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stevetuba.co.uk
Days in the life of a Curmudgeon...2009.
Velence...1st September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0320hrs...Up with a Cup. Mom and the Other...fed same. It’s 15.8°C and 23.2°C...clear. I started some drawings for the crusher last night...which I now hope to finish. ISS and STS-128 at 0501hrs...20° elevation...approx. west. Should be able to shoot it from the balcony. Yesterday’s shot were not bad...but they can always be better. 0507hrs...ISS/STS...done deal. 0831hrs...Gathered up my data...and getting ready to go to Bela’s. 1921hrs...Back for about 30 mins. Fed seven! Ike seems to be doing better...eating. Velence...2nd September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0801hrs...Just out of the shower. It’s 10.0°C and 23.4°C...clear. The work went well enough yesterday on the crusher. I finished two sides of what will become a large funnel while Bela finished wiring up the motor which we then fired off. It worked though a bit fast...unloaded. This morning I’ll start the other two sides...using the two from yesterday as a starting point. Bela will mark out the pieces...and I will cut then on my chop saw. 0846hrs...I leave in 8 mins. 2027hrs...Back for about 20 mins. Fed some. I had to hit the far store which is just across the street from Bela’s...and I thought I had another 30 mins before they close...so I was grateful that I went across at just before 2000hrs. The older gal asked me if I was living here permanently...and the younger one whether I was "with woman"? Yes...NO! Things took a turn for the worse with the grape crusher. Plus Bela had to go out and about with Sari...and since they left before 1200hrs...and didn’t arrive back till after 1800hrs...I was without any help at all. Velence...3rd September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0738hrs... 0836hrs...It’s 10.0°C and 24.3°C...hazy. Getting ready to go...again. Taking the time to go on line...to check the weather...for the possibility of rain. 1851hrs...Back for about 30 mins...fed the crew...plus. We recovered from all the mistakes made...so all that’s left to do on the crusher is sanding and painting. And I won’t be going over early tomorrow. Velence...4th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0738hrs... 1319hrs...I hit Bela’s around 1030hrs...talked. He’d managed to paint the rig. I then hit the store. 1914hrs...It’s started raining...not a good deal. If it should continue...and it will...then it’s off for tomorrow’s...Bela’s...grape harvest. Jutka’s to be harvested next week...the big one. Velence...5th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0408hrs...Java with the crew...plus...Ike stayed all night...the rest showed up later. Angry clouds...with a full moon visible through gaps. It’s started to rain again...it’s windy...with strong gusts...16.8°C and 24.3°C. An unattended German Sheppard showed up...headed west. I told it to go away. The harvest will not take place today. Velence...6th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0238hrs...Mud with most of the crew. Ike doing better. Well...it was before 1400hrs yesterday that the phone rang. Agnes...asking if I was available...as in for the harvest! Gads...it was "on" after all. I said yes...and she eventually showed up with Jutka some time after 1400hrs...and we got to the vineyard by 1430hrs. The cutting went as usual...and we filled two large vats...which we then transported to the cellar. It was the usual Chinese fire drill...but then came the moment of truth. I had said while still up on the hill that the crusher will be amazing. A bucket of grapes in...and gone in a second...as in a flash! And so it was. I timed it with a stopwatch. The two large vats took only 17 minutes...15 seconds of run time! There are a few technical adjustment to be made. 0341hrs...It’s 14.9°C and 23.0°C...clear...moon and stars...calm. 1011hrs...Back from the far store. Thought about stopping in at Bela’s...but didn’t. Fed seven! Ike eating as if there were no tomorrow. He needs it. His right eye looks better too. It’s 16.4°C and 23.9°C...clear...slight wind. 1931hrs...Earlier I went for a spin to see if anyone was home at Bela’s. There were no cars in the drive. I’d thought that I’d hit the store again...as in far...but then ended up going to the close one...which from there was the far one. It worked out well. Readings and thinking continues. I do need to pickup the bloody area...it’s a disaster! Velence...7th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0252hrs...Just in. Saw a fox! Large. No cats in the area. I’m up because... There had been a program that I wanted to watch. It was to have come on at 2155hrs. I decided to keep the TV running...thinking that I’d wake up hearing it. I remember waking up periodically just enough to decide that it was in fact not the program...and fall back asleep. At one point I couldn’t stand it any longer...I had to know what time it was. Well...it was past 0100hrs! There was a movie in progress...interesting enough...so I ended up watching it. East Germany...before the Wall coming down. 0314hrs...Just in...again. Full moon...high in the sky. Jupiter to the southwest...visible just above a thick cable the runs along Kemping Street...thinking about the time that Saulius and went out to Magnolia Bluff with my Celestron C-8...2000mm...to shoot a full moon rising over the Seattle skyline. A female pedestrian appeared...and came to see what was going on. I offered her a view through the telescope...and since it was not driven...the image of the moon appeared to move...caused by the rotation of the earth. She was surprised...at how fast it was moving...when I told her the cause. In a matter of minutes Jupiter will vanish behind the thick cable. My mind then wandered to the resolving power of optics...larger aperture being better...when I looked down onto the street...and there was the fox. We stared at each other for 30 seconds...before it loped off. 0808hrs...I’m up and dressed. I’ve retired the fan until next summer. I will now start the great pickup! It’s 14.5°C and 21.5°C...mostly cloudy. Cool enough to get some work done. 1727hrs...I took a tray of warm water and a roll of paper towels out onto the balcony...and gave Ike a much needed bath. He seemed very pleased with the whole process and even rolled onto his back so that I was able to wash him all over. I plan to do it again tomorrow. I see now that he is cleaning himself...here and there...which he’d not been doing. There are a few tough spots that will need more attention. These seem to have been caused as a result of his encounter...with god knows what. Earlier I called over to Bela’s...Sari answered...to ask about his eye injury. Apparently he’d not been complaining about it...so I’m not really sure what the deal is. 1839hrs...Ike is doing a good job...cleaning himself as best he can...I’m glad to see it. He now follows me around when I’m outside. Gads...he thinks I’m his Mom! Ha...he’s just jumped up onto the window ledge. I’ve printed 5 photos for Bela...which I’ll take over tomorrow. Velence...8th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0323hrs...I woke up hungry. A Cup with Mom...later Stranger...and I think Ike in the penthouse. 14.9°C and 20.9°C...clear...past a full moon...Jupiter setting. I need to hit Spar today...methinks. 0824hrs...Showered, shaved and dressed. About ready to go. 0953hrs...Round trip in less than an hour...without drama. 1539hrs...Returned from the far store and Bela’s. There was no one there when I arrived...so I just left the photos...and went into the store. When I came out...Sari was unpacking the car. I went over and helped unloaded...but then the phone rang...Udit...and I finished the unpacking by myself. I started a list of Magyar one and two letter words...but I now realizes I should have been listing monosyllabic word-roots! Velence...9th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0430hrs...Up and outside for an hour...Ike, Mom and Kwan...and oh...the hedgehog. 1814hrs...Back for about 20 mins. Earlier...phone...Jutka...needs ten minutes of my time...ok fine. I removed a window for her so that she could paint the second window...which was behind the one I removed. She’d called for Bela...but he was up at the cellar...hence me. Later...Bela shows up...heading for dinner. We chat...mostly about the grape harvest on Saturday...and the crusher. Phone...Lajos...from work...with parts for Bela. Jutka finished painting...and Bela and I reinstall the window. I get ready to leave when Lajos arrives. I leave eventually and hit the store. I buy two cans of a new cat food. Ended up opening both for the crew. They seemed to like it. 1841hrs...Going online to search for a "homebrew" cat shampoo. I gave Ike another wet towel bath today...but he needs a better one. He is cleaning himself...more and more...so at least that’s a good thing. His eye looks much better too. 2006hrs...Just in from out...having shot ISS and STS-128...separated. 2021hrs...Printed one frame...not bad. Soccer match in 20 mins. It will be big deal...if we win. Portugal! Velence...10th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0515hrs...Up for an hour. A Cup with Ike...and a few others. Portugal scored in nine minutes of play. We attacked well for the rest of the first half...but didn’t score. I didn’t see the second half...so I don’t know who won. 0829hrs...Well...that was it...1-0...Portugal. 1906hrs...The other day I took down the solar blast shield in the kitchen. End of summer...as it were. This morning we had 15 hot air balloons to the south west. Before sunset we had 17 balloons...going nowhere fast for a lack of wind. This afternoon I fixed the broken window changeover mechanism on the kitchen window...which I’d started a few days ago...but stopped for lack of tools. I ended up filing a screwdriver with a file I borrowed from Jutka. Velence...11th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0641hrs...Up and outside for the last hour...Coffee with the crew...plus. It rained for a minute. It’s overcast...19.2°C and 22.8°C. 0729hrs...We have balloons again. And it’s raining again...with a bit more vigour. This is a good thing...and I hope it continues into tomorrow. 1432hrs...It’s drizzling a bit...23.9°C and 24.3°C...overcast. It was today that the world changed...eight years ago. 1804hrs...Have found yet another "lost" 78! Such joy! Ciribiribin...Erna Sock. Have called Jutka about tomorrows schedule. I will be going with her...and will arrive there for a 0730hrs departure. Flash batteries are on the charger. 1815hrs...Have fed the crew...plus others. More balloons...some wind out of the west. Velence...12th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0551hrs...Up for an hour. Ike was waiting...fed same. Later Kwan, Stranger and Joey. It’s clearing from the east...damn! 18.8°C and 22.9°C. I wonder if all the chairs that are as of now littering the room that I’d cleaned out months ago will in fact be taken up to the cellar. [NO.] 0705hrs...Showered, dressed, packed...and about ready go. Last minute thinking to do. 0717hrs...Phone...Jutka...will come to pick me up...instead of taking my bike. In...now...five mins. 2005hrs...Back for about 15 mins. Ike not eating(?)! The harvest went mostly according to plan. We did in fact gain time with the machine...as in record time. Tired! Velence...13th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. ; 0207hrs...Coffee. 0828hrs...Another Cup. Ike’s eye worse. 