Why so few avatars?

[Ole Anderson]

Just wondering why so few folks use Avatars here on the Creek? I like my orange one as I can scan a page and quickly find my post.

Edit: see post# 19 for help on creating and posting an Avatar.
Bruce

[Frederick Skelly]

Cant find anything "cool enough". Dave Weaver and I once joked about me using something from Dr. Strangelove, but I never found a pic I thought would be recognizable in a very small avatar block. Might have to give that another try.

[Bob Vavricka]

Ole, I didn't see your avatar until I searched around and found that seeing avatars wasn't enabled in my settings. Not sure if that was a default setting or something I had deselected at some time. I turned it on to see if I like it. Never thought about it until you posted.

[Sam Murdoch]

Mine is watching for all of you :D

[Kev Williams]

I love avatars. I take lots of pics, and when I notice something cool that would look good avatar-sized, I'll change it. :)

In fact, I'm about due to change it again! ;)

Current avatar is a shot of the surface of a wine glass being laser etched...

>edit< WAS a wine glass, was going thru pics and found this shot of a double rainbow at our boat harbor in 2011 :)

[Malcolm Schweizer]

My Avatar has a story. It is the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. My wife hiked the Camino de Santiago across Spain- 500km. She came to a little chapel called the "Hermita de San Miguel." They had a pen and paper where you could write a prayer. She took the paper out to an olive grove outside the church to think of what she wanted to write. She wrote that she wanted to meet a man who liked to do the things she liked to do. She continued her hike to Santiago de Compostella and on to Finisterre, which literally means "the end of the earth."

Meanwhile, back in St. Thomas, I said a similar (perhaps more desperate) prayer. Amy was supposed to go to Maine on a travel nurse assignment. She got a call and they asked her if she wanted to go to St. Thomas instead. She talked it over with her mom and her mom said, "Maine is cold; Saint Thomas has surf and sailing- no brainer." (Amy grew up on a sailboat and her mom makes canvas for boats as well as being a surfer.)

Amy moved to St. Thomas and they put her in an apartment next to my best friend. He called me and said, "Get down here- there's a new travel nurse moved in and she's at the pool in an American flag bikini with a body to die for." (Exact words.) I was playing guitar and said I would come down. I decided not to go. I didn't want "Big Dan" picking out my wife, and I didn't want to make the mistake again of falling for the hot girl who turns out to be a psycho. (Been there, done that- a few times.) Dan called back, asking where I was. I said I was on the way. I decided to go, but to carry my guitar. Dan doesn't have high standards in girls. I figured this would be a dud.

So I got there and there's this amazingly beautiful woman swimming around. She had a camera and I noticed her taking pictures of things and she was being very creative- taking time to compose the image. Photography is a love of mine. I immediately said, "This girl is a photographer." I sat down and started playing flamenco on my guitar. She came over and asked if I had been to Spain. I said no, but my father went and restored an albergue on this pilgrimage they do across Spain, and she said, "the Camino de Santiago!" I said, yes- that's it. That was how we met.

Fast forward, and we decided to hike the Camino together. When we got to the place where she had said her prayer, I asked her to marry me. So the Camino is special to us. Later, for Christmas, I built her a surfboard and inlaid the Cross of St. James and the shell that are signs of the Camino. That launched a side career designing and building wood surfboards. Every board has the cross on it, and it is my logo.

So that's the story. I kept it a bit matter-of-fact to respect the forum rules about religious posts. It's a very cool story and perhaps it will one day become a book. We are getting a sailboat, which we will name "Finisterre" and plan to carry on our adventure to the ends of the earth.

[Mike Henderson]

Mine is just me and the shop dog, Skipper. I have no idea what breed of dog he is. When people ask me, "What kind of dog is he?", I reply, "He's a cute black dog."

He's about 13 now so I worry about him, but he's been healthy so far.

Mike

[Myk Rian]

Some people just don't know how to create and upload an avatar.

[Sam Murdoch]

My Avatar has a story. It is the symbol of the Camino de Santiago. My wife hiked the Camino de Santiago across Spain- 500km. She came to a little chapel called the "Hermita de San Miguel." They had a pen and paper where you could write a prayer. She took the paper out to an olive grove outside the church to think of what she wanted to write. She wrote that she wanted to meet a man who liked to do the things she liked to do. She continued her hike to Santiago de Compostella and on to Finisterre, which literally means "the end of the earth."

