"But I know no matter what the waitress brings..."

 "I shall drink it and always be full, yeah I will drink it and always be full"

John Popper / Blues Traveler

"Run-Around"

Four

I totally forgot how much I like Blues Traveler until I put the song lyric up here. I remember having the Four album when it came out. If I recall correctly, I had it on cassette tape and then CD. One of the bands I would want to see live, just to say I saw them. Not that there are bands I don't want to see, but some groups you're digging their music and you see them every chance you get, while other bands you're digging their music but a one stop tour will satisfy your area rocking. Although, some musicians I have heard, I'd only want to see them once to see how much of a circus show they are. One and done for that mess. Total different beasts, seeing a band once and feeling amazing while seeing a band once and feeling like you're going to need a 6 month vacation because it was nuts. Trust me, I've been to concerts where I had only heard of a couple of hit songs from the person and went with different expectations. Getting out of the show, my hearing was blown out and I'm like "wtf was that?? Not for me, thanks!".

Anyway, the point of my post this morning is something I meant to write about the other day.

I had to set up a community room in one of the buildings where I work. There was a coffee and donut get together and the leader of the building was putting out the decorations when I was moving tables. 

She had a donuts swooper flag taped to a donut covered table cloth. It ran the long edge of two tables put together. On top of all that, was the actual Dunkin Donuts boxes (including a Box o'Joe), a bowl full of ice so various creamers were kept cold, another bowl of ice for the people who wanted iced coffee (and because it's season, there was a pumpkin iced coffee). Another small bowl was for people taking ice for the coffee. Sweetners, stirrers, whatever else you needed and the table was made for Linda Richman to start getting a little verklempt over. 

When I was done shifting tables, the leader asked me if I wanted to take one of the decorations. She said that as much as she would love to hang it up, she can't, as the residents will get a little upset over it as it kinda doesn't belong with this group.

What was it?

"Bite me".

I don't know where she got the decorations for this one to pop up in. But I said I'd gladly take it. I took a picture of it with my phone, put it in Photoshop, cut out all the extra stuff around it, and brightened it a bit as it was dark in my room when I started. So if you find it in a pack somewhere, it's not going to look exactly like this.

While I totally understand where the woman was coming from, by not hanging this, you would think that people wouldn't get so offended by it. I mean, uh, there are donuts on it and it's pointing to somewhere. Possibly a box of frosted oil cakes. I would hope the people would get the joke / reference. 

Then again, I saw an article the other day where a couple made their own t-shirt and wore it to a famous theme park. The shirt was a creative way to show sexual innuendo (if you believe the hype of the comments) but it was also a creative way to show the excitement of being in the theme park (if you want to figure out how to tell your 6 year old why the shirt says what it says). I'm not linking to any article. Use the power of internet magic and you'll find it. It was this week. 

So people get up in arms about things, big deal. But the bite me sign isn't the most terrible thing you can put up, especially since it's made specifically for the event. It's not like it's malicious or offensive. Sure, it can be seen as such, but your mind has to be in that corner of the world to raise those points. 

I guess my point is, don't be so quick to judge but also, if you want to not hang something up, someone will be more than willing to take if off your hands. Trust me, I took that sign, thanked the woman, and am seriously thinking of putting it in a floating frame and putting it in the kitchen! 

Stay hungry.

Cheers;

Happy shiny scary things?

 Out last night to put some trash in the recycle bin. Needed to open the garage because there's so many items along the walls, the way my mother parks her car, it's better to open the door and get to the bin then try to squish around everything. 

So it being relatively nice out, I had my phone in my pocket. I decided to walk to the end of the driveway. Owning an iPhone 11 (that does night mode shots), I was able to capture my neighbors' lawn ornaments.  The only editing I did to the photos, was to put my name on them. Everything else is WYSIWYG. 

"You know you're bored when..." That's the excitement of the night. Haha. 

I would have used my Canon, but I didn't feel like running inside and setting everything up. I wasn't even intending on walking around as it was... considering when I got back in, my mother says "did you get lost?" because she too thought I was only bringing garbage out and that was it. 

Meh... it happens. Sometimes you get squirrel moments.

Until the next time we think we left the gas on...

Cheers;

Disconnected rainbows

The other day we had a double rainbow that seemingly appeared across our entire community. While I was able to capture the stronger color arc in photos, I also attempted to capture two photo merges. 

I did not use a tripod when I was outside, as it was raining while I was taking photos. I shouldn't have been out with my (expensive) Canon camera as it was. 

But...sometimes dumbasses like me don't learn. 

All for the sake of a picture.

So throwing the photos in Photoshop, I attempted to match two photos that were of similar area. Again, not using a tripod, I failed to make sure the photos were straight. Hence, when I tried to overlay the two images, they didn't exactly line up. 

See exhibit "A".

Because of this, I attempted to try it again, only cropping too close into the picture so you don't see much of the buildings and street.

See exhibit "B".

I also tried to match them in color a little too. That also didn't work so well. I think because I need a proper machine to edit on. Or get a spider / monkey to adjust the colors on my laptop monitor... since I'm now using an HP laptop instead of a Dell.

I'm still learning my lesson with photo editing... do not be overly greedy and take many photos if you intend on combining them and make sure you are on a tripod (or even a monopod) if you do. This is very important if you expect to take enough crazy photos to sew them together later on. You're going to need a stabilizer. 

