Thing 8

The words "really simple" anywhere on this Web Challenge make me "really nervous." But after my head was spinning with podcasts and tutorials and several ways to do everything, I actually did find an easy way to get feeds. Simply click on the "Add" button on the upper left of my Bloglines account and a box for URLs comes up. Guess willy nilly at web addresses! For instance, http://www.thenation.com/. Hit subscribe! I added 10 news feeds.

Now the big mystery is whether my RSS feeds are eventually going to end up in my blog, or are they going to remain hidden behind my password on Bloglines?

Thing 7

This photo began as dried (dead, according to Virginia B) flowers placed directly on the scanner. I printed out a photo and used that as hard copy for this scan.

Virginia has named me president of the Dead Flower Society at the BHRC. Our page and display designer, Patricia G, is the vice president.

Thing 6

One of our series of up-and-down displays, in which Pan and
the butterflies float up and down as the front door opens and
closes.

Using the branch digital camera to take photos around the branch was not possible because the BHRC is the poor stepchild and we don't have one.

But, luckily, I have one. I had problems with the process stalling out as I tried to upload these 2 photos onto my blog. I think it was because I tried to use large files and high resolution as I do with serious photos.

The BHRC in all its glory! Each year we
argue--cherry or pear? cherry or pear? There are garden club-types adamantly on each side of the issue. Each year we figure it out definitively, but luckily we forget by the next year.

Thing 5, continued

After the Storm
Originally uploaded by blakelipthratt

From Flickr, February 2008

Thing 5

# 15 form
Originally uploaded by norskii

From Flickr, April 2008

Thing 4

I have registered my blog, and so now might be a good time to discuss the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners. I find the list inspiring, and will repeat it here:

Begin with the end in mind.
Accept responsibility for your own learning.
View problems as challenges.
Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner.
Create you own learning toolbox.
Use technology to your advantage.
Teach/mentor others.
Play!

Which are my strengths and which are my weaknesses? I think I am pretty good at all of them except for viewing problems as challenges. Especially as concerns technology. When a problem arises--probably because the workings of computers are so beyond the understanding of nongeeks--I think, Oh no, I will never ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, be able to get beyond it.

Thing 3

If I sat and thought all day, I would have a hard time coming up with a verb less apt than "grab" (as in Thing 3: Grab Yourself a Blog) to describe the process of setting up a blog.