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As I continue to rethink this website, sadly, it appears that I may need to just go elsewhere and start again. Over the past few months, the editing functions have become slower and slower. Recently they have been so slow that I have given up adding blog posts or photos multiple times. (Thankfully, today is manageable.) A little research shows that this becoming increasingly common and many are requesting an update that addresses this issue. We shall see... (Anemone in a local plant nursery.) 
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If you've been thinking it's been a little quiet around here lately, you'd be right. To be honest, I've been a little under the weather. I'm recovering from a wicked cough and my energy level has been somewhat lower than usual these past few weeks. However, it actually has very little to do with me and everything to do with my computer. I love my computer but it's almost 10 years old - an antique in computer years - and it has become increasing difficult to edit and share photos without the program crashing or taking ridiculous amounts of time to do routine tasks. (And yes, I've spent a lot of time and energy trying to sort things out. No luck at all!) So, the inevitable has arrived. My beloved computer has to be replaced. The process has started but it will take a week or two to get the new computer set up and running as it should. Until then I've decided to take a short break. This shouldn't take long and I'll be back soon. I've taken a lot of photos in the past 2 months and can't wait to share them with you. A new computer will make all the difference! Yahoo! Until then! (^.^)/ Rebecca (This was taken last week in a local park. I had to restart the editing process several times due to program crashes but finally had success today.)  This weekend I went on a short boat cruise. The main purpose was to enjoy the view of Mt. Fujii. Well, the weather was spectacular. The skies were a beautiful clear blue and there was hardly a cloud to be seen - except for those covering Mt. Fujii. All we could see was the very tip and that soon disappeared from view. Ah well. It was a glorious day to be out and the seagulls kept us entertained from beginning to end. (And we had fabulous views of Mt. Fujii the next day with no cloud coverage at all.) Oh, the seagulls! As you may have noticed, I rarely take photos of things that move. I just haven't had much experience. However, the seagulls were flying so close I decided to take a chance. My camera settings were not what they should have been and, boy, can those things move fast! But I can be stubborn and so I tried. And tried. And tried. In the end, I took over 150 shots. Less than a handful were successful but still I'm glad I tried. Yes! Sometimes, that stubbornness pays off! (^.~)/ (Here are my two favorite shots. I use a prime lens - no zoom capabilities - so the seagulls at the bottom were particularly close.)   I just mailed my very first calendar order that was placed on this website using a credit card. While this may not seem like a very big deal, it is for me! Here's why. When I first started selling calendars last year, almost all of my orders were in person. However, a few people asked for other options and so I quickly figured out how they could order using money transfers. These were all friends and none of the orders were going overseas so it was easy to sort it all out. However, this year, there was interest from overseas. What to do? I wasn't quite sure but, regardless of the solution, it soon became clear I was going to need a website. So, off I went. Oh, what a learning curve! Oh, so many abandoned efforts! Oh, so many mistakes! Oh! Oh! Oh! Well, you get the point! Things finally came together on my third try and although this website isn't perfect, at least it does what I want it to do. After setting up the website came the challenge of figuring out all the various payment options. That took some creative thinking but I'm happy with the results and I was pleased to find that I could set up a secure credit card paying option through Weebly, the host of this website. That took a lot of fiddling but slowly, through trial and error, it all came together. I was so relieved when everything was finally completely ready to go. Whew! What a lot of work! (You have no idea...) So, the website was finally ready to go public. It should work, right? However, believing it should work and it actually working are two very different things. One of my biggest concerns was whether the credit card order process would work as it should. If not, then all the blood, sweat and tears (and cursing, cussing and gnashing of teeth) to set everything up would be in vain... But it wasn't! It worked like a charm! As smooth as butter! Easy-peasy! And so that's why today is a big deal. It all works! And it works well! My very first credit card order has gone off without a hitch and now I can rest easy! Yes!! Now, please excuse me while I go do a happy dance around my living room. (^.~)/ (A huge thanks to M.S. for placing the first credit card order. Bless you!) Toad lilies are in season and I have several growing in my garden. The name always makes me laugh, but I love the flowers no matter what they are called! This is from last week.  Technology is a beautiful thing when it works, but when it doesn't? Well, did you hear me cussing and cursing all the way from where you are? Ah, yes, it's been that kind of a day. Let me count the ways...
Sadly, the reality is that I probably need a new computer and printer since they are both getting on in years. However, that's not going to happen for a day or two and I'm feeling a little jittery. It's unnerving to think how dependent I am on my computer. I do have backups but they need to be updated. Yes, I think that's the plan for this weekend. So, here is a reminder! Technology isn't always your friend! If you need to back up your data, now is a good time! I'm wishing us both luck! (^.~)/ Here's one of the photographs I finally had success with today. It's one of six that I just entered in the LensCulture Black & White Photography Awards. The timing was right down to the wire which is why the technology glitches nearly did me in! However, I managed to get it done on time. Whew! A little too "giri-giri" for my liking! (Japanese for "barely / just in time".) It's not possible to link to the 6 images here, but if you visit my photo page on Facebook, you can scroll down to the post with the link. (For some reason, LensCulture only makes it possible to post to Facebook.)  |
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I'm a photographer based in Osaka, Japan. I love to take photographs. I like to share.
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