Yes, less than two weeks since I left, I'm back again.
Same hotel, different conference. This time I'm the official photographer for the Tactile Graphics 2005 conference.
Very glad I got the D50 when I did - I don't think the 5700 would have handled the pressure.
Unfortunately, I'm on the shit view side of the hotel this time, so no more window pictures (although that's probably a relief, cos I think I probably took far too many last time).
Still, for all it's freezing outside, I have a choice of double beds to sleep in, internet, heating, and knitting, so whatever else happens, I'll be ok.
It's been a frantic fortnight, with both work and social life shifting into high gear, and occasionally hitting manic levels, but there is rest ahead. I have absolutely nothing planned for Saturday and Sunday, other than doing as little as possible for as long as possible.
Between now and then I've got two solid days of photography and a Franz Ferdinand gig. Then, with any luck, I'll be able to catch my breath, expel some of the stuff that's built up in my head and catch my breath before preparing myself for dealing with the commericalised nightmare that is Christmas, and all that entails.
First though, some sleep.
That feeling you get when you've neglected your blog for a couple of days because your head is too full of stuff to write about to choose just one thing at a time, so you don't write anything, and suddenly you find yourself appearing on three different CSS/Design galleries on the one day*.
So named because it's not unlike the feeling of embarrassment you feel when you exit the toilet with your skirt tucked into the back of your knickers and haven't noticed. Everything's mostly ok, except for one or two minor details - like your arse hanging out for the whole world to see.
Spose this means I should really get round to fixing the about, others and gallery pages then... nothing like working on pages live when traffic is spiking to focus the mind**.
* I'll save my theory about design gallery dominoes for another day and spend today just being glad that someone (or possibly multiple someones)*** liked what I've done here enough to submit it to CSS Liquid, CSS Mania and screenspire.
** obviously usually best done on a day when one hasn't spent the afternoon in hospital being poked by needles in the name of allergy testing and feeling a bit funky (and not in a good way) as a result, but life's like that, isn't it?
*** and if it was you, please say so, so I know who to blame/say thank you to.
... the cold make hats.
Et voila.
My first knitted hat.
Just over 4 hours work and less than one ball of Noro Silk Garden yarn (in colourway 225 - yes, I know it has pink in it. Shh.).
Embarrassing as it is, in the face of overwhelming evidence, I'm forced to admit to it.
In four years "down south", I have indeed, gone soft.
I am indoors. The windows are all closed. The heating is on.
I am wearing (on top of underwear):
Tights
Knee high stripey socks
Ugly but usually warm track suit bottoms
A vest
A long sleeved top
A long sleeved cardigan
A big fluffy scarf
I'm still absolutely, utterly, god bless the ball-less wee monkeys, fucking freezing.
I'm seriously contemplating just going to bed, pulling the covers over my head and not coming out til July.
This is, quite simply, not right.
Well, that was the week that was.
A bloody exhausting one too.
Which is only part of the reason why I haven't written much about it yet.
The other part revolves around something I've been working on for far too long now - a Clapotis for Lori, who has not only waited incredibly patiently for me to get this done, but saved me from the perils of cheap Manchester hotels at the weekend, and fed me and then took me photo hunting round Salford Quays - even though she knew I hadn't finished it yet!
So, at long, long last, it's done, and it's worked out beautifully.
There is no earthly reason for me to still be awake at this time (currently 00:50).
I'm so far beyond tired that I think I'm breaking new ground here.
The last three days have been challenging in lots of new ways, and while that's been exhilirating, it's also been exhausting.
So, having travelled back from Birmingham to London tonight, getting in to Euston at around 7, barely 13 hours later I'm going right back there, this time to go to Manchester.
Yes, I'm crazy.
Crazy but not stupid.
This time I'm travelling first class.
Whew.
All that planning and I left my laptop power cable in the hotel room.
Still, the workshop went well, felt great, got some positive feedback already, and am gradually coming down from the high I've been on for the last three hours since it finished.
Of course, I'm really exhausted now, after putting the final touches to the materials at comedy o'clock this morning and waking up really early to get ready.
Now, where's the nearest bar...
So. After all the kerfuffle about making the list, I forgot more than my toothbrush.
Step forward the two new dinky bottles of shampoo purchased from the Body Shop, the toothbrush and toothpaste (3 for 2) from Boots, the lunch from Harry Ramsdens.
Of course, it took me til now to realise the really important thing I forgot.
The mouse.
Ho hum.
Still, I'm here, and that's the main thing.
From last night's post:
"Note to self: don't forget your toothbrush and toothpaste."
The list:
Yes, that's right. I made the list. I checked it twice.
I still forgot my sodding toothbrush.
"No trouble!" thought I, knowing that there's a travel toothbrush and toothpaste in my drawer at work.