And not be in the rain. 

Until I get another chance to fix my mistakes... go play in a puddle (or two)!

Cheers;

See also (aka things mentioned / items I use):

• Canon EOS Rebel T7i DSLR (there are bundles listed)
  
• Camera monopod (I worked with a guy once... who had one of these. He not only worked in the photo world in his past life, but he was a Nikon fanboy. #nothating. We worked together in the AV event world and he always carried his camera with him when he knew we had to do a big elaborate setup. The monopods are actually really super nice... and surprisingly agile and good to have in your stack of gear. Sadly, I don't remember the brand my friend used, as this was 4-5 years ago and I've lost touch with him.. T, if you're reading this, "hi"). 
  
• Camera tripod (I alternate between a "Targus Black Label Professional 60" Tripod" [which Amazon doesn't carry anymore] and the Amazon Basics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod.. as it depends on where I'm going and what I'm doing. The Targus is a good half pound heavier than the Amazon Basics tripod. I like them both equally, though). 
• Photoshop CS5 is not available for download via Amazon.
• "Monitor Calibration Tool for Photography (having worked in the photo field for a few years, I know this is necessary for proper editing... I just haven't purchased the necessary items because I'm stubborn and don't see myself working as a photographer full time, truth be told). 
  

No you can't come in for supper

 I always feel like somebody's watching me

And I have no privacy (ooh ooh)

I always feel like somebody's watching me

Tell me is it just a dream?

Rockwell. "Somebody's Watching Me".  1984.

Okay.. well... first off... uh... I'm having a #dumbass moment. I didn't know MJ's involvement in the aforementioned (above) lyrics... were just the chorus. Somebody's Watching Me isn't his song... it's Berry Gordy's kid. Dude has a full album out and it's legit Motown 1980s. Including the trying cover of the Beatles' Taxman... which is putting it lightly. 

Yeah.. full on 80s R&B pop on this album. Wow.. first time I'm really hearing this. Sorry, doesn't bring me back to my youth, except now I know the full reference to the King of Pop's helping a friend and it not being his tune. I'm not impressed, but I am. I mean, the album really sounds dated now, like some records did that came out of that decade. I hate to say it, but I'm not a big fan of the 1980s (for being born in the early part of that generation). I know most songs, but I don't dig the synth. 

Anyway, someone decided to attempt to watch us eat dinner tonight. Or at least wait patiently to be let in and given scraps.

Meet "Little Fxker". 

He's been hanging out in our lanai for over a week. 

I gave him the name because every time I try to catch him, he runs like hell somewhere in the lanai and hides. So I can't transport him somewhere else in the world. Hence the swearing. 

I did manage to capture his friend earlier today. It took a good 30 minutes for me to sort it out because I had to snag him between a plastic cup and the screen, and once I did, I didn't think it through. All because then I needed to get another cup over the caught cup to get the gecko outside. I had to let him go, get him to jump off the lanai and on the floor. Then I could get the cup over him, get a piece of paper under the cup, and get the whole mess outside. It was only a matter of time before this little dude comes out to see what's going on. And he's way too fast to catch. 

They come in somehow, and decide to stay in... only leaving when we're not watching. 

But they're keeping tabs on us...

Cheers;

You're drunk, witch. Go home.

Went to go take the trash out last night and got a picture of the inflatables from across the street. Unfortunately, the witch had a little too much day time partying, so at 5:30pm, she was a bit tired. 

All photos taken on an iPhone 11 and edited in Photoshop CS5 because I wasn't about to run in and get my DSLR... you never know when the kids at that house are going to come speeding down the street in their cars and run you over... had to be quick.

It's 94° out... and it's fall, y'all

I done got myself southerened by saying "it's fall, y'all". Don't shoot me. I'm bored out of my mind right now. 

I decided to take the week off from work because I was close to hitting my max accrual for my paid time off. If I didn't take at least 40 hours by the end of October, I'd stop banking sick days. 

So here I am, not thinking the protesting political Beatle was nutty, but maybe he knew something we didn't? I favor The Quiet One anyway... what do I know... 

Sitting down watching things is actually something I can be good at. Especially when I watch the neighbors across the street put up their holiday decorations. While one of the kids came home this afternoon when I was taking photos, I really couldn't get a close up of what's hiding in the bushes, but I got some sky photos along with the garage decorations of two houses down.

All photos taken with a Canon EOS T7i DSLR Camera with 18-55mm Lens (which is still being sold in various bundles). 

I played around with some of the pictures and on one of the sky photos, I used the "toy box" filter that is installed in the camera mechanics. Came out interesting. Other basic editing was creating black and white photos or tooling around with minor auto edits post shots. I'm still using CS5 and won't go update until I get a proper machine.. 

Oh... and I bit the bullet. I bought the Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein + Superfoods Powder on Amazon. They happened to have a coupon code for $4 off, so I paid $25.99, which became a better deal then schlepping to Costco. Especially since I did some research this morning for Emergen C. The price of the Orgain is now $33.99, and it looks like it keeps going up every time I seek it out. Amazon might be the winner here since I ordered the tub Friday (if I recall correctly) and it arrived Sunday.