1613hrs...Bought a brush for Ike. Have used it...and he seems to like it. I’ll brush him again once it’s cooler. He’s eating now...since he didn’t like the last can. Cila and Jutka both called earlier. Jutka eventually brought some of yesterday’s food. And she took the rest up to the cellar for Bela and crew...now pressing the crushed grapes. Oh...the sugar content was some 18-19%...which is considered good! Velence...14th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0608hrs...Mud with seven. It’s 16.5°C and 23.1°C...thin, spotty overcast...crescent moon. 1026hrs...Back from the far store since about 30 mins ago. I saw Sari in one of the cars with the door open...so I went over. She was waiting for Bela...to then take him up to the cellar. He appeared from his shop...and we chatted a bit...went back into his shop for a quick look at his proposed crusher blade replacements. Should make a difference. I went back across the street...and the store. I’d hit the PO to pay my internet bill on the way in. As I was packing the bike...an older gentleman came close...to ask if my bike could climb 235 meter high Bence Hill. I told him...no! I mean how the hell can the bike climb the hill by itself? Yesterday...Gyorgy...Agnes’ son...was out mowing the grass as I came back from the far store. Latter I took the bike out onto the street and invited him to take it for a spin. He did. 1038hrs...I will now build a cup of Mud. 1827hrs...I bought a three drawer stand...plastic...for the kitchen. It’s now put together and functional. Velence...15th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0705hrs...Was up earlier with a Cup...and now a second...with part of the crew. It’s 16.5°C and 22.8°C...thin clouds. Thinking about hitting Spar. 0848hrs...About 20 mins ago...phone...Cila...needs photos taken at the cellar...ok...she and Anci will pick me up...in now 10 mins. I have just enough time to make a few prints. 0905hrs...Print's done...I now wait. 1057hrs...Back for about 15 mins. About to have breakfast. 1110hrs. Patrick Swayze...dead at 57! 1630hrs...Heading for the stores. 1759hrs...Back and fed 6. I did in fact hit both stores. As I was checking out...who shows up but Korda...in the flesh. [He's a national celebrity.] Back here...unpacked for the second time...I headed for the northeast end of the lake. I wanted to scout a location from which to shoot lightning. I timed my trip back...6 mins...to the distant location...4 mins to the closer one which had the advantage of trees...in case I need to seek cover from the rain...should it come. Velence...16th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0309hrs...Java with Ike...later Stranger who didn’t eat...and left. 18.1°C and 23.2°C...clear...the stars were all there. 0841hrs...Mud with 8. Looking down onto a page I’d printed yesterday...Iridium flares...is a sidebar ad for IQ tests. When this ad first appeared it showed B. Obama with an IQ of 120. Ok fine...BUT NOW it shows an IQ of 137! How can that be? 1146hrs...Thinking about hitting Spar. The only concern is with the state of the battery...as in bike. It should be OK...it’s only ten miles round trip...and it may serve to see just how well the battery performs. 1322hrs...I did in fact go to Spar. I put the battery on the charger at 1250hrs. Under load the meter showed 60% reserve. 1700hrs...Well now! The charger seems to know the state of the battery...more later. Titles: True Lies...Just my Opinion...Third-rate Bitch...The Distortions of a Disturbed Mind...Broken Women... 1749hrs...The light’s gone green. Call it 5 hours for a 40% drawdown. ABC...a.k.a. the far store hours are: M-S...0630-2000hrs. Sunday it’s 0700-1930hrs. 1800hrs...Speaking of which. I’m about to head just there...as opposed to having to do so tomorrow with the prospect of rain looming. 1855hrs...Fed the crew...AGAIN! 1935hrs...ISS and HTV-1 at 194523 and 195055hrs. Hoping for a break in the clouds...to the north. Did some listening to bats earlier...small ones...not too loud. 1940hrs...Time to go outside. No photography...too low. 1953hrs...Done deal...saw them both. ISS was bright as expected though I saw it just at 20° elevation...then lost it in a long stretch of clouds...then again before I lost it over the house. HTV-1 was on time...though by that time clouds blocked it until the very end. And it was only with the binoculars that I finally found it. Velence...17th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. ; 0639hrs...Up for an hour...out with the crew. It’s 19.1°C and 23.3°C...overcast. It drizzled an hour ago...then stopped. Oh...I should mention that HTV-1 is Japan’s first cargo mission to the ISS. Had a CP incident early the morning. Hit it with Nitro. 1108hrs...Here with a snack and a second cup of Mud. I just woke up...having gone back to bed around 0800hrs. I woke up in one of my now famous virtual dreams. It was great. I had been thinking about the world financial situation...as in insane. I found myself in a classroom setting. At the blackboard was...surprisingly...Mr. Hall...my high school geometry teacher. He had a laptop computer with him. He was talking and writing large numbers on the board. At one point a question came to mind...so I raised my hand. He glanced at me...and I asked..."Do you comprehend the significance of those numbers?" He smiled a wry smile. The scene dissolved. Next scene... Not sure where we are...could be his office...but we are talking...and at one point he looks at what will turn out to be a large computer display screen...and say..."Good...the squares are moving." At first I don’t know what he’s talking about...but soon the large display brightens...and sure enough...white squares...about an inch by an inch are in fact moving over areas of the screen...beneath which very bright and colourful numbers are changing. I conclude that what I’m seeing is a massive spreadsheet the likes of which I’ve never seen. It was as the if there were multiple fields working together...yet separate...as though new data was coming in...in real-time. I’m impressed. I note the laptop...again. I want to show/tell him something. The scene dissolved. Next scene... We seem to be in what was my brothers room at the old Dose House. I get the feeling that Mr. Hall is boarding there...strange...I know. Anyway...on the bed are items that I took to be from under the bed...as in someone was in the process of moving. A suitcase...and other personal things in bags and boxes. I note that there are a number of old cameras. I notice that one of them has part of its mechanism detached...so I pick it up and attempt to repair it. It won’t stay put...I try again...but in the end I give up...and put it back on the bed. It’s then that a female appears behind me...and she starts to says something...though it’s Mr. Hall that finishes the thought. Something about the fact that it’s not he moving out...but the female moving in! Don’t know what it means! The scene dissolved. Next scene... We now seem to be at "my place"...since I’m looking for my old HP-67 calculator...which I want to show to Mr. Hall. My desk is littered...as usual with layers of stuff. I seem to think that the HP-67 is somewhere there...underneath it all. I find numerous "look-a-likes" as in of all things...TV remote controls! Gads. I even find what I claim to be my latest calculator...but it looks suspiciously like a strange Fluke digital VOM. I go on explaining that it’s really a calculator...DUH! THEN...I came across a bizarre contraption. It seems to be parts of something I’d started to build...but never got to finishing. Them...of a sudden...my friend Greg and an unidentified friend of his are in the scene. Mr. Hall looks on. They all marvel at what seems to have been a very massive TV remote...which I’d gutted...and was going to use to make something else. The images are very detailed...as we pick up the various parts. Some of the parts "make sense"...while other are a mystery...even to me. The dream ends...and I replay it...hence now. 1247hrs...Thinking that I should hit the shower. 1752hrs...Time to work on my web pages. Velence...18th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0324hrs...Up and outside...Coffee...Ike, Other and Stranger...fed same. It’s 17.7°C and 23.0°C...Foggy. Back to the web pages. 1528hrs...Back for about 30 mins...having gone to the far store. Again Sari was in the car...ready to go somewhere. I crossed over and she said that Bela was inside and that I should knock. I did...and told him that I be right back after hitting the store. He came out soon after I returned and we chatted for awhile...grapes, sugar and the crusher...then inside for some unexpected lunch. Back here I fed the crew. 1830hrs...I am scheduled to help with Bela’s second grape harvest...red this time which we’d left on the vine...having harvested the white only. This will be on Sunday...today being Friday. Velence...19th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0346hrs...Up for 45 mins. Mud with part of the crew. 17.0°C and 22.8°C...clear...all stars in place. 0819hrs...A second CUP! 1228hrs...It’s been over an hour ago...phone...Dori...stating that Bela’s second grape harvest is set for today(!) at between 1500 and 1530hrs. Gads...say I. She indicated that no one else knew of the proposed change...and as it turns out...even that the harvest was about to take place...as you shall see. I asked who else was coming...and she was unable to provide an answer...but a few names were mentioned...Cila and Jutka...to name two. Ok fine...I thought. All I wanted to know was about my transportation. She added that she will be calling the other...but that she needed to go into Fehervar...as in soon. I then thought that it would save Bela and I a trip...on Monday...hence I asked if she could/would pick up my spare battery. Asking where it was...I referred her to ask Bela...and then to call me back. She did...and did...and would. She’d come by so that I could give her some money. Done deal...I wait. Phone...Jutka asking if I could/would re-install the broken lock to a closet door. Yes...yes...but did she know about the pending harvest...no. Just then a car appears in the drive...Dori...hang up on Jutka...with a promised call back...and go outside with cash in hand. Just enough time to ask if she’d called any of the others? No...but I was to tell Jutka. 1419hrs...We have the second battery! And on the charger as I write. 43,860HUF. 1445hrs...I’m packed and ready to go. The two Nikons, three lenses...the IR filter...the small Slik tripod. I should think about boots. Mmmmm? Velence...20th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. ; 0257hrs...Up for 30 mins...Coffee with three. 0304hrs...15.7°C and 22.9°C...clear...all stars in place. Yesterday...after numerous delays, comic events and drama...we eventually got started...an hour and a half late. I got back here by 2100hrs. I‘ve just now looked at the photos...and noticed...to my surprise...that Dori and Berni...who’s legs show...had positioned them as I’d taught the girls at Dori’s wedding. THEY REMEMBERED! 0425hrs...Time to crash. 0941hrs...Have showered and shaved...for a change. Just called Bela to find out what’s happening. It comes down to waiting for Anci to make contact with someone that will make available a grape separator/crusher. As is...it will most likely not take place before noon. 0952hrs...Thinking about hitting Anci’s for a bit of scrounging. 1149hrs...I did in fact go to Anci’s. I found the contact thermometer...a pair of amplified speakers...two wet stones...two pencils...yeah I know(!)...and two books to read. Soon after I arrived back here...phone...Jutka...invitation for lunch. I had to decline...on for tomorrow...because I will be going up the cellar to check out the pending machine. 1842hrs...Back for about 30 mins. Sorted out the cats...damn! I needed to hit the far store telling Sari that I’d drop in. She’d not heard from Bela...so stopping in was a given. While there...Berni and her girls showed up. Then Bela and crew. I came back here...dropped off that which I’d bought at the store...re-packed and headed for the Tuba/Fuller Wine Cellar. This was to be my first attempt at the summit. It took me 6 mins. Bela and crew were already there...early! Then crushed and separated the grapes from stems. The machine worked just fine...I took many photos of the machine. All of it! Gears, belts after removing the covers. Coming back took only 4 mins...mostly down hill! Velence...21st September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0248hrs...Java with waiting Ike. Fed same. Later Other showed up. Same with the same. Ike is doing much better. He’s cleaning himself more and more...and I’m brushing him...which he seems to like. It’s 14.7°C and 22.7°C...Clear...stars...Jupiter low to the west. Orion rising. Thinking about the machine...as a design problem. Oh...Bela’s grape sugar content was just over 18%...which we measured after we tasted the Must. We then ran the second batch of grape from another location...a relative. We tasted the Must... and I declared it to be less sweet...a bit acidic and watery. We then measured it. Sure enough...it was 15.5+%. Oh...I took apart battery pack "B"...to see if in fact the cells were 14AH. They were. Later I did the same with pack "A"...and they were too! The soldering was amateurish. Pack "B" can not be locked in place...and I will need to fix that problem...and re-solder the connections properly. 