posted
...Have you ever done something so much that later, when you try to relax, it keeps poppin' into your head, or you dream about it??
I have had this happen after bein' on a ladder or scaffolding all day. Later, just as I relax and go to sleep...BAM!! 'I fall off the ladder' . . or, BAM!! 'I drop a can of paint 20ft to the ground'.
Well, it's been happening these few days tryin' to learn to use this plotter!
Last night I had a dream that Emily and I were standing on a downtown side walk looking up at the power lines... Every minute or two a transformer would blow completely apart and send wires with flames coming out of the ends of them in every direction.
It was dark and brooding.
I think it means I shoud quit dealing with the plotter and computer before I burn the house down . . .(lol)
Thursday was the worst. On thursday, I spent over 6 hours TRYING to do what I had actually managed to do only a few days before...but the plotter would not cut!!
I'm SO frustrated!! But I refuse to call anyone for help.
Click-click-stare-move the vinyl-click-click-push-push-stare-click-push-click-move the vinyl-click-click-stare.
This went on for hours and I'm aware, all this time that I'm losing my mind.
I clicked on all kinds of things and locked up several layouts in such as way that I can't move them in or out, or even get some to appear...just messages that say basically: "wrong path".
I push all kinds of buttons and look at all kinds of things...then I look at the clock.
I have 8 minutes to pick up my child before the school closes!! When I arrive, I get chewed out by the principal...not for being late but because Emily can't do 2 pages of subtraction problems in 4 minutes for a math competition/pizza party prize.
Still in a plotter problem-induced haze, I stare blankly at the droning principal as she gets me thinking of how 8 lines of 4" Pizza copy would fit on 2ft plot panel.....if only the plotter would cut it . . . .
We go straight back home where I come to myself and finally succumb to calling a freind...but there's not much anyone can do....but, 2 minutes after we hang up . . . . . .I discover a loose plotter connection!!!
Happy birthday RT.
Later, I finally kick-back to watch a movie, which I can seldom do because I fall asleep....I'm all cozy and comfortable on the couch . . . the TV sound slowly fades away . . .
WHAM!! It's that plotter-cutting sound and a wad of vinyl jammin' it up!! I sit straight up on the couch and instantly realize where I am....I look over at Emily and she looks at me funny . . . .
Later, we go to bed. It's been a long day . . . And then . .just as I'm dozing off... BAM!! A giant sheet of 1.75" black copy of business hours fills my head . . .all those zeros', fours . . .8's to be weeded....
I shake it off and get up and walk to the end of the house pretending to check the back door...I get water. . .
Emily is in the la-la land of sleep. I go back to bed and snuggle down under the covers and get drowsy...drifting off to sleep now....
when . . .SCREAM!! The puppy brushed against my hair . . .I thought he was release liner...I thought his toenail was an exacto blade . . .
I thought...I cut wrong and wasted, and cut right and weeded, WAY too much vinyl in the last 3 days....
In case you did'nt know before, now you know what mental saturation is . . . .
But . . . how can my mind be so saturated with all this and I STILL don't know nuthin' about it???
posted
or you could be OCD...OBCESSIVE, COMPALSIVE DISORDER....hahahahahahahaha
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Brad Ferguson See More Signs 7931 Wornall Rd Kansas City, MO 64111 signbrad@yahoo.com 816-739-7316 Posts: 1230 | From: Kansas City, MO, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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LOL OP . .look man...that's spelled "Obsessive Compulsive" . . . and it's something you 'have' not something you 'be' . . .except in certain linguistically-challenged cultures where you can say: "I be compulsive obsessive disorder."
Anyway, you know how obsessive I am about spelling...
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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They DO have meds for this as I am going through my situation!
Used Once a night, before retirement. It will give a good nights sleep(removing ALL) the "clutter" with NO ill effects to the body. That they watch VERY carefully (in my case) The product is called RESTORIL/and their is a generic.
p.s. Your "note" came today Thanks
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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You could have a second career as a writer. Very funny story - i kept laughing every few lines.
Try warm milk and a happy movie or happy book before bed. Usually the last thing i'm doing before falling asleep is what i dream about. I've got to quit playing my grandkid's gameboy before bed - keep trying to jump over bombs in my dreams...
Thanks, Steve
-------------------- Steve Racz Racz's Handcarved Signs Posts: 1078 | From: New Jersey | Registered: Jan 2004
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Sheila, what program and plotter are you using? Who else do you know with a similar set up? There are many ears-hearts-minds at the other end of the wire and you just need to call. There is little merit or relationship resulting from stubborness.
-------------------- The SignShop Mendocino, California
Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6718 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I don't remember dreams often anymore. Only time I have re-occuring dreams is when I'm sick with bad flu or something like that. There are 2.
