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April 30, 2008
Spotted Roadside
As I headed over to the school to pick Little Dude up this afternoon, I saw a gathering over at the sign for Ner Tamid Synagogue. I figured there was some sort of dedication happening or something, but really I was focused on getting to school.
Once I had LD in the car, we headed back down the road and saw several news trucks and the reason for the gathering: graffiti. Apparently it's been there since Saturday night/Sunday morning. I've driven past this sign how many times since then? I hadn't noticed.
But since my attention had been directed to it, there was no mistaking what was scrawled on the sign. 14/88 was there amongst the rest of the scrawlings. This isn't all that uncommon, unfortunately, in this area. We've had Aryan groups here for 20+ years, thanks to the Metzger clan up in Fallbrook. It seemed like things had settled down a bit, but obviously whatever these groups were doing was much subtler over the last few years rather than not occurring at all.
This is being considered a hate crime and there is a reward offered for information leading to an arrest.
As LD said in his very concerned voice, "there's just no sense in any of this. There's no reason to act hateful toward others just because they believe in a different God. I wish we could go scrub that sign clean."
Me too, buddy.
I think what bothers me most is how little progress we've made when it comes to learning to live with each other and our differences. You know what? We're all different, yet we're all the same. Deep down, we're made of the same proteins and other amino acids. We all bleed the same color. When we die, we all end up pretty much in the same place -- in the ground, in the water, or in the air (soon to settle on ground or in water). It just doesn't make sense. And to prove how little sense this makes, check out the comment (currently only one comment is there, click "more" below to read the comment just in case it disappears) on the local NBC site linked above. Hate just breeds more hate, people. There's nothing to be gained from this.
Currently the lone comment on the vandalism article:
Norm Leven San Diego, CA Reply #1 2 hrs ago It was probably a Rabbi trying to drum up some extra money. This happens all the time. We live in a slave world controlled by Zionists that have made merely thinking against them a specific crime they dub 'hate.' Wake up America, the blood of Palestine is on your hands.
I don't think so. Hateful, hateful, hateful. There's no gain from any of this. Norm, get real, dude. This stuff's gonna eat you up inside and make you sick. And for those who vandalized the sign in the first place, grow up and get a life.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:23 PM | Comments (4)
Mikey's Post-Op Update
Thank you all again for all of your well wishes!! Your prayers and good juju have been working!!Mike had a really good day today! He had his surgery on his arm and it went great. He also had his head and neck CT today and the preliminary (reading) looks great. The CT results still need to be looked over by a radiologist before the results are official but again they look good. So the plan for tomorrow is to start to wean him off of the ventilator and the sedation meds. Yah!!! They plan to try to get him to start breathing on his own and get back to consciousness; they are hoping he will be able to be awake tomorrow but they plan to let him make the pace. So I am really hopeful he will be home sometime next week! YAHHHHH!!!!
Anyways, thank you all so very much for helping our little family yet again. We truly are blessed to have all of you in our lives!!
I will update you all as soon as I have something new.
Tomorrow, Little Dude and I are heading down to the hospital. We'll help keep Mini Mikey company and help distract her. She's having a rough go of it this time around. Can you blame her? No kid should ever have to see his or her parents in a coma, let alone twice. Forget that this one is medically induced. The fact that Mini Mikey has held up so well until now is a miracle. Same with Mrs. Mikey. She is undoubtedly the strongest woman I know. But this has to be weighing on her. I can't imagine.
Keep up the kind thoughts, the prayers...all of it.
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:46 PM | Comments (0)
From Mrs. Mikey
First, I would like to say thank you to everyone for all of your support, prayers, and good juju! We couldn’t do this with out your support and love.Mike is still stable yet listed as critical. He was not able to have the surgery on his arm today. They have it scheduled for tomorrow at 2pm. They will also be doing another head CT tomorrow because he is still very disoriented and they are concerned that he may have a head injury. I was informed today that they found he has a fractured sternum; probably caused by the seatbelt, nothing serious though. Mike’s BP is still a major concern; they are having trouble keeping it in a normal range. At this time there is no way of knowing how long he will be there. I was told it could be any where from 1 week to several weeks it all depends on Mikey’s progress.
I didn't go down to the hospital yesterday. Mrs. Mikey had other friends with her and keeping visitors to a minimum is actually more helpful, I think. Less overwhelming. Anyhow, we did talk on her way to the hospital in the morning and she was rather optimistic. When I called later on in the day, her phone had died (all those calls asking about Mikey, no doubt). I wasn't worried. I knew I'd get an update later on.
Sounds like things are moving along. That's good. It's not major progress, but that's fine. Slow and steady wins the race, right? Right.
Keep on praying, folks.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:07 AM | Comments (1)
April 28, 2008
Things Could Be Worse
Mikey's accident made the news. What drama! His wife and I teased him about this while we stood by his bed and tried to carry on one-sided conversations with him. Or was it a three-way convo with only two active participants? Hard to tell.
