Keyboard and Monitor

27 February 2008
Another day working from home (this, sadly, can't go on forever). Another day of resting & elevating the leg. Keeping it medicated, iced & compressed is critical in these early stages (at least that's what my sports-injury training keeps telling me). This day, blissfully, I didn't have to leave the house. That was a treat. But, it also meant not much in the way of photo-ops. So, here we have my keyboard & monitor. Hooray.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 28 Februrary 2008)

Listening to:
Fly by Night by Rush
from Fly by Night

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.8 sec (4/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: COMPUTER, KEYBOARD, MONITOR, PHOTOBLOG

Welcome Aboard, Marcus

26 February 2008
Thanks boss!
My boss allowed me to work from home this day. This allowed me to keep the knee wrapped, my body medicated & the leg elevated. However, I did have other pre-planned business to attend to in the evening and since it didn't involve stairs or too much moving we chose not to change the appointment. So, around 1800, MB and I headed to NFG to meet with Marcus. After a loose, informal interview and some negotiating, we "hired" him. Marcus will be managing the weekend operations of my East Wind Games shop at Scarborough Renaissance Festival. This is a much-needed step in the growth of my small company and I think the hiring of Marcus will be a positive experience for all.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 28 February 2008)

Listening to:
Old Cold Coffee on the Dashboard by Nickel Creek
from Here To There

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: EAST+WIND+GAMES, NO+FRILLS+GRILL, PHOTOBLOG

Not My Favourites

25 February 2008
Awww heck. What a day. I met Marita Beth & Kelly at No Frills Grill as they were hungry and after a long day at work, I could use a break, too. After much fun & good fun, we parted ways with Marita Beth & I heading home while Kelly went elsewhere. The food & company had cheered up my day substantially so I suggested a walk of the dogs...mistake. Walking the dogs on lead is one of the few things we have really neglected when talking about the training and behaviour of our pets. Cormac, in particular, is not a good leash-dog. We're trying to fix that. Unfortunately, the training got curtailed tonight. As I was running him on lead, he decided that getting tangled up in my quickly trotting feet was the proper thing to do. This pitched me forward. I had two choices: continue the fall forward onto the asphalt road on which I was running him, or twist myself sideways and launch myself onto the neighbours lawn. Obviously, the second was the better option but it was executed poorly. I ended up smacking my knee into the curb causing an immense amount of bruising, swelling and lost skin. These, although my saviours of the night, are not my favourite friends right now:

Now, two days later, I can limp along, but I can't bend my knee very well and the pain is sometimes overbearing. But, I've had worse...I just was much younger then. Ohh, well, it is what it is.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 28 February 2008)

Listening to:
Forest Walk by Diane Linn
from Conversations With The Moon

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

The Margarita Rim

24 February 2008
Marita Beth spent the greater part of the day away from the house; I spent the greater part of the day recontructing 2007 sales figures for East Wind Games. With the recent computer virus, I lost all electronic records, and this was a particular record I didn't ever print and had no backup of. *sigh* So, the day was spent going through physical transactions and re-recording them. What a chore. But, the day ended with a trip to a nearby Tex-Mex restaurant and margaritas. Yum.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 25 February 2008)

Listening to:
The Man in Love With You by George Strait
from Easy Come, Easy Go

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG, TEX-MEX, MARGARITA

Inside the Glass Conch

23 February 2008
I think I'm finally over this crud I've had. I slept nearly a full 12 hours finally hauling out of bed near the noon hour. I think that's the last of it, the final sleep that got me out of this 7 week misery. But, it also means I missed the day. Kelly & Marita Beth were finalising bits and pieces for Melanie's fitting so, I got some coffee and retreated to my office for a day of receipts and taxes - hooray. Enough is enough, finally, and I emerged bruised, battered & exhausted (mentally & emotionally, not physically). I collapsed in the living room. Marita Beth soon joined me, and not long after that so did the rest of the family. In Marita Beth's lap is 'Tia, at her right arm is Artemis, the aloof cat who was duly and irrepressably pissed off that there was a dog in her lap. At Marita Beth's feet is the newest, and youngest, member, Cormac.

Cheers.

