Sorry for the block caps, folks, but apparently the BSW site is infected with lethal computer viruses. I'm really upset about this, and not only for the $200 this is costing me, but also because I was *****really****** enjoying playing with folks. (O won't even try it.)

So, yeah. Sucks but true - don't go to the BSW site to play Carcassonne. I have played on three different systems now, and aside from looking at livejournal, the only other thing I've done on all three is Carcassonne. (Somehow I doubt that LJ is the culprit. ;)

Good news is that at least I can keep watching Bones on CastTV! This isn't an even trade-off by FAR, but I'll take a silver lining today, esp since O is taking off for 12 hours to go to Regional Practice in Springfield, MA in a couple of hours! Sigh...

ETA: So, this might have been a premature statement. O's computer has a history of flukiness, so now we aren't sure. We've loaded up good anti-virus software, and I'm going to try Carcassonne from BSW again today on it, and see what happens. I'll let you know the results, which should be fairly conclusive, on the clean slate. Stay tuned!

(Meanwhile, happy Albreda, since now I can play today! No CastTV though - suspicion has to rest somewhere!)

Hi readers - Tasha (Wolfie's widow) is doing well, as you'll read for yourself below, and she is spreading the love she and Wolfie shared by asking folks to do things that make my heart sing. I've been doing these things since my own major illness in the late 90's, but I've never shared the list with others, as she's doing.

What a love they have (NOT had, she's still feeling it, and hearing about it from him, too!) to be getting through even death with grace and peace!!!

"So many of you have said how his art inspired you, and how you were touched by his humor and kindness and generosity. Here's what I want you to do:

If you see someone having a bad day, ask them what's troubling them. Give them a chance to vent. Sometimes that's all they want.

Pay random compliments.

Share. Share your time, share a joke, share a hug, share a drink.

Appreciate the beauty of the world. Everyone has a story, and they want to tell it.

Help people. Even getting something off the top shelf in the grocery store can make someone's day. Think of what helping with the clean-up after a party can do.

Play.

Be kind. Be loving. Be awesome to one another.

Don't forget him. Tell stories about him. Tell the people you love how you feel. I never missed a chance to tell him that I loved him -- don't ever miss a chance in your own lives.

Thanks, y'all. Go forth and do good things."

LOVE YOU, Tasha!!! Love all the folks that prayed and sent energy to you both, too. Thanks all! Spread the love!!!

That is the only possible reason I can think of as to why Wolfie was allowed to pass from this life this morning.

Hail Valhalla! A Great Warrior enters your halls today! Prepare to make him welcome!

His stalwart Shield Maiden, Tasha, stays behind, defending his memory evermore.

----------

Thank you, gentle readers, for joining me in sending healing love to Wolfie and Tasha these last six weeks, as he's battled H1N1, and she's been resolutely at his side. Wolfie was, I believe, 41 years old, and in terrific health when this ordeal began. Cover your coughs, people, and stay the hell home when you are sick; *nothing* is worth this.

Your continued prayers for Tasha would be a personal favour to me; any and all flavours welcome. Thank you.

So, I had my sugar/condensedmilk/butter blend in the double boiler for over an HOUR, and couldn't get past 200 deg F. What gives? I tried it on the burner straight, and almost instantly started getting brown spots, so I pulled it. (Not many, so I'll still use it, but still!)

Help!!! I've never used a candy thermometer before, and this is my first whirl at fudge, so I'm on new ground as it is, without my mix not making it to soft ball stage like it is supposed to! (It is still all granular - the sugar hasn't dissolved yet, so I know I'm not at soft ball with a busted thermometer.)

ETA: I'm going to go buy myself a new double boiler tomorrow. The only pan I have that fits on my boiler base is aluminum, and I'm thinking that, and the loose seal, is much of the problem. We'll see!

Also, burned 1/3 of my chocolate chip cookies - all the ones on my new cookie sheet! Grrrr....

Can anyone with a Wii give me the scoop on some stuff? I'm trying to hit the BF sales, but could really use some more intel! Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Does the console come with a Nunchuk? Does the nunchuk plug into the wiimote? Does it get its power from the wiimote, or does it need its own charger? Does the plus thingy make it so you can't plug in the nunchuks? Dumb questions, but I'm a complete noob at this stuff, so take pity on me. ;)

Chargers:
I am interested in the induction chargers, if they work well. We're only going to have two remotes to start with, but might want to expand to four later, since there are five of us. We are getting a Wii Fit as well. Do I need to buy a charger for that too? If I don't buy chargers, does everything take batteries, or what? Is the standing charger for the Wii Fit better than the plug in battery pack? How long do things take to charge? Are there charging brands that are good, or which suck?

Silicone: How about silicone skins for everything - do I need them? For comfort, so they don't slip, or to protect them from kids and chaos? I heard that the new wiimotes come with skins. Anyone know?

Stand/coolers: Does the main console fall over a lot, or are the stands just for looks? Does it really overheat? How far away can you use just the base console before you need the extra sensor to pick up signals?