Anyway, here's the latest:
His arm is severely broken. They were talking about doing surgery tonight, but it won't happen until tomorrow.
He's heavily sedated because he's super combative otherwise. He's on a vent again, but without the extra tubes and machines that they had for his head last time, it doesn't looks quite so bad. Mikey was a little agitated off and on while Mrs. Mikey and I were in with him. He calmed down quickly though. Seems like anytime housekeeping was causing any sort of noise with trash, he'd get all riled up. And when respiratory came in, he'd get a bit restless.
Blood pressure is looking good for now. The fluid around the heart and in the lungs is, well, they don't know what that's from. It could be there because he had a shorter dialysis session today or from the impact. Nobody knows.
His left shoulder is a bit swollen from the shoulder belt, but isn't too bad.
They'll be doing more films and such tomorrow, I'm sure, checking to see if his back and head still look good. You never know with these things.
While Amy and I were outside talking and waiting to get in to see him, I thought I recognized someone across the parking lot. I walked a bit closer, then a little closer, and finally I realized I had it right -- two local musicians (who've been very good to me and who have brought good luck my way in the past plus they're proudly using one of MY PHOTOS on their site at this very moment) were smack dab in front of me! It was a surreal moment to be sure, but I took this as a very good sign. If Nate and Ben could magically appear in the parking lot of the hospital, Mikey would HAVE to be okay.
Things aren't nearly as bad as they were last time, but Mikey has a long way to go. Say a prayer, think good thoughts, do whatever you have to in order for Mikey to get well.
I'll try to keep everyone updated as best I can.
Oh, and do me a favor and add a prayer for our friend Gracie who is having part one of her sinus surgery in the morning.
Gotta keep everyone healthy from now on, right?
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:38 PM | Comments (3)
Mikey Hospitalized
Mad Mikey was in a horrible car accident today and is currently in the hospital.
He's responsive to pain, which is good, but otherwise not so much. There's swelling around the heart and lungs, and who knows what else.
I'm on my way down right now. I'll have more details when I return.
Say a prayer for our buddy, please.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:43 PM | Comments (1)
April 27, 2008
Leon Redbone
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:07 PM | Comments (0)
Christos Anesti!
Thanato thanaton patisas,
Kai tis en tis mnimasi
Zo-in charisamenos!
Trampling down death by death,
And upon those in the tombs
Bestowing life!)
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:50 AM | Comments (1)
I May Be Fat, But I'm No Dummy
Beryl is a lot like many women, a little extra weight, a good head on her shoulders she's lost her head to some man, and she's reasonably priced ($200 + a 20% discount if ordered before May 25 and if you know the secret handshake). Measurements are: 41/33/44.
No, I haven't gone crazy. Well, not when it comes to this. Mannequin Madness is having a sale and I was surprised to find a few plus size mannequins in the mix. Beryl is just the first.
Now, let's meet Emme, shall we?
Poor girl, she has a bum rod. At least that's what her description says: "This plus sized mannequin is sexy and voluptuous so we named her after the first (and only) real-life Supermodel that was a plus size - Emme. Emme's measurements are 40.5/34.5/45. She comes on a glass base with a bum rod." Emme sells for $200 plus that discount mentioned above.
Keep those measurements in mind, will you, as we call our last model to the stage. Clara, welcome to Fantasy Island! (Smiles, everyone, smiles! or I take de plane away)
Clara is approximately a size 18/20 and her measurements are 37/32/43. Not bad at all, right? So why does she look so very different from the other two? It's not just that she has a head. Nor is it that she's "bigger" -- she's not. It's that little pooch of a tummy and her big hips that make her uniquely adorable to me. The description for her reads: "Sexy is not limited to a dress size, and this plus size mannequin holds her own among the petite mannequins in our warehouse. She features a unique bob hairstyle and shoes that are molded on her feet. She comes with a metal stand that goes in her foot. Clara (also known as Birdie) is from the 'Shapes' collection created by illustrator Reuben Toledo for Ralph Pucci." She's going for $240 + the discount.
Go back and read the beginning of that quote for Clara again. "Sexy is not limited to a dress size." How wonderfully true that is! And if you've been paying attention at all, the new Jenny Craig commercials have been saying the same thing. Yeah, a weight loss program saying it's not all about "size". But if you listen carefully, you'll hear Valerie Bertinelli and Queen Latifa both saying things along the lines of "I'm a size healthy". There's no number attached to their size. And that's refreshing.
Maybe I've been listening to Stacy and Clinton from What Not To Wear for too long, or maybe it's because they're saying what I've been saying for a long time. I don't know. And it doesn't really matter. Life isn't all about the number on the tag on your clothing. It's about how you feel in your clothes. Or out of them. It's your headspace that determines who you are and how you feel about yourself.
As "invisible" as larger sized women are in the fashion world, it's so damn nice to see us represented at Mannequin Madness, on TV, and everywhere. We want to look good just like those size 0 gals. We just need a little more fabric and someone who knows how to make us look like something more than tent wearin' broads.
