My First "L" Lens- The 24-105

The Canon 24-105 F4L featured attatched to a Canon EOS-1N film SLR.

I had previously taken the trusty Canon 24-105 F/4L out on events as a borrowed piece of equipment, and it displayed quality results & performed well with a reliable AF motor and solid construction yet smooth operation.

This is the first "L" lens every Canon user should acquire, as it is as I described and it is one of the cheapest L lenses around, alongside the 200 F2.8 and 70-200 F4, yet it serves a more useful focal length than those lenses.

Mmm...Pancakes.

The Canon 40mm 2.8 STM Pancake lens is a (new) wonderful fun tool in the arsenal.

The [1D] X Faktor "Cannon"

 This is it. The big cannon in the arsenal. The ultimate shooter for the X Faktor.

More to come...

Endeavors

Personally,  I enjoy my time creating art through a glass perspective...up close, way close.  So, it makes sense that I should have this lens in my arsenal.

The Canon MP-E 65mm 1-5x Macro lens

The Newmerical Obsession

330. The 2004 BMW 330Ci; it encompasses everything I am, in the driving spectrum. Spectacular machine.

Whiplash, in all lateral 360 degrees of the word.

Day 7 with the 330, and I had to part with my first love onthe this past Sunday the 19th...the E34 1990 535, sad day that was.
As for now, I am in Starbucks, longing for my wife to return to me tonight.

...

Back to the bimmer.

A New set (pair) if wheels

So I've been in need of some outdoor exercise. So, I bought a blue used 2009 Cannondale mountain bike yesterday.

Hurry Hurry!, Hurricane coming!

So, the beginning of the week, I kept expecting a sunny weekend was coming.  Planning all around it.  I was hoping to shoot some pix and have some peace out on the beach, but now I realize that my mode of transportation will be my surfboard.  That'd be cool.

Oh, and another note; My newlywed wife and I are seriously hoping to move to Tennessee. That is, if its the Lord's will...we will.

8 Days Left

Of unmarried life. I'm pretty sure my wedding is going to be a blast!

WaterWorx

Waking up @5:15am to hear the barrage of rain drops on my windows, breathing limited to my mouth, congested throat, and a whole heavy-lifting/long-walking work day ahead of me. Still waking up. I have a 20oz bean waiting for me at Wawa. Adios.

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50 Prime

Four 50mm 1.4 lenses: (from left) Sigma, Canon, Nikon, Pentax

I got my tax refund and invested in a Sigma 50mm F1.4, and I found it to be fast, heavy, and sturdy. At 1.4 it can be quite ethereal with bright light sources and hotspots. It has a large 77mm filter size, which I have a multicoated UV and 8-point star filter for. Sweet lens.

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A new path.

Photographically speaking. This would be in reference to the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 I just ordered, and the fisheye that i'll hopefully order soon within a few weeks. I plan on shooting everything with the 50, perfecting my prime methods. I never had a lens with an aperature wider than 2.8, (Sigma's 17-70) which was awesome, so this lens should be real sweet! I wish for these Sigma lenses over the times:
-17-70 2.8-4 OS HSM
-105 2.8 OS HSM EX MACRO
-180 3.5 IF EX MACRO
- 70-200 2.8 EX
- 8mm 3.5 Circular Fisheye

And any old metal FD (film) lenses I can get.

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Kalustyan.

(Kah-loos-chee-in) A spice factory in Union, NJ is where I start my work day today. Different crew, different locale. This is my fourth jobsite, this one being electrical-concentrated. Should be a good learning experience.

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1040EZ

Nice and easy. I was able to do my taxes this morning in a matter of ten minutes, thanks to an Android app by TurboTax-creators Intuit, called SnapTax. All I gotta do is take a picture of my W-2 and it translates it into digital info. Crossing my fingers as I watched it calculate my refund; which not only turned out positive but alot more than I expected. And, since I didn't get to do my taxes for the last two years, I asked my former employer to send me copies of the W-2's from those years. So, I should be rollin' in refunds within a few weeks.

