March 21, 2002Winter 2001-2002
Sorry about this last chunk of time. I have been having some health problems. This ends the Winter 2001-2002 Journal Page. The Journal contiues on the Spring 2002 page.
February 23, 2002
Much has happened since the 18th. I have been plagued with random crashes and lockups for two years now. I first suspected a virus or perhaps latent damage from a viral attack my computer had when someone sent some software which was contaminated. Then I thought it could be the system software and I reinstalled to freshly formatted hard drives. The first thing that happened upon reinstallation was a crash. B( Then I discovered my main drive was going bad. I was able to save the important files from it just before it toasted. Luckily I got a nice large drive From my friend John which saved the day.Well I was able to make use of the computer since that despite random crashes. If it was simply an application I was running, no problem I could restart. But it if was something that the OS needed, the computer would have to be rebooted, or even turned off and back on.
I suspected it was somethng to do with memory, the CPR or the motherboard. I tried running with different memory modules, but it still crashed. It did seem that at least two memory slots were not working regardless of what memory module was in it. The sort of pointed at the mother board to me. Well a few days ago after crashing, when I restarted the computer the monitor wouldn't start. The monitor itself was okay, but it could not detect and signal from the computer even though it seemed to be booting up just fine. In my system the video card is in the slot that is closest to the memory. I tried to swap that card for another that I had handy and there was no difference. Then I put my original card in the furthest slot from that one. I started the computer again, and the monitor fired up again, but the computer locked up during the windows boot up. I couldn't get a glimmer after that.
I had a couple of motherboards with CPUs mounted on them left over from upgrading other computers. One was a 486 and the other a Pentium (or 586) I dismantled my computer (everything plugs into the motherboard) and then installed the Pentium. My original computer was a 200 MHz 686 and the Pentium was only a 100 MHz.
So far so good, no freezes, no lockups. Even running many programs at once is no problem. The only problem so far is that MS Word is running very slowly. More slowly than I think it should be running even on a machine half the speed of what I am used to. I am talking about the speed between typing a word and seeing it appear, not how fast it can reformat a table spanning 5 pages. Or saving a large document. I will have to look into this. Perhaps there are some things to do with caches and other memory issues that this mother board doesn't have or that aren't set up. Word might be expecting them and run slower than if it hadn't been set up to use them.
My energy levels are starting to pick up, though my physical energy is lagging a bit behind. I think the thyroid hormones I am now taking are making a big improvement, even if I have to wait an hour after taking them before breakfast. I hope that my blood sugar level is dropping as well.
The D.W. Penner Virtual Campus is coming along. I have a preview shot of the Library now. I also have added a News Kiosk which links up to a journal for the Virtual Campus project.
I'm a bit proud of the Kiosk as I made it as well as the other graphics and animations on the campus. The ceiling fans are one of my first projects. Some backgrounds I haven't done. For instance a parchment one that is similar to ones found all over in graphic programs, word processors, and all over the net. The animated clouds in the library window I created from a still image. I might do such backgrounds from scrach.... eventually.
I have taken a bit of a break to work on another display for the Gallery in the Computer Graphic area. I rediscovered a comic strip I did in 1998. I've been adding a bit to it completeing a chapter that I had just started. I will upload what I have so far. Then I might upload the story in progress a bit at a time. It is called the "Gnomestead Tapistry" and deals with a funny, quirky, little kingdom in the middle ages... or a version of the middle ages inspired by the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronisms) (medieval society). One of the quirks is that things don't follow just one time period. There are both Cavaliers and Vikings sitting at the same table.
By the way, none of the characters in the "Gnomestead Tapistry" are based on anyone I know in or out of the SCA. But if anyone wants to visit, perhaps that can be arranged. B)
Hmm, of course some of this should actually go into the Campus News Journal... which it will, there is overlap after all.
Nadya is still out of touch. It's been three weeks now and I hope things are going okay.
Darrell
February 18, 2002
A cloudy rainy day. Still the mountains look pretty with the cloud and mists wrapped around them.
I'm missing hearing from Nadya, but I know she will get back in contact as soon as she can.I have been spending alot of my spare time creating my Webpage Virtual Campus. For now as a working name I am calling it the D.W.Penner Campus. It's interesting and educational for me. Challenges in many areas including organizational. Considering all the pages and all the items on the pages and the links between them, things could get very messy very fast. So I am charting the thing. It is something like a family tree for the most part since the design at the moment is a tree. There will be changes to that however. I'm sorta proud of the News Kiosk. It still could use some refining but it is fundmentally finished.
