I finally bought a program that only runs on Windows XP. Up to now, I've been pretty happy with Windows 2000, but Adobe had to go and release Adobe Premiere Elements and it only runs on XP, darn it. Should I make the switch? Will it be a hairy mess? Will other programs stop working?

I want to find a simple video editing program. I love Quicktime Pro for quick and dirty work, but need something a tad fancier. I am not a big fan of the baby-style interface of XP, but I know I don't have to use that look.

We are getting a new cat in the next few minutes. It is Myst, my daughter's cat. Myst has a dietary problem which gives him episodes of diarrhea plus Jenny's husband has an allergy to cats. Myst would do better with someone who can be home all day to watch him.

They are going to keep their other cat, Lucky, who is short-haired. Myst is a small purebred silver Persian and has the longest hair I have ever seen.  Richard and I love him a lot. Since we lost Buzzy last July, we have an extra bed and supplies. I know Myst will be happy here, given a little time to adjust. He has visited here before so he knows something of our routines. I know Muddy will love having a more active playmate.

Finally, It Feels Like Christmas

The weather has turned colder at last! It just doesn't feel like Christmas when the days are in the 70's. We are expecting to be in the low 20's in a couple of days.

On the other hand, I have a friend from South America. She says it feels funny to have a cold Christmas. I can hardly picture Christmas as a mid-summer holiday.

Shoes

You know, you just don't realize how many shoes you can accumulate until you have to pick them all up off the floor and pack them, then take them somewhere safe, then bring them back the next day and unpack and rearrange them. I am giving half of these away. (That still leaves countless thousands to keep.)

Safe - No Flooding Here

Here's what happened: We did not flood even though TVA said we would. The Tennessee River crested at the same time heavy rains were expected. The people on the news said Aldridge Creek (which fills up on very little rain and drains right into the Tennessee River) could not drain off the new rainfall when the Tennessee River was backing up into the creek, swelling it at the same time. They said it would flood our homes.

Since TVA warned us and since we had been flooded before, there was really nothing else to do but heed the warning. Aldridge Creek did get full, but it drained anyway -- onto lower level land were nobody lived. The lower land area filled, but not the homes near us.

At least now we know so next time we won't work our heads off in the same circumstance. Other homes were flooded in other water areas, though, and my heart goes out to those folks. Other than those who were flooded, it was great exercise and gave us a chance to vacuum and clean those areas of the floor we never see, find stuff we misplaced and to throw out more stuff.

I am tired.

Preparing for the Flood

There's a lot to do. I need to be packing. I didn't think I would be back online today, but I couldn't resist taking a break to post a note here before I pack up this computer. The flood looks inevitable. The question will be how much and will it ruin our house again. The U-Hauls are gone, taken by others who came to the same conclusions quicker than I did. The next round of rains do not start until midnight tonight. Any time during Thursday, we may have to leave for a hotel. One of us will stay with the house to guard it as long as possible and we'll have the cars packed up and other things off the floor. The rains will clear on Friday morning. This is so depressing, but as long as we can get through Thursday, I think we'll be fine.

Okay, my thoughts are clearer now ... back to packing.