~KR (Wrtten on 25 February 2008)

Listening to:
Ultima Cancion by B-Tribe
from Sensual Sensual

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash fired, auto mode, red-eye reduction

Tags: PHOTOBLOG

Inside the Glass Conch

22 February 2008
Marita Beth & I joined Ken & Denise tonight for a bit of Fakespearian tomfoolery. The Stolen Shakespeare Guild, a local Community Arts group, performed an abridged version of Merry Wives of Windsor, a modernized version of Volpone (a Ben Johnson play) and Short Attention Span Much Ado About Nothing. Although very obviously an amateur production it was amusing enough that I'll likely go back and watch future productions. The show took place in the Sanders Theatre inside the Community Arts complex in the Ft. Worth cultural district. Although I'd been to the Scott Theatre numerous times, I'd never been to the Sanders Theatre which is right next door. I'm embarassed to admit that, but it's been rectified now. In addition to the theatre, there is also a small museum which I presume houses artwork done by the community. We didn't get to spend too much time there before the show started, but I did manage to take a few photos of some exception glass art pieces. This is the interior of a beautiful conch shell that, for me, was the highlight of the glass work exhibit.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 23 February 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PHOTOBLOG

Purple Spiral Bound

21 February 2008
This spiral notebook used to go with me when I travelled on business. It's seen many, many stations in many different cities and two countries. But, I've retired it recently in favour of a moleskine. Still, it sits on my desk and I refer to it frequently enough for notes I've taken over the years. Perhaps someday it'll be permanently retired.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 23 February 2008)

Watching
The Frighteners

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.167 sec (1/6)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

My Old Friend

20 February 2008
Marita Beth called while I was still working and asked if I had plans. I did not, so she made plans for herself. She, Ginger & Kelly got together for some girl time. I love the fact that these three girls have this opportunity at the moment to spend so much time together. They're sisters of different mothers and seem to love each other as much as any family members ever could.So, I got home to a quiet, empty house. I let the dogs out, then went back out myself to marvel at the moon. Braced against the wall of the house, I took a series of Ms. Luna through the gnarled branches of the Black Oaks in the front yard. I like this one best:
.
I'd intended to take more photos during the eclipse, but cloud cover settled in and I couldn't see it, so no photos of that. And, since the moon has been a constant, if somewhat inconsistent, companion through my entire life no matter where I've lived; and she's always been there me to yell at, marvel at, howl at; and she will always be there, I'm using her as my Mini-Challenge entry. The moon is one of my oldest friends and companions.
Cheers.

~KR (22 February 2008)

Listening to:
The Only One by Morphine
from Good

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/5.5
Focal Length: 23.2 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: FULL+MOON, OAK, TREE, COMPANION, PHOTOBLOG

Partially Consumed

19 February 2008
Tuesday night which means trivia with friends at No Frills Grill. We got there a little later than normal and found Brett with three trivia boxes trying to keep all three boxes in the game. Jill & Smiley (her daughter) had been there but Jill took Smiley home, so Brett kept their games active until we got there and took over for Smiley. Smiley immediately became crzy. :-) Photo of the day? Partially consumed bottle of beer. My wife drinks Corona Light and this is that bottle:

Why oh why couldn't the Mini-Challenge this week be "bottles?"
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 21 February 2008)

Listening to:
The Whiskey Never Lies by Sligo Rags
from The Whiskey Never Lies

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: BEER+BOTTLE, CORONA, NO+FRILLS+GRILL, TRIVIA, PHOTOBLOG

Rosemary and Olive Oil

18 February 2008
Some dear friends have suddenly moved to the area for the next 8 months (or so). To celebrate, a batch of us went to Italianni's, a local Italian (go figure) restaurant that we've always enjoyed. We wanted to treat them to someplace nice. When we arrived, they had the tables decorated with bottles of Olive Oil & Balsamic Vinegar. This is one of the Olive Oil bottles with a sprig of Rosemary stuffed in it. I really loved the way the table candles backlit the sprig, but I confess to it looking far better in my mind than the final product.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 19 February 2008)

Listening to:
Can't Stop This Thing We Started by Bryan Adams
from Billboard Top 100 of 1991

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.4 sec (2/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: ITALIANNI'S, ITALIAN, RESTAURANT, TEXAS, PHOTOBLOG

Mercado Juarez

17 February 2008
Marita Beth went to Scarborough Faire today to meet with clients, I stayed home and worked a bit on a variety of things. No single task really drew me to it, nor occupied my time completely. I watched some football, I worked on some Middle-Earth game stuff, I worked on some journal entries, I watched a movie. All of it very non-interesting. When Marita Beth got home she was hungry and I didn't want to be at home anymore. So, off we went. We drove up to the relatively new & burgeoning Highlands of Arlington shopping area knowing full-well we'd find something to eat in the area. We wound up at Mercado Juarez:

Ironic in that MJ has been there for longer than I've lived in Arlington and all this new stuff has just sprung up around it. Good food, good margaritas, good company across the table and the Daytona 500 on the telly. A decent escape, but I sure paid for it later. My stomach is just too sensitive these days to put much in it without regretting doing so. The price of getting old, I suppose.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 18 February 2008)

Listening to:
Written All Over Your Face by Rude Boys
from Billboard Top 100 of 1991

