tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78433482337548528682011-11-23T21:55:40.604-08:00thoughts and comments from a moody cameraman... travels, day-trips mixed with periods of sadness and happiness but always with profound discovery of the interaction between my ViSioN of my environment combined with my passion for photography. photography gives ME wings, while writing allows me to paint my visions with my thoughts. ~ ~ ~ ~ I'm a cloud chaser, sunset painter, and a landscape lover ~~fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.comBlogger1321100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-6477288006776956262010-07-26T08:15:00.000-07:002010-07-26T08:37:54.997-07:00

.....now that I am back in Rota and trying to pack more stuff to be ready for the next future trips I have to make to move my stuff from Spain to the states... not easy at all but not impossible either.The last three has now completely destroyed two more suitcases, for a total of three suitcases useless. This is a lesson: do not pack your suitcases to the limit (in this case 70lbs each) and

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-1351696372158257212010-07-03T22:08:00.000-07:002010-07-04T03:25:49.958-07:00

....for me will be in a military passenger terminal, waiting for a flight eastward to Spain, back to my apartment to start anew the work in clearing out my mess. Just spent a week-long weekend in California after delivering yet another two suitcases full of my life-belongings, and have many more trips remaining before I am done. Can't wait to return as the a/c I am experiencing throughout

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-9660762946074142072010-06-11T04:46:00.000-07:002010-06-11T05:16:18.585-07:00

as forecast, it did rain almost all day Tuesday and again on Thursday. Both days brought out some fantastic storm clouds - the type that you see in documentaries or movies that make your heart rate increase. I took a break Thursday night to get to the beach as the little sky I could see form my windows hinted of some sunbeams - later there weren't but I wasn't worried too much.So, I went out to

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-74365964261004452062010-06-07T06:19:00.000-07:002010-06-07T06:24:46.176-07:00

unfortunately, cannot get to see a sunset inside a box, but i can surely leave a box to see a sunset!!!;^)just a few other sets that I've had the pleasure to see since I have been back..... enjoy!!!

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-57903173763398133902010-06-04T15:31:00.000-07:002010-06-04T15:51:42.907-07:00

I've been back in Rota over three months now, hating to move again and going through all of my boxes that I originally packed when I departed here over four years ago. Actually, I've been on strike now for some weeks - boxing and packing can be very depressing....but I've been going out to snap the sunsets a few times, including tonight when I saw the wispy clouds from my bedroom window... so I

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-82198126967632543282010-05-02T04:07:00.000-07:002010-05-02T04:28:53.430-07:00

Rota sunsets are always gorgeous... to make a critical decision, which I have made. My life, or what I perceive as a life, changes continuously, and now with my life in Rota once again, things have come to such a point that I have decided yet another important stage in my life must be made.I am moving my stuff back to the states, and will eventually resettle in Eugene. I love the greenery there,

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-26409474448262138822010-03-28T01:07:00.000-07:002010-03-28T01:49:04.601-07:00

Spanish sunsets.... this is what I remember most about Rota, Spain. Otherwise, it's been a first week back home and delighted recently to see a really nice sunset.I am on strike again as I look at 25+ boxes filled with my Life and memories from three years ago, then realizing that there are 20 more boxes just as full waiting for me in the states still, that I won't see for about a year. It's so

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-49711181216039076102010-03-18T14:40:00.000-07:002010-03-22T05:36:13.169-07:00

first sunset wasn't a set, but a cloudy day I loved anywaythese two pixs show a little of the gorgeous makeover of the BCN airport! wow!My first full day has started in my apartment. While it isn't the nightmare disaster I expected, it's still going to be a lot of work. Most of the work will be concentrated in the small bedroom where I still have over 25 boxes full of my past life, and readying

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-56080149347858710612010-03-15T15:34:00.000-07:002010-03-15T15:50:32.204-07:00

Mr. Fototaker. yea right. I wish everyone could lead a month in my shoes. In the two plus years in San Francisco, I walk around with no money in my pockets, because I didn't have any. I would ask for pocket money from my sister but that was always used to buy things for her....Now I am returning to my empty apartment in southern Spain. Yeaaaaa, you're thinking what a great life. Well, I've been

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-8564632730018989072010-03-12T18:30:00.000-08:002010-03-13T09:56:00.480-08:00

and am planning to pack the laptop and external monitor Sunday so will be silent finally, and be able to do the last work. Earlier this week some East Bay friends crossed the bay by BaRT and invited me to a chilly outdoor lunch. I didn't mind at all... even got to see some noisy parrots one last time before leaving. Last night a few friends of my sister invited me with a close friend to dine at

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-12362285223226957712010-03-09T17:40:00.001-08:002010-03-09T18:13:07.565-08:00

I have been packing like crazy..... I am down to those tiny little nonsense things that mean nothing to others, but to you they mean the world, and hold so many memories... of places seen and things done. I have too many of them already, and building even more all the time. I've already missed one deadline.... suitcases all too heavy, folding bike in a box too dam big and too dam

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-20437683862108547192010-02-18T08:35:00.001-08:002010-02-18T09:06:58.794-08:00

okay, I know I've been AWoL frome here but you wouldn't believe my life these past few weeks.It seems I was infected by a virus some months ago but it sat quiet. My sister let me buy a new faster motherboard, CPU and memory.... when that arrived I installed everything, then loaded my old hard drives from the old box into my new faster setup! After testing and revalidating my windows (wot a pain)

