Etsy preferable over eBay for creators of handmade stuff and vintage items, because it’s a clear-cut website that doesn’t rape your eye sockets with tons of text, a shitty setup and an outdated, unintuitive and overly complex user interface. There’s also the insanely overpriced listing fees, where they nickel and dime you for each and every setting or modification they can think of. Plus, Etsy was created specifically for handmade artisan crafts and vintage goods, so it’s a smaller, more tight-knit niche community.

That said, there are a few things I think Etsy should have by default as far as options, settings and features go. Granted, not everyone is going to have the same preferences on this, as we all use the web differently. But a larger spectrum of options and including oft-used standards would definitely increase the sites usability.

Basic HTML Insertion: The ability to insert markup into public shop profiles and announcements. I can see why they might have left this out, though. It’s a slippery slope from elegant banners and subtle graphics to obnoxious blinking glitters and overuse of the copy/paste function. Some basic markup would be a great addition though, for things like images, and for basic font customization like bold, italic, and the like.

Better Pagination & Browsing: Generally, Etsy has been pretty awesome in it’s browsing setup. I do wish I had the ability to change the number of items I’m seeing per-page, for a more uninterrupted browsing experience. I’m not sure what their server load capacity is, but I’ve never once had Etsy give me problems in this area.

Simplified Listings: If you don’t sell on Etsy, this won’t really matter to you, but the listing process could stand to be streamlined a bit. Currently, you go through five separate pages before you’re finished listing your item. Item info and description, Sorting into Etsys categories, Selling info (shipping costs, item price, etc,) Images, and a final Review of your listing. The first three could easily be combined on one page, with the last page being where you upload your images, as well as see a live preview of your listing as you edit it. You also have to upload each image individually, instead of a simplified bulk uploader.

PayPal Integration: When you buy items from multiple sellers at once, you have to go through each item and pay them individually via PayPal. This makes obvious sense, but you’re required to login to PayPal each time you do this. I’m not sure if that’s anything Etsy can control, but it’s always been a mild nuisance. It’d be great if you could hit one button and have your PayPal funds sent to each seller simultaneously.

Shop Appearance: Again, Etsy has done a pretty good job keeping things clean and consistent with storefronts. However, some simple changes in color scheme and categorization would make a lot more sense.

Above is the current view of three items in a shop. They look okay here in this small selection, but when you’re browsing entire pages worth, things can start to blend together.

I’ve changed the background of the shop page, as well as the border around each item to give them more contrast, allowing for ease of viewing. Having the shop name below each item is redundant, so a better use of that space would be what category the item is in. If the image should fail to load, the user has an idea of what the item is if the title isn’t descriptive, making it better from a web standards and usability standpoint, as well as for quicker browsing. Keeping the shop name on the front page, Treasuries and public directories where more than one seller is featured is a good idea, but for each individual shop, it’s unnecessary.

Etsy does have a great selection of user-submitted “hacks” and whatnot for a better selling experience, but it’d be better all around if both sellers and buyers had the same kinds of options by default. I never would have known about these hacks, apps and Greasemonkey addons for Firefox had I not been writing this article, due to the obscure link in my control panel.

While I wait for Etsy to include these options and features, I’ll share my list of favorite Greasemonkey scripts for use with Etsy in Firefox.

• Item Zoom
• Copy Listing
• Bulk Image Uploader
• Edit This Item

Instead of going to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen, I found out you can use the super versatile High Pass filter instead. This sharpens the edges of your photos, but doesn’t sharpen the background noise, and it keeps good blur intact from your depth of field. That last bit is important for me, because I primarily shoot portraits using my 50mm, so depth of field can make or break a shot.

Open up your photo: I’m using an old photo of lilacs as my example. This particular photo doesn’t have a ton of noise, but it does have a depth of field that I want to keep when resizing.

Resize your image, and then duplicate the layer. Layer > Duplicate Layer or Ctrl + D

Then desaturate the duplicated layer. Image > Adjustments > Desaturate or Shift + Crtl + U

Now go up to Filter > Other > High Pass.

Now, for this step, you just want to remember to use a low value. Move the slider to the left, so that you can just barely make out the outlines of your photo.

Now set the blend mode of that layer to Overlay or Soft Light, depending on your image. You can also take the sharpening down a few notches by adjusting the layer opacity.

