Good morning All. Coffees on.

[Josie Beth]

I’m waiting for these temperatures to start dropping because it’s still too hot for me right now. I’m so ready for sweater weather. 

 

On another note, I finally got around to attempting to fix my old laptop but after a short ride to the repair guys shop after he picked it up, and a sorry attempt to try and sell me another laptop with a junk processor, it cost $25 to basically clean the thing out and drive around the block just to say “I don’t feel comfortable trying to fix this”. So I asked him to return it and ordered a new laptop. It’s a refurbished thinkpad t430 but with the ability to upgrade the processor to a brand new i7 and enough memory slots for 16 gigabytes, it is right up there with the newest laptops at most retail stores. And it’s way cheaper in price. I’m really huge on customizing my computer so this will be great. Everything is swappable. And it’s got a very robust chassis so I don’t have to worry about dropping it and destroying my laptop. Now I just have to go on the carrier website to schedule a delivery time or change the delivery location to make sure that it actually arrives on Thursday. I’m really not trying to play monkey in the middle with the carrier again because they just missed me. 

[lauraincolumbia]

Very exciting that you're getting a new laptop.  Is it with Windows? Or Linux?  I've become a true fan of Linux, especially Mint.  Its to easy use now.  You don't have to be a computer genius now.  Without the bloat of Windows, it's really fast, even on old laptops.

[tracy_j]

20 hours ago, TammyAnne said:

I'm feeling pretty good about things, completed 5 paintings and should have completed 6 drawings by the time I close the studio down here to head back to 80° Arkansas.

 

That's a useful idea Tammy Anne! It would be nice to follow your example, I have several oils I am trying to complete before it gets continuously cold and damp here. I find they don't dry quick enough for continued work in the winter. Acrylics are Ok though so I just have to contend with reduced light which still results in slower progresss ?

 

Tracy

[Josie Beth]

21 hours ago, lauraincolumbia said:

Very exciting that you're getting a new laptop.  Is it with Windows? Or Linux?  I've become a true fan of Linux, especially Mint.  Its to easy use now.  You don't have to be a computer genius now.  Without the bloat of Windows, it's really fast, even on old laptops.

Yes I'm a total Linux convert, but I’m a little more advanced than the average user. Granted there’s still some things that windows is useful for but I like using emulators or virtual machines. Sometimes it’s difficult to get programs working in those so if I use a windows installation it would be dual boot. Mint is also my favorite because it’s even easier for hardware compatibility and it’s less of a headache for using terminals than some other Linux varieties like lubuntu or xubuntu. I’m not a fan of actual Ubuntu because it tends to tax hardware for apparently no reason. The only huge issue I have with Linux is the requirement for an internet connection to install and the occasional quirks with updates. But in a fully functioning computer it’s usually not a big deal. There’s almost nothing I can’t do in Linux that I did before. I’ve been familiar with it since the early 2000s when it still hadn’t figured out what it was and you could still install packages willy nilly from other varieties, before they made booting Linux to desktop as easy as windows. For a while you had to use a floppy and punch in commands just to get it running in the gui. It’s really improved tons since. For my purpose now I’m using two favorite programs: Gimp and Blender. I’m going to really lean on them heavily for graphic design in the future. And I’m already getting offers to design merch for local groups. I’m trying to keep them settled down until I can actually produce something. 

[Josie Beth]

Oh wow, I forgot to add that the seller of this laptop only gave one delivery option (signature required) and I had to change the delivery address because I couldn’t skip work for delivery so fedex charged me another $6.25 for the change! Luckily amazon will give me a credit towards another purchase so I’m not as irritated. Hoping it arrives today instead of tomorrow. 

[SamanthaC]

Sounds like fun with the laptop Josie Beth. I'm sitting here with my coffee planning out out to put life into a desktop I build a few years ago (replacing graphics card at this point) in addition to thinking about waxing my chest and planning a spa trip for nails and facial LOL

It supposed to be hot again here in Raleigh, NC, put i plan on going along to a first time running meet after work - hope I don't chicken out. All part of my losing weigh /fitness/hrt/plan!

 

Hope everyone has an amazing day!

 

[TommieAnne]

6 hours ago, tracy_j said:

That's a useful idea Tammy Anne! It would be nice to follow your example, I have several oils I am trying to complete before it gets continuously cold and damp here. I find they don't dry quick enough for continued work in the winter. Acrylics are Ok though so I just have to contend with reduced light which still results in slower progresss ?

 

Tracy

My solution to that is to work on multiple paintings! It's always a lot more fun to start a painting anyway. I still have over a dozen canvasses in the works.

But lighting is a different issue. I used to use photography lights, but they're expensive and hot. Now, I use the light stands and fixtures but with daylight spectrum led bulbs. They don't heat up, can go for 10 hours or more without a hitch and with enough of them provide plenty of light.

