Shout out to technical forums!

Thank you to everyone who contributes to technical forums.

I would especially like to thank poster Michael and participant Thomas77 in this six year old thread "Win7 Pro x64 bit HP LaserJet 3015 driver problem" on the Microsoft forums.

This is good advice that's good for versions of Windows even beyond 7:

Try to install printer driver with the following method:
1. Click Start, click Control Panel and double click Devices and Printers.
2. Click Add a Printer.
3. Select "Add a local printer".
4. Select "Create a new port". Choose "Local Port" as the type of the port.
5. In the box "Enter a port name", type the address as the following format.
\\ [IP address of the host computer]\[The Share Name of the printer]
Then click Next.
6. Choose the correct driver in the driver list. If no available driver, click the button Windows Update, wait for the process finishes and then look for the driver again.
7. Finish the installation.

On having a grateful heart

From the Elephant Journal:

By now, most of us have heard the news: grateful people are happier, healthier and generally more fulfilled.

And while these are all really great side effects of gratitude, for me, one of the coolest things about gratitude is the way it affects the heart. The heart creates an electromagnetic field that expands up to five feet from the body. Its electrical field is 60 times stronger in amplitude than that of the brain.

Studies show that when people cultivate positive feelings, the heart’s frequency changes and its waves become smoother and more consistent, while anxiety or stress caused waves to be shorter and less organized. Though most positive feelings were capable of affecting the heart in this way, researchers noted that gratitude changed the heart’s rhythm more easily and faster than any of the others.


Read more.

Shout out to Crayola Canada customer service

Thank you to Crayola Canada customer service rep Chris (Kris?), possibly the nicest customer service representative with whom I've had the pleasure of interacting.

People can be good!

I am thankful that I live in a place where a sign can be put up that reads:

Don't wait.
Back shortly.
Please pay your fare and go.
Sorry for the inconvenience.
Thank you!

And (although I didn't capture a photo of it), people actually paid their fares!

My lucky stars have been twinkling

When we're busy, stressed or tired (or a combination of all three) it's easy to find things about which to complain. It takes effort to remember the good things that happened. Recently some good things have happened to me. Here they are (in no particular order):

• I won something beautiful in a raffle
• In November, December and January, I was the first person to give the correct the answer to skeet's Tuesday Teaser contest!
• Brigindo, nominated by Doodle Blog for an Inspiration Award! (I'll comply to the rules for this award tomorrow.)
  
  

Are you feeling lucky? Head over to skeet's where she's offering a chance to win a full version download of Hidden Expedition: Titanic ™ from Big Fish Games (makers of hidden object games).

December surprise from Alli's Originals

Shortly after the holiday chaos subsided in December, I went out to check the mail and found this:

I always get excited to get oversized envelopes in the mail. Bills rarely come in oversized envelopes!

Case in point, lookie what was inside:

What a pretty package!

See who it's from?

What's inside, you ask?

Ooohhhhhhh.....

A beautiful reminder for me!

Alli's Originals specializes in made-to-order hand stamped, personalized sterling silver jewellery. Alli is an at home Mompreneur who began making jewelry as a hobby over 9 years ago. You can read more about Alli at her blog.

I won this beautifully hand-crafted piece through an internal draw for Mabel's Labels agents.

Thank you Mabel! Thank you Alli!

I love it!