Sunday night I spent on a few projects. The first was to move my sewing kit and supplies to an Attache' Case with foam panels to keep things from knocking around. It works very well. That project was to free up an old wood box of mine so I could move my momentos and treasures into it and out of the self-destructing shoebox they were in. It included letters, cards, ticket stubs and any photographs not in an albulm. That went quite well and prompted me to replace photos into the album that I had taken out to scan. I figure I need either one large album or two, or three medium sized ones. I think I'd like to go the route of the pages with pockets for the pictures rather than the plastic static cling allbums. The are okay for the short term, but even after 30 years can really get attached to the photos if you ever want to remove them.
I'm starting with small corners of my room to try get things organized the way I want. Tonight I reorganized my kitchen cupboard. I placed all the spices and spice type things on the middle shelf and moved tea and coffee stuff to the bottom shelf. I also put the loose teabags into a container. Sure it is a Santa Claus container, but I figure now if I don't have a use for a containter like that I should let go of it. I also now have the top shelf mostly free. I think that is where things like my popsicle maker and tupperware type stuff will live. Perhaps things like thermoses as well.
Eventually I think I will open my Virtual Campus for public consumption. I also plan on their being private areas for just my friends and or relatives. This web site is fun to design. Just like a nearly perfect Lego set. If I think of something I can make it. (well almost, at least for now. Just wait until I get into a little 4th dimensional design. <evil grin>)
February 11, 2002
How's the Weather?
Another Great Sunshiny Day. I watched the Sun rise and the sunlight slide down a mountain from a snowy peak to the furry trees. (Should that be firry trees?) Anyway I was working on my web site stealing glances out the window. It was interesting watching Mount Seymour make its own weather. A bit of vapour over one spot on the sunlit slope grew to become a small but dense cloud casting it's shadow on the slope. It didn't move from that spot all morning so there must not have been much wind. I'm very happy to have a place where there is something to see out the window. Interesting things happen in the alley and 7-11 shopping centre parking lot. =) Oh, the mountains are nice to look at too. =)What's up with the Web site?
I'm still working on my web site. It is a large project so I guess I'll be able to say that for quite a while. It's strange how much I can understand of the HTML considering I've never studied or been taught it at all. Of course I was a computer programmer years before I was a computer tech or had started with the Internet. Learning between a half dozen and a dozen programming languages probably gives me a good base for understanding any now one I come across. =)I'll be referring to the Web site as the "Campus" and the areas within it "Buildings. The Buildings will be divided into Rooms which will have different names as fits their purpose. For instance art is displayed in Galleries. This is all in keeping with the idea of a Virtual display.
The Painting Gallery is finished now. Though I'll be tweaking it and such in future. I can't see any paintings to be added for a little while. Until I finish painting my current project and I add that. There are two other painting projects in the works as well.
The Drawing Gallery is finished as well. I know there will be some new displays added in the future. It might take a bit of engineering to add extra delivery space. Either I can add a fourth Gallery room to it or perhaps increase the size of the gallery rooms to 7 displays per room from the current 5.
The Computer Art Gallery is being designed. I need to consider content and organization of the displays. The Inner Childhood Display will be one complete Gallery Room at least. Then I see there being at least two more Gallery Rooms, one for manipulated photographs and one for images drawn on the computer. There will likely be a Gallery Room for images of my more interesting web page designs. Perhaps a display or sub display of animated graphics.
After the Gallery comes the Archive where I'll have my fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. It might be set up similarly to my Art Gallery though I am not sure as to how the individual pages will go. The poetry area might be a little artsy. (eww) The Fiction area... I am not sure. Perhaps an excerpt with an opportunity to download the whole work as a doc file or similar. Better if it were compressed, I think. The non-fiction has an interesting problem. Much of it will fit into other buildings of the campus. For instance my article on designing a heraldic coat of arms will fit in the Heraldry section of the Medieval Studies Building. The article on kite building would fit in the Projects Building.
PS take the link from my home page, "Darrell's Desktop" under the Art or Writing.
Other Projects.
Well I've mentioned some painting projects. I have one painting mostly finished. Of course that can be a problem because it looks good right now and I wouldn't want to do anything to ruin it. Then I have three or four more painting projects, some with firmer deadlines than others. I've also got a few stories in the works. One Ghost story part way written, a handful to be started. Then I have a new story I'm working on called "Knights of the Dime" or "Order of the Dime."Still a major project is clearing the dead-weight out of my living space. It is inhibiting what I want to do. Some things are small like hook my stereo to my computer so I can transfer some sound files to cassette tape. I've got alot to catch up on from this period of low energy I have been going through.