0832hrs... 1225hrs...About ready to hit Jutka’s for lunch. I’ll call Cila to pick up a bag of parts pertaining to Jutka’s lock...and give her some monies for bills. I’ll hit the far store on the way back. It’s 21.6°C and 26.2°C...I should open the kitchen window to cool thing down in here...it’s hot! 1731hrs...Back for about 30 mins. Gads...I got hooked into a number of repairs! Typical of Jutka! Velence...22nd September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0415hrs...A Cup with Ike, Other, Joey and Stranger. It’s 14.5°C and 22.5°C...clear...lots of stars. Woke up to a bit of a nightmare. 0758hrs...Doing a second cup of Mud. 0834hrs..."No Milk Today...my love has gone away..." I’ll need to hit the far store... Bela talked me into getting a mobile phone...ok fine. 1906hrs...Back for 30 mins. I went to the west end of Kemping and turned south. I went out onto a pier that ended with large space over the water. I’d gone there with the D-200 and the Sigma 10-20...ONLY! I decided that the 300 2 8 would be better. I came back and retrieved same...and then went back to the shore. It looks to be another location from with I could shoot lightning...and it’s much closer! No cover...should it rain though! I’m now hungry...but don’t know what it should be. Velence...23rd September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0340hrs...Mud with Ike and eventually Other. I’ve known for some time that "Other" is Agnes’ cat...named...subject to corrected spelling..."Dilly". 0409hrs...Just in. Joey was there...eating what was left. Then...of a sudden...Blackie and Stranger showed up. Stranger with a live mouse! He played with it...and eventually took it out onto the street to play some more. Kids! It’s 15.6°C and 22.6°C...clear. 1849hrs...It’s been an unusually hot day...though that’s about to change according to weather reports. 1934hrs...Have started to read the two books that I’d brought over from Anci’s garage the other day. Orwell’s "1984"...the 1977 printing. And Nigel West’s "Mole-Hunt". The latter for the second time. Velence...24th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0306hrs...I shall now build a Cup of Muddy Java/Joe. Just in...Ike waiting...fed same. 0347hrs...It’s 15.6°C and 22.5°C...clear...with lots of stars. 1850hrs...Back for about 15 mins. I went to the pier again just as the sun was setting. It’s turned out to be a waste of time. I then went to the shore by the Holland Houses...and ran into multiple clouds of bugs. Damn! Finished "Mole-Hunt"...having read it throughout the day. I’d also hit the DO and Chemist’s...and the far store. Bela’s gate was open...but I saw no one. 1926hrs...I will need to hit Spar tomorrow. Have started to read "1984"...for I think the second time also. It’s an interesting counterpoint to "Mole-Hunt". Velence...25th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0640hrs...Java with Ike and Dilly...later Joey and the two "Blacks". It’s 15.9°C and 22.8°C...clear...contrails. ; Rough night...TA! 0951hrs...Just back from Spar. Took 45 mins round trip. My warmest shirt is not enough. Don’t know what to think about really cold temps! The wind-chill going 20km/hr...is quite enough! 1024hrs...Outside reading...phone...Bela...asking me to come. Take my tools back to Jutka’s...and work on her water boiler...ok...on my way! 1502hrs...Back for 5 mins. All went well...done deal. Oh...we had to wait for Sari to bring back the car we were going to use...and so we had time...and were able to re-solder my battery connections...and fixed the handle...and because wrong screws had been used...am now able to lock the unit! 1741hrs...Forgot to mention some big news! Bela announced that there is to be a wedding in their family! Gads I thought! Saci in one month! The 24th of October...a Saturday! There is no delicate way to put this...so I’ll leave it to the reader to figure out the "rush" to alter! 1919hrs...This will mean I’ll be doing a "full court press" as per photography. Gads! Another thousand plus frames...and a long day. Velence...26th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0304hrs...Java with Ike and I think Kwan. It’s 15.4°C and 22.2°C...clear...stars. Yesterday evening there appeared a very bright light at the far end of the lake. I took out the 11x80’s for a closer look...but was unable to discern what it was. 0328hrs...Working on my web pages on the laptop. 1017hrs...Back for 30 mins...having hit the far store. 1849hrs...Back for 10 mins...having been to the pier. I GPSed it...as the crow flies...it’s .83kms. "B" pack is on the charger. "B" pack behaves differently from "A"! Less power...it seems...though the cells are the same. Velence...27th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0418hrs...Mud with Ike...It’s 13.2°C and 22.1°C...clear...stars are bright. Yesterday while at the pier...I found the source of the mysterious light. It was a tethered balloon...at the far end of the lake. 0726hrs...Fed part of the crew. I finished the first blog page...and started the second one. Time to hit the shower. It’s now 12.0°C and 22.0°C...clear...sun rising. 1040hrs...Time to do some sorting. I have been looking for one printout in particular...without luck. Velence...28th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0231hrs...A Cup with Ike waiting...Joey and later Stranger. Yesterday’s sorting went well. I left it all outside on the patio table that I’d taken out...which had been inside. Have not found the pages I’ve been looking for. It’s 13.9°C and 22.1°C...clear...stars. Time to continue work on my web pages...the blog pages in particular. Pardon my back. 0822hrs..."No Milk Today..." A second Cup! It’s 12.6°C and 21.8°C...some clouds. 1906hrs...Back for about 20 mins. I hit the pier again...once I saw the pending sunset...thinking it would be interesting. Not as good as I had hoped...but ended up talking to a chap from Budapest. He approached asking about my lens...the 300 2 8. Then I handed him my card and we began talking genealogy. Velence...29th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0625hrs...A Cup with Ike. Kwan again snuck in...in a flash! And he can’t be talked into going out...so I have to carry him. It’s 17.6°C and 21.5°C...overcast as expected. 0854hrs..Have showered...not dressed. 1306hrs...Thinking about going to see Bela...and the far store. Just called over. He’s there...so I’m out the door...as it were. I have a few photos and a web page to take. 1403hrs...Back. I never did hit the store since I was bringing Bela’s tool bag. I will now dismantle and hopefully repair the "on-demand" kitchen water heater. Start the clock...1405hrs! 1549hrs...Well...not good. I took it apart and found a few things...but the one supposedly critical part that Bela had given me was the wrong part. That is...not for my unit but some other. Anyway...that part looked ok to me...so I eventually put it all back together after loosening a stuck actuator rod...which could have been the problem. Still no gas getting to the jets. Could be not enough pressure. Bela said that he’d drop by later...and we plan on going into Fehervar tomorrow. 1637hrs...Houston...WE HAVE HOT WATER! 1704hrs...I gave it some further thought...and concluded that said rod was not in fact pushing up on the gas valve. Why you ask? Well...because I had put it back together with one part in the wrong place. The clues were there but ignored it! I fooled myself! Anyway it’s now working for the first time since I’ve been here...and can only guess for how many years before it had not! Bela will be pleased...I’m sure. I’ll leave it to him to tell the story to the rest. 1908hrs...Bela arrived just as I was putting away the bike...hence he was on the front porch...coming out as I returned from the back of the house. Anyway...did the show and tell and then I mentioned that I next wanted to fix the stove/oven. So it now looks like we may be able to buy parts tomorrow. He’s also got me scheduled to get a cellular phone...ok fine. On the way out of the kitchen he noticed bags of half and full liter plastic bottles that I’d been saving for just such a cause...and he took all the bags...but one...which we’ll get later. This clears some space...so it’s a good thing! All in all...a good day! I woke up late today so I didn’t work on my blog pages. 2050hrs...Just in from out. Ike came out of the penthouse and once... Phone...Cila...at Jutka‘s...coming home...will I turn on the porch light so she can see her past the house...ok...light’s on. She’ll call when she gets to the house...and I can then turn said light off. ...Once he saw that I had nothing for him...he went right back. Smart cat. And I now notice that he’s spending much more time grooming...as in all over. I brush him every chance I get...he likes it...and even rolls onto his back. The other cats seem to have excepted him into the group. 2105hrs...I hear Cila...or I should say the sound of a bike. Wait for call. 2112 hrs...Phone...Cila...lights out. Velence...30th September 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0326hrs...Java with waiting Ike...and Kwan. It’s 17.2°C and 21.8°C...mostly clear. Yesterday there was a conjunction of the Moon and Jupiter...nice...I showed Bela while we chatted out on the street. Back to my blog pages. Pardon my back. 0853hrs...Showered...doing breakfast. Fed the crew too. 1003hrs...Dressed and ready to go any time. I wait for the call. 1041hrs...Phone...Sari...gone. 1916hrs...GADS!...I’m back. Bought a bunch of stuff...A cellular phone...a sugar reflectometer for Bela...a 20 LED work lamp so I can see into the oven...a set of metric box/open end wrenches...a new gas valve and thermostat...more photo paper...another set of four rechargeable AA batteries for my flash...a set of six highlighters...and six jars of PB! One of which I gave to Sari for the girls. Anita showed up with an invitation...Sunday...1300hrs for her birthday...18th! Gads...I need to buy her a present. ; Bela programmed the phone for me and we loaded it with phone numbers. I now have one more thing to carry around...on the downside. Upside...I now have my own phone number which I can put on my cards...which I need to print more of soon. Velence...1st October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. A cup of Joe with Kwan and two of the Black’s. It’s 14.3°C and 21.2°C...overcast. The four AA batteries are charged and good. The 20 LED lamp is still charging. The cell phone is showing full charge. 0849hrs...Ready to start work on the oven gas valve etc. I’d told Bela that he could call for any help he may need. Jutka showed up just as Bela and I were programming my phone having just had a tooth pulled and complaining that her water mains meter well was flooded...flooding! 1301hrs...Well...I’ve put it all back together...and AM IN FACT baking a batch of brownies. It seems to be hold the temperature. I also think that I will need to make a few fine adjustments. Right now I just want to know if it’s working...to some degree. 