Everything's going wrong around me. The universe is not cooperating with me getting anything done creatively. Just when I post about missing England I had a wonderful long weekend in Garmisch Partenkirchen which is one of the most famous ski resort towns in Germany. Had the greatest weather imaginable, even got to journal outside on the hotel balcony overlooking the Alps. Sighted tons of pretzels and German wonderfulness, but haven't been able to organize all the photos and plan out the posts.
The camera is broken. At first it was only the lens that is so heavy it no longer can "stay put" when adjusted. The weight of it pulls itself out into zoomed position. So that's fun. Then the camera itself has started giving me errors after nearly every photo taken. Called Media Market and have to bring it all in. Of course that can't be done until I find the boxes and receipts. If I can't locate the receipt in the land of paperwork, I may as well pitch it in the local river and save for a new one. I should've known better since I first had frustrations with the damn thing.
Germany is the last holdout with some copyright issue stuff with music used in You Tube. So I've made an awesome cupboard refinishing video, but can't view it myself although everybody outside Germany probably can. I don't really know. It's pissing me off because I also can't watch any other videos that contain copywritten content. For me, this is a travesty. You might as well throw me in the cellar and blindfold me. I hate German TV and my computer is my one outlet to the outside social world. Whether or not this is pathetic is besides the point. Now not only do I think I live in a craft deprevation zone, I also live in a social media black hole. Get your shit together Germany. I want You Tube back.
To top it off, my child has not slept for days on end. I'm so tired that now I'm not only the oddball foreign mother of the village, I'm also a vampire. Headed to the pediatrician in 15 minutes to evaluate what is up with this 3 year old german hybrid organism that I call my son.
To quell my anxiety about photos, I've been playing with iPhone apps. Really loving the "Sketch" app that allows very primitive graphic tools right on your phone. It's sort of fun in an addictive puzzle-making way. Quit laughing. Yes, that is Kirstin Dunst in my world. I sit around rubbing the screen and pretending I'm watching something good in You Tube. Pray for me.
Hang in there, tj. Life will get better. If a band puts a You Tube video online, can you see that? They hold the copyright, so it isn't like there would be infringement. Have you ever heard of Netflix? I don't know if you could use it in Germany, but it is a service that lets you stream movies and some tv shows to your computer. Also, a lot of channels here are now streaming some of their shows free on their websites. For instance, the Lifetime Network has episodes of one of my favorite shows called "Project Runway" online. That could give you some US tv to watch.
A few years back the US extended copyrights on a lot of stuff for a ridiculous length of time. I don't know if you can access this little podcast: http://www.lenswork.com/podcast/LW0647%20-%20Maugham%20and%20Copyright%20Law.mp3
but if you can, he has some interesting things to say about how the copyright laws have ended up resulting in material being hidden from the public instead of enjoyed by the broader public which is what most artists aspire to.
Sorry about your camera. Maybe it will be a simple fix and you will have it back in good working order.
Love your sketch!
Posted by: Anne | November 10, 2010 at 01:29 PM
Oh no! I hope the rights issues gets figured out because I also love to watch Youtube vids and definitely "need" the internet to connect to things in English and such...I love Italy, but sometimes you want something else! I definitely understand when things just go all crazy and wrong...but it'll pass... the crazy rocky road of life! All my best to you and you family!
Posted by: linda | November 10, 2010 at 06:08 PM
I'm praying right now for Germany to come to its senses and stop this ridiculous rule on YouTube. In the mean time I can offer to dig out some of the links to free services online that allow you to watch decent stuff, BBC has a brilliant online service to view pretty much all the programs they show on telly, but there's loads of other stuff available, I'll go and dig around and send you some links. Sending lots of hugs.
Posted by: Veronika | November 10, 2010 at 07:37 PM
Hugs Sweets! A little sleep will do wonders for all. Hoping that is soon for you & Lars.
Posted by: Linda | November 10, 2010 at 11:28 PM
Oh, hope your German hybrid gets better soon so you can get some sleep, you sure look awefully tired in the iphone doodle! :-)
Take care of you!
Posted by: iHanna | November 11, 2010 at 05:48 PM