Wednesday, October 27, 2010

My Steampunk Style

Your result for The Steampunk Style Test...

The Air Pirate

25% Elegant, 21% Technological, 23% Historical, 56% Adventurous and 63% Playful!

You are the Air Pirate, the embodiment of steampunk fantasy. Admittedly, you would probably be more comfortable in a pulp adventure or Eberron fantasy, but you are able to find your niche in the less serious side of the genre. You are probably somewhat light on your technological accessories, but the ones that you do carry have a roguish dash to them. Your clothes are most likely styled after those of Victorian aristocrats or loyal airship officers, the better to show off your wealth and the spoils of your raids. Chances are you prefer to be flashy and extravagant, and frock coats are perfect.



Try our other Steampunk test here.

Take The Steampunk Style Test at HelloQuizzy

Monday, October 25, 2010

Computer Ughs

Video card officially the problem. Can't even get it to work with basic drivers. I'm going to boot in safe mode and transfer some things over to a thumb drive. Then I can work on my husband's computer or on the old PC in the back room. Just glad I'm not completely cut off.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Wonky Computer

Tuesday night I was playing a video game when the screen went wonky with colored lines and I had to manually shut down. Usually that happens when the video card is overheating, so I sprayed out the dust, made sure all the parts were secure, and let it sit overnight. Next morning, seemed to boot up fine. I clicked to open an excel item, and hello Aurora Borealis. Looked like a modern art landscape with all the curvy colors. Shut back down and used my husband’s computer until he was off work.

Hubby messed with my computer when he got home. After trying some things, and some research online, the problem appears to be the RAM on the video card going out. Ugh. We really can’t afford a new card right now. Thankfully, he worked it out so my PC is using only the basic VGA graphics. I can’t run any games, or make full use of my monitor, but I can still use the internet and write.

On the plus side, that means less distractions for NaNoWriMo. I’m just glad I’m not stuck using my husband’s computer (or the old one in the back room) for writing. And I still have consoles for gaming, so it’s not the hugest loss. Just no MMOs, Sims, Civ… So staying positive.

Monday, October 18, 2010

My Writing Space

Thanks to some of the inspiring workshops at the Muse Online Writers Conference, a Barnes and Noble gift card, and the upcoming NaNoWriMo, I finally got around to REALLY decluttering my work space this last week.

I don’t have a before picture, but imagine a desk with a stack of various sized papers on the left, hidden under notebooks. Pens always getting lost, to do lists hidden. No wonder I didn’t notice when I lost my first bliss book. Now that I’m really happy with my space, I’m determined to keep it clean.

 

Mary's Desk

 

How my clutter-less desk will help free me:

  • I bought a gorgeous butterfly day planner, so I won’t have a million little papers all over my desk.
  • I also got a large hardback notebook (for writing related stuff only) to sit on my desk, which won’t fit if the space is cluttered (motivation!).
  • I found a nice pen to use with my new planner and notebook. All three of which will fit in my shoulder bag nicely.
  • Owl City and Celtic music not only in easy reach, but not hidden by a stack of whatever.
  • Scented hand lotion to soothe and refresh. Currently, vanilla.
  • Not shown is a pink water bottle which sits on the desk calendar. Need to keep hydrated.
  • Worry stone in easy reach for while thinking/stressed, instead of hidden in drawer.
  • Computer desktop is nicely organized using Fences, a free program from Stardock.

Butterfly Planner Flower Notebook

What hasn’t changed are all the little friends on my top shelf. I don’t have as many folders and books up there to crowd them anymore, and do need to keep them dusted. And that pile of stuff in front of the white bear needs to get hung somewhere. Choir medal from graduation, dream catcher, and bead lizard.Desk Shelf

 

Ideally, and maybe someday when we have a bigger house, I would have an entire office or nook, with a separate computer for writing only. What’s your writing space like?

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Stuff to make you Smile

My cats hunting a fly. Didn’t catch it on film, but Topher actually did catch and eat it.

 

And this video is going around on Facebook. Made of awesome! I love when grown men don’t mind being ridiculous. :-)