February 3, 2007

• Groundhog Day 2007

  I totally missed Groundhog Day.  For those in parts of the world not familiar with Groundhog day and what it is, READ HERE.  Phil’s prediction is favorable this year, see it HERE.

  Anyway, Groundhog Day was here then gone and my usually good frame of mind with it.  NOT MY FAULT.  My, built into my stove microwave, burned out.  It was one of Litton’s originals, has been fixed several times and now, as the unit is about 35 years old it’s so much cheaper to do the ugly American thing of dumping it into our huge American dumping system, replacing it instead of fixing it which actually we would be willing to do but, you can’t get parts for it.  Good things, expensive things aren’t meant to last, we just think they are.  It’s called built in obsolescence and we, meaning our family, avoid it as much as possible but you can’t fix what you can’t get parts for.  Though I do range-top and oven cooking, I am spoiled to a microwave.  The replacement car (October purchase) is taking all excess funds so, a new oven/stove/microwave isn’t in the stars at this time.  So, he 1- ripped the defective microwave from it’s moorings above the range 2- purchased a sheet of 3/4″ plywood for cutting a shelf for the remaining hole.  3- runs all over town to purchase wiring that seems to be more than the norm for insulation and heat conduction inside a stove and all over means he ended up having to go to a parts house as hardware stores don’t carry what was needed.  4-Popping into the hole an older portable microwave I had that used to be in our camper, also a had.  5- my very small kitchen is strewn with all the stuff needed to do the repair, pliers, screwdrivers etc and in other words a mess you can’t work in.  Well used or lived in areas of a house, torn up for a couple of days does a number on a good mood.  It can really do a number on days say for instance “Groundhog Day” and it did, as it flew by totally ignored in its importance. 

  I did watch the movie, Groundhog Day, about a week ago with Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.  It’s one of my favorites, similar in type to Jimmy Stewart in “It’s  A Wonderful Life”.  If you haven’t seen it.  It’s a feel good movie, after the fact, giving opportunity to “get it right” concerning possible less than human actions.  I recommend it as a seasonal watch.  Tonight, a rerun with pizza, chips, hot chocolate etc as an “day after Groundhog day” party to reinstate the sweet person I know is hiding somewhere inside. 

  A happy day after Groundhog Day to anyone reading.

  Graphics, our newest group challenge came from my sister and it was, “learn more about the Brush Variations Palette in Paint Shop Pro”.  This black and white photo was sent in for our use for this challenge.  It was taken by my friend Tim, from the UK who loves playing with photos as much as I do. 

  

  Tim’s statement, I know you can take a color photo and turn it into a black and white but can you take a black and white and turn it into a color photo?

  

  This is what I did for a try at true to life color and I’m pleased with it …
   

  

  And this one I did trying for a look of a painting but it falls short.  I’ll keep practicing.

  Florida:
  Florida can use your good thoughts and your open wallets.  Contact your Red Cross to make much needed donations.  Red Cross site link:  Red Cross donation link.  A large list of sites used for Katrina last year, many will be helpful now.  See it HERE on CNN.

  Take care of you,
  Becca 

  • 11:20 am
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