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-36664758414380494882009-12-26T20:28:00.001-08:002010-02-18T09:49:21.945-08:00

I had planned for several days to take a walk around the downtown area of San Francisco to photograph the homeless. Usually I don't make it a big thing to photograph them, as I do it whenever I am out and about with my camera.... this would be the very first time I would devote time for such a theme.I have been downtown on previous occasions to photograph the skyscrapers at night in all of their

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-7343483804898889892009-12-25T03:14:00.000-08:002009-12-25T03:29:58.655-08:00

... to be alone on such a day! The shopping malls are closed early, so you can't even window-shop or just have a quiet walk. The theaters are also closed early so you cannot hide inside a cinema. Everything is dark and empty, save for a few tiny restaurants that nobody knows about, so they are completely empty also.Sat in the parking lot of a closed but lighted Safeway grocery store, and laughed

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-82339620580740712092009-12-08T21:58:00.001-08:002009-12-22T09:59:58.596-08:00

It's just 10 to seven in the morning here, woken by the songs of some unseen chirping birds. Looking out the window I see those strange but gorgeous trees backlit by sunlight and clouds, while the ground outside is still wet from rains last night. Went to sleep at 1am but as usual, travel mode doesn't permit me to sleep too much which I do not mind at all. I have the big lens on the camera in the

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-4657693324550038832009-12-03T08:25:00.000-08:002010-02-19T06:58:29.355-08:00

Another cold day in San Francisco but also a colder day elsewhere. There's always someplace warmer o colder than where you are, and if you think of it, you can warm yourself with that thought. Who doesn't dream?With the news these days attacking and hounding yet another personality with details of a personal life, it just seems so insane. Who is the perfect husband or wife? Who can honestly say

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-51037123594585888372009-12-01T08:33:00.000-08:002009-12-01T09:15:23.816-08:00

Drove down last weekend to see if I could catch some crane in flight or otherwise. Started late and enroute, detoured slightly to a Vallejo park where there are peacocks. Strangely enough, I was told about this park by an online friend who lives out of California now.Didn't see any peacocks but I know these birds can hide... but there was a small pond with ducks and enjoyed snapping some pixs,

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-51000948730550214142009-11-23T15:19:00.000-08:002009-11-24T15:34:57.839-08:00

This past weekend I wandered out in search o the fall colors I am so amazed and fascinated with, especially while living in Eugene. The colors then were everywhere, but here, it seems I need to drive elsewhere. So I packed up all my gear and that new camera and went driving north to Stinson Beach, then the long lost route to San Rafael, then cut over to Vallejo in time to see the sun was setting.

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-22215938234990946572009-11-17T20:13:00.000-08:002009-11-24T14:59:33.772-08:00

I've been here before, but wanted to get some better images as the first visit was without a tripod and handheld, I lacked a bit of detail. Priest P. Perekrestov is very kind to allow me to return to snap new images so I try to get in quickly to do what I must, and not interfere with anything. It's a glorious church and though one may not think the interior looks nice by the size outside, it is a

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-16834077516536427572009-11-16T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-24T14:52:13.691-08:00

I went and purchased the newest Canon toy on the market... the EOS 7D and at the price paid, I am surprised and disappointed it doesn't drive me home and collect the mail. Hold it ~ that's what I do every weekday!!!The camera has a great feel, very sturdy and weighty, which is what I like. I am in the process of testing it with my various lenses of which I have varying from a Tokina 12 ~ 24 to a

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-47084872840709125382009-11-12T14:00:00.000-08:002009-11-24T14:11:50.715-08:00

I went with a friend to see this campus, full of so many things. I have been here before - months previous when I discovered the Hoover Tower.But what was most amazing was the Stanford Memorial Church, hidden away behind arches and with an interior just so beautiful!

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-74773623834075823692009-11-05T10:18:00.000-08:002009-11-05T12:18:09.965-08:00

I am still copying files - it gets tedious often but I manage to survive. Over the past two and a half days, the computer has been ON 50+ hours and guessimate I've moved 30+ gigs of images during these past few days. At one point I just completed a short move that lasted about two hours (the others took up to 12hrs) and looking through three different screens for more files to move, deleted the

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-11335965933060739322009-10-28T18:03:00.000-07:002009-10-28T20:09:00.801-07:00

... that someone somewhere is having the last laugh on me.... or is it actually having the last laugh on us?be my wingman,and I'll be yoursI was told when I first arrived to live permanently in Spain almost two decades ago that I would never make big money with my photography, something I perfected over the previous two decades while in the Navy. Through pushing my photography and working some

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-27184987819337338342009-10-17T21:30:00.000-07:002009-10-20T12:45:38.393-07:00

.... things are always changing, and no matter what your destiny holds for you, each day brings new surprises for us all. I love being on the street, and hate to be closed in as has happened to me various times in my life, and even voluntarily when I have so much work to do on this computer before I leave in just a few months.To help in taking a break from all the sitting, I had an opportunity

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-84893904837097474132009-10-03T11:05:00.000-07:002009-10-30T07:02:59.121-07:00

Sept 24th: The time has come. I just purchased my ticket to return to Spain and brings both joy and sadness… JOY that I’ll be back in my apartment in hot southern Spain… but alone again, taking care of what is mine and again in the company of sincere friends. On the other hand, it also brings to me yet another close to my time in the states after being away over a decade. To be in my hometown

