AI, AI, O

 

Here we are, in another weekend. I love our weekends, although this one Terry and I spent lying around sick. Yeah, the big "C" word is what it felt like. I'm hoping it's not, as I did hear that there is a virus going around that is signing in with the symptoms of COVID but remains in the common cold grouping. Yeah. I guess. It's more than just a "common cold." This one is kicking some immune system butt. 

Terry and I were able to watch several episodes of our show, Saving Hope. Really good show if you enjoy watching doctors and nurses flopping guts on a surgical table while they find the point of origin of the fountain of blood flowing into the chest cavity. I spend more time with my hands over my eyes than I do watching the action in front of me. 

Saving Hope is a great show, hailing from beautiful Toronto Canada. Loving the characters, the writing, and every minute except for the bloody party, which covers quite a bit actually. I can hear what is going on and then catch up when the surgery is complete. We were watching it on one episode when the legs of a disgruntled patient hit the floor to leave the hospital. As he did, his messed up leg tried carrying his weight, but to no avail. Boom. In that half of a second I watched, that leg snapped, leaving the bone no place to shoot but out of the skin on the leg. I can't unsee that. 

It happened all too fast. The second my brain caught on to what was taking place in the chaos, I was able to turn my eyes away. Alas, it was too late. I had seen the dirty deed and now I can't wipe it from my memory banks. Disgusting. Every cell in the leg I injured last winter came to full attention, saluted with pain, and left me writhing. OMG, it was disgusting and painful. Just too much detail in the show.

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Beautiful fall colors are all around. My husband walked into the office on the 17th, Friday, to hand me yet another gorgeous fall bouquet to commemorate our monthly wedding date. Since we've married, each month he has handed me a lovely bouquet. I have to put it into my memories in this blog as each is unique and gorgeous. Definitely bring smiles to my face. I love the gesture, and the man giving me a heartfelt, "I love you" each and every month. I could not ask for a better partner in showing me his love and appreciation. I love you, sweet man. Thank you!

This month my floral gift comes in creams, whites, yellows, and beautiful hues of orange and rust. To add a perfect piece of flair, there are small purple flowers too. I am assuming they are little blue bells, but could be completely wrong. I do know the white flowers with green tint are from a hydrangea bush. The entire jar of loveliness shines bright on my office desk. I could not be more grateful!

Roses in one of my favorite colors of tropical orange. Love, love, love this color! It tends to put a touch of summer in the midst of fall colors. 

A sprig of eucalyptus is added for a heavenly scent. Just wish I could open my sinuses and enable the smell function on my body. 

Lilies. My favorite. I love lilies of any style, color, shape, or scent. These Peruvian lilies are perfect for this heavenly floral mixture. 

Each delicate flower carries its own special beauty. Together, they create an amazing way to pass on love, light, and joy to others. Nature is a pretty special thing. We are blessed to have all of the natural beauty around us that we experience. Mother Nature is the bomb. 

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Speaking of  Mother Nature and beauty, once again, this plant, whatever it may be, springs over the fence and flows down the face of the gray fence. I think it loves to show off the fall colors it will display each year. 

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I named this post AI, AI, O for a reason. Not because I happen to be out of titles for these posts, but because I have never tried the AI concept. Not even for the jewelry items I sell. Today was the day. I grabbed my Kleenex for blowing my nose, my tea for my throat, and wrapped myself deep into the warmth of my fuzzy gray bathrobe. Snuggling down into the chair, I began to see what this bad boy could do. 

I played around with a program or two and was rather disappointed in what it gave me as a result. Lengthy explanations and details were written, and still I ended up with strange photos. Beads that were not seed beads as the original photo showed. Instead I was receiving photos with bowling balls for beads, and half of them were not even shown in the photo. Boy, this AI stuff really needs to get it together. 

Wrapping up the projects in the couple of programs that I used, I headed to Meta AI for shits and giggles. Why not? I had a lot of fun using the software. Some of the bracelets I had recently created really came out with cute backgrounds. Christmas is around the corner, so I tried a couple of shots from the upcoming season. 

This picture is my favorite. I loved the snowy look, with lights and tree branches to boost that seasonal capture. 

Same bracelet, but I asked it to be placed on a bed of crystals. I could have continued with this photo and enhanced it a bit more, but I kind of like the clear crystals the way they are. 

A boho-style bracelet, so I went with a stream. 

Asking for a natural setting with fairy lights for this boho stretch bracelet. Simple, clean, and I liked it. So far, I'm pretty impressed with the Meta AI stuff. 

 A simple bracelet, so I asked for a simple, all natural background. I love the way this one came out. I did have to lighten the photo, but the darker room came from the office lighting. 

Anyway, those were a few examples. If you have not played with the AI software yet, give it a try. Pretty amazing stuff. 

Terry and I have discussed how we hate the AI photos we see now. The reasoning behind that gripe is that pictures are consistently being enhanced and altered with the AI generators out there today. They can be helpful, that's apparent in helping me out with my photos looking "cute" instead of shots being taken by a monkey with a 1920's camera, if they were even around back then. 

Like most new technology, I guess it has its place in our lives. I believe for creative fun, or advertising items for sale, the AI system is a nice addition to your toolbox. For regular photos, such as the ones you may share and claim they are all "your art," not so much. We both think the AI generator software can remove the idea of what true art is ... the nitty gritty, baseline that we snap with cameras or create ourselves. I've seen many who fib and call the artwork their own, when it's all been done by AI, leaving no creative pieces to the actual artist. They sell the art as their own when nothing, absolutely nothing, has been added to the work themselves. Is this actually considered art? It sure is not considered photography. 

I guess art truly is in the eye of the beholder!

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Anyway, our Oregon Ducks played Rutgers on Saturday. The kickoff starts the game, and pure joy rolls through my body. But, what is this? A couple of plays in and the Ducks have already lost the ball? What is happening? Please tell me this is not the fate of this game. 

But wait ... what is this? We get the ball back. One touchdown. the game progresses and the second touchdown goes on the scoreboard. Three, four ... 

By the end of the game, Rutgers had a shiny "10" presented on the scoreboard. The Ducks ended with 56 beautiful, winning points to fly home with! We love us some Ducks. I love my "O." 

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We are going to leave this post here. Not much happening since we are ill this weekend. Hugs, joy, and happiness to all of you! Until our next post, take care and stay well. 

Terry and Vicki Macrae

Oregon Duck Fanatics