• Holiday Seasons

    It’s Christmas Eve…

    December 24, 2011
    The Little Angel

    … and hoping everyone has a wonderful Holiday Season!

    Here is few lines from A Charlie Brown Christmas movie:

    Charlie Brown: Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?

    Linus Van Pelt: Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about. Lights, please. “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

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  • Camera Equipment,  Holiday Seasons

    A New Backup

    December 23, 2011
    Tree Ornament

    I’ve been having trouble with the Main Command Dial on my D300. I find when I want to change shutter speeds or adjust my EV, it takes a couple of clicks to get it to change. My first indications was when it started to stiffen up. It makes sense to me as that is the most used dial I use on my camera. I’ve been looking for quite some time in having another D300 as a backup but did not want to put out the money and wondering if it would be more feasible to wait for the next generation to come out. I’ve been using my old D100 as a backup but I’m noticing some switch issues with it also. Financially a used D300(s) would be a better solution than paying a higher price for the next generation. I found a used D300 on Craigslist that’s a year newer than mine and with about 50k actuations. He told me bought it to play with Photomatix HDR and therefor the higher shutter count. The price fit my budget and he threw in the Nikon 18-70mm kit lens. We ran it through a few tests then made a deal with him. So, here is a shot of one of my tree ornaments using the camera with the lens. So, I guess I bought myself a Christmas present!

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  • Holiday Seasons

    Last One for the Year

    December 27, 2010

    The last two days of holiday travel have not been good for those along the eastern coast. We have experienced snow from the southern states all the way up to the New England states. Needless to say my work has been more difficult and included longer work days. Yesterday was a 14 hour duty day. It will probably take a couple days to get things back to normal. And, by that I mean flight crews, aircraft and passengers where they were suppose to be.

    I quickly found my hotel room last night and tucked my tired body under warm covers. Slept well. Slept late. Woke to sunshine, cold temperatures, snow on the ground and a stiff wind. I quickly voted against taking a walk and splurged on breakfast in the hotel restaurant. After consuming a Godfather omelet, I headed up to my room to iron my shirt and prepare for day four of this trip. Outside of the elevators I stopped to enjoy the Christmas tree before it comes down for the season. With the new year quickly approaching I got in one more Christmas photo, my last one for this year. I sincerely hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas and hope you have a wonderful week!

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  • Holiday Seasons

    Wish List

    December 8, 2010

    The temperature  was 12 degrees this morning at 6:00 am. Light snow has been falling since yesterday. It’s not a day to be out and about even it it did get up to 25 degrees. My plan for the day was to put a roast in the crock pot, then take over the couch in a prone position and do some enjoyable reading. To accompany the roast on my plate, I added steamed asparagus with a slab of butter and baked potato (with two three slabs butter) and a tossed salad. Made for a good day. After finishing dishes I made an Egg Nog latte. I then parked myself in the easy chair and dreamed of my Christmas wish list. Have you made your list?

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  • Avian,  Holiday Seasons,  Holidays

    Happy Thanksgiving

    November 25, 2010
    Happy Thanksgiving

    ‘Tis a time to be thankful for all that we have, even if it is not very much. For me I can say I’m thankful because I’m healthy, game-fully employed, have a wonderful family. I can even say I have some great friends or at least 2 that I know of. I’ve also got $20 in my pocket, half a tank of gas in the car and my internet bill is paid (for this month). Right now I’m in Phoenix with my parents and my two sisters and a darn cool brother-in-law. So, there is much to be thankful for.

    But not everyone is as thankful. There are those who have no food, no home, no family, no job, no money. Or maybe they’re in some outpost in Iraq or dealing with a death in the family. For me this is also a time to remember them. I can’t help all of them but will reach out to those I can. I hope we don’t quickly forget those in need and then move on to our next helping of turkey or take that first piece of pumpkin pie? What is it we can do for those in need?

    Now, as for these guys above in the above image, I don’t think they’re quite as thankful about this time of year. If you look closely you’ll notice how they seem to be edgy, checking things out, not trusting me or any one else. Each step is deliberate. Cautious. Wonder why?

    I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving.

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  • Holiday Seasons

    Trees up

    December 5, 2009
    Tree Ornaments

    So what are you suppose to do on a cold, cloudy, rainy day in the first week of December? Well, I decided to make a pot of creamy chicken noodle soup. Sounded good to me and once I had it simmering on the stove it smelled even better. While the soup was cooking I went ahead and put up the tree, well actually two. When I went to the store earlier for the ingredients to make the soup, I found a small 3 foot tree, with lights, on sale for 10 bucks. So, I bought it and now I have two trees this year. These two 3 foot trees, which equal 6, are small compared to Earl and Bonnies 9 footer but if I buy a third one next year we’ll have the same size trees. Anyway, later on in the evening I sat down and enjoyed my bowl of soup, a piece of blueberry pie and my two trees. Trees are up and lights are on. Here’s an image of one of my little angels.

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  • Holiday Seasons

    Thankful and stuffed

    November 26, 2009
    Chocolate (Dark)

    It seems a lot of people come up with a list of things they are thankful for during this time of year. There are so many things I’m thankful for but I’m only going to throw out this short and sweet list:

    • Spirituality  – A lifelong journey of discovery for me. I’ve come to believe the search for God will introduce us to ourselves and I’m liking what I’m finding
    • Health – Physical and mental (which some may question) health. 2010 will be my 60th birthday so I do feel the stiff joints and hear the loud popping sounds from those same joints as I get up from a chair a little slower, but I still get up
    • Family – Grandchildren who are now driving, hard to believe they have grown up so fast. My children, sisters and parents who all are gifts in my life. I love them dearly!
    • Photography – At this point in my life, it’s a love affair. It’s one medium I use to express myself and helps me to see the world with new eyes. LightRoom 2 🙂 I’ll also include the community of photographers who enrich my life as a photographer and as a person, that’s you!
    • Friends – I am blessed to have many, some who have been there to help lift me up when I’ve fallen and some who I have helped get back up. Distance and time have not deterred those friendships
    • Work – Which provides a comfortable lifestyle and an extended family
    • Chocolate – What more can I say, one of my crutches. I guess you can also include Thai food

    I do wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and hope your day is filled with family, friends, turkey, stuffing,pumpkin pie and chocolate.

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