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Solar Panels

Friday, 0711hrs, Snow expected up in Sparta. Got my first paycheck, very sweet. Gonna be laying down the solar panels today.

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First day out

So I started my new job with a solar company last week. Today is my first day out...to who knows where. We're driving through Old Bridge right now. In a van with five guys, 4 of which smoke in the car. But I'm here still because I have a goal in mind. I have something worth striving for.

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And So the Cold War Ends

As a birthday present to myself, and I couldn't be happier, I have officially left the ShopRite meat department, and I will not look back. The bonds are broken and I have been liberated.

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Not Yet...

And No, I did not yet get Black Ops. Maybe tonite

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An educated decision

I'm feeling like there's an intruder in my immune system. In an effort to thwart said intruder from fulfilling its evildoings, I looked for the most reasonable immune-system-booster. It camme down to. Bolthouse Farms' 32oz Berry Boost, with 4 servings of: Vitamin C-500% Vitamin A&E-20% and B6 & B12-10%.

I figured if I got the largest they had, I may actually feel results. Only problem was that it was about as thick as mud before I shook it.

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The Genesis Test Drive

I was so curious about how this beastly Hyundai rode. It hugged the street even through hard acceleration around turns, and the engine roared as I hit the gas on the straightaway. That 306HP 3.8L V6 is no joke. Hyundai is serious.
Mirabeau Blue, fully loaded, AutoStick. Sweet.
Paddle Shifters too!

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Breakfast

Philly Steak and egg, plus a 24oz-everything coffee. Manhattan Bagel. Plus a bagel togo for later.

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Coke Cap

Taken at Freehold ShopRite where I'm working today. Anniversary sale. Can't find Coke in glass bottles with pop caps sold separately anymore. 355ml.

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XF Renaissance

Renaissance, meaning "rebirth", that is, of my photography...in studio form. I'm working on buying some studio lights, umbrellas, and soft boxes, also a backdrop. A black one. Suggestions welcome.

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Ah, the seventh day...

Workin 7-7 today. Yesterday I got some good contacts/clientele. Thinkin I should buy some studio equipment...

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Patience

Last night, we experienced frequent lightning and sporatic heavy rain. Like a child watching the chocolate factory for the first time, I was fascinated by the natural light show.

I waited patiently with my camera on tripod, shooting at 30" (seconds) each, hoping to catch an awesome flare.

The best one shown here, beautiful, unstoppable, unpredictable, raw majestic power.

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Called in to Call out

I was asked to shoot school pictures for tomorrow morning, unfortunately, i cannot make it to two places at once- be it ShopRite and a photo job.

Opportunity passed, but not permanently.

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Snippet

As long as I work at ShopRite, I will never move on with my life

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Opportunities Pt.2

A couple days ago, I applied for a job at Picture People, got a call the next day, and have an interview with them this Sunday. The way I see it, it's some official/on-the-books record of my photography skills. One small step for me, one leap for my career.

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Opportunities...

So, I may be transferring to another store come the star of next quarter, with the possible opportunity of attaining a full time position.
Meanwhile, I've been diving back into searching for opportunites in my passion, photography. Leveraging this passion is the newly-created portfolio blog namely, PhotoFolio, at xfphotofolio.blogspot.com, please visit!

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test post one

i'm using Blogger-droid on my Droid X. we'll see if this works...

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Awesomeness-day

Big Day! I got my new Canon 7D with 28-135mm lens for $440 less than everywhere! Got a nice Sigma 530 DG Super flash to go with it, along with a Manfrotto Modo monopod, all in all saving over $580 on brand-NEW equipment!

Along with getting my amazing, and I mean AMAZING camera, I also got the opportunity to work with a wedding photography business, and help shoot next month, and also do a shoot that's TBA! Thank God!

And there were none!

I'm an old man, at heart, and I tend to stick to my routine...and when I get a "flat tire" along the way with only a donut in the trunk, I get unhappy. I walked up to DD and this lady was there ordering everything they had, in about 3 dozen donuts and a baggy with muffins. The manager gives me this restless look like she's been trying to appease this customer for the last fifteen minutes.

