Cammie is another year older today.
Throughout her young life.... now another year older.(when you are younger you want to be a year older) we have watched her grow and mature and become even more wonderful than she was when she was little.
She is a little different red head than my daughters but a genuine redhead none the less. And when it comes to red heads you either love them or hate them.
My favorite memory of her was when she joined our girls for the cabbage Patch gift day in Los Banos. Grandma Wanda had scouted out and waited in line and paid an exorbitant amount to get each of her three (Acacia had not arrive yet)granddaughters a cabbage patch doll that matched their hair color. They got the dolls out of the boxes and rolled down the hill at the park clutching them for dear life. Oh what fun!
We later ate at the Woolgrowers Basque restaurant and had a great time.
Happy birthday Cammie.. we have something for you and will drop it to you the next time we see you,
Love
uncle Pat and Aunt Suzie
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
I am going to do this Until I get it right
Late tonight I was able to finally get a printer alive at my desktop,
I fired up dad's old epson 2200 and as expected it needed new cartridges around. It did. Dad left me a slew of new cartridges. So I patiently replaced them all and ran the head cleaner about 6 times and sure enough I was getting a good pattern from the printer.. This was all being done through the use of my computer ordering it up and the printer doing it. So one would think that running a print order through the computer to the printer should work just as well.....
NO...
When it came to actually printing something the printer turned up its toes and said no go. So I had a printer that was similar could do similar work as one of the photography students in my dad's adult photography class did.. He was able to shoot test cards and gray scales..but when it came to do real work.. couldn't see it. I was able to print epson bar designs.. that was it..
So.. I was thinking the problem must be the print driver.. at least that is what I tell everyone else that is in this situation. I am sitting here with a DSL connection to the internet so my first inclination is to navigate to the Epson site and download a fresh driver. I did this.
Did that fix the problem?... No No No
So I thought well it must be because I didn't turn everything off and let it lose its settings.. so I did that.. No it didn't work with that.. all I was getting was an insidious message that said.. "printer has lost communication with the computer. Turn the computer on or reset the computer".. So I did it again..
Did it work no...
So I changed the port that the computer used to connect to the usb printer.. still the same problem.
So I thought..well I must be getting closer, but I have probably corrupted the printer driver so I will download it again. Again.. everything was off.. refired back again..
Did it work? no.. I had to get off to work.. so I turned everything off again.. I thought well I must not have waited long enough..
I return home from school and Back to school night.. still the same issue... so I was thinking at this point.. I need to buy a new printer... when the technology gets challenging sometimes the best thing to do is to buy new and not have to fight through the problems of the old. I was carefully was examining the specs for a new one.. even how am I going to get it through the door without a lot of questions?. yada yada..
Then I thought to my self.. self.. lets go through the Epson troubleshooting phases.. So I went through each variable on line. Is this button lit? No.. then it gives you another question.. and its little sequence changed depending upon my answer to a series of questions.. just like we learned to do in teacher AV class where we were working on power learning and using a feedback loops on paper instead of a computer. So I went through its little sequence.
18 questions later.. it states.. "We recommend you uninstall the old driver before you install the new."
It even gave me a live link to a help screen that showed me where the old driver was.. the old driver was unceremoniously dumped in the trash and the trash was swept away (electronically) and a new driver was downloaded.. The computer was restarted.. I agreed to the installation of the new driver and son of gun if it didn't all work,
What a ton of words in this blog to come to the conclusion that I stated at the beginning. I write this only to remind you that I still have to relearn the basics of software like drivers over and over again.. just like you..
: ) Pat
I fired up dad's old epson 2200 and as expected it needed new cartridges around. It did. Dad left me a slew of new cartridges. So I patiently replaced them all and ran the head cleaner about 6 times and sure enough I was getting a good pattern from the printer.. This was all being done through the use of my computer ordering it up and the printer doing it. So one would think that running a print order through the computer to the printer should work just as well.....