1336hrs...Phone...Bela...the call for help. The brownies just finished as the phone rang. I’m gone. 1952hrs...Back at least 30 mins. We took apart and put back together a boiler. It went well enough. We then hit Jutka’s...but she was not there. Bela phoned Cila...Jutka at the cemetery. Ok...we come here to work on my stove...as in fine adjustments...but since we fired it off full blast...we went back to Jutka’s while the unit cooled down. Arrive Jutka’s...still not there...Bela calls Cila...not there and doesn’t know where she is. We wait...chat. Jutka shows up. It then turned into a typical Jutka monolog...which means not listening. Anyway...Bela will call tomorrow...come to finish that which we’ve started and a few more thing. Then to Jutka’s. It’s now trying to rain...and so if it should be raining tomorrow we may in fact not go to Jutka’s. Velence...2nd October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0322hrs...Mud with Kwan and Ike. It’s 16.8°C and 21.2°C...mostly clear...waxing Moon. 1001hrs...Got a call early on...Sari on behalf of Bela...though in the end I talked with him...to say that he was going into Fehervar to assist this guy with finding part. He will call me when he returns...which now should be soon. I mentioned buying a 20 LED "work light". Well it’s a real piece of crap. I’ve taken it apart...Chinese...low class workmanship...and QC! The batteries either don’t take a charge...or the charging voltage is incorrect...or both. Bottom line...it doesn’t work. 1912hrs...Bela left a few mins ago. We finished the stove. We also "did|" Jutka’s water meter well. 2101hrs...Kwan and Ike have become great pals. They’re both on my patio chair...sharing body heat. Cute! I think I’ll bake some Gingerbread for Anita’s birthday party. ; Velence...3rd October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0359hrs...Java with Ike only. It’s 12.5°C and 20.3°C...clear...and a Harvest Moon. I’ve generated a temperature conversion chart. Last night I confirmed that the two thermometers agree. 0953hrs...Have baked a batch of Blueberry Muffins...BUT NOT without drama. 1117hrs...Have just cut open the heat-shrink that held the AAA batteries for the work lamp. Sure as hell...one cell deader than a door nail! Also...the cells are only 600mAh...so I’ll have to buy a new set and with more capacity. Velence...4th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0644hrs...A Cup with part of the crew. It’s 7.5°C and 19.8°C...clear...many contrails. The start of Formula 1 in Japan...soon. 1021hrs...Have in fact baked some Gingerbread. Went well enough. Have showered...without drama. It’s now 13.0°C and 21.9°C...clear with winds out of the west. 1912hrs...I went to Anita’s birthday party...got there a bit early. I took some of my Gingerbread. Everyone said it was good. I’d taken a 10,000HUF bill and rolled it up tight. I removed the tobacco from a cigarette and inserted the bill...and put it in...an empty Marlboro box. This I handed to Anita as my birthday present...with everyone watching. She looked at it...as in "what the hell is this?" written on her face. I told her to open it. She did...and saw the single "cigarette"! Still not "getting it"...I told her to remove the "cigarette". It was only after looking at it closely that she saw the end of the bill sticking out. Big smile...everyone laughed...as she ran off. A comment was made that that was one expensive "cigarette"! Took a number of photos. Printed three...two of Anita and one of Saci and soon to be husband...Gabor. I spent some time talking to Saci and Gabor about the wedding photos...places and times. Before I left I let as many that wanted...to try my electric bike. Fourteen year old Bernadette did it twice. She really liked it! Velence...5th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0523hrs...It’s 11.9°C and 20.1°C...clear...waning Moon. 1313hrs...Back from having first called over...then hitting Anci’s...showed the three frames...left two. Then off to Bela’s...Cila was there...left one. Cila thought it was a great shot...it was! Then I went to scout location for Saci’s photo shoots. Took photos. 1917hrs...About 30 mins ago...phone...cellular...Lajos wanting to see me. Gads I thought. I had just enough time to open a fresh bottle of wine which along with two glasses took out onto the balcony. It was NBD...just some leftovers from yesterday. I saw bats...so I had Lajos listen to them with my ultrasonic detector. He left soon after. I had dinner. I’ve redesigned and now printed yet another set of ten of version five of my cards. More balanced...it is now. Velence...6th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0447hrs...Coffee with 6. It’s 14.7°C and 19.7°C...overcast...signs of light rain. 1148hrs...Have done lunch. Velence...7th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0259hrs...Java with Ike. It’s an amazing 18.8°C and 21.1°C...overcast. DOUBLE AMAZING! I just went back to this date a year ago to see what the temperature was...thinking that I’d find it much colder. For the 7th I didn’t have an early reading...BUT on the 6th it was 6°C...and later in the day I wrote...wait for it..."Amazingly warm 18°C..." The use of the word "amazing" is...interesting...in context. 0909hrs...Have just showered...not without drama as I stepped out. 0936hrs...Thinking that should hit a store...before it rains. Should get dressed first. 0957hrs...Out the door! 1200hrs...Just in from out. Having done the far store. Fed the crew...again. I know it’s blasphemous...but I’ve been reading into "84...OUT IN THE SUNSHINE! This in keeping with part of the theme of the book. It really should be read in darkness. There are a number of things that I’d dearly like to find at Anci’s garage. It will mean a major excavation. It’s a blistering 20.5°C in the shade...but hotter in the sun...which is what I’d be in outside the garage. I’ve been rereading/editing/fixing typos on my blog pages...and reminded of not yet found negatives. There is the power cube for the AOR-3000 receiver...the two probes for the PH meter...and I’m sure other items...un-thought of. 1241hrs...Just in from out. About 30 mins ago..."Ha-Ho!"...through the partly open balcony door. Cila and Istvan. Talked at length about the upcoming wedding and plans thereof. Saci has in fact bought a new dress for the church part of the wedding. The original dress...with which many had a problem...will be used for the civil ceremonies. 1831hrs...Back for about 30 mins. I went out again to check the lighting at various locations. All the way to the NE end of the lake...then back here to pickup the D70 kit...then to the pier. I took more frames. I’d left my cellular...hence took it too. 2043hrs...Just in from out. Fed Ike, Kwan and Joey...he leaves...Mom shows up...then Groucho. Velence...8th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0128hrs...TA...took a pill...waiting. Fed three some dry food. It’s 16.7°C and 22.0°C...clear. 1951hrs...Just back from hitting the pier and later the pool...a place from which I did much of my bird shot. The lake was calm so I had good reflections...hence the expedition. I’d stop by at Anci’s earlier to drop off the two container that Lajos had brought over the day before...and we talked about the pending wedding. Then I hit the far store. I will now take a look at my frames. Velence...9th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0346hrs...Mud with Ike and a couple of the others. Two hedgehogs...speaking of which...I nearly ran over one yesterday. It was just sitting there as I approached...and did not move out of my way. I went around! It’s 18.1°C and 22.5°C...high haze. Time to continue work on my blog pages...pardon my back. 0937hrs...Did a second cup while I continue to read into "1984". I’m at the part where Winston is reading the BOOK. MOST interesting. I’m getting ready to hit Spar on the other side of the lake. It’s now 19.0°C and 22.7°C...and clouding up. 1101hrs...Back for 15 mins. Fed the waiting gang. 1245hrs...Online waiting for LCROSS lunar impact...at 133hrs local time. 44mins...to impact. 1327hrs...(computer time)...133020hrs...real time. 2 mins! 1 min! 134145hrs R/T...I saw nothing all. And no one else did either! 1819hrs...Just back...from the area of the pier and out to the sport complex...as in rowing and the like. I found a place that I should check out in the morning light for birds. It’s now 18.3°C and my field jacket over a short sleeve shirt is NOT cutting it! I need to add a few items to my list of "don’t forgets"...like binoculars...and a tripod...which I’ll need a way to secure...and now gloves too. Velence...10th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0319hrs...I woke up to the sound of rain. Mud with Ike and Kwan...later Blackie and later yet...Stranger. It’s 14.9°C and 21.8°C...cloudy...as in overcast. 1057hrs...Ok fine...I decided to take a shower and as I’d noticed before there are a few blocked holes in the showerhead. So I thought that I may as well take care of the problem...there and them. Located a screwdriver...remove screw holding the metal disk in place. I already knew that I would try again using vinegar to help clean the disk. It then occurred to me to use my ultrasonic cleaner. It’s located on the window sill just next to me...because it uses 120VAC which is available only here. With that started...a 5 minute run...I head back to take care of another small detail. The rubber seal that was between said disk and housing was hard and slightly misshapen...so I thought I’d let it sit in some hot water for the duration of the U/S cleaning cycle. I do this in the bath...but when I started the "hot" water running I notice that it’s NOT hot. Damn...relight the boiler...and now I wait to take the shower I’d set on having in the first place. This is just one small example of the real drama that plays out in the village...almost everyday...if you can believe? OH!...Yesterday...Irving Penn...died...at 92! It must be crazy feeling to live for 30 year...after a career of 30 years...and not really be able to enjoy it...that is doing that which you’d done so successfully. 1205hrs...Have in fact showered! It’s now a blistering 17.1°C with sunshine breaking through. 1922hrs...Back for about 20 mins...more later... 1945hrs...I must have gone to the far store at about 1400hrs...based on the fact that my internet connection shows 6 hours online...I’d forgotten to disconnect. Anyway...As I was about to leave the area of the store I heard the sound of hammer on metal...coming from Bela’s. I went over...and sure enough...Bela pounding on a strip of steel. It was the blade for a cabbage slicer. We went inside to try it out. Then a bit later we were called to lunch. Then back outside Bela and I talked about a number interesting things...mostly history. THEN Bela was called to help Agnes...it was planned...pick apples up in the hills. I said that I was leaving...but had been asked if wanted to go too...I didn’t...BUT...just as I was about to pack in the stiff I’d bought...my cellular rings. Agnes wanting to know if I wanted to go along? OK fine! I ask for five minutes...but by the time I’d put away the bike...there they were! The rest is history. Velence...11th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0309hrs...Well...It’s RAINING! About an inch so far. I had my Cup standing in the doorway...with Ike and Dilly. Fed both. A car just drove up to the gate...I’m guessing that it’s Korda rolling in! It’s a long walk from the gate to his house...on a dirt road...which is now muddy. 0351hrs...Just in from out. The "penthouse" got a bit wet so I’d turned over the pillow...and moved the table over it...so as to protect it from the rain. I pushed Ike into it a couple of times...to show him that it was dry...but he kept coming back out...ok fine I thought. I now see him INSIDE! Back to my blog pages...pardon my back. 0735hrs...The rain continues! At least 2 inches...50mm...now. Ike curled up in the penthouse. Forgot to mention...yesterday my man cut the grass. 1304hrs...Slurp. The west gate has been open all day...don’t know why. It’s now 16.4°C and 22.1°C...clearing from the west...for what it’s worth. Velence...12th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0258hrs...Java with Ike, Joey, Blackie and Stranger. 13.3°C and 20.7°C...overcast...though I can see a bright patch lit by the Moon. I woke up with CP...mild...and then a mosquito! 0326hrs...Pardon my back as I hit my blog pages again. I’m on the last published page! 0446hrs...Just in from out...it had started to rain the last time I was out...and now drizzling nicely. 