29 November 2008

I write about my wife a lot saying "MB did this," or "my wife and I did that" or similar. But, there aren’t that many photos of her here. Mostly, I think, because she’s critical of her own appearance (aren’t most women?) and likely wouldn’t approve of most photos. However, this is the smiling face I go to sleep with every night and wake up to every morning. The woman of my dreams.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Betty Lou’s Gettin’ Out Tonight by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
from Nine Tonight

Camera: Nikon D70
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 135 mm
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Software: Adobe Photoshop CS Windows

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28 November 2008
I put this together for the challenge, but it appears I’m a couple of hours too late. Oh well, here’s a second faire mosaic.

This is my dear friend, Rose, of Iris & Rose (Wild & Thorny). During their shows folk often buy them beers…sometimes with the challenge to "chug them." This was one of those times.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 December 2008 )

Listening to:
It’s Showtime by David Lee Roth
from A Little Ain’t Enough

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29 November 2008

After two hard days at faire, with one still to go, Saturday night saw its share of silliness.  One of the more amusing moments for me, was this capture of my husband peeking out from behind an array of feathers.  I was trying to learn more about my camera—Clay (in the right half of this photo) was kindly educating me—and Kyle was being cute.  Imagine that.

Other photos I took during the learning process:  Ian, visiting us from Colorado this weekend; Clay, my teacher; and Mary, just being adorable Mary.

It’s a chilly weekend, although we didn’t really get the rain that was forecasted for us.  It makes for good cloak sales, and a willingness to try on layers of clothing that doesn’t exist when the temperature is in the eighties and nineties.

One more day.  Then the pack-out and the countdown to Scotland!  And in between—Dickens on the Strand!

~MB

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28 November 2008

The day after Thanksgiving has been labelled “Black Friday.”  Everybody knows that term, now, but I remember when that was not the case.  I just did some research, and it seems the phrase only goes back to the late sixties—which would explain why I can remember the beginning of the usage. (Yes, I am that old, and I do remember back that far!)  And, originally, the term was a completely negative one—meant to describe the way the working folks felt about the day.  Roads jammed with extra cars, parking lots too full, lines at check-wrap stands, long, hard work days in every retail venue, police and other peace officers needing to direct traffic and deal with frustrated, harried people.  It was not fun.

It was not until the 1980s that the term took on it’s now-accepted reference to retailers looking forward to the day that would mark their operating in “the black.”  Did it change to encourage shopping?  Or did we do that because in a society obsessed with political correctness it was “wrong” to use the word “black” to describe something awful?  Either way, unfortunately, this shopping day from hell, now has a new reason to be labelled “black.”  I am shocked, saddened and embarrassed to be human, when I read of a crazed horde of shoppers breaking down a Wal-mart door and trampling an employee . . . to death.

And on that note, I will confess that in the throws of the final weekend of the Texas Renaissance Festival, where we too, are forced to be open on Black Friday, I took no photos today.

~MB

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27 November 2008
Last year the Texas Renaissance Festival decided that they’d partake in the Black Friday madness that grips America the day after Thanksgiving. It was apparently successful enough that they continued with their plan and we were once again open on Black Friday (though, luckily, without the insanity that occurred in New York at Walmart). Therefore, on Thursday, rather than enjoying the company of family & friends in the comfort of a nice home surrounded by food, wine & social interaction, Marita Beth & I drove the 4 hours south to Plantersville, TX. I’m thankful (It is Thanksgiving after all) that after 13 years of marriage we still have plenty to talk about and a 4 hour drive is nothing when you have that kind of companionship. Of course, that scenario doesn’t lend itself nearly as well to photographic opportunities as would a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

This is a newly obtained pouch for faire.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 2 December 2008 )

Listening to:
Wolves Lower by R.E.M.
from Dead Letter Office

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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26 November 2008
I’m not a big fan of Chinese food, but tonight I was in the mood of P.F. Chang. My wife, it turns out, had never been to one, so we found a local restaurant and went there for dinner.

I had a nice Malbec with their Orange Beef dinner while she had something else entirely. The photo is of their ornamental separators with the bar and a bartender out of focus at the end.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 2 December 2008 )

Listening to:
When Doves Cry by La Mazz
from When Doves Cry

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.25 sec (1/4)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV
Flash: Flash did not fire

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