http://www.beyondblonde.com/index.htmlHot News!enbb@beyondblonde.comCopyright 2009 Frances Deck2011-09-11T09:01:19-05:00 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 Thu, 15 Sep 2011 11:18:18 -0500bb@beyondblonde.comComputing2011-09-11T09:01:19-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/hackattack.php#unique-entry-id-39http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/hackattack.php#unique-entry-id-39I’m happy to report that despite the best attempt of a nefarious hacker to take little ole me down, BB is back. The service of denial attack did result in my page being suspended for a short time. But the site is now back up and running. I did move to a new web hosting company though because I was not exactly thrilled with how Networts Hosting handle the situation. Network Solutions seems to offer a more hacker safe place for little place in cyber space. Not that any server or site is truly hacker proof. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comFirestorm2011-09-04T19:17:11-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/rebuildingbegun.php#unique-entry-id-38http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/rebuildingbegun.php#unique-entry-id-38

What a great feeling it is to see that first building going up. It’s a testimony to the fact that no matter what, as long as there is life, life goes on. Yes, there were many losses here because of that terrible fire. But, nobody was hurt or killed. Those that suffered the worst losses are getting their life back together, and the park itself is also getting itself back together, so to speak. One thing the fire did was bring those of us who survived it and stayed here much closer together. More than ever before, we are good neighbors to each other, the kind who help and look out for one another.

Because we learned that terrible day how important communication with each other could be, we now are more apt to exchange phone numbers and Facebook information. Yes, I said Facebook information. Along with getting a new iPhone, I have also joined the Facebook folks. Yeah, yeah I know, I said I wouldn’t ever do Facebook. Which just goes to show you really should never say never. Besides, it is a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.

On the sidebar is a link to Beyond Blonde's Facebook page. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comComputing, iPhone2011-08-14T11:05:41-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/perfect%20synchronization.php#unique-entry-id-37http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/perfect%20synchronization.php#unique-entry-id-37bb@beyondblonde.comFirestorm2011-07-23T10:27:24-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/2144ed98e6a5c423549bc7f5d572f12e-36.php#unique-entry-id-36http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/2144ed98e6a5c423549bc7f5d572f12e-36.php#unique-entry-id-36
To make up for the lost trees around the pool that once offered us shade, nice big umbrellas have been put up. There are 3 of those right now. Two are red umbrellas that match the new chairs, and one is a yellow Shiner Bock umbrella. There is also a Lone Star umbrella in the office that will be put up soon as well. Personally, I have no problem sitting under the Shiner Bock or Lone Star beer umbrella if one of the red ones are in use by someone else. I don't drink either beer, but don't have any problem sitting under an umbrella advertising any beer as long as it keeps my little blonde noggin shaded, while I'm sipping what I do like to drink.

When I'm not sitting under one of the umbrellas, I spend a great deal of time happily floating around in the pool. There is something so deliciously decadent about aimlessly floating around the pool on a hot summer afternoon. The feel of the cool water against my skin, the soft sound of the water lapping around me. I'm careful to turn frequently, use plenty of sunscreen, and take frequent breaks in the shade of one of the umbrellas when spending an afternoon at the pool. This has resulted in a glowing tan that truly compliments spaghetti strap tops, shorts, sundresses and sandals.

When I'm not entertaining myself by aimlessly floating around the pool I can often be found sitting beneath the shade of the two big trees at the back of the RV, watching the hummingbirds. They are such fun to watch as they bob, weave and swoop around the feeders. In the early evening, around sunset time, some of the wilder hummingbirds from the trees outside the park come by the feeders. Some of those poor little hummingbirds lost the trees they once called home to the fire.

I'm sad to say the hummingbirds that now call the trees around our space home are sadly lacking in compassion when it comes to their poor homeless country cousins. The regular park hummingbirds go positively ballistic when their country cousins swing by to take advantage of the feeders. A lot of that bobbing, weaving and swooping is because the neighborhood hummingbirds are frantically doing their best to keep what they consider freeloading intruders off their turf.

Hummingbirds, I discovered, do not alway hum. When buzzing an intruder they make angry little chirping sound that I think roughly translated say, "Get the *Bleep* off my turf!"

