March 4, 2008

WWC / Picasa Mi Asa!

Weekly Words Challenge time again today. This week we will be showing off pictures inspired by the words GLASS and STONE. As usual it was the always cute Tink of Pickled Beef (also well renowned for drinking Bacardi out of origami cups), who chose the words for us.

I'm doing something new today. I will be presenting my pictures in a slideshow, as so many others are doing. I felt that way I could choose to share more pictures, without making people scroll the page down forever to see all the shots.

At first I wanted to add the same sweet looking slideshow that G-Man has on his site, but hear me out: I downloaded the Picasa software... that must be the most crappy piece of junk software that has ever found its way onto my computer! The thing freezes up all the resources, and slows down the computer to such a rate that it becomes unusable, and unstable - and I have a pretty darn good computer... well capable of handling all the latest graphics demanding games, and significant amounts of data. I couldn't figure out what caused the problems, all I know is that I am, as of yet, unable to launch Picasa on my computer and then close it down without hitting ctrl+alt+del. What a piece of junk!

I did however log onto the Picasa website itself, and found that I already had an account there - I was unaware of this.

AHA!

That's where all the pictures I have uploaded to my blog are at! I've always wondered how to get to them in case I wanted to delete some and all that... so that was a nice little discovery. After playing around a little there I found that I could make albums and create slideshows in a much easier fashion than the fancy option I wanted. I don't even need the stupid Picasa software - I can just upload the pics directly onto the Picasa website, which works so much better than the downloadable piece of junk they offer...

...maybe none of this is news to you. I just never checked it out before, so it's news to me.

Now, all I need to figure out is how to make that stupid slideshow slower. The pics show only 3 seconds before going to the next. I think that's too fast. You can hit the pause button, and that way you can look at the pictures at your own pace.

Well, let's try this - shall we? Here are my pictures for this week:


Hope you liked the new format. That gives you a couple more shots than what I usually offer. Next week we'll be playing with PAPER and CERAMIC. See you then.

Do check out the Commenter of the Month story I posted yesterday, in case you missed it.

58 comments:

Leighann said...

The stone bridge is beautiful! I really like the stone path too, great shots this week!

Knight said...

I love the tree growing on stone. Beautiful shot.

Jahooni said...

I wish we had more stome buidling in Cali. Nice pics.

ps, don't worry I am not going to post again today. promise. ;)~

Jahooni said...

and my fingers aren't even crossed behind my back... ;)~

Jahooni said...

oops, I meant to say Stone. not stome. oops.. okay moving on.

Sparkling Red said...

Nice photos. I really like all the STONE-themed shots. Maybe I'm distantly related to that character in the movie Labyrinth who can summon rocks with his voice.

The slideshow format is great. :-)

Fortune Cookies said...

Nice photos! I agree about picasa! Eh, there's it's up and down sides. But most importantly, NICE SHOTS! I love that tree growing in the rocks, is that cypress?

Casdok said...

Love the format and the pics are great.

Jo said...

Ooo, beautiful shots this week! Love the stone bridge, the stones in the water & the tree growing out of the stone--those could be framed! So pretty where you're at...

Lilli & Nevada said...

Not part of this but just wanted to say i love your slide show of the stones and glass all are very beautiful

Liv said...

i dunno---the picasa web uploader tool works beautifully on my mac...

great photos!

g-man said...

Bummer that Picasa sucks for you. It flies on my machines. Your machine sounds perfect for the task. Maybe downloading it again?

Nice shots all, excellent stone/lake series.

Tink is pokie today.

R.E.H. said...

Leighann: Thanks. That stone bridge is a bit of a landmark where I live. There's a great story behind it too...

Knight: I found that quite fascinating as I was out there taking pictures... had to share it - looks almost like a bonzai tree doesn't it?

Jahooni (x3): No stome buildings in Cali? What are "stome" buildings?

Oh... I see - you meant "stone" ;)

Sparkling Red: I took a lot more stone pictures out there today - but I narrowed it down to a "best of" kind of thing - it was one of the reasons I decided to try out the slideshow thing.

No More Empty Fortune Cookies: I think that is just a regular Pine tree that's growing weird because it's on top of those rocks... the roots are sticking out of the ground as well...

Not sure though - I'm not good with trees and names ;)

R.E.H. said...

Casdok: Thanks!

Jo: I think you share the same three favorites that I have... and I love the one of the trees on top of the hill.

