Monthly Archives: March 2007

That's it

Okay, here goes. I have had a very hard time with Hoyt's mother for the wedding. She said her family was better than mine, that they don't have “issues” like my family; she's called me a child and immature, called me other names… I have had to defend all our choices for the wedding, my family, Hoyt, and myself on numerous occasions. She says I treat her like the stereotypical in-law (I don't follow stereotypes, and I like to give everyone an equal chance and base my views of them by their words and actions, not stereotypes). The rest of Hoyt's family is really lovely, wonderful people to be around. But Hoyt's mother, she must really hate me for something. I know I had a few nervous breakdowns during the wedding preparation doing that, working extra hours every week, and Hoyt being away in Oklahoma with the wedding all in Minnesota. But this last insult has really done it for me.

I provided some instructions about looking at the photo proofs from the wedding stating these were not the ones to download because they weren't really mine to download. She says that I was really saying her family is full of “cheaters”, a term I never used nor implied. I was just trying to explain these were not mine to give away. Then she accused me of stealing. I put up the proofs by working around the program on the proof cd so everyone else could order photos at HER request. Now she is calling me a thief; so now my entire photobucket account has become private. I am done with her. I have never accused anyone of cheating (unless it was like Monopoly with my brothers when I was ten, which I don't remember), and to call me a thief for providing those? Or paying to obtain digital copies, which the photographer has already agreed to?? No, I am not being stereotypical here, she just plain thinks I am evil.

At this point I don't know how to respond. I want her family to know I never accused them of cheating, that my life isn't as easy as she is making it out to be, and that I am not nearly the snot she is calling me. :-( No wonder I have been having self esteem issues lately. The past four months I have been badgered by Hoyt's mom and under so much other stress. I think the only thing I can do at this point is stop communicating with her. I defend myself and it just gives more kindle to fuel the fire. I think I need to start meditating or something, I feel like such a horrible person. :-(

Blog migration…?

I think it's time to start considering my options when it comes to blogs. Livejournal has been a nice location, but it's extremely limited. Of course, I have the free membership, so I may be bringing it upon myself, but I am unable to add any widgets because it does not allow me to add any scripting outside of links to the navigation. Here is the list of widgets I am considering:

1. Clustrmaps
Locations of visitors to this page

2. LibraryThing Random Books

3. Facebook Profile Badge

4. 43places map

5. 43places list of things to do

6. MeeboMe

7. Good Reads Currently Read Books

8. Amazon.com wishlist
src=”http://realtime.amazon.com/swf/wishlistwidget.swf”
allowScriptAccess=”never”
quality='high'
bgcolor='#FFFFFF'
width=”225″
height=”265″
name=”_po_wishlistwidget”
align=”"
type=”application/x-shockwave-flash”
pluginspage=”http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer”
FlashVars=”wishlist_id=3JEFO76WLYAME&service_host=realtime.amazon.com” />

7. DeviantArt RSS feed (I notice this is really buggy)

8. Websnapr screenshots for my links
Requires I actually load a script document, so completely not possible on LiveJournal. :-(

As you can see, not only does LiveJournal not support most of this, but I can't put it in the sidebar. I do have site space given by my service provider, but I think I want something more permanent. I want more web2.0! I am a web interface designer, you think I'd be more into these things. I just don't like paying for site space. :-p Time to look at options.

JoCoBusiness!

A site redesign was just launched! We've been working on it for a couple months; taken a while due to development of a new content management system. JoCoBusiness has some improvements with our new system. The framework is much more accessible and completely tables free! Of course, this means a lot of testing in many monitor settings and browsers (which still needs much more testing…), but with cursory click throughs in a few browsers on typical monitor settings, it seems okay (I am told widescreen has problems though, oy vei…).

I am happy that it is all CSS with some nice additional features we thought up along the way. Also, turning off the CSS renders the page just as readable for those on a PDA or using a screen reader. Not many people see that aspect of a website, but those who do notice it I hope appreciate it. We have commenting and book reviewing available to people who register, and forums will be coming for registered users to participate in as well! Our news pages have RSS feeds available for the bloglines addicts. ;-) Like I said, some work to be done, but it's coming together nicely. :-D

It's interesting to see where we started with a site and how it ended up. I don't have the original sketches scanned in, but here is one of my initial mock-ups prior to building in the content management system. I think they turned out fairly similar!

The other site I helped implement and was originally supposed to be the first site in our new content management system was JoCoHistory. We have a lot of great ideas for the next phase of this site, but it will not be until next spring (lots of other projects before then). Yay!

Dante's Inferno

lol Okay, so someone asked me to take this, and I was amused. I'll just be hanging with da boys next to the river, but there's no way in Hades (ha ha, get it? :-p) that I'll be seeing the pearly gates. Almost made it as a heretic… I'll take that as yes I am insane. :-D

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to the First Level of Hell – Limbo!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers) Very Low
Level 1 – Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers) Extreme
Level 2 (Lustful) Low
Level 3 (Gluttonous) Low
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious) Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy) Low
Level 6 – The City of Dis (Heretics) Very High
Level 7 (Violent) Moderate
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers) Low
Level 9 – Cocytus (Treacherous) Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Hell Test