Trouble with Picasa and Google

I have been having a heck of a time posting pictures on my blog and thought that I was doing something wrong. As I normally would, I add pictures to a new album in Picasa and then upload them to the web albums. From there, I could easily select the pictures that I wanted and insert them in my blog. That is no longer possible as Google has changed the system. Now the pictures are uploaded to a new place and when I click on "view" I am denied access to the page. Anyone with an alternative system should help me out. I no longer have faith in Picasa or Google. My email is paulandhelen67@gmail.com, and this email address may change again too.

As for what's going on up here in Massachusetts....... Yesterday Helen and I drove into Logan Airport in Boston to pick up our grandchildren Kourtnie and Kolbie. The ride to Logan was fast and we encountered no problems or traffic on the way. Unfortunately, once we got to the airport I got completely confused. Looking for parking, we would see a sign that said go right for parking and I'd go right. Then it would immediately say get in the left lane for parking, but I couldn't because of a car in the way. So I continued to the right and found myself heading out of Logan Airport. Then we saw another sign pointing to Terminals A, B, C, and E, and we took the turn and headed back. Again we were spell bound by the confusing signs and found our way to the exit again. After at least three tries and possible as much as five, we found our way to the parking area. From there everything started to work very well. We took the shuttle bus (Rt.# 88) to Terminal C and were there in plenty of time. Making sure that we would be in the right area at the right time, we checked around and asked directions. Very few people working at the airport speak with a Boston accent. In fact, very few speak with an American accent! With plenty of time to spare, we indulged in a bite to eat and a drink as we waited in a place where we could see Gate #33, where their plane would come in. The flight was early, and when we saw the plane pull in, we scampered down stairs to the baggage area, through which the kids would have to pass.

Our concerns about Kolbie's fear of flying were unfounded as he proclaimed that this was the best day of his life. He thoroughly enjoyed the trip. Kourtnie was also unfazed by the trip. Leaving the Terminal, we took the bus to the parking lot, got in the car and headed out. By now I was very used to finding the exit. We left Logan Airport and headed south on what used to be the Southeast Expressway. Since the "Big Dig" it is now called something else and it's not the same road that it was when I used to commute along this area 45 years ago. Wen got off the expressway at one of the first exits and headed toward the Prudential Building where Helen wanted the kids to see Boston from the Skywalk on the 50th floor. I was there over 40 years ago and I wasn't happy to be going up that high again. My fears were unfounded. The elevator zips you up in no time and there is no feeling of sudden acceleration. Once on the Skywalk, I was unfazed by the height. It really bothered me the last time, but it didn't bother me at all yesterday.

As you enter the viewing area, you are given a device that will play a short recording as you walk around the  walk. At many windows there would be a number. Plug that in and you get a short message telling you what you can see from that particular point. We were amazed at all the information. Helen saw the yellow finish line for the Boston Marathon, painted across a street. It was noon, but we could see many people filing into Fenway Park to watch a Red Sox game that wouldn't start until 1:30. It was a perfect day for viewing Boston and the noon sun was high above so we had an excellent view of everything. There were dozens of sail boats on the Charles River ad well as a number of racing shells (long, thin, rowboats). The air was so clear that we could see way out in all directions. The kids were as excited as Helen and I.

When it was time to come down, Helen and I were discussing where to take the kids for lunch. Someplace nice with a Boston atmosphere. When we got to the street, we mentioned lunch and Kourtnie's eyes lit up as she saw "California Pizza Kitchen". "Ooh, my favorite place" she said enthusiastically and what could we say. By now, we had already passed the entrance inside the Prudential Plaza and instead, we entered through the emergency exit that leads to the outside dining area. Sounds like Tamazula again!!! It was no problem and we were soon seated. Kourtnie knew her favorite going in, as did Kolbie, so it was four cheese ravioli for Kourtnie and a pepperoni pizza for her brother. Helen and I each had a Caesar Salad. It hurts to get old.

Then we headed back to the campground to feed and water the dogs. The kids were up early and running all day, so they rested a bit. Kourtnie was in a near coma when we woke her to go to our friend Roz's for supper. Also, Helen and the kids were going to stay there for a few days to see more of Boston. Roz again put on a veritable feast! Lasagna, special salad, meatballs made to perfection, and desert. I passed on the desert but she forced, forced I tell you, four of her special blueberry muffins on me. I took them home and tossed them in the freezer, as I was stuffed. Unfortunately, I got up in the middle of the night and found that they were not too frozen and I had one. Planning ahead, I left them out on the counter so I could have them with coffee in the morning, and I did.

This morning I got up an went to a truck supply to buy muffler clamps for the tail pipe. I also bought a universal hanger to replace the original which had failed. It did't take too long to get that done once I got back. Then it was time to tackle the refrigerator PC board. As I took apart the old board connections I used my camera to take several pictures of the process, wanting to make absolutely sure that it went back properly. The job went very well until I tried to run the refrigerator on gas. It would show as LP on the panel, but there was no sound of ignition and flame. I checked outside just to make sure and there was no flame. Damn, I'm thinking, I'm going to have to take it someplace anyway. I went back inside and fiddled with the controls. When I did, I noticed that when I replaced the board, the temperature control had reset to 1, the warmest setting. AHA!! I hope that thee was no gas flow because there was no demand for cooling. I set the setting for colder temperatures and the igniter clicked and the gas flowed and all was well with the world. I set it to Auto and it self selected to electric. back outside, I disconnected the 110 AC and it went back to LP. I was thrilled. Now all I wanted to do was run down the library and get this blog out. Thast and try to figure out the problem with posting pictures.

That's about all for now. Any Ideas about what to do with my blog or Picasa will be more than welcome.