Thursday, July 11, 2002
This site has basically been down since February 2001, since I couldn't get into it on our computer due to the virus, so obviously no new journal entries have been added until now. Since I went on to create a painting site at Homestead and couldn't update this one until now, I just wanted to let you know what has gone on and why. I doubt I'll be updating this site very much...maybe just updating the look to a more neutral year-round theme or adding up-to-date pictures...the girls have really grown and the animals are all different now too! lol. If you would like to visit me at my painting site though, you can go to www.MyPaintPalette.homestead.com.
I went on to become a One Stroke Certified Instructor as planned last year...my certification class was in April. I'm teaching painting classes at different locations now, doing painting work, and selling my handpainted items at a local consignment shop as well as on my site.
Another thing that's changed on this site is I took down my poetry page. Was thinking about deleting this whole site but realized others wanted me to keep it up. So while some links may not be good anymore, I'm trying to update the links so there aren't any dead-end ones around.
Gotta run for now, but take care!!
February 15, 2001 Thursday
Well, it's been a few days but got lots to tell! As a lot of folks know already, another worm/virus, "Anna Kournikova", was spread around the world this past weekend! And guess what, we sort of got it without even opening the attachments Monday night! After I saw the email that Norton anti-virus didn't catch coming in, I did get rid of it, however, the computer started acting funny, wanting to freeze up and go slow. As far as I know though, our email address book wasn't infected. It did mess with our Internet Call Waiting, the printer and the scanner and our GoBack program though. We have two desktops on our computer, one for me and one for hubby Stu, and mine was deleted and replaced with a copy of my husband's and named again in my name. Now all my personal links on the desktop, in the favorites file and my documents are gone. That means all the painted projects and new family photos I had scanned earlier Tuesday morning, while the computer was slow, are now gone...BUT, not before loading them up to my homepage files first just in case! I couldn't copy them onto a floppy because of the computer being so slow, it wouldn't let me, but I do have them here in my files now. And I do still have the pictures to scan if we ever get the computer working right as well as all the add-ons like the printer and scanner! Anyway, we'll see what happens!
Tuesday night was my first Chamber of Commerce meeting! It went well and I did recognize some faces, as well as some recognizing me. I believe we were told about 80-85 had come to the meeting that night, quite a lot of folks! They talked about the "beautification of Pine Mountain" and had plans drawn up showing the future plans they wanted to have in store for the town...landscaping with trees, brick walkways, drought resistant plants, an irrigation system for the maintenance portion of upkeep on the new design, etc. I seemed to be one of the youngest few there, in turn making me want to listen even more carefully to the "adult" members. I still just don't feel like an adult yet! lol How long does that take anyway once you've turned 30?! :-)
Tuesday night after the meeting, I painted a denim jumper dress for a late Christmas present to a friend of ours! Better late than never, right?!! Then yesterday was Valentine's Day, but we didn't do anything too special. I did get to talk to Olivia yesterday morning though before she went to school. Made sure she had received her Valentine's box from us, even though they were running late getting her school's Valentine's together for the day. I tried calling them again last night to see if she had opened her box but got no answer, just the machine. We'll talk again soon though. In the mean time yesterday morning, I went to pick up Stu's present from one of the local restaurants...a case of individually sliced and packaged Butterfinger Cheesecakes!! 24 slices were in that thing! lol I got to give it to him before he took off for a job and I could see that he liked it a lot! The girls got a small heart shaped box of candy each and don't you know they tried to eat it all when I wasn't looking?!! LOL The rest of the evening I had tried a little to figure out this computer junk to fix this mess but spent most of the day away from it trying not to think about it! I also painted another present but for Olivia's birthday that's coming up! Can't mention what it is other than to say she can wear it!
And the very latest is that Stu came home a few hours ago with a new puppy for us!! Before I even saw it he told us all to come look at something outside...I just told him it had better not be another animal! LOL WEell, you should have seen her little brown eyes...she's so cute! Stu said she's a Golden Retriever and Collie mix, but she looks like the Retriever. I guess she's about 2-3 months old.
