and proselytize).
That's right, our cat growled at the Mormons.
Actually, it's kinda cute--it's like he knows that when it's dark out, people aren't supposed to be around the house.
Borscht
Yeah, I don't think we're too keen on Borscht. Don't get me wrong, the stuff tasted pretty good and I was surprised that I actually liked it. I only used 1.25 pounds of meat (the recipe calls for a 4 pound roast), and I think if I make this again, I'll make sure and use more meat.
It was also very acidic (with a strong tomato flavor)...and I'd probably add rice or noodles or something to it.
Like the French Onion Soup, it takes forever to make: 3 hours of simmering stuff, and about an hour to prep the veggies (thankfully you simmer the meat by itself for an hour so you prep the veggies while the meat is cooking).
Yeah, I think I'd definitely have to be in the mood for this if I ever make it again (unlike French Onion Soup which is delicious and I'd eat it more frequently if it didn't take forever to make).
Items left of my 20 pounds of produce: 4 small crookneck squash, 5 new potatoes, half a head of cabbage, a head of cauliflower, a thing of kale, 3 small florets of broccoli, 1 green onion, and the two small cucumbers. I found a recipe online to make a kale frittata, and the broccoli and green onion will be added to the terriyaki stir fry pre-made meal. And I need to call my mother in law to get her recipe for refrigerator pickles. So that means that I'm down to finding recipes for crooknecks, potatoes, cabbage and cauliflower.
It was also very acidic (with a strong tomato flavor)...and I'd probably add rice or noodles or something to it.
Like the French Onion Soup, it takes forever to make: 3 hours of simmering stuff, and about an hour to prep the veggies (thankfully you simmer the meat by itself for an hour so you prep the veggies while the meat is cooking).
Yeah, I think I'd definitely have to be in the mood for this if I ever make it again (unlike French Onion Soup which is delicious and I'd eat it more frequently if it didn't take forever to make).
Items left of my 20 pounds of produce: 4 small crookneck squash, 5 new potatoes, half a head of cabbage, a head of cauliflower, a thing of kale, 3 small florets of broccoli, 1 green onion, and the two small cucumbers. I found a recipe online to make a kale frittata, and the broccoli and green onion will be added to the terriyaki stir fry pre-made meal. And I need to call my mother in law to get her recipe for refrigerator pickles. So that means that I'm down to finding recipes for crooknecks, potatoes, cabbage and cauliflower.
Re: Borscht
I found a recipe for Borscht. It is in the Colorado Cache Book. This will be the second soup I've tried from the book. Hopefully it will be delicious as the French Onion Soup.
(also, Borscht uses beets AND cabbage--and tomatoes as well, but I'm fine with buying a couple of tomatoes to make this work, you know, since I used all mine last night).
(also, Borscht uses beets AND cabbage--and tomatoes as well, but I'm fine with buying a couple of tomatoes to make this work, you know, since I used all mine last night).
Farm to Work
Also known as "why we're eating healthier around here".
The health department at my work started something new. It is called "Farm to Work". Basically a local farmer brings a bunch of produce to the office one time a week. You get 20 lbs for $25. You don't get a choice in what you get. And you can't order less than 20 lbs (though you can go halvsies with coworkers if so desired).
This last week we were given (and everyone gets the same exact thing): Romaine Lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower, 3 Beets, 2 pickling cucumbers, 5 crookneck squash, 1 zucchini, 4 mutantly large green onions, kale, 5 tomatoes, 5 new potatoes, and 3 tiny florets of broccoli. I gave 2 of my tomatoes to one of my coworkers because we don't eat tomatoes much around here. Of these, I have never had Cabbage, Cauliflower, fresh beets, crookneck squash, and kale.
Now then, this is probably the amount of vegetables we're supposed to eat over a 1-2 week period. For us, this is about what we eat in an entire year (what can I say, we do MUCH better with fruits).
So tonight for dinner we had:
Zatarain's Spanish rice with the 3 tomatoes instead of the required can of diced tomatoes, and diced green onion. Sauteed crookneck squash and zucchini with some minced onion (with sea salt and fresh ground pepper as well). and for desert we had vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries and blackberries. I was still hungry so I had the last grapefruit as well.