0929hrs...It’s raining lightly. Yesterday...I made seven small prints...a result of looking at my D70 images...where I was putting some new images. I’d worked on them but didn’t want to print them large...so they just sat there. I’m about halfway into the last blog page. Then...in theory I should be thinking about excising the first half of 2009...and creating a new page. 1331hrs...Still drizzling! I need to hit the far store and PO to pay a bill. It’s 12.6°C and 20.2°C...overcast. Just fed the crew. I have two new cats...occasional visitors. One is smaller light gray version of Stranger. The other one is a shorter tailed female version of Dilly...both apprehensive. Well it was time to disconnect the coax running from the Discone antenna outside and the Kenwood R-2000 Receiver inside. Why...I hear you ask? The coax prevents me from closing the window...and because it’s now getting cold for sure I thought it best. That coax...is probably 50 years old! I got it as part of the loot from when they closed down Cut Bank Air Force Station...Montana. It still has the caps to plug the male end of the BNC connectors...hence I capped it...before pushing it out the window...where it will stay until next spring. 1446hrs...DAMN! Made it back...BUT NOT WITHOUT BLOODY DRAMA! It started off bad as soon as I went out behind the house to recover the bike. I’d forgotten that during the rainy season the ground gets very..."soft"! I had chosen my time to go well enough given that the rain was in fact abating. The last time I "packed" the bike I inverted the pad and tarp...this time tarp on top. Well...it made no difference at all...the pad was just as wet as before! Ok fine. OH...the bike had nearly tipped over...given the soft ground! Anyway...off I go...only to realize that I’d forgotten the bill. Good that I was just out front when it dawned on me. Ok fine...I’m off. I note the reading showing on the meter...as a percent of remaining capacity. Not great but not out of expectation. Anyway...I get to the PO...pay bill...get cash. I then debated whether to turn the key and drive the short distance to the store...I do. Buy stuff...back outside. THEN put key in...and TURN it on. NOT! Nothing showing on the meter...a first...and of course nothing happens when I try to move. Peddling was a bitch! The bike is heavy and there is only one gear! Backing up! When I had to come back in for the bill...my shoes were MUDDY. Hence mud all over the place. Same after putting bike back. And the whole bloody crew was waiting too! I brought the battery in and measured the voltage...37 something volts...it’s now on the charger. Have no idea what the problem...was/is! 1602hrs...Forecast is for more rain...and high winds...as in 60mph! Velence...13th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0332hrs...Mud with Ike. It’s in fact windy out there...9.3°C and 22.1°C...overcast. That’s three degrees warmer than predicted. Tomorrow will be Saci’s civil ceremony...1500hrs. I should think about getting my camera gear in order...batteries, lenses clean and do some thinking about details. I’m worried about the bike. From one minute to the next...it just stopped working. And now with the winds, temperatures and rain...and the soggy ground...it will make working on it a bitch! 0703hrs...Up again...have just done breakfast. It’s very gusty out there...and I will need to take out the trash...but it worries me that the can will blow over in the wind. Oh...I’ve solved one problem...that of the soggy ground out back. Bags! Plastic bags...or for that matter...and perhaps better...rubber boots...thought they are harder to put on and take off. 0750hrs...Have reworked the hot water tap over the kitchen sink...it now closes properly. The last time I was at Bela’s...I received my invitation to the wedding...rather after the fact...since I’m the official photographer! Sarlota (Saci) Stumpf and Gabor Kerekes (Wheeler) on the 24th ...1500hrs...at the Roman Catholic Church...of Velence. 0903hrs...I opted for the bags...and managed to take out the trash can...which I put up against the lamp post. I then went out back with a battery to check the bike. Nothing...the same as yesterday. Came back in for a Fluke...back out I checked the voltage. No change with the switch turned on. Removed the battery and brought it in. Checked the voltage...same. Oh...I had a hell of a time just putting the battery in place. The rubber seal was so hard...even at the current temperature...of only 8°C...that I really had to work at. I hate to think what it will be like when it’s freezing...when I will need to remove and install it often! 1007hrs...Policing the kitchen...it’s going well enough. I see that the trash has been collected. The winds continue...though the sun is breaking through. 1132hrs...Whitecaps on the lake. The clouds are opening up...hence more sunshine. 1730hrs...The other day I sharpened one of my pocket knives. A couple of hours ago I called over to Bela’s to tell them that in light of the fact that my bike was inop...they would have to pick me up tomorrow. Sari answered...Bela not there...but I passed the message. I had by then worked up a game plan for at least looking into the problem. I stared with the wrong assumption that the fault may be with the key switch hence ended up taking the whole thing apart. Lots of screws. I soon had the guts of it visible. I found one connector that I didn’t like the look of...and after I put the battery in place...found that it could be the problem...BUT...once I was satisfied with it...I still had something intermittent. It took a bit of poking around...pulling on wires and connectors...that the bad connection showed itself at last. The best part of this was that the bad connection also explained my feeling that I was not getting as much power as I thought I had originally. The bad connection was in the main feed from the battery...all the current flowed through a fuse...30A...and it...the fuse...was loose! Cheap shit! About then...my cellular goes off. Bela calling from on the road somewhere...saying that since he’ll be dropping off Istvan...he’d come over. By the time he showed up I was almost done putting it back together. Chatted...while he ate an apple from the apple tree. The knife you ask...what about the knife? Well...I needed the knife to adjust a contact in said connector...but it was not adjustable...and so I just bent the two spades of the fuse...which I noticed were made of...wait for it... soft Aluminium of all BLOODY things! THEN when it came to putting back a cover...which I was not able to replace properly...I needed the now sharp knife to do a bit of surgery on the plastic cover and naturally cut myself nicely. There was blood everywhere. I located a pack of fuses and opened it. Sure as hell...the spades are much stiffer...though not Iron. Should think about replacing the one in the bike. AND if that were not enough...it’s not tomorrow...but the 17th...Saturday for Saci’s civil ceremony! Gads! There is another place...that I’m scheduled to go...today...or tomorrow...but with Bela’s car problems...not sure when it will happen. Velence...14th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0548hrs...Just in from out...driven in by the cold and high gusts/wind. Ike came out of his penthouse. He’s also jumped up into my lap a few times. Interesting! I need to hit a store...I may also take a look at the pet food place. It will only take the removal of six screws to effect the replacement of the fuse in the bike...having thought about it. That’s not too bad. 0601hrs...It’s 5.4°C and 21.7°C...clear...windy. 0637hrs...Mom heard me in the kitchen and as per usual she climbed the walnut tree, out onto a limb...and jumped down onto the window ledge...and waited. I took out the last hotdog from the fridge...sliced it and then nuked it. I opened the window and put it out for her...a hot meal as it were. A bit later...unusual...I put out a portion of canned cat food in a bowl. That should take care of her for the rest of day...I hope. 0820hrs...Getting ready to hit the shower. Then later to the store. The wind chill will be brutal...not just the wind but the speed of the bike too! It’s now 5.2°C...as in getting colder...and tending toward overcast. There is talk of snow...to the north. 1152hrs...Back for ten mins. Just before 0900hrs...phone...Bela...getting ready to go to where the post wedding festivities are to take place. I had just gotten showered...so it was just a matter of getting dressed. We did the deed...and on the way back we stopped at a store where I was able to buy turkey based cat food...which seems to be their favourite. I now wait for Bela to call from Jutka’s where I will then go to help with fixing the heating system boiler. Velence...15th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0257hrs...A lukewarm CUP...by my own hand! 4.8°C and 20.8°C...overcast...I presume because I’ve not gone outside...though I know it’s still windy having opened the kitchen window. So there I was waiting for the call. This was a planned delay because Bela had other work to do which needed to be done before it should happen to rain. I assumed that it could take as long as two hours...just a guess...but no more. The two hours came and went...and it had in fact started to drizzle just as we arrived back. I had parked my bike out front...anticipating a short turn-a-round. Soon the drizzle got a bit heavier...so I had to cover the bike with the new tarp I’d bought the last time I was a Tesco...or was it Metro? It got to 1730hrs...and I finally decide that I needed to know precisely what the hell was going on. I called Bela’s house number. Sari answered...I asked for Bela. Sari asks if he’s not here...as in picking me up...since he’d left some time ago...though he’d not said specifically that he was coming here. AND there WAS/HAD BEEN a complication. I’d heard from Sari while we were outbound that Dori was sick...in Vienna. It transpired that she was sicker...and that Bela and Cila would go to Vienna(!) and bring her home. Hence no call when I’d expected...one way or the other. I called over to Jutka’s. Bela had just arrived! But...would not even start the work...because he would soon be leaving to pick up Agnes at the train station in another village some distance away...this because of train schedules...which I already knew from my recent conversation with Sari...and have been there once before with Bela...just passing through as it were. They had decided not to go to Vienna after all...though I don’t know what changed their minds. Anyway...Dori’s illness has ramification! Naturally her work there in Vienna...but also here this coming Saturday...and the next following...which is Sari’s wedding day! She was to assist...me! My impetus for calling in the first place was the disposition of my bike. The drizzle was rendering the ground...out back...soggy again and the longer I waited the more I didn’t like that idea of having to move the bike. Sari’s comment...asking if Bela was here(?)...pointed to the fact that given the rain...I would not be going to Jutka’s by bike...but he would pick me up. Gads...I’m always the last to know! Last night I read an interesting webpage online...one that I marked a couple of days ago. I would normally have printed it...but since I’m out of toner...for all practical purposes...I didn’t. It hit a few points of personal interest...which got me to thinking about them...again. It’s not the letters or the notes...or for that matter the individual pixels...or bits of paint on canvas...but the connections...or more precisely...the order thereof! A word is "recognized" as what it is because of the "order" of the letter. A piece of music is the "order" of the individual notes...not the notes themselves. More on this later. 0513hrs...Time for some "shut eye". 0742hrs...Up with a second Cup! Fed Mom and Blackie...on the kitchen window ledge. 1013hrs...Showered and shaved! Fed three...and re-built Ike’s penthouse suite. It’s now 5.5°C and 20.4°C...still bloody windy...and that there has been snow in Fehervar! I see sunlight breaking through the otherwise overcast sky. I will call over to Bela’s to ask about Dori. BIAF. 1026hrs...Done deal. Dori has a throat infection. Medicated. I confirmed that I may not hear from him today...nor possibly tomorrow also. There are many things that need to be taken care of. Jutka has heat now...just not everywhere in the house...which we will take care of later. Bela said he’ll talk to Cila about getting the heater fired of here. Would have thought that it should have been done so by now...without my involvement. So...it’s not the letters...but the connection of letters making words which in turn are connected to make a meaningful sentence...a thought. Which in turn are connected to make a more complete thought. Thinking...! 