June 2023 Chat Thread

[Bean]

I'm straight off the blocks this morning!

I've been enjoying the good weather, and I can finally cut my lawn after doing No Mow May - wish me luck, and if I'm not on for a few days, I've probably collapsed in the middle of the lawn with a conked out lawnmower (it's up to my knees in a few places)!

[3piggles]

I had to flip the page on the calendar, and never really grasped the idea of it being June 1. Duh! I hope you have a good growing June

[bazookagoof]

There's an aspect of filmmaking that I never fully grasped, as it wasn't taught in college: the science/art of color correction. I've dabbled in it, but have barely scratched the surface over the years. So I decided to learn more and attempted to buy a book for beginners. Yesterday I bought what is considered to be the Bible, a 650+ page tome on it. Unfortunately I received a notice today saying that the book was already sold.

I did purchase another copy on Ebay, only slightly more expensive than the copy I initially tried to buy (About $55 as opposed to $50) but since the book's price can go as high as $300, I feel lucky. I just hope I get my money's worth. There have been a few times where I bought a book on filmmaking, only to find that my area of knowledge equaled the author's.  

[3piggles]

All digits crossed the the bible of film coloration will exceed your current knowledge I envy your ability to read the book and follow the instructions. That's my ADHD weakness. I can't read and follow directions. I can read like crazy, but not when it comes to directions For now, I have Vic to show me how to do things, but if I lose him, I'm sunk! Enjoy the book

[bazookagoof]

I'm not that great at following directions if it's just someone describing something- I need examples (or pics) and a chance to actually perform said actions. 

Since this book is pretty much theory, it shouldn't be too hard to grasp. I'll find out in about a week! 

[bazookagoof]

The book arrived, and at over 600 pages it's going to be a long while before I finish it, but already poring through the foreword and introduction and I'm enjoying and learning things already! 

Not quite the flip side, but I'm back on Blender trying to get though another tutorial- this one clocks in at over 130 hours, and I'm only about 80 minutes into it. The material is useful, but since I know a chunk of it already my attention span slips occasionally. Also, the instructor goes over everything in real time, so when she's demonstrating something it can take a minute or so for her to go through a procedure. 

The previous tutorial was better organized, but I'm going to go through this one completely, as it still has much relevance. This tutorial covers EVERYTHING, whereas the initial one covered the basics. 

[3piggles]

Glad you like the book Hope the Blender tutorial is interesting enough to keep your focus.

[3piggles]

The cabinet vic is building. The bottom shelf will hold two pull-outs for the plastic boxes. The shell will be enclosed, and we will put something on the countertop to finish it. It started pouring while we were working on it, so we covered it with the outdoor tablecloth that is big enough to pull the excess on each side around in clip it in back. It completely covers every part that's not open under the pergola 🤗

[Bean]

It looks great - good teamwork!

[3piggles]

We found the table cloth I bought for the other, much bigger table, fits this one so it can be gathered in the back, pinned, and the back/sides are completely covered against the elements. It's been raining almost steadily since we did that, and nothing has gotten wet. The tablecloth is an outdoor one, so waterproof. We actually like how it looks. If it ever stops raining, lol, I'll take a picture of is wrapped in the tablecloth, and post it. Tomorrow is supposed to be a decent day, but we have the Father's Day party at daughters. Probably Tuesday, we'll get the runners for the shelf, build the pull-outs, and be able to easily get to the plastic boxes Not bad

[Bean]

Today is our last day with a chance of showers for a while. The garden has appreciated a few days of rain.

Longest day alert!

[3piggles]

Summer day #1 was uneventful, and not all that summery, but starting Friday we're making up for it. I've had a much longer cool run than I've had in years, so I'm grateful for that Rain, humidity and summer temps arriving Friday, and staying for a while. No heat waves in site, yet, for which I'm also grateful Not going to hang out any laundry for the next week or so, and we'll be running the a/c, so it will seem like summer Not had to do a lot of watering so far this season. I think we've broken the drought

[Bean]

Actually the forecast here changed - it's still hot and humid (much warmer than it usually is at this time of year), but there's a chance of showers most days, and they've been really heavy. I've got nearly a week's worth of washing out today, so will be crossing my fingers the showers miss us!

