I Need Some Serious Help

No, not with women (okay I need that help).
No, not mental (okay I do need that help too, but that’s not the point today).

I have committed to submitting a photo for a silent auction being put on by Atlanta Photography Exhibit on February 18th. My problem is I don’t know which photo I should print and donate? My idea of what constitutes a “good” photo has often not gelled with everyone elses’. If you have some time during the next few days would you please check out my Flickr Photostream and make some suggestions? And if you really love the photo chosen then you should show up to the event on February 18th and bid on it. 🙂

Thanks.

Much Like The President My “First 100 Days” Begins With A Hiccup
Unlike the President I have no one to blame but myself.

The first day of exercise started well. Instead of taking the elevator to the sixth floor I climbed the stairs. My plan was to leave work, head to the laundromat to do wash, and the head home and exercise while I had my clothes in the dryer. That plan ended with a single text message.

“Come over now for Barack party”

I accepted immediately. I should have thought about this for a second… The person sending the message is an ardent Obama supporter, and I should have realized that this would mean that I would be joining the party many drinks behind everyone else. After having a fun time, consumed a couple of beers and some tacquitos, I sneaked (still want to use “snuck”) out and headed home. I still believe I made the right decision, unfortunately I made this decision too late to make it to the laundromat.

As per yesterday’s bedding ruling: I gave myself credit because I put on the “second” flannel sheet set since my “first” set is still in the laundry bag.

ITP Flickr Pic
Another from my cheap Diana+ camera.
Vortex Eyes
I think I’ve become addicted. Yesterday I ordered a $28 “toy” Holga film camera. I guess I’ll have to change the name of my project to “Holga/Diana+ v. D300” or “Holga v. Diana+ v. D300”.

I’m Thinking Of Making My Next Windows Machine A Mac
The Windows laptop that I purchased four years ago is started to disintegrate. I wouldn’t mind keeping it for a iTunes client and when I have the occasional need to edit Word or Excel docs.

However :

  • A few years ago the DVD drive stopped working consistently, and a replacement drive costs around $100.
  • The battery is long since shot holding a charge for mere minutes, and a replacement battery is around $75.
  • The connector for the power supply has become flaky and often stops recognizing the power supply for no reason. When this occurs the machine shuts down almost immediately.

I’m considering making my Macbook also a Windows machine through the use of either Parallels or VMWare Fusion. Do you use either? If so, what version of Windows are running inside the virtual machine.

Another alternative is rebooting my Mac into a Windows machine via Boot Camp (I have Leopard installed), but that seems less desirable to me.

It’s A Mad Men ITP
After getting home last night I decided to watch a few more episodes of Mad Men from season one. I’m still trying to plow through the entire first season before I start taking in season two. “Season two? I though you lost those with the DVR?” Yep. “Is it out in DVD?” Nope. “Then how?” I just ordered the entire second season for $23 from iTunes. Of course that was over eleven hours ago my slow download speeds have not allowed me to download all of the episodes. (note to self: next home must be in the middle of fucking fast internet land)

The plan was watch Mad Men until 10pm when I would make another attempt to enjoy Food Network’s Chopped. If this is any indication of my interest in the show I fell asleep five minutes into the show.

Stats & Goals
Daily
Current Mood – relaxed and anxious to program
Current Music – listening to Leo Laporte’s “The Tech Guy” podcast
Website Of The Day – One last political jab : Is George W. Bush Still President?
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Exercise (b)Log – climbing six flights of stairs

Monthly
Foot Mileage – 3 miles
Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 21 (21)
Vegetarian Days – 4
Carnivorous Days – 16
Marta Rides – 0

January Goals
– Complete all necessary work on the dining room (not going to lie, I picked an easy room first)
– Lose no fewer than two pounds
– Run no fewer than 50 miles
– Completely read Softbox Lighting Techniques for Professional Photographers, Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas, and How to Be Happy, Dammit: A Cynic’s Guide to Spiritual Happiness

2009 Goals
– Reduce my weight to 190 pounds (today’s weight was 199.5 pounds)
– Completely read the book 1001 Paintings You Must See Before You Die
– Earn at least $150 through photography sales in order to cover the cost for the renewal of the Jalapeño Beach SmugMug account I opened the other day.
– Save $500 for the sole purpose of donating to charitable organizations of my choice
– Attend at least one professional photography workshop

The Unmeasurable
– Continue backing up all data, including the off-site storage
– Become a proficient programmer in Objective-C (iPhone development) and Ruby on Rails (Black Sheep web page concept)
– Do not create a solution for something which is not a problem

Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]

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17 Responses to I Need Some Serious Help

  1. Barb says:

    Of all you recent pics, I think I liked the tree with the hearth further behind it.

    Last night we watched Fringe, there is a crazy scientist that is a great subtle funny character, I really like the writers of this show. It is a little out there though, very science fiction like, which I usually don’t like.