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-34962135527474675702009-09-14T08:48:00.000-07:002009-09-16T20:06:48.610-07:00

Since I've adjusted to life in these united states, I've been noticing a few things.... and in my almost two years in San Francisco I've noticed that some things apply no matter where you live in the states:1. If you think the sunset will be great and worth your time to capture, it'll probably be foggy or worst, the traffic will prevent you getting there and you'll miss it2. Never drive in back

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-52731892656744113742009-07-30T11:17:00.000-07:002009-08-15T11:07:24.067-07:00

I've been driving around a lot, trying to see as much as I can before I leave to live in my spanish apartment next year. In the past weeks I've driven to Big Sur, wound my way to gorgeous Fremont Peak State Park, and have a lot of weekend trips planned for the months to come. I can now even say I went to the Gilroy Garlic Festival and though it seems more like a commercial convention that just

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-88983737922218334722009-07-13T15:16:00.000-07:002009-07-13T21:32:45.842-07:00

I've been gone a very long time stuck with computer work. I hate the computer work that's forcing me to sit at the monitor for so many hours non-stop. It seems that aside for small Bay Area trips, since I've returned from Eugene even sunsets is a fading memory! I am just too busy with the image archiving I've been doing the last year and especially the last few months. So I really need a break

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-29618651543863256152009-07-08T12:26:00.000-07:002009-07-08T18:21:24.079-07:00

I haven’t written about my vision in some months so allow me to expand on the condition of my eyes. I still cannot believe it’s been over 10 months since my eyes were improved through the application of the wavefront PRK procedure. I elected this procedure as I wanted the ability of looking through camera viewfinders.Of course, I had fears..... many fears! At one time in my life, I had the best

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-89176499885053942542009-06-21T21:08:00.000-07:002009-06-24T09:16:57.520-07:00

Over two weeks ago I returned from a long and tiring five-day trip to Oregon again. Two days were actually spent in Eugene shooting some great friends and families, then left Eugene Monday morning at about5am, driving to gorgeous Crater Lake a final time as I think I won’t be able to see it again due to the packing and readying for my return to Spain next year. I had a bit of self-inflicted

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-22376472732125086572009-05-27T06:52:00.001-07:002009-05-27T10:30:22.230-07:00

It amazes me constantly. Having attended a wedding recently, I am always reminded of the unique and constantly changing moods of Man. How an individual can change so much, to show great compassion or hatred... to be so tender in some moments and then display brute force in another. Oh, I am not referring at all to the wedding - but as a general statement of my observances of Man.Being ex-military

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-49774477526471969832009-05-14T10:44:00.000-07:002009-05-15T08:42:06.179-07:00

Well, the unthinkable happened. After having my car in the shop twice last month, I didn't think it would happen where my car would return to be worked on, so soon again and so unexpectedly. Yesterday as I prepared to go pick up my sister from work - and leaving earlier than normal as more cars are on the road in warmer temperatures than in colder weather, plus lots of road projects are in

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-88861302643942598372009-05-10T15:28:00.000-07:002009-05-10T16:22:09.773-07:00

What a busy camera weekend but I love being busy!! The weekend had cleared up and was forecast to be cool in the evenings and Saturday the same conditions but with just a touch of clouds.... just imagine how really great it was to be... cool nights with just a slight haze over the whole Bay Area, with just a bit of wind sufficient to push away both clouds and smoke. To make it better, the

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-67922434846875288022009-04-29T13:04:00.001-07:002009-04-29T13:44:11.520-07:00

I live on the outskirts of North Beach, bordering Fisherman's Wharf on one side, and Russian Hill on the other. Only a few blocks away is Chinatown and Telegraph Hill also.... all within a "toss" of a loaf of sourdough bread. All areas complete with hills and very steep hills... I remember screams of pain when I was a kid living in this area, when cars zoomed down the hills and hit people and/

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-67764355328174653812009-04-27T11:12:00.000-07:002009-04-30T15:47:41.412-07:00

Fire and flames is something I've always been fascinated by. I can watch a bonfire for days... entranced by the jumping crackling flames... colors so inviting and seemingly drawing you into their deadly hot embrace. Even more exciting are those creative people who dance with fire, and after leaving Spain and living in Eugene, I had found some individuals who fire-dance.... we talked of taking

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-49755597359084918272009-04-21T08:39:00.000-07:002009-04-21T09:39:57.354-07:00

I am always miserable when I see a sunset that is so beautiful that my bones hurt. It happened again when few days ago when I saw from my bedroom window the clouds start to turn pink...... .....sometimes I think I am back inside my apartment in southern Spain since from my balcony windows I can see the beginnings of the sunsets, and have just ten minutes to walk quickly to the beach with

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-45550264095428561412009-04-17T12:56:00.000-07:002009-04-17T14:05:51.351-07:00

I cannot believe the circumstances: it's been four decades (give or take a few hours/days) since I stood on the corner of Taylor and Filbert Streets in San Francisco's North Beach and watched in awe...... the filming for the movie Bullit was wrapping up one of its many scenes of the famous bouncing-off-the-crest-of-those-SF-hills chase sequence, and now I am again a more mature witness to