NO...
When it came to actually printing something the printer turned up its toes and said no go. So I had a printer that was similar could do similar work as one of the photography students in my dad's adult photography class did.. He was able to shoot test cards and gray scales..but when it came to do real work.. couldn't see it. I was able to print epson bar designs.. that was it..
So.. I was thinking the problem must be the print driver.. at least that is what I tell everyone else that is in this situation. I am sitting here with a DSL connection to the internet so my first inclination is to navigate to the Epson site and download a fresh driver. I did this.
Did that fix the problem?... No No No
So I thought well it must be because I didn't turn everything off and let it lose its settings.. so I did that.. No it didn't work with that.. all I was getting was an insidious message that said.. "printer has lost communication with the computer. Turn the computer on or reset the computer".. So I did it again..
Did it work no...
So I changed the port that the computer used to connect to the usb printer.. still the same problem.
So I thought..well I must be getting closer, but I have probably corrupted the printer driver so I will download it again. Again.. everything was off.. refired back again..
Did it work? no.. I had to get off to work.. so I turned everything off again.. I thought well I must not have waited long enough..
I return home from school and Back to school night.. still the same issue... so I was thinking at this point.. I need to buy a new printer... when the technology gets challenging sometimes the best thing to do is to buy new and not have to fight through the problems of the old. I was carefully was examining the specs for a new one.. even how am I going to get it through the door without a lot of questions?. yada yada..
Then I thought to my self.. self.. lets go through the Epson troubleshooting phases.. So I went through each variable on line. Is this button lit? No.. then it gives you another question.. and its little sequence changed depending upon my answer to a series of questions.. just like we learned to do in teacher AV class where we were working on power learning and using a feedback loops on paper instead of a computer. So I went through its little sequence.
18 questions later.. it states.. "We recommend you uninstall the old driver before you install the new."
It even gave me a live link to a help screen that showed me where the old driver was.. the old driver was unceremoniously dumped in the trash and the trash was swept away (electronically) and a new driver was downloaded.. The computer was restarted.. I agreed to the installation of the new driver and son of gun if it didn't all work,
What a ton of words in this blog to come to the conclusion that I stated at the beginning. I write this only to remind you that I still have to relearn the basics of software like drivers over and over again.. just like you..
: ) Pat
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
BTSN
Unlike similar acronyms such as the BCS (College Football's Champion Ship Series) BTSN is in most schools throughout the US. It stands for Back to School Night. Parents drag themselves away from the Republican National Convention and go to school to look those educators of the youngin in the eye and see if they are fit. They also are subjected to sitting in too small of seats albeit for 10 minutes at a time and to listen to endless rules of the classroom and academic expectations. Its also the first chance that the parents have to demonstrate to their children that they care about their education. There are kinds of parents that arrive at back to school night.
First, the parent no show. These are parents that are too embarrassed that they only finished third grade in Mexico that they do not want to show there faces. These are also the parents whose kids are the meanest. They need to know that the school will not tolerate their kids not allowing others to learn and the they will face discipline throughout the year. We will see often see these parents throughout the year as they are dragged into IEPs and threatened with expulsion. So the back to school night would be just a waste of time for them.
The second type of parent is the parent that is reliving their high school years. They dance from class to class as they follow their child's progress through the day. They know their child will do well, because they have dressed their child in the finest clothes and clothed them in academic expectations that far exceed what they were able to accomplish in school. These parents are seldom disappointed by the school and are charmed by quaint tales of the history teacher and a bit too chummy to the other teachers.. but alas the school can do not wrong so.. why Back to School Night?
The third group of parents come to Back to School night with a chip on their shoulder. Someone has told them that the best education a kid can get is if the parent comes to school and demands that the student despite himself will achieve great grades and move along to the approved school and succeed in life with mom's foot up the you know what of the school. They are the ones that make a scene at Back to School Night and try to prove that they know more than the teachers that work with their students. Any information provided for these parents gets misinterpreted and often gets blown out of context. These parents should stay home. Their kids can handle themselves.
