I woke up feeling ready to go and inspired! 
It is only 10:00am (and so you know, i am NOT a morning person) and already i have:

• written a bio for Insight Timer
• set up a publisher account on Insight Timer

Wow!
So next is to add a meditation that i recorded! But, first, i need to have breakfast!
​Yes, i was so excited to contribute today that i didn't even eat breakfast! 
Happy Saturday everyone!
hugs
:)

In an earlier post i mentioned that i had a couple people offer equipment loans and i had to test to see if they'd be compatible. My tests are complete and...
A quick update:

• first item - laptop: Runs on Windows 7. It came without a charger, and i hoped that a charger i had from a previous laptop would do the trick but no luck. The charge remaining in the battery was not quite enough to find the info i needed (plus several of the keys were stuck). So i will put that to the side for now.
• second item - web cam: sadly, it is too old. It is newer than the one i had, but not new enough. It is not compatible with Windows 10 - there are no compatible "compatibility mode" options.

Also i have uncover some of the reasons why i had become "anti-technology" and quit teaching and learning half a decade ago.

• i got frustrated with the so-called new and improved versions of programs/equipment and how the older versions were left to rot. The newer versions were not always better (Windows 10 and the iPhone are two perfect examples).
• And then there's compatibility. Program "x" worked perfectly fine until update 10.3.75.blah.blah.blah and then it no longer worked.
  
• So you buy yet another program or piece of equipment or hardware - and suddenly there is more electronic junk that needs to be re-homed or recycled.
• fix what isn't broken - sadly, this seems to be the way of our world.
• stop caring deeply about the product you have made - bugs not getting fixed, issues being ignored.

I have faced all of these things and then some over the last few weeks of learning and have moments when i want to throw in the towel. BUT i am gonna keep on keeping on! As we are all facing at this challenging time - one foot in front of the other, one step at a time.

:)

Some days are easier than others.
Some days i am able to just go with the flow.
Some days i can comfortably sit with discomfort.
Today is one of those days.

All messages pointed towards "no work" so i listened. After that, a whole pile of "lovely" flowed into my life.
I had a great phone walk with a friend only to come home and have an offer of a coffee phone date, followed by another lovely phone date.
So blessed am I to have these experiences!!! So grateful for the gift of still being able to connect with friends even though i can't see them face-to-face. 
So today i share the pretty scene at my work desk, that will hopefully stay fresh for one more day, until i return. 
hugs to all!!
​:)

Testing time:
A couple people have offered to loan out some equipment to me during this "at home" time.

• are they compatible with my current equipment?
• will they work with the programs i'd like to use?

Also, i jumped in, downloaded and tried out Zoom the other day. It was a last minute and hurried adventure because Pema Chodron was offering a meditation and Q&A through Tricyle - The Buddhist Review. I had signed up for it the week before but as i am not on a schedule for much these days, it slipped my mind. Thankfully a friend sent me a reminder text a few minutes before it started. I do not yet have a web cam, so i joined in "silently". Practicing "live" with Pema has been on my "Ooo that'd be special" list for many years. It was eerie and good at the same time. Although i am not Buddhist, her wise words have helped to guide me through many times, joyful and uncomfortable, in my adult life.  I feel recharged and inspired. She reminds me of why i do what i do. Woo hoo!

Here is my favourite snippet from many years ago that i watch when i need a laugh and a nudge:

HA HA HA HA!
Yesterday was not the "forward" motion day i was hoping it to be:

• had a few moments of mass confusion re YouTube that lead down a rabbit hole of
  learning... a couple hours of "blergh!" and then walking away
• the realization that the editing program on my computer that i thought would work fine.... will not

Today:

