Our African daisy (Osteospermum) is trying its best to bloom right now, mysteriously. There's not a bee or other pollinator in sight out there, so why it wants to have flowers in the middle of January is anyone's guess. The flowers were a sort of dull greenish-orange until I moved the plant inside to protect it from our recent freeze, and then they all turned bright orange.
Well, this has been an interesting morning already. I tried to sign in to Blogger as I always do, and although it allowed me to see my blog, when I clicked on "new post" I got this:
I use the same browser every single day, so why it would suddenly be "not supported" is a mystery to me. I updated Chrome, thinking that might solve the problem, but no. So I'm writing now on Safari, which is not the browser I typically use to blog. Who knows what the heck is going on, but I think it's on their end. God forbid a Google website should work with a Google browser!
Anyway, yesterday was rather hectic. I went to the doctor in the late morning because my IBS (or whatever it is) has been acting up lately and I wanted to touch base with the experts. I was sent home with a couple of routine tests, which is fine because I haven't had them in a while and it makes sense to do them regularly.
Remember the kid who wanted me to take pictures with his camera? Well, I told him that rather than doing that, and faffing around with film, I'd take some photos at school using my own phone just to give him a sense of the types of things he could be shooting. That's one of my pictures, above, which I haven't shown him yet. It wouldn't win any prizes but it's kind of fun.
The message I'm trying to get across to him is, you can take a creative picture anywhere -- even in a room where you spend practically every waking moment and already know like the back of your hand. I know he also wants to process film for other people, but I think getting his friends to shoot film is going to be an uphill battle. Getting me to shoot film certainly is.
And here's a picture of the elder tree that has collapsed on the back garden wall. The point at which the trunk broke is just out of the camera frame on the right. I think it got so saturated with water, and so heavy, that the wood gave way. An arborist contracted by our management company called Dave last night to schedule its removal, but now we've had some confusion about whether he's coming or not, so we still have to iron that out.
It's always something, isn't it? Browsers not working, doctor's appointments, trees collapsing. Isn't "entropy" the idea that orderly systems eventually degrade into disorder? That's what life feels like lately.
And now my Chrome browser seems to have corrected its issues and it works fine with Blogger. Sigh.
Your last sentence is what I thought would happen. In my 30 odd internet years, I've spent many hours trying to solve problems that were someone else's fault, and usually self corrected in time.
ReplyDeleteThe tree looks rather large. Your garden will look rather different without it.
I like your 'arty' photo.
Blogger as a platform is rather issue-prone. I suspect it does not get quite the attention of Google's bug-fixing team as other, more popular platforms.
ReplyDeleteOften while I am perfectly signed in (and have not changed anything with my browser or any other component on my computer), the moment I try to comment on someone's blog I appear as NOT signed in and can either not comment at all or would have to do so as "Anonymous". Just as often, when I go and do something else and return to the very same blog from the very same browser with absolutely no change on my end, all of a sudden I am magically back, signed in as Librarian and able to comment...
Still trying to help the photography enthusiast student without actually shooting film for him is a good compromise, and I really like the photo you intend to show him!
Yes, it's always something. I had a chaotic trip to work yesterday, only to find that I was unable to log onto my computer at the office... I went back home, where I was able to log on without a problem, and worked from there the rest of the day. Apparently, it was a company-wide server problem, only I happened to be the first to be hit by it. I lost quite a lot of time with the unplanned trip and missed two meetings, but at least I was able to work after that.
Blogger is definitely unpredictable. Commenting has become quite an erratic, unpredictable experience. It's often a case of, will it work today or will it not??
ReplyDeleteAs I creep closer to being a little old woman I think I am starting to suffer from entropy.
I love your leading line in the library photo, just changing the angle creates a very different photo. Blogger never surprises me with the messages they throw up, hopefully yours will sort it's self out soon.
ReplyDeleteIf you think that a pair of smelly, outdated shoes in a library is "kind of fun", I pity you my friend. Why can't the dimwitted kid take his own photos or get a member of his family to take them? I sense that he is just angling for attention. He needs slapping around the head with a codfish. Is that kind of response included in the library's "Statement of Purpose"?
