Knutschen2's blog

Have passport, will travel!!!

I am so excited with I finally received my passport in the mail!!! It actually took less than two weeks! I was surprised about that. I can leave the country on a whim now and I love having that option!!! If someone ask me if I want to go to India for the week, I can go!!!! :-) I don't see that happening but you never know!

I am just hanging out at the Mudhouse with no real reason. I did bring all my school books but just relaxing. I did register for CKC-St. Louis! I am excited!! I am meeting up with a couple of girls from one of the MB I frequent. I can't wait!!! I need to start preparing for this while I am on break since I will be to busy the next week with school/work to really have time.

Earlier this week I received an email about how to fake cross-processing in photoshop. Elsie Flannigan has got me curious on how to cross-process and when I purchased photoshop CS3, I learned that they have a preset for cross-processing in curves. But it makes the picture look to green or it washes out the pic to much. This email explained how to make alter the curves on your own to get the effect. I finally did it and it doesn't look all washed out!!! I am totally loving this effect!!! I have also searched and seen other ways to go about cross processing also. I need to play around with the different options and see what gives the best effect! I love playing with Photoshop!! I found some images that I posted that give before and after of cross processing.

Magazine Fun!!

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Saw this posted on another blog and had to have a little fun!!

Watch out Firedog!!

I am qualified to work for Firedog now! I went to the bookstore today and did a little reading about networks. I reviewed a chapter about adding your printer to your wireless network. I also learned a tip on how to link my itunes with my laptop. I took this knowledge I had read and went home to try it. Well, IT WORKED!!! I am now printing from my laptop anywhere in the house!!! I am also able to get my itunes library on my laptop. Awesome!!

I should have done that to begin with and save me some headache with the Firedog customer service. I just hope it doesn't mess up again!

Absent Minded Professor

I am not very happy with my New Testament instructor. To start out, when he gives us quizzes, they are matching. He always gives us one sheet with the questions and one sheet with the answers. He somehow didn't make it to class with the answer sheet. We had to write the answers in. I rely on that sheet as I am not very good with spelling all the Biblical terms and names. I felt pretty good about the quiz but today I missed 5!! I normally get 100%! It appears that he counted wrong some right answers. We aren't going over the quiz till we return from Spring Break. Then after class he happened to find the answer sheet. ARGH!!!

So today, we have a mid-term exam. He told us 30 subjects that was going to be on the test and that it was going to be 30 questions all multiple choice. I highlighted all these subjects in my notes and on the quizzes. I looked things up in the book and read about them. I thought I would do pretty good. We start class and he is writing a bunch of words on the board and then he announces that he somehow didn't make it with mid-term!! What?? That is all we are doing in class today and he doesn't have it with him? So, he had us take a pencil and paper out and number to 30. He just reads of the multiple choice questions. He did add 8 matching. I was ticked as was my classmates. I read, re-read and re-read the questions over before making my choice. That wasn't possible. He did repeat questions but I do so much better when I can read it myself and see the spelling of these words!!! The majority of the subjects he gave us wasn't even on the test. I totally flunked it. I am glad that I had done fairly well on the quizzes to this point as I will need all those points!!!

I have been a little stressed this afternoon thinking of what I got on the mid-term. I am on spring break from school and so glad!!! I start my vacation from work on Monday morning. My plans is to actually write a few research papers. I have to many near the end of the semester and trying to spread them out!!

Rough week . . .

The last week has been really busy for me. I really thought that I would have some time to myself this weekend but that isn't going to happen. There is an online crop that is going on with my Sassy Scrappers that I wish I could do more to participate!

By Monday night, I was on my third 12. I am always tired on these days and was upset when I get to work and see that I am getting 3 new patients + 5 patients that I am responsible for!! We had 4 nurses that evening and why I had to start out with 3 new admits was beyond me. I was thankful that a day shift nurse was going to stay over and help me with the admits. :-) She was a life saver for me!! She told me to just worry about my other patients while she admitted my new ones. Then when the charge nurse tried to give me a fourth patient, I had to say something!!! I did end up with a fourth admit but much later in the night when I was a little more caught up with myself.

Tuesday, I got off work that morning and we had 7 inches of snow while I was at work. I had parked in the parking garage that night. I get out to my car so ready to get home and the locks are frozen!!! I had no way of getting in my car. I also had cars waiting for me to get in my car to take my parking spot. I was in distress standing in the cold and they were probably thinking, "Hurry up Lady!!!". It took me about 15 minutes to get my passenger side to unlock. The driver side just wouldn't open. So, I crawl in through the passenger side to get to the drivers seat. Finally!!! My journey home was a little slow as the roads had not me cleared off very well. I finally did make it home safely. Once I did get home, I had to shovel my driveway to get my car in the garage.