I also have a project I want to complete for Mike's Amber Game. I have an idea for Trumps that will bring the third dimension to the screen. It would go so much smoother with a better photo editor program or a good drawing program. (actually I want a combination of both) and without a computer that can crash at any moment.
I think I will only keep two months of this Journal per page. When I reach the end of February I'll rename this page and start a new page with this name on it.
Bye For Now!
Darrell
February 8, 2002
Still more work on my web site. It is coming along well and I have mostly finished the section of my gallery that exhibits my paintings. I have all but three of my paintings displayed in the gallery right now. Two of them are my first two acrylic paintings done in grade 9. The last one is a special project that I almost have finished, but do not want to display until it if finished and someone specific has had a chance to see it completed.My next work on the web site will be a similar gallery to display my drawings and sketches. It should be simpler to put together since I already have the basic pages designed already. This may be followed by an exhibit of my computer graphic art and computer modified photographs.
I am not sure where next I shall go with the site. I might consider displaying some artwork by others. I'll have some of my game materials and some of my writing. I'll be having a gallery of my poetry and stories as well. I'll include non-fiction, but some of that might not go in a gallery, but rather in pages of the area of interest. IE articles done for various SCA newsletters may be in the medieval history/SCA area rather than in the literary area.
I hope that you have a look to see what is new and really have a look around the pages. The painting section is the part that is most finished. This site is very experimental. I am working on getting the most bang for my buck using simple web design methods. I think that some are unique to my design.
I went out with Regan to the Golden Spike last Tuesday for WINGS. It had been over a year since I was in there for wings on a Tuesday Wing Night. Regan hadn't been there for a long time either so it was a nice treat. I even had some extra money in my pocket so I didn't feel guilty about it. They had an Ale or Beer on tap that Regan really liked so she was content. I stuck with Coke. It got a bit noisy towards the end and I had a sore throat from talking over the music.
At the Museum I have been working with a high school girl named Ashley on a project for creating special tours for school classes broken up by grade level. We have been working on it since September, I think and it is nearly done. There is a little problem with figuring out if we are "done - done" We just are trying to think if there are other things we should work on. We did just finish making a game using questions about the tour. It is a bit like Jeopardy with different categories and point values. We made the game on a sheet of corrugated plastic and attached pockets to hold the question cards. It looks pretty good, though we have a couple of places we can put a graphic or logo if we wish. Now we just want to do a couple of "Connect the Dots" pictures for the younger guests. Things like a steam locomotive will be a subject.
On a different topic. I have been watching a show called either "Talk TV" or "Chat TV" Their logo is "T!". It is by CTV and is a pretty interesting phone-in talk show with guests. As well as phoning in they have a chat board through IRC and a Web Chat service. It is there for people to discuss the topics of the show. Some of the topics are quite interesting like what will be the effect on the medical system by the cuts being made by the various governments. I started joining in with their chat room for some of their shows that were of interest to me. They take statements from the chat room discussion and will repeat them on the air.. I think they look for interesting content that it written well enough to be understood. I've found that they will take one or two of my statements and air them any time I am in the chat room and discussing things. It is only yesterday that I realized that this is going out across Canada. My thoughts on subjects are actually getting out to a large number of people. It is sort of a strange feeling, but it is a nice feeling. My fantasy is that they might get hold of me and offer me a job either as a host or someone behind the scenes of either this show or another. Not that I think this will actually happen, but it is a nice fantasy. =)
http://www.talktv.ca/home.aspWell, I hope you take a look at my Art Gallery. Let me know what you think.
Darrell
February 3, 2002I have been working some more on my website (Or is that web site? my dictionary for some reason doesn't seem to have an entry for it.) starting the area where I'll be displaying some of my artwork and writing. The theme for that part of the site will be a virtual museum, or gallery. You will navigate from page to page as you would from room to room in a real building with a floorplan. I am intentionally not using any fancy virtual reality software or such, but rather am keeping things as simple as possible. I am keeping the files for the surroundings small so it will likely allways look cartoonish or expressionist. The theme is a trial run for my plans for putting the Port Moody Station Museum on the web as a virtual museum. I figure I should find pitfalls and troublespots by actually attempting it. 
I'm uploading some of my Gallery now. At the moment it consists of a link from my "Darrell's Desktop" Page which leads to the "Lobby" Page by way of either the Writing or Art (Coyote Painting) links. The Lobby at the moment has a link through the Painting Door to a Page which for the most part is a dead end. At the moment I am using
"EXIT" signs as a method to return to the previous page. I'll probably get a little more sophisticated in future, but for now I shall be making sure the "EXIT" signs work. That seems a bit fitting.
