21 October 2009
I picked up this trinket at one of the many trade shows I attended while working in the AAMail Operation. It’s affixed to my monitor and holds documents in just the right way. It only holds a page or two at a time and is the only real drawback.
Cheers.
~KR (Written on 7 November 2009)
Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 400
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
20 October 2009
My wife, as you likely know by now, loves to decorate and she loves all holidays. She has just recently figured out that Halloween is her favourite holiday — something I’m delighted with I might add. But, this does mean that she decorates for Halloween. This year she chose fuzzy spiders for whatever reason. They were everywhere!
This purple spider with orange fuzz lived on the edge of the lampshade in the living room. I could hardly resist.
Cheers.
~KR (Written on 7 November 2009)
Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.025 sec (1/40)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
19 October 2009
It was Objectives Day in the new position. Apparently the team to which I now belong takes the day to not only set objectives, but to also do a bit of company-expensed team-building. Today, when the tedium of setting objectives was complete, we all went to the new Dallas Cowboys Stadium in Arlington for their tour. It’s really a magnificent structure that boasts a number of world records and hosts a variety of events. It makes me happy to note that the first 4 professional events at the new stadium were all soccer games.
Unforunately, the fresh battery I just put in my camera was not so fresh after all and died immediately after this shot was taken. So, I will have to take the tour again.
Cheers.
~KR (Written on 7 November 2009)
Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/400)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Auto, Did not fire
18 October 2009
It’s catchup time. Posting will come in a flurry, writing will be done in a hurry.
In the current reality of my new job, I simply have not the time to explore and photograph my world. So, Artemis to the rescue…again.
Cheers.
~KR (Written on 7 November 2009)
Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.5
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire
1 November 2009
Somehow, I never managed to snap even one photo of Nicole or Shawn or Jerry this weekend. Somehow. But, that doesn’t mean we didn’t enjoy our visit and cram in a little bit of fun! Thanks, Nicole, for helping to make it a great weekend!
I did, however, happen to have my camera on me, when I looked up and saw this! Janet has talked for a long time about climbing in the rafters to get spinners up and down for Hal’s booth, but I’d never seen it in person, much less caught it on “film.” But, here she is . . . looking as adorable as ever . . . just twenty feet in the air!
We had a great day. The final day of celebration of Kyle’s birthday began with coffee and went quickly to bloody marys. In fact, we had a booth full of folks celebrating with us this morning! Nicole and Shawn, Ian, Darcy, Damaris, Roxy, Bevin, Allison, and at least part of my staff all joined us in either bloody marys, bloody marias (tequila, not vodka), screwdrivers, or tequila sunrises (sans grenadine). I have lots of pretty Girl Glass to wash, but it was worth it!
From a sales standpoint the day was pretty sad—but that did leave us time to do things like get our butts sketched! That sounds insane . . . it’s interesting to write about it, because it absolutely requires explanation. Our friend, Jonathan, a talented artist and potter, is at this show, doing “butt sketches.” Now, at first that sounds lude and obscene, doesn’t it? But, apparently this is a phenomenon that is fairly familiar in night clubs . . . imagine a fun souvenir for a date—yours and his/hers in your dancing jeans? But, Jonathan has brought this art form to faire. So, now . . . imagine your finest noble garb from behind! Or, an off-the-shoulders wench in a hiked up skirt? Or that hunky guy in barbarian leather and fur? Now, you’re starting to get the “picture!” I’ll try to remember to take a photo of the artwork next weekend, ’cause I forgot today. But the end result of having one of these butt sketches done, is an amazing charcoal drawing of what is unmistakeably . . . your backside! Head to toe, with all the details of your hat and your hair . . . fabulous! Kyle and I had one done and we liked it so well, we’ve been dragging people out there and offering to pay the almost ridiculously low price of $10/couple for them if they aren’t thrilled with what they get.
Nicole and I did it. Nicole and Shawn did it. Sharon and Jim did it. Iris and Rose did it!
If Janet wasn’t climbing around in the rafters all day, she’d have probably done it, too! 
But, there’s always next weekend!
~MB
31 October 2009
Happy Birthday, Kyle, My Love
Usually, when one talks about having a birthday and flowers in the same sentence, there are plants involved: daisies or lilies, or even roses. But, with Kyle*, it’s just one Rose . . . and one Iris. And, they aren’t plants.
While Kyle celebrated his natal day, I had a very busy faire day. The special part of my weekend is that Nicole is here from California! And not only Nicole, but Shawn and Jerry (our leather-guy/tooling artist) as well! Nicole, of Pendragon Costumes fame, has more recently created a sister company to Pendragon, known as MadGirl Clothing. Inside of a year or so, it has become THE source for the serious steampunkers to get the best garb for their flavour of fantasy. She can be found at most major sci/fi/fantasy/steampunk conventions, and this weekend only, at the Texas Renaissance Festival!
So, it was the getting ready for her visit and making the guest artisan booth workable for a clothier that took control of my day yesterday. And, it was all worth it! Her booth looked great, and was full of fabulous product! I just know that when Kyle has a chance to go look, it’s gonna cost me!