These were mostly taken from a camping site... it is kind of nice up there.

Lilli & Nevada: Welcome!

Glad you liked the pictures. Hope you decide to stick around.

Liv: Yes, the Picasa web uploader tool works - but its that stupid Picasa2 picture organizer and editor piece of junk that doesn't work...

G-Man: Yeah, I don't know what is up with the Picasa software. It started scanning my entire computer... and that would have taken days and days... and it only gave me two options (always including the entire My Documents folder, which it has no business scanning because I don't want all the stuff there catalogued in the stupid thing). I took it down to simply scan the My Pictures folder ONLY... and once it was done... it still kept freezing up on me. Besides, I didn't like the look of it anyway... much easier to catalogue in normal Windows folders and use Windows Thumbs in there...

...oh, I'm rambling here...

Glad you enjoyed the pictures!

Dana said...

I'm a huge fan of the slideshow format - I always feel like I get a little bit more for my money - and since I don't pay to visit any blogs, that's quite a bonus!

fiwa said...

I like the slideshow format - very cool. I did not know any of that about picasa, so thanks for the details.

Your pictures were great - the tree growing on the stone outcrop is my favorite though. What a gorgeous lake! Can you swim there in the summer?

Tink said...

Oooo REH, your pictures are absolutely stellar this week! I really love the stones in the water, the stone bridge, and the tree growing on the rock. Great job!

R.E.H. said...

Dana: Yeah, the slideshow makes it look a little more "professional" doesn't it?

Fiwa: Yes you can swim there. During the summer that place is always packed with [hot topless chicks] people swimming in the water and getting a tan laying on those rocks.

Tink: Thank You. Getting the approval on my pics from you is always special.

Newt said...

Oh, those are so beautiful. I would LOVE to go out to that lake with a blanket, a book, and a big thermos of coffee. Wow, WOW.

Jay said...

I really love stone bridge too. I think that one is my favorite. I love bridges anyway.

I'm going to do the slideshow too. It takes up less space and people don't have to wait for the photos to load and all that cool stuff. I just don't know which slideshow software to use.

Well done on the pics. Great stuff dude.

R.E.H. said...

Newt: In the summer that is a fine idea right there... though a book would not be read by me there - I have other things to feast my eyes on then ;)

Right now - it's freezing cold out there... although the sun was out today, making the pictures look nice and warm.

Jay: Yeah, bridges are cool. I really like this one... its amazing it is still there and hasn't fallen apart yet (it's like 150 years old or something).

I had trouble with which slideshow to use myself - as you know I wanted to use the same that G-Man has, but I gave up on that... this one is really simple to use, and since all the pictures were already on the Picasa website, I figured I'll just settle for it.

Anonymous said...

Great Pics!! yeah that bridge is something else!

I would love to have a picnic there, and then a nap!

Gin said...

Wow, I love the lake/stone shots...what beautiful scenery!! Your shots are all good, love the little glass mouse too.

Dianne said...

The stone bridge is my favorite too! All the stone shots were beautiful. I loved the little glass mouse though - so whimsical.

I like the slideshow format also. photobucket.com has worked great for me - and you can post directly to blogger from there - I just haven't figured out how to add text before the show gets posted but then I just do it as a 2 parter.

Now I could have made this comment a 2 parter but I'm working on not being needy ;)

Farmer*swife a/k/a Glass_Half_Full said...

I have to say the recycling glass and the tractor/construction vehicle were my favs knowing me and all, that makes sense.

ALL the nature stuff was beautiful, of course.

BUT, the glass mouse touched me. "Little Jerry" didn't make it. I guess I was gone too long and he needed the warmth of my palm and to nurse the milk off my finger tip...I was with my daughter at her surgery.

I held him in my palm, stroking his tiny body...while he went back to his maker.

Gosh, I'll be more uplifting on my 2nd/3rd posts [smiley-wink]

Anonymous said...

You have some beautiful places to go take pictures. I love them all!

~ Amy @ Silver Skies

Anonymous said...

Hmm. I think that Jahooni is inserting typos into her comments just so that she can come back and fix them in "additional" comments. I think you need to set up some rules for this commenting business. Maybe this is just me as a selfish reader, but it was really annoying having to scroll through 80+ comments just to make one of my own on the last post.

I mean, when I comment, I try to look through the other comments first because I don't want to repeat what others said, but even MORE, I don't want to scroll for five fucking minutes just so I can put in my 2 cents' worth!

