Time Well Wasted

Well now, I've been doing this blogging thing for a couple of weeks and I have to admit I kind of enjoy it. It is a challenge to come up with something to write about at times, and other times there seems to be a lot of ideas rattling around in my head.

I think as time goes on, it will give me incentive to work on my photography. Mostly because I think people are always interested in looking at photos and I will have to continue to take more photos in order that the content is current and there will be something to say about the photos.

Getting those photos will get me outside and I am bound to get more exercise looking for that perfect photo.

I think I will add another feature to these blogs. And that is to record the weather for the day. With my interior / exterior weather station, I can find the low temperature last night and the high temperature today. I should also mention when it rains or snows and anything interesting in the days weather. So here is my first weather post.

Today's Weather  :Low - 2.0, High  4.5, snow in the morning changing to rain, a little brighter in the afternoon.

The Underdog

With today's victory in the Super Bowl, the New Orleans Saints have proven that occasionally the "Underdog" can and will win.

This started me thinking about the fact that I was cheering for the underdog, without really thinking about it! I have no real interest in either team. I don't follow football at all and generally only watch the Super Bowl game each year.

I probably cheer for the underdog because of a sense of fairness, or desire to level the playing field. Everybody should get a chance to win.

But is cheering for the underdog kind of stupid ? Is this like supporting a bad mechanic who never quite fixes your car completely, or supporting a plumber who can't quite fix all the leaks ? Food for thought isn't it. Did I cheer against success ?

In the Super Bowl, I cheered for the underdog, but they won. Now, doesn't that make them the best team ? Go figure.

Do you think there are a lot of people cheering for the underdog ? I think there is lots who do. From nursery rhymes like "the little engine that could", to those who love the Rocky movies, these stories inspire hope that we can overcome the odds to be happy and successful in whatever we do.

Do you cheer for the underdog ?

Your comments and thoughts are always appreciated.

Avatar Movie

Wow ! What a movie !

This has got to be the best movie ever. Avatar really delivers an excellent story and you just can't believe your eyes. The interaction of real acting and animation is so seamless it just leaves you in awe.

What these creative movie making people can do is beyond imagination. There is just so much going on in each scene that it's hard to watch it all.

Janet and I saw the 3D version, wearing the oh-so-cool glasses, and this definately adds another layer to the visual experience.

If I have to criticize something, it is a bit stereotypical. There are the good guys and the bad guys, and it's clear who is who. There are no twists, which I always enjoy. You always kind of know what is likely to happen next.

On the other hand, it is not one of those movies where you are trying to figure out what is going on. The story is very linear, no jumping back and forth in time to keep you confused. For me, that is a good thing.

There is a definite undertone of environmentalism. The peaceful people living in harmony with the environment vs. the aggressive invaders who want to destroy the environment to mine for the valuable ore where the people live.

A great movie. I loved watching it and I am already looking forward to seeing it again. Will have to buy the blue-ray when it comes out.

Awesome, just awesome.

Take better photographs.

With today's digital point and shoot cameras, anyone can take a good photograph. Just point and shoot! If you want to take better photographs the easiest thing to improve on is the composition of the picture. The automatic camera can do all the technical stuff.

The composition of the photograph is where, how and what you point the camera at. The first thing to think about is what you want the viewer of the photo to see, understand or feel. Then grab the camera and start shooting.

The very best thing about digital cameras is the freedom to experiment. You can take as many pictures as you want, review them, delete those that did not work out, and try again.

A small creek can be magical.

When you are composing a photo, look for various patterns, squares, circles, triangles, swirls, etc. When you see an interesting example take several shots and vary your position as you shoot. Shots from different angles, higher or lower or different backgrounds can make an ordinary subject more interesting to view.

An interesting construction detail from a mining ghost town.

If your subject has a lot of detail in it, try to keep your composition symmetrical. Have the prime detail centered and equal space around it, to draw the eye to the item, not the background.

A butterfly on an echinacea flower.

A simple way to add interest to the photo is to have either radial (expanding outward from the center) or diagonal elements in the photo. These lead the eye from one item to another, and kind of give the photo some energy.  Static horizontal or vertical images tend to be flatter and less interesting.