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-23088545308337042602009-04-16T18:38:00.000-07:002009-04-16T21:44:26.841-07:00

and while I wait for the latest and last filming of the new television series "Trauma" pilot taking place within 200 feet of where I sit typing this, and thought to kill time while waiting, I'd describe my last few weeks in my City.Eyes: Of course the healing is great and progressing very well; the last checkup in San Jose weeks ago went well and no more checkups, unless I stab myself in the eye

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-66549591779853976562009-04-05T22:21:00.000-07:002009-04-05T22:59:50.178-07:00

Aaaaaaaah, the joy of a clear warm Spring day in the Bay Area! What a day to get that new folding bicycle out of the flat and out fer a ride around the block!Okay, so I haven't been on a bicycle for over 30 years.... so I haven't ridden a bike in SF for about the same time! Well, with this folding bike, I first had to adjust to the smaller wheel base which gives one a strange sensation when

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-515102389070457022009-04-03T06:16:00.000-07:002009-04-07T08:17:43.482-07:00

So I drive down for what I believe is my last appointment for my eyes in San Jose. It's been months since my last checkup and my eyes feel like it's always been without glasses, though I know it's been the other way around.It's incredible to think that sight is such a gift that we all take so much for granted. As a photographer, I see things in a different light and if I were to ever lose my

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-68283809604573623922009-03-29T19:30:00.000-07:002009-03-29T20:12:03.394-07:00

It's not too often I get a chance to walk in the City any longer. When I lived in Spain I used to walk about seven miles in less than a week and now, I don't even make five miles in a month let alone two. I used to walk every week when I first arrived, but that's before I started madly snapping everything in sight of my great gorgeous hometown, and now I have thousands of image files. It seems

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-81265984712311150572009-03-26T22:54:00.000-07:002009-03-27T12:02:45.700-07:00

Went to see the sunset again tonight, but I went to a location I've never been since living in the City.... I arrived late and lots of people about, mostly tourists - locals never watch the sunset as they are too busy - but I was there....It's amazing how something so simple as seeing a sun disappear, can make one so sad. One would think it'd be a pleasure to watch, but it's been a long time

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-6290180911018029752009-03-23T11:31:00.000-07:002009-03-23T12:51:08.363-07:00

Thank goodness I have a "local" bank - using this as an excuse to leave the car (happily) behind and take a walk - a real walk - to the edge of the Financial District from North Beach which is just about a mile in distance. I haven't done any real walking since I was in Spain during January and I had a lot of meals to get rid of. I walk fairly fast... I can walk about two miles in about 17,6

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-40905445481665851292009-03-22T20:07:00.000-07:002009-03-22T20:43:25.723-07:00

The sky was so clear above the horizon and it was so blindingly bright that I couldn't face it. I looked to the south and saw a seemingly tiny sailboat bopping like a cork in the winds, going one way then another... I thought: that's not tacking at all.... bit the boat made headway and blew past the helo pad, then toward the bridge....I read a book while waiting, thoughts turned to the chapters

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-82050605364789533132009-03-18T11:00:00.000-07:002009-03-19T09:46:42.476-07:00

The world is in turmoil and it's all because of GREED. It used to be that products were made with care, patience and good workmanship with the end product being a quality item, or a service that would draw new customers or bring back previous clients. Now it's all made with the lowest quality materials with a planned breakage period of a few months. What happened to making a good product or

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-48515601320906738992009-03-10T11:15:00.000-07:002009-03-21T12:11:44.958-07:00

I am just a really friendly person... too dam friendly sometimes and I get burnt a lot but oh well... I love to help people and in return, have been lucky to be helped also.To give you an idea of how friendly (and crazee) I am, I recently was in a restaurant to eat with my sister. When dining out I have a (good) habit of washing my hands before and after eating. On this day I wore a

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-43167458728305901972009-03-03T21:10:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:23:27.809-08:00

soooo it's raining. It rains around the world....but sometimes from above the street, it takes on a unique perspective....No, this image above isn't the world drain, but the corner street sewer being flooded with the surge of water from a hard downpour. Don't worry, as we speak, I am trying to figure out HOW to email 100 gallons of water to my friends in Australia.

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-91542595592320953722009-02-28T14:18:00.000-08:002009-02-28T14:57:29.888-08:00

I was driving back to get my sister and her grandson who I had dropped off in the Marina earlier. I then drove downtown to a gallery to see an exhibition - afterwards I dashed back to the Marina to get my droppees (iz dat a word?) when after parking, I spotted the glorious view of the crescent moon and a bright planet not too far separated. I thought this is even better than the Jupiter, Moon and

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-90016663016589386742009-02-26T22:07:00.000-08:002009-02-26T22:38:58.056-08:00

I left my North Beach apartment building and headed downtown, walking towards and up Jones Street. If you know anything about Jones Street, you'll know that it gets very steep in North Beach.... to lay credence to my claims of not exercising enough, I hiked up the 100+ steps between Filbert and Vallejo Streets and at the top, I was panting, sweating and tired as a worn old dawg. When I reached

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-23912814299233734512009-02-22T19:30:00.000-08:002009-02-22T20:38:17.991-08:00

I followed the freeway south on HWY 101 till Los Gatos, then took a road out to the coast... I still didn't know where I would head, but I've been to Pigeon Point to see the lighthouse, and Half Moon Bay a few times for model shoots and to see the area.I drove through the mountains toward the coast and at one point, it seemed as if everyone was also headed to the water. It was getting late plus