Sorry . . . I don't mean to sound like a bitch, and if you like the ridiculous amount of comments (I wouldn't, not if they weren't of substance), then you go ahead and revel in them and ignore me. I mean after all, it's YOUR blog isn't it. Geez I feel like I'm being a bitch. I'm sorry. I don't mean to be. I've just been turned off to the idea of trying to win the commenter of the month award because I don't wanna comment 20 times in one post.

ANYWAY - what I really came here to say (and didn't bother doing much checking to see if I'm comment-repeating) is - I LOVE the stone arch pic and the stone steps with stones all around them pic. Those were awesome. Good job.

Em

Jen said...

Em - you're too funny! You have good points, esp. with getting some rules. I'm with you, I read what other people write so I don't seem redundant.

Anyway, I really enjoyed the stone pictures. Very creative.

Nice job on WWC today!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful arch, lovely nature pics of stone et al (I think G-man called water "smooth as glass" so that counts, right?)
And hooray for recycling! (Didn't think of that one myself...the photo I mean...I'm crazy for recycling.)

Farmer*swife a/k/a Glass_Half_Full said...

Okay, so everyone agrees that "jahooni" cheated. But, I don't think it was on purpose.

I think, maybe we left her out in some way. Last month I felt "jipd" (how do you spell that damn word) because I didn't know at that time there was a contest for the 3rd day of the month story.

1) UM, doesn't this demonstrate we are all ADDICTS of r.e.h.
2) I think I love him (oops, I'm married...I think that leaves me literarily available though [wine, had to think that spelling through]doubt I "thought" it through at all)
3)mmmm, I forgot my point [thinking with glass DH refilled]
4)Oh, I tend to comment at an approximate max of three times per blog as blog is interesting for 1 vs. three comments. But, I have a medical diagnosis and my comments are usually more than one sentence to be sure I say everything I want to and still leave room for that "last final" (3rd or times three equivalent) statement.

Farmer*swife a/k/a Glass_Half_Full said...

Last and Third final comment: r.e.h. obviously we all love you, I mean to read you.

Obviously, I'm, um, can't remember how to spell that anehb'd word...drinking and DH is "happily waiting my stumble upon him."

Please make sure any rules you make allow a series of three comments max/min but in no way not a variance (sp) not including threes. you know ME...you get me.

If only jahooni hadn't cheated. Now we all have RULES.

J/K (fearful she'll hunt my smart ass down and try to kick it; but, I am small, fast, fisty -- like di-no-mite!) Oh, and I'm very [blindly] accurate with a black powder weapon too. Well, I'm Texan. I can damn well shoot anything -- wanna' see my trophy room?

jahooni just messin' with ya' and remember, I'm aneb...ahnil...drunk, I think, LOL

r.e.h.Promise, last alcohol induced comment for the night [DH dragging me from room...it's been a rough week, and I hate Wednesdays]

Oh, it's your Wed. "Happy Wednesday!!!"

Anonymous said...

I like that you put some "bonus" pictures in. There's only one problem. They were not traditional "bonus" pictures.

In a video game they would be a large golden key or a piece of fruit "a la pack man" or a bonus ship or an extra life. Next time I want a real bonus picture.

L.P. said...

morning REH! ~plopping down in your lap~
How's it going? I gots nothing to say this morning... just wanted a snuggle.

L.P. said...

hmmmm.... sorry - haven't left the house yet.. reading Farmer'sWife comments... i LIKE her. Cute.

Guilty Secret said...

Always innovating, eh? Love it :)

And also, your pictures are getting better all the time!

Karen said...

wow. You drink a lot, huh? ;) The sone bridge is pretty amazing. I like the slide show too very high tech.

Jay said...

are those all your beer bottles?
looks like someone has been having fun!

Anonymous said...

Hmmmm, is it wrong that when I saw the words for today I immediately thought of a bong?

Freakazojd said...

Love the stone bridge, stones in water and tree growing in stone! I was totally going to type more but the babe just awoke and I gotta run - great photos!!! :)

Aunt Jackie said...

Hey Picassa is the slideshow I've been using... I load mine up and send them through on a Mac so it's not so bad, sorry you're having probs with the software.

Great entries all the stones are so beautiful!!

Tequila Mockingbird said...

i like the format.

ugh, i'm sick with a cold. come bring me soup and oral sex.

