The Bella Cat Waltz

The Lady Bella took her time kneading a fuzzy blanket prior to her nap.  Several minutes went by before she settled down.  She's pretty much adorable. \(^.^)/

Winter Break & Lost Voice

At last we are on Winter Break!

I like to capitalize the "holiday" because it's quite welcome right about now.  Winter Break is comprised of the couple of weeks in the year during which Christmas and New Year's occur.  Oh, and school is out!

But before all this happened, there were school parties.  And that is where we all caught our latest illness.  Sore throats, aches and chills.  Yep.  And now, nearly a week later, my voice (gruff from chatting and coughing) has given out on me.  So the vids, if I get many  made this week, aren't going to have much talking going on.  Unless, of course, the voice makes a decent comeback.  

In the meantime, I'll be thinking of what's coming next.  You know, for the new year.  I've some plans already.  Here's hoping 2015 is gonna be a good one!

Enjoy!  (^.^)v

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Video captured with Samsung Galaxy S5

Updates: I'm Still Here! (The Excuses for Lack of FitVlogs)

Here they are!  My lame, and not so lame, excuses for falling off the fitness wagon (yet again).

Actually, I just finished a monstrous amount of, well, paperwork of sorts.  And I've researched a subject to near exhaustion.  I hope I filled out the forms right!

More on all of that later.  There's a process that needs to take place before I discuss it at all.

For now, enjoy these vids and whatever vids that follow.

Take care out there! (^.^)v

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Video captured with Samsung Galaxy S5

Replacing an Electric Water Heater--How We Did It! | DIY

It took about a week or so of planning (and of having enough money) to do this project.  But, at last, we completed the replacement of our electric water heater.  This video shows some of what we went through.

Not all steps are shown, however.  We both, Fargo and me, worked on this project and sometimes the camera didn't get turned on.  Even so, I think it's a nice way to document yet another of our DIY projects.

It's a good idea for me to remind everyone to be careful if you decide to do a job like this yourself.  I have a little plumbing experience from years ago, so I do have some idea of what I'm doing.  But I am NOT a professional plumber, nor am I a professional electrician.  When in doubt, hire the pros!!  Otherwise, any work you do is entirely at your OWN risk!  Do your research and be careful!

Oh, and enjoy the vid. (^.^)v  

 

ALIENWARE 14 Unboxing & Review

I'm a little late posting this video, since I've using the laptop for a couple of weeks now.  But the Alienware 14 still excites me!  After all, I've been wanting one of these for a while.

In the video, I show the unboxing and give a little review of what I've discovered about the machine so far.  There are some quirky things I've discovered along the way, but nothing earth-shattering.  If nothing else, it makes it more interesting and gives me new things to do.

So, I guess I'm satisfied with this laptop.  To be sure, it's one of the best I've owned.  It should be, considering the cost of the thing!  (O.o)

There's probably some points I forgot to make in the video.  Partly, this is because I hadn't yet realized how amazing the sound system is, particularly with headphones on, when I made the video.  I've also learned to navigate Windows 8.1 loads better and quite like some of its features.  No doubt, I'll come across more things to consider about this setup in the future.

In the meantime, enjoy the vid! (^.^)v  

What IS IT?! A Short and True Mystery

The other evening, Big Daughter sent a series of disturbing texts my way.

I laughed, but nervously.  There was truly a mystery in the trunk of her car.  We may never know what the thing was that she found, or how it came to be there.  It was an oddity, to be sure.

Someone knows.  (^.~)
Just not us.

This short video shows the thing in question.  I captured it on my phone (Galaxy S5), making jokes to lighten the mood.  The whole event was strange.  Join us in suspense!

Take care out there!  (^.^)v  

Quick Update! Trolls? & GoPro Issues

My usual topics for videos are changing, somewhat.  I think it's because we've been busy with a whole bunch of unusual things!  I'll not go into detail here, just yet, but it's all true.

So, in this update on the goings on, I briefly mention a drive to Irving, Texas, with some video of the trip.  We'd had some business to tend to there.  More on that later... much later, in a whole other post, even.

I also chat a bit about my curiosity with the comment section.  Some of my vids have been visited by potential trolls.  Not altogether a bad thing, but I wonder if I'm truly at the point in vid-making to earn me some trolls!  haha!

