I've been practicing with Photoshop. Here's a new technique I've learned - how to make a realistic folded corner. I still have to practice more on the dodge and burn tools but I'm happy with my first effort.

I used Kathryn Balint's Velma's Lemon Soda kit. Available here.

Cats hate closed doors!

Anyone who has ever owned a cat knows this I'm sure. Ping (above) especially hates closed doors. So much so that I'm considering getting some of those cat doors--not for the exterior door but the interior ones. Ping isn't as vocal as his Siamese cousins except when it comes to a closed door. This wouldn't be too much of a problem except when it happens at 2AM. Michael claims he can't sleep unless his door is shut. Do you see where I'm going with this? Yup!

Michael often keeps his computer on at night so he can download stuff. His computer has a glowing blue light on it which shines under his closed door. Ping sees the light and figures Michael is awake and since everyone else in the house is asleep he wants in. I wake up and let him in. Of course he realizes Michael is asleep and wants back out. Michael sleeps through the noise so I get back up and let Ping out. I leave Michael's door cracked open enough for kitty traffic. ?Now noise doesn't wake Michael up but he has some sort of radar about his door being ajar and immediately wakes up and goes and shuts it. Ping realizes Michael is now awake and wants back in but Michael is fast asleep again and doesn't hear him. But I do.

So Ping ends up spending the night shut in the laundry room. I'm not sure if I can hear him or I just imagine I hear him--that mother's instinct thing because I know he's crying.

And that's why I want kitty doors!

Happy Fall, Y'all!! Sorry, couldn't help myself. lol

Don't these look yummy? I was inspired by the weather finally cooling down a bit and made a batch of candy apples this week. This is what is left of them. I should have taken a picture the day I made them. They always look best the first day. Oh well, at least there was a few left this morning to snap a picture of.

I can't believe it's been so long since I updated this poor blog. Wish I could say it was because I was busy doing all sorts of exciting stuff. Unfortunately, I've been busy but I can't say what I've been doing. Notice I said can't--I didn't say "Won't". I can't because I don't really know myself what's kept me so busy. It's certainly not because I've been productive with doing layouts or anything. I've actually had a bit of "scrapper's block". I guess that's like writer's block or for digiscrapping. I've been looking at layouts on the web and in magazines hoping for inspiration but none of the layouts I start look right and I end up closing Photoshop without even saving. It's strange how sometimes I'll start a layout and the colors are perfect and the elements exactly what I wanted and the page turns out almost as I had envisioned it. I say "almost" because nothing ever seems to turn out as perfectly as I see it in my mind's eye. But lately, nothing seems right...colors don't look good together or I can't find an element that I could have sworn I had. Oh well, I know it will pass. But when??? I guess I need to practice what I used to preach. When Michael was younger, he would be all excited to start a special project for school and have all sorts of wonderful ideas but once he started working on it, he'd get very frustrated. I can't count how tears were shed over some stupid diarama or poster or whatever. Thank goodness the school psychologist was able to help--to an extent anyway. She explained that Michael could picture in his mind what he wanted to do but because of age. motor coordination, etc. he couldn't make the project turn out the way he envisioned. There was still frustration and tears but at least I knew why and that helped me cope.

I'll try not to be so neglectful of my poor blog!

CALLING FOR A BAN ON ALL LOCAL BUSINESSES THAT ADVERTISE ON THE CHATTANOOGA FOX AFFILIATE CHANNEL 61!!!!!!!!!

Since, in all their wisdom, our local Fox affiliate has chosen to broadcast their high def signal to Comcast viewers only, I am asking that everyone--especially satellite subscribers --in Chattanooga boycott local advertisers. If channel 61 doesn't want our viewership, then why should we patronize anyone who does business with them???????????

And since channel 61 denies all requests for waivers, this is the only recourse we Chattanoogans have! So please, before you do business with anyone--BE SURE THEY ARE NOT FOX 61 ADVERTISERS!!!