Tuesday afternoon I had a hair appointment. I was surprised when I woke up that afternoon that the roads were pretty clear. I was happy that I was able to get my hair cut. I even got me a new style. :-) I spent some time at Barnes & Noble afterwards to relax.

Wednesday, I had my American Government class and had a test that evening. I for some reason couldn't get myself to wake up and didn't give my self as much time to study has I had liked. I didn't like the test either!!! It was just his tricky multiple choice and 4 essay questions. I got a 70% on the multiple choice section and find out next week how I did on the rest. I hope I did good on the essay part! I think I did fairly well, at least I hope so!!

Thursday, I was woke up at 0750 after going to bed at 0430 that my doctor isn't going to be in the office again and I needed to reschedule my appointment. I was a little ticked off by this as it isn't easy to get an appointment and this has happened twice in less than a week. They couldn't reschedule me till March 27 or I could still come in but see the PA. I finally opted to see the PA. I am getting tired of my appointments being cancelled. I couldn't get to sleep after that so I had to go on with my day with 3 hours of sleep. ARGH!!!

I decided to leave a little early to enjoy a Big Fat Burrito for brunch. I didn't get to class till noon, when it starts, as we have a mid-term the next week and I didn't think we would have any questions to write down. I was wrong!!! I get to class and we have 20 questions!! His overheads are always poor quality and I can't read them so I always have to move to the front of the class to read it. As soon as I started, he took the overhead down!!! I was ticked already on how my day started and that didn't help it any!!

The next class event that ticked all of us off was when we got to the quiz. He always makes the questions matching but for some reason, he gave us next weeks quiz matching. So he couldn't find this weeks quiz so he told us just to write them out. I don't take time to learn how to spell these words as he always has that sheet. He told us he wouldn't count off for spelling. There was only one I was unable to answer. I just hope that he likes the answers I gave!!

I was really hoping to get out of class early as we usually do so I could get my allergy shots before my doctors appointment. I had to wait till after my doctors appointment. I am going back to the doctor in two more weeks to see how my B/P is doing. He told me that I have pre-hypertension but I had a few high B/P's that got me concerned. I am trying to watch my sodium intake closer and that is hard when I don't have time to cook! I have been eating soup or having sub sandwiches. I am doing my best. I am hoping to make it to the gym more while on spring break.

I decided to run home quickly to get my Sims2 Freetime expansion pack as it has went on sale at Best Buy and Circuit city. I had called Best Buy and they told me that would still match the price since I have bought the game recently and to show proof of the price at Circuit City and they would match it. I was able to get this game for $16.79 that the original price was $29.99! SWEET!!! I hope to get this loaded on my computer soon and have some fun with it!

Then I also went grocery shopping and ran into a cousin I haven't seen in a long time and we were catching up. It was a great visit! Then I finished my shopping and got home about 2100. I was hoping to get a little scrapping done that evening but I couldn't keep my head up and ended up going to bed at 2200. I ended up sleeping till 1430 on Friday! I had to work Friday night so I was glad to get the extra sleep.

Saturday morning I stayed up till a photography shop was open. I was hoping to find out if I can get a wireless remote for my camera. I found out they do have one but it would be about $500!!! So, I will be doing without a wireless remote. I thought it would be kinda fun. They do have more affordable lenses for my camera so when I am ready, I will have to check them out more.

That was my wild and crazy week. I just have a couple more months of this crazy schedule that I have. I can't wait to only be a nurse and no more juggling school with work!

Bad, Firedog, Bad!!!

One year ago I had a bad experience with Firedog service at Circuit City. I finally got things worked out and got my network to work. Then a few months later, I can't get things to print from my laptop. I can still get things to print from my desktop but for some reason my network isn't recognizing my printer. GGRRR!!! I went into the store a few months ago and they told me that it would be $80 to have them came back into my home to repair this. I decided that with my tax return, that I would get this fixed.

Thursday I go to Circuit City and actually ended up with the manager of computers assisting me. I explained what I needed and he told me that it would be $80 to have them come back into my home but they had a new service that would be good for 6 months for $100. I thought that sounded good as if a few months later my printer does this again, I can just have them come back out. I left the store happy that I am finally going to get this fixed.