Oh, and the other thing I talk about is my beloved GoPro Hero3.  I think it's got some issues.  On the drive to Irving, the camera kept shutting itself off and it felt very hot to the touch.  There was no temperature notice on the camera, so I'm just guessing that it's overheating for some reason.  I've since updated the firmware.  I'll give the GoPro a go very soon to see if that fixed it.  By the way, there are videos about this very issue, the overheating, that is.  Some suggest there may be a foil-backed sticker touching the battery leads.  This was not the case with my GoPro, so it must be something else.  I've had this camera for a while with no issues and really love it.  Here's hoping the problem is solved quickly so I can get back on the road!  

Alrighty, that about does it.

Enjoy the vid!
(^.^)v  

FitVlog #17!

Yeah, I know it's a little late for this FitVlog #17.  Nevertheless, here it is.  My last update on the exercise I've been (or not been) doing.  It's a good reminder to get back on track soon!

If you're interested in any of the workout programs we've been doing, check out my website to learn more:  http://beachbodycoach.com/sdchan
Thanks! :)

Time for Adventure--Back to Nature

Recent whirlwind events of late have created a need for escape.  You know what I mean.  The road trip type of escape.  Just a little adventure, an experience separate from the normal routine.  

Sadly, we weren't able to take a long road journey.  It's been a while since we could do such a thing.  Even so, we have skills.  Adventure creating skills.

Just around the corner we went, and visited Bob Woodruff Park in Plano, Texas.  

The two little kiddos tagged along, though they questioned the whole excursion.  After all, scary things could happen on that nature trail!  haha!  They're probably right, I suppose.  Danger could be lurking, after all.  But what fun would it be were we to fear that unknown around the bend?  

And do you know, those kiddos can't wait to go back!  

Enjoy the journey~~

      

  

FitVlog Update #13

Whirlwind week this has been!  Next week won't be much calmer!

And so, I thought it'd be a good idea to make a quick post about the fitness goings on, or lack thereof.

I've always told myself that fitness was a lifestyle--it has to be part of my life.  Even though I've been too busy to do the workout programs, I have managed to get some exercise in.  One thing being squats.  I can do them anytime I'm having to stand around waiting for something.  It doesn't sound like much, I know.  But have you done some squats, lately?  haha!

The big plan is to get through the craziness of next week's end-of-school parties and the big graduation ceremony.  And when I say big, I really mean it!  I think there are over 1,400 students in my daughter's graduating class.  It'll be pretty amazing, I'm sure!  I don't know when I'll get a decent amount of exercise with all the goings on, though I plan to get at least a bit.

Okee... The plan is to resume P90X3 and TurboFire.  Also, I want to introduce Insanity!!  I can't wait!

I feel like there was something else to mention... I just can't remember.  haha!  It's been that kinda week.  (^.~)

Oh, and since this is a short FitVlog, I thought it would be fun to mess around with the vid editor.  It makes me look bald and a lil strange.  Which is fine.  I've always been a tad odd!  hahaha!  I'm using Vegas Movie Studio Platinum 12 to create the, shall we say, "ambiance", by the way.

More later~~
Take care!
 (^.^)v

Replacing Front Brake Pads on a '98 Chevy Tahoe 4x4

This last week, we drove around on squealing wheels.  Yep, the brake pads were worn out and letting us know about it!

Since we are a frugal lot, we knew our hands would soon be quite filthy.  So we did a bit of research and set out to fix the brakes ourselves.  Which you will see in the video.

Now, mind you, we aren't professionals in the least!  But we did manage to get the brake pads changed and everything is working quite well.  However, do this type of work at your own risk.  If you have any doubts, find a pro to handle the task for you.

To be sure, had we loads of money, we would have paid someone to do the job.  This, purely because of the time involved.  We burned a whole day working on the truck!  Still, I do enjoy trying to fix things on our own.  Especially when all goes well!

Project done.  Mission complete.

I need a nap~~

Take care out there!  (^.^)v

Lightning Show

A few days ago, a nice little thunderstorm rolled past our town, just to the south.  In it, there was plenty of lightning to give us a good show.  Just the lights, no sound.  So in silence, I filmed the event with the GoPro Hero3 Black Edition.  I had to zoom in using the video editor, which may have affected the quality, but still.  I also had a difficult time knowing when to stop filming.  The thunderstorm was slow moving, making the light show last!  

Note to self:  I may need to use the Canon Vixia for future lightning shows.  The Vixia can do the zooming for me and the vid quality might be a bit better in low light.  We'll see.

There's not much else to say about the vid.  Well, except I love watching it!  haha!  Somehow, the music seems to just fit.  It's a long-ish video, but I didn't dare speed it up in the editor.  It's fun to see how active the atmosphere was all on its own.

