Wallpaper
4 August 1992
by Daniel

Send me some Feedback

Pondering Wallpaper

I used to, though. When Daniel discovered Windows Paint, there was no end to the .bmp artwork that was created on our computer. Fortunately, I still have the old OS/2 drive in this machine and was able to browse and re-smile at each and every one of them this morning. *smile*

Eight or nine years ago, Daniel's work was usually a combination of geometrics combined with people, always in very bright colors. For awhile, nearly every time I turned on the monitor, I was greeted with some new creation of his, love-you hearts, stained glass designs, birthday cakes, even a BATMAN IS DEAD poster in creepy text.

He (and Tom and Katie) have gone well beyond their Paint days; I'm impressed with their creativity and talent. I could probably learn to use the software but I'll probably never be able to conceive the ideas or visualize things the way they do.

Maybe that is why they are artists and I'm not.

We didn't stop with the artwork, though, we had various sound files installed as well. In the pre-windows days, I had my computer set up on an intricate series of .bat files that called menus for the boys. All they had to do was type their names at a command prompt then work through the menus.

Each batfile called different sound files. Jason's game menu started with, "Do you want to play a game?" in the best War Games voice I could muster (pretty crappy, actually). Every time they started their programs, they would hear their mother's loving voice, "I love you, Jason" or "I love you, Danny".

I ran a BBS off of my computer then, 24/7. With only one computer and no good multitasking software, I had to timeshare my computer with all of my users. I often found myself sitting there, staring at the monitor, waiting for someone to logoff, so I could do my schoolwork or something. Now that is a real time waster, sort of like watching downloads. I finally put a sound file in the BBS batfile that would shout, "Hey!! The computer's free now!" whenever someone logged off.

That one was also good for some funny looks when I was entertaining guests and they would suddenly hear me yelling from upstairs when I was sitting right there with them.

In a fit of nostalgia, I've put the above wallpaper back on my computer. This one is one of my favorites. (Ginkgo, it is clickable if you want to see the exquisite detail!) Nearly every one of us has added something to this masterpiece, including Tom who put a smile on the fish (and some flowers), added detail to the worm, shaded the fence and otherwise did minute enhancements.

I need to be looking for a job.

before         index         after