Blown by Every Wind

This is a page for my small observations, thoughts, likes, dislikes, recommendations, blinding flashes of the obvious, and full-on shots across the bow which I can't help but share.  

My direction for this page comes from what Hemingway told Fitzgerald - Go on and write, and write truly, no matter what.  It will probably be filled with my tongue-in-cheek nonsense, unsupportable opinions, incorrect conclusions, and frivolous observations.

I hope this will be more of a Blog than the old Journal Page I've had since 2001.  I still keep my journal going but it is unposted.

Walking Away

I'm taking a break from Facebook, X, and Instagram.  If anyone wants me, I'm right here.

Sunday, 19 May 2024

Squirrel Training

Two squirrels have staked out my bird feeder. I wouldn't mind, but the birds don't visit when they are there and these guys like to hang on the feeder all day long until it's empty.

While Kady orders a squirrel-proof feeder, I've taken things into my own hands.

A few years ago, I confiscated a slingshot from a cadet who was pelting sentinels with paintballs.  I told him he could have it back on graduation day.  He never came for it so I added it to my bugout bag.

I got it out today.  The rubber was completely dry rotted.  An old exercise band, two pace cord beads, and some parachute cord later, I had it completely refurbished.

They looked at me when I came out the back door, unconcerned.  As I walked toward them, they jumped to the stone wall below the feeder, prepared to make a dash is I got any closer.  I didn't try to hit them, but tried to hit the wall as close to their head as possible.  I found I was pretty damn accurate from the first shot.

I could hit the little bastards if I wanted.

Squirrels learn fast.  Now they run at the sound of the door.

If they keep coming back, I'm going aim for squirrel ass.

DuckDuckGo!

I normally praise all Google products, but Chrome has frustrated me lately.  Mostly, it is the popups, tracking, and follow-me-everywhere ads.

I began looking at other browsers.

I settled on DDG because they say their browser stops all three of these annoyances.  Holy Cow!  It does!  It is streamlined, fast, and simple to use.  By clicking one button, I downloaded my passwords and bookmarks from Chrome.  With some housecleaning and some site authentication, I was back in business.

This morning, I synced all my devices and deleted Chrome.

Friday, 17 May 2024

Ticket to Ride

Where we play cards with my daughter, son-in-law, and his family, and we play board games with my son and daughter-in-law.  The Ticket to Ride series of games by Days of Wonder are favorites.

In January, we began playing Ticket to Ride Legacy: Legends of the West.  This is a long, one-time-only game, with twelve phases of "years."  A phase takes about two hours and each adds more routes, tasks, and hurdles.  Last night, it lasted two hours.  It is great fun, but a serious time investment.

You have to stay with this game.  If you take a break from it, like we did in February, you have to relearn the rules.  We're lucky to have Jay as our administrator, reading the rules, organizing the game pieces, and keeping the rules.

I highly suggest this game.  It is a brain exercise.

Thursday, 16 May 2024

Keep Your Friends Close but Your Stuff Closer

Back in Film Camera Days, I bought a second Canon body to carry my AE-1 Program with Black and White and Color in the other.  I purchased a new Canon A-1 at the PX.

The A-1 became my go-to 35mm film camera. I gave my AE-1 Program to a cadet.

When another young friend told me she was taking a college photography course, I offered the use of my Canon equipment.  When I loaned it to her, I emphasized how much the camera meant to me and asked her to take "exceptional care" of it.  When she returned it, it was damaged.  There was a big dent in the top cover and a crack from the dent to the main body.  I didn't notice it until I got home and she sure as hell failed to mention it.

Not OK!  I haven't said anything to her yet.  I'm calming down.  Look at me, taking the high road.

Though it will only cost me $15 and a little work to replace the top, What the Hell?

Angry American Music

Sometimes I glimpse how small my bubble is now that I'm retired.  Yesterday, I saw a news article about people trying to cancel singer, Aaron Rogers.  Of course, I looked him up and listened to his music.