I didn't call Firedog till Friday afternoon and this is when I learn that they won't be coming out to my house. The lady told me that it would either over the phone or I would have to take my computer to the store. I can't bring my whole network into the store. She wouldn't set-up in-home service for me. It even said on my receipt that I had purchased 6 months in-home service. I told her I wanted my money back since it wasn't what I needed. She told me I needed to contact the store since I purchased it in the store.

I call the firedog people in the store and they are clueless!!! I told him what has happened up to this point and that I was needing a refund. He told me that they can't do this in the store that you have to call Firedog to get a refund. I tired to explain to him that I already did and I was told to call the store. He put the phone down, didn't put it on hold so I can hear every thing they are saying in regards to my situation. He was trying to get a manager to talk to me but I heard him tell his co-workers that the manager won't come to the phone. WHAT?!?!?! The manager is who I need to authorize this and he won't come to the phone and talk to me???? They pick up the phone and then proceed to tell me that they are going to see what they can do to get me a refund and they will call me back.

By 8pm, I still had no phone call. I went ahead and called the main Firedog line to see what I needed to do. They told me I had to go into the store to get my refund. She told me that when I arrive to the store to have the cashier call Firedog to verify that I never used the service and I should get my money back. Also while talking to her I had explain to her why I wanted a refund so she told me the service that I needed was $40 and it would be online. They would be able to fix my printer and put it back on my network. I thought great!!! Someone that knows what they are talking about. I later found out that she didn't know what she was talking about. I went ahead and purchased this over the phone and would activate it when I returned home.

I arrive at the Circuit City store and gave the cashier my receipt and instructed that she needed to call firedog to verify that I didn't get use the service. She took my receipt and I could tell she didn't know what to do. She went and got somebody else. The lady she went and got remembers me calling earlier and told me that they already refunded my money. I never got a call back saying this was taken care of. They printed me a receipt showing that I was refunded back. GGRR!!! That would have saved me a trip from driving all the way to the other side of town if they would have called me.

I get home and decide to go ahead and activate this online service that I ordered. It won't let me sign in saying my email address is already in the system. I call Firedog again and have to go through why I need the service again!!! She doesn't know what to do about me not being able to sign in. She transfers me to a technician to see if we can fix this. I have to explain again why I am calling and then the technician tells me that the service I was sold wasn't what I needed!!! WHAT?!?!?!? So, she gives me the phone number of the place to call to get yet another refund but they are closed.

I wake up this morning and called the phone number she gave me as it was after hours when I was doing all this last night. I call and go through this whole saga again and she keeps putting me on hold would come back and put me on hold again. Then came back and told me that they are unable to give me a refund that I needed to call their headquarters. I thought that was the number I was given. I was only given the customer service phone number. I am steaming by this point by the run around I have been getting. She transfers me back to firedog as that is where I got my refund started yesterday. I have to call back on Monday when the people that gives refunds are back in the office.

This is the end of my firedog days. I will never use their service again and actually never got to use it this time. I have spent about two days trying to get this mess all smoothed out. I should be able to walk into the store, give the problem I am having, they sell me the proper package and then to have them come out to my home and repair it. I guess I will be researching on my own how to repair my own network.

Icy, slick Thursday

What a day Thursday was!! I had class and it was raining and sleeting. We even had heavy downpours with the sleet and thunder! Crazy weather day! I had quite the adventure getting to school that morning.

The roads were all slick and slushy so you had to be careful! My school seems to never cancel classes so here I am trying to make it to class. We have a few stop lights that will take your picture if you run a red light. I was at one of those stop lights when the light turned yellow but I was to close to the line to stop and it was too slick to make a sudden stop. I went through the light. I was driving slow and the light turned to red before I could make it through the intersection!! You are supposed to be all the way through the interection before the light turns red or you will get ticketed. GREAT!!! I hope that the weather was taken into consideration as I will be upset if I end up with a ticket in the mail.

I made it to school and the parking lot was almost empty!! Not a good sign. I literally slide all over the parking lot before I got my car stopped. I was glad that there wasn't much in the parking lot! I got to class and maybe half of the class was their. Class seemed to be going as normal. Our quiz questions for next week was on the projector, etc.