He didn’t get there today, though. I didn’t see as much of my husband on his birthday as I would have preferred. He spent his day doing what he loves most . . . looking good, drinking beer, and playing with friends. Happy Birthday, my love!
~MB
*I’m not sure why it looks as though he’s flipping me off as I take this photo! Hmmmm . . .?
30 October 2009
I’d be just fine if I never have another Friday quite like this one. Kyle on the other hand, had a fabulous day, kicking back and having fun—day three of his birthday celebration, and the birthday isn’t until tomorrow! There was beer, and food, and beer and golf, and beer and . . . well, I’m sure he’ll write about it!
I knew it would be a busy day, but I had no idea it would be quite as hectic for me as it was. We slept in a little, and I did manage to squeeze in a lunch date with my man, but after that it was a crazy thing. I guess I didn’t have my own tasks organized enough or something, but I felt as if I spent the entire day doing things backwards, and watching the clock. From picking up boxes, to preparing the guest booth, to meeting our guests when they arrived . . . nothing went quite as I’d imagined it.
But, when all is said and done—we are ready for the weekend.
Oh . . . and that daily photo thing . . . yeah. Not happening today. I never even thought about my camera one time. Wouldn’t you think that after three years, I wouldn’t still be screwing up on that?
~MB
29 October 2009
The birthday celebration continues. We left today for TRF, rather than waiting until Friday. Kyle had heard about this little pub in The Woodlands, and had informed me opening weekend of faire, that he wanted to visit the place on his birthday weekend. So, I put it on the calendar, we made plans to take friends along with us, and we made it happen.
Kyle and I got to faire, unloaded the stuff and then loaded up three beautiful women: Roxy, Damaris and Kelly. That’s when the rain really got intense. It had been raining most of the day (most of the week, too, I think) and we knew it was supposed to quit before the weekend. But, I, at least, didn’t realize it was to get so much more violent before it ran its course! Kyle drove us from faire to The Woodlands in some awful rain and strong, high wind. We got there safely, and while there, the rain did finally peter out.
The place is very nice, if a little off the beaten path. It is in a modern setting—not what I’d expected, but that’s okay—and it is designed and decorated within to recreate a little pub in the UK that was demolished to make way for a motorway expansion. Apparently, a couple of Americans with money had fallen in love with the place, and when they found out it was closing and being torn down, they made a deal to buy the contents of the pub. We are unclear as to just how much of the interior of this Texas place is original to the British pub, but we know for sure the bar and barback are from across the pond.
My photo is of the amazing array of taps on the front of the bar—very British in style. We had a wonderful time—good food, good beer and great company in a delightful setting. And the drive back to faire was smooth and quick in comparison with the first leg of the trip. So, birthday celebration day #2 was a wonderful success.
~MB
28 October 2009
This is an awful photo, taken literally, as I was driving by, of a medical office down the street. When I went out tonight to meet Kyle and some friends at Rob’s, the white SUV was still “parked” in the wall of this building! (Too bad I didn’t have the camera ready, then!) It made me instantly glad I was running so late, because it looked to me like the vehicle had come through the light at Arkansas, south-bound on Green Oaks! If I’m right, that means it jumped the median, crossed three north-bound lanes of traffic (upon which I was driving), jumped the curb, crossed the lawn, and plowed into the brick wall hard enough to knock an SUV-sized hole in it, so that I could see filing cabinets! The fire truck and ambulance were there, but there wasn’t a lot of hustle and bustle of people, so I’m hoping no one but the driver was injured—and I hope that wasn’t bad, but it can’t have been good.
So, when I returned home, I was ready with my camera, but, as you can see the movement of my vehicle, the nighttime light, and the distance from the building across the road all conspired to mean my photo sucks. Oh, well . . . this one is about the story. And about being sure that everything happens for a reason—including me being an hour late for the birthday gathering at Rob’s. And about being grateful.
The gathering at Rob’s was the kick-off for Kyle’s October 31st birthday, of course. Since he’s away from the office Thursday and Friday, his work friends and bar buddies decided this was the night to raise glasses in his honour. There was pool, of course, and munchies and cake to go with the beverages. So, the weekend-long party has begun!
~MB
27 October 2009
My day was spent with an eye on the clock, ’cause once again, I was going to be sure to attend the PubGuys recording session, and this time, I didn’t want to be late! I got my wish—in fact, I got chauffeur service! Kyle was able to stop and pick me up on his way on down Hwy 287 to the Firehouse Grill where today’s recording was to take place.
This is a great place, by the way . . . and a little too off-the-beaten path to be as well-patronized as it deserves. It’s in Mansfield, in the same shopping center with the Home Goods and Marshalls store . . . right along Hwy 287. Awesome food, huge selection of beers, (Rahr Octoberfest is on tap!) full bar, and great people! Check it out.
It was a good session . . . made a little more special when the pub/restaurant owner came over to join the guys at the mics!
~MB