This cat is saying all the things I have been thinking.  He's been out there a while but I am just discovering him.

You have to love a guy who calls out flag burners, Springsteen, monument removal, and pseudo-Americans who don't like America . . . in one song.

Friday, 5 April 2024

Let Me Get Political for a Moment

Seriously, America!  Is this the best we can do?  

Once again, we're left choosing between two evils - between two old men depriving their villages of good idiots.   These two ass-clowns have no business running a McDonald's much less a country.

However it goes this November, it is going to be a shit show.  We can expect four more rough years, from which we may never recover.

We need some real men and women of integrity to stand up, young people of principle and intelligence.  Statesmen.  Selfless Servants.  Where are our men like Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Reagan?

We need term limits.

If there was ever a time when we needed a third party, now is the time.

I friggin' hate politics and politicians.

Wednesday, 3 April 2024

OK, So.  About all those Horses at Corolla

I am a Diane Lane fan. I watched Nights in Rodanthe.  Since then, I have wanted to see and photograph the wild horses on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  So, We planned a trip.

News Flash: THERE ARE NO HORSES AT COROLLA.

They are thirteen miles up the coast, around Carova Beach. You must take a tour or have a 4x4 vehicle. They are NOT in walking distance.

They feed in the swamps and dunes.  You can't go there.  They mostly come down to the beach in warm weather as a respite from the insects.  They hang around the houses.  This is where the horse tour people find them.  Tours piss off the local homeowners who formed a "committee" to enforce the Horse Rules and No Trespassing areas.  Horse Tours Suck signs abound in these areas.

U. S. Fish and Wildlife considers the horses an invasive species. The locals love them as a tourist attraction.

The wild horse issue is a big ole mess. Go to Corolla for the beach, the birds, the bars, the food, and the OBX vibe.

Friday, 29 March 2024

Auburn Wins SEC Championship

After destroying South Carolina by thirty-one points and beating Mississippi State by seven, Auburn beat Florida by nineteen points, clenching the SEC men's title.  It was fun to watch, except for the injury of Micah Handlogten; poor kid.  Good Luck to him.

So - 4-seed Auburn will play 13-seed Yale this Friday.

Later:  We lost to Yale.  Great Season.

Sunday, 17 March 2024

Get You a Bunch of These

Ferro makes these little nuggets for the gods, but you can get them from Amazon.  Don't sweat the price, they are worth every penny.

I discovered these when we stayed at Hotel Peter and Paul in NOLA.

They are little bits of heaven made of milk chocolate and bittersweet dark chocolate, with a super sweet liquid espresso center, and sprinkled with fairy dust.

Thursday, 14 March 2024

Simona Wins, Again!

Finally, the Court of Arbitration in Sports has cleared Simona Halep for Immediate Return to Play and awarded her 20,000 Swiss Francs from the ITIA, idiots that they are, for her legal fees.

My boycott of Professional Tennis can end.

Her Instagram Post - Here

Her first Match was in Miami against Badosa.  Paula won, but my Simona played well.  This may take a while.

Wednesday, 6 March 2024

Updated Wednesday, 20 March 2024

Photographer

Taking a big step, I am calling myself a "Photographer."

My attitude toward the term changed while out West.  A "professional photographer," while viewing my stuff, was very, maybe politely, complimentary of my work.  Looking at her site, I loved her work, though I believe my photos are . . . uh . . . better.

Webster defines a photographer as "one who practices photography, especially one who makes a business of selling photos."

I have dodged the term for years, calling myself a Photo Hobbyist, which certainly is true - Photography is my hobby.  I chose that term because photography is not my job.  Looking at the work of people who call themselves photographers, I no longer need to diminish my photos with a lesser term.

Let those who make a living with their camera call themselves Professional Photographers.

I am a Photographer.

What's next?  Will I call myself a Writer?  Astronomer?  Historian?  Probably not.

