The Skies Are A Smilin’

Believe it or not, this is only a five second exposure on a moonlit night.  And, before you mention it, I know it isn’t in focus.  I was using manual focus on the moon moments before this.  I obviously did not refocus it close enough, particularly because it was dark.  I swear I tried to focus on my hand, but it was hard to tell in the dark.  Honestly, the hardest part about this photo was holding still for five seconds.  Try it yourself, it isn’t easy…you have to breathe!

I want that cable release so I can do photos like this…except,on DARK nights, not moonlit ones.  It IS possible.  And I cannot wait to try it.  I want to do landscapes in the dark, does that sound weird?  Probably, but I think it is a realm of photography little explored.  And I think I know why:  In the day light, you take a photo in a matter of milliseconds.  At night, these exposures can last several minutes.  In a half hour you can amass a couple hundred photos in daylight (I know, because I took roughly 500 in one hour on a recent photo shoot).  In the same time span at night…well, lets say fifteen would be pushing it.   
 
I don’t remember if I have mentioned it, lately:  I LOVE my camera.  Of course, as if to spite me, Nikon has come out with it’s newest camera, the D-7000.  This seems to be a cut about the D-5000, and even has a few features better than the D-90.  Yet, really, the camera I have (whether obsolescent or not) is miles ahead of what I had before, plus, it has the beauty of being tried and true.  I may even buy, eventually, after I use this thing for awhile, another camera body.  Nikon, fortunately, does not change the lens mount often.  So, I’ll be able to use my lenses for this on other Nikons!  Too much camera chat?  Sorry.

I taught fifth grade again.  Not the peachy, silent, respectful world of happiness I had yesterday…well, not yet.  I had them sit with their heads down for talking while I was talking.  No, I am not talking about one child talking while I explain the next assignment…no, five to eight children were trying to voice their particular concern over everything from whether they could borrow a pen to what was the best way to hold a football. 
I have a fairly high threshold for such things, but even I have a breaking point.  I started to explain something after shushing them for the fifth time, but they continued their huh-bub - then I just said, “HEADS DOWN!”  they looked shocked, but put their heads down and all became quiet again.  I counted to twelve…an arbitrary number intended to induce calm in me…when I got to twelve, I realized I needed more time, so I counted to a different number…somewhere in the fifties.  Then I looked around.  I saw a couple of them trying to catch one another’s eye, and swiftly gave them MY STINK-EYE and they immediately put their heads down again.  I counted some more, weighing what action to take next. 

I decided to remind them of my expectations.  I reminded them that I had spent a MARVELOUS day with a different fifth grade class yesterday, and that I would not mind going back there because they were respectful.  I asked them what grade they were in.  They responded.  I said, “…really?”  They became a slightly different class after that. 

After about an hour and a half of doing what I asked them to do without too much trouble, I rewarded them.  I took requests and let them watch as I drew pictures for the last 20 minutes of school.  I am forever amazed at the concentration and quiet that occurs while I draw a picture for kids (not so much for me, I can stop at a moment’s notice) , they simply disengage their mouths and re-engage their eyes.  It is amazing, and I would just love to have someone witness it, so I could have someone verify it.   

Part of this may be because the plans I was greeted with were less than specific…which is weird.  I had great plans the last time I subbed for this teacher, but today’s plans were on the non-existent side of minimal.  There were a couple post-it notes with semi-formed half-thoughts, but hard core plans they were not.  Fortunately, last time I got a feel for what was expected of the kids and I have an idea of where they are headed.  I can do that.

  I have great expectations for the next few days.  I hope you will join me on our adventures!

Celebrate!

Cora and I drove up to E-burg late Tuesday night to meet some people from Illinois that we have met through the adoption blog-o-sphere.  Yeah, I know, weird, but not the first!  Remember this?

Well, these people have their own travel blog, and it is totally worth a look!

I think you get that much energy after being couped up in a motorhome with your family for several weeks.

before they left on their voyage, we sent them some coloring books to while away the time.  I inserted this, thinking they'd appreciate it, but never dreaming they would color, laminate and post it in their window!  How cool is that?