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-76058665729181679412009-02-20T19:34:00.000-08:002009-02-20T20:21:03.904-08:00

It's been "fun" but my first-ever juror experience has come to an end. Today during the third day of juror selection, I was dismissed due to a conflict of interest situation.... just as I was actually beginning to "enjoy" the experience... hahahaaYesterday I thought I was falling asleep in the late afternoon and I was forced to wake myself before I slept in front of everyone! Being one of the

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-41703959522775534252009-02-18T10:11:00.000-08:002009-02-19T19:53:24.212-08:00

It's such a pity.... like grass mowed from the lawns of many, it's not effectively used for anything... even though grass is grown for sale to customers in the NorthWest, in general it's a wasted commodity that nobody uses or properly recycles so that it's used for the future.... our future.What am I referring to? The Honey that falls from the skies and makes us crazy, makes us hide under

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-38341941706038157142009-02-15T19:42:00.000-08:002009-02-15T20:25:57.068-08:00

Big storms were forecast to hit the Bay Area over the weekend with heavy rains and even high winds last night. The winds did pick up... then died weakly. I was happy. I rather have wet stuff on my face dripping down rather than wet stuff blown into my face.Saturday I attended the exhibit closing party of a friend's gorgeous display of flora images. Held at the Collectively GRASP environmental

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-45662398690729527562009-02-06T20:25:00.000-08:002009-02-06T21:10:18.669-08:00

The aircraft shown below belongs to the spanish airline company Iberia. This airline is KNOWN to be the subject of strikes usually scheduled during the busiest times of tourist travel during the summer. Already into 2009, the Iberia pilots struck again in January of this year and for a day disrupted travel plans of many travelers .... This is how this company's pilots strike to get the attention

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-53642180708770872012009-02-06T07:21:00.000-08:002009-02-06T15:13:07.646-08:00

... and what a heck of a looong flight it was ~ slept very little on the journey which for me started in Rota early Wednesday morning by cleaning up everything a final time. I love seeing my apartment so clean and "empty" and I will return one day though not soon enough. Arriving at the Sevilla airport just before 8am, I had enough time to check in and relax, if that is possible in an airport

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-25241899404212129592009-02-04T13:53:00.000-08:002009-02-04T15:18:16.539-08:00

....while in the passenger seat of a friend's car - unusual place for me to be - we stopped to buy gas and I decided to snap a pix of the gas prices in this part of Andalucia. While this might even look cheap after the exchange rate is considered, remember this is the price per liter! when I lived in Spain, the prices were much different and I was paying up to 60€ per liter to fill my tank. Also

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-90037444399555200022009-02-02T02:28:00.000-08:002009-02-02T02:36:34.751-08:00

Last night it actually hailed in Rota... it was already past the sunset - there was no color at all - and the hail struck my balcony windows with such a force I actually thought someone was throwing pebbles against the glass. Accompanied by thunder and lightning, it made me wish I had brought my tripod but of course where would I set up to shoot? hahahahaathe day after the storms, gorgeous

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-1706528652572787272009-01-12T04:18:00.001-08:002009-01-29T09:47:37.493-08:00

Thursday, 29 January: Time passes so fast when you don't want it to, and so sloooow when you want it to be fast. grrrrr Cannot believe that I'm on my last days in Rota. The last few days have been very cloudy, so much that I've skipped watching sunsets and will wait till next week before I'll pass by the beach again. Yuppy, you read that correctly: I am on strike till next Monday!!!I've spoken

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-29022841813203617342009-01-08T12:33:00.000-08:002009-01-08T16:48:40.012-08:00

Well, I've spent my first full 24 hours in Spain and am enjoying it, the love/hate relationship with the place I enjoy and love so much ~ but at the same time hating it.... flashback to the journey....Started early and drove my sister to work as normal and when I got home, finished moving the stuff into my carry-on, which I decided my usual small camera bag was too small as I stuff it with camera

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-68518976991981862752009-01-03T14:53:00.001-08:002009-01-03T16:14:16.673-08:00

The last setting observed was from Bernal Heights ~ was amazing to see the glow looking west toward the Pacific, above the fog approaching over homes on San Franciscan hills. On the other side of the bay, Mt Diablo was gorgeous surrounded by the glow of the sunset, as windows of homes in the East Bay reflected the sun, lighting up the windows like sparkling little tree lights.So today it’s a

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-7922521124228972872008-12-31T19:44:00.000-08:002008-12-31T20:22:59.609-08:00

The fog is in and breaks my annual new years' routine of photographing the last sunset of the year, to be followed by capturing the first sunset of the year. As I type this, I am waiting to enter the cold outside to photograph the fireworks near the Ferry Building... little will that do to make me smile as I'll probably be alone... as always.But sometimes it seems as if the world and Nature is

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-47684756985593161092008-12-15T09:29:00.000-08:002008-12-17T10:58:11.914-08:00

It's been a busy few days as I have been attempting to devote time to archiving of my image files – not too successful – and still continue capturing what goes on in my life. All the while, I still have to think of packing for my upcoming trip to my apartment in Rota, and that will be a welcome "break". Of course I will be working like a slave, buying furniture and working on the apartment, which

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-64873178469086037242008-12-08T09:08:00.000-08:002008-12-08T22:05:47.205-08:00