  2. Martha says:

    You have so many good pics, of course my faves are of the “kids” or us hanging out. Probably not very commercial 😉

    I like “garden of the gods”, the one at Union Station (inside), “Flowers As A Pattern”, lots of others I’m sure ….

    Maybe you need a workout buddy? I know somedays, knowing that someone is waiting for me, is the only thing that gets me moving.

  3. Gentri says:

    Parallels or VMWare Fusion is used by several iMac users here, they run everything from Xp/Vista to MS servers multiple flavors… they all rave about them and have made me a hater… so I told my boss next upgrade I want an iMac too! We’ll see if I get it…

    Sadly, I got a very randomly/cryptically worded text that did not lead me to understanding that there was a party… sounds like it was fun.

    go with one of your vintage shots, they have a cool funky vibe to them. What does film processing cost these days?

  4. I’ve heard of Fringe but know little about it. I’m not upset that I’m not getting into Chopped. I still have Top Chef tonight and Hell’s Kitchen starting again on January 29th.

  5. Andrew says:

    If you do not need DirectX, give Sun’s VirtualBox a try. It’s free for personal use and works well.

    http://www.virtualbox.org/

    If you’re set on spending money, I’ve tried VMWare Fusion and found it works really well.

  6. Andrew says:

    I’m using VirtualBox with Windows XP and Ubuntu Linux. I also have Windows7 installed, but it’s not officially supported by VB and it (VB) will not allow you to install it’s extensions which boost performance and add functionality.

  7. Martha says:

    Come to George’s tonight and run with Tom and me!! Between his back and my morning run it should be an easy four miles.

    Do you think anyone would be interested in bidding on a picture of a chihuahua with her nose almost up her butt?

    I’ll talk about TV for a minute…I’m all caught up on Dr Who and Torchwood, my latest is Primeval, pretty interesting, if you like sci-fi and dinosaurs.

  8. Thanks for the suggestions, please keep’em coming.

    I don’t think I need a workout buddy. I just need to rededicate myself to be like I was in the Great Olden Days. It would also help if I could say the N-word (that’s “No” and not the “other N-word”).

    The party was fun, but it would have been more fun for me if I hadn’t needed to play “catch up.”

    Film processing for my roll of 120 was $9 and another $12 to have them scan the twelve shots to a CD. The roll of film cost me about $4. Not cheap, but film photography never was.

  9. Andrew: I don’t think I need DirectX. My Windows use (WinXP Pro) is limited to Word, Excel, Firefox, iTunes, and various virus/malware scanners. I’ve seriously moved to an Apple lifestyle. I’ll look into Virtual Box.

    My only real issue may be having an installable version of Windows. I *think* I have an OEM OS disc and a disc for XP SP2 that I got from Microsoft. I have no desire to buy another version of Windows, it’s way overpriced and I really don’t want to use it but it’s a necessary evil.

  10. Andrew says:

    You’ll have to “buy” a copy of Windows for any virtualization software you choose. Since you already have a copy of Windows, I wouldn’t feel too bad about obtaining a disc through other means.

    How’s Zenbe Lists working out for you? Did you give up on it?

  11. Yeah, I realize that I need a full install disc. I’m irked that the last two Windows PCs I’ve purchased didn’t supply them. I suppose I could use “alternative channels,” after all I have at least one legal Windows XP license key.

    Zenbe Lists is working out now. I don’t know what I did originally to create all of the duplications, but so far, so good.

  12. Steve says:

    How about 4 different shots from the hearth series on one print? Those shots are your best work.

    -FP

  13. I just read that the creator of Mad Men has signed a deal to produce two more seasons.

  14. Holly says:

    I’m using Parallels on all my Mac machines and it’s been pretty smooth sailing using Windows XP. Give it a shot!

    BTW, it’s Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel. Pretty amazing show, 30 person gospel choir on stage, plus 19 ensemble members. It also features a light-up noose for Judas. Nothing says the holidays light a noose covered in colored twinkle lights!

  15. I’ve downloaded VirtualBox and will try the free solution first. I can always buy Parallels at any times.

    Jesus Christ Superstar. Hmmm, not much into musicals. I’ll keep it in mind though.

  16. Mindy says:

    My favs in your Flickr stream are:

    A Different View
    Path Less Traveled
    The Long and Winding Fence
    Yellow on Yellow
    Golden Arch
    Cemetery Bridge

  17. Debbie says:

    I love this one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/3182319560/

    and this one is an interesting perspective: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/3096882016/

    another fave: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/2998814104/

    Beautiful, should be a poster: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/2928497782/

    Very cool: http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/2480973662/

    Love this one (original not crop suggestion): http://www.flickr.com/photos/50413317@N00/2139970474/

    mmm, looking at these it’s obvious I was on a confernce call and wanted to be outside, but I really love them all.

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