December 29, 2010 (Weds)

Nothing much today.  Spent most of the day trying to fix a PC, which kept going through cascading failures.  Looks like the power supply may be dead now.  Bought a new hard drive for it, but that doesn't seem to be the problem now.  Fortunately the new drive isn't even out of the shrinkwrap, so I can return it.

Watched some Lynda.com Flash tutorials.  I've decided that's going to be the animation package of choice for me.

Late last night I did some drawings, but only silly ones.

Update:  well, I thought I'd try installing OS/2.  Again.  Big mistake.   You'd think as great as the software is, it'd be a little flexible.  Oh well.

Off to tomorrow.

December 28, 2010 (Tues)

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.  It was a time when I spent most of the day driving.  So, no on time update.  I am home, safe and sound, but not happily.  Thus the late entry.  Perhaps tomorrow will see something new?  We'll see.  In the meantime, well, we'll see you tomorrow...or later today, if I'm lucky.

December 27, 2010 (Mon)

Well, this is late because I didn't do anything today!  See you tomorrow.

December 26, 2010 (Sun)

Snowing in Wilmington, which it's not supposed to do.  Something over 8 inches in Asheville.  It's official:  I won't be leaving for Asheville today.  Fortunately Leela should be okay.

Update: weather seems to be worse than I thought.  Maybe I won't even leave tomorrow.  Getting antsy.

Update 2: drew a (bad) comic strip, seems like that will be it for today.

December 25, 2010 (Sat)

Christmas day, and things are very nice.  No real creative work done, except a Christmas drawing.

It's snowing horribly in Asheville.  Which means I probably won't leave tomorrow.  I'm hoping I'll be able to leave Monday.  Argh, argh, argh.

Things to do, etc.  Ideas to have.

Update:  nothing creative done today.  See you tomorrow.

December 24, 2010 (Fri)

Well, I fixed the DVR-DVD problem (turns out the latter was set on the wrong channel).  As it's Christmas Eve, it's doubtful I'll do anything else.  But we'll see.

Update: and it's 11:30 PM, and I've just been enjoying the holidays.  See you tomorrow!

December 23, 2010 (Thurs)

And it's a brand new day.

Saw "True Grit," which was excellent.  No real depths, or profundities, just a good story well told.

I drew a cartoon.  More than I've done in a few days.  Also, trying to figure out how to record from a DVR to a DVD-recorder.

Not sure what else is on the horizon.

Update:  DVR-to-DVD being problematic, but it is being left to tomorrow.  See you then!

December 22, 2010 (Weds)

Lots of traveling (over five hours), all the way to Wilmington.  Nice low key visit so far, but one suspects that little if any creative work will be done...if the one suspecting happens to be me.  Or you.

We'll see what might go on.  No paints or instruments, but I do have the Wacom tablet with me.

Update: watched "His Kind of Woman" and enjoyed it again.  Nothing else for today.  Once again, this is overdue for posting...

To tomorrow.

December 21, 2010 (Tues)

Up somewhat early, but not out of bed until after 9.  Checked email--very nice these days.  Then I built a small noise piece using the new Theremin and Jekyllizer.

Five miles on the treadmill (same thing yesterday, let me add).  Packed up some stuff for the journey tomorrow.

Update:  car is loaded and ready to go.  Rather be going in the opposite direction, but things are what they are.

See you tomorrow, maybe.

December 20, 2010 (Mon)

Up late, overindulging.  Don't feel terrible, but don't feel like attempting anything creative.

Update:  got a theremin in the mail, as well as another small noise-maker.  Cool!  I am inspired to do something with them, but that will not happen tonight.  Nothing has happened today.

See you tomorrow!

December 19, 2010 (Sun)

Well, I'm back.  The bad news, got a notice from the IRS that I owe money.  Well, they can wait.

The good news is the best news I've had in decades.  I don't want to jinx it by going into details, but suffice to say that this weekend has left me very, very happy.   And if the price that heaven sets for my happiness is a note from the IRS, then I can say that heaven is a petty, spiteful place and, if I may quote, "And if you do not listen, then to HELL with you!"

Update: past 8:30 and I'm at odds about what, if anything, to do tonight.  Disconnected.

