Here’s a cat picture.

This is Kat. He’s a brute. He’s also foul tempered, has an attitude to match that of any teenager, and is surprisingly photogenic (Don’t believe the cute. It’s a ploy. I just don’t know what it’s a ploy FOR.)

His nicknames are Mister Furry, Mister Pissy, and Sir.

This Jackalope Feltidermy immediately made me think of this. (Really. Click the link. You trust me don’t you?)

ADDENDUM the First:
OK. I think I have to put the computer away now. I just played the hamster taxidermy song two times in a row (well it is short) and if I play it again Michael might come over here and take exception to my actions.

So off to read my book.

(humming to self)

As one might conclude from my post yesterday, my now top priority project is to redo our documentation for Dreamweaver and Photoshop, which Photoshop on the top of the pile, since I have to teach that sooner.

Not only have there been major changes between Photoshop CS and Photoshop CS3, I am now reminded why I hate help files and product documentation so much.

IF YOU CAN’T NAME AN ITEM CONSISTENTLY THROUGHOUT YOUR DOCUMENTATION, HOW ARE PEOPLE SUPPOSED TO USED YOUR DAMNED HELP FILES?

I kid you not. My first task is always to label the parts of the window, so I can put up a picture to refer to as I write. Except that Photoshop seems to have multiple names for several objects, so now I have to guess what names to use.

No wonder people never read the gorram documentation.

So I had to teach Intro to Photoshop this afternoon.

First off, I am not an expert in Photoshop–far from it. I can do the basics, but any of the more esoteric stuff? Forget it. But that’s okay usually, because this is a very basic class.

So I walk into class, we open up the program, and suddenly I discover that my boss has upgraded the version of Photoshop from CS to CS3.

And he didn’t tell me.

And he upgraded every computer BUT the instructor’s computer–mine.

And I have never worked in Photoshop CS3.

At that point, there was nothing I could do but apologize to the class and tell tell them we’d just have to muddle through as best we could.

Really, when something that ridiculous happens, there’s nothing you can do but laugh and hope people are going to be understanding. Luckily, the classes are free, so they were more than willing to be understanding.

Any conversation that contains the phrase, “well, guess who’s in jail!” does NOT need to occur while you are pooping in a public restroom.

I’m just saying.

Feels like it.

I’m having a rough day today, so sorry if I’m extra cranky.

Too much in my life right now that I cannot control, and it’s making me extremely tense.

So… out of control, really tense, on the edge of freaking out.

This is going to be an awesome day!

ADDENDUM the First:
Went out to lunch with a friend. Had a small chocolate dessert. Came back and was able to schedule a massage therapy appointment for tomorrow. Things are better already.

Now I just have to get through my Photoshop class without the computers exploding.

ADDENDUM the Second:
This post and some of the following comments have been edited, for what are probably obvious reasons to those who made the comments.

Breakdown of Modern Web Design

Actually, I think the “swearing” segment and the”time spent wishing a slow painful death on Bill Gates” segments are larger thn shown.

(via War on Folly)

How to end a difficult day.

Alice Medrich’s Bittersweet Brownies (from Cookies and Brownies * OOP)

6 tbs unsalted butter
3 oz bittersweet chocolate
3 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/4 cup flour
2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 325.

Butter a square 9″x9″ baking pan, and line up two sides with parchment paper.

In double broiler, melt chocolate and butter. As soon as chocolate and butter are melted, remove from pot from heat. Add sugar and stir well. Add vanilla and salt and stir well. Add eggs, one at a time, stirring. Add one cup flour and stir until incorporated. Add nuts; batter should start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Bake 30 to 40 minutes, until brownies *just* start to pull away from the edge of the pan.

Cool one hour.

If eating while warm, a scoop of vanilla ice cream is perfect.

* This is one of my favorite cookbooks. It’s relatively short, but every recipe I’ve tried is perfect. And judging by the Amazon website, I’m not the only one who feels this way.

And lo did the fairy of annoyance swoop down with her magic wand and say, “HA! You thought you wanted to get work done today? HA!”

And lo did I spend many hours at the front desk, answering the same questions, over and over. “Yes, I need a photo ID. No it does not have to be your WVU ID, just something with your picture on it. Yes, you MUST do this if you want to use a computer. No, I don’t know why the downtown help desk won’t answer their phones.”

And lo now I have returned to my office, and shall proceed to hide under my desk and not answer my phone.

Forever and ever until Monday is over.

Multum in parvo

Much in little

For some reason, that seemed about right.

Hooray for the sun god!
He’s the number one god!
Ra! Ra! Ra!

Anyone up for a game of Calvin-ball?

Oh fine. If you insist. Some rules.

Who do I match up with politically? Some of this was a surprise, most wasn’t.

(more…)

I’ve never understood why people like scary things.

I hate to be scared. It’s probably due to the fact that I am rather high strung (as in I don’t need caffeine to be wound up and jumpy) and I have a vivid imagination.

I never had a fear of the supernatural, excluding a (fully justifiable, I’m sure) hatred of zombies. So I’ve never been quite sure why vampires and werewolves and the like are fodder for horror films. I much prefer the stories that explore why they’re different from us. But I don’t necessarily find them scary.

I think real fear is something else entirely.

Such as last night when we heard a loud banging and crashing from my grandmother’s bedroom.

That’s real fear.

She’s okay. She’s just going to be bruised and sore for a week or so. But in that moment I envisioned many things–none good. All of them frightening.

Like I said, I’ve never understood why people like scary things.

Hmmm… 9 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s pretty chilly.

Too bad I had to leave the house to come to work. Especially since work is going to kick my butt today.