Each hummingbird feeder has a couple of hummingbirds that consider one of the feeders their personal property. When they aren't ganging up on their poor country cousins with the other regular hummingbirds, those two are constantly squabbling with some of the other regular hummingbirds over feeder rights. For all their cuteness, I have to say hummingbirds are ferociously territorial little creatures.
]]>bb@beyondblonde.comFirestorm2011-07-03T13:10:20-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pioneerspirit.php#unique-entry-id-35http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pioneerspirit.php#unique-entry-id-35
I give full Kudos to our manager Eddie for doing everything he can to restore this park as quickly as possible. Yes, there have been some glitches, and no doubt will be more of those. Those glitches were not Eddie’s fault. He’s not any happier about them than we are. He is doing everything he can to get us some temporary laundry facilities, wifi, and a pool. Once that is accomplished he will be also continue doing all he can to see that new and improved amenities become available to us as quickly as possible.

As these two excerpts from my diary will show, I’ve gotten in touch with both my feminine and pioneer side over the past couple of weeks.

7/2/11
As of this afternoon we have 2 washers, one dryer, and no a/c in the laundry trailer. I still managed to get a load of clothes done though. With the load they let me do at the office yesterday this will tide us over until the 8th, when the 6 new promised washers and dryers are set to arrive. Maybe by then the a/c will be fixed.

Yes, it's tough here right now. No pool, sadly lacking at the moment laundry facilities, and spots in the park that still look like a war zone. If I had a lick of sense I would be hauling ass to a place with really nice amenities and a great view. The thing is, it's still a great view in many parts of the park, and sooner or later amenities will be restored. But most importantly, despite how things are right now, this is still where we want to be.

I keep thinking of those historic ranch buildings that burned. How when they were first built they didn't have electric washers and dryers and all the many amenities we have in this modern world. So I've sort of gotten in touch with my pioneer spirit and am making the best of things as they are now. Even commenting to some that are bitching about the laundry facilities that at least we aren't doing the laundry on washboards.

6/28/11

The trailer that will temporarily house our washers and dryers arrived this morning. We will be getting two loaner washers & Dryers tomorrow, then 6 brand new ones the 8th. Though I'm not sure if all 6 are going to fit in that trailer. Still, if they can get 3 or 4 in there we can get by until the laundry facilities are rebuilt we can manage.

I took a picture of me sitting beneath my favorite tree this afternoon in my brown and white sun dress and matching toe sandals.. Timers on cameras are such wonderful things. 12 months ago I would have thought you insane if you told me I would soon be wearing sun dresses and toe sandals again. But here I sit happily wearing just that. The lightweight little sun dresses are actually cooler than shorts and very comfortable. Shorts, sun dresses, toe sandals and flip fops are worn by women of all ages here.

I finally started wearing shorts and sandals out shopping, then went wild one day and bought 2 really cute sun dresses at Wally World to wear around the house. I picked up another totally gorgeous sun dress with beautiful flowers on it at the Berge Fest Fair last Sunday when we went in and grabbed something to eat from a couple of the food concession stands. Never dreaming that in a few hours we would in the middle of a firestorm.

I remember turning to Larry at one point as we waited on the side of the road while the fire swept through the park, and commenting that it was going to really irk me if all the new clothes and shoes I had bought recently went up in smoke. Larry reminded me we had good insurance, and could replace the clothes.



]]>bb@beyondblonde.comFirestorm2011-06-26T09:39:21-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/firestorm.php#unique-entry-id-34http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/firestorm.php#unique-entry-id-34bb@beyondblonde.comTravel2010-11-28T11:39:01-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/vistas.php#unique-entry-id-33http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/vistas.php#unique-entry-id-33After a long and much needed hiatus BB is back. Though not in black. Far from it in fact. I'm back in bright shining colors and loving life to the max. It's a life that has changed a lot for me over the past few months. That wondrous change has come about because Larry and I are now truly living the RV life.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-03-09T11:07:36-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/put_it_in_neutral.php#unique-entry-id-32http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/put_it_in_neutral.php#unique-entry-id-32With all the news stories involving runaway Toyota cars abounding right now, I wanted to take a moment to pass on a safety tip to anyone who may find themselves behind the wheel of a runaway Toyota or any other make of vehicle. Do not try to stop the car by simply applying brakes. From everything I've read, that won't work because the transmission is still allowing the engine to provide power to the wheels. Instead, put the car in neutral! Putting the car in neutral disengages the transmission, which prevents the engine from applying power to the wheels. This may or may not cause the engine to rev like crazy and scream like a banshee, but it will allow you to coast to the side of the road and stop the car. Leave the car running so that you still have power steering and brakes. Once the car is stopped, turn the engine off.