I asked for a Chai Tea and when I realized there were no more Old Fashioned donuts, I had to snap a shot and ask her what was wrong with the picture.

No bueno. I bought a bagel twist instead. :/

My First Photo "Gig"

Yup, I did my first photography job on the 12th, and it turned out very well, (my amazing woman said I understated and said it went EXTREMELY well.)

Anyways, I shot 407 pictures, and reviewed/edited them down to 235 of the best to show to the client tomorrow. I also got connected with two businesses, a DJ production and Interior/Event Design business. Lots of branch-able opportunities from this one event.

I borrowed grandpa's Nikon SB-900 Speedlight paired to a D5000 with an 18-105mm VR lens for the party. Great flash, it lasted for all of the shots, though I switched to a second lithium for the camera. I kept my Sony a300 on standby in case.

Woo!

new x faktor logo

"It Sucks, I Hate It"

The [in]famous last words out of my boss's mouth when he has a new phone he doesn't like.

Well, I got an HTC Imagio, and "It sucks, I hate it." totally.

I hate how tacky Windows Mobile is. ugh!

It looks pretty on the outside, but is a disgusting, ugly, labyrinth of windows 95-esque innards!

$300.

Gonna switch it for the enV Touch - $150

My Dinan 5

Well, I finally returned the Dinan performance chip in exchange of the correct one. Today, it came in and I installed it, tested it out. Hit centennial numbers very quickly.

Apparently, it states a potential 43HP extra output along with 22lbs of torque and supposed better gas mileage. The 535 is very responsive and fast indeed, with the right driver behind the wheel it can maneuver very well.

Estimated 251hp total. Next, as far as performance upgrades go, will be a cold air intake.

But first, I must shop around to get my light's wiring/connection fixed, and windshield leaks, and locks, and an oil change.

Sweet car.

The Ultimate Driving Machine.

Road Trip '09

-Well I've been here and there, from NJ to MA, and all around in the Mach 5.

-The wife & I had a great time on our road trip this past August:

+We drove to NYC the first day (16th) and went to the (AMNH) museum and saw the Guggenheim and FlatIron building and were on our way to CT where we had a great time in the calm town of Mystic. We ate at the famous Mystic Pizza, and walked around at the shops in downtown. Then we went to the aquarium which we loved. Among other things were the Hard Rock Cafe at Foxwoods. And finally we came to Cape Cod, MA where we went on an eventful whale-watching trip then we relaxed on the beaches of the Cape.

The only drawback...I had to leave the furious, gas-guzzling Mach 5 at home for this trip, so we took her Toyota Yaris...."Wooton"

DSC06000

On our 1st anniversary, I drove us to Monmouth Beach, my old hometown, and then to Atlantic Highlands where we saw a bridge under construction. And on our trip, I managed to hit 6000 "miles" on my camera and it hasn't even been a year yet. Almost.

Where Am I?

I am down-to-the-change-tin broke

I am surviving on very minute amounts of food

I am barely making it to work this thursday, on less than a quarter tank of gas

I am glad the lightning came to give me a good photo shoot

I am glad I was productive during my day off today

I am not so glad that I have to work all next week thru til next thursday though

But, overall of these, I am exceedingly glad to have a God that loves me to life, and a wonderful woman that cares for me with all of her heart...for these things warm my heart and soul.

The Specialist

My wonderful, and amazing, woman passed along the word from her Dr. Dad strongly suggesting that I see a certain ear, nose, throat specialist soon.  I took the word, and made the appointment (last week) for today at 11:20am.  It was only about 5 minutes away, and when we got there I found myself sitting in a lobby full of people over 50.  Felt right at home.

I was finally called in "early" around 12pm, and proceeded through the short hall on the left then thru the door on the right finally to find myself resting in a full-support chair in the middle of the room.  Sitting there, I thought that it was one of those restraining chairs that I'd eventually find myself strapped into.  It honestly reminded me of the game F.E.A.R.

A young doc comes in and says some muffled words to me as I look at him blankly, wondering when mom will tell him I'm practically deaf.  After he checks my...ear, nose, and throat, he says some words to mom and walks out.