Yeah, there's a story behind this. I'll have to tell you about it sometime.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:14 AM | Comments (2)
April 25, 2008
Email Time Again
From the email inbox comes this query (edited only for length and totally irrelevant convo):
Goddess of the back boo-boo,How you doin? I'm glad your getting off the pills this week. Does that mean your back to normal? Ha ha no pun intended.
Okay so I'm really writing to find out whatever happened to the matching funds you were getting for the camera? I know you already got it but what are you doing with the extra money?
Well, I'm glad you asked. Here's the dealio -- since all of you were so nice to me, I did get my camera ahead of schedule. I had no idea there were so many folks who believed in me. Big huge thanks to all who made this possible! As for the money that would have been "matching funds", I asked for it to be placed in a savings bond for Little Dude.
Now, it might seem a little crazy not to have taken the cash and invested in more gear (lenses, backup batteries, Photoshop CS3, etc), but after a lot of soul searching, I considered all that LD has had to do without because of my lack of regular income. Normally, I'd be socking away money for college for him, but I haven't had that option the last three years. It made more sense to me to have that money set aside for him while I try to build my portfolio and skill set and get back on my feet.
For now, I do have two people from whom I can borrow lenses, although I don't want to borrow gear for long. I can also transfer files to a friend's computer and work on images there if need be. I do have that option and it makes sense to work with what I have and gradually improve my circumstances this way. And I feel much better knowing there will always be that money for LD in the future no matter what happens with me.
No, I do not have physically have the savings bond. I've put that in the capable hands of my mom. She's been holding all his bonds so there's no temptation to cash them in when times get tough. That's what we've done for the last few years and it works. I don't even know how much has accumulated over time and I'm glad for that. Better to have too much than not enough, right?
The one thing I've come to terms with over the last couple years is that I can't do as much for LD as I'd like. When the opportunity arises, I like to think I've made good decisions. Like this time. I hope you all understand and support this decision. It's what I thought was best.
Posted by Da Goddess at 09:02 AM | Comments (5)
April 24, 2008
Beta Testing
One of the funny little things I did this past year was to volunteer as a beta tester for a company that produces computer games. I don't test every game, but I do try to tackle as many as possible.
This time around: a hidden object game based on a James Patterson book!
Woo hoo!
Aside from a few typos and a need for better explanations of certain types of clues, the game looks to be ready for release. The colors were great, the details were amazing, and the story was pretty darn good.
Forgoing stale TV fare, I put my brain to work today and found a good way to keep my mind off the pain. It's not much, but it's still progress in the right direction!
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:49 PM | Comments (2)
April 23, 2008
Boom De Yada
Dear Discovery Channel, er, Network,
Thank you for your great new commercial. You know, the one featuring Bear Grylls, Mike Rowe, Jamie and Adam, an egyptianologist, and a cast of many others singing the praises of our amazing world. It's no "Ahh, the Atmosphere", but it's pretty damn cool.
Imagine my surprise and delight to find a second, longer version on YouTube. (See both below*)
Discovery, A&E, and Bravo have saved my sanity, such as it is, during my confinement. Tonight's episode of Mythbusters hit close to home. They did a segment on cabin fever. Yes, that's the sound of bells ringing for them knowing exactly what I've been going through cooped up here.
Last night, of course, was Deadliest Catch. Sigh. I love the raw energy of the show. It's the real man vs. wild (no offense, Bear) aspect that keeps me on the edge of my seat and wishing each episode had an extra hour or two every week. The captains, the crews, the weather, and even the crab fascinate me. Crab fishing is brutally hard, requires a fiercely independent spirit (and some would say a death wish), and again, there's that epic battle between the adventurous men and often unruly Mother Nature. It's the best kind of reality television -- little artifice, some selective editing, and yet, it's the real lives of real men and even some women. Take that, Big Brother.
I should point out that as big a fan as I am of Captains Sig Hansen, Johnathan Hillstrand, Phil Harris, and all the rest (though in no way of less importance -- it's the meds, guys, my apologies), you will not find me on message boards discussing them, their lives, writing fan fiction, or scheming of ways to someday meet them. I leave that to the rest of their very weird, rabid fanbase. Although, I do admit that the new book from the Hillstrands looks pretty damn interesting. Anyhow, should I ever decide I really did want to meet any of them, I'd do it for portrait sessions and a subsequent book of essays on the men and their lives, natch.
After countless hours spent medicated and bored, I looked forward to evening TV. I've already seen every episode of JAG, Nash Bridges, Golden Girls, and The Nanny. The only upside to daytime is catching up on Matlock. I never watched it while it was in first run, so it's new to me now. Give me prime time TV anytime and I'm much happier.
I'm tapering off my Flexeril, Vicodin, and Tylenol with high hopes of being med-free by the weekend. I have yet to see my darling son since before he left on his trip. I'm taking baby steps forward, folks.
