Request for Help

[itsallovernow]

So, my mother just had surgery and will be hanging around the house for a few weeks. She has much TV to watch (she's got the S2 Gilmore Girls boxset and I'll send her my Veronica Mars DVDs), but she's sort of overwhelmed by the concept of 22 hours of TV at a time.

She's also very interested in expanding her creative outlets. Basically, she hates her job but can't quit and get an equivalent salary at her age, so she's looking for other fullfillment.

So I had a brilliant idea. I told her I'd get her an LJ and set it up for her, and that I'd get one too. (She does not know about the fannish stuff, although I don't think she'd be shocked. But she'd tell my aunt, who'd be baffled and would go on the "Why are you wasting your time writing that when you could be getting paid to write?" tirade much like she goes on the "You should have been a doctor so you'd make money" tirade).

My question, my request, I guess is this: For those of you who've used Semagic, how does one go about obtaining it, and how easy is it to use? She's not computer illiterate, but it's not exactly second nature and she gets frustrated easily. I want to give her explicit instructions in downloading, installing and using it. And if anyone uses a client for PCs that is easier than Semagic, let me know your experience. Please!!

I also think I'll set up the LJ for her with icons and a design, which means that I need some icons - Preferrably of irises, wild flowers, the rocky mountains, Duncan McLeod (don't ask!! She's got a thing for Highlander), possibly Tom Quinn, maybe a BBC Pride and Prejudice icon. But any advice for which style would be easy to use and modify would also be much appreciated! (I don't think she'll care that I know the password. And I think I can do that, right? Set up an LJ as a gift?)

I will be setting up my own "professional" LJ (thanks to iamsab for the idea) soon so she can friend me. Hee. It's going to be a fine line between posting things she'll want to read and posting what I actually write;)

Comments

[nestra.livejournal.com]

I think hafital may have some Pride & Predjudice icons lying around.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Excellent! Thank you!

[coffeeandink.livejournal.com]

Semagic downloads; also friend ljwin32_sema for advice.

It's really easy to use. I love it. You might want to encourage her to play around with the buttons and see what they do (there are buttons for lj-cuts etc. and she should at least use that if she's going to be posting on fannish topics), but you can use it with no or minimal training.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I wish I could give it a trial run, but I don't want to download it onto the work computer, and I've got a Mac at home. But it sounds very easy!

[jebbypal]

you can use this link http://semagic.sourceforge.net/ or just google for se magic. It's simple enough to install (I never bother w/ the dictionaries) and is very straightforward to use. It has a section under the file menu where you can select edit friends and it will automatically upload all your friends -- also has buttons for lj cuts and html links so it eliminates the need to remember any html.

Good luck!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! It actually sounds more useful than iJournal, which I awfully fond of. And she'll never remember the html, so that's why a client is an absolute necessity.

In a completely unrelated idea...

[raithen.livejournal.com]

you could send your mom a learn to knit kit

Or, if she already knits, send her wool and a fun pattern!

Re: In a completely unrelated idea...

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

She already crochets and has a giant half finished afghan by her chair:) But it's a good idea! Thanks dear.

Sending a pattern and some yarm is a good idea, though.

[electricland.livejournal.com]

Hunt around in book_icons for some P&P icons if you wish them.

Aside from that, I have no useful advice, but good on ya!

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm sure she'll love them.

[pdxscaper.livejournal.com]

bheerfan has made some nice flower icons from pictures that she's taken.

Here and Here

I like Semagic a lot, but it sounds as if I need to download the newest version if it has buttons for the lj cuts, etc.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you dear!

[kernezelda]

Good luck with setting up your Mom and with your professional LJ. *thumbs up*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks honey!

[leadensky.livejournal.com]

I use freefoto dot com for a lot of icon stuff - its free for non-commerical use.

- hg

[filmg33k.livejournal.com]

Folks have already linked to Semagic, so I will just offer my awesome step-by-step instructions, if so needed. That is one job skill I feel I've been developing... the ability to walk people through ANYTHING via phone, IM, or email. :)

Also, duuude. We need to hang out!