Anyway, we had a great visit and made a great friendship even stronger.  Thanks Diana and Eric for coming to meet us!

and another picture from my lovely new camera.  I am learning my way around it pretty fast.  I am going to master double exposures soon and then i will let you see my work...but, I need more time!!!

New Camera Pics!

Whatdya think?

Life is Beautiful, As Long As You've Got The Right Camera!

Until then, though, life is dull and grey.

Technology Rocks!

What would we do without Facebook and technology?  I was in the backyard last night.  I noted that the skies were filled with smoke from a fire some distance away.  I took my phone and camera and went to locate the source of the smoke.  It was clear by the time I got to the highway that the flames were about ten miles away.  Out near Highland/Cowiche.

I stopped at the high school and walked up to the stadium which has a clear view and took a few pictures.  I then went home and emails the photo to my dad 30 miles away, who looked at it via his iphone.  It just seems amazing to me that we no longer have to rely on News Cameras to bring us "Satellite" coverage of an event.  In minutes, my father was looking at a photo of an even 45miles away from him.  I COULD have taken video, had I chosen and he could have viewed that.

I COULD have taken a picture with my phone and sent him that.  WHO KNEW, thirty years ago, that the Brick Phones they were making would evolve into something that could take videos and photos?  Am I alone in my awe?  Am I the only one that stops and stares in amazement at the digital kingdom I am in charge of? The answer, of course, is no, but I wonder if you all consider it as often as you might.

I was not sure where the fire was exactly, so I posted it on Facebook and a few of my friends came back and told me it was about where I thought it was.

Of course, I could have GOOGLED it, had I been so inclined.  It is amazing to me how much information is available at our fingertips!  In 1987, if you had told me to Google something, I would have probably thought you meant ogle and would have looked closely at something.  I love the word google!

For instance, and we will go back to the phone thing, a friend I work with sent me a picture on the phone.  It was a picture of Elton John!!!  He went to the Elton John concert last night at the Sun Dome and thought to send me a photo of ELTON JOHN!  Now, THAT is the ultimate in cool!

I know we do this everyday now, but just a few years ago we still were waiting for film to be developed.  In the next day or two I will have the digital equivalent of an SLR (Single Lens Reflex) from the olden days.  NO FILM!!!!

Ahh, I love technology when it works!

Hitting Self On Forehead!!

You ever have those days where you want to slap yourself on your forehead?  Those days when you get that horrible cold feeling in the pit of your stomach when you know you've made a horrible decision?  Yeah, me neither.

That's not true, of course, but I had to throw that in.  Today WAS one of those days.

We decided to leave town for a bit, if only to forget our new neighbors.  What?  I have not mentioned our new neighbors?  Really!?  You're in for a treat.  We were.

A few weeks ago we found out our next door neighbor has been diagnosed with incurable tumors.  He was not expected to live long.  That in itself is sad, since we are rather fond of him.  However, some people have moved into his house in the interim.  These are unsavory sorts.  We knew this immediately.  I felt bad thinking it just looking at them, but they have since proven our suspicions.

To begin with they smoke like chimneys.  Not so bad.  But we've seen other things.  The mom tripped her own child and then laughed at the child.  Then a pair of them were drinking beer at 8am.  The kids(none older than five) were out till 1030pm the other night.  They spend a inordinate amount of time in their, well, it can best be described as a predator van.  It's not a situation we are fond of.  I guess the mother and grandmother had launched a campaign, the other night, to beg for money for cigarettes as their "man" was gone.  I am not sure how it will end up, but we remain hopeful that whatever happens does not involve us.

OK, back to MY chilled feeling sick moment.  We left to visit Cora's sister.  I decided to leave them to their own devices and I went to purchase a few items for my camera (curses upon Fedex and the USPS).  I needed a semi large memory card (not too expensive) and a UV filter for protecting the lens.  I got my items and one of the salesmen asked me if he could help.  I asked about the suitability of something.  We ended up talking and I described my week long wait.  He said, "You know we PRICE MATCH, right?"