Brrrr. Hard frost this morning here. 26° no less. Coffee is the best cure for this.

[TommieAnne]

1 hour ago, Josie Beth said:

Yes I'm a total Linux convert, but I’m a little more advanced than the average user. Granted there’s still some things that windows is useful for but I like using emulators or virtual machines. Sometimes it’s difficult to get programs working in those so if I use a windows installation it would be dual boot. Mint is also my favorite because it’s even easier for hardware compatibility and it’s less of a headache for using terminals than some other Linux varieties like lubuntu or xubuntu. I’m not a fan of actual Ubuntu because it tends to tax hardware for apparently no reason. The only huge issue I have with Linux is the requirement for an internet connection to install and the occasional quirks with updates. But in a fully functioning computer it’s usually not a big deal. There’s almost nothing I can’t do in Linux that I did before. I’ve been familiar with it since the early 2000s when it still hadn’t figured out what it was and you could still install packages willy nilly from other varieties, before they made booting Linux to desktop as easy as windows...

I haven't used Linux is many years. I used SCO Xenix for a while a long time ago.

Then my most recent laptop came with Windows 10. Hard to believe that I'm going to scrap Windows, but it's become unreasonable.

I still use a couple of old workstations in Win XP and Win 7. Both work fine. But like many people I have years of training and money invested in Photoshop, and while Gimp works alright, it doesn't have the work flow I'm used to.

But Mint is coming to my laptop soon enough. It's hard to believe that my laptop's hardware (i7 quad, 16gb ram, 1tb hd) can't cope with Win 10 and boots up slower than my Win XP workstation.

[SamanthaC]

Went running for the first time in years last night. Part of Fleet Feet running club here in Raleigh. I did much better than I expected and feeling very happy with myself. Heading to the mountains later this afternoon, weight loss plan is on track. I'm feeling so much better about life and REALLY looking forward to starting HRT in 2 week. Yea. Happy Friday everyone. 

[Debra Michelle]

Great week.New tool dealer,an independent came in on Tuesday.My husband and I do like him,great service out of him.Did have an independent tool dealer come in 3 years ago,no show and bad service.Came in one day,My husband and I told him to leave.

[TommieAnne]

Chilly 28° here.

Thank goodness for a hot mug of coffee!

[Debra Michelle]

My husband and I did go to an auction.He came back with nothing and I came home with a 1972 Dodge Strong Box van with 40,000 original miles on it

[Jani]

Wow that was a trip!  Admittedly I am a Mopar girl through and through and had never heard of "Strong Box".  I had to look that up.  I just knew the vans as "Tradesman" which was the emblem on the sides.   What are your plans for this? 

[Debra Michelle]

1 hour ago, Jani said:

Wow that was a trip!  Admittedly I am a Mopar girl through and through and had never heard of "Strong Box".  I had to look that up.  I just knew the vans as "Tradesman" which was the emblem on the sides.   What are your plans for this? 

Going to keep it original

[TommieAnne]

Wow. Hard frost last night! 24° F here this morning.

Blanket, fuzzy pajamas, coffee and wearing my fleece pullover.

Still chilly at the edges.

Wish you all a wonderful day!

[Charlize]

Weather here is cooling off.  No frost yet.  That's good for us as i can keep the goats on pasture for a bit longer.  It is time for a long nighty and now i've got to start inspecting and repairing the maple sap tubing.  It is a lot easier now than it will be soon.  Flushing out tubing with H2O is bad enough but cold makes it painful.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[JustineM]

Good morning everyone! Trying to get motivated to finish cleaning the house. Got my boys birthday party today, with a special visit from Batman! Pretty excited to see his face when the Dark Knight walks around the corner.

[NB Adult]

A Happy Birthday to the young fellow! Getting cooler here in the PNW, have a feeling we will see more of a winter than the previous half dozen years. Last year it snowed substantially in the greater Seattle area for the first time in a few years.

[Josie Beth]

Morning everyone! I’m being lazy but I’m supposed to be going to the market and finish running errands. I don’t know what I will actually accomplish. I worked on the new laptop yesterday and it’s doing ok now but I was rained out yesterday so I couldn’t really get to the library. I’m hoping that either today or tomorrow I can try to get further. Linux is installed with windows 10 but my old hard drive is the issue. It’s not compatible with the new laptop (which I knew going in) and I wanted to copy everything over to the new drive (which is possible) but I was reading today that I might have some issues if I did. So I’m at a standstill for now until I decide what the best option is. Also my old laptop drive has more capacity than the new one so I’m worried that I can’t fit everything unless I get a new drive for the new laptop. I need to really find out more information before doing anything. 

 

So with that on hold, I’m debating on whether or not to order some things on amazon or just wait there too. But first I have to get some errands done and double check my bank account. 

