Aug

30

fungus amongus

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reDSC05004.jpg
This bad boy is hanging around outside our flat. It’s getting mighty big!

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Aug

30

Progress (done properly) can be slow

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I mentioned in a post last week that I’m trying to shed a stone for holiday at the end of next month. Well, it’s working, but doing it through proper food selection and portion control is a slow road. I’ve lost (as of this morning) around three pounds. That’s pretty good I think and I’m not suffering for it like some of the fad diets can put you through. One of my biggest hurdles is that I get great pleasure in cooking and food itself. Portion control is a bitch when you make something really nice for dinner that clearly has leftovers! Willpower, woman! Willpower!

So this morning I am instituting physical activity into the mix. I’m easing myself back into yoga. There was a time, less than a couple of years ago, when I could do more than an hour of tough yoga each day and still be ready for more — I want to get back to that potential but it’s going to take a couple of weeks to get there. Experts say that it takes a month to make an activity into a habit. Well, I’m going to try. I’ve done it before and loved it, so I shall do it again.

As for that wardrobe full of clothes that haven’t been worn in awhile: watch out. I’m comin’ to getcha.

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Aug

29

I’m not quite The Firestarter yet but give me time

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 2 Comments

We got the Reason 3.0 upgrade today! Wheeeehoo! Glorious noise is imminent. It’s going to take a lot of work to get familiar with the application and to create something worth listening to, but I’m excited to try my hand at pro-level software. I have dabbled in the loop-happy Garageband before but Reason doesn’t give you any baby steps — it is what The Prodigy uses (among countless others) and so I am in a completely different league of software now. This should a really great adventure!

But first, this future Firestarter needs to study some road theory* and get some writing done.

Off I go.
smooches~
jEN

*Nearly twenty years of driving and I’m a learner again! That’s what I get for waiting too long before getting a UK driver’s license. I’m actually glad I’m starting from scratch since it gives me a reason to study the traffic laws here with more attention than if I’d just gone for the license while my US one was still valid here.

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Aug

27

Thank goodness for packrats, the new header, and blinded by the light

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 3 Comments

Yesterday I mentioned installing Reason. Well, I tinkered, gave up, went back to it after Neil showed me how a drum thingy worked, I made some noise, added bits, and created something that sounds like slightly more skilled noise. This is encouraging. Even better is that the packrat tendencies in this flat can run high (though we’re both working on that character flaw) and it is thanks to this behaviour that we have an old issue of Digital Music Maker magazine devoted to Reason newbies. Rejoice! Glossy pictures and tutorials! My noise shall improve.

It is with a heavy heart that I retire the platypus header. Although it pleased me for a while it did look dated. Clean photography and strong, un-grungey fonts are more current and so I’ve whipped up a little something that reflects that more timeless trend. The platypus is not dead, and will revisit one day, but not as he’s been seen here thus far. For now, enjoy some bits of metal I photographed at Paddington Station.

As I write this, I just received an email from Pete regarding the new header etc.

very nice. like that a lot - you have a knack for this stuff, dontcha? :)
though, being pernickity, and don’t hate me for this, it’s not
completely compliant…handful of minor freakouts on the validator.

and my response:

That’s it. You’re off the Christmas card list… ;)
Naw, I know. It’s not my template and I’ve been entirely too lazy to do a proper one from scratch.
‘Tis in the to-do list though. Honest.

I’ll do that Wordpress template before I’m 65 and running a metal detector over the beach at Brighton. Honest. (Sort of gives me a generous timeslot… no excuses now.)
But first, I’m desperate to get my monitors and desk area away from the light coming in through the office windows. Stupid me, I arranged the office and didn’t consider that my monitors would be facing the windows. Ergonomics be damned, the arrangement was perfect in every other way. I’ve suffered long enough… Time to remedy my situation or only work after dark. (Clearly it’s more practical to move my desk.)