Memory: Do I need to by SD cards for it? I keep seeing them being sold, but don't really understand what for other than to save RPG game stuff... we're getting Sports Resort and Wii Fit Plus software initially; do we need them?

Wiimote add-ons for sports stuff: anyone use these? I tried Sports Resort in the store without them, and it was fine, but then I've done most of those sports in RL before. Do kids get it better with the add-ons?

Hey LJ Brain Trust!

Anyone know any good websites on ways various folks have hypothesized/creatively decided that time travel works? Ones including branching timestreams and the mechanics of travel between then would earn my undying gratitude. Thanks!

ETA: Got it - thanks! Folks can blast wikipedia all they want, but for stuff like this, it is pretty darned useful. Turns out what I have is both a predetermination paradox and an ontological paradox, both of which have been used in lots of fiction before, so all good, if not necessarily scientifically feasible. >;)

I haz my very furst icon EVAH. Ladybardnano, gracias!

Writing, Gibbs' rulz, and chocolate FTW! The only thing that could make this sucker better is a pic of Abby! >:)

O's computer BSD'd and gave it up the other night.

He's been on the line with good friends who think he has a partion error, and needs a new hard-drive. Trouble is, he doesn't have either the windows software or the drivers to do so. He was running XP, and the computer is a Dell, about five years old. (Mostly 3D modelling software and gaming computer, which requires Windows.)

Ideas?

ETA: He bought a new hard drive, and is loading it up. Fingers crossed!

We're contemplating acquisition of one between now and the holidays, and would like to know more about them. Folks with small children or disabilities who have experience with them are particularly invited to comment, but we're happy to hear from anyone.

Thank you!

Hey all -

O and I are both sick with colds, and two of the kids are getting it too, so I'd LOVE to hear something fun that YOU are doing this weekend, so I can live vicariously. :)

So, I'm in a stressful situation, and needing some #$*# FUN today before I go down (either today or tomorrow).

Any good ideas for how I could spend a few hours this this afternoon and give my batteries a much needed recharge? The girls will be (theoretically) sleeping, so it would need to be either a solo adventure, or something that O and I or I alone can do at home while the baby is doing whatever he's doing.(G-rated suggestions only, please - the rest we can figure out for ourselves! ;)

Hey folks -

I'm looking to hire help for my Dad when he comes home from rehab, and am wondering what are some things those of you with experience with PCAs wish you had asked about/worked out ahead of time?

Thanks in advance!

I'm on Dreamwidth as Albreda, and will be using it primarily as a backup for my LJ, since this is the closest thing E has to a babybook. :/

Well, all the same people have died, and all the same problems/to-do lists still exist, but thanks to the *eleven* people who answered my plea for good/joyful news, and a trip to the mall last night, sans kids, I'm in a MUCH better headspace about it all today.

Thank you!!

I'm having a rotten week, and it seems like every one I know is too, and here it is, only Tuesday. :/

Anyone got any GOOD news to share? See something pretty lately? Laugh at something funny?

If so, pretty please, could you pass it along? My psyche could really use the break today...

Thanks to Dulcinbradbury, I *have to* send you off to listen to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

Its from Britain's American Idol ('Britain's got Talent'), and the whole audience starts off laughing at this cheeky 47 year old, and then - woah - I think was started crying *literally* about three seconds into her performance.

She needs a hair and makeup stylist, sure, but her dress was lovely; this lady is concert tour bound, or else every recording exec in the UK has their heads up their butts.

I'd like to think that MOST folks get talent that big noticed LONG before age 47, but apparently not all. Not that I have any hidden talents, mind, but Oi - what a thought, eh? I can't decide if this woman *finally* getting her moment is tragic or triumphant, but it sure makes me happy to see her shining now!

Go Susan Boyle!!!!

Lady Alheydis von Riga (aka Eydis, which I have in the past mispelled 'Aydis'), of Stonemarche and the Priory of St Colin, is the new Queen's A&S Champion!!!  Wahoo!!!

She did a *spifftacular* job of creating a Bayeux-esque embroidery based on a photo of her husband and friends in their full 14th Cent kit.  I didn't know that she more than dabbled when she showed it to me a few weeks ago, and I'm not surprised *in the least* that she did well at Mudthaw with it.

Vivat!  :)

I'm going to help raise awareness of the impacts of typical energy consumption by turning off all of our nonessential lights for one hour tonight, from 8:30 - 9:30 PM.  This is sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund, and cities all over the world do it ever year, and photos of this year's rolling blackout over all of Asia and Europe are already appearing on line. 

Join me?

Can *aperfectdot* please contact me at AlbredaA@aol.com or fix your privacy settings so I can actually respond to your message?  Thanks!

D, who turns three in a few weeks, just came up to me with the book "There was an old lady", which I just finished reading to her about five minutes ago, and asked "will you teach me how to read?"

She's been learning which lowercase letters go with which capital letters over the last few weeks, and comes up to me with books in her hand saying 'I don't know the right words', but this is the first time she has asked for help in learning how to read the words herself.

Many, many moments I've had as a parent have made me happy and proud for my children, but I think this one tops even their taking their first steps in terms of how I'm watching the world open up for my children. 

Wow.