21 July 2007
Saturday.
Saturdays are made for drinking. This one was no exception. Brett, Jill & I headed down to the Rahr Brewery in Ft. Worth; the local brewery with the 150-year history. More folks were going to join us, but they all backed out at the last moment (most of them, to their credit, were with good excuses). I took a number of photos of Brett & Jill, but none of them quite do justice to Jill’s beauty, so I’ve chosen this one instead:

Since the brewery itself is non-smoking, people either step out back to the loading dock, or up to this opening. I loved the silhouette he presented against the red-brick and crazy-coloured boarded up windows.
Flickr, for whatever reason, has started hiding my photograph details that I’ve always included. It started happening on Friday, but I figured it was just a glitch. Here on Monday (yeah, I’m posting two days late), it’s still not there. So, you’ll get whatever song I’m listening to as I pen this.
Cheers.

~KR (21 July 2007)

Listening to:
The War Was in Color by Carbon Leaf on Love, Lost, Hope, Repeat

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22 July 2007

Day Nineteen at Bristol

Our booth at Bristol is immediately next door to one of the biggest pubs on the faire site—the Pig and Whistle.  “The Pig” as it is affectionately called by many, is also the site of many after hours gatherings—music events, poetry readings, charity auctions, etc.  I don’t venture in terribly often, because if it’s busy at all in there, it’s a very smoky place.  But, because of its proximity to Pendragon Costumes, and the fact that my living space is on the second floor and reached by walking across the roof of part of our booth, I can look right down into the Pig and wave at any friends within.  Tonight as I looked over the rail, I couldn’t distinguish any familiar faces in the crowd, but I was impressed with the friendly glow of the rope lights, candles and other ambiant light.  The photo is a bit grainy, but it certainly captures that warm glow I saw—and where the cool green light comes from, I have no idea—but I love it!

~MB

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21 July 2007

Day Eighteen at Bristol

I can hardly believe it’s already third weekend.  I’m glad it’s going rather quickly, because most of the time, I’m just really missing home and hearth and husband.

This photo is pretty lousy, but it’s better than the others I took today—shots of customers and friends, none of them flattering enough to include here.  This gives a  pretty good idea of the front of our Pendragon Costumes booth at Bristol—our first year worker, Tom is the person in the photo.

Of note:  incredibly beautiful weather today. Blue skies, fluffy clouds, high in the low to mid-seventies.  The current temperature in my house is 65 degrees!  Sleep will be comfortable and hopefully restful.  Not to mention much-needed.

~MB

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20 July 2007

Day Seventeen at Bristol

Just across the interstate from the Bristol Renaissance Faire, is a rather wonderful outlet mall I enjoy visiting.  I went treasure-hunting there this afternoon, and on the short drive from faire to mall, I pulled over and snapped this photo.  Not too exciting in hindsight, but as I rounded this corner, I was struck by the blue of the sky, the white of the fluffy clouds and the greens of the farm fields. 

~MB

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20 July 2007
A different route to work this morning, fresh batteries in my camera and voila!

Instead of taking my normal route down Trinity, I took a back road. It’s a nearly deserted route with many a photographic opportunity on it; if, that is, you’re fond of dereliction and dilapidation. For that’s what I encountered for nearly the entire length of the trek. This nearly-falling-down derelict I encountered when I had travelled approximately half of the road. Much more to come I expect.
Cheers.

~KR (20 July 2007)

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19 July 2007

Day Sixteen at Bristol

The Laptop Adventure occupied about five hours of the middle of my day.  I had no idea my little laptop could be so dissected and disassembled, and still later be fully operational once again.  It’s really rather miraculous.  I asked the man where he was hiding his red cape.

The day began early—a seven a.m. reporting time to the glass studio.  It was my first opportunity ever to work just one on one with Shannon.  I know it slowed her down a bit to have to teach as she worked, but by the time we’d finished a couple of pieces, we got a pretty good groove on, and I was quite proud of how comfortable I felt.  Working the glass floor is like participating in a ballroom dance—it is both planned and improvisational; both solo and duet.  I did nothing difficult today—very simple apprentice work.  But, I felt like I was good at it.  I kept the pipes at the ready, kept pieces on center for punte work, gathered glass and sometimes colour for bits and presented them to the gaffer.  Shannon even let me choose some of the colours for the work we did today. 

