Thursday, November 11, 2010
2/2/2 rule violated...
We rolled out of the Tropical Tip today, making 470 miles to the north. And, there's still a LOT of Texas to go. To make some miles, I stayed on the Interstate all day; no slowing down for small towns like you have on the two lanes, although there is always a slow-down in the Austin area. A tailwind kept our mpg in double digits. Uneventful... just what I like when we're just trying to get somewhere.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Put away...
Wild Blue went into storage today. Too soon. After all the "put away" stuff was done, I gave her a little pat on the stern. It has been said that a great looking boat makes you turn back for one last look as you walk away... Wild Blue does that for me.
Looking at lots of miles.
Looking at lots of miles.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Changes...
Things do change. Five years ago, I thought we were done RVing. Traveling by boat was our plan for retirement, at least for a while; along with our house on the water. Then, a couple years into that, the Blonde said, "Let's get another RV." I didn't expect that the focus would change back toward RVing... hey, there's only so much time, even when you're retired. I also didn't know that we'd enjoy the HitchHiker as much as we do. Taking stock of everything, we made the decision that we've talked about for a very long time... today, we listed the house with a realtor.
It's a great little house with a wonderful location, right on the water. My dock is just a few steps from the door. Out the canal and you're into the Intracoastal Water Way, or around the island to the other side and you're heading into the Gulf of Mexico. The only thing the house is missing: wheels. ;)
So, if it sells, we're on our way to being full-timers. Up from the 9 months or so each year we spend away from the house. Just like when we sold our home and business up north, we were both ready.
Now, we'll see if someone else wants a great place to have a boat; in a gated community; with a golf course, tennis courts, and indoor and outdoor pools.
Oh, and I should say that the three of us are ready... little Izzy is totally onboard, too.
It's a great little house with a wonderful location, right on the water. My dock is just a few steps from the door. Out the canal and you're into the Intracoastal Water Way, or around the island to the other side and you're heading into the Gulf of Mexico. The only thing the house is missing: wheels. ;)
So, if it sells, we're on our way to being full-timers. Up from the 9 months or so each year we spend away from the house. Just like when we sold our home and business up north, we were both ready.
Now, we'll see if someone else wants a great place to have a boat; in a gated community; with a golf course, tennis courts, and indoor and outdoor pools.
Oh, and I should say that the three of us are ready... little Izzy is totally onboard, too.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
If you could...
Could you take the results of your lifetime career and cull it down to a space about 4'x4'x4'? And then, further reduce it to one CD? That kinda puts our time on this earth in a different perspective, doesn't it?
Well, 5 years ago when we sold our photography business and retired, I did just that: I kept our family portraits and a collection of my competition prints (the best of my best work) from over the years. I had no idea what I was going to do with those prints, I just knew that I couldn't leave 'em or toss 'em. They represented my finest work. All in a few print cases.
And then there were the family portraits. We had very high ceilings in our house up north, purposefully so we could display large portraits and groupings. I called the hallway leading to our daughter's room "the shrine to Stephanie"... portraits of her growing up. They are beautiful. And the family groupings that took their place of honor above our fireplace; they made me smile each time I looked at them.
These days, people don't exchange photos like they used to... instead, they show each other their photos on their cell phones. That crappy little screen will never have the impact of a beautiful portrait, no matter the size.
Joan has been wanting to "de-clutter." We are considering selling the house, since we spend so little time here. I was able to put off "what to do with the photos" until today. I set up an area on our deck to copy the images... and in a few hours time, I reduced 6 boxes and print cases to one CD. My life's work on a single CD. Kinda makes one feel insignificant.
Not to sound immodest, but when I opened that first print case, I gasped. Now remember, "the best of my best" and in a size appropriate for wall display. These prints are gorgeous. And while we were early adopters of digital technology, most of these prints were from "the olden days" of film. No image manipulation; nice lighting, flattering body positioning, deep rich tones. Damn, I was good! And I hadn't seen these images in over 5 years.
And the family portraits? Most of our portrait clients told us their wall portraits were "priceless." I wonder now if they still have them on display, or if small "digital frames" showing snapshots have taken their place? We even used that in our advertising: A beautiful family portrait isn't expensive... it's priceless!
The photographic industry has changed dramatically since we retired. It seems that much of what photographers display is more about the effect than the lasting quality. Don't get me wrong, Joan and I were both excellent retouchers and very creative with all that digital brought to the table... but, it was also backed with good quality photography. A knowledge of lighting and anatomy. A real desire to be able to show people at their very best. And not having to rely on digital to "fix it later." I told our clients, "If you can imagine it, we can deliver it." But, my favorite work was simple, classic, and flattering.