If you don't own a Toyota car, but know someone who does, please pass this safety tip along to them by whatever means available to you. If you have a website, or are a member of a social networking site, take a moment to pass this tip on to others by blogging about it, putting it on your wall, and/or however else you can think of. Until this problem is fixed and Toyota cars once more become truly safe to drive, everyone reading this needs to do all they can to pass this safety tip along to others.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-03-02T12:34:33-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pack_it_in_pack_it_out.php#unique-entry-id-31http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pack_it_in_pack_it_out.php#unique-entry-id-31In an effort to save money and avoid a tax increase Colorado City, Co. has removed trash cans from a neighborhood park. While reading the comments section under that story I saw where some other cities have also done this only to have trash bags and loose trash left all over the park. Are we as a nation really so lazy and thoughtless we just can't handle the idea of taking our own trash OUT of a neighborhood park to help keep that park open, while at the same time avoiding tax increases? ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMusings2010-02-26T19:31:40-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/no_improvement.php#unique-entry-id-30http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/no_improvement.php#unique-entry-id-30What truly amazes me about the latest phishing scam on Twitter, is the number of people that got sucked into this latest scam. I've been running the net way too long to click on any link that promises a better a sex life. I figure the chance of improving my sex life by clicking on any link that comes to me via a social networking site message or email, is about the same as having Shemar Moore delivered to my door via Fedex or UPS.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMusings2010-02-24T12:57:42-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pay_back_first.php#unique-entry-id-29http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/pay_back_first.php#unique-entry-id-29I think that until every penny of bail out money has been repaid, no Wall Street banker or big business CEO whose company received bail out money should be able to receive even the smallest bonus. Until they get their banks and businesses running in such a manner that money, which was in effect a government loan in my viewpoint has been repaid, not a damn one of them deserve a bonus. Pay back that bail out money, before you pay yourself a bonus! That should be the rallying cry for every tax paying American right now.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comComputing2010-02-23T11:10:32-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/smack.php#unique-entry-id-28http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/smack.php#unique-entry-id-28With technology advancing at the lightning speeds it is, anyone on a computer who wants to take full advantage of everything it has offer, is going to find his or herself between a rock and hard spot when it comes to the issue of privacy. In order to try and find some kind of realistic middle ground between that rock and hard spot, those using computers need to be well aware of how they operate, as well as what really lies beneath the surface of what may be on the other side of our monitors. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-02-19T11:56:49-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/weighing_the_risks.php#unique-entry-id-27http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/weighing_the_risks.php#unique-entry-id-27I've been keeping a close eye on the story concerning the law suit filed against the Pa. school district that is accused of crossing privacy lines by using web cams on laptops to spy on their students with. The school finally did issue a statement stating they use the remote feature only in the case of a stolen laptop, and at no time have they ever violated privacy laws. I'm not much impressed with said statement though given the fact that I keep reading where a student was accused of inappropriate behavior in his home, and apparently presented with a photograph as evidence of that behavior that was taken with the built in web cam. So far, there has been no indication that the student's laptop was ever reported stolen.

Even with privacy safeguards like the school claims it has followed in place, isn't there a risk that a hacker could gain control of the remote feature on those distributed laptops via one of their Trojan Horse or other programs? And isn't there a terrible irony in the possibility that a hacker could possibly gain control of computers given to students to work on via such a Trojan Horse program? When one considers just how sick and vicious some of the hackers and trolls roaming the internet today are, I think the question of just how safe the laptops given to students really are, most definitely needs to be addressed. Should the answer to that question be not 100% safe, then when one considers what could happen if a hacker with pedophile tendencies gained control of one or more of those distributed laptops, it is enough to chill the blood of any loving parent.