Yes, that's right.
The bloody thing has disappeared.
I have everything from mustard to oxo cubes to plasters to bandages to paracetamol and spare tights, via napkins, a tin opener, a manicure set and all sorts, but no bloody toothbrush.
It's just going to be one of those days.
It says something (I'm not sure what, though), that the pile of electronic equipment I'm taking with me outweighs the pile of clothes and personal bits I'm taking with me... by a factor of loads.
It occurs to me that I need to go buy a pair of PJs*, just in case the hotel should go on fire and I wind up standing in the street wrapped in a duvet... or more likely so I don't have to get dressed before answering the door to room service in the morning when they bring my brekkie**.
I have so much crap to take with me that I actually had to break with my lifetime's habit and make a list.***
I'm quite a fan of Aveda hair products (especially the Rosemary & Mint shampoo), and so when I was in the salon getting my hair done last week, I spotted some travel size bottles of shampoo. "A-ha!" I thought. "What a perfect idea. I think I'll come back and get some of those next week". Which I duly did. And promptly put back when I was told that they cost 3.50. For 50ml. The 250ml bottle costs 8 quid. Sod that for a carry on. I'll either find a bottle myself or take the big bottle.
Packing too early makes me crazy. I always panic and think I've forgotten stuff and it takes twice as long in the morning as I unpack and re-pack everything.
To take a pair of back-up shoes or not to take a pair of back-up shoes. That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler to just say screw it, and then rush round the Bullring if necessary**** or suffer the blisters of unbroken-in shoes.
Note to self: don't forget your toothbrush and toothpaste.
* so I don't normally wear anything in bed. I live in a house with central heating and I have a nice warm duvet. Why would I need to wear anything in bed?
** just cos I don't usually eat brekkie doesn't mean I won't when it's been prepared by someone other than me and I'm not going to be able to nip downstairs for a sausage sarnie mid-morning.
*** which I obviously put somewhere safe, and will dig out just as soon as I remember where that safe place was...
**** me? look for an excuse to go shoe shopping? never! (much)
... will be a total disaster.
Basically, I've got a combination of adrenaline and nervous energy kicking my system into high gear (which, when mixed with my rampant insomnia is a recipe for insanity, at this rate) cos this week's gonna be a doozy.
On Tuesday afternoon, I head to Birmingham, to check that everything's sorted for Wednesday, when I (along with two colleagues) will be presenting this year's Pre-Techshare Workshop on Basic Web Accessibility.
This is both exciting and scary. Exciting because I think it'll be really fun to do, and I'm really looking forward to it, and scary because I'm a wee bit worried I'll lose my voice or look like a dork. It's irrational I know, but it's there.
When I'm done with the workshop, I switch modes, and transform into my other persona for this year's Techshare - that of official photographer for the conference.
Thursday and Friday continue the split personality theme with me being photographer and delegate, which will be interesting, and actually, I'm glad of the photographer part because it gives me an excuse to talk to people and will (hopefully) stop that excruciating bit where you're in a room full of strangers and you know you have to mingle but you've run out of ways to open a conversation.
Friday night I travel back to London to dump all the work gear, and Saturday morning I head back up north, to Manchester this time, where I'll be geeking out with the AccessifyForum folk, and catching up with Lori and Topper (and giving Lori her finished Clapotis in person - because it will be finished by then - oh yes).
Sunday night sees me back in London again, probably entirely knackered and ready to sleep for a week (but perhaps with some new finished knitting - given all the train travel I'll be doing), only I'll be having to go back to work (proper) on Monday morning.
So yeah, updates might be a bit patchy around here til then (not that you get regular service at the best of times round here).
A simple girl, I am, yes, me
(not simple in mind, I hope you'd agree)
but in expectation of the level
of creature comforts in the home
(mostly) give me internet or give me death*
A man arrived at the house today
and fiddled and wiggled,
and huffed and puffed,
and blew and knew,
exactly what to do.
Profusely grateful I thanked him
and paid him a reasonable fee.
For services rendered,
and broken bits mended.
And oh how I giggled with glee!
With a click, and double quick
I burst into early morning action
casting caution and clothing aside
and I tell you, I was nearly beside
myself with over-excitement.
I laughed and I sighed
and I oohed and I cried
out when the soap got in my eyes
then I sang as I ran
the razer over my neglectedly hairy legs
No more, that hair on my legs, no more
every follicle cut down in it's prime.
And I lathered and rubbed
and tickled and scrubbed
til I was truly, madly - squeaky - clean.
So much joy, it has, you see,
inspired me to write this poetry**.
Because nothing can top the simple bliss
of a long hot shower, after a week,
of washing in the sink,
cos of the hot water heater
being on the blink.
*not really
**terminally awful, sorry Karen
The more I think about it, the more I realise that balance is good.