The world got smaller.  I got dizzy.  The sounds around me seemed to fade.  He verified it with his boss and on-line at the Walmart site.  Yes.  They had six in stock.

I. Could. Have. Been. Taking. Photos. All. Week. If. I. Had. Only. Known. THAT!

Curses upon the Camera Attainment Gods!!!!  I am fairly certain they don't like me.

Mine remains "in transit."  I still feel a little bit sick about it.

I know, the rest of you are rolling your eyes.  I know "it's JUST a camera."  I know.  I know!  I KNOW!  I am very patient about most things.  I can wait to get bird seed.  I can wait to get brakes fixed on the car.  I can wait to get new shoes.  I can wait to go pee.  I can wait to get Cora a birthday gift...or a Valentine's Day card.  ONCE in a while, though, there is something I desire SO much.  Need.  Crave.  MUST HAVE!!  That I have difficulties waiting.  (for instance, I was once slightly forlorn when Cora was away on a business trip.)

So, hopefully, you now understand my sad state.

Here are a few pictures from our day!

It started with this spray plane flying low over the hop fields.

Cora and Emily made lunch.

Which turned out to be something very pretty.  Given the surroundings...well, I think it was perfect!!

And the company was great.  Unfortunately, my brother-in-law was absent.  We missed him, but not too much, since we were having so much fun...

...in the pool!

It was a great day and we got to see Emily for a good visit.  Here we are on the way home...well, here Cora is.

A Deathly Silence Followed

I live in a small town.  I am normally fond of that.  There are some downsides.  I am recognized every time I go to the store.  There are no decent stores, except for the small one that sells overpriced items.  We HAVE to have a post office box.

It's that last one that so often offers us trouble.

Every time I fill out a form to buy something on-line or fill out my address on an address line, I have to add our Post Office Box.  Some forms don't allow this, but if something comes through the mail, we have no choice!  So, I am conditioned to add this little bit of detail to EVERY form I fill out.

It was no different when I purchased my camera one week ago.

Before I continue, I submit that tracking a package can create rage in a person who sorely wants to have his item.  Tracking the item from one point to another (especially if one makes the mistake of taking free shipping) and watching it sit in one place for 24 hours at a time is enough to drive one mad.

My beloved camera was in Kent for twenty-four hours and then it moved from there to Federal Way...this morning I found it has been put in transit to our local post office.  It WAS travelling via FEDEX.  I had assumed (wrongly, obviously) it would arrive on my doorstep.  Now I see that it will go to our small post office, due in no small part to my inclusion of our PO BOX.

It had a small note to the side that says it may take an extra two or three days.

When I read that...a deathly silence followed...

I may have to hit or break something or scream or pull out my hair or something.

Yeah, tracking a package is NOT nearly as satisfying as it should be.      

New Blog

Cora suggested I make a new blog to devote to the hundreds of photos I expect to take with my new camera to show them off.  I like that idea.  I don't know if they'll be of the highest quality at first while I work into the new camera system.  I've never owned a Nikon until now.  I have been happy with the Canon Elph, but the Nikon just feels so cozy in my hands!  I had a Pentax P3N years ago (Still do, but it eats film and that's expensive to feed)  I figure disk space is cheaper in the long run.  An extra hard drive eventually will also help with that.

So, sorry for digressing.  I plan on using the new blog for photography talk, even though I am a comparative amateur to most.  I DOOOO love to talk.  I think that being a teacher is a good fit for that...but I digress, yet again.

The purpose for this post is to petition you all for names.  I like the name George for my new Nikon, Cora, however, thinks it needs to be something else...why name an inanimate object???  It's fun.  That's it.  Also, instead of spouting off a bunch of photography terms like, "let's take my new Nikon dSLR D-90 with the 18-105mm DX VR lens down to the dock to snap photos of fishing vessels." I might say, "Let's take George down and shoot some ships."  Rolls off the tongue better, don't you think?  Or I could say Fred, but that might confuse matters, since we know a Fred...though, I'm not sure if he would mind me calling a camera Fred, too.  He might become un-amused if we named a new Chihuahua Fred instead...never mind, I digress.  So, I was thinking of using the name of the camera in this new blog, so I need a name!