Update 2: I'm posting this on Monday.  Forgot about it for the rest of the evening.  For the record, I didn't really do anything.

December 18, 2010 (Sat)

Out of town, no creative work done. 

December 17, 2010 (Fri)

Out of town, no creative work done.

December 16, 2010 (Thurs)

Out of town, no creative work done. 

December 15, 2010 (Wed)

Up rather late last night, and up late this morning.  No ideas about doing anything, except perhaps treadmilling.

Update:  did five miles on the treadmill, and thought about setting up the electronic drums.  I tend to do a lot of thinking when I'm away from home and, thus, can't do any of the things I'm thinking of doing.

I'll be out of town this weekend and I suspect I'll be doing a lot of thinking.

Update 2: well, I cleared out the area with the electronic drums (lots of dead spiders and insects) and I figure I'll try to get them arranged logically.  I know which are which, and have made labels for them.   The control box certainly doesn't want to stay upright; I'll have to fix that.

Update 3:  well, the control box decided it would most like to sit on the floor.  Hm, kay.  The others are slightly cooperative, though there seems to be a bit of a problem with getting them on different levels, like an actual drum kit.  I've got the two "cymbals" up high, but it's kind of sort of looking like the others would like to be there, too.  I'll have to hunt down the manual it seems.

Tomorrow I'll be out of town, through Sunday, so updates are unlikely.  Should I get the chance, though...

See you shortly.

December 14, 2010 (Tues)

Digitized the Blue Ridge video with pretty good quality.   I'm impressed with what the Sony software can do.  Next I think I'll digitize the night video.

Update:  did five miles on the treadmill.  My doctor wanted to increase the level of medication I'm taking, and it made me really ill during the exercise routine.  Of course, I was supposed to take the medication with food, but I find my appetite has gone down rather a lot.  We shall see if the same thing happens tomorrow.

Update 2: this is going to be another "nothing" day.  I can't seem even to force myself to do anything creative.

Update 3: digitized the night drive video.  Also, I found out that Leela is afraid of wrapping paper!

See you tomorrow.

December 13, 2010 (Mon)

Well, I finished the Gun5 animation soundtrack, take 2.  A much better version I think.

No big news from the doctor, everything seems to be going well.  I see her again in late January.

Update:  well, a slow day, but that's all right.  I'm currently re-capturing the Blue Ridge Parkway video I took a few years ago (doing this on another computer, obviously) and I suspect that will be it for the day.

I'm looking forward to doing the BR soundtrack.  It's going to need subtlety.   It's also 50 minutes long, so I might end up building a symphony for it.  A challenge, which I'm hoping Sony has solved the first bit: getting the video without blocky awefulness.  We'll see.  So far, Sony software is doing really well with everything I throw at it.

Santa was received by the recipient, who says she is thrilled.  Awesome. 

See you tomorrow.

December 12, 2010 (Sun)

Up before 6 AM, to be greeted by a massive snowfall.  Tired, I went back to bed.  It's after 11:30 AM now and a lot of it seems to've melted, which is good as I'd rather not drive in it tomorrow morning to the Dr's office.

And around 3 PM, it's snowing again.  Rather lightly, but still.  Surprisingly enough, I'd really like to make this appointment.

Update:  seems to have stopped snowing for now, which is good as the sun's down and one cannot count on its work to melt it away.

I worked on adding a soundtrack to "Gun5," the TrueSpace animation I did ages ago.  I got something acceptable, but I think I can do better.

Update 2:  did some better work.  Off to tomorrow.

December 11, 2010 (Sat)

Up fairly early, but stayed in bed.  Went out and found a couple of gifts, so that's good.  Lots of nice shops in Hendersonville that sell artwork.  It'd be nice to sell artwork.

Not sure what to do today.  Probably go out and do some more miles on the treadmill, but that will be later.  In the interim, I'm not sure what to work on.

Update:  did five miles on the treadmill.  And that's about it.  I seem to be in a painting lull, and my explorations of animation stuff is going a bit too slowly to really get any momentum.

See you tomorrow.

December 10, 2010 (Fri)

Up late last night, trying to paint without a lot of usable result.