I’ve also processed the image further, adding contrast, vignetting and a very subtle cross processing effect to make the purples really pop:

Hope that was helpful. A Photoshop action could also be set up to do this, just make sure you’re able to adjust the level of the High Pass Filter.

I’ve never been a kid person. I don’t think I was a kid person when I was a kid, so this visceral reaction I have towards them is well-rooted. As a person, I’m typically cranky, inflexible, and I don’t like shit messing with my routine. I don’t like noise, I don’t like mess, and I have zero patience. It’s a good thing I’m a mo, because procreating? The thought of having a small life of my own to be responsible for makes me shudder. Give me a bowel disorder and an insulin deficiency, and I’m a nursing home resident.

Perhaps it’s because while I’m an adult in every other aspect of my life, I still posses the mildly selfish impulses children do. Hello, contradiction. I’m not selfless enough to devote all of my time and energy to someone else, except for my dog. He’s the exception. I’m not a selfish person by nature, and I’d give you the shirt off my back if it came down to it, that’s not what I’m saying. But I’ve lived my life for me for the majority of my near-23 years on this planet, and if anything, I’m a creature of routine and habit. It ruins my entire day if my coffee pot is broken or if something happens that fucks up my schedule. Perhaps that’s something that changes in people when they have kids. Perhaps that life-long evolutionary imperative to focus on Number One dissolves when one has offspring to rear and look after. Some people are just predisposed to be parents. My sister is a natural at it, and she is very much like me in her mildly cranky disposition. Who knows.

It’s disheartening when close friends or people I look up to begin popping out kids. It feels like all of the fun has been sucked out of the room, and soon all they’ll be talking about is nipples and spitup and how to properly wash the crusted shit out of a cloth diaper. Not my idea of a good time. I can understand the impulse parents have to talk about this kind of subject matter; a new way of living has recently settled itself into their lives, and everything about them as people has changed. They’re now a parent - someone responsible for the life of another human being. So it’s natural that you automatically talk about things that take up the good majority of your day-to-day life. But can’t we still squeeze an adult conversation in somewhere along the way? I’m not a parent, and I don’t care about your chaffed nipples.

Still, it is rather odd that I have this dislike for children and everything they represent. I can still faintly remember what it felt like to be a kid - the imagination, the unwavering faith in others you posess before you become jaded by anything. Each experience is new, and nothing is trite or convoluted yet. Anything is a very real possibility, and there’s no such thing as an alterior motive. Passive aggression doesn’t exist yet. But there’s a disconnect somewhere along the line that prohibits me from being able to relate to them.

I guess I’m just a dog person. As I sat down to write this, I realized I had several dog biscuits in the pocket of my robe. I could devote all of my time and energy to say, running an animal shelter. Taking Jack to the vet to get his shots, or buying things he needs is in no way an obligation, but rather something I enjoy doing. I take care of him with the same brand of love that I imagine many parents take care of their children with.

I think it also has to do with the stigma I attach to parenthood. So many people in my life have settled down too early, had children, and were relegated to the dismal fluorescent lights of a dingy supermarket for the rest of their lives. Even if that’s not the case, that’s automatically what comes to my mind. Rotting in Suburban Somewhere, losing bits of themselves each day. It’s a good thing my sister likes children, because the fam won’t be getting any grandkids out of this cranky old bitch.

Point is, if we’re having a conversation, please try to avoid the following topics or behaviors. For the sake of my sanity, and our friendship.

• The funny thing your kid did/said/wrote/drew
• Baby poop.
• Picture showing.
• Forcing me to watch your dribbling infant sit there and slobber for an hour and a half.
• Asking me to hold it.
• Nipples, bottles, diapers, ass cream.

Thank you and good day.

Earlier this morning I went to the dentist to have the situation assessed, as well as to get some antibiotics and pain meds. I’m scheduled to have it yanked on this coming Tuesday, and I really hope these antibiotics kick in soon because the Vicodin? Not doing ANYTHING. Turns out, they prescribed me the variety of Vicodin that’s about 5mg Good Shit That Takes Pain Away, and about 500mg of acetaminophen. Hint: THAT’S FUCKING TYLENOL. Thanks a bunch, Hydrocodone-greedy forces of the United States health and dental system. I wipe my ASS with Tylenol. I’m 6 foot 2, ffs, it does nothing for me.