Well, got to go for now! Take care!
February 3, 2001 Saturday
Great news! I got some of my paintings "published" in the online One Stroke magazine, The Stroking Edge! Found out yesterday morning I had my 4 bear designs and snowman and tree window paintings put in the gallery! My insides were doing cartwheels! One other lady I know, Judy Freeman, from the Charlotte certification group, also had one of her projects featured. There were a few others but I don't know them. Judy and I will meet at the certification class in Charlotte, NC, in April. Both of us were excited to know that we were a part of the picture gallery because this was the first issue of the online magazine, which you have to have a subscription for to get in. So now I can say some of my paintings have been published! Yippee! Just give me another day to settle down though! LOL
I haven't joined the Chamber of Commerce yet (since my last journal entry) because the day of the last meeting I burned my hand really badly and couldn't stand the pain long enough to go. My hand's better now though, and I do plan on going to this next Chamber meeting in a week or two and possibly joining. Maybe Stuart will go too since he's just started his plumbing business in town now.
The plumbing business seems to be off to an easy enough start. He's already gotten some business cards made and handed out but he just wants to make sure he has the really important tools first before jumping any further into residential plumbing. He can do lots now with what he has but there is one thing he needs that will cost a lot of money.
I finished painting another window in town at Fox's Pizza for Valentine's and I'm getting ready to do another at McGuire's restaurant, for spring, though it sure feels a little soon! But that's what he wants, so that's what he'll get!...irises, tulips, daffodils, etc. I'll have pictures posted of the Valentine windows and some newer items when I get our film developed.
The girls are doing fine, playing outside all the time when it's not too cold. Anna is learning her school things really well still and Shebly is right along behind her! It's great to know Anna can tell what color is what now when I tell her to do something with this colored whatever and that colored whatever! She's also been counting and learning to write the letters of the alphabet.
One last thing before going...Cleavis has left the building! Actually, we gave our little Nigerian pygmy goat Cleavis to a relative! Hopefully he will stink up their yard and chase their other animals less than he did ours! LOL Well, that's all for now I guess so take care!
January 18, 2001 Thursday
Well happy belated new year to you!! I've got lots to tell but as always with long absences, I won't tell all! The newest and most important is that Stu quit his job yesterday and is thinking of going into business for himself! The next thing is I was invited to join the Chamber of Commerce a few weeks ago after someone had seen my site when I wrote the Chamber about upcoming craft shows and events! Finally might get to be introduced and known as "Alicia" rather than as "so-and-so's daughter"! :-)
We had a great Christmas, the girls got spoiled, Barbie Jeep, clothes and all, and we got a new chair for the computer! Stu thought it was time to retire my $7 ladderback auction-bought chair! LOL
I FINALLY changed my painting page and it is now "pages", as in many pages...that was so I could add my window paintings and other things and have the download time shortened. Aren't you all happy about that?! :-)
In April I will go to One Stroke certification and afterwards have another site for my painted things, so I can add that new site address to my business/contact cards.
I can't think of much else to tell...we are all doing fine in spite of some slight mishaps here and there (one being me burning the mess out of my hand!) and I for one am looking forward to warmer weather...I had a window painting job which has led to more so I will be busy with that maybe all year doing seasonal and holiday type paintings.for folks. At least it's getting warm enough I won't freeze my tushy off for a while while doing it like I recently did!
Anna is talking very well still, learning her colors and numbers and name and alphabet and probably other things she shouldn't be learning! But mostly, she is staying healthy, and so is Miss Shelby! She's such an expressive cuddle bug! She even had her 2nd birthday on December 12th. Soon I'll be able to work on the homepage to update with new photos of the girls on the photo garden page.
My dad was here for nearly a month also, from November to mid December...almost forgot to write about that. He seems to be doing well after his bout with cancer in his esophagus. He's back home in Alaska now and is mean as ever, like usual...just kiddin' there Dad!!
Well, it's late (we had company stay a while) so let me run! Take care all!!
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