I escaped the city life for a weekend and drove up to Mendocino County. I’ve never been up this way and have wanted to go for so long but never had time. I planned it to be an extended foto trip and would drive up HWY 1 on the winding and narrow but scenic coast with stops along the way. Then I would return via HWY 101 for a faster return to the City. Being so cold at night, I decided not to

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-87450657467087910332008-12-03T19:28:00.000-08:002008-12-03T20:05:59.233-08:00

In fact, so much of a blast I went straight home. Nobody has the true concept of how many 2,000 is until you see all the peoiple in line waiting... talking on cell phones in front and in back of you. Smoking their lungs off or/and blowing their smoke all over you. Stupid overheard small talk trying to unbore themselves.... so when I saw the line, I thought: no waaaay I will wait there with those

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-28317611006445480952008-12-02T13:09:00.000-08:002008-12-03T09:48:35.638-08:00

Being a holiday weekend, I planned staying busy as I hate being in front of the monitor 29 hours each day as I am currently doing... this archiving of my image files will take forever.... so to break the boring routine, I went looking there and here with my camera.... Friday saw me in the car with sister and her friend to Point Reyes National Seashore which we finally arrived after skipping

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-1781910069760056552008-11-24T13:09:00.000-08:002008-11-24T14:14:49.477-08:00

...was so very gorgeous... and I love fog and rain!! I cannot believe the number of times I stopped by the roadside while seeing a foggy scene, then slamming on the brakes. As usual I departed Eugene at 6:05 with thick fog everywhere and I needed to use the GPS to find my way to the interstate 5 on-ramp.Visibility was reduced to about 100feet from my front car car seats but by the time I passed

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-37747345764605767182008-11-21T20:17:00.001-08:002008-11-22T00:27:28.820-08:00

On the road again to Eugene… seems I’m returning home but I’m not. Left the City at about 7:30am and got quickly onto the bay bridge which wasn’t too busy fortunately. Traffic was quite good actually, and when I got off the bridge I was shocked to see the parking lot of cars waiting to get onto the bridge to cross the bay into the City! Even the ramps leading into the City were virtually

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-79788177651844102982008-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:002008-11-18T08:22:51.559-08:00

.... lived on the street for a week, or even a month. Imagine how our perspective and disgust toward the homeless would change.Imagine sitting in a restaurant. Eating and sitting with a friend when suddenly you are aware of a homeless person being shown to a table? After being left at the table by the hostess, you notice that everyone else is looking at this lost soul... dressed in dark, ragged

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-61867961312514108492008-11-15T11:27:00.000-08:002008-11-15T14:16:34.231-08:00

well, everyone know I rarely capitalize titles here, so something must be up ~ indeed for the surprise! The other night I was on the road almost all day. I had dropped off my car to get new tires in anticipation of my drive late next week to Eugene and through of the snowy mountain passes. The Cascade Mountains are steep on I-5 and I am not planning on taking the "elevator" down, sliding all the

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-24115386805490048642008-11-10T19:40:00.000-08:002008-11-11T12:31:22.194-08:00

After talking to an East Bay model for many months and in the meanwhile many things happening on my side and with her life, today finally got a chance to meet and actually shoot with her!! Does this mean my bad luck in finding SF models to photograph is now done and dead? I don't think so - I've been in contact with another East Bay model whom I also finally met last week at the photography club

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-5887640602598298792008-11-08T07:41:00.000-08:002008-11-10T20:21:31.475-08:00

...on a bumpy and windy road. The last few days I've been running all over the place. Had a foto shoot-out in Fremont and drove there in the pouring rain with my bad night vision.... the rain was so pouring-down hard that I couldn't see a thang but apparently better than other drivers who kept drifting between lanes with invisible land-markers in the wet mess, or whose cars just simply straddled

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-52584186529386146602008-11-01T12:58:00.000-07:002008-11-01T16:52:39.319-07:00

...will eventually repeat itself. Our lives are a cycle of events that sometimes repeat itself. We return to places in our childhood and relive moments... yesterday was a busy day for me, starting as usual very early for me till I finally practically collapsed in bed and fell asleep quickly sometime after 1am, the act of sleeping easily and soundly being something that has evaded me for years,

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-37728293742728069862008-10-28T15:36:00.000-07:002008-10-28T15:55:29.164-07:00

Needless to say for those who know me, I am online 36 hours a day. What? You think I can't count... that might be true but if you were up all day and night, when you finally get to sleep it will seem longer than the 24 alloted....I love "talking" to my friends in Europe.... I miss them a lot and wish I were back in that tight-knit community. The culture is different {better} and things are more

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-46972967703095012582008-10-25T22:35:00.000-07:002008-10-25T23:10:29.079-07:00

The morning started early with my files... During the previous day I had tried to copy/move my milllion image files to the newer hard drive... it took hours so I would leave and go shooting on the streets of San Francisco... when I returned, the operation aborted for some unknown reason and now I'd have to compare both folders on the source and destination locations, and copy the files not

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-48361983086590186242008-10-24T20:47:00.000-07:002008-10-31T06:42:47.709-07:00

this is the nightmare awaiting me upon arrival...a year ago at about 4:39pm, I arrived in San Francisco after a long tiring 9-hr drive from Eugene. I was barely settled in the Northwest when I had to move down here.... with increasing success on the tip of my camera lens, I wasn't too happy leaving Eugene and moving back to my hometown and have to start all over again. I really don't want to be