And I just went through 6 cases of that. From thousands of high school seniors and families. Some magazine covers. Commercial work and even a few weddings. Work that I sold in galleries. And a lifetime of our own family portraits.
All on one CD.
Well, 5 years ago when we sold our photography business and retired, I did just that: I kept our family portraits and a collection of my competition prints (the best of my best work) from over the years. I had no idea what I was going to do with those prints, I just knew that I couldn't leave 'em or toss 'em. They represented my finest work. All in a few print cases.
And then there were the family portraits. We had very high ceilings in our house up north, purposefully so we could display large portraits and groupings. I called the hallway leading to our daughter's room "the shrine to Stephanie"... portraits of her growing up. They are beautiful. And the family groupings that took their place of honor above our fireplace; they made me smile each time I looked at them.
These days, people don't exchange photos like they used to... instead, they show each other their photos on their cell phones. That crappy little screen will never have the impact of a beautiful portrait, no matter the size.
Joan has been wanting to "de-clutter." We are considering selling the house, since we spend so little time here. I was able to put off "what to do with the photos" until today. I set up an area on our deck to copy the images... and in a few hours time, I reduced 6 boxes and print cases to one CD. My life's work on a single CD. Kinda makes one feel insignificant.
Not to sound immodest, but when I opened that first print case, I gasped. Now remember, "the best of my best" and in a size appropriate for wall display. These prints are gorgeous. And while we were early adopters of digital technology, most of these prints were from "the olden days" of film. No image manipulation; nice lighting, flattering body positioning, deep rich tones. Damn, I was good! And I hadn't seen these images in over 5 years.
And the family portraits? Most of our portrait clients told us their wall portraits were "priceless." I wonder now if they still have them on display, or if small "digital frames" showing snapshots have taken their place? We even used that in our advertising: A beautiful family portrait isn't expensive... it's priceless!
The photographic industry has changed dramatically since we retired. It seems that much of what photographers display is more about the effect than the lasting quality. Don't get me wrong, Joan and I were both excellent retouchers and very creative with all that digital brought to the table... but, it was also backed with good quality photography. A knowledge of lighting and anatomy. A real desire to be able to show people at their very best. And not having to rely on digital to "fix it later." I told our clients, "If you can imagine it, we can deliver it." But, my favorite work was simple, classic, and flattering.
And I just went through 6 cases of that. From thousands of high school seniors and families. Some magazine covers. Commercial work and even a few weddings. Work that I sold in galleries. And a lifetime of our own family portraits.
All on one CD.
Sunrise, Sunset...
A metaphor? A "Mom situation" has come up that will take us out of the Tropical Tip sooner than we expected. In the meantime, here's another look at my favorite times of the day (photographically speaking)...
Sunrise out the jetties, towards the Gulf...
Last night, we came upon this oil rig heading out the Brownsville Ship Channel at sunset...
These rigs are built in Brownsville and then pulled out by tugs that will take them to places all around the world. Generally, they are pulled by 3 or 4 tugs; one or two to provide the forward motion, two in the back to steer. Imagine moving a skyscraper. The tugs and oil rig move down the ship channel at about 1.5 knots... that's a shade over 2 miles per hour, making that a long trek down the 15 mile ship channel. While that is moving down the channel, nothing else can move up. There were two large tugs pushing barges waiting for hours in the Port Isabel Turning Basin for this to go by...
After days of wind and higher than normal temps, it was a perfect day in the Tropical Tip; almost no wind or humidity, temps in the 70s, and sunshine.
It was also a good day or two to get some painting done around the house. And the packing will begin once again.
And a photo of little Izzy to finish off...
Sunrise out the jetties, towards the Gulf...
Last night, we came upon this oil rig heading out the Brownsville Ship Channel at sunset...
These rigs are built in Brownsville and then pulled out by tugs that will take them to places all around the world. Generally, they are pulled by 3 or 4 tugs; one or two to provide the forward motion, two in the back to steer. Imagine moving a skyscraper. The tugs and oil rig move down the ship channel at about 1.5 knots... that's a shade over 2 miles per hour, making that a long trek down the 15 mile ship channel. While that is moving down the channel, nothing else can move up. There were two large tugs pushing barges waiting for hours in the Port Isabel Turning Basin for this to go by...
After days of wind and higher than normal temps, it was a perfect day in the Tropical Tip; almost no wind or humidity, temps in the 70s, and sunshine.