One thing I have a bad habit into doing is to work on my current quiz during class. I normally have enough time to finish it and study it enough to take the quiz at the end of class. He annouced that he wasn't going to keep us the whole time since the weather was bad so I started working on my quiz right away. About 5 minutes later, he is saying to clear your desk for the quiz!!!!!!!! I had only gotten one questions done!!!! My neighbor let me look over her questions quickly so I can hopefully make a somewhat good grade. We had class for 20 minutes that day and I am curious what I will be making on this quiz. I am glad I have done good on the other quizzes as I will need those points if I didn't get a good enough grade on this one. I am going to make sure to have my questions done before next week!!!! I still don't study the questions till class.

It kept raining and sleeting but the roads seemed to get better by the afternoon. I had some errands to run so I got done with those and got home earlier than I would have. It was a crazy day!!! The weather man keeps saying it is supposed to get up in the 50's but it hasn't happened yet. I am not sure where they are getting their info but I am loosing faith in the weather man!!!

Warm weather?

Our 40 degree day was only for one day!!! That was yesterday which I slept most of the day. Today it is back in the high 20's with 0.5 inches of ice in the forecast. Double yuck!!! As of right now, the weather might be in the 50's by the weekend. I am not trusting it till it gets closer. I had seen that it was going to be in the 50's starting today but I see that isn't going to happen!!

I was able to attend my meeting and got my credit for my trauma hours. I have to have 8 hours of trauma education a year. I have two down and 6 to go!! Yay!! I am liking going to the classes better than doing the self-study modules. I am glad that they are offering more classes.

I only had to work a 4 hour shift last night. I had asked a month ago to have 23-07 part of my shift off so I can get studying done for a test I have today. I also have a short paper to write for this class in regards to the two party system vs. multi party system with the American Government. I was planning when I got home last night to work on the paper and then go to bed. I couldn't keep my eyes open! I kept doing the head bob thing at my computer so I went to bed. I woke up early this morning to get things done for class. I am happy that I am not going to class half asleep today! I think I am going to need all my brain power for this test.

I had better get busy so I can do good on my test!

Ready for Spring!!

It is cold and rainy today. The ice has melted off of the trees but there is a threat for 1/2 inch of ice again. *sigh* I did see some hope for some warmer weather starting Tuesday. At least temps in the 40's!! That will be much better than what we have been having.

I am sitting in the Mudhouse and it is packed!!! I wasn't able to get a table near a plug-in so my laptop will be dying in 30-45 minutes. I wish that laptops had better batteries. I was hoping to get a paper written and the study guide for Chapter 6 in American Government. I should be able to get part of it done here.

I was glad that in American Government last week I got an 80% on my quiz. Man! I find his multiple choice questions hard! I just hope to be able to get enought points in this class to graduate! I also need to seriously work on my History correspondence course. I barely have time to get my studying for my weekly classes. Phew! I really hate my work/school schedule as I normally don't get to do fun things that I would like.

I was happy to get my federal and state tax return back so I did a little shopping after work Saturday morning. I got me a couple of new Cricut cartiridges that was on sale at Michaels. I now have A walk in the garden and paper pups. I can't wait till I have some time to use them! I also got some water color pencils. I hope to have a day on my spring break to be creative!!!

I believe I should get busy before my laptop dies.

Allergies??

Yesterday when I was getting ready for school, my allergies were kinda bothering me. They kept on bothering me in class. After class I went and got my allergy shots and was sneezing a little bit and couldn't breathe! It just kept getting worse during the day. I just wanted to go home to rest but had a meeting at work so I decided not to go home.

I went to hang out at Borders and was planning to do some studying. I couldn't keep my eyes open to get any studying done and was sneezing. I just sat and relaxed till it was time for me to leave for my meeting. I get to work and the meeting room was empty. It was after normal business hours so I couldn't find anybody in ed services to find out what was going on. I decided to go up to the floor I work on to see if they knew anything. As soon as I got on the floor the secretary said, "Did you not get your message?". I told her I left my house at 1130 that morning and haven't been back home. I guess they had left me a message that the meeting was cancelled. I got resigned up for another time which will be after I get off from work. If it gets cancelled, all I have to do is get to go to bed a little early! :-)

I couldn't stop sneezing and they wanted me to stay and work that night. I just didn't feel very good so I had to decline. I came home and got in my PJ's and decided to curl up on my couch and watch some recorded TV that I am behind on. I couldn't stay awake!! I finally woke up at 2030 and decided just to go to bed. I woke up this morning at 8am. I have had lots of sleep! I can't breathe very well but I have stopped sneezing! Yeah! I have to work tonight so I am getting ready to take a nap.

I am looking forward to having the weekend off even though I have lots to do for school.