1658hrs...Was making dinner in the kitchen...Mom showed up...fed same...and then for some reason I touched the radiator beneath the window. Gads...it was warm. 1808hrs...It’s now a scorching...scorching I say...23.0°C! Outside it’s a nippy...nippy I say...6.2°C...and without the bloody wind. There was even a semi colourful sunset. Jorge Luis Borge’s "...Library of all Possible Books"...love it! Thinking...! So at least other are/have been thinking about it too! This "problem" has been one of my favourite concepts to ponder. The search of the "library"...more specifically. The "real" question the concept...fact...presents is the difference between that which could be found in the library of all book...and that written by man. If one found an interesting "read" in the library...and felt positive that no man as yet...or may never write...and told no one...and in fact passed it off as his own work...people would think it’s a "great" book. But if you told them that you’d found it...not on the street as it were...then people would not "value" it...if all! It’s the idea that while it was not written as yet...it may be written some day in the future...by a MAN! Hence of some value. Same material...but different. I need to do a word count on common little books...and some other statistical analysis to see how long a "real" sequence has to be. It will be a finite sequence...for sure...which is in and of itself another problem. That is varying book lengths. Even one word or punctuation mark would make a difference. Velence...16th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0312hrs...I was just stirring my fresh cup of Joe...when Mom showed up on the window ledge. I put out a bowl of food...and damned if Blackie doesn’t show up too...displacing Mom...who...with a mouth full...jumps back onto the tree limb...leaving Blackie to hog the rest of the food. I’ll need to hit the far store today and Jutka’s...or...Jutka’s first...for a bill...then the PO. It’s 5.8°C and 21.9°C...overcast I presume...calm. Just in from out...there are a few stars visible. Fed Ike, Stranger and Joey. Pardon my back as I hit the pages. 0748hrs...Did breakfast with Mom on the window ledge. I finished the last blog page earlier this morning and went back to bed ...which ended on August. So I need to pull September onwards. 0932hrs...Have called Jutka’s number...but it’s busy. 0941hrs...Tried again...same thing...I’m out the door...and will ring the bell! 1037hrs...INCRIDIBALE DRAMA! I went straight to Jutka’s. No car in the drive. I go to Bela’s. They have just returned from shopping. I state my problem...that I’m looking for Jutka. Bela tells Sari to call her. I’d have called but I don’t have Jutka cellular number...partly because I was led to believe that her cellular was inop....hence why would I want a number that didn’t work? I’m soon taking to Jutka...turns out she’s just one house east...at the chemist’s! I got the impression that my call was causing a bit of a hassle for her hence the conversation was very short...but I was left with the impression that she’d be going straight home. Bela has to leave right away since he’s running late...to pickup the "Germans"...at the airport. Sari hit’s the buttons and asks if I want Jutka’s cellular number. Yes I would like it. I have a pen...but no paper. Paper is found. She brings up Jutka’s number on her cellular and reads it off to me...which I logically write down with my pen...on Sari’s paper. Just for the hell of it...I ask to see the cellular to check the numbers for myself. Sure as hell...that which I see and hence read is different from that which was dictated to me. Numbers that I now read as zeros were dictated as three’s...except the first one! Phone...Jutka...leaving Spar. I point out this little fact to Sari who then disagrees with my reading of said numbers. I say..."Look...the first number is a zero and you did in fact read as a zero...BUT there are three other zeros...four total...that look just like the first one...not threes!". Back and forth we went. I corrected that which I had originally written with my pen on Sari‘s paper and left...intending to go next door to find Jutka. I got just outside the gate...which Sari had just closed behind me...given that Bela would be some time in returning from the airport...only to discover that I didn’t have my keys. Gads...I must have left them inside the house...understandable given the above. I look back to find Sari still outside...sweeping the walk. I call out...and sure enough she located my errant keys right were I‘d left them. I move off...and soon see that Jutka’s car is not there. Ok fine...I thought wrongly...she’s gone home. So...I drive to her house...only to find no car in sight. When I talked to Jutka on Sari’s cellular phone...she said nothing about any detours hence I fully expected her to be at her house. Armed with Sari’s paper on which I written Jutka’s...corrected I might add...number with my pen...I deftly entered it into my cellular and hit the call button! I know what you’re all thinking...BUT you’d be wrong. Jutka answered the phone. Phone...Jutka...at home...BUT has to leave...and will be gone for perhaps an hour...perhaps more. Given said fact...it’s decided that she will place my mail...into her post box. I admonish her to do it NOW...else I will be very angry if it’s not IN THE BOX! I ask her...naturally...where she is? Oh...she’s at Spar. Gads! I ask her to call me when she’s finished shopping and about to leave. She says that that would be ok...except that she doesn’t have my cellular number in her cellular phone...even though she has my number...on another piece of paper onto which I had written it with my pencil...at the time. Ok fine...call me here at the house. I leave Jutka’s driveway and head for the store...as in far...which is at that time the close store...and shop...thinking that once I have said bill in hand I’ll only need to hit the PO...done deal...and not have to shop then also...which is what I was in fact prepared to do in the first place...but being the dynamic kind of guy I am, it was a no brainer. I get back here without drama. Part of the crew is milling about. The only one I need to keep an eye on is Kwan...because he has the uncanny ability to sneak past me...into the house. Kwan and Mom look superficially the same. The face is the giveaway. I gave the command..."Back Simba!"...a number of times...and Kwan eventually got the meaning! Hence I get through the door just fine...only to find a cat looking at up me! Naturally I thought...at first...that Kwan had managed it AGAIN! It was in fact Mom. How the hell did that happen? I had left the kitchen window unlocked...though shut...but not tightly. Why I hear you ask? Well...if I lock said window...then when I open it...every cat in the neighbourhood hears it and comes running. So as a prophylactic I just close it without locking it. A gust of wind probably opened it enough for Mom to get through. And now it’s not just Mom that’s figured out how to get up the ledge...but Blackie too. Anyway...after sorting out Jutka’s number I asked about Dori. She’s better...leaving the matter of her getting here by tomorrow for Saci’s civil wedding function. Turns out that the car they were driving the last time I saw them...the second of Bela’s grape harvest...was in fact Andras’ parents’. This was unknown to me...as in they don’t have a car of their own! Hence it’s now up in the air whether they will get the use of their employer’s car or not...for the trip back here to Velence from Vienna. I asked about tomorrow’s schedule...as in hour by hour...prior to 1500hrs...but Sari was unable to say anything...for sure. So...there we have it...just another average day in the village! 1218hrs...Thinking I should head over to Jutka’s...as in soon. It’s now...8.0°C and 22.6°C...with the sun breaking through...just a bit. Hoping that tomorrow is like today so far! 1433hrs...I’m back! Velence...17th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0301hrs...Java with Mom on the ledge...and Blackie waiting below. It’s 8.0°C and 22.8°C...and I guess overcast. Yesterday I did go to Jutka’s for my mail. I heard Ildiko next door working in her yard. Turns out Jutka was back...and came out of the garage just as I was opening the post box. I was invited in and offered lunch which I excepted. Later as I was leaving, Ildiko came into view...we chatted a bit and the subject of my bike came up in which she showed interest. I happened to have the small box of photos that I shown Jutka and the other day to Sari and Bela hence I then showed Ildiko. I mentioned that I had images of her and Pityu from a couple of years ago...and said that I’d print them for her. Which I have in fact done...two. Turns out that Jutka was not at the chemist’s because she not there...but that she was not there at all. She was at the Agard chemist’s when we talked to her on the phone...and hence she stopped in at Spar while in the area. [Agard is the next village around the lake.] 0337hrs...It is in fact overcast. 0720hrs... 0734hrs Corrected. It’s now 8.4°C and 22.8°C...and an overcast gray. This is a good sign for the rest of the day. Sunset will be at 1750hrs. 1003hrs...Have showered. It’s now 9.1°C...getting warmer...it peaked at around 10°C yesterday. 1151hrs...Cila has been here and gone. She’d called wanting to get a sweater. Phone calls were made at my behest to fine out about the schedule of events. More phone calls were made. Dori is with Saci at the hair salon...and had planed on coming here but I nixed that. So...it’s now set that someone will be picking me up between 1415hrs and 1430hrs. I was unpacking the camera bag that I’d planned to take...only to find that I was one battery of four short! I emptied the compartment totally...still no fourth battery! Hard to believe I thought. I know that there were four in the bag the last time I looked. I felt into ever nook and cranny...nothing. There was at the bottom a stiff panel...but it was not until all else failed that I removed it! Gads...not only the lost battery...but the rubber grip that had come off the Nikon CP950 camera that I thought I’d lost at an air show in UK Land...years ago. I decided to check the battery voltages...DAMN...they were low...so I’ve put them on the charger...BUT I can not be sure that even then whether they will work...given another set that seemed to have a similar problem...of self discharge. 1421hrs...Have just called over...Bela...10 mins...he or someone else will be picking me. It’s SHOW TIME! 1750hrs...Back for 20 mins. It went well enough. The whole thing took only 30 mins...not counting getting there etc. The rest of the time was at the house. Took over 200 frames on the 200...not sure about the 70. Ended up shooting portraits of the various couples! The weather was not an issue...but we took no photos afterwards. Later it started to drizzle. Velence...18th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0438hrs... 0826hrs...It’s 5.1°C and 23.3°C...partly sunny...some fog. 0951hrs...Heading for the far store and I may drop in at Bela’s with one photo...the group shot after the civil ceremony. 1053hrs...Just back...fed the crew. Did in fact hit Bela’s...Sari really liked the photo! 1208hrs...There was talk of trying for a photo session later today...but the weather is not helping. I’ve made five more prints and am going to take them over...now! 1502hrs...Back for about an hour. Made two more prints...A5 size for the groom’s mother. Velence...19th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0434hrs...Hot Joe! It’s 5.5°C and 23.9°C...and guessing that it’s cloudy. 0509hrs...With Ike in my lap...which has become normal behaviour...I can report as fact that it’s overcast. 0536hrs...I now report that it’s clear...with stars. Fed Ike and I think Kwan...to dark to tell for sure...but at a confidence level of 90%. At the same time I’m at a confidence level of 100% that it was not Groucho. On the kitchen window ledge I fed Blackie. Turns out that they are refurbishing the church...as reported by Saci yesterday. Half the pews have been removed...AND will not be replaced...completed...by this coming Saturday! There will be a crew going over to the church to do the decorating prior to Saturday and I will go there to take a look for myself to see the ramification...photographically speaking. The requisite "aisle" shot will be particularly difficult give that one half of said aisles will be...missing. 