Henry Winkler signed the shark he jumped!

More autographs.

Alex and his roommate, Don, came home this weekend so I spent the weekend washing clothes and shopping. Alex went back home with 108 cans of soda and a giant shopping bag full of microwave mac and cheese, pudding cups and other snacks and a laundry basket overflowing with clean clothes. We all went out to supper on Saturday night to Carrabba's. One of our favorite places. Later in the evening we went to Clumpies for ice cream.

But the highlight of the weekend was getting to see Henry Winkler. He gave a really great talk about overcoming learning disabilities and don't let anyone ever tell you your goals can't be achieved. One of his messages was that "everyone has greatness in them". My two boys and Don all agreed Winkler gave an excellent talk. I guess that's something when someone can capture the attention of adults and teenagers!

After, he took questions from the audience. My son's roommate has purchased a stuffed shark and they asked Henry to "jump the shark" and Winkler good-naturedly jumped the shark. The crowd loved it. We found out after that Howard Stern has been trying to get him to do that. LOL! They got him to do what Howard Stern couldn't! Afterwared people were asking Don if he was by any chance a Stern intern. LOL! Winkler even autographed the shark. As you can see in one of the above pictures.

Why Henry Winkler?

I found out that's why Alex and his roommate came home this particular weekend. Henry Winkler is speaking at a Family Health Expo tomorrow at one of our local malls. Of course he wanted his clothes washed and to re-stock his dorm room with soda and Easy Mac but he and his roommate both want to see Winkler. LOL! The dh couldn't believe it. I said that Michael will want to go too and the dh scoffed at the idea. We told Michael about it and he got excited and said he hopes to get his autograph. LOL!! The dh asked him if he even knew who Winkler was. Michael said "yeah, he's the attorney on Arrested Development"

So, we're all going tomorrow to see "The Fonz"!!!

I'm still practicing using black and white pictures with a touch of color.

Well, Alex is coming home this weekend...he said something about some dirty laundry. I guess I know what I'll be doing all weekend. He must not be planning on staying too long because he said he wasn't bringing his computer which is probably good since I partially dismantled his desk (it's a huge L-shaped computer desk) so I'd have more room for my stuff. LOL!

Did anyone watch the season premiere of House this week? I liked it. I loved it when Wilson told Cuddy not to tell House he was right and she protested and he said, "Everybody lies." I love Wilson, he's as important to the show as House. I can't wait for the rest of the new shows especially since Monk is already over till January. I hate to say it but I don't think Monk is as good without Sharona. It's like with House and Wilson, she and Monk had some sort of chemistry where they played off one another. And I don't mean sexual chemistry...just some sort of friendship chemistry. Having said that, I have to say I also love NCIS and I like the Ziva character as much or more than Kate. So killing off a character and replacing them isn't always bad. I'm not adverse to change. Hey, I like Law & Order and that's a veritable revolving door for characters. LOL!!

Enough for now, I have to get ready for work. Have a great weekend!

I guess I'm a little behind since it's already on season 2, but I just started watching The Closer on TNT and I love it!! Why didn't I know about this show before? It's my own fault because TNT has certainly been promoting it. I have heard of it but didn't even know what it was about and the title didn't grab me or make me want to watch. But this weekend my TiVo was almost empty (getting ready for the fall season to start!) and I was checking out the suggestions it had for me and I watched The Closer just to see what it was before deleting it. And now I'm kicking myself for not watching sooner. It's smart, funny and I think the actors are perfect in their roles. I watched the 4 TiVo had for me and now I want more! I see the first season is out on DVD...I may have to make a trip to Walmart or Sam's Club! LOL!

I'ved be experimenting with black and white photos with a colored element and I decided to make a layout with one of the photos.

Not much going on this weekend. It feels strange without Alex. Letting go is hard. Not knowing where he is nor what he's doing. It's like one day he's a kid at home now he's of legal age and not exactly living on his own since he's in a dorm but he's still living outside the home.