I think it ought to be unique.  It should be short, that way I am not saying, "Let's take Emmanuel Benjamin Lothar Lewis down to the dock."  You know, something catchy.  Not too cutesy, though.  Nothing like "Puffy" or "Princess."  I don't want my camera looking for sunscreen or sunglasses.  Something fun, yet not overly stuffy.  I don't want to take Reginald down to the dock; that just sounds boring.  I think a Reginald would want to discuss tide schedules instead of take some pictures.  A Spike might want to start a fight and a Joey would just flirt with girls, probably saying in a New Jersey accent, "How you doin'?"  That would just get me in trouble with the mrs.

Cora and I brought up the potential for naming lenses, too. So, then it might be George Joe, or John Robert...you know...

So, I think you get the picture...err, you will get the pictures when I get the soon-to-be-named camera and get the blog up and running.

We had a great day yesterday.  The heat was high, but not oppressive.  It was a good heat, the kind you don't mind being in the shade with.  I finished the sign.  I think it is ready to go...as soon as I wipe off some bird poop.  (Note to self: do not lure birds to yard with bird feeders if you are not willing to get a little bird poop on yard items...)  I think it looks good.  I will have to take a picture and show you all.  It's a little different from the original, since I am a poor planner, still, it looks good.

Well, Big Brother began Thursday night.  Yes, I am still watching reality TV...I guess I am weak.  It's on again tonight.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

Camera Ready!

I took the money we have saved and scraped and scrounged and put it in the bank, then, after a process of elimination and comparison and re-comparison and research and forehead massaging, I purchased my camera on-line at Wal-Mart.com.  Yes.  I did.

Wal-Mart sells it below what the recommended price and it saved me almost $150!!  Plus, free shipping to my door.  Soon, I will be shooting 1000s of pictures!  With!  A! Nikon D90!!!!!  It should be here in a little over a week.  So, instead of whining about getting a camera, you will likely be seeing me writing scathing commentaries on delivery companies and their short-comings.

I have had many kind people offer me their opinions on which is the better camera.  I have taken their suggestions into account.  I compared those cameras side by side.  The guy at the local electronics store was nice enough to take a couple out of the box for me so I could have a look and a feel unfettered by security devices.  I have also done much research on the internet and when I narrowed it down I bought a book concerning the camera in question. By the time I arrived at the right amount of money, my decision making process turned to where to buy it.

So, it is on the way...or will be in one to two business days!!  I cannot wait!!

In the meantime I will be finishing the sign I have been working on in the back yard.  I need only touch up a few details and then I shall deliver it!  After that I shall have my yard back again!!  ...And the two small tables that we usually set our beverages on...they have been supporting the sign.

We had grilled steak and zucchini last night.  Our zucchini plants finally delivered a zucchini!!  I took that baby and sliced it up, rubbed some olive oil on it and some of my home-made Johnny's seasoning and then threw them on the grill.  I did that with store bought zukes the other day, but the taste difference was incomparable!  The fresh zuke, even after sitting on the grill, was crisp and fresh and heavenly!  It complemented the steak, too.  "Hi, I'm a sliced zucchini.  Wow, Mr. Steak, you look good today!  Well done!" (You didn't expect that one, did you?) (oh, and the pun, did you get the pun?  "well done"  I can't believe all this stuff comes out of my head!!)

Anyway, back to my camera.  I will pet it and love it and care for it and sleep next to it and I will name it George.

Cora may get jealous.

Friday Is Here Again!!

I have been working 10 hour days lately.  To make up for the holiday observed on Monday.  Yesterday, I put in my time and then rushed off to make copies of coloring books.  So, there are fifty more coloring books that need to be collated and bound.  