 

Pride is coming up next week and I hope that I can be ready for it. I’m not entirely sure everything will arrive on time though. I’m missing critical items. And I might not even have the day off.

 

Last Thursday I had to put another notice in to the agency because the boss lady decided to surprise us with a second truck which we needed time to prepare for. Since she doesn’t like communication and makes unreasonable demands too often, it was the last straw. I guess me leaving really threw her in a pinch because she came back to town 3 days early and got chewed out a second time by the former president of the company who is some bigwig still. She was slamming doors, freaking out. I’m sure he made her realize that she had to stop chasing people off. So anyway, back to waiting for another assignment but the blessing in disguise is I have a weekday off and I can go visit the clinic tomorrow! 

 

I’m also debating on whether or not to go to ulta or Sephora for foundation because I’m trying to make sure that I don’t spend my whole budget. But if I’m planning on going to pride I need to get it. 

 

I’m so glad I left that place because it was so mentally draining that I have not even had the energy to prepare for the 12th. I’m hoping that I can have a serious talk with my coordinator about it because I’m really not going to tolerate another poop matinee like that. 

 

So that brings us back to the laptop and why I have it. To design merch and ditch the bad bosses. And that’s why I need to finish getting that ready. Ugh.

 

Sometimes I just want to sip hot chocolate and stay under the blankets. 

[NB Adult]

52 minutes ago, Josie Beth said:

Sometimes I just want to sip hot chocolate and stay under the blankets. 

 LOL, I'm sure we can all relate Josie! My old MacBoo Pro died, I got a new and much better model, alas there is no slot or drive to insert disc's with saved information and photos....Grrrrr!

[tracy_j]

17 hours ago, NB Adult said:

 LOL, I'm sure we can all relate Josie! My old MacBoo Pro died, I got a new and much better model, alas there is no slot or drive to insert disc's with saved information and photos....Grrrrr!

 

You could always get an external plugin drive. I must admit that now USB sticks have so much memory I tend to use them instead. I use a very cheap small laptop with my entire electronic library (many GBytes) on a stick for reference everywhere I need.

 

It was grey outside and just started to rain now so perhaps I will put off going out until tomorrow. I did do the weekly shop yesterday, also calling at a toolshop to get a new vice. It did put me on edge for a moment or two as the item I wanted was not in their current selection catalogue but I was sure they had one as I had checked online around the various shops a day or two earlier, so I needed to persue it with the assistant. Not being a mechanical engineer as such I perhaps did sound a bit vague / woman in distress LOL. I need not have worried though. I am sure I was clocked as I have never been called 'miss' so many times and complimented on my clothes so much in such a short space of time. Such a nice place to shop ?

 

Tracy

[Josie Beth]

It’s not just storage that’s the issue, it’s installed programs and the fact that everything might not fit into the new drive partition. So that’s one problem. The other one is that I would basically be trying to write over a newer version of Linux mint and then it would probably mess up the OS, so that’s going to mean trying to figure out what version I actually had on the old drive and then installing the same one into my new drive so I don’t have issues with the OS. I can always upgrade to the new version after the copying is done. But there’s also a way to make a clone of the drive if there’s enough room in the new drive. It’s a tricky process. I have a drive enclosure that I will eventually keep the old drive in for external storage but I have to get everything transferred first. So I’m probably going to need a new drive to copy everything from the new laptop to a larger drive. 

 

Today I have to go back to the place where I just quit and get my sweatshirt because I left it there on Friday. Normally I wouldn’t but both sets of earbuds were in the pockets and that’s about $40 of electronic devices. I’m already going to lose money because of a delay in new assignment. 

[TommieAnne]

I'm so glad to not be having computer issues at the moment. I don't envy you, JosieBeth.

I do have coffee. My blanket. My fleece top. My tablet. Fierce wind blowing outside. I'm afraid all our fall colors will be bunched up in a pile beside the house!

Latest drawing is taking longer than expected - it's just more complicated than most and taking me much longer, hope to complete it today, then should have time for one more before shutting the studio down and returning to the Ozarks.

Hugs to all!

[KymmieL]

Morning all. I hope everyone had a great weekend. I for one had a fantastic one. We went to Lincoln to see my oldest and his family. It was great seeing all four of them. but seeing the Grandkids was the best part. In the 10 weeks since we saw them last they have grown so much. My granddaughter is 13 months walking everywhere. At first she didn't know how to react to us. but eventually got better. My grandson is such a big boy. We hated to leave. Wish we lived closer.

 

Kymmie

[Jani]

My MacBook has been terribly slow of late.  Email loads slowly, files take their sweet time to open.   I keep the cookies and history cleared so Safari will be a little faster, despite having to re-login alot.  I need to take it in to have it cleaned up.  I used to know how to all that with Windows machines but not so with Mac's.