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/9
Focal Length: 8.6 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

Tags: MERCADO+JUAREZ, TEX+MEX, ARLINGTON, TEXAS, PHOTOBLOG

Light, Plane and Rainbow

16 February 2008
I spent nearly the entire day out of the house. I made a quick trip to Fry's to pick up some missing, yet necessary, electronic components. Following that, I made a trip back to my neighborhood to meet up with T. We had work to do, so do it we did. No Frills Grill offers free Wi-Fi and a pleasant, stress-free environment in which to dig deep into the nitty gritty of the work. We'd been there maybe an hour when the "thunder boomers" came through with a vengeance even knocking out power, satellite & wi-fi service for 15 minutes or so. Another half hour or so went by when Janessa (our waitress) stopped by the table to tell us to head outside to take a look at the rainbow. When we arrived it was a full, double rainbow. We don't see that too terribly often around Arlington, so I grabbed a series of photos. This one I like best as it shows a plane just turning into the rainbow:
.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 18 February 2008)

Listening to:
Song of the Open Road by Jenny Scheinman
from 12 Songs

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: RAINBOW, AMERICAN+AIRLINES, PLANE, SKY, PHOTOBLOG

Peanut Butter and Honey

15 February 20087
You can tell your life is taking a turn for the exciting when the best photo you have of your day is of your extremely non-exciting dinner. I'm not exactly sure why I had a Peanut Butter & Honey sandwich for dinner, but I did. Hmmm.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 18 February 2008)

Listening to:
I Started a Joke by the Bee Gees
from Number Ones

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Thistle Torc

14 February 2008
Last year, or perhaps the year before, Krafty Kelts opened a shop at TRF. We have been fond of the Kraft Kelt line of products for years, but we always ran across them at times when it wasn't necessarily financially responsible to purchase. However, with the shop being just down the lane from us at TRF, the temptation proved a little too great. So, Marita Beth purchased a beautiful bracelet. I've commandered it. Besides, it looks better on me. :-)

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 17 February 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: THISTLE, TORC, SILVER, BRACELET, BANGLE, PHOTOBLOG, BOKEH, MACRO, CLOSE-UP

Cin Cin

13 February 2008
While wondering through the house in search of a photo opportunity, I stumbled across this small glass jar. Contained in the jar are a great number of wine goblet charms that we use during the various parties hosted here during the year. I love that the charm bearing the great Italian toast "cin cin" was first and foremost - no arrangment necessary.

Cheers (or should I say, "Cin Cin"?)

~KR (Written on 17 February 2008)

Watching:
Employee of the Month
(completely mindless movie)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.4 sec (2/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: CIN+CIN, WINE+GOBLET+CHARMS, PHOTOBLOG

Blackbeard - The Toy

12 February 2008
Edward Teach, the demon of the seas; the captain of the Queen Anne's Revenge; the scourge of many a sailor; infamously known as Blackbeard; a toy.

This is the only "modern" toy I carry at East Wind Games and I carry it solely for historical value (actually, I also carry Leonardo da Vinci and Anne Bonny). Right.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 14 February 2008)

Listening to:
I Want You by Rock Runt Riket
from Absolute Music 03

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PIRATE, EAST+WIND+GAMES, TOY, DOLL, BLACKBEARD, PHOTOBLOG

Light Cluster

11 February 2008
My wife loves our little house. If you have ever visited, or ever do visit, it's obvious. But, it's obvious in the little things, like the decorations. Me, I don't have the skill or patience to do what she's done to make this house a home. But, I love just about every aspect of her work. This is a cluster of lights on top of a curio cabinet. They're shaped like grapes and provide beautiful ambience to the dining room:
.
Just in the background there, you can see my blurry wife emerging from the kitchen.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 14 February 2008)

Listening to:
Joan of Arc by Leonard Cohen
from Songs Of Love And Hate

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: GRAPES, DECORATION, LIGHT, BLURRY, MACRO, BOKEH, LEONARD+COHEN, PHOTOBLOG

Valentine Retail

10 February 2008
Ahh, the glory of an Hallmark Holiday, wot? My life with my wife is darn near perfect and I don't need an artificially created holiday to prove that, or tell her that, or show her that. I'll bring her flowers, or chocolates or take her to out on a date any time I want to, not because some greeting card salesman or a chocolatier or a florist tells me I must. I despise artifical holidays, I really do. But, to appease the mini-challenge for this week, I took my camera into a CVS and took this photo:


Now you understand the above tirade a little better while at the same time getting a small glimpse of the tiny cogs that make my brain whirl. We'd gone to CVS to get some Ester-C at the insistence of our friend, Mary. I took several photos while there and while none of them are great, this is the best. I may or may not use it as my mini-challenge entry. We'll see what the rest of the week brings.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 11 February 2008)