Then I got dog food and fuel for the truck.  Then I stopped and picked up dinner.  I know that Cora's day wasn't any easier...apparently fruit does not always juice the same.  I got home about a little after 630pm...some 12 and 1/2 hours after I left.  Of course, I had stopped by to check the dogs a couple times and have lunch.  Still, it made for a long day.  Even though I wanted to stay up and read, I could not force my eyes to remain open much past ten.

Today will be another ten hours day...the last until the week before the Moxee Hop Festival, then I will use that Friday to set up our table at the Hop Festival.  Hopefully I will have my camera by then.

I am torn between the availability of a local store where I can walk in and say this thing doesn't work and the economical decision of buying a camera on-line.  I would love to save $100 but I really like being able to walk in and say: "FIX IT!" if something goes wrong...I am really close!!  I can imagine my camera in my arms and sleeping next to it every night.  I even imagine Cora putting a blanket over my sleeping form and gently prying the camera from my arms and setting it nearby on its own special camera pillow...

OK, back to reality.

Sorry for waxing on about the camera.  It has been a very long time since I had a camera where I could control every facet of exposure...so I am more than a little excited about such an animal entering my house again!!

Tired

So, I have been waking up at about 430am and I usually get up at 500am.  That extra little half hour is kicking my buttocks!  I went to bed early last night but still woke up early.  Rather than wait for the alarm i get up, since the alarm will just pull me from a great dream.

The heat has been nice.  I guess I may be part reptile. Still, even reptiles seek the shade.  I have done the same.  Especially at work.  We have been making progress at work.  Still have to poke Twinky with a stick to make him move.  Apparently that is why I am losing one of my better workers for two days to help someone else...because I have to be kept with Twinky poking him to make him work.

I bought a D90 book yesterday!  Hurrah!  I know I am going to love that camera...I'll most likely sleep next to it and it will go everywhere with me and I will name it George and I will hug him and squeeze him.  Oh, what a camera!!

Well, i have to get moving.  Another grueling day working in the hot sun.  Gotta love it!

Closer!

As many of you know, I have been saving for a camera, since whining about it to Cora has not helped.  She hasn't just run out to the local camera shop and gotten me that very expensive camera like I had hoped she would.  She's a wonderful woman, don't get me wrong, but she just has not got the "expensive gifts that I don't absolutely need" thing down...but then, I guess I haven't bought her any jewelery lately, either, so maybe we are even.  Still, she was generous (?) enough to tell me if I could find a way to be rid of the two albatrosses cars in the back I could use any money I got from them for my camera.  Well, I am now $450.00 closer since I sold the Mazda.

I still need to sell the accursed Buick...it has failed to garner even a single call!  I am going to repost it at a lower price and try and give the add a better spin tonight.

In the meantime, when word gets out that you can draw and paint, people start asking you to do things.  I have now been asked to do a mural on a child's wall (I want to do this, it'd be fun) and, more recently, I have been asked to re-do a sign for Cora's work.  Any money I get for that sign will go to the Camera Fund!  (I am sure you are all saying, "Camera?  What about the baby?"  I want to use IT to take PICTURES of the baby!  I know! Genius!  And still, Cora has not rushed out to buy me a camera!  DRAT!)  I brought the sign home last night and began working on it.  I chipped and scraped and sanded and primed it.  Soon, I will replace the old lettering and logo.  It should not take too long and the sign will be as good as new.

before

during

Soon, I will have an after photo.  It may be of interest to you that not one of those letters on the old sign were the same height.  The "S" was 35 inches from top to bottom, while others were just a little over 32 inches from top to bottom.

I get to work alone today.  The other two guys are doing ten hour shifts.  I am pretty happy with the amount of stuff that got done this week.  I think we did a good job and the boss will be pleased.

This weekend?  Hmmm, I can't wait to see what it holds!  Have a good Friday!

Touchy Touchy

I taught another high school math class today.  No biggy.  I handed out papers and then made sure they were working...well, I made sure they were jumping around and causing trouble.

