I’ve finally managed to get the MTAmazon plugin working. Thanks to a lot of help from Hazel – thanks again Hazel!
So now you can see what I’m currently reading – and even buy the same book from Amazon if you want! I’m sure it does lots of other nifty things too – but I’m not sure exactly what just yet! There’s also another plugin I’ve seen that I’d like to use called Bookqueue and one that Hazel told me about called Process Tags – but I’m afraid all that will have to wait until I’ve written my portfolio.

As you can see, I’ve been doing some more messing around. It all started when I tried (unsuccessfully) to load a plugin. In my hunting to sort that out I found this three-column template at Blogstyles.com. I really like it because it gives me much more room to add in links and stuff. I might download one of the stylesheets on the site, or I might have a go at editing the one I’ve got.

Oh, and I haven’t given up with the plugin yet – but I’ll have to try and sort that out another day.

…a day late, but never mind.

1) who was your favorite band/musican when you were younger?
I went through a ‘Bros’ phase when I was much younger. But it’s a bit too embarassing to talk about!

2) why?
Because I thought Matt was cute. In my defence – it *was* the 80’s!

3) are they still your favorite/one of your favorites?
NO! They don’t exist anymore anyway. (Although Matt was on Hell’s Kitchen earlier this year – and he was still quite cute, although a bit too sensitive for me).

4) what is your favorite of their songs?
I can only really remember ‘When will I be famous?’ and ‘I own you nothing’

5) are there any specific lyrics you hold dear?
Errrrr. No.

After a few teething difficulties (like a stupid file being in two different places), and a bit of help – but only a bit – from DBF, I’ve managed to change the colours.

They’re supposed to tone in with my main website, and I think they’re quite tasteful. But please let me know what you think. I might work on a pink and purple version and give you the option to change colours!

Well, here I am trying to set up my new Moveable Type Blog.

I managed it (eventually!). But changing the template isn’t all that straightforward – at least not to me. The simplest way to do it seems to be using CSS – but the problem is, I don’t really know anything about CSS! I guess I’m about to learn.

I’m not wanting to do anything complicated – all I really want to do is change the colours – everything else is pretty much OK for me. Well, watch this space to see how well I manage it!

Wednesday Matinee

1. Do you base your movie choices on critics’ reviews?
Not really.  I don’t read all that many reviews, although I’ll usually read the reviews of the big movies (LotR, Harry Potter etc) in the major papers.  But I tend to like films that the reviewers hate – so it doesn’t help me all that much

2. Do you like movie trailers and previews? Do they influence your movie choices?
Definately.  That’s how I mainly decide what to see.  When I’m at the cinema, I’ll mentally note the films I like the look of and go to see them.  However, that’s a bit of a problem if I don’t go to the cinema for ages – I kind of get ‘out of the loop’.

3. Do you usually like movies that your friends or family suggest?
Depends.  I like similar things to my dad – silly comedies and such, but my mum likes quite a few films that I don’t – like Enter the Dragon, Ben Hurr, and big long epic Sunday afternoon stuff.  Some of my friends like the same type of films as me – but a lot don’t.  DBF is more into sci-fi and action stuff than I am.  Like I said – I think I have pretty bad taste in movies overall.

Was quite good overall. I went to see the vicar about the wedding, and we seem to have finalised most of the plans for the service, and organised a rehearsal. So today I started working on the Order of Service, and it wasn’t too much of a hassle.

On Sunday I worked a long day, but I managed to add another 3 deliveries to my count – so that was quite productive.

However, I’ve had a migraine since Thursday. And I’m fed up now. And I know I shouldn’t be using the computer. I just don’t seem to be able to shake them off. They get better after the first day, but then they still hang around for a week or so. I’m trying to keep a food / lifestyle diary for a while to see if I can sort out what’s going on. And I’m off to the doctor’s on Thursday to see if he can help at all.

1. What color ink pen do you like best?
Blue. I have to use black for work – so when I’m not at work, I prefer blue. Also, if you’re writing on something that has printing on it, then blue stands out more. I don’t like red pens, because I think they tend to be scratchy! Purple is also good – but harder to find.

2. Do you prefer plain paper or paper with lines (notebook paper)?
Lines. Otherwise my writing is even messier than normal. I also like margins as well.

3. What’s better: books from the library, or reading online?
Library. Reading online gives me a headache if I do it for too long.

4. Which would you rather get, e-mail or snail mail?
Email. I never respond to snail mail, whereas there’s a limited chance I might reply to an email.

5. Do you have a paper weight on your desk?
No. Just an awful lot of junk. I do have a paperweight moonlighting as a bookend on one of my shelves though.

So now, after my ranting below – back to your regularly scheduled programming.

This week’s question was: How do you choose a project? What “calls” to you the most?

Well, to be honest, I’m not really sure what goes on. I prefer different types of stitching to suit my needs. I also go through phases of what type of project I like best. As I’ve previously mentioned, I’m quite into sampler designs at the moment – especially things like Just Nan, Victoria Sampler; and I’ve got a new found liking for Bent Creek type designs.

However, at the moment, I have my ‘obligation stitching’ to contend with. I’m probably still only about halfway through ‘Through a Mother’s Eyes’. And I really want to concentrate on that until it’s done. Fortunately, I’ve had a bit of a break, and have gone from hating it, to quite enjoying it again.

When that’s done, I’ll probably have a couple of projects on the go – larger ones like TW’s English Garden Sampler, and smaller ones for when I’m a bit tired, or don’t have much time – like DMC’s Teddy Wizard.

OK, this is now getting silly. Yes, I said I was surprisingly sad about JPC going from my favourite BB – and I am. But it seems to have caused an unbelievable amount of drama EVERYWHERE. (And now I’m just adding to it by blogging about it! LOL)

I have no idea what went on. Maybe I walk around with my eyes shut, or maybe IRL I just know a lot of really nasty people, but I never really saw any name-calling or animosity or anything in JPC. But even if other people thought it was there – I still don’t really get what the big deal is. I’ve visited BBs (albeit only briefly) where newbies have been called “stupid bitches” and far worse, simply for posting a question. So in comparison, ALL of the boards that I regularly visit are all sweetness and light!

Anyway, so now we’ve got these offshoot boards, and various people blogging about what’s happening, and different people thinking that various cliquey things are going on (which to be honest, they probably are, but isn’t that another fact of life?). Anyway, as I mentioned before, I know nothing about what went on. And had no desire to, but now, people are dropping hints, and yabbering about one person or another so much, and now I really want to know!!!!!

Maybe the best way to stop all the speculation would be for someone to go totally public, name names, and so on – so that all the wondering would stop. But then again, people would probably just end up debating the rights and wrongs of it all, and it would still carry on.

I think of all things that are annoying me the most at the moment (and I think I might be a bit hormonal, and will probably regret posting this later on), the worst are threads on various BBs extolling their own vitues, and saying how bitchy/nasty etc other BBs are – and then proceding to complain and whinge about them. (And I’m not referring to any of the main offshoot boards, and this is not a new thing, has been going on for a while, incase anyone is reading this). Fine – if you don’t like a particular BB – DON’T VISIT IT. It’s really not hard. Just don’t click on the link, and don’t read the forums, and don’t reply. Easy. And that’s exactly what I intend to do with the place(s) that I’m referring to for a few days/weeks until this whole thing blows over.

I’m sorry to add to all the drama about this, but DBF and the cats are bored of hearing about it! Anyway, I don’t think many people read this anyway.