So, between taking probably too much Vicodin, and squirting a viscous orange Benzocaine goo onto my gums which usually just makes my mouth numb and makes my tongue feel like it’s 3 times too big for my mouth, I’m going a little insane? I can’t sleep, because as soon as I lie down, the pressure of doing so goes straight to that fucking unholy abortion of a tooth and makes it throb like, okay make up your own fucking metaphor for something that throbs, I’m exhausted. Point is, the pain feels like some little asshole troll or pixy or something is sitting inside my mouth, yanking the nerve endings of my tooth up and down full force, as if to tease me.

I’ve been trying to distract myself by agonizing over every little detail of a layout I’m working on for this blog, and that’s not working out so well either. It’s a good thing I have Jack to keep me company during these recurring Tooth Rape Hell Misery Death festivals my body is so fond of.

As soon as this is all over and everything is healed from the extraction, I’m buying a bottle of tequila. And maybe an IV or twelve with which to mainline said tequila. I think I deserve it.

I’m a little sad because I’ve been DYING to take photos and update my blog and make everything wonderful, but February in Ohio isn’t exactly conducive to photo trips frolicking in a sunny glade. Plus all of the windows inside my house face a stupid direction, so it’s not unlike trying to take photos inside a cave.

I just re-read this and figured out the one effect Vicodin has on me: it makes me a cranky bitch. So I think I’ll leave you with that, internets, and I hope you all have a fabulous goddamn weekend.

Perhaps I’ll make it a new years resolution to update it more. More than likely, I’ll just continue to ignore it until it expires, but one can hope. I’ve been writing exclusively in my journal, which is good for cathartic purposes, but it’s nice to send things out into the intervoidz once in a while. I hope you guys all had wonderful, safe holidays. This Christmas was the smoothest I think we’ve ever had in my house; no arguments, no palpable unresolved familial tension, no passive agressive commentary. No crying, stab wounds or maiming, just nice, quality time spent exchanging gifts and enjoying eachother’s company.

I still resent the consumer-driven monstrosity Christmas has become, but a little bit of my residual cynicism eroded this year. I’m incredibly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life, and the fact that we’re fortunate enough in this horrible economy to be able to exchange gifts, unlike so many families this season, is just icing on the cake.

It does feel good to get back into the swing of normal activity, though. The holidays kind of turn everything upside down, so it’s nice to have me-time again. One of my Christmas gifts is the sexy new HP desktop I’m currently typing this with, and Windows 7 is glorious. My previous computer was purchased in 2004, and she pulled her weight, but it was definitely time for an upgrade. I now have 4GB of sexy, luscious RAM as opposed to my previous, puny 1GB, and Photoshop opens in the blink of an eye. I can actually multitask now, which makes me more excited that is probably normal. Editing photos no longer takes 347 years to do, torrents download faster, and I’m just in love with it.

I’ve been having some connectivity issues which I now believe have to do with my five year old Linksys router, which for what it cost ($80) is a total piece of shit to begin with, so I think it’s a compatibility issue. It’s driving me up the wall and it’s completely unstable, so I’ve plugged my cable modem directly into my computer until we pick up a new router. Wireless networking shouldn’t be that fucking complicated.

I’d really like to get back into the blog scene, but there are so few blogs I can keep up with that actually hold my attention or keep my interest. If anyone has any suggestions on well-written, funny (I prefer witty banter, nuanced observational humor and political topics) blogs, I’d greatly appreciate some links! I feel so out of it these days.

Have a great weekend guise.

I feel much better now, and I’m on super strong antibiotics, and I book my followup dentist appointment tomorrow. Typically, my anxiety is easy to handle on a day to day basis. But when something like this happens, my levels shoot through the roof, and I’m a nervous wreck for an entire week, completely unable to do anything or function normally.

My jaw was completely swollen, and I looked like I had a golf ball tucked in my cheek, and the funny thing is, is that I didn’t have a toothache - my jaw was just really sore and I could hardly open my mouth. Either way, something was fucked up in there, and tomorrow I’ll go get some x-rays to see what the deal is now that I’m on my last antibiotic.

