There is a TOC in the class again today... so this morning was a little wild.

However, unbeknowst to me the class was scheduled to go skating for half of the morning. So, I am here at the school supervising the four students who forget to bring their skates and were unable to find skates that fit out of the spares that were in the basement supply room.

So, now the students and I are enjoying some unstructured free time. We're all on our ibooks and thanks to the wonder of remote desktop I know what they are doing at all times. The class is gone until lunch - so in about half an hour we're going to go to the gym with the other EA who works in the class and the students will get to play their sport of choice. What a well rounded morning it will be.

And I just learned that I might have to TOC in the afternoon in this class. Which would be most fun... and mean that I can recoup the costs of my recent extravagances in the city (which really were not that extravagant...)

Just read about this from one of the blogs I subscribe to.

If you're looking for something to cheer you up, watch this
approx. ten minute mockumentary: Fear of Girls about Dungeons and Dragons players. It's hilarious and well worth the watch.

There's a TOC in my main class today and as a result both of the students that I focus my time with have gone home. And the rest of the students are working on the classic busy work.

This morning I heard a story that reaffirmed my belief that there are many, many stupid individuals in the world... and some are so stupid that it is beyond incredible. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all.

Today was particularly sunny outside... and after three days of being cooped up inside with my most recent sickness I decided to escape the cofines of my dungeon studio and go for what would be called a daily constitutional if I can count walking to and from work each week day.

I strolled with my camera downtown... or really, past downtown and to Centennial Park where the city is preparing for the upcoming High on Ice festival. I don't actually know if it's called High on Ice again this year, but even if it isn't that is what I'm going to call it because it has to be the most ridiculous name for a family friendly winter carnival. Somehow, the connotations of the festival name seemed to slip past the naming committee. I will continue to laugh heartily at that one for a long time.

As is common knowledge, I recently lost the regular company of my model muse to the bright lights of the city. So, I have gone back to shooting solo. It's better than it used to be... perhaps because now I'm a little more bold in my photo taking... I can ignore the strange looks that I get when I'm crouched low trying to get a different perspective of a building or tree. It's hard not to feel a little silly when taking a self portrait - but today I faced that fear and shot away with nearly wild abandon.

I really don't know what I would do with myself in this town if I didn't have my camera. My brain would probably shrivel up and I'd start working at the Cold Beer and Wine store just so I could have access to the free liquor samples. Then my Friday nights wouldn't be so empty.

oh, I'm most amusing.

in other news I have to report that the Adobe CS2 continues to impress me. Adobe Bridge is a far superior way of navigating through the photos I have on my computer... the filmstrip view was a much required improvement.

That's all for now... must get back to my editing before an early bedtime.

this afternoon my ugliness was on display.

I needed to wash the nastiness away but I could not motivate myself to venture out of doors to take any pictures. Where I could travel by foot (reasonably) just did not interest me photographically. So I decided to explore the rooms nearby with my camera.

It's funny that when I'm getting a little tired of being in front of the computer I always end up back in front of it. But my ugly mood needed brightening - and I lacked a wide variety of upbeat music to continue with the therapy most thoughtfully provided via a long distance telephone call. However, my photographic journey in my basement ended up being a very good thing, because I found the cd case with copies of a lot of the music I thought I had lost in the great music crash of 2005. That discovery gave me a great deal of pleasure.

and I've been slowly ridding myself of what is left of my afternoon ugliness with the help of Rufus Wainwright. He's hardly what anyone could call upbeat, but hey... I've got to work with what I have.

Occasionally one must learn to be content with what they have... or at least accept that temporary condition.

Aperture is $299 in the Apple Education Store. Which is nice, except I don't have that kind of money nor do I have a computer that could run it.

shucks darn... and I suppose it would be too presumptuous of me to think that the Valentine's Day fairy will be so kind to bring me the 5D this year.

W. sent me this link. Watch it...

it's too funny.

I said it once before... and I'll say it once again.

Adobe CS2 rocks my bobby socks! Adobe Bridge is a great improvement on File Navigator in Photoshop.

and I felt like junk this morning... but I'm starting to feel better. Maybe it's just the after effects of using improved software.

or maybe I'm delirious and running a fever...

TV is good because it stops me from thinking. And I have been thinking too much lately and in order for me to relax I need to stop thinking.

My computer work does not allow me to do that. Although I can be in bed working on my laptop, it does not mean that I am relaxing.

Someone take my laptop away from me for a moment or two... and give me a movie to watch.

oh but wait, the only way I can watch a movie is to use my laptop. The world is against me.

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In other news: My cold does not seem to be really improving. Good thing I have a doctor's appointment coming up.