Meanwhile, back in St. Thomas, I said a similar (perhaps more desperate) prayer. Amy was supposed to go to Maine on a travel nurse assignment. She got a call and they asked her if she wanted to go to St. Thomas instead. She talked it over with her mom and her mom said, "Maine is cold; Saint Thomas has surf and sailing- no brainer." (Amy grew up on a sailboat and her mom makes canvas for boats as well as being a surfer.)

Amy moved to St. Thomas and they put her in an apartment next to my best friend. He called me and said, "Get down here- there's a new travel nurse moved in and she's at the pool in an American flag bikini with a body to die for." (Exact words.) I was playing guitar and said I would come down. I decided not to go. I didn't want "Big Dan" picking out my wife, and I didn't want to make the mistake again of falling for the hot girl who turns out to be a psycho. (Been there, done that- a few times.) Dan called back, asking where I was. I said I was on the way. I decided to go, but to carry my guitar. Dan doesn't have high standards in girls. I figured this would be a dud.

So I got there and there's this amazingly beautiful woman swimming around. She had a camera and I noticed her taking pictures of things and she was being very creative- taking time to compose the image. Photography is a love of mine. I immediately said, "This girl is a photographer." I sat down and started playing flamenco on my guitar. She came over and asked if I had been to Spain. I said no, but my father went and restored an albergue on this pilgrimage they do across Spain, and she said, "the Camino de Santiago!" I said, yes- that's it. That was how we met.

Fast forward, and we decided to hike the Camino together. When we got to the place where she had said her prayer, I asked her to marry me. So the Camino is special to us. Later, for Christmas, I built her a surfboard and inlaid the Cross of St. James and the shell that are signs of the Camino. That launched a side career designing and building wood surfboards. Every board has the cross on it, and it is my logo.

So that's the story. I kept it a bit matter-of-fact to respect the forum rules about religious posts. It's a very cool story and perhaps it will one day become a book. We are getting a sailboat, which we will name "Finisterre" and plan to carry on our adventure to the ends of the earth.


What Malcom said ^ That's what inspired my avatar :rolleyes:

OH Malcom what an superb story! Thanks for sharing. There is a book in there for certain.

Please indulge my poor attempt at humor. :)

Sam

[David Herring]

What's an avatar?

[Ole Anderson]

Malcolm, great story. Well worth asking my simple question.

[Frederick Skelly]

Man, that's a great story Malcolm!
And she likes TOOLS!

[Bert Kemp]

I think your a very lucky man Malcolm:)

[Chuck Pickering]

This thread spurred me to find out how to make an avatar. I Googled to find out ad found this site: http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/

This site will allow you to take a picture file and shrink it to avatat size. I didn't have ny personal pics to use on this computer, so I chose a pic of The Cone, a mountain visible from my cousin's ranch near Montrose, Co. I have hunted (unsuccessfully, I might add) Elk on the Cone. Now to go through my pics on my other computer and find some more personal images to make into Avatars...

350375
Chuck

[Chuck Pickering]

Made another from an image of a USAF Field Training Master Instructor Badge. I was an FTD Master Instructor during my USAF career...

350376
Chuck

[Bert Kemp]

Thank You for your service Chuck
http://www.myemoticons.com/images/communicate/phrases/t-w/thanks.gif


Made another from an image of a USAF Field Training Master Instructor Badge. I was an FTD Master Instructor during my USAF career...

350376
Chuck

[Dave Lehnert]

Some people just don't know how to create and upload an avatar.


I think this may be the reason.
I know I had a lot of problems getting a pic the correct size to use.

Have to admit I know people here more by their avatar than name.

[Rick Potter]

Like the man said, don't know how.

[Bruce Page]

Rick, the sizing app that Chuck linked to works well and my virus software says it's safe.
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/create-avatar/

Here are the steps:



Open Chuck's resizing app and click Browse.
Find a suitable picture on your computer and select it.
In the app, set the avatar size to 100, if you are a SMC "Contributor", or to 50 if you are a "Member" and click Resize.
The app will give you 3 versions of your picture, choose one and click Download this picture Now.