A pine cone in a clear blue sky.

Another composition trick is to have subject elements overlap to increase depth perception. Our eyes easily show us the range of depth, but a flat photo will be more interesting if you can trick the brain into imagining the spacing between items.

A view of the Sydney Opera House in the distance.

Also, try not to put too much information into each photo. It is better to have several well composed photos to view than one photo where you tried to get everything into one picture.

A rainbow you can just about reach.

So grab the camera and get out there. The world awaits.

Baby, baby, baby, baby

Today is the birthday of my baby girl # 4.

Her name is Shannon and she is 22 today. Shannon has the gift of humor and laughter and is always a hoot to be around. Her quick wit and infectious laughter always means a good time.

A week or so ago we went for a winter walk in the snow and here is a few pics of her all growed up. Her little dog Beau is her companion.

Happy Birthday Shannon !

Bike Ride

Yesterday, I got some office work done, then decided it looked decent enough outside that I would go for a bike ride. The snow has gone and the sun is up there behind the clouds. Its about 3 degrees Celsius and there's a light wind blowing from the south.

Took me a little while to round up all the gear. Dust off the bike, check the air pressure in the tires, dust off the bike helmet, find the cold weather beanie to wear under the bike helmet, get the GPS, check the batteries, mount the GPS on the bike, get the camera, get the cell phone, make sure its charged up, get the bike lock in case I have to stop somewhere, get the wallet, make sure I've got a spare tire tube, air pump and tools, get some water in the water bottle, get out the bike shorts, bike pants, poly undershirt, bike jersey, and bike rain/wind jacket, and get all this gear on!

Whew, I thought I was just going for a bike ride, seems more like some major expedition. I think I'm ready to go.

Oops, one more thing, kiss the wife. That's the good part. Then listen to the lecture about being careful and not doing too much the first time out, etc, etc. I kind of tuned out the rest.

Finally got underway, planning to ride south across our small town of Summerland, BC and hook up with part of the Trans Canada Trail system. the pavement was up and down for the first 10 km. until I got to the trail. Seemed like lots of slow ups and quick downs.

Anyway, finally got to the trail and took a break because I could no longer feel my hands and butt and my heart had been working hard just to get this far. Okay, now on the trail and it was really enjoyable. Nobody out there but one idiot riding a bike (me). I had better be careful, cause now I'm in the middle of nowhere. I think of my wife and wish she was here to share the cold and pain and great views of the Okanagan Lake.

Must press on, but when you start to see Penticton from the trail, now there is a strong head wind. With me all sweaty already this is now getting cold and with the headwind more like going uphill. Now the pedalling is harder, I am more tired and cold and must stop again to get rid of the numb bum and tingling hands. Boy this is fun!

My bike does its job with no complaints.

There are some nice look out spots and and interesting trails leading off the main trail. Will have to come back some time with the ATV's and give this whole area a good scouting.

Here is an "arms length" self portrait.

Back in the saddle again and pushing on to Penticton.  I start to think the fun has gone out of this but then finally the end is near and I can hook up with pavement again and mostly coast back down to the highway. GPS tells me I did about 12 km. on the trail.

A quick text message to the wife and she heads out with the truck to pick me up. I am way too tired to bike back home again.

The body is sore but the mind is enjoying the feeling of accomplishment. If you have every climbed a mountain and stood on the very top to survey your surroundings, you know the feeling.

I don't know.

How often do you say "I don't know" ?

I would guess that most people say this very little - if ever.

When asked a direct question and the answer is unknown, people invariably reply with some type of circular answer that does not answer the question or reply with a question of their own, directing the conversation elsewhere.

People generally have a positive ego and admitting they "don't know" would somehow prove a personal failure they do not want to admit to.

Listen for the "I don't know" statement in your conversations. It probably won't take long before a smile crosses your face when you realize the correct answer would have been "I don't know".

Surely, with everything there is to know in the wide world; it is not unreasonable that we should know everything. So why the hesitation?

That's a very good question, what do you think?

Translation: ("I don't know")