Giving laptops out for students to work on is a wonderful idea. However, given the possible potential for misuse by the schools themselves, as well as by hackers, it is a wonderful idea that needs to be carefully thought out and well studied to insure that those gifts do not themselves become Trojan Horses that could wind up biting the givers and receivers of those gifts in the butt in some very sad and savage ways. What the school in Pa. has been accused of, could wind up only being the tip of the iceberg where that matter is concerned. Think about it.......]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-02-18T17:28:06-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/students_spied_on.php#unique-entry-id-26http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/students_spied_on.php#unique-entry-id-26We are living a world where many people are getting far too accustomed to having their privacy invaded in various ways by technology. Google maps are zooming in on homes and businesses all over the world. GPS devices are being used in a variety of ways that sometimes cross legal lines when they used by stalkers to pinpoint the location of their victims. RATT phones supplied by suspicious spouses and other nosey people are listening in to what should be private conversations. And now a Pa. school district has done the unthinkable, and is accused of eavesdropping on its students inside their homes via remote controlled web cams on the laptops it supplied to said students. Suit: Pa. school spied on students via laptops (AP)

When you take into consideration that students are very likely to take those laptops supplied by the school into their bedrooms to do homework on, the idea of the school having remote web cams that can be turned on at any time, is disgustingly scary to say the very least.

The real irony here is that this Big Brother behavior by the school was uncovered when an assistant principal told a student he thought he had engaged in inappropriate behavior at home, then produced a photograph taken by the web cam on the computer supplied by the school as evidence. None of the stories I've read so far have said what the inappropriate behavior of the young student was. I can't help but feel that whatever that student did, it isn't half as bad as what the school has done by invading the homes of its students in the manner it has.

Some students from that school are now placing masking tape over the web cams and microphones on their school supplied computers. And though many are probably going to laugh at this, I actually started putting a small piece of sticky note over the built in iSight cameras on my macs a couple of years ago after watching a movie where a hacker took control of a computer web cam. I figured even back then, better safe than sorry when it came to that all seeing little eye on the top of my display screen.

The Lower Merion School District should ashamed of itself for violating the privacy of its students, as well their parents in the manner it has. They are at best, guilty of a form of illegal wiretapping, and at worst, no better than a pedophile who puts hidden cameras in bathrooms. The faculty members responsible for this breach of privacy need to be held accountable for their actions. And the school district as a whole needs to understand that their job of monitoring students does not extend past the boundaries of the schoolyard. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-01-16T12:31:06-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/not_their_only_problem.php#unique-entry-id-25http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/not_their_only_problem.php#unique-entry-id-25AP Exclusive: Network flaw causes scary Web error - Yahoo! News:  According to this story, their coverage map, isn't the only problem AT&T has right now.  Seems sometimes when people try to log into their Facebook pages from their cell AT&T phones, they are winding up at other people's Facebook pages.  The truly scary part here is that the people getting to these pages by mistake, are landing on them with full access to private information on that page.  Sure makes me glad I don't do Facebook, or even Twitter my time away.  And that I learned a long long time ago, there is NO such thing as true privacy on the net.  There are too many hackers, crackers, trolls, and things can go wrong for that to exist.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2010-01-14T10:57:03-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/haiti_relief_scams.php#unique-entry-id-24http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/haiti_relief_scams.php#unique-entry-id-24As I was catching up on what is going on around me by reading the news headlines this morning I came across across a story that reminded me some criminals are always eager to take advantage of disaster.  For those of you wanting to make a donation to the victims of the earthquake in Haiti, please read this story, FBI Warns of Bogus Haiti Online Donation Scams first, and make sure the donation you are making is actually going to those victims, and not in the pockets of some low life cyber criminal.  However, Snopes has said the messages posted on Facebook that you can Make a $10 donation to the Haiti relief effort by texting the word Haiti to 90999 are true.  Please do be aware the $10 donation will be charged to your cell phone bill, and NOT made by some other charitable organization or donor.

My perusal this morning of the technology news headlines this morning also made me more aware the Google Hack has raised many concerns concerning China. 