For now, I must return to Discover the world from my living room sofa. (Thanks to the roomie, it's actually more easily visible with an early birthday gift.)
Signed,
Your Semi-Medicated Cabin Fever Goddess
* Take your pick (I love them both)
Shorter version (the one with which I've become most familiar):
Longer version:
My favorite Discovery.com commercial ever:
Don't miss out on Fellow Partially Eaten Fish and Hello Mosquito
Posted by Da Goddess at 10:35 PM | Comments (2)
April 18, 2008
Sick Leave
Not feeling so great. Sorry for lack of updates. My back hurts like a mofo and I have limited patience with trying to compose actual words right now.
I shall return.
Promise.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:49 AM | Comments (6)
April 12, 2008
Pleasant Surprise
The last couple of days have been hazy at best. Pain has forced me into a rather inert state, as well as to bow out of a meeting for Soldiers' Angels and a couple of concerts. I'd been looking forward to it all, but this is just the way it goes sometimes.
What I didn't expect, though, was a surprise concert practically on my front porch.
Turns out my neighbors are part of a mariachi band and they'd gone around to all the apartments asking if it was okay if they rehearsed this evening. The roommate answered the door and said it was cool with him. He relayed a garbled message to me about what was happening, but I was too sleepy to understand at the time.
When the music started, I wasn't quite sure if what I was hearing was just a loud stereo or what. Much to my delight, it was live. The horns and guitars are echoing pleasantly down our little pathway between buildings. Sweet notes hang in the air, quickly followed by more and then more. The guitar provides a gentle rhythmic beat that plays softly under the melodic voices that carry a sense warm comfort.
Even as I grimaced with pain, I hobbled to the doorway and watched one of the trumpet players -- in full traje de charro -- stroll from the stairway from the parking lot to my neighbor's door. Part of me wanted to pick up the camera and capture it all, but my back said otherwise. Instead, I've curled up in a slightly more comfortable position on the couch and let the music wash over me.
What's really kind of surreal about the whole thing is that earlier today I'd watched The Milagro Beanfield War and felt a keen yearning of sorts for mariachi bands, dancers swaying, and gold and pink sunsets. Like magic, part of it came to life right in front of me.
I may not be where I planned to be tonight, but I've been given a pleasant surprise that's helped to dull the hard, rough edges of my pain into something a little more bearable.
Music does wonders for the soul...and the body.
Posted by Da Goddess at 07:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2008
Little Dude at Arlington
From the photographic files of Little Dude's teacher, here are the latest from the big trip to Arlington National Cemetery.
Someone was looking very handsome. LD worried about what to wear until he found out he could be in his scout uniform. Several of the boys brought theirs and they took a group photo all decked out.
Little Dude gave a speech in honor of Jared Landaker. Just a week ago, Jared's parents spent the day with the kids, talking about the kind of man Jared was. LD took extra care in preparing this speech because he feels such a connection to the Landakers. (Yes, there's a lingering post to be finished -- with photos -- from last week.)
Even though Jared's not buried at Arlington, there is a special place set aside for those who have died in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to this wreath and the one placed at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the class placed one in honor of the cousin of one young lady.
Little Dude will be home late tonight and I likely won't see him until Tuesday. Feh. I don't know if I can wait. I want to hear all the stories and see all the photos from the trip.
I'm so grateful to LD's teacher for the nightly emails and photo uploads. It was nice to see what was going on even though I couldn't be there. All that's left is tracking down the folks with the video!
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:51 AM | Comments (5)
April 10, 2008
Flickr Schmickr
Flickr's response to those of us against video on the site is, to say the least, unimpressive, if not more than a little flip.
Here's what they said in the forums (and despite Heather being one of the founders, she seems to not understand using spellcheck or perhaps doesn't care that she comes across poorly) -- Round One:
heather says:Marie Antoinette I am not. I think we've responded to constructive critcism throughout and we're definitely pow wowing here back at Flickr HQ. That said, these forums topics are like surfing a wild tsunami and feedback that we do provide can easily be lost.
I've been with the team through a variety of feature launches that have brought change to the community. Through it all, we've been hear listening to feedback, making change where necessary to make Flickr better. We want to hear your feedback and I think that for the most part, we take all comers.
Personally, the emerging side of feedback that's become almost abusive via protest images in comments leaves me mostly speachless (and I'm a talker). But we understand that it's important for people to have their say. We haven't implemented any sort of "clean up" tool for this, leaving it up to individuals to determine what they are comfortable with within their own photostream.
I'm not sure what to say to those who don't want peanut butter in their chocolate (so to speak). Video is now part of the Flickr DNA and while we will definitely be addressing some of the great feedback for ways that the implementation can be massaged towards better things, we're not pulling up stakes and rolling back. When we're ready, we'll share those changes with you hear (if you've seen any of Dunstan and I tripping overourselves regarding video in Explore, you'll appreciate that we want to have our ducks in a row).
