Domestic Geek

OK, I got Expression Engine 1.6 all installed over at my domesticgeek.com. Got the databases and everything set up with the host all by myself. I'm so proud. Everything I set up on this domain database-wise has to be done by Marcus. I just need to finish the darned theme I'm working on and we'll go live over there. w00t!

Back when I was a music student in college in the late '80s, I was introduced to the most fabulous piece of music software called Finale®. Many of the graduate composition students wrote their scores with it. When I was student teaching, my mentor also had it and used it to write practice drills for her students. It was the top of the line music notation program back then and I'm happy to see that they are still the premier software package available for musicians, composers and music educators today.

It truly is an amazing tool and easy to use. It now includes a lot of sound libraries and you can import music clips, as well. It certainly has come a long was since its early midi playback.

I see that the company that produces it, MakeMusic, Inc., also has a piece of software called SmartMusic®. It's a music practice program, even providing accompaniments for the popular Rubank series. I wish that had been available back when I was studying music. Perhaps I would have taken it more seriously and better a better musician through its use. There's a wonderful tour on their website describing how this program works.

So if you're a professional musician or a student, go check out MakeMusic's site and see these and the other wonderful computer software titles they produce. There are free demos available for download. It's making me want to get back into music again.

NOTE: I think this was a paid post at one point, but I'm leaving it because the software really is awesome!

It's starting to feel like fall in the morning. I love it when there is just a tiny cool nip in the air.

After the super busy last two weeks at work where the supervisor realized I could've been more help had I been trained to be an operator already, I finally started learning how to do that yesterday. Wow, there is so much to do to get customer files ready to print. If one doesn't already exist, I'm seriously considering starting a blog to provide tips to designers to make better files. When I first when to a DMG meeting, I couldn't understand why designers and prepress people hated each other so...now I get it. The majority of the fault lies with designers who don't really understand the printing process or how to provide usable files. Just because you can kind of get around a page layout program doesn't make one a good designer. Just sayin'.

Vegas is looking less and less like a reality. I'll wait a couple of weeks to rescind my vacation request at work, but I don't have the money to go and don't see getting it in time either. I also decided that I'm really going to get serious and get the embroidery business I want up and running in the new year (I really want my own business and don't want to be working where I am in 5–10 years). Going to a blogging conference when I'm sick of blogging just isn't making sense. While I'd love to see the gals I've met online there, it's not enough of a motivating factor when I have a goal I want and need to achieve. I still want to go to Vegas, but I want to make sure I have the funds available to do all that I want to do there (i.e. a Blue Man show, a Cirque show, etc.) I also really want to go with Marcus, so that means driving and even more time off from work. I may make plans to go spring or something when I actually get paid vacation time from work.

OK, even though I took a 3 hour nap when I got home from work, I'm tired and have to get up for work in five hours, so I'd better head off to bed.

This past weekend, I was trying to get a new dog. My life has felt empty without a dog in it and it seems that everywhere I go lately, there are reminders that I'm dogless. A friend had emailed me about a friend of hers that was fostering a dog that needed a new home. When I saw the picture, I immediately fell in love and knew I just had to have the animal. I emailed the woman back and forth and was to the point that I was filling out the questionnaire and gathering references when my friend let me know that he was an undisciplined handful.

I was crushed, but knew that no matter how badly I wanted him, having this particular dog was not a good idea. The old me would've continued towards the goal of saving the dog and been disappointed when it destroyed my things, but he new me emailed the woman back and let her know that I would have to withdraw my intentions to adopt the animal.

At least the whole ordeal was not in vain. It has strengthened my resolution that I need to get my ducks in order and get out of this mobile home park so that I can have another dog as part of the family.

So, I tried to get a dog this past weekend. A friend of mine sent out an email that a friend of hers was fostering a dog that needed a home. When I saw the picture of the shepherd/husky mix, I knew I wanted that dog! I emailed back and forth with the foster mom and had the application all filled out and was rounding up some references. I asked my friend that sent me the original email if she would be a reference and she told me that the dog was undisciplined. I had been given the impression that the dog was well-behaved and just needed some leash training. With Marcus and I both working, I need a well-trained dog and can't have one at home eating and chewing everything in site. I emailed her back with my reasoning for withdrawing my offer to take him. I was crushed.

I still want a dog, dang it.