s.n.a.f.u.

(Generally speaking, I don't enjoy reading about the minutiae of tech stuff, and I know that complaints are tedious in general. However, in the interest of healthy venting, I offer the following.)

Task for the evening: get my .mac account (now called MobileMe - why?) reinstated, up and running.

1. Click on the old .mac link, where I know I can set up my account again (I've tried it a few times recently, but my slow connection thwarted my attempts. Or so I've thought.)
2. Follow the steps, confirm info, send credit card info.
3. Wait for confirmation.
4. And wait.
5. And wait.
6. Contact Apple support for MobileMe. After clearing my cache and a few other basic things, the dude can't explain why it's not working.
7. Switch browser (was on Firefox, go back to Safari), try again.
8. My version of Safari does not support that site any longer. The site suggests Firefox.
   
9. Attempt Safari upgrade.
   
10. Safari cannot be updated on my operating system.
11. Attempt upgrade of my OS to the final version available to me (Tiger v. 10.4.11, if you must know).
12. Download v. 10.4.11.
13. Still 7% progress after 20 minutes.
    
14. Quit download, reboot.
15. Download v. 10.4.11
16. Success!
17. Open v. 10.4.11
18. "Mac OS X Update Combined (PowerPC) cannot be installed on this computer".
19. Double check that I downloaded the version meant for my mac.
    
20. check.
21. Attempt to contact Apple support.
22. DSL connection starts blinking off. on. off. on.
23. off.
24. beat head against keyboard.
25. sigh heavily.
26. repeat.
    

houston, we have lift off.

Yep.

One small step into the 21st century... one giant step for Ms. KQ:

This post brought to you by my new DSL connection!

hot hot hot!

weather: Yeah, it's in the 90ºs here today. Which is weird, because even though we usually have a few warm days in May, around these parts it's not usually this warm. So I'm using San Bruno AC: a battery-operated fan and a squirt bottle. And I am comforting myself in the knowledge of the Warm Weather Rule: 3 hot days, and then the fog rolls back in. Like clockwork. It'll be great.

church music: The Bethany choir had a real good day today! Sang a centuries-old piece of music, "Cantate Domino", (which is *not* about pizza delivery) acapella. It was... magnificent. I am so happy to be part of the choir again. I had a long drought when I didn't really get to sing anywhere. But with T. as the new Director of Music this year, even going to choir rehearsal can be a worshipful experience. Surrounded all night by dear, dear friends in the choir loft, I leave each week feeling both energized and content. Sunday mornings are similarly at-peace, but with a whole 'nother energy. Today the Spirit was very tangible, and the whole experience was satisfying on many levels.

Open Mic Night: Bethany is hosting a monthly event, and so far it's going even better than I imagined. About 40 people attended last night, and 8 of them were guests - folks who saw the ads I put up on line and just showed up. Perfect! Last night was a little bigger, a little better than the previous event.

Next month it will continue to grow. How do I know this? I guess the best way to describe it is faith. Last night it was apparent, so very clear, that God is blessing this endeavor. Do you remember that scene in "Field of Dreams" where the little girl says with certainty, "people will come. They won't even know why they're coming here, or where they are going when they get in their car..."? It feels like that - with little or nothing to do with logic, people will come. This is happening for all the right reasons and we are following the guidance of a Power greater than all of us. The event will, simply, grow.

One of our guests last night said, "you people ALL belong to the same church? This place is amazing!" Modesty aside - it's true. About half of the congregation are incredibly talented - professional quality - musicians. It hardly seems fair, until we realize that God has brought all of these talented people together into one congregation for a reason. The whole push behind doing an open mic night is to multiply our "talents". (A small biblical pun.) We are providing a warm and welcoming space for others like us... others who may not have a place to go, who may not know that a church can be such a place. We are here, and we are ready.

It is SO exciting to watch this unfold!

weekend

I had a lovely time last night with Aaron and our friend Derek at the Giants game. For many years now, I have given Aaron tickets for his birthday. Some years are leaner than others, some years the seats are better than others. This year, we were in a "view box" over the Giants dugout in the upper deck. Tim Lincecum, our 22 year old Cy Young winner, pitched - and struck out 9 batters. Sadly, the bull pen did not support him well and the Giants lost in a heartbreaker. Despite that, I had a great time, talking baseball and hanging out with my kid.

(photo courtesy of Derek Norris)

I can't think of a more enjoyable way to watch a game than sitting next to my son. He's knowledgeable, funny, and loves the game as much as anyone ever has. His buddy Derek drove all the way down from Sacramento to be with us, and he is a joy as well. Recently I saw a picture that was taken on Derek's wedding day. He was standing in a field wearing his suit and a baseball glove ~ and he was having a catch with my boy (who, as a member of the wedding party, was similarly attired) before the ceremony. It is a romantic photo, packed with meaning and love. (And I'm sorry that I don't have a copy!)

Today I have many things on my to do list: mundane tasks - laundry, housecleaning, time in the garden. But also things unique to the day: I'm going to figure out the DSL kit that arrived on Thursday, and take one more step into the 21st century. Tonight is our second Open Mic Night at Bethany, and I'm going to bake something for that (probably "crack"), and get there to set up around 5:00.

Best to get going then!

progress!

I took these photos two months ago, at the Half Moon Bay Nursery. Yeah, I know... I've been MIA from the blog for a while. But things are gonna change hereabouts, and real soon. I got my DSL package in the mail today. Between that and my cell phone (which was new last July), I've almost joined the 21st century. I still have a tape deck in my car, though. And no iPod. Don't wanna be rash about this stuff...

Once the freedom of the open internets fully sinks in, here's the plan:

1. My .mac (or whatever they're calling it now) account will come back up. That's where my photo albums are kept, as those of you who've been around for a while know. There will be a LOT more photos from me when that happens, but probably by invitation only.
2. I'll still have my facebook account, where photos of family parties, stuff like that will probably be kept.
   
3. I'll be opening an ETSY shop to sell my images and note cards (I still have to find a way to protect my images...)
4. Who knows?! The sky's the limit!

More later (but not too much later...)
peace,
KQ

Dear Martha,

I am kicking myself, learning that Martha (yes, THAT Martha) has held an Easter Creation contest and a flower photo contest this year. Because this is what I created last Easter:

click to view the full grandeur of the project

It's my Peeps topiary! It's 4 feet tall! I really think it beats at least a couple of Martha's prize winners...

peeps bunnies! peeps chicks! jelly bird eggs! bunny corn!

really cute ribbons! decopagé flowerpot!
(If I did it again, I'd probably make all of those bows face the same direction...)
the bunny corn base!

Everything was cemented onto styrofoam shapes, using royal icing. Which would make the whole thing edible - er, except for the styrofoam, of course.

Ah, well, Martha. Maybe next year. Live and learn!

P.S. It was a lot of fun!!!