I continue to drool over cyber versions of my camera.  OK, it isn't mine.  YET!  I mentioned the Nikon D90 DSLR camera, I believe, in a recent post.  I probably didn't spend much time describing it, I think I probably just mentioned it in passing.  You may not have even noticed.

I needed to get some groceries.  However, not so far from the place where I was planning to get groceries is a...Best Buy.  Yes, I know, Cora doesn't like me to stray from the plan...but it was SOOOOO close.  I walked in and told a guy I'd like to cop a feel of his cameras.  So, I had a very good conversation with the guy.  He showed me both of the cameras I had been looking at.  I looked at the Nikon and the Canon.  I liked the canon, but it was very bulky and it has only 9 point metering while the Nikon had a better heft, felt more manageable in my hand, and 11 point metering.  The price is right, too.

Of course, I have a few things to do before I can purchase a camera, I have to do a few things for Cora...like sell two cars and a video camera that we have used approximately four times.  I think she is totally too demanding...but, you gotta keep the wife happy.

I made beef and snow pea stir fry tonight and asparagus stir fry.  I ran out of rice, so we used quinoa...it turned out VERY nicely!

Oh, did I mention it rained like cats and dogs today where I worked?  It was crazy!

Hmmm...I guess that's all I have for now...I should probably mention that I preferred the Nikon.

What I Want!!

Every so often, I catch myself up on the world of photography.  Cameras change.  So, every once in awhile, I like to make sure I know what's hot.

I have fancied myself a photographer of sorts since high school.  I own a Pentax P-3N, but haven't used it for several years, since film is expensive AND we have a digital camera.  The Pentax is an SLR, which basically means you can switch lenses.

Our current digital camera is something we bought to take to China with us.  Hmmm, yeah.  We were very optimistic back then.  We got this darned Canon Elph in 2007!  It has served us well!  I have enjoyed using it and am happy with it.  It continues to be a wonderful camera.

I am picky about the cameras I buy.  They are a very serious purchase to me.  Akin to choosing a member of the family, though Cora will surely take issue.  This is an item that accompanies us everywhere!  It will be used in many different situations.  I depend on it to record those moments of life that I want to remember!  This is a serious subject for me.

I did months of research on the camera we took to Walt Disney World shortly after we were married.  It was a Minolta Vectis.  We still have it.  It served us well with a menagerie of options and settings.  I continue to be very pleased with the photos we took there.  It is an APS camera.  A smaller than 35mm film type, that may have disappeared for all I know.

I considered Digital Cameras to be questionable at best for quite a long time.  However, recently, the technology has proven its maturity.  I have begun looking into them again.  This time Digital SLRs!  Yes!  I know!  Film is and always has been the origin of photography.  However, I have proven myself to be fairly proficient in the dark room.  I feel I don't have to prove myself more.  Digital offers SOOOOO much more opportunity for alterations of the photograph!  I can do it on my computer and at my leisure (no camping out in a dark room with no females in sight...actually, in a dark room FULL of females, there would be no females in sight...).

The digital SLR I have chosen is the Nikon D90.  I have never owned a Nikon, but I have done a lot of drooling in the stores.  It feels good!  The options it offers are all within the realm of what I want.  I like a versatile camera, and the D90 does that!  Yes, Canons are very good too, but in the end it comes down to what you prefer (Be assured, I WILL be doing more research first hand to verify my findings).

I would not mind the next step up (the D300) but I really want a D90.  How can I afford to purchase this?  We ARE in the middle of an adoption.  I don't know.  I guess I could put some money away every payday, and in a few years I may be able to afford such a wonderful creation...Orrrr a large sum of money could fall out of the heavens...

Anyway, Cora thinks I have become obsessed about this subject.  I have not.  It's not like I keep a window open devoted to Nikon D90 reviews, or other photographic informational websites on my web browser...er, well, yeah, I do.  But I am not obsessed!