Yesterday, I woke up feeling great. My jaw was back to it’s normal size, and I wasn’t in any pain. I got up, ate some breakfast, and went to watch some TV to let my mind settle. I then began to get really nauseous. I wasn’t sure if it was from my nerves, the meds I’m on, or the toast I had just eaten, but I thought for sure I’d be spending the morning vomiting. Nausea is the worst feeling in the universe, and when it happens I tend to pace until it subsides. So there I am, pacing frantically around my house like a fucking lunatic, and I decide to go out into the garage to get some fresh air.

Out of nowhere, I burst into hysterical sobs. The choking kind of sobs that only happen when you haven’t cried in a very long time, when things have just been building up and building up. I don’t cry - once in a while I’ll tear up at something, but then my tear ducts promptly shut down and it’s over. I don’t think I could cry if I wanted to, so this was completely out of the blue. That was the kind of crying that you try to hold in, and your face is all “LOL NOPE, DON’T THINK SO.”

In retrospect I think I was having an acute panic attack, because I then began laughing hysterically. Now, either the crying relieved me so much to the point that my anxiety and nausea completely disappeared, or I had a psychotic episode, but either way I’m grateful that happened. Because what I felt before that point was the worst I’ve felt in my entire collective memory of life. I’ve had anxiety attacks before, but nothing on that kind of scale. So there I was, standing in the middle of my garage, shaking with laughter with tears still streaming down my face. Picture of mental health, right?

I feel much better now, I was a little antsy all day today, but I took a long nap and now I’m starting to feel back to normal. I’m still stressing about some financial bullshit going on right now, but I’m taking it as it comes. Now, internet, I need to get back to work. I just wanted to pop in and let you know that I’m a.) alive, and b.) completely insane.

Have a fabulous week.

Before I begin this entry, I wanted to let a few of my readers know that I can’t access some of your blogs. Holdfire recently acquired a new server, which many of the accounts on the old server were moved to. For some reason, I’m not able to access anything that’s on this particular server. I’ve been checking my referrals and I’ve noticed a lot of you are on it, so I apologize for not returning the visits! Neither Jordan nor I can figure out why, I think my internets just hates me. Sorry!

Janeane Garofalo has been one of my favorite actresses and comediennes for almost 15 years now, but she’s also a political activist and she sparks a lot of controversy in the right wing for stating her opinions, and is often berated for “smearing” the right wing news machine. I was watching one of her interviews, and this excerpt (loosely paraphrased) really struck a chord with me as far as one of the foundational problems with the conservative and neoconservative movements.

“The conservative movement is not inherently evil - there’s nothing wrong with the tenants of fiscal prudence, small government or personal accountability. That’s not what we’re talking about. But, there are two types of conservatives. One element of society who is not particularly sophisticated - not particularly able to think critically about the news, not particularly desirous of being informed, they prefer their news sort of the way Fox News or the New York Post delivers it - very black and white, aggressively bumper-stickerish, reactionary. They report, they decide, they tell you how to think. Then unfortunately you have a much more dangerous element; People who are racist, misogynistic, and homophobic tend to move toward the right wing or GOP, because they know they are provided political cover, they know they can wrap their character defects in the flag, hide it behind Jesus and claim the moral high ground. So that’s really where the problems are for any socially progressive movement or any peace movement, those rogue characters in that arm of the conservative movement.”

I couldn’t agree more with this statement. The best part about it, is that if you check out any of her clips or interviews on Youtube, the comments section is always peppered with responses like “I h8 this women deathcamps fer liberals!!!1111 she is a derty jew cunt fagit dike bitch cunt kunt cunt!!!!!!” which really kind of proves her point to the T. That’s the kind of person who hates Janeane, and so many other liberals who speak out. That particular uneducated, quick-to-anger, “this is America and I have the right to my opinion but YOU’RE just wrong!!!!11” brand of asshole. That’s one dangerous brand of asshole.

Perhaps even funnier is that the comments or backlashes from Bill O’Reilly or Rush Limbaugh or Karl Rove (or any other aggressively adamant, self-loathing political figure) are never about political discourse - it’s always some personal stab at her, as if she’s ever going to a.) see it, or b.) be affected by it. I’ve found that to be one of the right wing’s favorite defensive response mechanisms. The idiots always bray the loudest, amirite?