[Side Note] - People find that when they talk to me, I am not looking at their eyes, but their lips in hopes of catching a spit of what they just said.

I look over at mom and ask her if anything good happened, and I was complimented with a, "Yes" and said that they (two docs) were going to come back in and clean my ears out then eventually check my hearing, and prescribe meds and whatnot. "Okay" is all I can really utter.

Next, an older more experienced-looking doctor enters, with him following is the young doc and a nurse.  It's the doc I came to see.  He does the same thing and starts muffling to me as if I don't have a problem and I can actually hear him.  He speaks up and asks me what I can hear, and I tell him I can hear constant ringing and my heartbeat beating like a drum, with pressure...like my ears will explode because of my heartbeat.  They then proceed to analyze my ears, prodding me with long skinny instruments, and start cleaning them.  Painful, yes, but I wonder what it may have felt like had I not decided to pop a Tylenol w/Codene before my appointment?

Funny, because this morning I was feeling good enough to go off the pain meds, but realized I was going to the doc and they may poke around in there so I popped one around 11, and It's a good thing I wasn't called in till noon so that the pain meds could work by then.

That's a US quarter leaning against the bottle

The doc gave us three 1.5mL bottles of CIPRO DEX ear drops to take home.  They're worth $100 per miniscule bottle.  He said I have to take 3 drops in each ear, 3 times daily for 7 days.  Then he prescribed two others, a by-mouth CIPRO pill and a larger pill that requires I avoid sunlight.  The CIPRO pills I take gradually less each day or so, starting with 3 as a first dosage today.  The big pill that tells me to avoid sunlight, is a steroid apparently. Take with lots of water.

So I have another appointment, 50% off as requested by the doc, on my wonderful, and amazing, woman's birthday,at 920am.  Oh well.

Day 14

Poo Poo Kachoo

I started feeling like poo about a week ago, with a congested cough.  After last thursday, it has developed into two ear aches and pneumonia.  The worst sickness I ever felt/had.  Pain in my face, nautiousness from taking pain killers on empty stomach, dizziness and disorientation, headaches, fatigue, constant ringing in ears + pulsation, leaking left ear, bleeding right ear, intermittent coughing with plegm.  I've been to the emergency room twice, seen doc's at least 4 times, switched meds plenty, and had a chest x-ray.

Day 7

There Will Be Sound

Here's the Pioneer Premier (DEH-P510UB) receiver I ordered on eBay, new, just tonight.  So, i'll finally be able to share some tunes this summer.  :), I'll order the headlights later, they still work for now, lol.  I nearly ordered the P410HD package that would have enabled me to hear HD Radio right out of the box, but the auction had ended by then, and I researched this model and came to like it more, especially finding it for a decent price ($172 [free ship]) whereas it runs $203+tax on Crutchfield.com so it's a good buy, with a warranty to boot.

So, this will set the theme for the 535.  I'll add Pioneer Premier speakers, subs and an amp later.  I have certain standards to keep with this car, and things high-end don't stick out in the 5 like they would on a Civic.  I want to keep it Pioneer Premier audio.  I want rich sound and punchy, responsive bass, that's not overbearing or rattling...so maybe some Dynamat in the trunk.  Saw a nice Premier dual sub box with 12's in it with a total of 2,000 watts RMS (6,000W peak). Buff..definitely gonna need some proofing in the trunk.

IN OTHER NEWS:

-I'm struggling with a spontaneous cough that my brother gave me.

-Insurance payment this month: 370 dollars.

-BMW 535 aftermarket headlights: 160-215 dollars (my "willing-to-spend" limits)

-Did a buck twenty-five the other day with ease.

-Have to change driving habits in attempt to get most out of gas...Use automatic more often..

-looking for driver-side outer black trim to replace old as well as passenger-side : less than $40

-plan (sometime this year) to paint it white, and remove some dents: hundreds of $$

-Shipping back the wrong chip and requesting chip #179 - gotta pay shipping to CA

-after installing correct chip, will buy "DINAN" chrome letters for trunk - about 30 dollars

-replacing wheel center caps soon about - 30 dollars

-gotta get a sweet key fob: 8-27 dollars

Ahh Breakdown!