We have a wonderfully passionate community and whether your imagery moves or stays still appears to be divisive. I mentioned earlier in this thread that I was very much against it when I heard that it was on the road map. If I had my way, I'd chuck all things digitial (even your beautiful DSLR) and dial the flickrverse back to all things film. That's not going to happen. I have to respect that there will be change and that the flickrverse is really a multiverse of people all who have different ideas of how they want to share the world around them.
Just as there are more megapixels now than there even a few years ago, I think that how we capture both still and moving is going to change dramatically over the next few years. Including video within Flickr will enable those who choose to....
I think I've gone off on a tangent, but as I began this post with Marie Anne I am not, I want to finish that we're about being inclusive. While there are a few rough edges that need to be polished out, I think that in the long run, video on Flickr is a wondeful complement what's been built so far.
People weren't happy with that, so the comments continued, which led to Round Two:
heather says:If you missed it, please read what I wrote last night.
Here’s our response to what we see as frequent feedback here in the forum (I’ve paraphrased the feedback in some instances):
“I don’t want video on Flickr.”
We’re sorry, but video is here to stay. We’d love for everyone to give it a shot. If it’s not to your taste, then you should change the default on autoplay. You can distinguish between video and photos by the white arrow bottom left.“I think video should have it’s own separate site.”
Just as with our international launch last year and building language on top of our global community, we wanted to avoid siloing what is after all, just another format.“…did none of the staff see this coming?”
Given our experience with the outrage in moving sets from the left-hand side of the page to the right a few years ago (and various adventures since then), we’re very familiar with the passionate response of our members. We can’t be afraid of that. We need to continue to improve, release new features and iterate.Feedback and iteration are very much part of our process. We very much value the feedback that we receive after features launch. It gives us a chance to take something good and give it that extra polish.
“I should be able to filter video out of my view of Flickr.”
There needs to be a balance between the “voice” of the creator and visitors. While it’s one thing to exclude certain content while searching, it’s quite another thing to presumptively curate what a member is choosing to share in their photostrem.“I haven’t uploaded any video, why do you say “view [member name]’s photos and videos”
Yup. This is stupid. We’re working on fixing this.“My group pool is photos only, why does the language reference video?”
Yup. This is stupid. We’re working on fixing this.“it should not default to auto-play….”
“videos shouldn’t begin to pre-load until I press play”
“video shouldn’t be in explore….”
“I shouldn’t have to use extended search to filter out video”These are things that we’re pow-wowing about here at Flickr HQ.
And my favourite:
“…We're like the toilet paper she wipes her a-s with!”
I promise you that I don't think of you all as soft, fluffy rolls of triple ply toilet paper. Kittens maybe.... (some with sharp, pointy claws....).[edit : common --> frequent]
Without addressing some of our concerns directly, Heather's deftly danced around and around, picking and choosing her non-battles. When folks brought up specific existing problems, they were ignored. We've all been ignored. Easier to circumvent the issues with blah blah blah than actual solutions. And, "oh, by the way, we added thusandsuch." That's not a solution. That wasn't even part of the question. Maybe if they'd sent someone other than Heather and her flippant responses, that would have placated some of us. But no.
TopTechWriter.US probably said it best:
flickr can't be bothered to fix comment notification so it doesn't repeatedly blurt out that I've got NEW COMMENTS.And flickr won't give us options to format the screen background so I can try a nice black or charcoal gray background with understated caption colors that don't scream for attention. Anything but the minimalist Web 2.0 nightmare that is the current color scheme.
But flickr will give us 90-seconds of video that apparently very few people want (and of those who want their minute-and-a-half of fame, far fewer know what to do with it).
But I'm not upset--and y'know why?
Because flickr LOVES ME!! It says so right on the logo.
And you always hurt the one's you love
Yeah, they love us. Sure. I believe it. And I believe their check's in the mail, too. Does Flickr really care what its users want? If so, why haven't they fixed known bugs? Why wasn't there more notice about this new "feature"? Or at least a general polling of paid users? Give us the chance to weigh in and determine what's most important in the way the site functions. We're the ones who use it, why not find out what we really want? The answer lies in the push to compete with other sites and to make more money, obviously. It's not about the paying customer.
Anyhow... My response to all of this was:
Look, not all of my shots are works of art, but I do have clients who use my site to look through all the photos I've taken to determine what will work best for their needs. They've always marveled at the way Flickr was set up because it was obviously all about photography. Not so much anymore.My personal (photography) site is limited as far as storage and the ability to display my work for clients. That's why I chose Flickr.
What this really boils down to -- for me -- is that the people who visit me occasionally wander about, getting ideas from other photographers about something they'd like to have me try, to find inspiration, and I've always thought that's a good thing. But now they're going to get video as well. These are people who eschew myspace and facebook because they don't want to be bombarded by crap. I value their business and their support, but I'm afraid they're going to run far far away when they can't get past video, no matter what the size.