Of course, I was waiting for the car today at the dealership and picked up the National Geographic Traveler magazine and all I could think of was how I would get similar shots with my D90.  BUT, I AM NOT OBSESSED!!!

I saw a bridge today with some interesting weathering and thought about how I would shoot it with a nice zoom on the D90-esque camera in my imagination.

But I am NOT obsessed.

Photo Phun

If you have a camera and an industrial plant available to you, I highly recommend taking a few pictures.  I took a little while this morning and touched up a few photos I took the other day.  I approched each one a little differently.

Below, I liked the green from the fluorescent lights and so I used that and enhanced the greens to get what you see below.

I also tried a little gem that I'd never noticed before...see how it warped the photo above?

And sometimes black and white, with an appropriate amount of contrast, is just the right thing.

Same here.  Except, I need to remember to bring a tripod next time.

The next one is just a part of the original photo.  I think I modified it enough to give it a Sci-Fi feel.

I always like to add contrast.  I like these.  I think they would make a good set.

Last night, we had my family over and had a great time with them and playing Wii.  The new game we have offered a lot of options for group play!  It was a lot of fun!  See Cora's site for some pictures!  Or, look at colormehome to see the kids coloring some of the potential dragons.

Spring!

The sun has been showing itself lately.

So much so that the Bleeding Hearts, our annual source of happiness, pride, and despair, have been coming out earlier than normal.  They will soon be their normal Giant Selves, but until then, they are actually very pleasing.  By July we will need to tear them out.  

Last week, I drove Cora to work.  I'd have let her drive, but I get out before she does.  So, I have had time to do stuff.  One of those things is take a few pictures.  Here are some bins outside her work.  I just liked the look of all the bins lined up.

I have ALWAYS enjoyed the look of mechanical things.  The straight lines and the metallic hues, all are pleasing to my eye.  Do you agree?  I need a better camera.  I have seen pictures from other peoples' cameras and I am jealous.  Yes, i am envious.  I want a camera just like them.  I used to think Pentax was fine.  then I got a Minolta Vectis and was quite happy with that.  Then I got a Kodak Easyshare...the best thing about that was that you could take more pictures (FILM VERSUS DIGITAL).  Then we got our beloved Canon Elph.  Now I want a Nikon D series...I need to do more research to decide just which one I want...it might also help if I were a thousandaire.  Hmmm, doesn't one need a parent to...ummm, pass on to become an heir?  Bummer.  Maybe I just need to marry into a rich family...crud. too late.

I had a decent week.  I worked at both districts.  I managed to sell several coloring books.  I don't think it is my drawings, I think it may have more to do with the price of the coloring books.  People seem much more willing to part with five dollars than 50!  I don't blame them.  I even had students wanting to buy them...I told them i could not do that, however.  For those who were very decided that they wanted a coloring book, I gave them the site address and told them to have their parents look it over and make sure it was ok with their parents.

We have sold the majority of our first printing.  I did another today, which we will bind this weekend!  I will also be working on other books, now that we know they are going to be a seller.  I hope it continues!

  

Hurray For Cam-er-as!!

It came!  A couple weeks ago, I told you our camera had suffered a terrible accident.  Canon wanted $90 to start with and then they weren't sure how much it would cost to fix.  I determined that I needed just one part.  Then learned I would actually need three parts, because the "ONE" part I needed was actually THREE (looked like one to me).  Whatever.  It cost a grand total of fourteen bucks, give or take a few cents.  Well, the parts came yesterday and I set about fixing the camera.  

I probably spent about 30-45 minutes working on it.  The problem was two small springs that activated the lens covers.  Simple in operation, difficult to put together without instructions.  Those little teeny-weeny springs had a tendency to shoot off in directions unknown.  Much of my time was spent searching for the damned springs!  Imagine a spring about half the length of a grain of rice, now imagine the darned thing at about 1/3 of the diameter.  Next, imagine it shooting of to destinations up to a foot-and-a-half away.  