Listening to:
The Factory Song by Seven Nations
from The Factory

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: VALENTINE'S+DAY, HEART, CANDY, CVS, SEVEN+NATIONS, LOVE, PHOTOBLOG

The World Within

9 February 2008
One of my wife's accomplishments of which i am most proud is her skill at glass blowing. Thanks to the wonderful tutelage of Shannon Morgan at Faire Maiden Glass, my wife has developed quite a talent. I've showcased some of her pieces in this journal before. Here's another one. This is one of the very first pieces she ever made.
It currently is in the living room and lit from underneath creating a beautiful nightlight.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 10 February 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Stack

2 February 2008
As you've likely gleaned at some point in this journalling, both my wife and I are readers. Some would say avid, I would say convenient...that is, I read whenever it's convenient. I read in the morning, I read in the evening, I even read while sitting at stoplights in traffic. What do we read? Everything. From newspapers to magazines to books. This is a stack of consumed magazines:
The magazine is, I believe, Design.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 8 February 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Valentine's Day Cross

7 February 2008
Stll sick. Sick enough in fact that I chose to not go to my soccer game tonight. I just don't think I could have played with sufficient stamina to make it worth the journey. I also have no real desire to spread this joy to my teammates (work colleagues...that's a different matter). At least Marita Beth is feeling better. She's been sick for the better part of a week and has passed it back over to me. I hope we don't continue this flip-flop routine, because frankly I'm tired of feeling poorly. Marita Beth did lot's of cleaning & decorating around the house yesterday. Including this:

This is a small table under a mirror on the wall in the living room. She's decorated the table with red candles and red string-lights, but she left the fabulous Celtic cross that we picked up at the Milwaukee Irish Festival some years back. The whole arrangement is very pretty.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 8 February 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: VALENTINE'S+DAY, SOCCER, SICK, CELTIC+CROSS, CROSS, CELTIC, PHOTOBLOG

The Pincushion

6 February 2008
I seem to have gotten back whatever it is I gave Marita Beth. I'm hacking and coughing & wheezing up a storm. Not pleasant, not fun. It also interferes with the ability or desire to take photos. So, this is what we get today:

This is one of the many pin cushions you can find littered throughout our house. My wife being a seamstress, pin cushions are part of the trade. But, this one lives in the living room and is more decorational than functional. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever see the darling girl use it. It sits on top of an antique sewing machine, so may be an antique in itself. However, whatever, it's one of those many knick-knacky things in the house that make some people say, "Your house is so cool...it's like a museum." (ohh, and I edited it with Picnik - that's a cool tool)
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 7 February 2008)

Listening to:
Finnegan by Kila
from Mind the Gap

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PINCUSHION, SEWING, ANTIQUE, KILA, MIND+THE+GAP, PHOTOBLOG

7 the Hard Way

5 February 2008
It's that time of year again when my thoughts start to turn toward faire and the task of running my store at Scarborough Faire. East Wind Games has done well the past two years there, and I look forward to what this year might bring - along with all attendant challenges that are bound to surface. So, with East Wind Games on the mind, I took this photo of a pair of dice that I happened to have at the office with me:

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 7 February 2008)

Listening to:
This Town's Disaster by Blackpool Lights

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.1 sec (1/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: EAST+WIND+GAMES, DICE, GAME, GAMES, BLACKPOOL+LIGHTS, PHOTOBLOG

CD Backup

4 February 2008
I was going to post this one into the Mini-Challenge: Mundane Tasks for what could be more mundane than putting in a CD for a daily/weekly/monthly backup?

But, I eventually chose the Apple bin shot instead. Not that this isn't freakin' mundane, but I like the other shot better. And, the whole thing is moot now anyway as the challenge ended yesterday.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 7 February 2008)

Listening to:
I'll Hold You In My Heart (Till I Can Hold You In My Arms) by Elvis Presley
from Elvis By The Presleys

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: CD, BACKUP, COMPACT+DISC, ELVIS+PRESLEY, PRESLEY, PHOTOBLOG

Greenman in the End

3 February 2008
The wife is sick, so the Super Bowl was watched from home. But, you know, that wasn't so bad. I got to spend all day with her which is so very rare. I did have to run out at one point to get my number from a squares pool in which I participated. My numbers were 9 for the Giants and 0 for the Patriots. If the Patriots had kicked a field goal rather than trying for a touchdown on 4th and 13, I'd be a $100 richer. Oh well. I took this photo while driving back from NFG (that's where the squares pool was).