I am trying to figure out doorways to the left and right. I can place them on the far side of the back wall, but not on the side walls. They tend to sit a few feet above the floor at the moment.Much to do on the Virtual Gallery and the area for my writings. "Library" doesn't seem to be the correct word for the collection, neither does "Archive" and "Collection" seems too vague. What would you call a collection of written work or the place you would keep it? (Other than "collection of written work". =P)
That is what I've been keeping busy with the past few days.
I'm also adding a page with a Journal of what has happened in my World of Verden Arctic Campaign. I'd appreciate email with any details I might be missing or have wrong. I know that John has been a fountain of information on gaming nights. So have a look at the Arctic Game journal page.
That's all for now!
Darrell
January 30, 2002
Today I look outside and see maybe 200 feet through the falling snow. It is pretty with the trees in the background blurring to invisibility in the distance. Some people are complaining that the novelty of the snow has worn out with them. I think it silly since the streets are relatively clear and it isn't horribly cold and it is... beautiful. I sometimes refrain from mentioning that I'd really like to see a blizzard. =)It is a year now since I took my car off the road. I still miss it sometimes. If I had to do it again I would still cancel the insurance and park it. The only difference I would make is to actually have started it twice a month and not to have left my slightly damp gambeson in the back seat. Starting the car might take a day or so of work. The damp mildewy inside will take a bit of soap water and elbow grease. Maybe a little bleach and "Nil Odour" or Febreze odour fabric refresher and odour killer. I have been lucky to have the use of my Father's truck for a while and for the opportunity to drive some of Oliver's vehicals for chores of his, mine, and others. (those pizza slices and the chance to drive were great Sam) Regan and Jim were also nice enough to do some emergancy errands for me. Matthew was also nice to drag me around to things like gaming. =)
I guess I am saying "Thank You" to the many people who have made this year without a car so bearable. After having a car for 27 years it was a challenge.I think I'll end this part here since I am adding a substantial bit about the books I'm reading.
I thought I'd add something new to this page. I'm going to include something on the books I am currently reading. At the moment I am reading books from my own library which includes many Science Fiction books and Fantasy books. Recently I read a number of sci-fi classics by Arthur C. Clarke spanning the 50's to the 70's. I find it interesting to read books about the future that are our past. =) I've started reading books by Robert A. Heinlein now from a similar period. Currently I am reading a book called "Time Enough for Love" written in 1973. It is a fairly substantial book which follows a character from a previous book, "Methuselah's Children" written in 1958. The books follow the life of a character, Lazarus Long who was born in 1912 into a family that was part of a 1870's foundation that was part of a program to encourage people whose parents and ancestors tended to have long lives. Lazarus seems to have already had a head start in this program through a mutation and ends up living thousands of years. The Howard Foundation used money as the incentive to their program. Along the lines of, "True you are free to marry anyone, but if you were to find one of the people on this list suitable we will make sure that you and your children are taken care of financially."
"Methuselah's Children" concerns the near future, 2125 where the "Howard Families" are on the verge of discovery and there is a move to come into the open with these people who's life span tends now to be greater than 150 years. It is believed by the shorter lived populous that the Howard Families are hiding the secret behind long life and that the secret should be shared. Of course the secret is no secret really, just breeding and genetics. It is interesting reading the stories and morals and society that was predicted for the future. Some of the ideas seem quaint today.
"Time Enough for Love" takes place far in the future where humanity has spread to the stars. Lazarus Long lives, but can no longer find a purpose to living longer. The book delves even deeper into the issues of life, politics, and love (and sex).
I find the two books to be mature in subject though not graphic. There is alot to think about. I'm not sure how much they influenced me during my mid teens when I read them. I wouldn't recommend them for pre teens or even some early teens. And, your parents might not want you to know that they read them. =)
Arthur C. Clark, Robert A. Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, Lester Del Ray, Poul Anderson, and David Wyndam are the Authors who shaped my youth more than others. I felt confident that any book by them that I picked up would be a good book with things to think about, interesting characters, and an interesting story. Of course today a person has to remember just when the book was written when they are reading them.
Well, Goodbye for Now!
Darrell
January 27, 2002
Typing once more while viewing a snowy landscape. I hadn't expected to see conditions so that the snow is coating the East side of vertical surfaces like telephone poles. It reminds me slightly of scenes from the original (?) version of "The Shining" with Jack Nicholson. It slightly reminds me of scenes of Doctor Shivago (sp?) though those were day lit scenes.
