January 26, 2005 Useless Tidbits I've been "learning" Flash all day long. Trying to teach myself without a book, and without going through the tutorials in any sort of order whatsoever. So far, I've managed to create the lamest Flash project ever. Please only click on it if you're utterly, utterly bored and not willing to mock me for my lameness. Okay, you can mock me for my lameness. Yes, that is actually how my dogs talk to me. Skottie has a speech impediment, and Trooper is kind of slow. Oh, and the thing takes a bazillion years to download. I've reduced all the images, but it's still much too big. I'm going to buy a book, I promise! This was just done out of sheer boredom, and to possibly amuse my brother. Oh oh, and it loops, for some reason. I can't stop the looping! So really, spare yourselves and my last remaining shreds of dignity and don't click on that link. You know, unless you have a lot of time to kill, and the people in your office won't think you're weird for hearing someone who sounds utterly, utterly ridiculous coming out of your computer speakers. There are pictures of dogs, though. Really, it's just something I did to learn how to work with sound and timing in Flash. Oh, hell. Go see it. Mock me. Take an hour to download the thing, let it loop continuously all day long and see why I choose to work from my comfy chair, rather than to do stuff like this. I will buy a book. Today in the mail I got a thank-you card from a couple to whom I'd sent a gift. The best thing about the card (other than its speediness) is the fact that it had a tiny picture inside with the couple holding the present I bought. It was a great way to show their appreciation. I think I'll tell The Fabulous Robert about this. I think it's a great way to jazz up what he would call "A Lovely Note." Of course, the present was much smaller than it looked in the catalogue. I kind of felt like they were forced into saying, "Thanks so much for the thimble! We'll think of you every time we sew!!" I love to internet-shop, but sometimes it would be nice to have a comparison picture. I'll bet there were dimensions in the catalogue, but I can't think in dimensions. Must be from dealing with all those men who've tried to convince me how long eight inches is. It snowed again today, which makes it, I think, seventy inches of snow we got this week alone. There's nowhere to put it. Eventually, the DPW is going to have to haul it away and burn it. I wanted to use the snowblower again, but Chris didn't get home from work until late, and I couldn't remember all the steps to starting it (it's a gas-powered machine with an electric starter). When he called just after dinner, I asked him if he was calling me to help out with snowblowing. He told me that he had to stay inside because the kids were taking their respective baths, and wouldn't be coming by for at least another hour and a half. I felt kind of guilty because I was going over to Laurie's house and wouldn't be there to help him out. I also felt kind of jealous, like I was missing out on driving the cool car. The first major purchase I'm going to get when I buy a house (after furniture and kitchen appliances)? A snowblower. I've lived in New England forever, and I will probably continue to live in New England forever, and having that behemoth to chew through drifts of snow has changed my whole outlook on winter. Not much else to say about today. If you were smart enough not to click on the link above, here's a picture of Skottie for you: Hi. I can't talk too good right now 'cuz I have a ball in my mouth. Patrick won't throw it for me unless I pose for this stupid picture. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go play in the snow.