It's a closeup of the end of a knife I own. The handle and end are bone and hand-carved with the end being a Greenman head. The blade is Damascus-like, but I'm not even of an expert to know for sure. I took it out of my backpack when I recently took a trip and it's lived in the car ever since.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 5 February 2008)

Listening to:
Stairway to Heaven by Led Zepplin
from Led Zeppelin IV (aka ZOSO)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: KNIFE, LED+ZEPPLIN, DAMASCUS, PHOTOBLOG

Mundane Defined

2 February 2008
After being out late the night before with Tullamore, I'll admit to being a little groggy when I dragged myself out of bed. But, I had to because footy practice was soon to start and with the season start being imminent, I'm badly in need of both fitness and touches. Even if I do hang up my boots, I'll likely continue to train with the team whenever I can just so I stay in some semblance of shape. I returned home from the session and almost immediately left again to head to the Rahr Brewery for the weekly gathering of friends. While there Terrill called; he was out and about and wanted company, so Marita Beth & went to the Baker Street Pub to play pool with Terrill. From there, it was time for the necessary, mundane task of grocery shopping.
Mini-Challenge: Mundane Tasks

This is my wife checking out the apples. Very mundane, very necessary.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 4 January 2008)

Listening to:
Object of my Desire by Starpoint
from Billboard Top 100 of 1986

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.013 sec (1/80)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

Tags: APPLES, SHOPPING, POOL, PUBS, RAHR+BREWERY, BEER, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, PHOTOBLOG, MUNDANE+TASK

Tullamore at the Plaza Pub

1 February 2008
There are few thing I like more than music. And live music is especially dear to me. Live music as being performed by friends who live far away but are in town for a gig: that can't be beat. Marita Beth, Ronnie & I went to the Plaza Pub in Arlington to watch Tullamore play. We've known 2 of the band members for many, many years and have followed their career paths with joy. Thankfully, their paths and ours do, on occasion, cross.

This is Mary & Mark (the two we know). Mary is playing the dulicmer and lends her voice to the group on occasion. Mark plays guitar and sings every so often. The third, non-visible (in this photo) is Rachael. She plays the fiddle and joins in on the singing as well. If you ever get to see them, do so. It's worth the time.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 4 February 2008)

Listening to:
Have a Drink on Me by AC/DC
from Back in Black

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 10 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: TULLAMORE, PLAZA+PUB, IRISH+MUSIC, LIVE+MUSIC, ARLINGTON, PHOTOBLOG

The Checkered Tablecloth

31 January 2008
After a lousy, crazy day at work, we decided we wanted pizza and quiet time. We tried to order pizza through our local Pizza Hut, but when we were told that our coupon was no longer valid and it would be an hour and a half for delivery we said, "no thank you" and went out to the new pizza joint just down the street. Johnny Brusco's Pizza opened up a few months back when Nizza Pizza left the center. This makes the 4th pizza place in that location in the last 10 years. When will they learn? While sitting there discussing the turns and turmoils of our lives and the lives of those around us, I multi-tasked into photo taking. I didn't take a whole lot of photos, but I do kind of like this one for some reason.

It's simply the traditional red & white checked table cloth on our table. I think every New York style pizza place has to have these tablecloths by law.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 1 February 2008)

Listening to:
Breathe by Faith Hill
from Breathe

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.167 sec (833334/5000003)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PIZZA, ARLINGTON, TABLE+CLOTH, TEXAS, PHOTOBLOG

The Juggler

29 January 2008
Many years ago, I worked in the Comic Book industry. While in that job, I found a product line called "Pocket Dragons." They're a wonderful creation by Real Musgrave who happened to live in the DFW Metroplex. Real Musgrave had also done posters and sculptures for both Scarborough Faire and the larger Texas Renaissance Festival close to Houston. I find his work to be comically engaging and full of fantastic life. My wife and I both are fans of his work and own several pieces. These are two of them:
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Cheers.

~KR (Written on 31 January 2008)

Listening to:
Arthur's Theme (The Best That You Can Do) by Christopher Cross
from The Very Best of Christopher Cross

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: POCKET+DRAGONS, FANTASY, DRAGONS, PHOTOBLOG

The World As I See It...

29 January 2008
...through the bottom of a glass.
What a day. Luckily I managed to sneak in a photo early in the day because the rest of the day got shot to hell. There are two caveats to that statement. First, my wife came home from Floriday yesterday after a nine-day visit with her family. Welcome home, sweetheart. Second, the day ended in fine fashion playing trivia with good friends at No Frills Grill in Arlington. We played a number of games, and with the exception of one game, one of the three of us won each game (my wife doesn't actually control her own trivia box, she just feeds us answers). That was fun. So, the photo:

This is a glass tumbler that my wife made with her very own hands. It's hand-blown in traditional manner and I couldn't be more proud to keep it on my desk. I also have a "blob" that was one of her very first pieces, but I can't drink out of that.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 30 January 2008)