And on an Oddly Enough news note, Montenegro's only hippopotamus has escaped from the mountainous Adriatic nation's zoo.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMusings2010-01-12T12:31:50-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/timeless_ripples.php#unique-entry-id-23http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/timeless_ripples.php#unique-entry-id-23This morning my desktop picture is one I took at the Sonora Caverns.  It is one side of what is called Horseshoe Lake.  My camera lens captured the ripples from a couple of drops of water falling from the cavern ceiling.  It is tiny drops of water that helped form the magnificent formations found throughout those caverns.  Centuries worth tiny drops of water went into those formations. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMusings2010-01-11T12:27:58-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/what_a_drag.php#unique-entry-id-21http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/what_a_drag.php#unique-entry-id-21I was gazing at my desktop picture this morning, which is one of the pictures I took while on the Samhain Sashay, and recalling that wonderful moment when I took that picture.  What an experience it was to see those buffalo, and gaze into the watchful eye of the herd bull. I've been blessed with many such experiences in my life.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMisc2010-01-04T13:06:10-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/frozen_fog.php#unique-entry-id-20http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/frozen_fog.php#unique-entry-id-20As I was waiting for my second cup of tea to brew I once more looked out the window, and stood staring at the scene before me with astonishment.  "Did it snow last night or this morning?" I asked Larry.  "No." he replied, "That's frozen fog."  As with snow, we do occasionally see fog out here.  But, never in all my years in west Texas have I seen frozen fog before.  The sight of the frozen fog was so amazing to me I grabbed the camera and took a photo of it through the kitchen window.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comTravel2009-12-14T21:59:25-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/Seminole_Canyon.php#unique-entry-id-19http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/Seminole_Canyon.php#unique-entry-id-19I have been so badly bitten by the travel bug, I spent the weekend happily "camped out" in Seminole Canyon State Park. Larry is convinced I have lost my mind.  As people would pass us on the road he would mumble, "Yeah, my wife is crazy."  Everyone time I saw another RV on the road I would point to it and say, "Look, more crazy people." ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comTravel2009-12-01T15:02:24-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/rvconvert.php#unique-entry-id-18http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/rvconvert.php#unique-entry-id-18My life has taken an amazing turn the past few weeks. I have been on 3 road trips in the last 30 days.  The last one spent in the comfort of our new RV the OverlandTrail Campground & RV Park in Fort Davis, Texas.  Yes gentle readers, BB is now an RV camper convert.  It was spending several days and nights in the comfort of Moonie's Dutchman travel trailer while attending the 2009 Chili Cook Off in Terlingua that made me a convert to the RV way of life.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comTravel2009-11-14T11:40:50-06:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/Samhain_Sashay.php#unique-entry-id-17http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/Samhain_Sashay.php#unique-entry-id-17For the past two weeks Moonie and I have been traveling around west Texas, and seeing some of the most beautiful scenery it offers. Some of the scenery we had seen before, and some we hadn't. No matter what the view was, us galavanting girls had tremendous fun watching it. I came back with a ton of pictures and memories that will make me smile for many years to come. The first road trip we took was to Alpine and Marfa to see if the mystery lights would come out and play, and to celebrate Halloween at the annual Halloween Bash at Railroad Blues. We wound up taking a detour to Sonora on our way home to see the Caverns of Sonora. Here are some notes and photos from that first trip. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comMusings2009-10-27T19:44:20-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/autumn_colors.php#unique-entry-id-16http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/autumn_colors.php#unique-entry-id-16Then I looked out the big bay window, and as the sun began to slowly set, saw some clouds turning pretty shades of pink.  I picked up the digital camera that happened to be sitting within easy reach, and took a photo of those pretty pink clouds as seen through the large picture windows in my living room.  A few minutes later I walked over to get a better view, and noticed the sunset had turned other clouds glorious shades of fiery orange. I snapped a picture of those too, then took a moment to enjoy the colorful sunset I was being treated to. Those two photos are now a reminder to me, and hopefully all who view them, that sometimes finding beauty, is as simple as looking out the window.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comHealth2009-10-23T12:54:56-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/stigma_of_silence.php#unique-entry-id-15http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/stigma_of_silence.php#unique-entry-id-15Glenn Close: Mental Illness: The Stigma of Silence - Huffington Post