The latter part of the day involved a dinner with girlfriend Susan, and attending a meeting related to RESCU.  And, I’ve just returned home after enjoying the company of friends in a nearby trailer and a glass of red wine.

The middle of my day revolved around two important errands.  One:  I’d found an industrial serger online and today was the day to purchase it and deliver it for a tune-up service call; and two:  I was taking in this little laptop for a service estimate and parts ordering.  The first errand went well and although it all took a little longer than I’d hoped, the machine got picked up and delivered to the sewing machine doctor.  I’ll probably have it in a week or so.   The second errand was not nearly as successful!

The Laptop Adventure will be a lengthy story, so I believe I’m going to give it my full attention—tomorrow!  When I’m not so very tired from the long, stressful day, I’ll be able to write about it much more coherently!  So . . . more on today—-tomorrow!

~MB

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19 July 2007
The day’s only partway done, but I’m putting a photo up anyway. I’m not sure I’ll have opportunity to take more, as my batteries are dying and I’m still hours from being able to replace them. So, this

is a Symbol MC8138 handheld scanner. Since early November I’ve been surrounded by these things as we rolled out a replacement product and I was tasked with gathering them all up from locations spread throughout the US and Caribbean. I’m delighted to say that as of today, all the scanners have been sent in and all that remains is the final reconciliation which will involve mountains of paperwork and negotiations I’m sure. So, the image is not only timely but pertinent to my current musings & responsibilities.
Cheers.

~KR (19 July 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.2 sec (1/5)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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18 July 2007
My wife took a photo yesterday. A brilliant, engaging photo. It possibly ranks up there with one of the best photos she’s ever taken. She chalks it down to fortuitous circumstances. While those circumstances undoubtedly played a part, I believe the ultimate credit goes to the fact that she is an artist at heart; and, having taken at least a photo a day for 8 months she is becoming quite the photographer as well.
I liked the photo so much, I immediately grabbed it as wallpaper for my computer. MB, it’s a fantastic photo. You should be proud.

The original is here; you can also see some of the others she took at the same time.
In the background of my photo you can see the map I posted on the 17th that adorns my cube wall.
Last night was a football match. I detest playing the Jayhawks. They’re sore losers & even more sore winners. Perhaps I should care less, or more to the point, they should whinge less and cheat less and be generally much better sports about the game. I am closing on forty and can no longer compete at the level I wish to play. I’m frustrated with my play, my decisions and my overall attitude. When the other team decides to spoil what little fun I am having with their capricious comments and dramatic cheating I get even more frustrated. I sometimes wonder why I still play. I need to find an over-40 league and get away from these whiney babies.
Cheers.

~KR (18 July 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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18 July 2007

Day Fifteen at Bristol

Happy Birthday, Shannon!

I am soooooo full!  Tonight was the 9th Annual Renfeast at the Giesen Manor.  A modest little group of fourteen of us joined dear friends Larry and Denise for one of the best meals any of us will have all year!  Larry cooks up one heckuva marvelous feast, and we partake enthusiastically and appreciatively.  Tonight’s menu was outstanding as always—topped off with what has become Larry’s signature dessert—a perfect creme brulee! 

It was rather fun to recall that on that first ever “renfeast”—long before the title of the evening was determined—yours truly was the only guest!  It’s amazing to stop and realize just how long some of these incredible people have been making a difference in our lives. 

Tonight was also the birthday celebration of one Shannon Jane Morgan—and in her honour, Larry and Denise had set the long dining table with a “girl glass” handmade by Shannon, at every plate! 

I took a few fun photos of the gang after dinner, but this one of Larry and Denise (and a puppy nose—they have two Great Pyrenees dogs and five cats and a bird) seemed the most appropriate for today’s photo.

~MB

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17 July 2007
Wow. How much of a geek am I?
This is the best photo I took yesterday, which doesn’t actually say very much about my photography skills, wot?

This is a hexagonal grid map of J.R.R. Tolkein’s Middle-Earth as put out by Iron Crown Games and used by permission by Middle-Earth Games. It’s a Play-by-Mail game that I am sometimes active in (although not currently). I am, however, helping them with some new scenario programming, which is kind of a kick.
Yeah, I’m a geek.
Cheers.

~KR (17 July 2007)

Camera: Canon PowerShot S1 IS
Exposure: 0.077 sec (1/13)
Aperture: f/3.1
Focal Length: 22.2 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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