Listening to:
I Can See It by Blancmange
from Best of Blancmange

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: GIRL+GLASS, FAIRE+MAIDEN+GLASS, GLASS, HAND+BLOWN, BLUE, PHOTOBLOG

My Boots

28 January 2008 
I've played football, what American's call soccer, for most of my life. My first memory of playing the game was in an apartment parking lot in Germany in the early 70s (72ish). I've never really questioned the passion or the desire, I've just presumed it to be part of me despite the pressure from the North Texas community to embrace American-style Football as my sport of choice. I'll never do that; soccer will forever be "my" sport. But, perhaps it's time I give up the playing of it. Arseblog wrote yesterday "I think I might retire. When the idea of sitting around in a dressing gown eating toast is more appealing than going to play football you know it's probably time" and I can't disagree with him. For a number of seasons now I've been contemplating it without really knowing I've been contemplating. I tried coaching the team to get my mind and passion back into it, but the politics wore me out even more than the actual playing. Nowadays it seems the team is even less focused than I am and getting a training together is more and more difficult. I'll need something to do to keep in shape, but, for now, perhaps it's time I hang up my boots. *sigh*

Cheers.

 ~KR (Written on 28 January 2008)

Listening to:
Nausea by Beck 
from The Information

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: ADIDAS, SOCCER, FOOTBALL, BOOTS, PHOTOBLOG

Beer Fridge

27 January 2008
Yesterday while visiting NFG Arlington (see yesterday's entry), I was speaking with Jason, the manager about Shiner. He let slip that the NFG in Mansfield had the new Shiner Black on draught and that he would be on duty during the day on Sunday. So, after making sure my computer was working properly and was downloading the many, many megs of necessary updates, I went to NFG Mansfield. Nice place. The bar is big, the patrons friendly and bartender, Annie, very pleasant and knowledgeable. As expected, NFG Mansfield has a good selection of brew both draught and bottle. This is one of the visible beer coolers stocked for the day.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 27 January 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 800
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: BEER, FRIDGE, COOLER, NO+FRILLS+GRILL, MANSFIELD, PHOTOBLOG

NO in Red

26 January 2008
A virus. A bloody virus got on my computer through all the firewalls, antiviral protection and simpe safe-computing habits I've built up over the years. A bloody virus and my day is shot to hell. I got up in the morning, knowing the virus was on the computer, and watched some footy on the television anyway. Some enjoyable FA cup football to relax me a bit. Then I started on the various repair techniques; none of which worked. Eventually, I had to fit in a trip to Fry's because all of my thumbdrives have gone walkabout and I desperately need to transfer necessary driver files from a laptop to the newly formatted and installed desktop. Well, what's a trip to Fry's without a side-trip to NFG, right? This is the firelane curb in front, and slightly to the side, of the front door. It pretty much sums up how I felt. NO!

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 27 January 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperture: f/8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: NO, PARKING, RED, FIRE+LANE, PHOTOBLOG

Finger Reflection

25 January 2008
The day at work, again, and no photos worth a damn. It's difficult to continually locate something worth photo'ing when you see the same thing over, and over, and over again. So, all I wanted to do when I got home was put fingers on my wife's mirror:

Heh.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 27 January 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: REFLECTION, MIRROR, PHOTOBLOG

I'm a Geek

24 January 2008
In all my writings and ramblings and photos, I'm not sure one thing has ever been totally clear. I'm a geek. It's true. I'm a geek. I'm a nerd, in that I'm a programmer. But at heart, I'm a geek, at least in the modern sense of the word. Science Fiction movies and books are my favourite pasttimes; and no pasttime has been quite so prevalent in my life as comic books. In 1972 (or so) I bought my first comic book (a Daredevil) on an Air Force base in Munich, Germany. I've never quite looked back from that momentous decision. My tastes in comics have changed over the years (I'm more D.C. and Indie than Marvel, now) but I still revere the Daredevil comic. In fact, I have a complete run up through 2002 when, due to economic restrictions caused by 9/11 I was forced to make sudden, certain cutbacks in my spending behaviour. I even worked in the industry for a number of years in the mid-late 90's. This is a photo of the cover of issue #206, my favourite Daredevil issue ever:
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The serendipity comes from the fact that my wife (not my wife at the time) bought the original coverpage art (seen here) for that issue for me as a birthday present. I now have framed and hanging on my wall, the cover of #206 next to the original cover art and a published, coloured version of the page. It's a lovely treatment and one I'm proud to own.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 27 January 2008)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: DAREDEVIL, COMIC+BOOKS, MARVEL, PHOTOBLOG

Mr. Steer the Mummy?