• with my learning from yesterday, i finally created a yoga with Sheron YouTube channel!!! You can subscribe to this channel and get updates when new videos are posted.
• i have let go of adding an opening screen to my videos. Because the editing program on my computer will not work for my to trim my videos (it is not sensitive/detailed enough) i have to upload my videos to YouTube to trim them. But, YouTube Studio doesn't have any fancy features like adding an opening or closing screen. It would be many steps of uploading and downloading.So i am letting go.   *I know there are other free programs out there but i do not want to use my time to learn yet another program which will delay posting videos even more.*
• once trimming or otherwise editing a video on YouTube, it takes at least an hour to upload it to the channel.
• and the final product... well, head over to my "expand" page and see for yourself!! The image quality was poor to start and after uploading, it seems to be worse. Oh well, more learning to be had. But the audio is good and i am going to accept it for what it is. 

Happy Monday everyone!
It was not my intention, but i ended up stepping away from the "on-line" production for a few days. I realized that i had fallen behind on my admin and accounting work. I am all caught up and ready to return to the on-line world. The time away was a good thing. I had time to process where i've been and where i am going.

Here are my updates:

• that yoga video i recorded is satisfactory - there are clumsy bits but i will let that go - if i don't i will be stuck at this very point for eternity! 
• I uploaded some more videos to my test YouTube station and my comfort & understanding is growing. I have enjoyed the uploading and as i have mentioned it to friends, they have asked me to keep it up and keep adding to it. (it is all about our dog Chooie and his dog adventures) If you have been following this blog, you likely saw his debut video on my Day 10 post. He already does a fabulous job of guarding our home and entertaining us; I figured, maybe he can start to earn some cash income too! And share some laughs with the rest of the world. I will share his station in a separate post. 
• I received my first gift via PayPal and it was a success! Woo Hoo! So thank you "M" for being my guinea pig and helping me learn AND thanks, for the generous gift! 
• i am loving this new Secure Auto Deposit E-Transfer account that i have set up!!! It is so much fun to log in to my account and see that the money fairies have delivered a surprise for me while i was doing other things!  A big thanks to M, P, and C for your gifts! 

So what is on my list for today:

• all the editing jobs i didn't get to on Friday
• i am rearranging my site. I want to have all my yoga and meditation offerings in one place, without too may other things, so that they are all easy to find. So i am going to make one page dedicated to those. 

Both of these are going to be time consuming jobs - and i hope i have not bitten off more than i can chew... But you will know soon enough if it was! 

Thanks again for joining me on this ride! and yes, Please do keep posting comments here, and sending me emails. It is nice to know that someone out there is reading some of the words i am sharing!

HUGS!
:)

Update: That Yoga Video I Recorded:
In Day 9, i mentioned that i recorded a short yoga video.
I did scan through it quickly today. 

• the volume is good
• the image is not super crisp as i used the selfie setting (see Day 9 for my opinion on that)

Next steps: 

• trim the non essential bits out
• write a "before you begin..." note
• add the "before you begin..." note to the video
• upload it to YouTube and add all the tags and such
• and then....... POST IT ON MY SITE!!!!​
  

​
​How exciting to be moving in a forward direction with this project!


​:)

1. Editing on YouTube:
The editing on YouTube is basic but good. I can trim videos here, which is the most important feature for me. You can also add music (they have a library of free music to use) and you can blur faces or parts of videos. I won't work with these right now as they will likely not be required.
Just for fun, i did add captions to one of the videos that had speaking in it (below). 

2. Editing on my Computer:
As i mentioned in a previous post, there is a video editor on my computer.... I think it is just the one that comes with windows. Anyhow, today i played with it and i am able to add a "title" screen to the beginning of my videos. 

​I am getting closer......

First, a YouTube update:
I read a lot more and then made a test account with an old email address. I used a funny video of our dog as the test video to upload. THAT was very helpful process - it cleared up some questions i had about a couple features. I got stuck on "how to make it private but still share it" so i left it at that as my brain was full. There are some editing features available on YouTube, so i will play with those to see if they are any better than the one i have on my computer.

