Looks cold, brrrrrrrr

Breckenridge
Originally uploaded by FuriousGeorge1

Off we go into the artic tundra. Well, maybe colorado is not the artic, but from Texas, it might as well be. It looks very cold. I will try to post while I am away, but have faith, I am reading, and will have reviews to post soon. As far as the web sites are going, they are in vacation mode, which means that I am working on them as inspiration hits, and family allows. I am continuling to write content, and read, read, read. I'll beck back soon, refreshed, and once I am defrosted, posting away!

The Update...

Well, for everyone following along, I have news! I have finished the template for the site, and it is being cut of and coded. That is web designer talk for moving from the design phase to the functioning phase. We should go live with the beginning of the site before the end of February. I think it is very clever, but I am counting on you all to give your input for the beta version, That is web talk for the experimental unfinished product. I am hoping that you guys think it is a clever as I think it is. I am working on content now, so there is actually something to read on the site once it is up. That is important, so they tell me.

More updates, I am also almost finished with the Inspired Design template, which I am actually fond of. That will just be a simple site, that is the online version of a business card. That should go live soon also. I am also working actively on the other site that Jan is having me do a navigation bar. That is exciting.

Up this week, I am buckling down on learning the language of HTML, and all of the coding. That is the part that I am the most intimidated by, but my teacher says that it is learn able, and has faith in me, so I am diving in to that.

I am also going on vacation with my family to Colorado to visit family. We are all very excited. Understandably though I have been very busy.

Stay tuned, soon we will have sites for visiting, and more news!

Been busy...

Sorry for the lapse, folks, but man have I been busy. Now I have more to do between the sites, and the writing projects that there are hours in the day. Of course that is a great thing, and ideas strike all the time, which create more work. Good work, but work.
Speaking of ideas, on my way home this morning, I realized that I need to come up with a name and concept for my web design work. It will be freelance, and so that constitutes a business of sorts. So, I was thinking again how amazing it is when you make up your heart and mind about something, it then becomes inspired. Heart + Mind = Inspiration. That is my theory. So after turning that over in my head all day, I have decided to call my venture, Inspired Design. Then some kind of slogan about heart and mind together. Something clever, about creative inspirations when heart and mind align. You get the idea. I am still working on the logo idea, but I may get that site going sooner than later, since it should just be a simple site with only a handful of pages.
As for the www.ijustfinished.com site, ewh wee I have have some serious inspiration the last 24 hours, so I will slaving lovingly over that tonight. I'll let you know if it works out like I hope. My teacher said that once i get the template finished, getting the rest of it up and going should take much longer.
So, that said, I am headed back to work on the template right now....

I Have Work To Do...

There has always been those studies that show successful people list their goals, and they go on about Michael Dell, and many other famous people who reached their goals. The implication is that writing down goals, and the determination to achieve them go hand in hand. I think that is a more mainstream conservative assessment of the whole Law of Attraction concept. Which ever level of that you believe, it is undeniable that once you decide, and set your heart and mind to something, you are usually surprised how easily you see things fall into place. At least that has been my experience.
The catch is you have to want something, honestly, aligned with your heart and mind. Then start to imagine it, clearly, and really convince yourself that it (your goal) is happening. That is always the tough part for me. It is easy to say, oh I am going to lose weight, , but then not really believe it, or think I am going to save money, but still go shopping. So that alignment with heart and mind it the requirement. It makes truth out of the cliche "easier said than done".
The amazing thing is that once the commitment is there, honestly, magic starts to happen. It was only this week that I was even willing to consider that maybe I could not have a full time nursing job after this one ends in March. With that hurdle overcome, I have been able to see things more clearly. Now that my heart and mind are set on this career in web design, things, amazing things have started to happen.
I emailed my teacher, he is on board, he is putting together a program for me. Then he offered me a side project to work on. Then today my good friend, Jen, is starting a new company, and wants me to revamp the website, and write the content for it as well. She has agreed to let me work with my teacher to get the whole project done. Then I can also have a link form her already busy site, and credit for the new site. Amazing timing, if I do say so myself! A job! A real web design job! Very exciting. I am expecting an email with the opening information as I write this. I will keep you all posted. Her work is very exciting, and empowering. I am actually working through her book, "Seven Dragons: A Guide to a Limitless Mind". It is the most challenging and empowering self help book I have ever read. That review is soon to come.
Fingers crossed, I have work to do!

No Turning Back

I have made a decision. My current job, the really great one, is ending soon. Ending in a beautiful way, my patient has gotten better. So much better that she won't be needing a nurse anymore. That I am overjoyed about. The downside is the prospect of finding another job is driving me to drink. The thought of taking on another crappy nursing job is just gut wrenching.
So, yesterday I decided to beg my wonderful, patient, teacher to take me under his wing, and help me take it to the next level. I think he may be skeptical,hell I might be skeptical, but he agreed to help me come up with a plan. He cautioned me that it would be reading intensive. HA, I say, bring on the books.
So, decision made, I am going to be a full time web designer. Then an occasional nurse. Maybe I will volunteer for the Red Cross or something.
I have made some progress on the http://www.ijustfinished.com/ site, which will remain the priority at this time, and hopefully with my crash course it will be up and running sooner than later.
Thanks for sticking it out with me, everyone!