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Aug

26

movie music tattoo thanks

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Movie:
Saw the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley. I realise it is likely fast-food compared to the feast that it should be, but I enjoyed the movie anyway. I have never read Jane Austen but because of this movie I will.

Music:
I’ve installed Reason 2.5 on my machine and the version 3 upgrade has been purchased and is on the way. The application terrifies me with its myriad knobs, buttons, sliders, and virtual cables, but I’m going to learn how to use it. I wanna make some noise. Neil is a long-time user and already proficient with the program whereas I am about to skim the Quick-Start guide.

Tattoo:
Holy crap! My mom got her first tattoo! Whoo-hoo! I can’t wait to see it…

Thank you:
David gave me postal pleasure by giving me the gift of Moleskine! Totally surprised and delighted me this morning! Dear David even sprung for the Amazon gift wrapping service. I so love presents! This is my first genuine Moleskine notebook and I must say that its oiled cloth cover smells wonderful. I’m in heaven. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

Life is good.
smooches~
jEN

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Aug

25

a small group of photos from Scotland are up now

Filed Under photos, tout le fromage | 2 Comments

I’ve been a busy bunny post-processing a handful of images from our quick trip to Edinburgh. There are more to go up, but I’ve finally got some of them up on flickr now.
Enjoy.
reDSC04795.jpg

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Aug

25

strike at the coffer of the intolerant

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 2 Comments

I found this on another blog but find it’s worth reposting and spreading the word since it’s fantastic to get a little victory over bigots. Here’s a way to get free stuff (likely only if you live in America or Canada though feel free to try from elsewhere in the world) and take valuable funds away from anti-gay right-wingers who spread intolerance under the guise that they’re spreading the gospel.* Enjoy your free stuff and feel good about your Robin Hood-esque ways.
Find out all the scoop and what to do from Katie West.

*Don’t misunderstand this as an anti-religion post. It’s not. Religion works for millions of people all over the world. What never works is intolerance. Bigots are not ever doing ‘God’s work.’ Hate is always wrong, no matter what divine stamp of approval a group claims to have.

(And just to point out, this is not a debate forum. I’ll close comments if I have to. If you’ve read my FAQ then you know where I stand on religious issues. To each his own and harm no one. Use The Golden Rule. Get to know your innate human altruism. Human Rights means all humans. :) )

Thanks for keeping an open mind.
smooches~
jEN

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Aug

25

mucho retoucho and other stuff of marginal interest

Filed Under regular, tout le fromage | 5 Comments

I’ve been indulging in a bit of Californian Merlot this evening whilst studying for my driving theory test. I’m not drinking and driving— I’m drinking and thinking about driving… that is better, right?* Anyway— I’ve pretty much recovered from the long weekend (or short week, but who’s counting) in Edinburgh and have been slowly retouching some of the photos I took whilst there. The weather and lighting up there can wreak havoc on photos, so I’ve sequestered the best of what I took to Photoshop for some colour and sharpness correcting to better match Scotland as I remember seeing it. Those shots will be available on my .Mac and Flickr pages in the next day or so.

Since returning, I’ve posted a writing update on my writing blog and have been working on some wordstuff for new projects and contests. Code has been light, but the WriteRelief project is about to get some CSS attention. Yummy. Also in the works: some logo mojo for PodcastCon UK 2006. The logo is in beta or sumptin’ so that’s still to be refined before release.

One personal notes, I’ve reinvigorated a desire for Moleskine notebooks, which I’ve yet to personally own but have privately coveted for some time, and I’m trying to drop a stone before holiday. Yay. Blubber. That’s what happens when you’re happy. Argh. Moleskine: check my Amazon UK wishlist if you’re feeling frisky with your credit cards. (Wanted: one stalker with the urge to buy me presents…)

That’s it for tonight. I’m in a fermented grape haze and going to bed.

smooches~
jEN

*Oh back off. I don’t drink and drive. I’m studying for my UK license after being a driver for almost twenty years already. Jeesh.

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