Enjoy! (^.^)v

 

Nothing But a Thing

Today's post is brought to you by Increasingly Annoyed.  Ha!

I wasn't going to do this, but it's probably worth documenting the events.  It may happen that I delete the post in the future.  Who knows?

Alrighty, let's get to the crux of the situation.

In my last post, I shared my latest YouTube video.  I spent a little time putting that together, as I do all of my videos.  I also take extra care to make sure all elements of my videos are legal to use.  Which is why I'm a bit perplexed and becoming increasingly annoyed. :)

The problem started when I used a piece of royalty free music in my video.  It was immediately hit with three copyright claims made by companies that I later found are somehow linked.  Zimbalam, Audiam, and Believe.  Zimbalam and Audiam released their claim on the music, but Believe has yet to do so.  Strange, isn't it?  Particularly strange since the music in question is not even the same as the songs those companies claim it to be!

Here's my theory, the original artist put their music up for royalty free use on the site Pond5.com .  Other artists grabbed it, mashed it, mixed it and twisted it for their own use, including for monetary gain.  Those artists then claimed their mix as their very own creation and put it in the catalog.  You know, that catalog that YouTube's magical algorithms tap into right before you get hit with a copyright notice~~even an erroneous one. (^.~)

I'm going to own my naivety and say, it isn't the fault of the artists, or the record labels, or any of the companies I named above.  I'd like to think the problem is in the system that's set up to protect the interests of the original and legitimate copyright holders.  Yeah, that's it.  We'll blame the magical program for being a little, tad bit faulty.  (sigh)

Still, there's this tiny needle pricking my brain telling me there is something a touch more sinister going on.  I've continually come across several comments regarding at least one of the above-mentioned companies in YouTube forums and even on the company's Facebook page about their making false copyright claims on music and video.  I've also heard whisperings (and out-right vulgar shoutings) about other entities intentionally making false claims on videos solely for the purpose of making money off of them.  This concerns me, of course, because if they can get away with this, they can either earn revenue off of my videos or they can affect my good standing with YouTube.

So you'd think, just don't use any music in your videos, right?  Oddly enough, some are getting hit with copyright notices from music labels even when their videos don't contain any music!  That's got to be frustrating.

Oh, I forgot to mention.  I may have to wait an entire month to see if they drop the claim on my video.  If they don't release it, my video could get pulled.  It puts a damper on things, to be sure.

Okay.  Time for a deep cleansing breath.  Gahhhh.... !   (O.o)

It's out of my system.  I'll be working on a new video soon, being super careful about its contents.
Haha!  It should be a fun one.  We have a new workout to try~~>P90X3!

If you are curious about the workouts we are doing, check us out on YouTube, also feel free to peruse my website at www.beachbodycoach.com/sdchan , or even send me a message on Facebook.   

Take care out there! (^.^)v

UPDATE:  After reviewing my message to them, the music company Believe has released the copyright claim on my video.  Yay!
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.  (^.~)  
    

            

Cycling the Suburban Maze--Testing GoPro Hero3

Recently, we acquired the GoPro Hero3 black edition after winning the daily GoPro Everything We Make Sweepstakes.  If you're curious about GoPro, check out their website gopro.com.  There's a link to the contest info at the bottom of the page.

After sorting through all the wondrous things GoPro sent us, I felt it was time to test the little camera by taking it on my morning bike ride.  This video is the maiden voyage, as it were.  I'm sure I'll find other more fascinating things to do with the Hero3 in the future!

Enjoy~~ (^.^)v

How to Make a Simple Wire Wrapped Bead Ring

Not too long ago, I showed how to make a simple wire rose ring. In the vid, I showed an example of a similar ring with a bead in it. Some viewers were curious how to make one of those. So, here's the vid showing how to do it!
Enjoy! (^.^)v

The Goings On

All sorts of plans have been made to do stuff.  Sometimes, a well-placed virus or some such item of yuck slams the brakes en route to plan completion.  As it were.

So, to keep my YouTube subscribers up to date, and to thank them for sticking with me, I made a video.  

Yep, I'm still here and recently recovering from a variety of illnesses.  Again.  Haha!  I laugh, when not coughing my face off,  because it's completely ridiculous how frequently ill I've been.  But, it could be worse.

Here is said video...  

Spring Cleaning, As It Were

MoonFlowers ©shaunachan2013

Springtime is naturally energizing.

