Thursday, August 31, 2023

Xbox Game pass - Grounded: Just one setting

When you realize your graphics are set on low quality and thought that this was just the art style of the game. 😱

One evening while on a quest, my daughter starting reading something in the game. I asked where she was seeing that and she said on the white board right in front of us. I kinda laughed and said "Um, what. I don't see anything like that." My niece came across the mic and said the same thing. "I don't see it either." So, I come home from work one day and my son had been on my computer. He tells me that he wanted to see my game and to see exactly what we were talking about.

Well, it turns out that both of our graphics cards have only a small amount of VRAM - Video Random Access Memory. This differs a bit from regular RAM, Random Access Memory. Think of your PC as having to types of memory, static and dynamic. Static referring to things like your storage drives. While, these do not necessarily change, they tend to be used mainly as long-term data storage and retain their data even when power is cut. Dynamic memory is used by RAM and VRAM is used in real-time by your CPU (Central Processing Unit) and GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), respectively, to manage the workloads that you are currently running. It isn’t about data storage so much as active data management. 

As such, VRAM tends to directly correlate to things like maximum texture and model detail in games or 3D rending applications. He could not believe that we were actually playing the game and not being able to see certain details. He did some research and found that some others had been having the issue and changed one setting. And it made all the difference. Of course pictures cannot justify the changes, but you can definitely see a difference in the ladybug, and you can see the feather detail on the crow. Wow!




Wednesday, August 30, 2023

DDV DreamSnaps - Forget Me Not

This weeks challenge for Disney Dreamlight:

[OUTFIT CHALLENGE] Channel your dark side with outfits based on the Forgetting -- think Night Thorns and shadows... 




Happy Wednesday!

 Have a coffee and enjoy your day!! 😊






Monday, August 28, 2023

xfinity US Gymnastics Championships 2023 - Senior Day 2

I got home from work, got a snack, and booted up Peacock TV to watch the second day of the gymnastics championships. Wow! They didn't disappoint. Although Jordan took a fall off the bars today. 

Simone Biles made gymnastics history - the 8-time US national all-around champion!! She is so amazing to watch!!
 

 
xfinity US Gymnastics Championships - Seniors

It's Monday

 

 

It's been quite the two weeks. The other girl that routes with me decided to take leave for a week which put me routing back to back weeks and an extra Monday. 

She comes back tomorrow and I get a two week break. But I feel sorry for the workers.

Sunday, August 27, 2023

Our Bo

It's been seven years since you crossed over to Rainbow Bridge. We still miss seeing you run the backyard. Our perimeter dog. Our protector. 💗




Xbox Game Pass - Grounded

Playing Grounded with my kids and niece. Found a roly-poly and visited the sandbox. Bad idea. LOL! The wolf spider was fighting the ant lions, but they have so much health!




xfinity US Gymnastics Championships 2023 - Senior Day 1

So happy to have PeacockTV since I can stream! I finally watched Day 1 for the Seniors. We were gaming last night so I wasn't able to watch. LOL!

Simone shined again! All of them did awesome! Suni only performed on vault and beam this round but she still did great! It is so hard to tell that she is battling kidney disease.




xfinity US Gymnastics Championships - Seniors

Jade, Jordan, Suni, Simone, and Shilese


Sunday Blessings - church service

Happy Sunday!! I woke up this morning around 9:30, got dressed and made some coffee. I went and fed little Tumble and then tuned in for my morning church services online. We ran into a bit of technical difficulty, but it smoothed out. Dr. Justin also played the sax. I really enjoy listening to him play.







Saturday, August 26, 2023

Happy Doggie Day!!

International Dog Day or National Dog Day is observed as a special occasion to celebrate the love, loyalty and companionship that dogs bring to our lives. It is celebrated every year on August 26 in several countries. This day aims to recognize the important role that a dog plays in our lives.


My lil' Zac with his sidekick, Korina.

 

xfinity US Gymnastics Championships 2023 - Juniors

I LOVE watching these girls perform!!! They did fantastic. I am so happy that I can stream now. When we had cable TV, if you missed, you missed it! I watch both Junior and Senior championships, but it's the Seniors that I am most interested in, although my favorite Juniors are Kieryn and Hezly, who just happened to be named Junior All Around Champion.

 

Monday, August 21, 2023

Not a fan

I know technology is continuously advancing, and to an extent, it's great. But I WILL NEVER like this part of it. Computers cannot replace all people!!! 
 