Today i decided to take advantage of an empty house to dive in and record a yoga video. I learn best by "doing" and "trial and error" so i remained open to the experience and the successes and disasters that would take place. I would be delighted if i actually got a final usable product but i'd also be o.k. with learning by going through the process.

And boy, did i learn...

• the actual frame or area of recording coverage is not the same as what you see on the screen before you press "record" (you see less once you start recording). This was funny because i had to do a lot of record, mark the floor, check the video, delete, move objects and phone, and then repeat. 
• using the "selfie" setting is a more accurate screen or recording area AND i can see myself on the phone while i am on my mat so i can wiggle left or right as required
• the (image) quality is not as good on "selfie" - but the "see myself while recording" benefits out way this negative (i think)

Problems to fix/lessons learned:

• pre-heat the room - the floor was cold! There was an icy draft coming from the bottom of my
  closet door 
• find a better way to support the phone - it fell off my "ChairPod" and slid/tipped during some of the first tries
• can i use a backdrop? I had to remove visually distracting objects: art from my wall, props from prop shelves and things hanging on the back of my doors. Our place is tiny with not a lot of storage so backs of doors are handy. Now i have to put all those things back in place. Meaning, i will have to take them all down when it is time to film again. Too much time wasted - need a more efficient set up.

I have not yet looked at this video - i am done for the day. All this new kind of learning is making my brain wobbly. I am glad for this brain workout, but i need to rest now. 
hugs!
:)

Today's project has been primarily "how to use YouTube" to post my videos. LOTS TO READ. Oh my.

• So far, IF i can shoot a pretty good video on my phone, i do not need to convert it! yay!
• And i currently have the ability to do some pretty basic editing (snipping or cutting parts out) on a  program i already have on my computer! YAY!

So i think the next thing i will do is shoot a test video.
Then i will try out some editing and then i will upload it.

So far, YouTube has the best explanations for steps of all the sites i have visited lately - they have clear descriptions and definitions for everything. The thing i have found to be challenging on many other sites is the use of jargon with no explanation of what the jargon means. "We sure want you to use our service but we won't tell you what it really is or how to really use it. If you don't know what it means, oh well, too bad."  

Well, i have 6 more tabs open on my web browser of YouTube info to read through so i best get at it!
Questions i'd like answered by the end of this reading session:

• i see YouTube has an end screen option but do they have a pre-video something (need the jargon!) so i can add a note to viewers before they begin their practice?
• what are the pros and cons of the regular version vs premium?
• how do viewers subscribe?

And thank you for you ongoing support!
Keep sending me good vibes folks!

e-hugs!
:)

Back in 2019, before this new world was even a blip on our radar, I planned a mini holiday for the end of March. When all this came about, i considered skipping my time off to continue forging ahead into this new learning journey. BUT there was a voice that got louder and louder every day urging me to keep my planned holiday. The other voice would argue, usually with a "ya but..." about making money, keeping the energy flowing, the momentum growing, and of not disappointing my students.

I am happy to report that both parts of me got what they wanted: 
I did not check my email for 4 days.
I did not blog or record or test out products.
I did not read any non-fiction.
I lazed about.
I watched cartoons while eating breakfast.
I had baths.
I sat in the sun.
I read fiction.
But I also did “work”, just not the “making a living” kind. I received great pleasure from this work. It is all the stuff I have been wanting to do but have not had the energy to do in a while.
I washed all of my floors,
I rearranged decor,
I cleaned and reorganized my spice drawer & tea shelf,
and
I coloured…. in my day timer!!
​I looked at my day timer the other day and realized how drab it was (I mostly write in pencil so things can changed without making too much of a mess) - so that plus there are a lot of items crossed out. With all the cancellations, it was, to my working mind, depressing. If you have been following my blog, you will know I have not been idle on my working days but none of that stuff is in my day timer, nor do I feel it needs to be. “BUT, but, but!!” my working mind cries, “how will we know we have done things???!!!”
​So I let my working mind go at it! I pulled out my markers and let her fill those days with all that I accomplished, both in words and blobs of colour.
The "work" part of me was very satisfied and would like to continue this as a daily practice.
The "fun" part of me liked it too. 
:)

O.k. so that was easy....