To upload the new avatar to SawMill Creek:



Click on Settings on the upper right.
In My Settings click Edit Avatar.
Click Browse and select your avatar.
Click Save Changes

[Bill McNiel]

Bruce, thank you, now I can redo mine properly.

Malcolm, I've always wondered/been intrigued by your avatar. Absolutely loved the back story.

[Jim Koepke]

Malcolm, Your story almost needs a tissue alert, great story and hopefully the magic will continue for many years to come.

My avatar is of my wife and I standing in a driveway easement across the front of our property. I am really only a little more than a foot taller than her. She is in a bit of a low spot next to me on a high spot.

jtk

[Garth Almgren]

Great story Malcolm! My wife and I watched "The Way" a couple years ago, and hiking the Camino is definitely on my bucket list.

My avatar is many, many years old - the old Simpsons site had a feature where you could Simpsonize yourself. I've been using it as an avatar on multiple forums ever since.

[Frederick Skelly]

My avatar is of my wife and I standing in a driveway easement across the front of our property. I am really only a little more than a foot taller than her. She is in a bit of a low spot next to me on a high spot.jtk

I wondered about that. She looks so tiny compared to you. Never thought about a low spot! :D

[Rick Potter]

Thanks Bruce,

Now all I have to do is get pics on this new computer. Absolute computer dummy.

[Larry Frank]

Well, mine is my dog...Patti. She is a miniature long haired dachshund and her coloring is called piebald.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Great story Malcolm! My wife and I watched "The Way" a couple years ago, and hiking the Camino is definitely on my bucket list.

My avatar is many, many years old - the old Simpsons site had a feature where you could Simpsonize yourself. I've been using it as an avatar on multiple forums ever since.

Thanks all for the comments. I like sharing our story and inspiring others or giving hope to those that are seeking their true love.

Garth- just do it. Pack as little as you can. It takes a month if you start at St. Jean Pierre de Porte (sp?) in the south of France, but there are shorter routes.

[Steve Peterson]

Some people just don't know how to create and upload an avatar.

That is my reason. I worked in electronics and computers my entire life, but I don't take many pictures.

Steve

[Mike Ontko]

Great story, Malcom! If you haven't seen it already, the movie, "The Way" with Martin Sheen also follows the trek of Camino de Santiago.

My avatar offers a much more pleasing reflection than what I usually find in photographs. It was fittingly done in the likeness of a Nick Parks character (Parks is the creator of Wallace and Grommit and Shaun the Sheep, amongst others). I found the image generator through some online promotional and have been using the image ever since. Now, if I could only convince the DMV to let me use it on my next driver's license...

[Rich Riddle]

I was grateful when Bruce changed his avatar.

[Bruce Page]

I was grateful when Bruce changed his avatar.
lol, my current one is a shot from a Hawaiian condo we stayed at. I would like to be there right now.

[Stew Hagerty]

Mine is me.

[Chris Padilla]

There is some capricious canine adorning my spot there above.... :)

[Rich Riddle]

Stew,

Some of us less attractive use cartoon characters.
Mine is me.

[Bruce Page]

Stew,

Some of us less attractive use cartoon characters.
..or their pets, or Hawaiian landscapes..

[Mike Dowell]

Mine is just me and the shop dog, Skipper. I have no idea what breed of dog he is. When people ask me, "What kind of dog is he?", I reply, "He's a cute black dog."

He's about 13 now so I worry about him, but he's been healthy so far.

MikeThat's awesome. I have a little brown dog, and when the vet asked what she was, I told them "she's a little brown dog". Thought I was the only person that simple on the planet. Lucky to not be alone. And she is a nice little brown dog, I love her dearly.

[Rod Sheridan]

Mine is just me and the shop dog, Skipper. I have no idea what breed of dog he is. When people ask me, "What kind of dog is he?", I reply, "He's a cute black dog."

He's about 13 now so I worry about him, but he's been healthy so far.

Mike

That's a good age for a larger dog Mike, I hope Skipper has many more to share with you..........Rod

[David Freed]

Stew,

Some of us less attractive use cartoon characters.It can't be as bad as me.

[Patrick McCarthy]

Malcolm, WOW, great story; thank you for sharing.