For Future REfernce . . .

being made to listen to any Abba song increases the chance that I will want to punch you in the face. That is all.

Irratable

For some reason I've been feeling irritable today. Work was fine, but not really fulfilling. Actually I haven't really felt fulfilled from work in over 10 years. I wonder what it's like.

Happy Holidays Part II

Not much to add, but another few days in Portland for Xmass. This year I had my portrait taken in large format in both a tintype and ferio type for my dear old mom. I had few paper copies made for the rest of the family.

The first is tintype and I have to say it came out rather dashing

This is the Feriotype, ya it doesn't look really that different then the tintype, but in real life you'd be seeing a mirror like effect and some faint other stuff depending on the angle you looked at these.

I spent an afternoon with the old rents and hung some old art of theirs too. Most of the rest of the family I gave cash too since they have a better idea of what they want then I know! Teh rest of my time was spent visiting friends of various sorts. On the down side this will be my last visit to Portland for a while as I'm need to save my money and vacation for this spring/summer period. Oh well.

Hope all is well with everyone otherwise.

Happy Holidays!

Tizz the holiday season, this time around I starting with a long trip to Portland for Thanksgiving. The drive was highly irritating to me as nearly everyone was driving in clumps of cars around slow moving big rigs. It could have been worse, such as snow or a lots of accident and similar crap, but still it was highly irritating. So irritating that I'm whining like a small kid over a week later. Anyway . . .

. . .my birthday is up next, followed by all those other seasonal holidays. Since it's mostly family that actually reads this, I thought I might post a few things I wouldn't mind getting as a gift.

I can use 10" Gordy camera strap.

http://www.gordyscamerastraps.com/wrist-lug/index.htm

I can also use lug mount 1/4" natural 45" camera strap + Integral Strap Bumpers.

http://www.gordyscamerastraps.com/neck-horiz/index.htm

If you want to spend a little bit more, you can buy similar to the above at

http://www.tapanddye.com/collections/all-products/leather-camera-strap

I can also use a Domke FA-230 3-Compartment Insert - for Domke F-802, F-803 or F-804 Satchel Bag

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/16065-REG/Domke_720_230_FA_230_Insert.html

or a lowepro memory wallet

http://store.lowepro.com/modular/s-f-memory-wallet-20

Fototek wireless remote

http://www.amazon.com/FotoTech-Wireless-Shutter-Release-Replaces/dp/B00FP1BQ1Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1386393131&sr=1-1&keywords=canon+6d

LCD Timer Shutter Release Remote Control Cord for Canon 6D - TC-80N3 Compatible

http://www.amazon.com/FotoTech-Wireless-Shutter-Release-Replaces/dp/B00FP1BQ1Q/ref=sr_1_1?s=photo&ie=UTF8&qid=1386393131&sr=1-1&keywords=canon+6d

If I find more, I'll post em here.

Worshiping the Beast 2013

So, rally season (for me) is over. WTB is my end of year (scooter years that is) rally to attend. This year it was me, and maybe 12 others. *Sigh* That having been said, riding the delta is always fun, mostly since it's flat, it's colorful, it has twisties and I always break down. This year I did all the above and got lost too. Best yet is that completed about 90% of the ride before my bike went poop. We even ran into a Wizzer rally. Ya, Wizzer Here's a picture of a Wizzer I think they had less breakdowns then us. Anyway, that was Saturday for me. Sunday I drove back to Sacto for the Barber extravaganza. Mainly it's a lot of socializing and lots of home made pasta sauce. Definitely a fat kid type of day for me. Oh and lot of old italain vehicles (that run). Anyway., what few photos I took can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/filmtwit/sets/72157636529519214/with/10285009063/ Enjoy

The Power of Loneliness

So a friend of mine forwarded an interesting article (see below) to me about loneliness that of course struck a nerve. Much like the author I moved to Portland about 7 years ago, mainly to go to grad school, but also to get the hell out of LA. Unlike the author I have family and few friends and had more then enough acquaintances well before I moved. The first few months were great mostly because I was also working out 2 hours a day and dropping about 50 pounds as a whole. But I had problems connecting to people, so even when surrounded by friends, family and great people I wouldn't really socialize, or mainly minimized my real socializing. Now jump forward about a year and I had finally landed a job and was trying to do grad school full time. My exercise regime slowly was going into the toilet and I was starting to bing eat to deal with the stress. Worst of all I had basically stopped socializing as I didn't have the time for it. Now fast forward 2 years when work ended for me, I had basically dug a big hole for loneliness for myself. On the good side I had pushed myself back into grad school full time to deal with the extra time I had since I wasn't working. But to be honest I needed the work time as it was main source of interaction. So for about a year I kind of unlearned how to socialize. I also didn't want to sad sack and fill my family and friends with my overall depression. On the good side I was exercising regularly again. But threw it all I was still bing eating to deal with the stress of it all. Today, I'm no longer in Portland and away from that world. I still feel lonely at times, but I'm actually less stressed. But my years of bing eating starting to play havoc with health. Loneliness in my case has led me to be unhealthy in my daily diet and as such I am starting to deal with the health risks that went along with it. ugh. OK, I'm done sharing. Loneliness Is Deadly Social isolation kills more people than obesity does—and it’s just as stigmatized. http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/medical_examiner/2013/08/dangers_of_loneliness_social_isolation_is_deadlier_than_obesity.html

The morning After . . .

The morning after what? No idea, but work was kind of festive last evening due today's board meeting. These guys OK our paychecks, so yes this was important. I spent part of the week setting up our boardroom for various activities and sprucing up some of other meeting rooms to make them look more professional. So yesterday morning I could see the look of dread on my boss's face when I arrived in shorts and tshirt like I usually do. Really I wasn't dressed any different then I normally do nor any different then half the staff. But I got to surprise the hell out of everyone because I had brought a change in clothing with me including my favorite tie. We were served some tastie Hors d'oeuvre and and served various drinks that were easy to spike with a wee bit of vodka. Flash forward to late in the evening and I was nodding off at about 9:30. I did get a bit of water into me but I also put myself into bed at 10pm, which is still pretty early for me. I slept well till about 4am, then of course all that water wanted out and rest of this morning was spent light sleeping. So at 7am I awoke and found I had a bit of the hangover. 3 hours later and lot of black tea later and I still have one. I am way too old if I'm nursing a hangover like this over so little alcohol. What is wrong with me?