I just renewed my subscription for TWO years. I had to work to do it because the paypal feature went missing, but fine, fine. Whatever. I did it. Now I feel stuck in a very abusive relationship with someone who doesn't give a rat's posterior what will work best for me, for us. I can't afford to leave at this point, not unless someone's willing to spring for me to make the move.
The blasé attitude and the blatant disregard for what many PAID users are saying is bad business, if you ask me. If I treated my clients like this (even my freebies), I'd be out of business.
Additionally, I pay in advance for Flickr's services. Instead of supporting and improving the available and much-needed functions of the site, they throw bells and whistles and shiny things at our feet, hoping to distract us from the poor quality of their customer service relations.
That's it in a nutshell, I think. They're trying to distract us from the lack of service and/or their lack of concern over the quality of their service.
A lot of folks have said Flickr's video option will lead to a Myspace type of atmosphere. And one has to wonder if that's where all this is heading. After all, we're told "more surprises to come!" If I wanted moving photo montages, I could go to Myspace or webshots or photobucket. Flickr was always safe from that sort of thing. Good, bad, or ugly, it was about photography and the photographer. No matter how it was used, it was about the images and that's what people saw. Once they started allowing people to host photos that didn't belong to them (original terms of service forbid this), the slippery slope was drenched.
Perhaps if Flickr had fixed many of the existing problems and shown us some proof of their love, we'd be actually get behind new features. It would definitely be better than their current approach. Instead, we've been summarily dismissed.
It may seem silly to have my panties in a bunch over this, but as a paying customer, I want to feel valued for more than just the money I pay them. I want my opinion to matter. I want my voice to be heard. Flickr's throwing all that out the window. If customers no longer matter, they'll lose all credibility and they'll lose business. It's really that simple.
Posted by Da Goddess at 11:28 PM | Comments (0)
On His Way
Little Dude is on his way to Arlington right about now. I hope he's not nervous about his duties today or about his speech.
Wishing him luck and missing him terribly.
Posted by Da Goddess at 05:00 AM | Comments (0)
April 09, 2008
No Way, Flickse
This just ain't what flickr needs.
Look, there are already issues with load times of photos, photos going missing, and a million other bugs. Do we really need videos, even short videos, adding to the strain on the system? I think not.
Maybe I'm just bitter and pissy right now, but no, not so much upon second thought. Flickr is about PHOTOGRAPHY. We don't need video there.
Consider this a big raspberry pointed in Flickr's direction.
And to further illustrate what can go wrong, I got this message when trying to post this (because I'm very "advance flickr" and special and can post a photo directly to my blogs, not to mention totally full of crap sometimes):
Your blog posting failed. If your configuration details have changed, update them now. Sometimes web services can be a bit flaky - click the button below to try again.
Flickr? This is the kettle calling. You're black.
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:30 PM | Comments (4)
Hurdle #1
Just got a letter from my attorney. As expected, the insurance company and their attorney are balking at the surgeon's diagnosis. It doesn't matter that THEY chose him for me, they're disagreeing because that's what they do.
I knew this would happen. I fully anticipated this and yet I still feel...what? Betrayed? Is that what it is? I guess maybe that's the best word for it. The California work comp laws are so screwed up right now, it's scary. It's scary to know they're playing me like I'm some puppet on a string, making me dance for their amusement. It's a painful dance. I was fine before I got hurt working with a patient and now I'm not. I just want what I've wanted since the moment I got injured: I want to feel better and I want to go back to living my independent little life. But nooooooooo. That's not how all this works.
So, yeah, even though I expected this, it doesn't stop the tears from flowing. I'm frustrated, in serious pain, and tired. Really damn tired. I'm tired of the pain. I'm tired of the pills. I'm tired of not being able to sleep for more than an hour or two at a time. I'm tired of needing help all the fucking time. Tired of having to fill out more forms asking for money I shouldn't have to ask for (this time for state disability...long termm which requires the doctor to fill out the form, too. Another appointment. Oh joy). Tired of hearing "no" over and over again.
I'm going back to bed, pulling the covers up over my head, pretending I'm fine. After that twenty seconds is over, I'm going to attempt a damn nap.
Updated 3 hours later: I freakin' hate dealing with the attorneys' office sometimes. "Don't you have family who can help you pay for a doctor's appointment to get your disability form filled out?" No, I don't. I don't have family who can help out financially. I haven't for the entire time. How many times do I have to answer the same question? Grr. Just. grr.
/whinge
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:27 PM | Comments (7)
Hot Footin'
First my hip started to feel warm and I thought maybe I'd sat on something hot. Nope, that wasn't it.
Then my foot got super warm and I had to look down to see what was going on. Nothing there. Weirdness.
And then it dawned on me. Earth to Goddess...it's the nerves being tweaked. D'oh! Sometimes my blonde roots run deeper than I think.