1, I'm really little, like 3 years old and I'm in front of this giant TV kinda thing that has a pattern of boxes in it. They're black & white boxes, little box in center inside a bigger box, inside a bigger box and they're moving...1 time, the big box is closest to me, next time the little box is closest to me & it seems to be trying to suck me into this tv type thing.
2, I'm in this room that is total pitch black except for something like a strobe light that flashes in alternating colors. This one always wakes me up cause I feel like I'm moving.
-------------------- Chris Welker Wildfire Signs Indiana, Pa Posts: 4254 | From: Indiana, PA | Registered: Mar 2001
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My freinds...my problems have little to do with the program or plotter I'm using and more to do with the fact that regardless of the program or plotter . . .I've only been on the computer since 2003 and just got a plotter hooked up Thanksgiving weekend, and am really spending time on it now that the holidays are over.
For the first time, I'm actually looking forward to doing my taxes.
Apparently y'all, it's going to require not only stubborness, but dedication and an enormous amount of time making mistakes to learn what to click and what NOT to click AND when. . . . ~~~To click or not to click . . .that is the question . . .
I hope neither me nor my mouse is lysdexic...
OH yeh...and to make sure the thing's plugged in is always a step forward.
Today I managed to cut all the vinyl for a van . . .for some reason, at one point, when I loaded another sheet and clicked plot and 'func' . . .that plotter took off at a strange angle for over 30 inches!!
I'm sure it has NO idea how much vinyl it's wastin' . . .I can't 'fire' it...or hit it with a hammer altho' that little bash gremlin does make it look like a really good idea . . .
This thing is like a Son-of-Sam serial killer of vinyl . . .you never know exactly when it's going to strike, but you know it will, and you know it's going to be bad . . .
But look, WITHOUT drugs . . .I WILL eventually figure it out by cullin' out all these wrong procedures . . .If I survive the increasing mental problems, I'll make even more money than I've already made with it . . .
Now...the real question is . . .how many hours can one spend on a learning curve??
How much can the human mind take before it's saturated to the point of explosion??
How long before I get all comfortable, and cozy and about to drift off to a nice, sound sleep . . . .and WHAM! A slicing sideways cut...and that freakin', terrible grinding sound of poorly loaded vinyl. . .
A mind is a terrible thing...
-------------------- Signs Sweet Home Alabama
oneshot on chat
"Look like a girl, act like a lady, think like a man, work like a dog" Posts: 5758 | From: "Sweet Home" Alabama | Registered: Mar 2003
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If you're really worried about the state of your mental well-being, here's a situation to consider if there's a possibility of Paranoia. Does anyone here know exactly who NUMBER 3 is? The reason I ask is when I recently opened a brand new package of underwear, this little piece of paper tumbled out of the package, with the message: Inspected by No. 3. Next day, I opened a box of chocolates that my daughter had given me, and again, a slip of paper with that same message: Inspected by No. 3. Who in hell is this person, and why are they inspecting the stuff that I consume ??? This psycho has inspected everything from paints, sheets of substrate, underwear, chocolates, and over-the-counter medications. Think back into some of your recent purchases, folks. You too are being watched over, and the only clue to the mystery watcher's identity, is a tiny slip of paper that says: Inspected by No. 3
-------------------- Ken Henry Henry & Henry Signs London, Ontario Canada (519) 439-1881 e-mail: kjmlhenry@rogers.com
Why do I get all those on-line offers to sell me Viagara, when the only thing hardening is my arteries ? Posts: 2684 | From: London,Ontario, Canada | Registered: Feb 1999
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Sheila - happens to me after I've been involved ina big project...I either have to knock off for the evening before 9pm....so I have time to get my mind into something else, or watch something like the Andy Griffith show before hitting-the-hay to help get my mind off what I've been doing.
Kissy - in your dream, as you're sitting in front of this big tv watching the funny pattern....you don't suddenly turn your head and say, "Theeeeir baaaack" do you? hehehe...I thought that was going to be your next sentance because your description made me think of the "Poltergeist" flick...
-------------------- Todd Gill Outside The Lines Potterville, MI Posts: 7792 | From: Potterville, MI | Registered: Dec 2001
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Sheila, your problems could very well have something to do with your plotter and program. On my Sign Wizard, if I plot and nothing happens on the plotter ) a gremlin I think) and replot without clearing the plotter goes wild. I can have the whole 4'x8' plot in 1/2 square inch with 2 lines 3' long. I find I have to clear my plotter if something malfunctions mysteriously. Punching and reppunching commands all of a sudden crashes your plotter and it goes wild. As for Kissy, I have the same dreams, could it be the drops of acid in the early 70's and 80's? I attribute mine to that and it relaxes my anxieties enough for me to function without crashing and drawing lines 3' long and collapsing signs to 1/2".