I think for breakfast we're having omelettes. Omelettes in which I will put a large amount of green onion in mine.
And I think I need to figure out how to make Borscht.
The health department at my work started something new. It is called "Farm to Work". Basically a local farmer brings a bunch of produce to the office one time a week. You get 20 lbs for $25. You don't get a choice in what you get. And you can't order less than 20 lbs (though you can go halvsies with coworkers if so desired).
This last week we were given (and everyone gets the same exact thing): Romaine Lettuce, Cabbage, Cauliflower, 3 Beets, 2 pickling cucumbers, 5 crookneck squash, 1 zucchini, 4 mutantly large green onions, kale, 5 tomatoes, 5 new potatoes, and 3 tiny florets of broccoli. I gave 2 of my tomatoes to one of my coworkers because we don't eat tomatoes much around here. Of these, I have never had Cabbage, Cauliflower, fresh beets, crookneck squash, and kale.
Now then, this is probably the amount of vegetables we're supposed to eat over a 1-2 week period. For us, this is about what we eat in an entire year (what can I say, we do MUCH better with fruits).
So tonight for dinner we had:
Zatarain's Spanish rice with the 3 tomatoes instead of the required can of diced tomatoes, and diced green onion. Sauteed crookneck squash and zucchini with some minced onion (with sea salt and fresh ground pepper as well). and for desert we had vanilla yogurt with fresh strawberries and blackberries. I was still hungry so I had the last grapefruit as well.
I think for breakfast we're having omelettes. Omelettes in which I will put a large amount of green onion in mine.
And I think I need to figure out how to make Borscht.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
It is Earth Day
at least for the next 1 hour and 38 minutes it is.
You should read Janet's blog (Love is Blonde) because I am lazy, and she has some really good points.
Also, this would be why I'm not getting rid of my BPA laden Nalgene bottle. The saving the earth thing, not the lazy thing...no, wait, maybe it IS the lazy thing...oh I'm so confuzzed.
Update at a whole 2 minutes later: I would like to point out that 3 of our CFLs in the kitchen have burned out. They have only been in the kitchen for maybe 6 months. They last longer my arse.
You should read Janet's blog (Love is Blonde) because I am lazy, and she has some really good points.
Also, this would be why I'm not getting rid of my BPA laden Nalgene bottle. The saving the earth thing, not the lazy thing...no, wait, maybe it IS the lazy thing...oh I'm so confuzzed.
Update at a whole 2 minutes later: I would like to point out that 3 of our CFLs in the kitchen have burned out. They have only been in the kitchen for maybe 6 months. They last longer my arse.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
My new Toy
I bought myself a toy today. It is the Braun Epil X'elle.
Only I would buy myself a medieval torture device and think it is the best thing on earth.
Granted, when I got home, Shawn was the one that got it out of the box and went about reading all the directions and warnings and what have you. In fact, I didn't even have to read anything that came with it because he told me what each piece was and what I was supposed to do and whatnot. He even went and plugged it into the outlet in the bathroom for me. (He says it was because he wanted to see how fast the little tweezers moved). Of course, he stood there looking at me expectantly, until I finally said, "fine, I'll rip the hair out of my legs NOW so you can find out if it hurts."
"hey, better you than me...you've at least been prepping for this."
"yeah, I don't know if waxing my legs is necessarily 'prepping' for epilating. I think if anything epilating would be prepping for waxing...but of course, epilating requires you to make a couple of passes whereas waxing expressly forbids it..." :::BZZZZZZZZ::: "meh...I could see how some would say this hurts."
"So it hurts?"
"no, I wouldn't say that. I just said I COULD see why someone would say it hurts. For example: You would say it hurts."
"would not."
"Prove it."
But alas, I could not get him to rip the hair out of any part of his body. It's all for science, I swear!
Only I would buy myself a medieval torture device and think it is the best thing on earth.