I don't have many choices for lunch that is not going to break our budget, so we visit McDonald's quite often. I also like the huge table we can sit at while I work because I bring my laptop. Last week when the hubby and I visited McDonald's, the employee's were sending customers to the kiosks to order. The reason - they were short-staffed. That day, we stood at the counter and waited for a cashier, and so did several others. Afterward, we watched as the employees and shift lead behind the counter were laughing and trying to pop each other with a towel. Yet, you are so short-staffed to take orders at the counter?? 😐
 
Today, we walk in to a sign on the counter that reads, "Please use the kiosks to order". So, hubby hands me the wipes and I got our table while he places the order. Then he had to walk back to the counter and stand for a few minutes to wait on someone to come over to the counter to hand us our cups for our drinks. Hmm. It took them longer to get our food to our table than normal. No ketchup or mustard. He went back up to the counter to wait for that, too. Then I asked my hubby for the receipt and the kiosk didn't print one, so I went up to the counter this time to ask for a receipt. I had to wait for someone to come back to the counter for that, which was the manager. I asked if I could get a receipt for our kiosk order and he looked a bit shocked. Yes, I like a receipt for anything and everything purchased. It took a few minutes for him to find it to print. I then politely told him that because we had to order from the kiosk, and then make numerous trips back to the counter to wait on an employee, that it had 15 minutes of my hour lunch and I was not happy about it. The sign was removed from the counter as we were leaving, and a line had formed at the counter. 
 
Not everyone likes these kiosks, especially those people who pay with cash. Not everyone is privileged to have a bank account or credit card, and while most kiosks say you can pay with cash, the person has to get back in line to give that cash to the cashier. How is this faster?? It's not and it's wrong on so many levels. And if you are going to make me order at a kiosk, then your establishment needs to provide all the condiments, napkins, cups, etc., within reach and not have to keep asking for them.
 
We are traveling a fast path like the movie Wall-E and that was not a good outcome. 😬
 

Sunday, August 20, 2023

Sunday Blessings - church service

 



Lord of all power and might, the Author of all good things:
Graft in our hearts the love of Your name. Increase in us
genuine faith. Nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth in
us the fruit of Your Spirit, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Training and more training...

I haven't really been in a 'training' position since I was in the military, but here I am. LOL! Today, my trainee asked if she could route tomorrow and I told her, absolutely!! We got this!!!
 
And yes, I am giving myself a pat on the back.
 



 

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Xbox Game Pass - Grounded

Well, this was unfortunate. LOL! Skylord Jenda got paddled by the Koi. 😂 We have this pond in the backyard that we have to explore and a HUGE Koi fish lives in it. Well, we have only seen one, that is, and he is not friendly.




LOL! 😆

DDV DreamSnaps - Fire and Water

This weeks challenge for Disney Dreamlight Valley:

DECOR CHALLENGE] Things are getting elemental! Show off your best designs featuring both Fire and Water. 




 

Monday, August 14, 2023

ROBLOX - ERLC

Played ERLC last night with my daughter and niece and we based our mafia on Barbie. LOL! In a Barbie World ... from pink to orange. 😂😆 The night did not go well.

 


Xbox PC Gaming Pass - Grounded

While exploring we came across this hole in the ground. You can make torches in this game and explore but I am not exactly keen on doing that at the moment. LOL!





Friday, August 11, 2023

Xbox Game Pass - Grounded

We finally built our first little base - all out of grass materials. LOL!



Just another day in the office...

YES!!!! 😂 When you are in a mandatory TEAMS meeting with over 500 staff/workers and see a circle light up.


 

Thursday, August 10, 2023

Playing a new game - GROUNDED

My son has been talking about this game that came out last year called Grounded. It's a cooperative survival game from Obsidian Entertainment. You are shrunk to the size of an ant and must survive in the beautiful yet perilous micro-world of a suburban backyard. Very similar to the movies 'Honey, I Shrunk the Kids'! 😃 So, I decided to activate our Xbox Game Passes on PC and we started playing.



 



Xbox Game Pass - Grounded

This game!! LOL! 😂 It is quite hilarious to play and sometimes a bit scary. We are having to fight huge spiders, and stinkbugs! Oh, you can take a ride on the ladybugs!! They are so cute, but oh my gosh - so hard to fight!!!




 

Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Happy International Cat Day!

To all the people out there that have these little hairballs, I mean furballs, to care for and cherish - Happy International Cat Day!! Ours are all rescues, the newest being our little gray/orange tabby, Tumble. 

International Cat Day is a celebration which takes place on 8 August of every year. It was created in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare. It is a day to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help and protect them. 


Tumble and Korina playing (middle) - Tumble hiding in a paper bag (bottom)


Sunday, August 6, 2023

Historic building in flames...

Fort Worth lost a historic building last night. The Cantina Cadillac Bar, or as many call it Cadillac's, building was over a century old and due to a broken gas line, went up in flames. Thankfully no one was injured. The firefighters fought these flames for hours with neighboring departments helping out.






Saturday, August 5, 2023

Core Classics 2023 - Session 2


Loved seeing these girls (Jade, Simone, Jordan, and Suni) compete tonight!!!