That would be bad enough, but the easiest way to seat the springs and lens covers was with the camera on.  It shuts off after 60 seconds without activity.  Imagine working with these tiny little springs, with your fingers just about to put the final touch to it, when the stupid camera sucks in the place you are putting your spring...kazoing!  Off goes the spring!  Followed by a stream of cussing that probably wilted a few plants and damaged the dog's self-image.

I finally managed it, though!  Hurray for me!  

Who knew It Could Do Such Things!?

This is about our camera, which we have had for 2 years now. It has shot tens of thousands of pictures, ranging from cool things we got in the mail, to birds on the front lawn, to aircraft. That last subject is my favorite.

I took the camera with me on a drive this morning. I like to take a camera with me. You never know if you are going to see something worth blogging about, and if you have a camera it makes a post cooler to have pictures. Plus, I am hoping to one day prove the existence of UFOs, Bigfoot, or the Yakima River Monster (No such thing, just made it up...but that'd be cool, huh? and anyway, you can't prove there ISN'T a Yakima River Monster! HAH! Got you!) and if you don't have photographic evidence, no one will believe you!

So, I took the camera on a drive. I found an appropriate subject and began snapping pictures. It was foggy out and I wanted to use the fog to make nasty things look nice by erasing their backgrounds. So, I am snapping pictures, going through the various modes that I have used a hundred thousand times. I push the button one more time and WOW! What's that!?!?!? A wide screen mode? I never appreciated widescreen pictures until I got a widescreen computer. Now I simply MUST have this! I selected it and look at these photos!

Did I mention I am partial to sepia?

and I am kinda likin' lichen!

Oh, and I like using macro...didja notice?

Anyway, I was really pumped by the way this thing works. I love this little camera and have since we got it. It is simply a Canon Elph powershot. It takes pretty good pictures, though I would love to get a large Nikon SLR. I can only imagine how these photos would look with a camera like that!

Oh, yeah, so my point was I know I have seen this option for widescreen before, but I don't think I ever tried it out...which is strange, since I don't feel right about a camera until I know it inside and out. I had obviously forgotten something! How very disappointed I am in myself! Still it is a happy discovery and these will give me some photos to put up as my background. What do you folks thing? Do you like my photos?

OK, the grass was forced, but I SOOOOO love macro!

The rest of the day was spent making the kitchen ready for the frantic baking party Cora and I are going to hold tonight...I promised to help her...I may even get to lick a beater! Now the house looks pretty good and I am pooped. Go figure.

Long Lost Poster

I have not posted for a few days and I have received complaints. So, here is a post, basically a run-down of what we have been doing.

Friday night, Cora begrudgingly agreed to walk down and watch the fireworks at the Hop Festival. This is the only picture I got before Cora took my camera away.

Saturday we went yard saling. Cora made an excellent deal on what I call a play-pen, but she calls a-get this: Play Yard...THERE'S NO GRASS!! I think she is losing it!

I bought a shelf for my small ships and a military back pack that could probably hold a kitchen sink and a few other items, too!

Sunday, I wanted to stay home and do house work, but Cora forced me to go to the Tri-Cities and buy a most excellent video camera and then spend the remainder of the day lounging poolside with her sister sipping ice cold...ahh...refreshments. I begged her to let me go home and wash dishes, but she cruelly handed me another beer and told me to drink up! Then my wonderful brother-in-law bought us dinner, and her is a photo of the three of them at the restaraunt!

Today she said we should work on the house during the week so we could go have some fun on the weekend...by this I assume she meant going back down to lounge beside the pool. We went and got Chinese food for dinner and then I got up and began working on rearranging the house like we have been discussing the last couple weeks. She looked at me as though I might be half-crazed. We are still not completely happy with the arrangement, but it might be nice to have a change. I figured Cora would jump at the chance to work on the house, but, like I said, she questioned my sanity.

Now, I need to figure out a way to get electricity to my chair so I can use my computer when i eventually get it back...my beloved Toshiba Satelite will come home eventually...I hope.

I hope all of you had a good weekend. I hope you have a better week!