L.P. said...

^^^LOL!!!^^^

Anonymous said...

Hey You!!! You got Hump Day Blog Of The Week!!!!! YAY!!!!

R.E.H. said...

Single In The City: Just say when, and I'll take you out there for a picnic and a nap.

Ginni Dee: Thanks. Yes, it is quite nice out there actually.

Dianne: This simple Picasa slideshow is good enough, I guess - and real simple to use, so I think I'll stick with it.

Farmer's Wife: Glad someone liked the tractor shot ;) I like it too... I was on my way home, and that thing was just standing there in the middle of nowhere... I had to get out of my car and take a pic for some reason.

So sorry to hear about Little Jerry... poos little mousie :(

Amy: Thanks. The thing is one never thinks of places "at home" as beautiful... I guess it's because we've seen them so often they don't feel special any more.

R.E.H. said...

Emmeline: Yes, I have been thinking of implementing some rules... or even changing criteria to win "Commenter of the Month". I'm gonna have to let the craziness slide this month, but I have a couple of good ideas for how I will approach the thing in the future ;)

Glad you liked the pictures.

Jen: You could never be redundant ;)

Glad you liked the pics.

Kcinnova: Welcome to the Madman's Place!

Water smooth as glass... yes, that works. I was actually standing for the longest time staring at a patch of ice that someone had walked on, and there were shards of ice spread around that looked like glass... I decided against the picture.

Farmer's Wife (x2): The thing is... it's not even meant to be a contest... y'all made it into a contest ;)

Nice to hear you're all addicted to me... uhm... my blog.

Enjoying the wine tonight are we? ;)

Unsigned: Well, this isn't really a computer game ;)

Alright, I'll try to put a "real" bonus picture in next week!

R.E.H. said...

Lakota Princess (x2): Snuggle is nice... and Farmer's Wife does make me smile too ;)

Guilty Secret: Thanks. I liked the theme this week, and enjoyed taking the pictures.

Karen: Oh, I guess you thought all those bottles were mine - nah, it's the entire neighborhood's recycling center ;)

Jay Cam: Nope, as I said to Karen - the bottles are from the entire neighborhood. I usually drink from a can, so they would be in the aluminum recycling container.

Pookie Sixx: That's not something that would've popped up in my head, but... ;)

R.E.H. said...

Freakazojd: Glad you liked the pictures... yes the babe would be more important than me... *grumbles* ;)

Aunt Jackie: This Picasa slideshow that you and I use doesn't require the stupid Picasa2 software - that's what saved me ;)

Tequila Mockingbird: Which do you want me to give you first? If you're gonna be sick from the soup I'd want to get the oral done first... but after that I may be too tired to make the soup...

How about both at once? If you promise not to spill hot soup on me...

Lakota Princess: Tequila is funny, isn't she?

Single In The City: Hey, thanks! I'll be right over to check it out!

Jan said...

You have a great eye for photography! Love the slideshow too! My favorites are the stone bridge and the tree growing out of the stone as well. :)

Your situation at work sounds so stressful but they aren't making it any easier either. You will really be ready to unwind when it's all over. Hang in there, REH!

Anonymous said...

Damn man! I am totally bummed right now cuz I can't get slideshows on this work computer. DAMN! Can't do anything requiring Flash player either. I did love the music bar so keep that up.

Take care,

FMD

tt said...

Just exactly what I needed to start my day! Great pics. That's a beautiful area you live in.
Good luck on your last day. I'm sure it'll be bittersweet. I'll be thinking of ya and sending you warm happy thoughts ;)

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beee-u-tee-ful!!
Wonderful indeed!!

R.E.H. said...

Tookie Tail: Thank You. There will be some long and wonderful unwinding after this Friday. I'll love it!

Fu Manchu Dad: Sorry, man. No home computer either? So you can catch up on the pictures when you get home?

Glad you liked the music though.

TT: Bittersweet? Nah - not bitter at all... only sweet! :)

Butterfly Girl: Thanks.

Tequila Mockingbird said...

i PROMISE not to spill on you! so lets do both.

R.E.H. said...

Tequila Mockingbird: You're on!

Jill said...

The serie of picture by the lake are beautiful!

Jill said...

But then, I think that with my attachment to water, I would almost find any picture of water beautiful!

R.E.H. said...

Jill: Bodies of water make for nice pictures. Thanks.

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