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-51647970904555120532008-10-24T14:49:00.000-07:002008-10-24T15:43:06.091-07:00

oops!! Make that three hours!! I finally broke down and yesterday purchased a 500gig external hard drive. Gosh ~ I remember when 500megs cost almost a thousand dollars alone!!!! In trying to manage my image files, I have run out of room everywhere! On my desktop's 160gig HD, I don't have too many corners still available... I had purchased a 350gig external HD in Spain before departing in 2006

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-61872455690804280412008-10-20T15:03:00.000-07:002008-10-20T18:13:32.692-07:00

It's not easy seeing where your Life has been - no better method of "seeing" its direction but through cleaning out your old emails in your sent box. Seeing emails dated while living in Spain, later emails upon my arrival in Eugene were a revelation; even more those emails after my move to the Bay Area.Then I've reading through the other stuff.... emails to models hoping {begging} for a foto

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-24637053598927543372008-10-18T12:34:00.000-07:002008-10-20T08:52:27.670-07:00

It's been some days since I've commented on my eyes... it's progressing well but I still have the sensation that it's almost like wearing my glasses (where are those?) but without the glasses. Right off I had been instructed to buy some lubricant eye drops which I did and have been using them, though I was "forced" to slack off during Fleet Week where my eyes were subject to blowing wind, debris,

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-8216589038422192352008-10-16T21:58:00.000-07:002008-10-16T22:42:22.325-07:00

.... still amazes me with its depiction of this so-called Life we see with our eyes, and through this virtual world. Life in itself is so similar to what we see on the tiny screen... with its twists and turns, a plot so thick you need a magnifying glass to determine sometimes which way it will turn.....Is our Life so insane that it is really as it seems on the television, or is the television

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-746767867545657482008-10-15T20:38:00.000-07:002008-10-16T08:04:33.461-07:00

... imagine seeing someone running through the streets... obviously not dressed to be a jogger since he's wearing street clothes. Another indication he's not a jogger could be he's holding in his hand a very big camera with a long lens.Not a jogger!!!Well, if you thought that scene to be out of a flick, think not! That would be me, running about two miles Tuesday night as this idiot wanted to

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-19719041916857884322008-10-12T22:32:00.000-07:002008-10-13T17:18:18.744-07:00

wow!!! I heard my downstairs neighbor talking to someone on the street about some fire... I opened up my bedroom window blinds and took these few pictures through the 40-year old glass, being able to see the flames in the void quite clearly!!! How eerie to have flames seemingly in the middle of nowhere in the night darkness!! Now ten minutes after snapping this first picture, the smell of

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-40257270691256431942008-10-12T19:49:00.000-07:002008-10-12T20:15:56.573-07:00

at least, it is for me! I've recorded and created about 3,762 in the past few days, and probably deleted about 3,761 of all of those images!!! hahahahaaa I almost feel as if I were at a tennis match, watching the ball tossed from one side to the other... at least I don't have to look at aircraft any longer, till next year perhaps! I've been standing an average of 4-5 hours per day, except for

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-57493557776462682602008-10-11T22:25:00.000-07:002008-10-11T22:39:18.489-07:00

well, another night but not on my roof this time! I left the flat searching for a place to shoot the fireworks, after spending an hour online looking at maps and ideas for where it might be and how it might look from this location and that. Also difficult when you don't know exactly where the fireworks will be launched from! So, I hoofed it up the steep Jones and Taylor Streets hills, puffing

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-78175993829672101552008-10-11T18:19:00.000-07:002008-10-11T18:46:44.916-07:00

Today was my final day - I don't have to work Monday as it's just a cleanup day and they said I shouldn't do that... so I'll stay home and work on fotos instead, as I have been for months already!Instead of my usual position greeting people at the ViP boxes, I was at a refreshment stand and helped them with sales. It's not easy as you think, selling soft drinks - it's actually a fine art and

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-60518208694321912502008-10-10T20:48:00.000-07:002008-10-10T23:18:49.457-07:00

Great people, great time and interesting.... I love observing people and since people are so unpredictable, it makes an interesting day.Took the camera and had time to take pictures... some included here for your viewing pleasure. Today was the first day of the official practice which started late but it's still a great performance!Tomorrow is the first day of the official Fleet Week.... I'll

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-74599494749946907622008-10-09T22:02:00.000-07:002008-10-09T22:26:17.554-07:00

It's been two long weeks waiting for the season's opening of CSI, and it was worth it. There has been NO other series on the little screen that has moved me as much as this... and the Las Vegas version has been the cornerstone of the spin-offs, which I feel are not as emotional nor as real as CSI on Thursdays.Tonight at the episode's closing at the funeral, I will not believe it if anyone

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-85892210189544057702008-10-08T21:03:00.000-07:002008-10-09T20:52:20.165-07:00

...will be a very busy time for me. I'll be offline for a few days while I am a Fleet Week volunteer at the Marina Green greeting people paying to see the Blue Angels and the Canadian Snowbirds flying.... plus two days of personal time to get some ~ hopefully ~ great snaps of flying birds of metal. I've always been fascinated by aircraft of all types even before I entered the military and that

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-60559340903436003802008-10-06T18:47:00.000-07:002008-10-06T20:15:23.511-07:00