Perhaps I am too much a connoisseur of snow fall? I noted over the past 24 hours at least 3 different types of snow falling including large dry fluffy flakes drifting down, medium large flakes heavy enough to be falling fairly straight down, medium small flakes falling swiftly downwards. I think I missed seeing the ice pellets and the hail. <grin>
I have to thank Nadenka for some of the graphics on this page. She's been decorating much of my e-mail with seasonal images.
I was in to the Doctor Friday. I was a little nervous because they called me in after my tests. Anyway, as I suspected my blood sugar is high, too high for health so I am on Diabetic Medication to bring it back down. It's about 3x a high level which is not good. But I have brought it down before and kept it down for years while eating even a pretty normal diet. The Doctor also found that my Thyroid function is low, hypothyroidism, which combined with high blood sugar explains a few of the odd things I have had as symptoms of late. The big symptom for both has be very low energy levels. The low thyroid might be a part of the high blood sugar. Considering my long term sugar level has been good this means the increase is fairly recent.
But, knowing what is wrong is good and it can be remedied fairly easily. Of course it means three more pills I have to take a day but that is a small thing. =)
I've been putting some thought as to what I am going to do with this page as more entries are added. For one thing it will take longer and longer to load. Also, this is done in a wintery theme and eventually Spring shall come. I have decided, for now, that I shall split the page into pages divided either by Month or Season. That would mean in March I could switch to a Spring theme.
I think that here in the Vancouver area we have more than 4 seasons. I was thinking of that just now because there is period of time before the regrowth of spring and the relative dormancy of winter. Winter has the snow and frost as well as our winter rain storms. Between Winter and Spring though there is a period where the clouds are not quite so dark and the sunny days are more common. Perhaps it could be called Sprinter or maybe Wring, paying homage to the rains.
I think while I am here I shall create a link to a page I put together as "Home Page" for the Darrell's Friends Club. I like to try new ideas so my pages tend to have very different feels. I like the way this one pulled together. Have a peek at: Darrell's Friends Home Page
January 19, 2002
Hello again!
Hey! It is 6 months until my birthday!!
Well got that car to and from the shop for Oliver. I got a case of Pink Eye likely due to my travels on public transit. Ashley from the Museum had Pink Eye a week ago, but it isn't likely I caught it from her.
They have been saying we were going to get snow for a while now. It hasn't reached as far down as sea level until just a few minutes ago. There are large lazy flakes lightly falling and coating everything.
I had a trip on the Millenium line of Skytrain. Of course they are still using the old cars so no change there and they only have added two more stations, one, Sapperton Station is at Royal Columbian Hospital with a horizontal walkway to the Hospital. The other is at Braid street just across Braid street from the Greyhound Bus station. I'm sure that Samantha could have been able to make use of that one in the past. They haven't made it to Lougheed yet, but that should be next. They said that they wouldn't do any more openiings until they could finish the Millenium Line for June or July 2002. I for one can't wait until they finish the Coquitlam line. Perhaps I'm selfish about it, but I would love to be able to ride from Port Moody through the rest of the Skytrain system. I'd like to see it that is, as long as they do it right. That means things like ground level tracks along the CPR line and an equitable tunnel down Clarke hill. Ouch, what that a soap box I just stepped off of?
I added a link from the "Darrell's Friends" Club site Link page for Matthew's Journal type page. Have a look.
BTW if you aren't in the club ask me for an invitation.
January 15, 2002
Hi! Just thought I'd try something new and do a journal type thing for a change. It might turn out to be a weather journal. For instance today was clear with blue skies and cold near freezing temperatures. Not cold compared with some places, but my fingers sure got cold working outside in the shade.I drove a car from government surplus to Oliver's today. Well, barely drove. Somehow I thought Spirits were supposed to have more than one gear?
Last weekend I was at my parent's home for their 45th anniversary and my Father's birthday. My Sister Deb and her husband Don were there as well as my Parents. We had Chinese food and a good time. That was on Saturday, the 12th. I stayed the night and on Sunday Mom and I worked on a jigsaw puzzle.
Heh, well, this is just an experiment. Not sure how it will work out.
For now I'll be including pictures on this page, but I figure I'll have to start linking to pictures in photo albums and perhaps if the numbers of images is sufficient I'll have only the links to pictures and albums on this page. Perhaps thumbnails might be a nice way to go. I think I'll be following Matthew's pattern of having the most recent news added at the top of the page. Matthew's page inspired me to do this. I'll have to see about getting permission to link to his page. I've meant to ask if he wanted a link from the Darrell's Friends Group site.
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