Felt pretty crappy most of yesterday afternoon. I'd started off so well, too. As soon as I began to move around, it was obvious I hadn't knocked out the pain like I'd hoped. Still, I had a quick shoot to help with very close to home. I hobbled out to the car, got over to the park, played assistant, took a couple photos, and then dropped my friend off at her house. While I was there, we were digging through photos and talking shop, of course. All of a sudden, I was overwhelmed by intense nausea. WTF? I had nothing to purge myself of, so emesis wasn't forthcoming. It lasted about 10 minutes and then was gone. I've had a bit of a headache and the hot foot thing to keep me company though.
Watching Craig Ferguson tonight, er...last night...and he has a comic on named Clinton Jackson. Guy has a CD called Do You See The Ducks Now? I thought of Mikey, natch.
Got my third update from Little Dude's teacher. Lots of photos and lots of happy little faces to be seen. By all accounts, it sounds like everyone's enjoying the trip. The group heads off to the FBI Academy tomorrow (fine! TODAY). That'll be lots of fun. The day after (4-10) is Arlington and the wreath. LD and I worked on his speech last week and it was good. Really good.
Okay, back to my fascination for the night: Highland cows. Wish I could claim ownership of the photo at the end of that link, but alas and alack, I cannot. Gorgeous creatures, aren't they? Run a search on flickr for Highland Cows and enjoy! Guess I should close the browser and finish uploading and editing my own work, eh? (Just dawned on my why I might like these critters: they remind me of Zach Galifianakis -- if they could only grow more hair.)
Blah blah blah. Whatev.
Vicodin, oh Vicodin, where in the heck is my dear old Vicodin? (I'd totally settle for a muscle relaxer at this point. Means I have to actually move to find either. Or should that be "mooooove"?)
Posted by Da Goddess at 01:21 AM | Comments (2)
April 07, 2008
So It's Like That
I absolutely overdid it last week and have spent the last few days paying for it.
I knew Thursday that I'd done too much and my back was screaming like a mofo the whole night.
Friday was spent in a medicated haze. Even with the meds, I was in terrible pain. It sucked.
Saturday, I made a huge effort to get out to the Soldiers' Angels event I'd volunteered for. Can't let the troops down, right? While I wasn't comfortable, I kept telling myself there were injured troops who were in worse shape and I could tough it out. I managed to get through my scheduled hours and was glad I did. I met some wonderful volunteers and while I was there, we'd sold two First Response backpacks, which include sweats, basic toiletries, a phone card, and many other items. Why is this important? Well, the description of the pack on the SA site tells it best:
When our wounded arrive at these hospitals they often have only what they were wearing in the battlefield and considering they were injured, it usually is not in very good condition. It can take up to a couple of days before they receive replacement supplies and it is often weeks before their belongings catch up to them. The military does all it can to provide for our wounded heroes and more than meets his or hers basic needs. These backpacks, however, ensure that our wounded soldiers have a little love from home to comfort them until their family can reach them and/or they return to the states. A wounded soldier certainly can wear a hospital gown for the first 24 hours before his replacement clothing is issued, but having a quick change of clothing is priceless.
The kindness of two San Diegans means two more of our wounded have a little something extra to help them through their first days in hospital.
We also had folks signing Blankets of Hope and get well/thank you cards to be handed out by the chaplain teams.
The event buoyed my spirits, even though I didn't feel so hot. The best part though, was knowing the day was a success for Soldiers' Angels. Yay!
The rest of my Saturday was spent resting, praying I'd feel better. Sunday was spent heavily medicated again. I wanted to wake up today feeling great, but that didn't happen. And so that meant I had to make a phone call to San Diego Momma to let her know I'd be missing out on the super fun evening with the other San Diego blogging moms. There was even going to be a special appearance from a traveling blog mom. Feh.
So here I sit, bummed that I'm missing out on meeting all these amazing ladies who are gathered together to welcome the traveling one. I can only hope they each have an extra drink to make up for the ones I'm not consuming.
Sigh.
Oh well, there'll be other get togethers, but Bossy won't be there. Maybe I'll just have to stalk her through her blog. It'll be easy cuz she takes some gorgeous photos and you know how I love photos.
Ladies, I'm there in spirit. Physically, I'm here, at home on the sofa, watching crap TV until Little People, Big World and Jon & Kate Plus 8 come on. Small consolation. I'd rather be laughing and having fun with the gals.
I couldn't even check email since Thursday night. 
That's pretty rare for me, but it does happen. But, early this morning, I was so pleased to find an email from Little Dude's teacher filling us in on the flight from San Diego to the east coast, the kids' experiences on their first day in Virginia, and the exhaustion everyone's feeling. Plus there were photos. Including one of LD with his camera...I can't wait to see what he took. I can't wait until he gets home. I miss my baby already.
Posted by Da Goddess at 06:15 PM | Comments (5)
April 03, 2008
Lost Post
I was halfway through a very moving post about what LD and I experienced at his school today. Then, from out of nowhere, a gigantic, raging mouse came charging across the laptop and wiped the whole thing out.