Granted, when I got home, Shawn was the one that got it out of the box and went about reading all the directions and warnings and what have you. In fact, I didn't even have to read anything that came with it because he told me what each piece was and what I was supposed to do and whatnot. He even went and plugged it into the outlet in the bathroom for me. (He says it was because he wanted to see how fast the little tweezers moved). Of course, he stood there looking at me expectantly, until I finally said, "fine, I'll rip the hair out of my legs NOW so you can find out if it hurts."
"hey, better you than me...you've at least been prepping for this."
"yeah, I don't know if waxing my legs is necessarily 'prepping' for epilating. I think if anything epilating would be prepping for waxing...but of course, epilating requires you to make a couple of passes whereas waxing expressly forbids it..." :::BZZZZZZZZ::: "meh...I could see how some would say this hurts."
"So it hurts?"
"no, I wouldn't say that. I just said I COULD see why someone would say it hurts. For example: You would say it hurts."
"would not."
"Prove it."
But alas, I could not get him to rip the hair out of any part of his body. It's all for science, I swear!
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Note to self about running a cult.
Follow the rules. The rules being "make sure you don't break any laws that could be considered a felony in the state in which your cult resides."
Think about it...The Branch Davidians had issues because they were stockpiling weapons (some of which were illegal), and the Yearning of Zion Sect has issues because of sex with children (which is illegal--duh).
You know, you really got to be more under the radar...like the Amish...or the Mormons. see note
Note: These aren't cults... Anymore.
Also, I've just decided that polygamy is like a republican version of swinging.
Think about it...The Branch Davidians had issues because they were stockpiling weapons (some of which were illegal), and the Yearning of Zion Sect has issues because of sex with children (which is illegal--duh).
You know, you really got to be more under the radar...like the Amish...or the Mormons. see note
Note: These aren't cults... Anymore.
Also, I've just decided that polygamy is like a republican version of swinging.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Of Stray Dogs and Happy Hours
Thursday sucked.
I spent my field work time trying to convince a stray dog (who had obviously had puppies within the last few days) to come towards me instead of playing with traffic on the highway. That didn't work. So Colleen and I called our 311 system who transfered us to 911 instead of animal control (probably because I said the dog was a danger to the drivers on the highway). So we waited half an hour for the cop to show up. When she got there, she tried to get the dog to come towards her with the same success I did, so she called in Animal Control and then we waited...and waited...and waited...an hour later animal control FINALLY came out. Only to chase the dog from the grass median between the highway and the frontage road to the other side of the frontage road. At least she was on the 'safe' side of the road, and closer to her puppies, at least that's the theory. But it did suck that animal control wouldn't go after her since they did their job of getting her away from the highway.
I got back to work and thought "at least I get to leave to go to happy hour in 2 hours." Only to find out that no, I didn't get to go to happy hour because Shawn's coworkers think "close of business" is 630/7 pm as opposed to 5 pm. So I had an hour to kill before I could meet them. So, I sat at work and did more work. I even showed up 30 minutes late, and was still there before Shawn and his coworkers showed up. Of course, I was so pissed off by then that I just really wanted to eat some food and go home. We ultimately ended up staying at the bar until 10. And just so you know, the hard cider I had was cheaper than Shawn's root beer. Yeah, I don't know what crazy world we live in where the alcohol is cheaper than the soda...
At least Friday was better.
I spent my field work time trying to convince a stray dog (who had obviously had puppies within the last few days) to come towards me instead of playing with traffic on the highway. That didn't work. So Colleen and I called our 311 system who transfered us to 911 instead of animal control (probably because I said the dog was a danger to the drivers on the highway). So we waited half an hour for the cop to show up. When she got there, she tried to get the dog to come towards her with the same success I did, so she called in Animal Control and then we waited...and waited...and waited...an hour later animal control FINALLY came out. Only to chase the dog from the grass median between the highway and the frontage road to the other side of the frontage road. At least she was on the 'safe' side of the road, and closer to her puppies, at least that's the theory. But it did suck that animal control wouldn't go after her since they did their job of getting her away from the highway.