-------------------- Michael A Latham Tee's Me Shirt & Sign 16462 Jefferson Davis Highway Colonial Heights Va. 804-835-3299 signdogopie@aol.com Posts: 379 | From: Colonial Heights, Virginia | Registered: Feb 2004
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Sheila Darlin'..... You would be wise to LISTEN to Rick. So many here would be willing to talk you through your plotter woes and they are all just a phone call away.
Quit being so stubborn!
I am a control freak at times, and I have learned that it is nearly impossible to control a computer/plotter/program. You can learn it the hard way through trial and error and lots of wasted material though.
Or you can post about it here and get instantaneous HELP.
I know that it is horrible to go from painting, which just comes naturally to some of us, and feels so good to do....to plotting, which is a misearble way to earn a greenback. But I did it.
I struggle through scanning/cleaning/node editing/plotting/weeding/masking thinking the whole time that I could have had the damn thing painted, paid for, and out the door in half the time. (and for about ¼ the materials)
But my dear friend, ya gotta give the people what they want. You will feel better after you have conquered running that darn plotter. You may even resort to vynulling out the dreaded Coro yard sign!
Please tell us which program & plotter that you are using so that someone can help you. It doesn't have to be this difficult. Just think of the deep sleep you will be able to get.
Keep your chin up. Let go and let Letterville!
Love....Jill
-------------------- That is like a Mr. Potato Head with all the pieces in the wrong place. -Russ McMullin Posts: 8834 | From: Butler, PA, USA | Registered: Jan 2001
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sheila you need your lithium & stelizine. plese take your medication as prescribed.
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sometimes it helps to get some counceling, here's what I got when I called our local service"
Answering Machine at Mental Health Hospital...
"Hello, and welcome to the mental health hotline."
If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.
If you are co-dependent, please ask someone to press 2 for you.
If you have multiple personalities, press 3, 4, 5, and 6.
If you are paranoid, we know who you are and what you want. Stay on the line so we can trace your call.
If you are delusional, press 7 and your call will be transferred to the mother ship.
If you are schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press.
If you are a manic-depressive, it doesn't matter which number you press, no one will answer.
If you have a nervous disorder, please fidget with the pound key until a representative comes on the line.
If you have amnesia, press 8 and state your name, address, telephone number, date of birth, social security number, and your mother's maiden name.
If you have post-traumatic stress disorder, s-l-o-w-l-y & c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y press 0.
If you have bi-polar disorder, please leave a message after the beep or before the beep or after the beep. Please wait for the beep.
If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9. If you have short-term memory loss, press 9.
If you have low self-esteem, please hang up. All operators are too busy to talk to you.
If you are menopausal, hang up, turn on the fan, lay down & cry. You won't be crazy forever.
If you are blonde don't press any buttons, you'll just screw it up.
-------------------- Jim Upchurch Artworks Olympia WA Posts: 797 | From: Olympia, WA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Sheila, you're in the wrong biz . . Stephen King has made millions writing the stuff your dreams are made of . . Your computer problems sounds like a chapter out of "Song of Susannah"! Heh, heh . . .
Phil. 4:6&7...but you know that already, don't ya?
Keep at it girl...you'll get it. No southern girl gonna let a 'lectric thing git th' best of 'em.
Your posts reminded me of when I bought my first computer and plotter. I hadda buncha all-nighters trying to get computer & plotter literate. Almost lost it a few times and hadda repent a couple times there but I finally got to the point I could cut some vynal without havin' to tape my mouth shut...heh heh.
Jack "Did I spel that write?"
-------------------- Jack Keith Keith Signs and Graphics 12400 Stemmons Drive Cabool, MO 65689 Posts: 131 | From: Cabool, MO | Registered: Feb 2004
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Let's see, I used to go around and around a 4 by 8 in my dreams, never could get all the corners completely coated, sometimes falling off the ladder scaffold and then letting myself go and bouncing, or catching myself in the middle of my sleep, chasing customers around, trying to dig the corners of vinyl...etc!
It's after a long stressful month and long hours, I think. But depending on what I ate that day too, or when I had been under the gun for deadlines; all these factors influenced my dreams.
Then, there were the creative dreams, and that was after the creative jobs, or the ones that I had huge satisfaction over! Always after a meet, or being around other artists, my dreams are awesome. Maybe it's time for a meet? Worrying about kids and finances? Your a highly accomplished lady you know!
-------------------- Deb Fowler
"It's kind of fun to do the impossible - Walt Disney (1901-1966) Posts: 5373 | From: Loves Park, Illinois | Registered: Aug 1999
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