The chatter of the birds in the morning wakes me early, making me feel a bit lazy, if I don't get a move on and do something... anything!  And so, I've begun to rethink and re-imagine the plans I've made before.  Haha!  That's how it goes.  Lots of thinking, little action~~~

There are loads of clutter about the house.  Sometimes it overwhelms.  It happens because the entire family is full of creative energy.  Leaving bits of art and unfinished projects on shelves and desks to collect dust, whilst new projects are in the works.  Camera gear gets shifted from one desk to another.  Lenses, battery chargers.  Sometimes even a tripod, or light and background stands line the floorboards waiting for the next impromptu photoshoot.  Then, there are the laptops jam-packed full of unfinished digital works of art.  Mostly mine, I admit.  And the toys, some created out of old boxes and packages with faces drawn on them.  What a mess! some might think. 

If this house seems cluttered, I can only imagine how the thoughts in my mind would be perceived.  Perhaps it would be as if there are dark corners with electrical cables running this way and that, resembling something out of the Matrix.  Snapping, buzzing, humming electrical sounds.  The ozone-plasma smell.  After tripping over the technical stuff, expanses of vegetation with amazing varieties of plant and animal life might be stumbled upon.  And surely there is a sky full of galaxies, space craft containing  creatures of unknown origin.  The air would be filled with a cacophony of sounds, music, animals, nature.  Probably thunderstorms and rain, too.  Ideas about photos I'd like to take, videos I want to shoot and edit, jewelry I wish I could make.  Costume plans and thoughts of starting to sew again.  That dress form I want to get.  What about the environment?  How can I   help others?  I know there must be thoughts about awesome biking trails and mountains with the big trees I hope to someday see.  Near those, there must be an ocean, a beach with interesting things found amongst the grains of sand and pebbles.  Little and big footprints.  Toes of the children sifting the sand.  The kiddos' laughter echoing with the waves.  Mechanical pieces of this and that fit somewhere into this multidimensional landscape.  Broken bits I've thought to either fix or transform.  Magical things I wonder or daydream about.  All of this, even more,  and the numbers, too!  How much things cost.  Budget, budget... the budget!

Sigh...

So what I've done is a little spring cleaning, as it were.  Just a start.  Though I know there is no need to straighten much of the physical clutter, until maybe summer (...it ends up un-straight on a daily basis anyhow).  Instead a little digital maintenance is the order of the day.  I managed to delete some videos from my original YouTube channel, shifting many of them to another YouTube channel.  This, because I've other plans for StarCat70 --family videos and school concerts don't seem to fit there.  This adjustment has been on the back-burner for quite some time now, as I couldn't decide in which direction I wanted to go with the videos I've been making.  It was a little painful losing all those video views after the deletion.  Still, I think it's best I make the sacrifice now.  

It is difficult, I've noticed, to fit all the living that can be done into such a short time.  This may be the cause of my ADD, both technical and otherwise. 

Glancing around the room, mentally sorting through the clutter, I'm drawn to a plastic container of clear and frosted glass pebble-looking "gems".  A hatching of new ideas begins~~~

The Glass Pebbles ©shaunachan2013

Keep the wonder about you, no matter your years~~~

                           

Fireside

fireside ©shaunachan2012

It is often around the backyard firepit where the depth of our discussions tend to grow.  There is something about the slithering flames and upward fleeting of glittery sparks that get the synapses firing.  

Though our intentions are good, we've come to no definitive answers about much of anything in particular.  Just more possibilities.  Our changing minds burning across ideas, leaving white hot ashes of the old ones behind still glowing then dimming.    

Fortunately, this refocusing happens almost painlessly.  I suppose it is so, because the simplicity and warmth of a gentle set of flames makes for such a peaceful setting.  A stick's poke at the glowing branches ignite a brief excitement of fireflies, and a new topic arises.

Changes are afoot.

In all of it, I hope to continue posting here.  It will likely be necessary.  In fact, this blog may in some ways return to its roots.  The place where things get sorted out.  Where I may come for a bit of fireside reflection.  

I worry I'll have time for little else.  Yet, I hope to continue to devote time to the YouTube channel.  I do enjoy posting videos there and have plans to do much more in the future.  I'll elaborate more on this later.

In the time since my last post of any kind, the world has gone mad, it seems.  A thing I have noticed, though, there are voices of reason not only enduring but presenting  themselves stronger than before.  Thank heavens for this!  We can be somewhat assured all of humanity is not yet completely lost.  

I don't think I'll say much more on this, as the sadness is quite profound.  Any solutions will take kinder hearts, deeper understandings of human nature, and courage.  Lots of it.