I got back to work and thought "at least I get to leave to go to happy hour in 2 hours." Only to find out that no, I didn't get to go to happy hour because Shawn's coworkers think "close of business" is 630/7 pm as opposed to 5 pm. So I had an hour to kill before I could meet them. So, I sat at work and did more work. I even showed up 30 minutes late, and was still there before Shawn and his coworkers showed up. Of course, I was so pissed off by then that I just really wanted to eat some food and go home. We ultimately ended up staying at the bar until 10. And just so you know, the hard cider I had was cheaper than Shawn's root beer. Yeah, I don't know what crazy world we live in where the alcohol is cheaper than the soda...
At least Friday was better.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Dealing with HTML
I hate coding.
If I liked coding, I'd have been a programmer. But coding sucks.
So, you can imagine my displeasure with having to play around with code to get this blog to look decent (notice I said 'decent' not 'good'--it just needs to be...even...balanced, perhaps?).
It makes me more pissed off when Google just doesn't want to display the ads on one portion of my blog.
Sigh
This is going to be a very long night.
Update: Okay, so I didn't get the stupid ad fixed...this is going to bug me to no end. I did, however, fix the entries below in which the Bar-B-Q and Camping photo albums both said "Thanksgiving Trip" under them. Something, of course, no one else noticed until I pointed it out just now...But lo! you can't tell any more because I already changed it. And you can see how this circle keeps going, and going, and going.
If I liked coding, I'd have been a programmer. But coding sucks.
So, you can imagine my displeasure with having to play around with code to get this blog to look decent (notice I said 'decent' not 'good'--it just needs to be...even...balanced, perhaps?).
It makes me more pissed off when Google just doesn't want to display the ads on one portion of my blog.
Sigh
This is going to be a very long night.
Update: Okay, so I didn't get the stupid ad fixed...this is going to bug me to no end. I did, however, fix the entries below in which the Bar-B-Q and Camping photo albums both said "Thanksgiving Trip" under them. Something, of course, no one else noticed until I pointed it out just now...But lo! you can't tell any more because I already changed it. And you can see how this circle keeps going, and going, and going.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
ZAP! POW! KA-BLAM!
I went to the zoning and planning commission meeting tonight. That was fun. I only stayed for an hour and a half. They weren't even half done. I'm so glad I work with nice people who tell me I really don't need to stay around for something in which they aren't going to even ask me anything. It's a huge thing really because if I leave, it means that they for sure have to stay through the parts that I would be staying for.
But then, I shouldn't feel too bad about it--it's billable time and now it means they get to take most of Friday off while I still get to work.
But then, I shouldn't feel too bad about it--it's billable time and now it means they get to take most of Friday off while I still get to work.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Guard Cat
It was determined last week that we don't need a dog.
This is because our cat gives us ample warning when something is amiss.
He growls. At strangers. Walking around our neighbor's house. At 11 pm.
Before everyone goes all crazy saying something was horribly wrong and we should have called the cops, let me assuage those fears by pointing out that our neighbor had called one of those 24-hour Repair Service places, and the guy walking around her house was supposed to be there.
But still, our cat growls, at strangers, walking around the neighbor's house, at 11 pm.
This is because our cat gives us ample warning when something is amiss.
He growls. At strangers. Walking around our neighbor's house. At 11 pm.
Before everyone goes all crazy saying something was horribly wrong and we should have called the cops, let me assuage those fears by pointing out that our neighbor had called one of those 24-hour Repair Service places, and the guy walking around her house was supposed to be there.
But still, our cat growls, at strangers, walking around the neighbor's house, at 11 pm.
Friday, April 11, 2008
TGIF
That's right, Thank God It's Friday!
Work has been slammed this week...it's to the point where it is seriously making me contemplate going to the grocery store to get some tasty adult beverages.
Well, that or some Ding-Dongs.
Work has been slammed this week...it's to the point where it is seriously making me contemplate going to the grocery store to get some tasty adult beverages.
Well, that or some Ding-Dongs.
Monday, April 07, 2008
Camping at Emma Long Park
I swear, convincing Ma-Belle to smile when you're taking a photo of her is damn near impossible.
 |
| Camping Trip |
Friday, April 04, 2008
So excited!
After a week of iffy weather, it appears we will have a very nice weekend. Just in time for Camping and Bar-B-Q-ing.
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