If you head over to my "expand" page, you will see the fruits of my labour, well, and the labour of some fab people over at the City of Courtenay and the Recreation Department. 

And to the right, you will see one of my first viewers.
I am honoured to have had such a lovely participant!!

;)
:0
:)
​

I have been called MacGyver* on many an occasion. I come by this trait 2 ways:
1. I am creative and impatient. Meaning I want to do something and I don’t have the patience (and sometimes resources) to wait until I have the proper tools or items to do said job. So I will futz around until i can get it to work with what I have available.
And 2. I inherited this trait from my father - ask me some day about how he made a temporary repair on a vehicle’s under frame with kevlar skis from an old snow mobile and tar.
 
So I have been brain storming ideas of yoga videos and spaces in my home that might work to film them. Today’s experiment was “yoga in bed”. And the main question to answer was “I don’t have a tripod… How do I hold the phone up to shoot?” After much trial and error I MacGyvered a “ChairPod”. I attached a giant bull clip to the back of a hydraulic office chair. The space between the 2 “clips” was way too wide for a stable phone holder so I folded a piece of fabric, attached it with an elastic and then used blue goo to make sure the phone stayed in place.
 
So, next on my list of things to do?
- get funding for some easier to use equipment!
I will investigate the various crowd-funding sites out there to find the one most suitable to my needs. Have you ever contributed to one? Have you ever used one for fund-raising?
Any suggestions or ones to avoid?
 
Follow-up from yesterday:
- Yay! I now have a PayPal account!
- Yay! I now have a secure Auto-Deposit e-transfer service!
(i’ll talk more about those in a future post)
 
Well, I am off to enjoy the sun while it is shining! Happy day to you all!
Hugs
:)


*MacGyver is a verb meaning "to make, form, or repair (something) with what is conveniently on hand."  A term originating from the popular 1980’s T.V. serial where MacGyver (played by the sexy Richard Dean Anderson) gets out of sticky situations, using items like gum and paper clips.

Well, I guess today is supposed to be a day of rest because

• I set up my Insight timer account but then couldn’t log back in 
• I after I entered all my info onto the paypal site, I hit submit it said it was “not able to process at this time, try again later”. Huh??!!!

So I will instead go do something fun and or relaxing.
 
Hugs and happy Monday!
:)

Today I tested out some new software!
https://www.media.io/audio-converter.html
This is the recommended site for file conversion from Insight Timer. I did a little reading and researching and it turns out, my meditations (audio files) will all be small enough that I can use the free version of their program.
​
Step 1- I made a test recording on my phone (easy! - phew!).
Step 2 - well, before step 2 comes a ranting. For some reason my phone refuses to communicate with my computer. They have been having a spat since shortly after I got it 3 years ago. If I plug my phone in using the cord, my computer says “there are no files on this drive”. So, I have to turn off my phone, take off the covers, take out the mini SD card, plug it into an adapter and then plug that into the computer. And then do that all in reverse to put it back in. Too many steps! Anyhow, I think my computer has figured out that I have been disguising the contents of my phone via this backdoor route of SD adapter because now it is refusing to read that!!! It took 5 tries of in and out to recognize the adapter. My new motto/mantra is “keep going even though it is frustrating and uncomfortable!!”.

So finally, 20 minutes later…
Step 2 - I tried out the free version of the converter - SO EASY! And the quality seems fine.
 
What is next?

• Record a guided meditation
• Create an account on Insight
• Set up a paypal account

 
Lessons learned:
I FINALLY understand that teaching of “If it is important, keep at it!! Even when it fails or doesn’t go your way - try again!!” I know there is a deeper ah-ha but my brain is DONE for today. 

