Cat Sìdh

I finally got a response from my web hosts, after more than 48 hours. They gave me yet another set of instructions for backing up my database and uninstalling and reinstalling WordPress. This is, as you might have guessed, not helpful. I already knew that, guys.

The heart of the problem is that my database is too large to import via phpMyAdmin. It chokes whenever I try. If I could successfully import my database, I think I could solve everything else myself. At the very least, I know that I can get version 2.3.3 up and running. I’ve asked if they can increase the file size capability in phpMyAdmin. Any bets on how long it’ll take them to respond? Or if they’ll respond?

I’m not feeling at all confident in the person who’s dealing with my current help ticket. First, the instructions she gave me were not explicit. The paths were not quite correct (I get the impression that they were written for a similar, but not identical, system—maybe she works for another branch of the same company?), but I’ve been screwing around with this long enough that I was able to figure out what she meant.

She also gave me a list of instructions for FTPing that included the address of an FTP host that I’ve never even heard of (bizland.com). Weird! I’m guessing they must be the affiliated with the company that bought my web hosts a couple of years ago.

And then, under the instructions for exporting my database, she repeatedly used the word “Import.” I’d rather not find out what would happen if I’d imported another database into the one I was supposed to be exporting. Perhaps nothing, if the imported database didn’t overwrite the existing one. But gee, I’d rather not find out!

Addendum: Now my most recent help ticket is marked “Resolved.” I don’t think so!

My boss’ shamrock plant bloomed recently.

This plant came from Ms. Lea. I didn’t think I’d get any blooms from them this year, since they were transplanted, but this one has about 20 buds on it.

Fiddlehead Fern
7 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches
gel ink on Arches cover paper

The maintenance guy got here at about 9:30 this morning. Have you ever seen the episode of Keeping Up Appearances where Hyacinth and Richard are shopping for a country cottage? And they can’t understand a word that the local guy says? I’m usually pretty good with accents, especially home-grown ones, but this guy’s was impenetrable.

Parts 1-4. If you don’t want to watch all of it, the beginning of part four should give you some idea.

The Lessons We Can’t Unlearn
7 1/2 x 11 inches
collage (book pages, tape transfer, and child’s dress pattern) on Arches cover paper

The little brat wouldn’t open his wings for more than a couple of seconds. I wanted to get a photo of the uppersides, because they were bright blue. The undersides were muted and a little bit greyish. (And yes, he. In summer, the females are brown, but the males are iridescent blue.)

Click here for the original.

Another sign of the blogular a-pocky-lips. (Aside from the obvious, please to be noting the date.)

Just when I was wondering what else could go wrong,

1. Mr. Upstairs came back to move more crap out of his apartment, which apparently requires him pounding something heavy against the floor. Repeatedly. I think my last nerve might have just given out.

2. I put a piece of lettuce down the disposal, turned it on, and was rewarded with a deluge of water from the lower cupboard. My disposal literally detached from the sink. So I guess I’ll be calling the maintenance guys in the morning. Any bets on how many days I’ll be without the use of my kitchen sink?

3. Gun fire at 5:30 this morning. Nice! And a parking lot crawling with cops when I left for work, which I guess is a good thing. At least I know that they will show up, and quickly, when they’re called.

4. My web host, bless their useless little hearts, have apparently decided to give me the silent treatment. They marked my last help ticket as “Resolved.” I updated it on the 28th, saying that it was not resolved. No response. So yesterday, I closed that ticked and opened a new one. It’s been over 24 hours, and again, no response.

Needless to say, I’m looking at other hosting options.

5. And last, but not least, it’s supposed to start raining on Thursday. For an entire week.

Do you remember Butternut bread? It came in a blue and white checked wrapper and was soft and moist and squishy. When we were kids, we used to tear off the crusts, then roll it into dough balls. Butternut bread made the very best dough balls. I’d forgotten about doing that. My favorite was to dip the dough balls in creamy peanut butter. Mmmm.

And that reminded me of a new favorite sandwich: cheese and peanut butter on toasted bread. It sounds disgusting, but it’s damnfinetasty. You have to use real cheese. The fake stuff, like Kraft singles or Velveeta, would get lost—flavor-wise and texture-wise—in the peanut butter. And I haven’t tried it, but I bet sharp cheddar and almond or cashew butter would be similarly tasty (for those who abstain from Teh Peanutty Num-num).