Tuesday, 27 February

Sky-gazing at Seventy-One

MY sister-in-law asked me for my help with two things while we were in Peoria, AZ - Fix her telescope and show her how to work her new camera. 

The camera, a Canon EOS R, was easy.  All I had to do was charge it and then show her where the controls were in the menu.  To facilitate her first shoot in Jerome the next day, I set the ISO for 100, the White Ballance for sunlight, and set the mode to Program.  She's a fine, school-trained photographer, so I knew camera settings would come naturally to her as she went along.

The Telescope was a different matter.  Her great-grandchildren had knocked it over and parts were everywhere.  Once I had it repaired and reassembled, I aimed it at Jupiter and then the moon, showing everyone in the family.  Both were straight up, so I spent time on the ground, aiming.

The old bones are NOT made for refractor telescopes unless I can get them on a table or something high.  This is why I use a Reflector Scope.

This scope is pretty amazing.  It can mount a cell phone on its side for objective finding and it comes with a mount to take photos with a phone camera.

I took this daylight moon shot with it - adjusted with PS Elements 2024.

Sunday, 16 February 2024

A Chance Burger

I had my first In-nd-Out Burger in Texas when I took the Trap and Skeet Team to College Station for a Shoot.  That year, we had a young lady, Chance, from Washington and Lee University on the team.  She was from California.

After I picked up the team at the DFW, she insisted on stopping at In-and-Out for dinner.

Winner!  Everyone loved it.

Since then, I go there every time I'm out West.  I crave them.  Since the demise of Milo Burgers, these are my favorite chain burgers.

I wrote to Chance, @chancemillie, to say Thank You.  She wrote right back, envious.  She lives in Tampa.

Wednesday, 14 February 2024

Elizabeth Taylor, Photographer

The Hotel Paisano in Marfa, Texas, has hung Movie Stills and candid photos from the making of the 1963 movie Giant throughout the halls.  This one caught my eye.

Rock and Liz are sitting on the hood of a car.  She is holding a Twin Lens Reflex (TLR).  Googling, I found other photos of her with a Rolleiflex.  Good Choice, Ms. Taylor.

I want to find examples of her photography work.

A cursory look on Google brought up some interesting information about photographers who had worked with her, but, nothing of hers.

Thursday, 8 February 2024

Let the Planning Begin

 We've just decided on Louisville for our trip to view the 8 April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse,  Kady has already rented a little bungalow.  Me?  I'm looking forward to tasting bourbon, buying a personalized Louisville Slugger, and photographing the event and city.  See you there 7-9 April.

Monday, 29 January 2024

Watch Jesse Stone

I consider the Jessie Stone movies Tom Sellick's best work.

Based on the novels by the late Robert B. Parker, the shows tell the story of the police chief in the fictional Maine coastal town of Paradise.  Chief Stone is a tough-as-nails cop, unbound by strict adherence to the law, who struggles with his alcoholism and his destructive relationship with his ex-wife.

Jesse is a good detective, a crack shot with his 1911, loves younger women, hates bullies, and has a soft spot in his heart for little kids and dogs.  The Music of Jeff Beal sets the tone for this series.  You'll see what I mean.

Amazon Prime offers the entire series.

Begin with Night Passage.  Next are Stone Cold, Death in Paradise, Sea Change, Thin Ice, No Remorse, Innocents Lost, Benefit of the Doubt, and Lost in Paradise.  Then, you can wait with the rest of us for Episode Ten, which Hallmark has been promising since 2015.  Last I read, Tom says he's "working on it."

Sunday, 28 January 2024

Türk Kahve by Can Baba

For years, I have been trying to perfect my Turkish coffee.  I've had the taste down for a while, but I have had no success with the foam on top.

I fixed that this morning.

I had Kady order a can of Kurkahve Mehmet Efendi Turkish Kahve from Amazon. Opening the can let me know I had made a wise choice; it filled the whole kitchen with a rich coffee smell.  It took me back to my favorite coffee shop, Matisse, across from my apartment.