Most of the reason for my lack of updates is how much I’ve been working. I’m currently finishing up two client projects, editing photos from a wedding shoot I did last month (as well as designing the presentation and website for them), and trying to set up a few senior photo shoots. When I’m not working, I’m still working; trying to do everything I possibly can to get this ball really rolling. If I’m not doing any of those things, I’m thinking, analyzing, and spending time being introspective or doing something creative for myself in between.

I don’t know what it is lately, but I feel like I’m on the verge of something. I’m on the verge of something big. I’m trying my best not to over-think this, and just let the universe take the reigns and figure out the how, and so far I’m doing pretty good.

There have been several major shifts in my personality, and some surprising unconscious side-effects have presented themselves along with these changes. I’ve noticed that certain aspects of my personal life, and things that I used to hold dear, have started to change in how I view them and prioritize them. The more I work, the more I become obsessed with working, furthering my career, moving out, the like. My work ethic gets stronger and stronger all the time, through no decisive effort of my own. I’ve never been one to be completely lazy, and I’ve always found that to be a really unattractive quality in anyone, but I sure do know how to procrastinate. And I still do, but I’m getting better. The urge to put things off is dwindling, and I no longer feel overwhelmed by large projects or how much work I have to get done. It’s a nice side-effect.

On the conscious side of things, I’ve had a total shift in my mindset. I don’t know what brought it on, other than the fact that for the past several years, my entire viewpoint has been about what I don’t have yet. Who I’m not yet. Where I’m not at yet in my life and in my career. A giant barrage of negativity just floating around in my brain.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always been a glass-half-full kinda guy. But I think we all have those negative thoughts that only serve to slow us down and ultimately block our goals. And while changing your outlook on your circumstances is a thought anyone can entertain in their head, actually doing so is a hell of a lot more work than I thought. But I’m doing it, albeit slowly. I’ve made the conscious choice to focus entirely on the positive aspects of my life and all the things to come. To collect all of the good juju my brain has, and send it out any way I can. Negativity only brings more negativity, and that clearly wasn’t doing me any favors.

I hate to get all new-age on you, but I’ve always felt a positive truth in the universe and it’s involvement in my life. It’s the law of attraction, after all. I’ve also been doing a lot of personal research on the subject, and in all of the texts I’ve read, the consensus is the that this law of attraction dictates the reality of your life, whether you realize it or not. I admit, it sounds like a hokey load of bullshit. But after a lifetime of focusing on negativity without even really meaning to, what’s the harm in testing the theory?

Whenever I start pining over some ridiculously overpriced piece of equipment I’d love to have, instead I focus on how lucky I am to have what I have already. I have skill, talent, and technical knowledge, and I know how to make what I have work for me. Although I do feel limited sometimes in what I can do as opposed to what I want to do, I try as hard as I can to make that mental shift. Instead of comparing my situation with that of others my age, something ridiculous in and of itself considering everyone is different, I focus on what I have accomplished. I focus on the amazing things I already have, and the wonderful people in my life who are willing to help, love and support me along the way. Sounds corny, but it’s amazing how one little thought can turn an entire mood around if you let it.

I think when we have a shitty day, or we get jealous, or someone hurts us in some way, there’s always that tiny part of us that wants to be stubborn and stay angry about it. But trust me, when you really let it go, it’s amazing how fast you can turn everything around. When you hear that phrase, “The happiest people don’t have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything,” or any of the thousands similar to it, it makes sense on a kind of superficial level. But once you really set out to get it, understand it and make that idea part of your life, it feels really good.

In summation, I feel good. Depression is no longer part of my life, which is another happy side-effect of this recent shift. I feel good, and I’m thrilled to wake up every day. Rereading this post, it all sounds a little self-congratulatory and ridiculous, but there really isn’t any other way of describing it. Wish me luck on whatever that big thing is that I’m on the verge of.

I have applied at I don’t know how many web design firms. One of the most irritating aspects of web design firms, is that a lot of them require you to come into an office to design websites. Now, going somewhere other than my basement to go to work wouldn’t be a problem at all, if the job was something I couldn’t do IN my basement, wearing my pajamas. Like performing an advanced Carotid Endarterectomy. Or building a Rocket. The internet makes working half-naked with food in your hair entirely possible, which is why the freelance world is such a fast growing, competitive field. There’s a lot of perks in being your own boss. There is absolutely no reason that I would ever need to go into an office to have a meeting about a website I’m designing, when I could accomplish the same communication via email or telephone.