It was also a good day or two to get some painting done around the house. And the packing will begin once again.
And a photo of little Izzy to finish off...
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Book ship update...
I got word today from Smashwords that Cat On A Leash has now shipped to Apple (iBookstore) and Diesel - should be in their system within two weeks. It went to Barnes & Noble and Kobo (Borders) last week. It has been on Smashwords' Non-Fiction top 10 since the release.
Feel free to send the link below to any of your friends and family who you think might enjoy this tale...
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/27714
Nice reviews so far. My sincere thanks to all those who have bought the book and taken time to review it!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
iPad as Chartplotter...
We've been playing with the iPad onboard Wild Blue, testing out the $20 Navionics app. Here's a look at the iPad alongside the fixed Raymarine E-Series chartplotter...
You can see they are a similar size; the iPad is just a bit wider. Button controls on the chartplotter, touch screen on the iPad. Of course, the Raymarine is more "marinized" by design. And the fixed chartplotter integrates with the radar, depth sounder, autopilot, and the VHF radio. The iPad is the wifi/3G model; it comes with a built in GPS chip, so the chartplotter app is fully functional without an internet connection. With an internet connection, you can overlay Google Earth on the charts. Or pull up weather radar. Check your e-mail. Surf the web. Check book sales. Check nearby fuel prices. Find an Italian restaurant. eReader. Video viewer. All that important stuff.
Interestingly enough, the charting is provided by 3rd parties for the devices. In this case, it is Navionics as the supplier for both. As mentioned above, $20 for the iPad app... $300 for the compact flash chip for the Raymarine... and the territory on the iPad app is larger! I questioned a Navionics rep about this a while back... "It's about the numbers," I was told. Right. And the fact that once you own a Raymarine chartplotter, you are a captive audience. Yes, the Platinum chip for the E-80 is more sophisticated and designed to work with all the integrated stuff... but, the $20 app for the iPad has all the nav aids and is the same charting information. Accuracy on both is similar.
You can't take the Raymarine back into the cockpit to check out your favorite boat forums on the internet...
Since the iPad isn't marinized, if there's a chance of spray while using it, I put it in a plastic bag. The touch screen works fine through the plastic.
For years, the first mate has followed along on our route with a paper chart while cruising. I'm sure we'll always have the paper charts onboard, but the iPad has the same info as the chartplotter and can be used anywhere in the boat.
Plus, Joan thinks it makes a great solitaire game machine. ;-)
------------------------------
And just because we haven't had an Izzy update in a while...
For some reason, she doesn't want to go outside as much when we are here. She is happy to go out with us on the the deck, but doesn't come running when I get the leash out. Might be the big birds here, maybe the warm temps?
You can see they are a similar size; the iPad is just a bit wider. Button controls on the chartplotter, touch screen on the iPad. Of course, the Raymarine is more "marinized" by design. And the fixed chartplotter integrates with the radar, depth sounder, autopilot, and the VHF radio. The iPad is the wifi/3G model; it comes with a built in GPS chip, so the chartplotter app is fully functional without an internet connection. With an internet connection, you can overlay Google Earth on the charts. Or pull up weather radar. Check your e-mail. Surf the web. Check book sales. Check nearby fuel prices. Find an Italian restaurant. eReader. Video viewer. All that important stuff.
Interestingly enough, the charting is provided by 3rd parties for the devices. In this case, it is Navionics as the supplier for both. As mentioned above, $20 for the iPad app... $300 for the compact flash chip for the Raymarine... and the territory on the iPad app is larger! I questioned a Navionics rep about this a while back... "It's about the numbers," I was told. Right. And the fact that once you own a Raymarine chartplotter, you are a captive audience. Yes, the Platinum chip for the E-80 is more sophisticated and designed to work with all the integrated stuff... but, the $20 app for the iPad has all the nav aids and is the same charting information. Accuracy on both is similar.
You can't take the Raymarine back into the cockpit to check out your favorite boat forums on the internet...
Since the iPad isn't marinized, if there's a chance of spray while using it, I put it in a plastic bag. The touch screen works fine through the plastic.
For years, the first mate has followed along on our route with a paper chart while cruising. I'm sure we'll always have the paper charts onboard, but the iPad has the same info as the chartplotter and can be used anywhere in the boat.
Plus, Joan thinks it makes a great solitaire game machine. ;-)
------------------------------
And just because we haven't had an Izzy update in a while...
For some reason, she doesn't want to go outside as much when we are here. She is happy to go out with us on the the deck, but doesn't come running when I get the leash out. Might be the big birds here, maybe the warm temps?
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