:)

Part of the reason i created my Mind Map (see day 1 blog post) was to gain clarity. I had already searched out some info on the web in regards to sharing audio on line and i decided to start with Insight Timer. I have been using Insight Timer to follow guided meditations, track my time and use the timer for sitting. i like the way it works and it is free! As a user you can subscribe or buy programs but it is not required. There is also an option to donate to teachers. The folks that created it are meditation practitioners themselves and their goal is similar to mine "make meditation accessible to the world". A few months I did an initial “check in it” but I quickly became overwhelmed as there were suddenly several “sub steps” involved. They have a 10 item check list for uploading content…

So questions I need to answer/features and programs I need to learn:

• What format does my phone record in?
• And can I change that?
• Once it has been converted, will the quality be any good?

Insight Timer has a recommended site to use for converting so now I will head over there and check out all the details.
I will also set up an Insight Timer account (as a teacher, as I already have a personal account, & I want to keep them separate).
P.S. If you’d like to check it out, here is their link. https://insighttimer.com/
​

​:)

Hi all. I decided to record my first "for public listening" guided meditation today (March 20th, 2020).
I will start by saying that this is not my first guided meditation recording - i have been recording for personal use (on my phone) for many years. I don't worry too much about how smooth they are because i am good at ignoring mistakes for a while and if the importance of the meditation out-lives the quality of the recording, then i will just re-record it. But now the stakes are a little higher. If this recording goes on the internet, it will be there FOREVER! I'd like to to have as few mistakes as possible so that it can be listened to repeatedly without the listener getting annoyed by the glitches.

Set up/prep :

• write out a basic script
• sound quality set-up (close window, turn off fans, etc)
• voice warm-up
• and record!

So it went pretty well, but there were some noises that made their way into the recording. So i rewound and recorded silence over those spots. This was a new technique i had not yet tried and it worked! (previously i have recorded, saved, and then edited but the "edit after recording" feature is not very easy to maneuver on a tiny screen. The "edit during recording" is much more spacious.) So, after i did all that, i hit "save". However, when i went to the list of recordings it was not there! Where did it go!!?? I had just spent approx 20 minutes set-up, 20 minutes recording, and another 15 minutes editing. All gone. HA HA HA! I believe i shrieked "NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" I checked, and double checked and probably threw out a few expletives. And then, i (mostly) let it go. There was nothing i could do... except learn from this loss. 

Lessons learned/things to test out:

• breathe. always pause and breathe. 
• try a test recording and experiment with BOTH editing features and LEARN them well. 
• is this loss an anomaly or is it a part of the "edit during recording" feature?
• best learning? i am growing! rewind 5 years ago and i would not have taken this so well. it might have even been enough of a disappointment to throw the whole project into the toilet! but the new and improved me? here i am, sharing my loss, picking myself up off the floor and moving onward! YAY ME! 

​:)

Hello! and Welcome!
If you are anyone, pretty much living anywhere in the world today, March 19th, 2020, you are aware of the current health and wellness challenge facing, well, most of us! If you have perused my sight, then you know that i teach yoga and meditation. Both of the spaces i currently teach in, are closed.
So, what to do? What to do!? I have been getting requests for CD's, or digital recordings of my classes/teachings for many years but have simply not had the time or resources to throw myself into the process. SO MUCH research is required. SO MUCH testing! SO MUCH writing! SO MUCH hardware and software to learn (and buy!).
The plus side of this self-isolating time of ours is, i have time - lots of it. Join me here every day or so and learn what i am learning, use me as a resource, or just come have a good laugh at my technology rants and raves - there will be many! 
​Being the tactile person i am, i started this process with a mind map. i needed to get all the "stuff" out of my brain and onto paper so that i can decipher what the first step might be. 
Come back tomorrow to see that that first step entailed and what disasters i encountered.  ;)
Happy Saturday!
germ-free hugs to you all!