SFPD. And that ain't no San Francisco police department abbreviation.
I'm really pissed that a careless half click destroyed such an amazing and brilliant bit of writing. Okay, maybe the writing wasn't brilliant, but the subject was.
Can't reconstruct it right now. We're working on a speech and preparing for tonight's play. Later, though. Later.
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:51 PM | Comments (0)
Apple!
No, sir. You will not casually fling insults about in this home. Not the way you did, not about what you said, not after the day we've had, not after what we heard.
Be an apple in your own space, but not so that LD and I have to deal with your biased and cruel words.
Posted by Da Goddess at 03:00 PM | Comments (0)
April 02, 2008
Some Days Are Diamonds, Some Days Are Dirt
Despite the fact I didn't carry the first bagful of clothes to the laundry room, I found myself having to haul a second, smaller bag over. I also made three trips to the apartment so as not to anger my already aching back. So why is it that I couldn't get comfortable after, or sleep without meds?
Today, I'm hunched over and looking like I spent the last week on my knees scrubbing floors with a toothbrush. Maybe it was a combination of that and my long, but leisurely walk on Monday. (I had a meeting and was without a car. It was a good walk, but I felt it deeply the whole way. Oh, and the meeting went very well.)
I had to bow out of picking Little Dude up from school so I could stay medicated and get myself feeling better for his big day tomorrow.
"Another big day for LD?" you ask. Why, yes. Tomorrow night, two of the 5th grade classes are performing in a fantastic play, complete with singing and dancing. They've been rehearsing for a few months. It's about music from every decade of the last century.
But, there's more. Earlier in the day, they'll have the family of a fallen Marine in class. They have a special surprise for the family and the local news crews will be there as well. We'll have a long day ahead of us. Given a choice, I'd rather miss today and be there tomorrow.
With permission from the family, I will share more details about their son and I'll post pictures. Until then, I'm doped to the gills and resting. Plus, all the laundry's done and I'm reading a very cool book written by a fellow blogger who comments here frequently.
Speaking of other bloggers, the Gardenwife has a special favor to ask and it only requires a moment of your time to vote for Sarahbou & Caribou.
Update: I was so dopey earlier, I was throwing question marks around like they belonged in statements and other random spots. Why aren't you folks proofing my posts?
Posted by Da Goddess at 02:51 PM | Comments (6)
Hidden Objects
I must confess I'm addicted to Hidden Object games. What are they? Well, aside from whatever story driving the actual game, you are generally given photographs with objects added to them for you to find. Some objects are easier to locate than others, of course. Then there are mini games where you have to solve a puzzle of some sort. Most games allow you to play in timed or untimed modes.
Why tell you this? Because I actually found a photographer whose work was used in one of these games!
Posted by Da Goddess at 12:27 AM | Comments (3)
April 01, 2008
Sabrina, the Middle-Aged Witch
I'm changing my name and adopting a whole new life. Deal with it. I had to. Especially after an unexpected name change happened without my consent.
I'll no longer be Da Goddess. Just call me Sabrina.
That's all you need to know. Now say hello to my flying musical (natch) monkeys.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:06 PM | Comments (0)
There's No Fool Like A Fool In Love
Four years ago, it happened. It was the most unexpected and beautiful thing ever.
Three years ago, I wrote this:
Today I lit a candle for you. It was the same one you lit for me exactly a year ago today.I remember waiting in the airport, leaning against the column, thinking of our first kiss - the kiss I had yet to experience. I looked up in time to see you walking toward me, your hair slightly mussed, eyes looking a little sleepy. You stopped in front of me. You were smiling. You reached out and wrapped your arms around me, pulling me to you. I had to tilt my head back because you're so tall. Remember me telling you how much I like tall?
You looked into my eyes and then we kissed. It was a wet kiss, not unpleasantly wet, just wet. I melted. I'd waited so long, not realizing I'd been waiting.
That's the funny thing about you. I'd waited all my life to meet you and never even knew it until the moment we finally did.
So many things ended and began one year ago. The course of our lives changed, for ill or for good. Some may consider it all one big April Fools Day joke, but it isn't. It never has been.
We've danced our dances and cried our tears. We've laughed 'til our sides ached and we've exchanged angry words. We've kissed and made up. We've said hellos and goodbyes. How many times? Does it even matter? All I know is that I cherish the time spent with you, be it face-to-face, over the phone, or however we've had to make contact. I wouldn't trade this last year for anything.
Today I lit a candle for you. It was the same candle that you lit for me exactly one year ago today.
I lit the same candle today. And there was a brief phone conversation that made my heart sing and ache all at once.
My feet shall run because of you My feet, dance because of you My heart shall beat because of you My eyes, see because of you My mind, thinks because of you And I shall love because of you ~ unknown
Love is good. Even when a romantic relationship ends, love lives on.
Posted by Da Goddess at 08:16 AM | Comments (0)