ReplyDeleteBlogger has its quirks...but in a way I prefer that to the constant updating just for the sake of it!
ReplyDeleteThe student has enthusiasm which is great...and a sense of purpose and direction.
Can't fault that, and it needs the right encouragement.
Your photo of the library is just great...in so many ways.... artistically..look at the shapes and patterns, the different viewpoint..but it also says something about a library in itself...relaxed..and learning...
I think maybe by bringing in the osteospermum you made it think...Spring!!!
That elder was huge...and probably in a wood would have collapsed long ago...
I was just going on in my head about how people love to say “That’s what life is all about” as if life is all about any one thing. Entropy, THAT’s what life is all about! Or maybe not. That’s a huge tree limb. I had the same surprising message from Chrome yesterday. I exited and tried again and it worked. But I’ve been bouncing back and forth recently between Safari and Chrome. Suddenly, one works for this, one work for that. And that’s for just reading and commenting on blogs.
ReplyDeleteI've found that blogger rights itself if you don't mind waiting. I never make changes on command!
ReplyDeleteLike when it tells me I have no blogs on my feed. Then suddenly they all appear.
Do we suspect the student has a little crush and is seeking a bit of attention??
It's good that you're all reconnected again ... and at least it gave you the backbone of a blog post. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can't post images at the moment. Anyone have a fix for that?
ReplyDeleteYes. Entropy is chaos theory.
Google is rolling out changes no one will like, unless people complain.
I don't understand that kid. He only wants a dark room but not photography?
I think the limb was rotten, they should have taken care of it themselves.
I tend to use safari more than chrome as I have a mac laptop. We had a Verizon outage the day before yesterday and my phone wouldn't work when I left the house. It is amazing how reliant we are to technology. I think being able to take good photos of ordinary things is an art. I love the one in the library!
ReplyDeleteI've given up trying to figure out blogger. It gets hissy fits and then is fine. Bummer about that tree. I like your idea with the kid -- photography is the art of seeing (and, I suppose, developing/processing) and unless he wants to be a technician and not a photographer, doing it himself will be so much more valuable. I like how you demonstrated ways he can do that, new ways to see. That will help him in life as much as photography. Good luck with your tests.
ReplyDeleteThe best technical snafus (to me) are the ones that mysteriously fix themselves. I envision little IT elves working through the night. Perhaps even calling out to each other 'have you tried turning it off and turning it on again?' in charming Irish accents.
ReplyDeleteWith all things computer, I just turn the thing off and reboot. If that doesn't work, wait a day and try again. That fixes 99% of everything. Imagine if our cars were like that. It would make driving on a road trip much more challenging if one had to swerve around cars "rebooting" along the way.
ReplyDeleteClassic Point Perspective Capture There Brother Man
ReplyDeleteStay Brilliant ,
Cheers
Well I'm glad blogger sorted itself out - that's the browser I use too! I like the sitting on the floor photo - the stacks are visually pleasing to my eye.
ReplyDeleteIf I couldn't find the interest in my everyday surroundings I would have no photos at all, except of grandchildren, I suppose. And we don't all have everyday surroundings like Mitchell's, do we? I mean...whoa!
ReplyDeleteMy Mac just updated to the next version of operating system and in that update, Google did a massive update. I haven't had any problems yet but it keeps wanting my to try new things some of which are AI assisted. I just ignore them. I'm sure one day my 'ignorance' will catch up with me.
ReplyDeleteI like your photo from the library.
African daisies bloom here in February. Maybe yours thinks it's in another time zone.
That is a massive branch. You can take photos anywhere, you're right. I prefer to be outside but sometimes that's not possible. It's the practice that's important, but he's a kid and doesn't understand or believe that yet. He doesn't understand how valuable experience is.
ReplyDeleteI used to blow up my photos to poster size and hang them up at work for my patients. I always loved it when my patients said, you must have a good camera. Well, yes I do, but I also take good photos:)