... cable cars rumbling along on their ancient tracks, the gripman dingling the bell as the car nears an intersection. These are the sounds I hear, as I did as a child in my distant past, and amazingly again, as an adult thrown into the events that Life hands us...The day started overcast but like my little town in southern Spain, the sun burned that off and by noon it was a clear sky and lots

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-10120194494937496072008-10-05T19:25:00.000-07:002008-10-05T19:40:12.440-07:00

draped in ghostly white... bathed in the warmth and golden glow of the dying day. I was inside my metal wheeled-box, traveling among strangers on a concrete pillared road... seemingly at the speed of sound though it was not.I often think of this woman, so restful is she that never to awake she - sitting atop a mountain so far... yet so near to my heart and to my soul.As a youth I had sketched

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-38612222703108954872008-10-03T19:52:00.000-07:002008-10-03T20:10:46.984-07:00

I'm usually not a political type, and hate to discuss it anywhere... but this isn't political ~ it's finances and not just mine as I am a taxpayer, but everyone's....This bail-out of the financial institutions angers me... that so much money will be used for assisting those financial organizations is not fair...WHY?When americans were encountering difficulties in paying their mortgages, these

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-63750991355335137372008-10-03T18:55:00.001-07:002008-10-03T18:55:34.205-07:00

mystery4234_tnOriginally uploaded by foto_takerI saw this recently and captured it... this is a mystery foto, meaning there's a contest going on ~ to read the full details about this foto and contest, go to where this foto is posted at flickr and come on everyone: GUESS!!!!

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-43124760497052030712008-10-02T18:49:00.000-07:002008-10-02T20:26:14.078-07:00

It was a nice drive to the eye clinic in San Jose; I've been admiring the views each time and finally after four trips, I finally remembered to load up with the camera and stopped to catch the sights I've been thinking about many times but captured only in my mind.My eyes weren't too bad; I could see about 75 feet and make out street signs and such, so it wasn't like the first few drives after

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-86768948068790859172008-10-01T09:57:00.000-07:002008-10-02T18:49:51.316-07:00

My next followup appointment with the eye clinic for my new eyes is next week but I have already called to have it rescheduled for tomorrow, so again I drive to San Jose.While shooting the sunset the other night, aside from staring straight into a brighter-than-BRIGHT sphere with NO haze, fog or clouds as a filter, the usual happened as always, but later that same night and this morning I noticed

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-39336358899067726172008-09-29T18:29:00.000-07:002008-09-29T19:26:23.296-07:00

... and even enjoyed it, it was here where I attended grammar school. Not even 123.17 feet from my front door and a simple three-minute walk as a child, I remember days of such heavy fog that after stepping out of my flat where I lived on the same street as the school, I couldn't even see the school!I've been meaning to revisit my old schools since my return late last year but work in getting

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-35426399837787089902008-09-25T22:59:00.000-07:002008-09-27T13:48:18.615-07:00

I was trying to park for just a minute in a yellow zone ~ yeaaaa, I know ~ and when the tires were done turning, I looked toward the parking meter, and saw the words on its post... listing the towing warning and when parking is allowed, and then it dawned on me:I was sitting inside my car, still belted in and behind the wheel, and I could see the words on that parking meter post! Even when I had

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-35221208248632307882008-09-22T21:14:00.000-07:002008-09-23T11:10:51.472-07:00

Just back from my second followup at the San Jose clinic where they advised me my eyes were healing quite nicely. The protective clear contacts were removed ~ or should I say they were peeled off my cornea and was I ever glad, though my vision went lousy again in having to readjust yet again. I'm still very happy with the progressing results and I realize it'll take time before my vision gets as

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-8847076005596966852008-09-21T15:21:00.000-07:002008-09-21T16:08:00.609-07:00

....can reveal so much. Glasses slipped down on my nose for nearly four decades and from my very first to the very last pair of glasses owned, they have always been progressive, meaning the glass will turn dark when I am outside, and when I enter a dark interior the glass turns clear automatically. I couldn't understand why people would have a clear set and a dark set, switching from one to

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-5611688727494581442008-09-21T09:18:00.000-07:002008-09-21T10:03:13.563-07:00

Well, yesterday ~ not feeling safe enough to drive alone in my car ~ I rode as a passenger in a car. It's strange when you are always driving in your own vehicle, to be sitting elsewhere in a vehicle. It's a strange sensation and while it's nice to see everything pass by and to enjoy the sights, it's still an odd state of being. In this case, it was even more special as my new eyes were being

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-49311735547660559702008-09-20T10:29:00.000-07:002008-09-20T14:02:26.461-07:00

Well, things are progressing well. If you see any typos, it may be due to my hunt & peck with two fingers (or it could be toes now), my inability to see very close, or my new eyes not focusing well still, or a combination of all the above.During day two, I had really red and swollen eyes; so bad were my eyes that I thought: booooy, you look more asian now than you ever did in your life! Now,

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843348233754852868.post-35303525399938152072008-09-17T17:16:00.000-07:002008-09-20T12:23:38.225-07:00

Well, it's done. I was there at 12,45pm in San Jose to get my eyes done. It consisted of more waiting than the actual operation required. My brother drove me to the center, killed time and came back to pick me up at 2pm. Starting out, I had to watch a DVD explaining the whole procedure, plus definitions of the various type of surgery of the eye. It also explained the risks of having such types of

fototakerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11010075389777289721noreply@blogger.com1