Laughed So Hard, I Almost Lost My Head



Courtesy Lillyarts.com

 In response to Mama Kat's writing prompt, "Describe the last thing that made you laugh really hard," I only had to remember back a few days. For the past six months, I've been trying to figure out how to include vlogs on my solar cooking blog, using my JVC video camera. This has become one more high tech tool that I have to master, just to make a short film.

Having bought movie editing software, I thought all my troubles were over, only to discover that I was a mere babe in arms and truly at the very beginning of a learning curve. Frankly, I don't have time to learn another trade. So, I decided to look into those, you know,  new flip cameras that are so 'easy to use, even a child can do it.' Right.

Well, once I adjusted the frames per second to the smallest size for uploading to YouTube, I discovered that it was, in fact, very easy-to-use. But, to be sure, decided to make a test run before sharing the world's greatest video. And, I did it! I really did it. I was bustin' with pride and so happy to have found something high-tech that was easy. Yessirree.  Playback? Voice, loud and clear; picture, well-centered, not jumpy. I was enthralled. This video stuff really is a piece of cake. Well, almost…
I attached the USB thingy to my laptop and uploaded my little video. Wow! That was so easy. Clicked on the video icon for big screen viewing, and, what??!? What's going on? Where's the doggone sound? It was there, just a second ago, on my little Bloggie. Maybe I did something wrong? (Yeah. Like that's possible.) Okay. Things happen.  I'll just delete this little test and make a new one – maybe, not quite so long. If at first...

Step one – make new video
Step two – watch new video - check.
Step three – upload new video
Step four – play new video
  WTF?!?!? – Where's the sound?

Step one - make new video
Step two - watch new video - check.
Step three - upload new video
Step four - play new video
  WTF?!?!? - Where's the damn sound?

Step one - make new video
Step two - watch new video - check.
Step three - upload new video
Sstep four - play new video
  WTF?!?!? - I can't believe this! Where's the dadburned sound?

Step one - make new video
Step two - watch new video - check.
Step three - upload new video
Step four - play new video
  WTF?!?!? - This no-good piece of s---; I'm taking this worthless piece of garbage back... Give them a piece of my mind! Where's. the. f---ing sound?!?!?!? Dammitdammitdammitdammit.....

Yes, I did it. Four times. Needed to get a cup of calming tea. Returned to chair and sipped tea, waiting for soothing effect to take place. Closed eyes... opened eyes -- and, started to giggle, then snorted, my hot tea! Right there, dangling, next to the laptop... You guessed it... Attached to my laptop was my trusty dictation headset... the one with the earphones for listening back? Eureka! Boldly, I placed them on my head and clicked the video icon. Alleluia! A miracle... a doggone miracle, right here in my little office! I could not only see, but, hear! Beautiful, beautiful, sound.

I started to laugh, all by myself, uncontrollably, and couldn't stop till my sides hurt and I thought my head would fall off. Just the thought of it, now, makes me laugh and brightens my day. It is kind of sad, though, that the guys down at the store didn't get a chance to help me with this little learning curve; no? The thought of that scenario really makes me giggle! Thank you, Mama Kat, for a great prompt.