23 January 2008
Out of town vendor's in town for work. We took him to downtown Ft. Worth because he'd never been and wanted to. Sadly, Terrill was unable to join us. So, Lou, Eric & I went and had a great time. We parked in the parking garage and started our tour of Sundance Square with me as the tour-guide (hah! that's a laugh) wending our way toward a billiard hall. I was telling Lou & Eric of the topiary "statues" scattered throughout the downtown area when we came across one. Little did I know that they had dressed the cow up as though he were an extra in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. I giggled and giggled when I saw this. It looks so bovinely ridiculous.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 24 January 2008)

Listening to:
4 Twenty by Hanging on the Floorboards

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

Tags: FT.+WORTH, DOWNTOWN, SUNDANCE+SQUARE, STEER, TOPIARY, WRAPPED, MUMMY, MUMMIFIED, PHOTOBLOG

Good for the Soul

22 January 2008
Mini-Challenge: Good for the Soul
I honestly thought when I saw the challenge topic that my entry would be beer, or beer-related. Then, on Tuesday night, the 22nd, I came home to two puppies who were frantically wanting to welcome me home. That...that is good for the soul. The only way it could be better for the soul would be to somehow squeeze the other puppy and my wife into the photo. That would be damn near "perfect" for the soul.

This is Cormac. He's a little more frantic than the elder Berecyntia (we call her 'Tia) but every bit as loving. They both just went nuts when I came home this evening. Perhaps it's because Marita Beth is in Florida and the cat is just bitchy so no fun as a playmate. Whatever the cause, I love the unadulaterated adoration they provide.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 24 January 2008)

Listening to:
Parting Shot by The Hope Trust

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 1 sec (1)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PET, FRIEND, GOOD+FOR+THE+SOULD, CORMAC, PHOTOBLOG

Night Light Close-Up

21 January 2008
Went to work this morning despite being sick. I guess that's how much I care. I felt lousy and don't really feel like I got much accomplished, but there's a certain sense of satisfaction in knowing that I was strong enough to stave off this damn cold long enough to get into work. After work, however, I went straight home. No bar, no restaurant, no pool hall. Just home to two dogs, a cat that doesn't much care for me and some Nighttime Cold Medicine. While fixing that for myself I noticed this string of decorative lights around the kitchen window and thought: "gosh, those are kinda pretty" (I think it was the cold medicine already taking hold). I got the camera and you get this photo:

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 22 January 2008)

Listening to:
We Are the Champions by Queen
from Queen - Greatest Hits

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: NIGHTLIGHT, CLOSE-UP, BOKEH, PHOTOBLOG, QUEEN

Insulated Spigot

20 January 2008
Sunday. A day of rest. I tried, really I did. I got up at 0530 to check my wife in for her flight to MCO (fifteen minutes later than I needed to) only to discover that it was really 0430. So, I went back to sleep for 45 minutes. At 0515 I did get up and check her in for her flight (it was sure looking good for her) then went right back to sleep - again. Finally at 0710 the goodwife woke me up for the final time. It was time to take her to the airport for her annual trip to visit family in Orlando, FL. After some security snafus with the TSA (imagine that!) she got through to the gate in time to hear her name being called. Her upgrade to First Class came through and onboard she went. I went back home fully intending to take my cold-riddled body back to bed. But, once in bed I couldn't get my eyes to close even though my body was screaming for rest. So, I got up and watched some footy on the telly and checked movie listings. Cloverfield was playing at 1400 at the Movie Tavern just up the street. I made up my mind right then to go do that, then follow that up with a trip to NFG to watch the NFL playoffs. So, at 1330, I headed to see Cloverfield. I'll tell you right now that if you a) like the hand-held look of The Blair Witch Project or FX's The Shield or b) enjoy the tenseness of movies like Alien and c) ever watched and enjoyed any Godzilla movie you will get a charge out of Cloverfield. The movie takes some time to get moving as it establishes relationships, but once it gets moving it only slows down momentarily. Truly 90 minutes (ok...about 70 minutes) or mind-numbing, body-aching tension. Truly, truly enjoyed it. The NFL games weren't so much fun. Neither game played out the way I wanted, but they were both enjoyable to watch (as much as NFL is ever enjoyable to watch that is). The second was made more enjoyable as Terrill & his son, Kyle, stopped by NFG and watched it with me. On the way home from NFG, I stopped off at Taco Bell for some cheap food and snapped this photo while waiting to pay.