The said Beemer won't start, but it's in the shop now.  I have a nice Dinan performance chip waiting for it's return.  Interested to see how she runs after I install the chip.  It claims to add a possible 43hp & 22lbs of torque, but I'm expecting around 20-30hp increase.

Just the first upgrade.  Then maybe I'll get some trim, and a bottle of BlackAgain, fix 'er up.

Beemer

So I bought a white 1990 BMW 535i on Thursday and I got say this car is sweet and definitely has potential for upgrades and a different paint job.

Already bought a Dinan chip which should add close to 43HP amd 22lbs of torque. Upcoming will be halo headlights and LED tails, new trim, a Kenwood reciever, Pioneer or Infinity speakers, and a kickin' subwoofer box with two subs.

As for new paint, I want I give it either. Jet black with silver stripes or a Volkswagen orange. Or maybe a sweet lime green. Oo.

Possibilities

Form 4868

FORM 4868

I got home from work at 830 last nite, realizing that I had not yet done my taxes and was rushing to find my W-2's...which were no where to be found.  Called my cousin, and he walked me around on the net lookin for a way out/thru this.  Found Form 4868, which is an extension form for procrastinators and forgetfuls like me.  Filed it around 1030...

...and then I watched Five Minutes of Heaven with Liam Neeson.  You all saw Taken, and were taken back, but this is bland and quiet.

Oh Rainy Day, Where is Thy Joy?

circles, a 2-dimensional perfect form.

:/

12HR-O.T.

Saturday (before Easter), I worked my first 12-hour shift in the meat department.  It was decently buff, but I survived and rocked out.  Woo.

Man & Machine: In His Element

My grandpa with his new Nikon D90, still one step ahead of me, in his element.  We were having a grand 'ol time with the large family of mine and got some excellent photos.  I love these photos of my grandpa, my still very active and smart grandpa.  From the silver hair to the wrinkles and the grin of satisfaction, he shows so much definition in these photos.  A very wise human being indeed.

The Nikon D90 is a nice camera, but I'll stick with my Sony Alpha, for more than just the financial reason.

Rather Die in Boredom than Live in It

A snippet of one of my recent AIM convos:

Ryan: imma die of boredom

Chris: yea...you'll live. that's the worst part about it.

Oh man...

A New Day Off

I thought it'd be different to take a picture in a different place with a Coke can in focus and location blurred in bacground.  Or maybe a "where's Waldo?"-type photo with the Coke can somewhere in the scene. hmm..anyway, took the above picture at grandma's. We dropped in on her today and had lunch there.

Smile! We went and saw the horsies also.

I don't know the significance of this picture, but...

Sony HVLF42AM Flash Unit

I had bought this flash at full price at BestBuy only because I needed it for a jazz competition I had to shoot on short notice, and since BestBuy was the only place open after I got off work, at 6.  $300 plus $20 tax, it was such a drain of money just because it's a Sony-branded accessory "designed specifically for use with the Alpha".  

I returned it today, will be getting a nice check in the mail in a few days, and since I did like the addition of a flash...I'll be investing in a nice Sigma EF-530 Super DG Flash which I like more and it's half the price of the Sony. Sigma's site says it retails for around $410, lol, probably when it first came out, but I saw on eBay new for about 160.  (My 17-70 Sigma lens "retailed" for over $600, but i got it for a mere $300)

Back in the Day

i went back to highschool last nite.

[Photo Without Caption]

Closure

Well, today, April 2nd, 2009, believe it or not, I got this plastic card that says I can [legally] drive a motor vehicle.

Allow me to make my statement concerning this matter:

"YOU'RE WELCOME."

Next, I'd like to say that X-Men Origins: Wolverine was really good, even though the 3D renderings were not yet textured.  Solid movie, Hugh Jackman is the man, and a beast as clearly depicted in the film. Awesome.

that's all.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Uh-oh, looks like someone leaked the "WORKPRINT" to this highly anticipated movie which comes to theaters May 1st.  I half want to see the workprint, merely because of the kid in me that wants it first before the other kids on the block get it.  Half don't wanna because I don't wanna ruin the movie for me, as I have heard that it doesn't have everything in it, and it's 14 minutes shorter, but still totaling 101min.