Ms Close has done an excellent article on the issue of mental illness both from the viewpoint of an actress who has played, and researched the roles of mentally disturbed characters.  And more importantly, from the viewpoint of someone who has some family members who suffer from various forms of mental illness.  I recommend anyone who suffers from any form of mental illness, or who has family members or friends who do, read this wonderfully written article by a woman I have always greatly admired for her talent, intelligence, and ability to be articulate when discussing or writing about things that interest her.  Kudos Ms Close for an exceptionally well written article on a very touchy subject.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comNoteworthy News2009-10-23T13:31:14-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/real_tragedy.php#unique-entry-id-14http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/real_tragedy.php#unique-entry-id-14While propped up in bed this morning enjoying my morning tea and enchanting electric flames from my little faux cast iron stove, I found this story about the Somer Thompson murder much less enchanting, but even more riveting than those electric flames. Tears came to my eyes as I read the sad tale of the chubby cheeked 7 year old who met her fate at the hands of a brutal killer.  As I wiped my eyes and continued reading the story I was struck by the irony of the the headline link right above it.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comComputing2009-10-21T19:40:41-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/tricked_out_browser.php#unique-entry-id-12http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/tricked_out_browser.php#unique-entry-id-12 I slid my finger softly across the touch pad, and placed the cursor over the tiny little masked fox in the corner of my browser.  I gave the touch pad a gentle touch, and as the sound of my nail tapping against it died away, began to put the new Personas add-on I had just downloaded through its paces.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comTravel2009-09-10T23:12:44-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/balloon_bash.php#unique-entry-id-9http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/balloon_bash.php#unique-entry-id-9With a long boring Labor Day Weekend looming ahead of us, I decided to follow Moonie's excellent example, and Sunday morning Larry and I headed to Alpine for the Big Bend Balloon Bash. This little hot air balloon extravaganza has been held every year since 1987. Each morning of the event, weather permitting, a number of hot air balloons rise from the ground and drift up into the sky. This year the thermals weren't very good, and none of the balloons got very high, or far from the lift off area. However, watching those colorful balloons rise as high as they did, and drift as far as some did was an experience I am so glad I decided to try.]]>bb@beyondblonde.comComputing2009-10-18T17:40:09-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/add_ons.php#unique-entry-id-5http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/add_ons.php#unique-entry-id-5I have been giving some Firefox add-ons like  ScribeFire a really good test run the past couple of weeks as I have gone about revamping my website.  ScribeFire is a Firefox browser add-on that allows you to create, edit, and, if you have the right blog settings, upload blog entries. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comPage Updates2009-10-07T20:03:20-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/revamp.php#unique-entry-id-3http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/revamp.php#unique-entry-id-3Well, what a tiring but very productive time the last few days have been. But the end result is a once more revamped site that will hopefully inspire me to write something really great once I get over being so damned tired after getting it revamped. As those of you who are paying me a visit will see I now have yet another blog. Hopefully, this is going to be the final blog I start. The Word Press blog was great, but I wanted my blog to be fully integrated with my main site, and built by RapidWeaver, instead of being something separate from it. I even forked out 12 bucks to Holoscan so I can have a moderated comment section on this blog. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comPage Updates2009-10-11T00:06:06-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/10_11_update.php#unique-entry-id-2http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/10_11_update.php#unique-entry-id-2The Word Witchery Blog has been updated again with a few of Samhain images, one of which leads to a short history of Samhain. The other image includes a Samhain ritual in it. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comPage Updates2009-10-12T09:41:45-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/word_witchery.php#unique-entry-id-1http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/word_witchery.php#unique-entry-id-1The Word Witchery blog has undergone a magical cyber transformation, and become the Witchy Woman blog. Please Click Here and update your bookmarks for that page. ]]>bb@beyondblonde.comComputing2009-10-12T10:24:35-05:00http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/cyber_magic.php#unique-entry-id-0http://www.beyondblonde.com/bbsblog/blog_files/cyber_magic.php#unique-entry-id-0After finally getting the page organized the way I want it, and the comments section working in the blog, I have decided I may be a nerd at heart. Or at least some part of me is. The reason I've come to this conclusion is this past week I have spent damn nearly every waking moment getting the page redone the way I want it, including that damn comments section. At least I hope I have it going right. By the time I did get it going, I knew it had been way too long since I fooled around with java scripts.]]>