to let you know that all is well in my neck of the woods. I was forced to cut all ties with you my friends through the internet when my hard drive crashed in my computer. The folks at the Apple store took care of me and got me up and running again, but not having backed up any email addresses and bookmarked website addresses, was really not a smart thing to do. So if you haven't heard from me in awhile, it's not that I don't love you anymore, which I do, it's just that I can't remember your info!!!
Luckily most of my projects were backed off onto a secondary hard drive, but I had no access to it, so all order filling came to a screeching halt! Along with product development and personal projects, too. Needless to say, I was a little antsy to get it back on my desk. Finding all those fonts I had picked up over time will still continue to haunt me on a project by project basis, that's for sure!
So I was forced to do projects that didn't not require the computer as a tool. How did I ever function as an artist? Well, you draw stuff by hand, actually look through magazines as a resource instead of Google, and you get the picture, pioneer stuff! Actually, I did clunk around on my husband's PC for a bit but he doesn't have any of the creative programs that I had and he had actually had to reinstall his own hard drive a few months ago also, so none of my stuff had been saved from when I had crashed a year ago.
Some things I had started before the crash and I was able to continue on with, like this piece for my front door. You are familiar with my front door, it's extra tall and red, so it really needs pieces that are oversized and that pop right of in color schemes. Nothing does it better than this daisy piece, which I will be able to make more of so check out the etsy store. This photo shows it on the interior side of the door and it still looks nice against a white background. I just love those daisies!!! Can't get enough of them!
I've been playing catch up since I've gotten back online and working at an office here in town so my crafting time is now modified a bit. But I think it makes me more respectful of the time I do have to create, rather than thinking, oh, I'll get to it tomorrow, I know have to really focus my time and be more organized. I feel like I am back in Martha Mode, which is what I used to call it back when I worked full time at the photo studio, I really did get more done back then.
I've also been going through the pictures from the pool party last year, picking out the best ones to put into the invitation to this year's party. And boy, was that hard! Usually i get so busy running around making sure everybody is having fun, I forget to take pictures. So I've been trying extra hard the last few years to stay on top of that and I've gotten so much better at it!! It's hard to believe that the Fourth of July will be here in four weeks, so I gotta get those out, out, out!!! If you're new to the blog, we host a neighborhood party in our back yard for the Fourth where we try to get as many of the inflatable, rectangle pools in our backyard as possible. It's a blast, I highly recommend it. One neighbor called it the Redneck Rivieria and you know what? That pretty much nails it! A giant slip and slide on one side of the house for the kids, four pools in the middle of the back yard all lined up for the kids and then four or five 
pools squared up on the opposite side of the house for the adults. Water balloons flying around and various games in the neighbor's yards and Jimmy Buffet music blasting from the Paulsen's stereo. Everybody brings food, we supply the main dish, this year it will be a mini slider buffet, you know the tiny burgers that are all the rage now? And then a yummy breakfast at the end of the night to send everybody home with smile on their face and a sunburn on their necks.
I'm also supposed to be walking to get my raggedy old body into shape for the Relay for Life event at the end of the month. My sorority has a team every year and this will be my first year. Not quite sure how that will go, it's been 22 years since my dad passed away from cancer and I have those walls built up pretty high, of course, there are cracks in the foundation and I'm not sure what some of sobbing mess I'll be when the times comes, I guess we'll just have to deal with it all over again when it happens...sigh. Please go to my site and make a donation, I hope and pray your life is not scarred by cancer and hopefully if we work together we can turn the corner on this horrible sickness.
Isn't technology a bummer sometimes? Glad you are back!
Posted by: Linda Richter | June 15, 2009 at 04:10 PM
Cari, you can do it... the relay for life. Dealing with all our stuff makes us better... happier, lighter, etc... I'l be thinking of you and wishing you well.
AND that backyard BBQ and pool party, what a hoot! I love it!! Sure wish I lived in Omaha for the 4th, what fun!! You're backyard looks the size of a park! Splish~Splash!
Posted by: Dede Warren | June 16, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Ugh...my hard drive crashed 2 months ago...boy was that a tough lesson I am still paying for! Starting everything over from scratch...ugh!
I'm so glad you enjoyed you little goodies and that they brought a little sunshine in! No rules, just pick one or a few bellas to send some sunshine to. :)
xoxo
Posted by: Cristina | July 02, 2009 at 06:31 AM
My husband keeps suggesting that I switch from my PC to an Apple. I have been reluctant until reading about your experience. Are you enjoying your new computer? I would love to know a little more about the switch. Everyone says the Apple is so user-friendly......
Posted by: Mitzi Curi | July 11, 2009 at 01:09 PM
oh my gosh..............we had 2 pools just like this at a girlfriends and they're perfect to sit out in, have a few drinks and get burnt and wet! good times!
Posted by: steph | August 07, 2009 at 05:11 AM