Maybe I'll have my boss watch it first.

More on that later.

Character

I've been known to say patience builds character, and today I built some.  Between lousy pictures like the one above, and lousy service at the below diner, I've had enough for a day.

Good lighting and color, but I couldn't get the focus right, and the cold was piercing through my button-down shirt, so I didn't have enough "character" to get this one right.  The colder weather made up my mind to not care for shooting that nite.  Lousy of me, since I used to jump on just about any photographic opportunity that came my way.  Gotta build up some more character.

The Usual, Please.

We're young. So, whenever I feel like it, we go out to Applebee's or wherever and get some dinna or cheap appetizers.  But, the thing that always stays the same no matter where we go, is the drink.  Coca-Cola with lime, please. Mm. Nothin' better than real Coke with fresh lime...which we really only had once, since I went across the street to get the lime that time.

We've been getting our Coke-lime drink at Applebee's for some time now, and just a couple nites ago, we get this waiter who tells me all they have is Pepsi.  Since when??  "Since, uh, as long as I've been working here..."  What?  So you mean to tell me that we've been asking for Coke and they've been cheating us all this time?  Wow, don't I feel stupid. 

So apparently there's really no difference between Coke and Pepsi, in fact...they were once joined (in a way) Pepsi-Cola!  With that red and blue logo; funny how Coke is red and Pepsi is blue though, but I think Pepsi knows that it stole the awesome soda idea from Coke, so it gave it some props with the "-Cola" thing and putting red in it's logo. Ta-da!

Coke owns.  Coke with lime is other-worldly.

Man-hat-tan

After photography class today, I went to Manhattan Bagel and 'illed for a bit with a Jalepeno cheddar bagel pasted with hot cream cheese.  Now that I think about cheddar and cream cheese, I'm so glad cream cheese isn't really cheese like cheddar is. Cuz that'd be kinda wierd, to have some spray cheese on your bagel. yuck.

Anyway, this picture has decent color qualities if you need such ones. ;)

Lame, or not?

Here's an interesting snippet of a recent conversation of mine with a friend on AIM:

-She said i was lame, so I expanded below:
iamnoteastwood: lame has "me" in it, so i must be lame!
iamnoteastwood: quotes, i love making a good quote
iamnoteastwood: lame is also the unofficial root word of "lament", so that's pretty miserable
"Ruth": haha
"Ruth": wow
iamnoteastwood: and "lament" has "men" in it...cuz as we all know, men are lame, and women lament over them
"Ruth": lol
iamnoteastwood: so..in saying all of this, i conclude that the word lame, is ultimately derived from the description of man from the point of view of woman
"Ruth": wow very analytical
"Ruth": lolll
iamnoteastwood: interesting, i never thought of it that way.

bonus expantion:
iamnoteastwood: since women and men are different in the way that it's like, "woah man!" and they are much more than man, then that would mean they are naturally more lame than men but only a deep thinker would figure that out, because us stupid men only see the word lame, itself. phew. good thing the women know that too.
iamnoteastwood: they know we don't analyze things.
"Ruth": LOL
iamnoteastwood: indeed
"Ruth": thats amazing

___________________________

In other news, I started a new blog (xfaktorhdr.blogspot.com) where I put High Dynamic Range photos that I spontaneously decided to start shooting and compiling.  It's a pretty sweet concept. Check it out.

Early

f/2.8 | 1/500s | iso400 | 17mm

@6:49am

Spontaneity

Some St. Patty's Day tones...

Our chef, Jeff, from the Beninhana Hibachi Grill. :)

Had little sleep, lotta caffeine, and bought some kicks for the woman, and had a nice dinner at Benihana's for our 8-monthiversary/St. Patty's shindiginous. ;) Yay!

I had some chicken picante entree, and she had the beef teriyaki, lotta good food.  Certainly filled up satisfied on it. :)  $58