I took three photos of this hose wrapped in insulation...they were the only three photos of the day. So, away from the beer-themed photos and back to the "making the mundane pretty, or at least interesting" concept.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 21 January 2008)

Listening to:
Attitude by Metallica
from Reload

Tags: HOSE, INSULATION, TACO+BELL, CLOVERFIELD, NFG, NO+FRILLS+GRILL, HOSE, METALLICA, PHOTOBLOG

Pint Glass and Ashtray

19 January 2008
Ohh, hey, what do you know...another photo with a beer glass in it. This morning I woke up sick. My head felt three miles wide, my soft pallatte was swollen to the point of gagging me, my sinuses were draining causing my throat no end of pain. Yeah, what an awful way to wake up. Made worse by the fact that I had promised Marita Beth earlier in the week that I would attend her dance performance this afternoon/evening. *sigh* I made good on the promise despite the fact that I felt like absolute shite and wanted nothing more than to lay down for good long nap. But, a promise is a promise so off we drove to Denton. The performance was at 1900, but we had to be there at 1500 for her last rehearsal and tech review. So, I went down to Fry Street and visited a few bars I'd never been to..always a fun pastime for me. The first bar I went to, Riprocks was a typical college dive. I can't write much good about it. The wait and bar staff sucked, The selection of beers was tolerable but by no means exceptional. The bar (all of Denton, really) is still a smoker's haven, so the place reeked. The upholstery on every chair and bench was torn or, in some cases, completely absent. Really, there is nothing I can recommend about the joint. But, it's where this photo was taken.

I was sitting there whiling away the time and playing with the camera when I stumbled on a setting called Color Accent. The above photo was taken with the Color Accent set to the turquoise of the bench upholstery. Interesting result, I think. I'll continue to experiment with the setting. The second (and final) bar I went to was called The Fry Street Tavern. It was much more inviting, but there were nearly no customers. So, maybe that was the difference. The furniture was in better repair (perhaps due to lack of use) and the bar tender was a very friendly young man. So, if you are in Denton and you have your choice between those two bars, choose The Fry Street Tavern. I thought very seriously about putting up a photo of the dance routine showing off the performing wife. But, the darkened theatre and new camera conspired against me. None of them came out well enough to post.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 20 January 2008)

Watching:
Mindless TV

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.4 sec (2/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: DENTON, BAR, FRY+STREET, BEER, DENTON, PHOTOBLOG

The Blazing Sun

18 January 2008
I am a pirate.
It's kind of like saying, "I am a Wench," or "I am a Rogue."
I am a Pirate. I'm the gamesmaster and clothing coordinator for the crew of the Blazing Sun.
This is our sigil.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on: 20 January 2008)

Watching:
Manchester City vs West Ham United
Score: 1 - 1
Time: 77:56

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.3 sec (3/10)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 1 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: PIRATES, BROTHERHOOD, BLAZING+SUN, NECKALCE, SIGIL

VT - 5¢

17 January 2008
I think a pattern is developing in the early part of this year. Yet another post about beer. :-)
This photo was taken at the local watering hole, No Frills Grill where my lovely wife decided I needed to go after spending the greater part of a week in Canada where they've never even heard of No Frills Grill (more the pity, that). So, bundled against the cold (a freezing 54 degrees, she took me to the pub. I'd neglected to take a photo during the day, having spent it inside 4 grey walls staring at a computer screen, but I did remember to take the camera with me to the pub. So, here's a shot of my wife's beer of choice when we're at NFG, Corona Light.

I personally drink Shiner Bock when I'm there as it's a wholly drinkable beverage and fits my budget nicely. NFG treats it as a domestic (which it is) rather than an import. I appreciate that.
Cheers.

~KR (Written: 20 January 2008)

Watching: Manchester City vs West Ham United
Score: 1 - 1
Time: Halftime

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.6 sec (3/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 1 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

Tags: BEER, CORONA+LIGHT, NO+FRILLS+GRILL, PHOTOBLOG

Pearson International Airport (YYZ)

16 January 2008
Up early and at work again. Had to make sure that the folks knew how to do what I had just trained them to do. They did. It was good. Now, it was time to think about going to my next stop...or not. I was supposed to head to Montreal next, but some critical equipment didn't arrive in time. So, my next stop became home. I booked a flight home and headed to the airport. The security and customs line were blessedly small, so even though I thought I was running behind, I actually arrived with an hour and a half to spare. Good. Time for lunch. An expensive Corned Beef sandwich and several chapters in my book later I headed to the plane. I'd already checked the Upgrade list and there simply was no way, so I was in no hurry to take my ERAS (Exit Row Aisle Seat). I snapped this photo as I was walking down the gangway to the plane for boarding:
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I'd be home to my wife and pups in just a few short hours. Hooray.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 18 January 2008)

Listening to:
Silently Falling by Chris Squire 
from Fish out of Water

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire, auto mode

Tags: Pearson+International+Airport, YYZ, TORONTO, CANADA, AMERICAN+AIRLINES, AIRPORT, AIRPLANE, PHOTOBLOG