I added two heaping tablespoons of Turkish ground coffee, one sugar cube, and two Demitasse cups of cool water in my Cezve.  I added slow heat and got the most beautiful foam.

I spooned the foam into my little cup, reheated the mix, and poured the coffee slowly.

Success.  Holy Cow!  I should open a shop.  I'm super proud of myself.

Oh.  I didn't make a mess, which should keep Kady happy.  She warned me.

Note: Can Baba means Father John, the nickname my younger Turk friends gave me in 2001.

Tuesday, 23 February 2024

Sublimating

Since the demise of David Beaird's Fox TV show, Key West, I have been looking for anything similar to watch.  I loved the show, not just because it was in the Keys, but for the weird cast of characters.

I still watch it.  I have never found anything like it.

Yesterday, I read an article comparing Key West to Northern Exposure, the CBS series running from 1990 - 1995.  This show began when I was in England and was two seasons old when I returned to the States from Turkiye.  I never watched it.

I found the whole series on Prime last night and watched the first two episodes.

Thirty-four years after the fact, I'm hooked.

It doesn't make me want to go live in Alaska, though.

Sunday, 21 January 2024

Harb's Turkey Sandwich

When we first moved to Lexington, there was a small sandwich shop on Washington Street called Harb's.  It became a family favorite.  After trying other things on their menu, I fell for their Turkey Sandwich.  When Harb's closed, I began making their sandwich.  It is pretty simple.

• Toast two slices of bread (I use sourdough or wheat).

• Mix a teaspoon of raspberry jelly and your favorite mayonnaise and spread on the bread.

• Pile on sliced turkey and bean sprouts.  

Enjoy.

Thursday, 18 January 2024

Death by Sugar

My daughter suggested we get a cake from Milk Bar in New York for my birthday.

Don't do that.  Ever.

The Cake looked amazing, though it either suffered from its trip or was assembled by Milk Bar's least talented employee.  Those tater-tot-looking things, we found out, are sugary dough tots.  Well, that's what we called them.

The instructions said 1/15th of the cake was a portion and a little over 100 calories.  OK.  How do you cut a round cake into 15ths?  Higher Math!  We opted for four diagonal cuts, dividing the cake into 8ths.

The first few bites were good.  Everyone agreed.  Then the comments turned.  "This is too rich."  "OMG, I can't eat all of this."  "My Teeth Hurt."

I'm no quitter.  I ate all of mine.  By the time I was finished, the massive amounts of sugar in this thing hit me.  I was shaking all over.  My brain felt like it was about to erupt.  I began pounding water, brushed my teeth, and took a Ranitidine.  My headache subsided after about an hour but I was wide awake until Midnight.

The next morning, Kady sent me this - ✅ Marked Safe after Milk Bar Birthday Cake

I gave her instructions for future birthdays - Make me a Lemon Jello Cake or buy a small white-on-white birthday cake from Harris-Teeter.

Monday, 5 January 2024

Fargo

I'm almost ten years behind the power curve with this post, but I just finished Season 1 of Fargo on Hulu.  My son and daughter-in-law have been telling me to watch it forever.  They know how much I loved the movie.

During our coffee date this past Wednesday, KS sold me by telling me Billy Bob Thornton starred as the bad guy.  I went straight home and binged it.

Just Finished.

It was amazing.  If you've watched it, you know what I'm on about.  If you haven't, you should watch it now.  Don't wait ten years.

I'm going to begin Season 2 tomorrow.  It could be a while before another post.

Thursday, 4 January 2024

I finished seasons two, three, and four over ten days.  Two and Three were great.  Season four was not.  It was uninteresting.  I found someone each season I could cheer for, like Nikki.  Not season four.  I struggled to finish it, wanting more Juno Temple in season five.

Sunday, 14 January 2024