Going Green

Since I slept through Monday you get a morning bun post today.

I am all for recycling, saving the earth and all that but have you ever tried to eat with utensils that bend and break when you try to use them?

This is what we had for lunch:

Gaucho Skirt Steak with Mint-Mango, Chimichurri with Saffron Multi-Grain Pilaf & Tomato Salad with Chili-Kiwi. Don't ask me what that actually is but it was good if not difficult to eat with utensils that bend at the slightest resistance.

In Sims-related news I was able to restore my backup and load inhabited residential lots. Unfortunately there is something in the catalog under Hobbies>Workout that crashes the game. No idea what it is. There are pose boxes, gym equipment, and musical instruments in there none of which I have recently downloaded. So. Re-install may be imminent however I might be able to get my Chameleon update done before then. It will have to wait until the weekend. I don't have the stamina to do it during the work week.

Cloudy With a Chance of...

I woke up to a howling wind that rattled the windows in my room. All I could think was that I hoped it didn't start raining. I have a refrigerator in my back yard courtesy of the kids all moving out of the Santa Cruz house. It's mine and honestly I wish I could put it in my kitchen since it is energy efficient and would most likely reduce my utility bill. Maybe I can shove the landlord's piece of crap into the garage or something. You know a refrigerator isn't worth its salt when you can't stick magnets on it and hang the artwork your kids do...

I'm at work. Wish I wasn't. Terrible headache and puffy eyes because I cried like a fussy whiny crybaby last night until I fell asleep. So now I feel shitty and have to play nice with the customers. TGIS...

2 Thai Mojitos and Several Tequila Shots Later

We had a team offsite today. We saw Peter Pan at the Embarcadero in SF. I will say it was amazing, a 360 degree theatre in a tent. I tried to take some pictures with my iPhone since they do not allow cameras but I don't know how well they came out. All in all it was a great show.

Afterwards we went to a Thai restaurant in one of the buildings at the Embarcadero and had appetizers and cocktails during happy hour. It was a challenge to focus on my speed vs. the overwhelming need to pee as I drove home.

Crash and Burn - And a Little Air Guitar

I probably should be thankful that I was able to complete the shots I took for the next update of Sessions since I cannot keep the game up to save my life. I could not load the lot we wanted to use. Game kept crashing. Beth finally suggested an alternative that worked and I got the shots I needed.

Honor Among Thieves

Loved how this shot came out. Ever since I finally installed the sky thingy I've been enchanted. I think I made a banner with it...it's on my HD somewhere.

Behind the Scenes ~ It Takes Two

I was going to add a picture here. Maybe I will later...

Someone once commented on how difficult it seemed to collaborate on storytelling. At the time I really didn’t give it much thought. After all, when you team with someone who thinks the same way you do, has a relationship with the characters the way you do, it is easy. Isn’t it? I thought some more about it in recent days and realized that easy has nothing to do with it. There is so much more to collaborative storytelling than meets the eye.

Sessions Chapter 34

Because any shot with Jimmy's torso is a draw...

We cross story lines and blogs all the time. This piece is no exception. One world, one story, many different facets.

Sessions 34 ~ Secrets

Insert Big Sigh Here

I decided I am going to install Mansions and Gardens this weekend. That in itself is not a huge deal. The huge deal is that when I installed my game the last time I used Clean/Empty templates and made sure that my install was SecuROM free. I launch my game with a No CD crack. I do remember reading somewhere that if you install something new, either the templates or something needs to be put back from the original install. Maybe it was the NBs. I know for sure I need to remove the crack until the install is complete.

Suffice it to say I cannot find the files. OK I have the original executable files that the crack replaces. I can't find the original NB files. I swear I saw them recently. I really did.

I have all the steps necessary were I to completely install from scratch or I can take my chances on hosing my existing install and having to re-install from scratch anyway. What to do...what to do...

I could search forums to see if there are tips or advice out there. However the time it takes to search and read 452 pages worth of posts and scan and kill my shoulders might be best spent just biting the bullet and doing it right?

No Light, No Sound

Looking at what you left behind can sometimes bring clarity to the here and now. Sometimes it makes things worse. An emotional and gorgeous piece.

Sessions 33 ~ Drag the Sunrise Down.

Withdrawal

The other day I conducted a training for a small group on the main campus. They were kind enough to bring in Chinese food for lunch. I had a fortune cookie. All right, I had two. Interesting fortunes inside...

Fortune #1: You will receive unexpected support over the next week. Accept it graciously.

I won't deny I am not very gracious in accepting help even when I so desperately need it. I am so used to being on the giving end and not the receiving end that I feel awkward over it. But I won't deny anything that comes my way will be welcomed with open arms. I read that one to my youngest. He was certain I would (or he would) find $100 on the street. Too cute. Even cuter, he said he would give it to me.

Fortune #2: You have a charming way with words and should write a book.

Really? Charming? I confess I would like to write a book. Do I have the fortitude to do it? I don't know. I fail miserably at commiting my time (remember that 30 days meme I never finished or posted on time?). Yes, I wish I could be a published writer. That doesn't mean I am in the least bit talented or persistent to pull it off. Or the patience. And I tend to believe that my dreams will never come true. I've been disappointed a lot. I don't know if I could ever put myself out there, set myself up for rejection which I know is part of the process. But I can dream...

I have been allowing myself to write small things and then seeing how it could develop into a book. Do I have the stamina to put into it what it would need to be complete. Do I have 50,000 words that are compelling. Five years ago I began to think it was possible. Now I am not so sure. I mean, I can't even manage to post with regularity. But...nothing ventured, nothing gained. Maybe I'll give it a go. Maybe...

Limitations and Other Nonsense

I had a much better title for this post. I am so brain dead that I cannot remember it. I am weeks behind on my reading. Actually, not the reading but the commenting. I have kept up on everything but that. I feel very bad about it. I really do. It makes me feel guilty, not because it is expected but because I love the stories I follow and wish I had the time. Suffice it to say I will try and make it up. Been thinking it would be nice if I could just set aside time, say Saturday night after work, just to read and comment. Once a week. Possibly doable. Then maybe I would be able to focus on my own writing. An hour a day. At least.

Leaving Scars

New update at Sessions -> Chapter 32 Call Your Name

Cooper wakes from a nightmare and realizes reality isn't much better. Saying a huge thank you to Beth for fighting with constant game crashes involving a lot we have used before that chose not to cooperate. It was a hard climb but she did a tremendous job.