Wista Setup

This is all the crap I carry around with my 4 x 5. 

Flash cable

Lens cloth

Polaroid back and film

Kodak TMax and EPP film in 4x5 ready loads. 

12 Sheets of Ilford Delta 100 in film, holders 

Kodak ready load back. 

Wista 6x9 cm roll film back. 

Shen Hoa 6x17 cm roll film back back 

Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 Carbon Fiber Tripod and short column

Vivitar SMS 30 flash 

FujiFilm 4x loupe

About 20 filters in 77mm and flat filters

Electric Kitchen timer

Blowy ball

Luna Pro F light meter

Wista DX-III with International and Graflex back

A variety of 120 roll film in black and white and color

Dark Cloth

4 lenses

Rodenstock 55mm Grandagon

Schnieder 90mm Angulon

Schneider 135mm Symmar-S MC  

Schnieder 210mm Symmar-S MC

Flarebuster

2 Shower caps

Clip-on Umbrella

2 cable releases

Adapters for the filters. 

Pen

Gnass Lens case

Gnass Film holder carrier  

I don't know what this whole setup weighs -- but  I think about 40 pounds. 

Joshua Tree Sunset

Joshua Tree Sunset
Scan from 6x17 cm transparency.  

Giants Win!

It was 1965 maybe ... the first time I thought the Giants might win the World Series.  We played wiffle ball on the street in front of the house and the neighborhood witch took our balls whenever she could.  We played hardball or "semi" in the sandlot at the end of the street, and we knew that Maury Wills could run and was one unbelievable fielder.  Golden Glove.  We knew Sandy Koufax pitched a perfect game against the cubs. and that the Dodgers were the team to beat.       

We'd watch the game when it was televised.

The giants fielded a team like this:

• Jesús Alou
• Tito Fuentes
• Matty Alou
• Tom Haller
• Jim Ray Hart
• Hal Lanier
• Juan Marichal
• Willie Mays
• Willie McCovey

We knew the line-up by heart.  ... Alou, Fuentes, Mays, McCovey, Hart and so on.  We used to pick sides and one of us would have to be the hated Dodgers, and the other one got to be the giants.  And we would recite their line-ups while we hit.  If we happened to be Maury Wills on first we felt obligated to steal.  Sometimes we would switch hit for the lefties.  We played the game, we hit the ball, we knocked out windows, we rooted for the Giants.   

We all thought the Giants could do it that year, but we were denied.  My father said that Horace Stoneham thought that second would make more money -- so that's where the giants would be.   My father and Uncle Pat might take us to a game -- to the bleacher seats.   But my uncle Ralph -- He always had box seats.  First base line, behind the dugout.  He used to bring about a six pack of beer to the game in a long tube he slung over his shoulder.  He'd drink that and more ... ummm ... and then drive us home.

We cheered the Giants on year after year.   

I remember the night games at Candlestick.  The wind.  The cold.  The extra innings.  When the stadium was empty.  When it was full.  We followed the score and we watched.  And we waited.  For years.  

But I never remember winning the World Series till now. 

My Excellent Hosts in China

August 3-13, 2010


I want to be sure to thank my host for this ten day trip. My friend Michelle, her friends and her family were gracious, most generous, accommodating, and delightful. For most of the entire ten days, she, or someone in her family, or one of her friends, was there to take me out, feed me, go sightseeing or shopping, or invite me into their home. Their efforts made this by far the best trip I have ever made to such a foreign place.


I can't say thank you enough.

Well ... Merry Christmas Already

Christmas this year will mark the 24th anniversary of my brother Michael killing himself.  Every year ... I say ...  Oh -- I should go volunteer at the suicide hot line.  Well -- I just offered.    

Body Tuning ... err ... Bow Tuning

SO -- Right before deer season this year, I bought a new bow, a Mission BX-1, in a 70 lb draw weight.  Many of you might have noticed, well, that I am not a very big guy.  I could pull a 70 lb. draw weight bow, once maybe.  The guys at Predators short strung it so I could pull it at about 50 pounds of draw.  Since I normally shoot a 50 lb recurve, this was manageable.  50 pounds of draw weight is enough to take down a deer certainly, but might have trouble with a bear or elk. 

Last week I had the shop set it up as it should be and we cranked the weight down to about 60 lbs.  This is a substantial increase.  I had to shoot it about a dozen times at the shop so it would settle in.  This was a challenge.  With a recurve if your body fails you can just pull till there's nothing left and shoot away.   With a compound bow, you have to get over the hump, or it's useless.   I had to rest more than once.

I've been going to the range every day and shooting about a dozen arrows. Every day I try to dial in the 20 yard pin on my sight.  Shoot three arrows, move the sight, shoot three arrows, adjust again.  It's hard enough to pull, so that each set of three shots isn't always accurate.  But I am getting stronger.  Today, it all came together.  I was able to shoot consistently for about 15 shots ... and looky; three bulls eyes at 20 yards.

China, Day 5 - Farm in Liao Yang

August 7, 2010

I visited a small family farm in Liaoyang.  We rode a cab out there and eventually got a cab back.

China, Day 5 - Open Air Market in Anshan

August 7, 2010

Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore

Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore"
LeAnn Rimes

It might be hard to be lovers
But it's harder to be friends
Baby, pull down the covers
It's time you let me in
Maybe light a couple candles
I'll just go ahead and lock the door
If you just talk to me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

Lay your head on my pillow
I sit beside you on the bed
Don't you think its time we say
Some things we haven't said
It ain't too late to get back to that place
Back to where, we thought it was before
Why don't you look at me
Till we ain't strangers anymore

Sometimes it's hard to love me
Sometimes it's hard to love you too
I know it's hard believing
That love can pull us through
It would be so easy
To live your life

With one foot out the door
Just hold me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

[Solo]

It's hard to find forgiveness
When we just turn out the light
It's hard to say you're sorry
When you can't tell wrong from right
It would be so easy
To spend your whole damn life
Just keeping score
So let's get down to it baby
There ain't no need to lie

Tell me who you think you see
When you look into my eyes
Lets put our two hearts back together
And we'll leave the broken pieces on the floor
Make love with me baby
Till we ain't strangers anymore

We're not strangers anymore
We're not strangers
We're not strangers anymore
  

Share Till We Ain't Strangers Anymore by LeAnn Rimes