The Skip In My Step

I haven't talked much about my web design teacher. His name is Robert, and he is a freaking genius. Full fledged, smarter than the average bear, genius. After my classes, I leave with a skip in my step, all with the world is perfect, and I have hope that all my dreams can come true. Well maybe that is sappy and wistful, but seriously, he is opening my eyes to a new world. A world that if I had even imagined it existed, it was only accessible by genuinely talented people. Now, don't misunderstand, I have not found talent, nor do I generally consider myself talented, but Robert has shown me that normal people, or even kind of slow to learn people, like myself, are actually able to create really amazing things with the proper tools, and instruction. And, the really cool part is that, this is only my second class, so I have just barely started to climb the mountain, and already the view is improving. I now know enough to realize that I can't even comprehend the summit, because it will be far and away better than I am capable of imagining right now. Man, I love learning! Today I am one step closer to being a web designer, and owner. I can hardly wait!

Photoshop Wins This Round

vs.

Yes that is right folks, in a head to head heat: its Photoshop 1 Booklover 0!
After a brutal fight lasting more than 5 hours, and 12 rounds Photoshop comes out the clear winner. Booklover has just embarrassed herself. Clearly she didn't have the serious training she needed to endure a battle with the powerhouse. She must of thought that she was working the ring with paint or draw, or on of those other light weights. She has to accept that she is now in the super heavy weights, and these programs come to the table with more power than most can imagine. Even seasoned professionals have to have serious training to get the likes of a giant like photoshop to do what they want. So it is back to the drawing board for Booklover. In a press conference after the fight, she looked worse for the wear, and beaten. However, her spirit was not broken. She said "Photoshop has won this battle, but not the war! I'll beat you next time photoshop, and then you will go down, and submit to my will!" She was shaking, and seemed slightly delirious, so we wish her a speedy recovery, and look forward to that next round!

First Day of Class!

Well there is good news, and there is bad news!
I'll get the bad news over with. I went to my first class yesterday, and have learned tons. The downside is that I have learned that I will be scrapping the old site, AGAIN, and starting from scratch for the third time.
The good news is that this time I will be going about it the correct way, and lucky for me, the much, much easier way! I left my lesson feeling like I had won the lottery, or been given a great gift. I have been trying to fit the round peg in the square hole, and now have been shown how to work the toy properly. I can only go up from here!
So watch for progress. Right now I have to get back to my homework!
More later, promise...

"The Choice" by Nicholas Sparks

The Choice is another great love story from Nicholas Sparks. Travis a successful small town veterinarian makes an attempt to befriend his new neighbor and quickly discovers it will be a challenge. His loud music and obnoxious dog are not the only things that stand between the two becoming friends. Her long time boyfriend and desire to be marry is the kicker. Travis is not deterred and makes it almost impossible for Gabby to not find him irresistible. Sparks makes you feel like you are a part of Gabby's world and being courted by the man of every woman's dreams. I was entrance by the end of the first chapter and couldn't wait for the next date. The books slows down towards the end but goes out with a splash that leaves you dying for true love!

So Guest Blogger? Am I one?

So, I really just want to see if I am actually on your blog as a guest blogger or if I am just making your really awesome blog site a scribbling nightmare. My teenagers do that to me. It doesn't belong to them so it is perfectly OK to try it out. Well, if you accept this trial blog I will let you know all about my 2 books in one week and if all goes the way I plan I will let you know how my 3rd book this year comes out! I rock! Who would have thought that holding a book in front of your face could make the world a little quieter!

Classes Start Today!

"I am not young enough to know everything" Oscar Wilde
There are many clever quotes regarding wisdom being the understanding of what you do not know, but alas, Mr. Wilde summed it up nicely, I think. The older I get, the less I know, no doubt about that!
I have read several books, and even more web site tutorials about all things web design and development. My conclusion is that it is time for me to start taking classes. The more I have learned, the less I understand. I am currently stuck in a holding pattern with the site. So, you can imagine that the classes are in the nick of time! I am stubborn, and desperate to see this through, so it's back to school for me!
Actually, I have enlisted the help of a tutor, Robert. (More info on him to follow, if I get his permission) We have not met in person yet but, I suspect that Robert is one of those freakishly smart people that masters things like the Rubik's cube while whistling a song, chewing gum, and standing on one foot. My only hope is that he is also a great teacher, since I was around for the Rubik's cube the first time, and now the reissuing of it, I still cannot solve it! Yep, I was one of the kids who just moved the stickers, I admit freely it now!
So, I am told that on this first lesson we will be going over HTML code in notepad, to get the basics. "Is that even English?" I say. Well yes code happens to be written in English, but it is also it's own language. Well Shit! Three years of Spanish, and I am still "muy poquito espanol"!
Okay, maybe web design basics are not glamorous, but that doesn't scare me! I have spent the last 14 years of my professional life doing most things that can only be done while wearing latex gloves, so bring on the code!
My class is at 3pm today, so watch for the riveting play by play update. More importantly, watch for the web site to finally start to unlock itself, and become something exciting, and useful. If you have an extra prayer or candle to light today, keep me in mind, I can use all the help I can get!
Hasta luego!

On a side note, I have gotten a couple requests for guest reviewers, so I have figured out how to make that happen. Please watch for guest reviews, and if you are interested in being one yourself, just email me or post a comment, and I'll set you up!!
Thanks again for reading!

Whew! Glad that is over!

Not to seem ungrateful, or scrooge like, but man I am ready to move on into 2008! I have really big plans for this year. I am not the resolution type, so I just stick with the basic goals, hopes, and dreams. Adding to that list this year is gratitude. My gratitude today is that now longer do I ever have to feel guilty for hiding away from life, and reading a book. Now, whenever I want to read, I can call it work. I can get away with reading anything a claiming it is work, since I can post a review. That was not a benefit that I preconceived, but when I realized it today, wowie was I stoked! So, if my blog posts are sometimes brief or sporadic, it is probably cause I am working hard on a very important book that needs reviewing.
Next on the list, check with the accountants to see if all my book purchases are tax deductions now! That is like writing off food, or crack for an addict. Boy, o' boy, I am feeling very thankful today!