Friday's Fave Five - Beauty - Just for the Joy of It

Make Time for Small Reflections
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1. My yard may be small, but I love to tend my garden and photograph it at different times of day ... just for the JOY of it! This red Fuschia once hung in a basket at my previous home near South Coast Plaza more than 35 years ago. I brought it with me when we moved here in 1980 ... hung the basket from the eaves just above where it grows in the ground now. The basket deteriorated long ago (I don't recall just when) but the plant took root in the ground (much to my surprise) and this is what it looks like today.

2. Methinks that the yellow blossoms (and the single orange one) that I misidentified previously as 'Crocus' are actually Freesia, but whatever they are ... I think they're lovely and am delighted they've bloomed so much earlier than usual this year. The nearby shoots are Iris and Daffodil ... white & yellow in color if memory serves.

3. On Wednesday I drove into Cerritos to enjoy lunch at BJs with my sister ... after which we walked through a couple of parks near her home since we had about 90 minutes to fill before my scheduled haircut & perm at 2pm in Long Beach. She decided to 'wake up' this goose so I could snap some action photos ... just for the JOY of i! I'm relieved to have short hair with a new perm ... good to go for another 6 weeks.

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4. The skies have been variable as weather fronts pass through and I shared stormier skies at Sacred Ruminations for Sky Watch yesterday ... along with a bit of haiku, just for the JOY of it! These skies are more 'typical' sky views from my world, also from last week.

5. Mary the teach at Work of the Poet has suggested we find and share examples of Yard Art on Thursdays. I decided to participate at Happily Retired Gal yesterday and created a Yard Art Logo to use and share with others ... just for the JOY of it!

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Finding Beauty, Friday's Fave Five,
and (belatedly again) Just for the Joy of It

(for those who might be wondering what I've been up to lately)

I've been busier than usual so I've not been able to do much blog visiting again this week, but I'm hoping to catch up over the weekend. In addition to the Tuesday & Thursday Digital Media classes from 8:30-11:30am, I'll be off to class again at 8am today (and next Friday too). I've decided to use the second and third 'complimentary passes' issued to us when we missed 5 of 12 sessions in my last class (for Monday holidays & in-service days) to take a two-part Friday class, learning how to use Windows Movie Maker. It's apparently a 'free' program on all PCs.

I'm scheduled to meet friends at the pier around noon for lunch at Ruby's then a walk around the Friday Craft Fair & Farmer's Market ... and when I return home I'll be calling about my Plan D Prescription non-coverage (yet again). Apparently it's been denied for a second time (for missing information even though I've given ALL the info multiple times previously) ... so perhaps the third time will be the charm? Wish me luck.

I spent most of yesterday afternoon on the phone with Dell Tech Support ... first with 'Jason' who passed me off to 'Sean' for some 'diagnostic testing' ... and while I was running those tests on the 1720, I ran them on the old 9100. Apparently it's my hard drive that has 'failed' and if I want to replace it, I can do so for about $70 ... upgrading from a 60GB drive to a 160GB drive. I'm thinking about it ... but am wondering what ELSE might fail on the older laptop if I replace the drive.

After about 45 minutes, Sean decided all was well with basic laptop functions and memory so he transferred me to 'Vinnie' (in networking) who (after listening to me explain yet again that the WLAN card wasn't working properly causing the laptop to crash several times daily) had me download & run two programs: one to install a new driver for my malfunctioning WLAN card and the other to 'flash my BIOS' from A08 to A09. He seems to think these actions will resolve my issues.

While running the diagnostics and installing the downloads, I was asked about any other problems. When I mentioned the sticky keys (l, q, a, s, u, m, v) Vinnie said they'd send me a new keyboard module for my Inspiron 1720. He had me remove & replace the existing one so that I'd know how to put the new one in once it arrives (in 2-3 working days) before I send the old one back. Interestingly, the 'l' key no longer sticks at all but the 'h' key does ... strange, right? Annoying too because BOTH keys get lots of use when I type. Several others continue to stick intermittently so I'll be glad to get this issue resolved.

'Vinnie' is scheduled to call me back on Sunday at 1pm for a 'follow-up' to be sure the computer 'crash issues' are resolved. I've got my fingers crossed (of course that and the sticky keys makes typing more challenging). In addition ... he explained that the 'dim screen display' when running on 'battery' is partially a function of the 17" screen on my laptop. I guess I'll (ceck tat out wit oter) ... sigh ... 'check that out with other' manufacturers.

Actually, I'm feeling a bit better about Dell Tech Support today. My call was answered promptly, and there wasn't much of a wait to reach a technician initially. All three of the guys who assisted me were professional & patient ... much like I remember Dell Tech Support being years ago, so perhaps they've made support a priority again? I certainly hope so and if this resolves my crash issues, I'll be a happier blogger again.

Hope you have a delightful day
and a wonderful weekend!

Small Reflections ... Smile Back

Thought for Today
"Let the beauty of what you love be what you do." Rumi