[3piggles]

I hope you got your washing in before it rained! We have rain and T-storms forecast for the next 7-10 days, so hanging out the laundry doesn't look promising. We have two drying racks, and we'll use those. Just have to do much smaller loads, and more of them.

Very pleased with our latest electric bill. We reduced our electricity usage by almost 32.7% over the same period last year. It's been cooler, and we'd already had two heat waves by this time last year. We also bought the heat-blocking roller shades in July or August last year, so didn't have those in by now. I have been very diligent about opening the windows early in the morning to cool the house as much as possible, and closing the windows as soon as the temp gets very warm outside. I keep the shades closed on the sunny side of the house, etc., so I'm doing all I can to save on electric usage.

We also brought in the freezer and fridge from the shed, where it was easily 20 degrees or more hotter than indoors, so those appliances aren't working as hard. It's nice to see that it's working

Summer heat builds in tomorrow, with the humidity getting much more noticeable, so we're going to have some typical summer weather. Heat building up to t-storms daily, but no day is expected to be a complete washout.

I made low FODMAP catsup, and used some of that to make low FODMAP BBQ sauce. I still haven't gotten back to my failed attempt at mayo, which I really must do. If the summer heat is going to stay for a while, then I'll step up my search for the low FODMAP ingredients to make ice cream Right now I'm making deserts and things with the ricotta and mascarpone I bought but learned is not low FODMAP. Hubby is enjoying what I'm making with them, so all is good Nothing going to waste. I have a block of cream cheese that also isn't low FODMAP, so I'll use that in the mac and cheese I make for the 4th of July party. Not wasting much, at all

[bazookagoof]

I will never understand why this keeps happening to me: No matter how I dress, I frequently get mistaken for an employee of wherever I shop at. I was wearing a plain white T-shirt with work pants while in PetSmart and a woman asked me about what they had in stock. I gently told her I did not work there. (PetSmart employees wear a blue polo shirt.)

When I wore my maintenance uniform and stopped by the grocery store, people would ask me about things only an employee would know. Again, my uniform does not match the gorcery store issue in any way.

This has happened over the years. I was in a Target store wearing a blue polo shirt and people asked me about prices- the Target staff wears RED shirts! I was also in a DVD rental store where there was no uniform, and I STILL had people asking me questions! 

I tend to be polite, but there have been occasions when I wanted to reply with something outrageous, like telling them something cost $275.

[Bean]

Ha! You must exude an air of competence and purpose. And I'm sure the right person will come along for a little prank one day!

I was at a garden centre (in Yorkshire) a few weeks ago and there were two men in matching uniforms with green polo shirts with 'Yorkshire Gardening' written on the back, and they were moving lots of big plants in a display around confidently. I had a question, so went over to them and said 'Could I ask you a question about a plant please?'. The one closest to me stopped what he was doing and stood to face me with a smile on his face and said 'Sure, shoot!' so I asked him while he and his companion grinned at me, which was starting to ring the alarm bells... Anyway, after I'd finished speaking, he replied 'I've no idea, I don't know much about plants. I don't even work here!' - they were both chuckling away, clearly amused with themselves! On the way out, I saw them loading up some plants, so I said I hoped they knew just enough to have bought the right plants for their customer!

[bazookagoof]

Weather-wise, it's too hot for the guys to graze. Also, we're not getting too much rain lately so all the grass is yellow. I was initially angered because I thought my wife had killed all the grass again, but I've been looking around the neighborhood and can see that everyone's lawns are in bad shape as well. 

[3piggles]

We're in the soupy weather, too, so the girls aren't going outside. Not hanging out any laundry, either. They're having a good time with the wild greens we pick for them, so they're okay They do love to go out and commune with the other animals in the back yard

I think Bean is right, you have an air of knowledge that people mistake for being someone who works there, someone who would know

[amber89]

Went on the 23rd to see the St John's fires. 
Most of the island had actually a ban on bonfires due to an extended drought, somehow though, Copenhagen was spared and we were able to enjoy the fires.

[Bean]

I looks like a fun gathering, and it's interesting to see people gathering for a fire when it's light and warm!

I looked up the St John's Fires as I'm not too familiar with the tradition - so it's a Midsummer celebration? Apparently it happens in Scotland, Ireland and Wales, but as far as England goes, it only really occurs down in Cornwall (which considers itself quite separate from England anyway!).