The point grubbers are the fourth group. The teacher has offered points for parents to show up at BTSN. Parents begrudgingly go to BTSN so that they may sing the register and prove that they were there. This helps their student get points so that they may get a better grade in class.
So tomorrow at Back to School Night at one of my schools, I will be wondering.. why did only two parents show up.. I guess I can get the answer from the above.
{scratching his head}
: ) Pat
First, the parent no show. These are parents that are too embarrassed that they only finished third grade in Mexico that they do not want to show there faces. These are also the parents whose kids are the meanest. They need to know that the school will not tolerate their kids not allowing others to learn and the they will face discipline throughout the year. We will see often see these parents throughout the year as they are dragged into IEPs and threatened with expulsion. So the back to school night would be just a waste of time for them.
The second type of parent is the parent that is reliving their high school years. They dance from class to class as they follow their child's progress through the day. They know their child will do well, because they have dressed their child in the finest clothes and clothed them in academic expectations that far exceed what they were able to accomplish in school. These parents are seldom disappointed by the school and are charmed by quaint tales of the history teacher and a bit too chummy to the other teachers.. but alas the school can do not wrong so.. why Back to School Night?
The third group of parents come to Back to School night with a chip on their shoulder. Someone has told them that the best education a kid can get is if the parent comes to school and demands that the student despite himself will achieve great grades and move along to the approved school and succeed in life with mom's foot up the you know what of the school. They are the ones that make a scene at Back to School Night and try to prove that they know more than the teachers that work with their students. Any information provided for these parents gets misinterpreted and often gets blown out of context. These parents should stay home. Their kids can handle themselves.
The point grubbers are the fourth group. The teacher has offered points for parents to show up at BTSN. Parents begrudgingly go to BTSN so that they may sing the register and prove that they were there. This helps their student get points so that they may get a better grade in class.
So tomorrow at Back to School Night at one of my schools, I will be wondering.. why did only two parents show up.. I guess I can get the answer from the above.
{scratching his head}
: ) Pat
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
School should be starting
Today would be the day the school would start when I was growing up. The day after labor brought out the Pendleton shirts or their imitations. They were sturdy wool shirts and purchased at no small cost. I don't think I had one until I was buying them for myself. At least I didn't have for for the back to school fashion parade. As my own children would point out.. the back to school clothes would not come until October when teachers would get their first paycheck.
Since we work through much of August, our first paycheck these days is September 1st. We have been in school with students since August 13, more than 2 weeks. Tomorrow I will have my third Wednesday writing day. Its time to get the names in the grade book and start marking them!
In South City as I was growing up, we worked through the heat of the Indian summer that always attacks the bay area this time of the year. Afternoons can be breathless. The heat, up to 82 degrees often scorches the land. Most kids in the bay area have one season of clothes. One needs only the clothes to beat back the wind... and often the fog. The strange part of this season is that the wind enters the Bay Area from an Easterly flow. During most of the year the wind comes in from the West or the ocean side. The fog develops from the air being chilled by the cold current as wind rolls across it. This time of the year the wind comes in from the other direction and heats up as it compresses against the ground. This is what partially caused the serious Oakland fires of a few years ago.
The girls and Sean came by this weekend and we had a great time all together. On Labor Day Linzi and Heather and I shopped for a new car under 4100 dollars. There were a number of "beater" cars. Some were in the middle of rehab. Most were in the 150,000 mile range and were made in in the late 80's. Overall it was seriously hard work to interface with the salesman and their temporary "jewels" of rolling thunder. In the end we ran out of dealers and the last dealer would drop to our price before we walked. We all gained some in the education of the process. So what do you think of seriously old Nissan Altimas and Mazdas.. oy.. many had difficulty with door locks.. they must be the first to go.