1026hrs...Baking a batch. The hardest part was folding the provided paper tray...as in drama...given the ridiculously inadequate instructions. I eventually had to use a greater portion of my massive brain to accomplish the bloody task. 1444hrs...Just in from out having spent two time intervals outside...with part of the crew plus Ike. He eventually jumped up into my lap...and there we were enjoying the view. Flights of Starlings overhead. At one point a gal came into view and I noticed that she had a camera around her neck. I asked her what it was...she answered that it was a Nikon...D80. She was heading for the lake shore. Later...and this is the interesting part...a man came into view on a bike that was loaded with fishing gear. There are so many like that that I made nothing of it. He came abreast and called out a greeting. I reciprocated. It occurred to the we had done this before a few other times. THEN(!)...Ike noticed the man/bike...got up...jumped down onto the balcony. Then immediately over the side...and ran toward the street...turned and it appeared to me to try and follow the man/bike. It seemed to me that he recognized the man...perhaps the voice. He was gone so fast that eventually Ike gave up the chase. Strange and interesting! Looking at the portrait frames I shot the other day...it occurred to me that I should improve my lighting. I had download a page dealing with the wireless flash capability of my SB-800/D200/D70 combination. I found it...which was a miracle...and re-read it. Then I followed the instruction. I did not work! I then found the instructions for the SB-800...another miracle...to learn that I had to set it also...which was not explained in the downloaded page. Anyway...that took care of the problem. Now I’m thinking about rigging up an umbrella...starting with getting an umbrella. I’ll need some white paint also. Straight flash is just too harsh. My adventures in the Library of All Books continues as I try to formulate a workable procedure...a program if you will...that would eliminate redundant strings. Velence...20th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0449hrs...Mud with Mom on the ledge...Ike and one of the Blacks on the balcony. It’s 8.2°C and 23.8°C...high overcast...some light fog. It rained somewhat yesterday. 1746hrs...Back for about 30 mins. I had intended to hit the far store and Bela’s with the two A5 prints. Got to talking and it came out that there was a need to get Anci’s stove/oven fixed...so that she can bake for Sari’s wedding. It was decided that Anci was to call me after 1400hrs and we would then go into Fehervar for the needed parts. This was taking place around 1000hrs. I though that if I could be sure of getting said parts later in the day...I could start right then and there...1000hrs...so as to get a head start. It was then that Bela indicated that he thought he had the part in question. And...after a search did fact find it. Bela had to leave soon after we’d talked and I left. So it was...that I came back here with my groceries...ok fine...cat food...and picked up my tools. Then I went to Anci’s...Lajos was there to let me in. I went to work. There was drama...ok fine...more then once...but in the end it was done. Getting the door off was a problem...and along the line Lajos called Bela...unbeknownst to me. Lajos was trying to repair the house thermostat. He’d swapped out the original with another unit. I was stalled at the time...unable to remove the oven door...as in drama. So when Lajos indicated that when he turned the power back on...the breaker tripped I thought ok fine...and I asked to see the original unit. Gads...it was exactly the same as the one I’d fixed here months ago. I asked for a piece of paper and scissors. I cut a narrow strip and inserted it in between the contacts...and pulled it out while holding said contact closed. I did this for the other contact also. Took off the "new" unit...installed the "old" unit...and asked for power. The rest is history. Back to the door! As I said Lajos had called Bela...and when he was free to call back...the call came in on my phone...but he hung up just as I located my phone...and a few seconds later Lajos’ phone rings. I ended up talking to Bela about the door. He explained it...but it was not working out...though I took note of everything he’d said. Later...I thought about it again...and then with a few deft moves...the door came out...and in one piece I might add. Bela had said that he’d come...and I reminded him that there another needed parts...so the project was on hold. Time passed. By the time Bela arrived...Anci and the girls had arrived...and we were all outside watching Anci cleaning said door. I had a gas leak in one of the valves that I’d had to remove and it was the one that I didn’t replace a seal because I only had four...as opposed to the five I should brought from Bela’s...but it didn’t occur to him either. I thought...as did Bela that Anci’s unit was the same as mine...a three banger plus oven. Well...hers is a four banger plus oven. Anyway...in the end it was a done deal...and there was happiness in the small village by the lake! Velence...21st October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0309hrs...A Cup with Ike and a Black...later Joey. Fed Ike...a hotdog...and he was very protective of it...driving off the Black. I had cut the hotdog in half...lengthwise...and gave it to Ike. If the Black came too close...he’d snarl...and carry it off. When eating...he’d put one paw on one end while he chewed the other. I thought it was cute. In the process of the trying to remove said door...I managed to quite effectively break the plastic handle that runs the width of the door...along the top. I brought it back with me...and have glued it together. I will call over to see if and when I can take it back to re-install same. 0318hrs... 0324hrs...It’s 7.5°C and 24.1°C...cloudy but thin...some light fog. 0345hrs...Just in from out. It’s cleared enough to show stars...so I grabbed a blanket and with Ike soon in my lap...we watched for meteors. No luck. 0813hrs...Doing a second cup of Java. Ike is curled up on the blanket I left out on my chair. 1113hrs...Back for about 20 mins. I went over to Anci’s to see about my car. The two rear tires were flat. I pumped them up...though not fully since it was too much work...and I needed to charge the battery...hence I’ll use the electric pump later to finish the job. I did in fact go over to the church. There was work in progress and though it will not be completed...I should be able to shoot around the problem. 1549hrs...Back for 30 mins having gone to the far store...and to the pier! Fed the mob. Velence...22nd October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0259hrs...Java. 0351hrs...It’s 12.4°C and 22.6°C...earlier there were a few stars showing. Ike spent the night in MY chair...on MY blanket...so I have to now sit in MY other chair...damn...without MY blanket! 0404hrs...Just in from out. Clear...all the stars were there. 1258hrs...Back for 10 mins...doing lunch. It’s an incredible 16.2°C! The car battery got a 24hr charge and the engine started right up. I backed it out of the...now nonexistent...covered space and parked it such that I could give a much need bath. Said nonexistent cover refers to the fact that the plastic cover had disintegrated...UV...and the remnants had been removed. My poor car was naked to the elements. 1534hrs...NOW it’s an amazing 17.8°C! 0443hrs...Now 17.9°C! "Tango-Bolero" playing in the background. Images of my images go flying by. 1720hrs...Thinking about hitting the far store...while it’s warm. And it may rain tomorrow. And I’m down to two cans! 1755hrs...Done deal. There is a chance that if tomorrow is like today...I will go over to Anci’s and do some work in the garage. As in organizing some of my stuff. It can’t be too cold nor too warm. She’ll be up and about by 0830hrs...so I may go then. 1916hrs...On the other hand I may make a run to Spar. That’s a 45 minute adventure...there and back. Again thinking about the weather. 2007hrs...About ready to pull the plug. I shut off the heat about an hour ago...way too hot in here. Ike is full and curled up on MY blanket on MY chair! I’m tired. Washing the car was a major task...mostly just getting everything together. Hose...power cord...jet washer...a bucket of soapy water. The hose was under the porch. The power cord was down in the garage along with the jet washer...the soapy water from the kitchen. The hose had the wrong fitting on one end...so that had to be taken care of. Velence...23rd October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0314hrs...Just in from out. I had heard the sound of rain earlier. When I actually woke up it had stopped. I looked out through the door window expecting to see Ike’s black and white form on MY blanket...you know the rest...but instead it was a dark form. Gads I thought. I stepped out...and there was Dilly...AND Ike...on MY blanket...etc. 0332hrs...It’s 14.6°C and 21.5°C...overcast. Dilly had been on the left as one looks out...Ike on the right...which was his preferred place. Ok I thought...Dilly just took up the leftover space...fine. I fed them...later...while Ike went off to the other side of Kemping...behaviour that I’d not seen before...Dilly jumped up onto the chair...MINE...sniffed around...and settled down on the RIGHT side. Gads I thought. Ike returned and at one point wanted to get up onto the chair...but at than time didn’t seem to know what Dilly would make of it...and gave up. I’m not sure if I hadn’t intervened whether Ike would have eventually jumped up or not...but I picked him put him onto the chair...and tried to move Dilly...just a bit...but he took offence and jumped down. Ike was now back in "his" place on the left. I now see that Dilly is up there too...more or less across the front of the chair. Anyway...it’s interesting to me that cat’s have a sense of "better". Dilly was quite content with the mats in the one corner...and Ike with the penthouse pillow. After "discovering" the "better" (MY) chair and blanket...0351hrs...It’s started to rain again...it’s become the preferred place. I’m not sure if it’s a hierarchical thing...as in the chair location being higher. But I can just imagine Dilly thinking...mmmm...that sure looks good..."better"...to me. OK fine...Goodall has her chimps...and I have my cat research...here in a small village by the lake. On the other hand the mat had been shared by Dilly and Kwan...and there may have been a night or two when there were joined by the smaller Joey too. Off on a tangent...I know that the great "Insanity" had not so much started long before I became aware it...but was already in full bloom. It’s just now that I see things clearer. Though there is the feeling that it’s gotten worse in the last ten-twenty years. It’s world wide. And it reaches right down to the "common man". It’s effected me personally...with damaging effects. I thought for a long time that I had been "lucky". But now I’m not so sure. I’ve done MANY dumb and stupid things...in fact I’d say most. 0724hrs...It’s 14.4°C and 21.3°C...high overcast...fog on the lake. The rain that there was earlier was short and more like a drizzle. The threat of more "drizzle" will prevent both my options for this morning. 0901hrs...The online forecasts are not good. Thinking! 0927hrs...Just out of the shower. It’s now 15.0°C. Still overcast. 0945hrs...The Sun is breaking through a bit...so I’m thinking that a run to Spar is eminent. 1055hrs...WELL that was a wonderful exercise in futility! I saw the clues but ignored them! First I thought about looking for cars in the ABC...far store...parking lot...and I did. A bit farther I saw a group of people gathered for some sort of ceremony. I’d also heard something’s on the radio. Anyway...it was only as I approached Spar that I saw no cars in the lot! The cars I saw at ABC were cars parked there by those attending the aforementioned ceremonies...as in DUH! I’d even thought about calling Jutka...as in before I left...but didn’t. 1150hrs...Phone...Bela...haircut...ok...10 mins...ok. 1317hrs...Done deal. And I got some useful information from Gabor...the groom...who’s mother is the barber...about satellite TV. I now have a contact name and phone numbers. I asked Bela to help me after the wedding. 