Pointless photo of the day:

Guess there won't be any backyard fires in the next while.

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This is all you're getting today. I'm feeling a bit meh... or at least like my brain isn't exactly connected to the world even though I did get a proper night's sleep and everything.

Come to think of it, that might be the problem.

Ah well, what can you do?

Things not in my ear

That's right. There are no dead marigolds in my ear.

There are a few other things that aren't in my ear as well, now.

As of yesterday, in fact.

The ongoing ear thing is a lot better today (thanks for your concern. You were concerned, right?) because the inflammation finally went down enough that I could have the ear cleaned out without fear of rupturing something.

And incidentally, I already knew that you should never, never put cotton swabs in your ear, but after reading this story I don't think I'll allow one within a metre of my face entirely. Death by Q-tip is so very wrong.

This wasn't exactly the first time I've had my ear syringed. I have a bit of family weirdness (as in, my brother has the same problem) with my ear wax that leads to the regular need for ear cleaning. It's not generally a big deal; in fact, I often do it myself.

Not this time, though. When your ear's been buggered up for a month you shouldn't be your own doctor.

So anyway. Had the ear syringed, saw some very disturbing things come out of it (anyone want descriptions? No? Well, let's just say that between Star Trek and Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy references I'm not entirely convinced that my ear hadn't become home to some bizarre form of alien), and for the first time in ages I don't feel like half of my head is underwater.

Yay me.




Oh, and that disgusting little slice of my life is all you're getting today. I've got actual work that needs to be done.

Bye then.









I can hear that, you know.

There.

New pointless photo.

Worth the wait?

I doubt it.

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Apparently the highway's back to green again (well, not literally green. I just mean green as in safe, according to the AMA road report) so I should be hitting the road back to my own place before the next dump of snow.

Next dump of snow, yes. Typical Alberta winter: we go most of the season bemoaning the lack of snow cover for the plants and the various creatures that depend on subnivean spaces (oh, google it yourself. I'm not in the mood), and then just as we're starting to think that maybe spring might be somewhere in the not-excruciatingly-distant future we get the whole winter's snow load in a week.

It sucks if you're me. Winter makes me cranky, remember.

Ah well, cranky or not I should go get my stuff packed. I'm already a day later than I planned to be, and unfortunately the newsletter isn't going to finish itself. Wheat, I may not be in today (couple of other things need taking care of), but I'll definitely be plugging away again tomorrow.

It'll give me a different reason to be cranky, if nothing else.

Pointless photos

I need to get out and take some new photos.

Bet you haven't noticed that my posts lately have been featuring the dregs of my nerdstick. And yes, I know it's all pretty lame.

The thing is that I hate taking pictures of winter because I hate winter. Now there's a shocking statement to make. Dee hates winter? Surely not!

Gawd yes. I hate cold, and I hate snow. And I hate taking pictures of snow. I like colour, shape, and pattern, not let's-make-everything-the-same-shade-of-white-and-pretend-it's-pretty.

It isn't pretty. It's winter.

It's evil.





And now you know.

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Hey... since we're almost nearly talking art, maybe you can give me a hand with something. We're putting on a staff art exhibit at work (yeah, where else would we do it?) in a few months, and I need to decide what I'm in the mood to contribute. I have a few photos in mind, but at the same time I know that I should probably get off my arse and do a bit of to-the-purpose doodling.

Erm... technically I'd probably be on my arse while I'm doodling, but you know what I mean.

I do have a couple of extant sketches that might suit (I'm thinking of one or two of the more elaborated spider doodles from a few years ago, or maybe one of the lilies you can find in the other blog's archives), but it'd be nice to get inspired and do something new.

Problem? Lack of inspiration.

Solution? Outside suggestion (hint hint hint).

What I'd be looking at is nature-based still life. I'm not in the mood to look up live animal models, in other words. Anyone out there have a favourite plant or whatever else that might make a good subject? I'd prefer something that's easy to find at the local florist or greenhouse, since drawing from photographs never works out as nicely as having the real thing around.

I have a lot of time to get my brain around this, but it'd be better to start sooner rather than later. Otherwise I'll be scratching out a half-hour doodle sometime in September, and I can guarantee that it'll look exactly like a scratched-out half-hour doodle.

Ok, your move. And if you ask nicely I might post a couple of the photographs that I've been thinking of submitting as well.





Although... if I'm thinking of using the photos for something they're technically not pointless photos.

And if I post something that's not pointless the blog will turn into a pumpkin.








Ah well. Had to happen sooner or later.

Pointless photo of the day:

That's it from me. Yes, even after a few days off you're only getting a photo. Can't help it -- I'm kind of busy just now.

More later, maybe.

Later that same week ....

Flash ahead to the next day - yes, I'll agree there's not much real flashing to go just one day ahead.

This is clouds gone, a lovely scene of snow on trees and pristine conditions on the ground.

Ah, yes, happiness abounds as the pups are thrilled with burying their snouts in newly-fallen snow and pushing sticks around to chase them.

Yes, I do have dogs that amuse themselves quite well but also get along with others. Better than I ever have with people ... but that's another blog quite entirely.

Looks lovely, doesn't it. And with the sun out, it's alllllmost bearable.

Have I been whining lately? Well, you're in luck you know. If all you do is mock, laugh and point you'll - er, we'll - have an extra day of this whining and pictorial display of the reason for said complaining. There's an extra day in this month.

You lucky, reader, you.

And on the other side of the coin

.... this is what it looks like the next day.

The clouds part, the snow abates and if you're very talented and point the lens just so ... or, well, if you're lucky ... you get the rays of sunlight hitting the lens at an angle and voila, a nice picture.

I'm still not friends with winter anymore and have tried to send it packing but it doesn't appear to be heeding me one bit.