I've decided I cannot be trusted with alcohol.  The last three times I have overindulged beyond what might even be remotely reasonable.  I simply cannot have it in the house and will refuse it if offered elsewhere.

I'm thinking I need to work on computer animation.  TrueSpace or Flash?  Let's find out.

Update:  did another 5 miles on the treadmill.  Used my Kindle instead of the video player, and I was noticeably bummed by the end of the fourth mile, but it sure beats the video player for portability.  I may try that again.

Fired up TrueSpace.  Holy Hannah, this thing is crowded with stuff.  Fortunately I downloaded all the training videos, so we'll see if that helps.  I am intimidated by the interface.  I would certainly not call it "intuitive" by any stretch.

Off to tomorrow. 

December 9, 2010 (Thurs)

Up around 8, off to mail Santa, then off to do laundry.  Thrilling, yes isn't it?

Update:  It's after 6:30 and other than grocery shopping and some reading, I've done nothing.  I have a feeling the night is going to be like this.

Well, I did 5 miles on the treadmill.  First time in several months, and I don't feel any pain in my feet, so I may do more as the week plays out.

Update 2:  and that's a wrap.  See you tomorrow.

December 8, 2010 (Wed)

Feeling a bit worse for wear today.  I'm anticipating doing pretty much nothing.

Update:  recorded a couple of minutes of guitar noise.  The last bit, using almost all the pedals (Thrash Metal wouldn't work) and turning the reverb's "Mix" button all the way to the right, gave me some eerie orchestral noises with no attack.  Very atmospheric.  I'm thinking I can certainly use it somewhere.

And so much for today.

December 7, 2010 (Tues)

Up today around 8 AM, but then back to bed.  I'm forgoing swimming this week to try and beat this cold.  The problem is, without the morning routine, there's nothing to anchor the day to and thus, the day just drifts.  Lots of resting, not because I'm tried but because there's nothing to do.  So this week will be a bit iffy all around.

Today I talk to the nutritionist to see what kind of foods I can and cannot eat.

Update:  lots of good info from the nutritionist.  Lots of literature as well.  I'm thinking I have a good handle on this, as I've already been cutting out sugars.  She says that I should look at total carbs instead, though, with an offset in "Dietary Fiber."

Did a smidge of painting on the original apples painting.  I think I have the extra ring looking good on its own, and it doesn't blend into the urn any more.  Next I need to give it a shadow and that one should be done without any nagging, "What about the handle?" question.

December 6, 2010 (Mon)

Slept way late.  I'm going to hold off swimming this week until this stupid cold gets beaten.

No work done today.  Let's see what happens tomorrow.

December 5, 2010 (Sun)

Back from the weekend.  I've been looking at Santa and seeing small things that bug me, so I'm going to made tiny adjustments to it during the rest of today.   Probably Thursday morning it should be dry enough to mail.

Update:  a bit more tweaking.  I think it's done.  Hoorah, etc.   Yes, it looks to be done.

Now what?

Update 2: did a bit of painting on the original Apples pic.  Off to bed.

December 4, 2010 (Sat)

Out of town and out of reach until Sunday. 

December 3, 2010 (Fri)

I'll be out of town until Sunday, so I'm doubtful that I'll do any creative work.  See you late Sunday.

December 2, 2010 (Thurs)

Up around 7 AM, but back to bed.  I was up pretty late last night trying to make sure my music files had names less that 256 characters (including folder names).  This had to be done so that they could be backed up.  I think I got them all but I guess I won't know until I try the backup again.

I finished the Santa project.  Then I found a box to mail it in.

Update:  not much else.  Made a cute mailing label for Santa.  Started reading about Flash.

Update 2:  started on Gun 5 to add a soundtrack.  And that's about it for today.

See you tomorrow.

December 1, 2010 (Wed)

Well, I overindulged last night, and am paying the price for it today.  Sick as a dog, didn't get out of bed until 5 PM, etc etc.  Probably unlikely that I will do anything creative today, nor go swimming, but I'm keeping my options open.  Stupid stupid stupid.

Update:  well, I played with ACID a bit, but otherwise did nothing today.  Let that be a lesson to you all.  See you tomorrow.