Not just the kind of balance that means that you can put one foot in front of the other to walk and not fall flat on your face.
I mean the kind of yin/yang type of balance. The balance of opposites. I'm not arguing that lots of bad stuff is a good thing, but how will you know that the really really good stuff really is good if you haven't experienced some really really bad stuff.
I'm not arguing for mediocrity either.
In fact, I'm not really arguing anything at all.
I'm trying to justify the fact that along with the healthy chicken and pasta salad and tub of carrot sticks with low fat sour cream and chive dip, I bought a bag of mint aero round thingies and a bit of caramel shortcake.
See?
Balance!
... into my cloud of gloom. A list in no particular order.
... but happy songs are so much better.
I'm having a bit of a dose of the blahs at the moment and I don't want to be having a dose of the blahs. I've got things to do and life's not actually that shitty, so I've no real business feeling so miserable.
So, given that I can't seem to stop myself downloading depressing music from Napster, I'm turning to you, dear reader, for help.
Suggest a happy song and help me create a "stop being so bloody miserable" playlist that will get me through the next couple of weeks (at which point I'll be far too busy to be miserable).
There's a magical place I go sometimes on the way home from work.
It's not big, it's not clever, it's not even close to being trendy.
A place everyone goes because nobody goes there.
A place where almost no-one knows my name, and even better, no-one cares.
A place where time seems to stand still, propped up in the corner while life rushes past outside.
An enchanted place, for there be the time fairies.
A minute here, a minute there, disappearing, unmissed, in the ebb and flow of conversation while the world outside fades from consciousness, streets emptying as skies darken.
Emboldened, they succumb to greed, and stolen minutes become stolen hours.
Nothing breaks the spell and an evening slips away.
The witching hour beckons.
And so, to the station
and home, to bed.
Cloud: Not being able to keep solid food down/sit up/think straight/do much of anything other than feel sorry for yourself and barf your guts up for the best part of three days
Silver lining: losing enough weight that not only do your clothes not fit quite as snugly as they did earlier in the week, but your boots are looser on your legs
The timing sucked, but it's been an interesting learning experience - most notably that the world will not fall on my head if every little detail of my site isn't absolutely perfect.
So I went back to work today, and tonight have managed to start pulling the various bits of the site into line with the new design.
First up was the sorting out of the archives - both the main archives index page (which now includes thumbnails of all the images in the gallery) and the monthly archive pages - and a few minor tweaks to whitespace and the main navigation.
Then there was the compilation of an all singing, all dancing pixeldiva feed, which not only has the posts, but the links and the flickr feed merged into it.
Now, I don't really use feeds, and I don't know what those of you who use the feeds want, but if you want it split, or want more or less or whatever, just let me know and I'll do my best to get it sorted.
I'd also be interested to know if there's any interest in a photos feed, or whether you don't care, so feed readers, this is your time to speak up!
Then, over the weekend I'll be sorting out the individual photo pages, the "others" page and the about page, which will contain (if I ever get round to writing the damn thing) an explanation of what I did here and why. Then I might shut TopStyle and not look at code for at least... oh, as long as it is before I go back to work.
In the meantime though, thank you all so much for your feedback, it's very much appreciated, and as always, if something's trashed, tell me. If you don't like something, let me know and I'll have a think about whether it's something I want to change. If you think I could do something better, give me a nudge and I'll see what I can do.
Just excuse any wobbles, these new boots are gonna take a bit more breaking in before they're comfy.
I was going to hold off til 12 to launch the reboot, but a stomach bug has felled me and I'm going home to bed, so rather than be late, I'm going to be early (for a change).
A few notes about the reboot:
1) I'm not entirely done with it (see above) - the home page and individual entries are (mostly) done. Archives, other static pages and gallery pages will be brought into line shortly.
2) Although it might not look, at first glance, to be much different from the previous design, it actually is. Before it was fixed width for 800x600. Now it's elastic/zoom/whatever it's being called this week. Basically, it's liquid but with min (760px) and max (1300px) width set for the home page and fully liquid for the individual entry pages.
3) There's a reason the navigation is in the centre with bits spread equally either side - I wanted this site to really reflect who I am and what I do, and for the longest time I couldn't reconcile the "words" and "pictures" parts of my personality in terms of my blog and find space for the other nonsense too. I didn't want to weight the blog in favour of words or pictures, so I came up with the idea to balance them out as best as I can.
4) More later. Please do feel free to leave thoughts, feedback, comments, whatever (just keep them polite please) in the comments box. I'll fix any problems when I'm up and about again.
... the online home and (not very) alter(ed)-ego of Ann McMeekin, a recently freelance Web Accessibility Consultant.
... passionate about many things, most of which will turn up on this site at some time or other.
... contactable via email.
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