Hope you had a great Labor Day.. Now back to school! and as mom would say.. get all A's
: )
Pat
Since we work through much of August, our first paycheck these days is September 1st. We have been in school with students since August 13, more than 2 weeks. Tomorrow I will have my third Wednesday writing day. Its time to get the names in the grade book and start marking them!
In South City as I was growing up, we worked through the heat of the Indian summer that always attacks the bay area this time of the year. Afternoons can be breathless. The heat, up to 82 degrees often scorches the land. Most kids in the bay area have one season of clothes. One needs only the clothes to beat back the wind... and often the fog. The strange part of this season is that the wind enters the Bay Area from an Easterly flow. During most of the year the wind comes in from the West or the ocean side. The fog develops from the air being chilled by the cold current as wind rolls across it. This time of the year the wind comes in from the other direction and heats up as it compresses against the ground. This is what partially caused the serious Oakland fires of a few years ago.
The girls and Sean came by this weekend and we had a great time all together. On Labor Day Linzi and Heather and I shopped for a new car under 4100 dollars. There were a number of "beater" cars. Some were in the middle of rehab. Most were in the 150,000 mile range and were made in in the late 80's. Overall it was seriously hard work to interface with the salesman and their temporary "jewels" of rolling thunder. In the end we ran out of dealers and the last dealer would drop to our price before we walked. We all gained some in the education of the process. So what do you think of seriously old Nissan Altimas and Mazdas.. oy.. many had difficulty with door locks.. they must be the first to go.
Hope you had a great Labor Day.. Now back to school! and as mom would say.. get all A's
: )
Pat
Saturday, August 30, 2008
5 cats in the box
Sue and I drove up to Dublin to pick up Heather and her two cats. Both of these big boys fit in the same carrier.. due to the compatibility of their personalities and the physical need to haul just one cat carrier.
Friday night was a hot one. It got to 103 in the valley and it was 97 in the Livermore valley. The animals and the people were very happy to get into the car and fell the cool of the air conditioner.
Linzi was headed down to. We thought that she might be delayed waiting for us at the Merced station but no.. we were within 5 minutes of her arrival as a previous train had hit a car and her train from Sacramento had been held.
Sean is headed down today. We are finally going to have the man and woman power to get this house back in shape so that we can maintain.
Linzi and Heather are hatching plans for areas and tasks to be completed. So we are hopeful that this can me accomplished.
Dad called eariler this week. He has completed the framing of three of our paintings. The big one is one that Linzi painted for us of our wedding reception and drinking with elbows connected the lime green punch of the party.
I have been following the Dem convention in Denver. I liked the public Tv version of it because the talking heads were looking at it historically.. and more of the splinter or secondary speeches were provided in the coverage.
I am hopeful that the Hillary supporters will bury their grudge and join for the Obama supporters so that change can happen in this country. Yes we can.. etc etc. Being and coaching public speech allowed me some significant pleasure in all of the speeches given. Especially interesting was how even in carrying the same lines and concepts they were so different.
Hats off to sister Kelly who is digging in her own accumulations this weekend. We will be with you soon to help. And both of the girls have committed to helping too.
Love
Pat
Friday night was a hot one. It got to 103 in the valley and it was 97 in the Livermore valley. The animals and the people were very happy to get into the car and fell the cool of the air conditioner.
Linzi was headed down to. We thought that she might be delayed waiting for us at the Merced station but no.. we were within 5 minutes of her arrival as a previous train had hit a car and her train from Sacramento had been held.
Sean is headed down today. We are finally going to have the man and woman power to get this house back in shape so that we can maintain.
Linzi and Heather are hatching plans for areas and tasks to be completed. So we are hopeful that this can me accomplished.
Dad called eariler this week. He has completed the framing of three of our paintings. The big one is one that Linzi painted for us of our wedding reception and drinking with elbows connected the lime green punch of the party.
