Laptop update

So Armand just called me to tell me that my laptop is back and ready for pick up. Yay! But then he tells me that they were unable to recover ANY data. At all. After they said there was a "very good chance" they would be able to recover "up to 70%". I'm not mad they couldn't recover anything; I'm sure they tried their best, and I'm sure they didn't mean to "lie". Given the information about how my laptop failed and their success rate, I'm going to assume they told me the truth as they saw it. I, however, don't want the truth. I want something that doesn't get my hopes up, even if it is a bit of a lie. Something more to the tune of "often we are able recover a large amount of data, however, sometimes we inexplicably get nothing at all". That sounds like a good company line that won't make you overly hopeful, unless you are an uber-hopeful retard, which is what I became after hearing the line they actually gave us. So, after the shock wears off and I'm done crying over my own bloody stupidity, I will be scouring the Internet/area for data recovery specialists, and preparing myself for the inevitable financial butt-raping that will occur as a result.

Grrr...

So, last week when I discovered I wad going to have three whole days off, I was pretty excited. I figured I could pack, plan some new plates, whatever. Then, my computer crashed. Oh well, right? I can still pack, or whatever. Yeah, about that. I got the bloody Genghis Khan of all colds. The kind of cold so bad that you get up to go to the bathroom, and then you need to nap. So, while I have tried to at least get some source images together for some new plates, I am finding it a lot more difficult without my laptop. Armand has been kind enough to lend me the iPad until I get the laptop back, but it just isn't the same. It is such a fun toy that all I want to do with it is watch YouTube videos and read Cracked, which makes it hard to get real work done, as anyone familiar with Cracked can attest. Also, incase you all live under a rock, Apple hates flash, so that means a lot of cool stuff can't be viewed on the iPad. I also discovered that whatever software Blogger uses to make Blogging for Dummies so quick and easy to use doesn't work on the iPad either.

That's right. I have to try and remember good old fashioned HTML to blog. And do it without a real keyboard. Good times!

Anyway, printmaking. I managed to sharpen my scrapers in anticipation of doing a small mezzotint test plate, and I purchased a copy of The Complete Printmaker a few weeks ago, so I am attempting to read that in my more lucid moments. For anyone who is starting out, this bold is an invaluable guide to printmaking techniques, and is full of ways to save money by building your own acid trays and mixing your own hard ground. It isn't available in hardcover anymore (at least not for a reasonable price) but you can buy softcover copies, and it is also available as an ebook, so that's pretty cool. I'm going to one up them a bit here though. They had nothing to say really about building paper drawers. But I'm going to. I'm working on the measurements so I can make my own 6 drawer paper chest for about $120. Say what? Yeah, we all know I'm crazy, but when I work it out I'll be laughing all the way to the bank, and then sharing it with all you fine folks. Something g to look forward to...

One step forward, two steps back

So, the last few days have sucked some serious balls. I'll save you all the little annoying things that have been going on, and skip right to the good stuff. My laptop, my lifeline, upon which every shred of my artistic information is stored, CRASHED. And burned. We don't know what is wrong with it. I do know what is wrong with me though. I, am stupid. So stupid in fact, that I have never backed up anything. So, yeah. I think I'll go hide in the closet and cry now.

Scanner!!!!!

So, somehow I managed to forget that I actually bought my scanner! Henry's had the best one I could afford at one of their Toronto stores, and was nice enough to ship it in to my local store (Waterloo). So that is fabulous! Too bad for me that there is no where for me to set it up to play with until we get the new space. I do mean no where. So that sucks. Also, I am actually going to have to learn new programs. I hate learning new programs. I have an irrational and childish hatred of learning new computer stuff, but the tech websites I was using to choose my scanner all said it is a great scanner, provided you don't use the software that came with it since it is so lame. So I will be purchasing VueScan, which is apparently the shit in scanning software. So I will have to learn how to use that. And Photoshop, which I have also somehow managed to avoid learning too. I suck, I know.

bleh!

I want my studio now, damn it! It is such a beautiful day, and all I want to do is spend it in my as-yet imaginary studio. Instead, I am blogging to put off cleaning. Considering going out to look for mushrooms, though I really do need to clean. Le Sigh. On the bright side, I went out to Henry's and got some more darkroom trays to use for my acid bath. I figured even though they are more expensive than say, a restaurant bus bin or something like that, they are worth it since they have pour spouts. Since I am accident prone beyond belief and will be playing with acid (for the love of god, why, why??? I can see emergency room visits in my future...) every little thing I can do to hopefully make things go easier and safer I will do. That being said, does anyone know where to get those little squeeze bottle emergency eyewash stations? I think I should probably have one of those. Maybe two, once for each eye, just in case.

I'm no Valley girl who can't tell a Mondrian from a place mat

-from Belinda by Anne Rice, 1986