Current Mood : Miffed
Tried some new experiments today. I have to really be in a mood to try new stuff, I have such a fear of screwing up that it takes a ridiculous amount of effort - or a sudden yen to do it already. When I had so many computer problems as the year first began, we replaced my CD drive. Although it wasn't the issue, it no longer burned CDs, so out it went. Twice before, I'd had the opportunity to get LightScribe devices, but dismissed them as a gimmick. This most recent time, the best component for the cash had LightScribe included, although I was still convinced it was just a near-useless toy. It uses special discs and drives to print designs directly on the discs, no Sharpie required.
This weekend, we needed DVDs, and believe this or not, LightScribe ones were our least expensive choice. So we got a pack of them and headed home. I spent a couple hours today, unable to locate either the drivers or the product number to our drive, since I needed it for specific downloads. I researched our purchases via the rewards program, but it didn't match anything on the company's website. (sigh) While I didn't need drivers, I did need a LightScribe program and an LS graphics editor, and those should have come with the drivers package. Since I couldn't locate even which one I had, I downloaded the generics from lightscribe.com. It wasn't until I was midway through burning one that I bonked m'self upside my head. Clicking on Windows' Device Manager would easily have told me the specifics on my CD drive. D'oh !
I'm always nervous about installing new software on my system - back in the Win95 day, a Star Wars screensaver package somehow ate half my hard drive, and it was legally purchased and licensed. I've been timid ever since. But I did it anyway...and it worked ! The editor includes customizable templates and access to dozens more online, and it was fun to use. Burned my first one in a ‘normal' setting, but it's kind of faint. Next time, I go to high resolution, baby ! It was fun, and I love having the new ‘canvas' to play with.
Speaking of playing, having LDP Tinkerbell on my desk, for comparison/ contrast to Rainbow Brite, encouraged me to play with her a little. I never really did before. She was the last of the ‘classic' collection that I needed for the whole set, and I had to go eBay to find her. I knew that I could have waited about a month for the new ‘Pixie Hollow' ones to reach Mal-Wart, but I'd seen Toy Fair photos, and knew the newer ones had an eye design that looked out of place with the other LDPs. As it was, the one I wanted was only about $5. more, and to me, she was worth it.
Anyway. Since she was played with, her hair was OK, but not in the best of shape. Oh, it'd never been cut, but it still had frizzy ends and wasn't styled well. Today, it is. I took it down from the odd garter thing it was wrapped in, and gave it a good, all-around nice brushing. A bit more research showed how her hair was from the factory, so I curled the little bun around my fingers, pulled the shimmery pink flower off the headband-garter-thing, and reattached it to her hair. Much better. I still want to find her a nice green ribbon for accuracy, though.
In other doll news, this morning I actually saw Friday knock a doll down - from our bedroom window ledge - and start mouthing it. Luckily, I got to the Tyco Ariel in time, but I was pretty ticked. Now I'm wondering if Triana's fall was due to me having her too close to a desk edge, or if Friday decided he needed a new toy. It's really annoying because he has chew toys all over the house, I trip over them all the time. I don't move ‘em though, because he's a growing puppy with emerging adult teeth, so he needs to chew... but there's no reason for him to go after things out of his reach when he has leather, rawhide, rubber, and food treats every five feet in here.
Since I can't do much about Friday - besides yell at him when I catch him, and ban him to his ‘house' for a while - I took some time to dog-proof every doll area I could think of. I even moved the dollhouse residents to a higher floor, just in case. He still can't get into the Lab, but he'll be blocked at night from now on, just in case. If I'm not around to monitor, the hall door is closed.
We also got to the grocery shopping, which started out a bit scary. I'd forgotten to renew my license plate, and there was a city cop on my butt for about eight blocks. Luckily, that was on the ‘to do' list, and I had a current insurance card in Molly's glovebox. Last time I remembered, I was broke. Luckily, the kind policeman didn't pull us over, and he peeled off a block or two later, but I moved the tag renewal up a few places. It's done now, so I don't have to worry about it for ten more months. Told ya'll I was late.
I was going to get the $11. ‘ballet' set of Barbie clothes I've been eyeing, but after my most recent Mattel purchase proved to be nearly beyond cheaped out, I decided against it. Instead, I hope to sew ! Of course, that was my hope last week... Sometimes I wish I could buy time - I'd probably value it a lot more that way !
