Ugh

It has been a couple of annoying days at work where I’ve accomplished hardly anything while trying to get the part of the system I am in charge of making sure works working again. Not to mention I have a sinus infection, as I normally get once a winter.

I’m watching “Transporter 2″, it’s completely retarded. I don’t know why they tried making a second movie and now there is going to be a third. The first one was the best.

At least “Burn Notice” is on now, great show, but I haven’t seen the second season so I am sort of lost as to why certain things are happening this season.

Beware of jet blast…

I was going to blog while out in Virginia Beach, but I was too caught up with hanging out with retired fighter pilots and relaxing in the jacuzzi in the hotel room to thing about it. The trip was awesome and I came away with some good contacts and friends. I even got free stuff from one of the guys as he worked on the Tomcat Sunset to commemorate the last deployment and flight of the F-14. If you look at the wikipedia page and go down to the list of aircraft, the last one in that list is the one I saw yesterday morning and took two pictures of. There is a memorial at NAS Oceana dedicated to the aircraft, it’s aircrew, and the ones who died flying the jet. It was definitely hard working with the F/A-18’s flying around; I also saw a pair of F-22’s on final approach as we headed to work one morning.

I was able to shoot all 30 shots on the roll of 220 film I took with me before landing in Detroit on the way back home. I wanted to get shots of some jets on final at Oceana, but I didn’t have time due to driving around the base.

If you do find yourself in Virginia Beach, definitely hit up G.F. Keagans. They have good food and you may find some retired pilots and back-seaters reliving the old days on the patio.

Now that I’m back in Cedar Rapids, the regular work schedule, consisting of long days, will resume.

Today is a photo shoot for the rebel photo club, we’re doing stop motion. Good thing I have good quality 800 speed film, I can get sweet shots, really fast with fast shutter speeds since the camera will flash sync to 1/500. I need to get batteries on the way to the shoot today, this is my reminder.

Welcome to the Antarctic

The Trail Closes In – Sac & Fox

I’m not going to lie, -25° F is really cold, and regular jeans don’t work in protecting your legs, even in a 100 yard walk from the car to the door at work. Although it is summer in Antarctica, it was 18° F at the South Pole. I find it cool that it’s colder here than the South Pole. I definitely know what I shouldn’t wear when I take my trip down there to see penguins. Schools here are closed due to the bitter cold and the fact that diesel fuel gels at low temperatures. Eric was crazy enough to go take pictures at Boyson Trail this morning.

Next week I’m off to Virginia Beach for work. It should be a good time, it will be a huge learning experience, but I have a good footing with what I know and the guys I am going to see really like what I designed for them to play with. I’m taking the Bronica with the 220 back and a roll of Fuji Portrait 800 film since that gives me 30 shots for the week. It just so happens that the hotel I’m staying at is right on the beach, so I should be able to get some nice water shots, I’m hoping there is a breakwater somewhere that would give me a cool subject.

A hike was had on last Sunday at Sac and Fox trail. A good time was had by the 5 of us who went. My pictures are now on flickr. The picture above is one taken during that afternoon.

President Bush is currently giving his farewell address. People may not like him, but he was our leader and should be given respect. I am pretty impartial to who what party runs the country, but I hope that whatever party may be in control (now and in future times) they don’t run us into the ground. The address did run into Kitchen Nightmares, but it’s one I’ve seen.