I have been following the Dem convention in Denver. I liked the public Tv version of it because the talking heads were looking at it historically.. and more of the splinter or secondary speeches were provided in the coverage.
I am hopeful that the Hillary supporters will bury their grudge and join for the Obama supporters so that change can happen in this country. Yes we can.. etc etc. Being and coaching public speech allowed me some significant pleasure in all of the speeches given. Especially interesting was how even in carrying the same lines and concepts they were so different.
Hats off to sister Kelly who is digging in her own accumulations this weekend. We will be with you soon to help. And both of the girls have committed to helping too.
Love
Pat
Monday, August 25, 2008
Ted Kennedy and the Dem convention
The afternoon started with a Nancy Pelosie speech.. As the TV commentator said.. it just pointed out the difference between the parties. That is where it needed to go. There were even parts with audience participation.
Jimmy Carter rose to the platform with his wife. He had a film about rebuilding after the hurricane and the lack of governmental support the cuurent administration had provided.
He did not speak but was available for round table conversation after it with the commentators. He was most concerned about the loss of respect that we have encounter around the world due to this war and how we treated our prisoners. He did not want to dwell in that area however.
The next speaker was Jessie Jackson Jr. he gave a wonderfully powerful speech. It had roots in the pulpit and it was a stinging indictment of the current administration.
What followed next was a marvelous speech by Caroline Kennedy, a film tribute to Ted Kennedy and then unbelievably, Ted took the stand and reminded people what we as Democrats stand for. Despite his brain cancer diagnosis, he provided the views a first class political speech to fire up the troops that will make the change and give us hope. He still is one of the best speakers around. Some people remember the images of past conventions that were reprized in this speech. It still brought tears to my eyes.
Pat
Jimmy Carter rose to the platform with his wife. He had a film about rebuilding after the hurricane and the lack of governmental support the cuurent administration had provided.
He did not speak but was available for round table conversation after it with the commentators. He was most concerned about the loss of respect that we have encounter around the world due to this war and how we treated our prisoners. He did not want to dwell in that area however.
The next speaker was Jessie Jackson Jr. he gave a wonderfully powerful speech. It had roots in the pulpit and it was a stinging indictment of the current administration.
What followed next was a marvelous speech by Caroline Kennedy, a film tribute to Ted Kennedy and then unbelievably, Ted took the stand and reminded people what we as Democrats stand for. Despite his brain cancer diagnosis, he provided the views a first class political speech to fire up the troops that will make the change and give us hope. He still is one of the best speakers around. Some people remember the images of past conventions that were reprized in this speech. It still brought tears to my eyes.
Pat
Reverting to old ways
This weekend along with going to Sacramento, I put up a few new pages on the reunion webstie of a reunion that I didn't go to. The 20th. The photos were scanned by a fellow class member that lives in Temecula and sent to me via attachment.on an Email. I cleaned up the photos, from whole page scans and parsed them out on web pages. This would not have been possible 20 years ago.
The new web design programs allow the designer to use Cascading Style Sheets to define text and other elements on the page. The best way is to use tables and design using inbedded ones to give pages that layered look that is so popular now. When it comes to photos, that is more work than i wanted to engage in for the time being. So I went back to the old way of Go line design where you cast a grid and size the grid and then place the photos on the grid to line them up.
I had to go make and do a little support from Lynda.com to remember how to do even that. It seems at my age that it takes less to forget something than it does to learn something.. oh well.
Pat
The new web design programs allow the designer to use Cascading Style Sheets to define text and other elements on the page. The best way is to use tables and design using inbedded ones to give pages that layered look that is so popular now. When it comes to photos, that is more work than i wanted to engage in for the time being. So I went back to the old way of Go line design where you cast a grid and size the grid and then place the photos on the grid to line them up.
I had to go make and do a little support from Lynda.com to remember how to do even that. It seems at my age that it takes less to forget something than it does to learn something.. oh well.
Pat
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