Not only would I save money on gas, not to mention the intense emotional stress of having to actually put on pants, but the employer would save money as well, especially in the long run. If I’m not sitting in a stupid cubicle somewhere, the energy required to light my area, power my computer and whatever other devices I have would be non existent. Not to mention things like Worker’s Compensation, liability, and probably a host of other shit I’m too tired to think of right now. So why are we doing this, hmm?

I’ve been lucky enough to gain a couple of prospective clients to carry me through until I do find a full time position in an office or at a firm or something, so I’m grateful for that. It’s still really frustrating. Even if the economy wasn’t as bad as it is, the entire selection process of choosing the best person to sit on their ass all day and do data entry and answer the telephone is ridiculous. Who honestly wouldn’t be able to handle that?

Because I’m young, it’s even more challenging to find that kind of position. Despite the fact that I’ve worked at a bank, an office, and I’ve owned my own freelance business for almost two years now, for some reason it’s assumed that I won’t be able to handle the stress of saving a document in Excel. I INVENTED Excel, motherfucker. Okay I didn’t obviously, because then I wouldn’t be looking for a receptionist job. But still, I know everything there is to know about working in an office environment, outside of niche-specific tasks that would take me an hour to learn anyway. So what. is. the problem. My 9 year old niece could handle the vast majority of clerical work that these middle-aged assholes place such important emphasis on.

I don’t even particularly WANT to work for a web design firm. I’d make a lot less money than I would if I had regular freelance projects, but it would be steady money. As opposed to Oops! Hope I don’t have to sell one of my kidneys this week! Let’s hope I don’t catch Swine Flu since I can’t afford health insurance!

What bothers me more is that the internet is still a relatively new medium, and it could be great. It could be, especially in regards to how people are employed to run it, but it isn’t. Google’s home page is simple because the original programmers didn’t know how to style it further via HTML and CSS, in their garage or basement or wherever the hell they invented it at. Two dudes who have the power to completely reinvent the way things happen, but instead choose to follow that same old PC Bullshit Human Resources Corporate Cocksucking that all the other major companies follow. Ebay, Yahoo!, Apple, you name it. It’s a little too sterile and Wal-Mart-y for me. I can see the need for some degree of this for major industries, but I think we can be a little more creative here, folks.

I guess everyone has to give the Corporate Cock a lil suckle until they can save up enough money to really start doing what they’re passionate about, in their own way. Unless your parents are stupid rich, in which case you begin the inevitable slide into being a complete waste of life instead of making something of yourself and really helping out with the resources you have. Hi, Paris? I’m looking at you, homegirl. Nothing is more grating to my patience than seeing a 16 year old driving a brand new Lexus when I can’t even afford a new lens. But I’m fucking impatient and I don’t want “everyone” to have to be “me.” I think a lot of the people in my generation feel this way. We’re all slightly lazy, and have serious patience issues because we grew up with the instant gratification of the constant innovation of new technology. I want my future to unfold now, and I don’t want to spend 10 years in a menial job in order to make it happen.

I guess a lot of it comes down to luck. Luck, and hard work. I have the hard work bit down pat, so I guess now it’s time to wait.

Technology fucking hates me lately. For one reason or another, my internet simply didn’t like the new server I was put on, so I had to be moved to another one, and now I’m able to log into everything. Thanks to Jordan everything is running smoothly and I’m not ripping my face off. I just got back from shooting a close friend’s beautiful outdoor wedding, and I am so excited to start editing the 200+ photos and start designing the album.

The wedding was held in Columbus where my aunt lives and where I am planning on moving as soon as I’m financially able to. This trip really just solidified my desperate need to move there as soon as I possibly can, it’s all I can think about currently. I’m doing everything in my power to find a decent paying menial job so that I can pay some things off, and save for the move, and I have to tell you internets, I’m getting burnt out.

I’m tired of working so much and trying so hard, and still not being able to support myself. And even when I do move to Columbus, I’m going to have to continue working a corporate job until I am financially stable enough to venture full time into my photography, but it will still be a much needed change. I have no structure in my life at the moment, and it’s all I can do to not have a panic attack every five seconds.

I’ll be working on client projects for the next three millenia but I just wanted to pop in and let you guys know that I’m still alive, hanging on by my fingernails.