On an overcast and chilly morning with our final fire of the season in the wood stove, I sat with my laptop and tackled some unpleasant tasks.
- A new scanner: I went looking online to see if the one that served me well for 15 years was still available. It is not. A similar one appeared to be available, but it isn’t sold in the U S of A. So, begrudgingly, I went to the Big A and found (settled for?) a flatbed scanner made by a company called Plustek. I’m guessing that Mustek (my last scanner company) morphed into Plustek. Every piece of information available seems to indicate that it is easy to set up and will work with my outdated MacBook Pro.
2. My printer is one of those 4-way deals: print, scan, copy, and fax. (Fax?? Who does that any more besides medical offices, which I do my best to avoid?) It works as a scanner in a pinch, except that it only handles 8-1/2 x 11” documents and the lid isn’t removable for thick canvases. It is a good printer, but it uses SO MUCH INK. I always check the box for black & white copies, and somehow, the other ink cartridges run low. It is hard to buy only black, and the blue, red, and yellow cartridges appear to be multiplying in the dark while I wait yet again for another overpriced order of black ink. Rip-off.
3. An online printing company is where I get small amounts of notecards printed. In the last handful of years, suddenly they charge sales tax after I have submitted all my resale permit info. I learned that I have to resubmit the same forms, Every Year, Year After Year After Year. So tiresome. OF COURSE they don’t ever receive the email, which necessitates a “chat” or a phone call, where someone keeps reassuring me that they will look into it. The people are nice, and they are helpful, but WHY IS THIS NECESSARY, OVER AND OVER??
4. Someone asked me what other murals I have painted, and I realized that I don’t have them on my website, other than the page “What my customers are saying” or some such thing. So I spent a couple of long sessions make a new mural page, finding, organizing, and posting the photos. No dates or sizes are included. They don’t all show in full, due to my use of “galleries”, which means a cluster of photos with predetermined shapes and sizes. It was kind of cool to realize that I have that many under my belt.
Instead of all this administrative stuff, I just want to paint. Actually I just want to draw. Sure would be nice to have a secretary, administrative assistant, intern, apprentice, servant, butler, lady’s waiting maid, something.
However, then I’d have to work more to pay that person, and I wouldn’t have enough money to pay for all those ink cartridges or a new scanner.
I’ll leave it alone now.
8 Comments
Oh, I was too awestruck to say congrats on your new scanner – I hope it’s perfect for you. I know what you mean about the price of printer ink. It’s unreal.
Michelle, the scanner is very complicated to use, so I will focus on simply getting the basics down and as with most tech, ignore all the extras.
Oh WOW! Look at all the beautiful murals you’ve done!!! I’m blown away! Of course, my favorite is the bear with the candle, but they are all truly amazing. I can’t even begin to rave enough about them, and that page is a great addition to your website.
Michelle, you are the third commenter to like the bear best. It is my least favorite, probably because it wasn’t my work—I only refreshed it. And cartoons don’t float my boat.
That’s a great mural collection! Wow, you did quite a few! I’m glad you created that page.
I especially think the “good-night” bear with the candle is cute. Where is that one located?
Sharon, that’s just what Michelle G thought! It is (was?) on the roof parapet of the motel formerly known as The Mountaire, then the Sierra Lodge, and now, I can’t remember. Sierra Lodge owner hired me to refresh it. He had a variety of cartoonish bears all over the property.
Wow, you are the Mural Queen! So many beautiful murals. My favorites are the “waving bear” (where was that one painted?) and the massive wisteria. Congratulations on such good work that I’m sure brings much pleasure to the Visalia, Exeter, and Three Rivers communities.
Thank you, Marjie! The waving bear is above the roof of what used to be called The Mountaire Motel, then Sierra Lodge, and now ?? It was hot painting on the roof and the tar stuck to my shoes. I cannot take credit for the bear because I was only hired to refresh the paint job. The wisteria serve as a headboard for someone’s bed here in Three Rivers. I was particularly proud of that one. It is fun when a person’s original ideas turn out well for them!