And oh my gosh - Simone freaking did it - again!!! Simone Biles just performed an EXCELLENT Yurchenko double pike!! Heck yes!!!! 😍 This after she hasn't competed since Tokyo. She did awesome! All of the girls did great and we have some younger up and coming gymnasts that everyone needs to keep their eyes on.




 

Core Classics 2023 - Session 1

I follow USA Gymnastics on Facebook and I got to thinking after seeing some of their posts that I need to invest in upgrading my Peacock TV. I did just that and now was able to catch the podium trainings and Session 1 of the Core Classic. Heck yes!!! I missed the first 35 minutes because I forgot it was EST time. LOL!  

Joscelyn, who actually resides in Spring, Texas, remains in the lead even after that crazy fall off bars!! 😊 So excited for tonight!!! Simone is returning and will be competing in her first comp since the Tokyo Olympics!!



© USA Gymnastics

Friday, August 4, 2023

The baby is One!!

Happy 1st Birthday to Fritzy!! Fiona's little brother celebrated his very first birthday today at Cincinnati Zoo. I think they said he is now weighing in at over 750 pounds!! 😮





Out of Office

Oh my gosh, this week was chaos! I only worked remote Tuesday since it was my supervisor's first day back in the office after being on leave for two months. Our regional office has been closed for two weeks since the AC went completely out in the building, so my office has been pretty busy. I started training our new admin this week, too. The building is getting a makeover. On the opposite side they have been laying new floor tile, which the adhesive they were using had so many VOCs it ran quite a few out. The last two days my supervisors have been boxing up their offices for this flooring project that was getting ready to happen over on our side this weekend. Haha.
 
I was only at the office for two hours and and waiting on my trainee when I started hearing a bunch of noise. Furniture started getting moved and then the carpet started getting ripped up. Next thing I know, they were sanding the floors. 😳 The noise just got louder and louder and then they were moving my supervisor's furniture out of her office and starting to rip the carpet up not even three feet away. Nope. I called my trainee and said we would pick up where we left off the next week I route, then I emailed my worker's and called my supervisor. No way was I working with all that ruckus. Then I had to text my husband to come get me. LOL! They started several hours early and honestly, they should have closed my building. 😂 Remote work it is today!
 
HAPPY FRIDAY!!
 
 



 

Thursday, August 3, 2023

I LOVE Gymnastics

My love for gymnastics started at the age of three when my mom decided to enroll me in a gymnastics and tumbling class at R.D. Evans Recreation Center. It's here that l learned the fundamentals of gymnastics - from front/back rolls, somersaults and handstands, to cartwheels, leaps, and back handsprings. 

I would somersault and cartwheel through the house. LOL! I would use two by fours out in the backyard as a balance beam. And I probably hurt myself numerous times. It was on this day in 1984 that Mary Lou Retton scored her Perfect 10's at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles 🥇



I remember telling my mom that I was going to be the next Mary Lou Retton. LOL! I was never in competitive gymnastics, only recreation gymnastics. When I was seven years old, I sustained a balance beam injury. It was a routine with a basic cartwheel dismount but my left foot came back down on the beam at an angle and slid off the side, the momentum slamming me down onto the beam, causing a straddle injury. Yep, this would lead me to my first visits with a gynecologist and urologist. Needless to say, recreational gymnastics pretty much ended for me afterwards, but I have forever remained a gymnastics fan. Every year I have to tune in somewhere, somehow to watch the gymnastic competitions. 

 




This country...

 




Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Neighbors next door...

I wonder if this is what happened at our neighbor's house across the ditch. Their blinds look just like this!!!! 😆


 

Pet City - Happy Days

I really enjoyed the PC1 release when they did a 50s diner and I was so happy to see this release. But ... I was saddened when I noticed that the jukebox was Blue Tickets, which are so hard to collect unless you are using real money to buy the BT generators. I have only bought one and didn't think it was worth it. LOL. My wonderful daughter, who I have been playing this game with since 2014, decided to use her blue tickets and buy the jukebox for me. Aww!!! So sweet of her and it made me tear up. She has a heart of gold!! 

I added a little music in this 30 second clip.

 
Music Let's Go © Richie Valens





Tuesday, August 1, 2023

DDV DreamSnaps - Ocean Views

This weeks challenge for Disney Dreamlight Valley:

[DECOR CHALLENGE] It's time to celebrate all things sun and surf in this showcase of your best beach day designs. 


 

New month begins

 



I am so ready for this Texas heat to be gone! It's just been sweltering and no rain in sight. We like to call where we live the "concrete box" because we are surrounded by nothing but highways, downtown, etc. So much traffic on the roads and no trees or greenery to absorb the heat. 🔥