1616hrs...A batch of Chocolate chip muffins are out of the oven. The readings continue....and the plot is really thickening! Magyar being in fact an ancient protolanguage...The Etruscan slant Magyar connection...Non Finn-Ugric...but Turkish-Altaic...leading to the Ob River... 1906hrs...Andras has been here and gone. Why you ask? Well about 20 mins ago...phone...Sari...passes it to Bela...who then passes it to Dori! Do I have a (flatbed) scanner...yes. Can I scan some as yet un-located nor sorted early photos of Saci and Gabor. I can...but under protest. Then it became...can they borrow said scanner...AND do I have the software...once I explained the need for it? Yes...but who the hell knows where it is? No problem...Andras will download it off the web. I jump through my ass to get the scanner disconnected...and then realize that the power plug is UK. Gads...I think that I have one adapter somewhere. Locate same...and put it all in a bag. Andras shows up and in a hurry. I tell him that I’d found the software...BUT that and the program runs in English...not a problem says he...AND...that since it’s USB...their computer should recognize it...and just start working. Yeah right! Velence...24th October 2009. Daylight Savings Time. 0316hrs...A cup of Joe. It’s raining...windy...12.5°C and 20.6°C...I’d turned off the heat...hence the temp. The rain will nix the photos "in the woods" since the ground will be soggy. So it will come down to plan "B". Now all I need is no sunshine...even if it’s not raining. 0644hrs...Drizzling...11.5°C...overcast. Took care of Mom and Stranger on the kitchen window ledge. Yesterday...as I watched...Joey figured out how to get there also...that now make four. Groucho had an injured left leg/paw...not real bad...but he’s favouring it. As I thought...the rain impinged onto the edge of MY chair...etc...such that Dilly was just fine...all the way to the back...but eventually the rain drove Ike off said blanket/chair. I’ve removed the wet blanket. Ike can go back to the penthouse. I have no idea of the schedule for today except that Saci has an 0800hrs appointment with the hair salon...done by 1000hrs. And of course the wedding at the church at 1500hrs. And I’ll not get back till dawn tomorrow. 1008hrs...Have showered/shaved. Camera gear checked out. One battery is on the charger...I missed it. It’s for the D200! I’m taking the short 18-70mm instead of the 18-300mm...that I thought I’d use...but as I think of it...I should take it along just the same...can never tell. 1042hrs...Have just finished lunch. I don’t expect to eat until later this afternoon. Looking at the sat images...there is a tendency toward clearing...though how large the hole will be...is a variable. 1153hrs...Dressed...no tie as yet. Gads...The D200 battery just indicated full charge...this is good! 1223hrs...No word about anything at all. The clearing has not materialized as yet. 1238hrs...Phone...Agi...SHOW TIME! Velence...25th October 2009. 0431hrs...Clocks were moved back. Back for about 10 mins! I’m cold and tired. Time to hit the sack. 1134hrs...Up for 15 mins. Java. Have started the great transfer of images from cards to hard drive. The first one will take 40 mins. Yesterday I was taking photographs over a period of 15 hours. It will be over 700 frames. It’s 13.9°C and 26.5°C...hazy...thin clouds...with a hot sun...calm. There was some drama as batteries went dead. The wedding and party thereafter went well enough. The weather was not the best...but at least it didn’t rain. Saci should have practiced...as I had joked about it to Dori at the time...tossing the... The second card...now running...will take 19 mins. The first card had 436 images. 1320hrs...Second card...353 frames. Total frame count for the whole...counting previous frames...and deletions...stand at 1003! Damn...I’ve done it again. That works out to over 16 hour of work...taking just one minute per frame. 1709hrs...Up again. I’d gone back to bed. Velence...26th October 2009. 0425hrs...Java at the kitchen window...open...alone. It’s 12.9°C and 20.0°C...overcast assumed...heat off. I’ve looked...yesterday...at all the images. Tossed a few. I will need to hit a store today...and Cila with some photos and monies. 0714hrs...Have been working on photos...and later...print then. Gads...as I should start right now...methinks. 0852hrs...OK...Done Deal...for those worth showing now. There are many more...but I’ll transfer those onto a PenDrive/MemoryStick. It will take 4GB...which I can’t provide since they’re in use. So now a few phone calls. 1156hrs...Done deal on counts. Cila, Sari/Bela, store...back here...unpack...Spar. BUT not without drama. I just crossed the railroad tracks...coming back...when the power indicator suddenly showed zero...and of course I was no longer moving. It would have been an extremely difficult trip...had the power not come back on. I plan to open it up and replace the bloody fuse! 1432hrs...Took care of THAT! Took it out for a short spin...nothing to report...other than the fact that it seems ok. More signs of arcing on the old aluminium fuse. Hope that that’s the end of it. 1731hrs...Bela and Sari were just here to drop off leftovers from yesterday. I was...am...in the middle of re-calibrating the printer. I changed the light magenta...and the colour is now wrong. I’ll wait till tomorrow...daylight...to do the actual corrections. 1816hrs...Well...today is turning into "Accident Prone Day". I must still be tired...just don’t know it! 1842hrs...Earlier today I moved...having brought in Ike’s "Blanket Place"...to the other of MY chairs...and built a tent. It looks to be nice and cosy. I only had to put Ike inside once...and from then on he’s got it down pat as to how to get back in. Velence...27th October 2009. 0636hrs...Brewed a Cup with Mom and Joey on the ledge. Later on the balcony with Ike, Stranger and Kwan. It’s 12.7°C and 20.5°C...party cloudy...the sun just rising. This is good since I can view the test print in proper light. This is all fine but I don’t understand why there was such a great change in colour balance in the first place. Too much magenta. 0902hrs...WELL DAMN! I was unable to balance out the magenta...SO...I took out the suspect Lt. Magenta cartridge...and replaced it with a new one. I should have gone with my instinct...based on the fact that the problem appeared after replacing said cartridge. I’d never had that problem before...that is having to re-balance...after replacing a cartridge. So...it’s a mislabelled cartridge! Thanks EPSON! Cost me paper and ink...time and anguish! 1051hrs...Phone...Anci...Fehervar...1300hrs...ok! 1301hrs...Got a few things done around the house. I now wait for Anci. 1646hrs...Back for about 15 mins. More later on purchases. Velence...28th October 2009. 0225hrs...My body clock thinks it’s 0325hrs! Coffee with Ike and Dilly. It’s 11.4°C and 20.2°C...clear...all stars in place. Many stars visible. Yesterday I bought a few things. Another Pen Drive...4GB. And have in fact transferred Saci’s images...taking up all the drive space. A Recorder Pen...with over 1000 minutes capacity...and USB. If it works as planned I’ll be able to record the old 78 music onto a computer. I also scored a white umbrella...to use for portrait lighting. I need make some sort of adapter. 0245hrs...Damn! Just in from out. Dilly was in the tent...and no sign of Ike. 0623hrs... 0656hrs...Did breakfast. Ike’s back in the tent. I’d explained to Dilly that it was not his tent but Ike’s. I need to hit a store for AAA batteries. 1113hrs...Done deal...BUT...nothing is working as expected. The instructions are in Hungarian...with some words in English. Software is in Chinese! The setup screen can be done in English...but hell...there was nothing to it...click...click...done deal. Velence...29th October 2009. 0318hrs...That’s better. Coffee with Joey on the ledge. It’s 9.8°C and 19.6°C...presume cloudy. Yesterday I did manage to copy some files. I need to do more as time permits. I took the 4GB Pen Drive over to Anci’s and got it loaded onto their machine. Called Bela...said that there was no one at the house...that could transfer the files...Saci’s photos...in fact no one there at all. He was at the cemetery. The Night of the Dead...coming up. Yesterday I draped an old towel over the small table that stands over the mat in the corner of the balcony...so as to create a second tent...this one for Kwan...and Dilly. 0612hrs...GADS! Now it’s Joey that has discovered the Tent! 1346hrs...Back for 15 mins. 1050hrs...phone Cila...asking me to look outside for Agnes...not there. 1100hrs...phone...Dori...can I bring the Pen Drive...yes...20 mins. 1542hrs...It’s 12.1°C and 23.5°C...overcast. I’m waiting to get a call from Sari/Bela regarding my Flatbed Scanner...as in them bring it back. 1730hrs...Looking for something else I came across the "Lore". "STLore" is a 141,395 word document that I generated back in 1995. I had collected and collated all the papers and notes and slips...and things I’d written on calendars. Included were my military orders...everything I could find. It ended up a chronology of events as best as I could...then...piece together. Dates, names...ages...notes...thoughts. 1947hrs...1910hrs...Phone...Sari...sorry but can not come tonight with my FBS...no problem I tell her...it’s not important. Velence...30th October 2009. 0254hrs...Java alone at the ledge. Oh!...Dilly has found the ledge too...and I guess he jumps up like Stranger. It’s 8.4°C and 20.3°C...presume overcast. It’s supposed to be getting colder...as in below freezing. Gads! 0315hrs...Just in from out...Ike and Stranger...and I was wrong. There are stars! I thought for a second that one of them had moved...but it was not the case after all. 0626hrs...It’s now dawning clear with the sun about to rise. It’s 6.5°C...a bit cool...but I’m thinking about making a run to the pier area. I’d take the 300 2 8 and the monopod. I’ve plugged in the heat. 0913hrs...Back for about 20 mins. I got to the field by the pier at 0845hrs. Got a few useless shots. I then went to the water sports complex...with nothing there either. I’ve run the battery down quite a bit...which is a good test. I plan to wait for the sun angle to improve...and then to the other end of the High Street. For autumn leaves...as it were. 1252hrs...Clouds have appeared. BUT...there are holes. So...in the interest of photography...I’m going out...as per above. 1352hrs...Back for 15 mins. Got all the shots possible. 2106hrs...Have been reading the LORE. Tired...sleepy. It’s cold outside. Ike is/was in the Tent...cute! When I go out...he jumps up onto my lap and purrs. Velence...31st October 2009. 0337hrs...A not so hot cup of Mud with Stranger, Blackie...Ike and I think Joey in the Tent. I say "think" because as I went out...Joey was on the ground...but then seemed to want to go back in...but Ike "said" no! A bit nippy at 3.3°C and 23.8°C...clear...all the stars were out. 0807hrs...Just fed the crew...the last of the food. Need to hence hit the far store...today. Had read into the LORE...till 0500hrs...and crashed. It’s now 3.0°C and 24.0°C...clear and bright. 1114hrs...Now 8.6°C and 27.6°C...sunny. Should shut off the heat...way too hot in here! 1140hrs...Now 9.0°C...dressed...about ready to hit the store. 1328hrs...Back...obviously! I’d called over to Bela’s before I left...no answer. When I got to the store I saw that Bela and Agnes were outside packing apples. I called over to say that I would come...whence finished shopping. Ended up taking...chatting as it were while Agnes...suffering...continued working. We ended up out on the street...chatting some more...mostly about the overnight freezing temps. I eventually break away...and no sooner do I get around the bend...High Street leading to Kemping...that I spot a form...and from the hair deduce...using my massive brain...that it’s Anci. I was hence not surprised that it was in fact her. We chatted for another 30 mins...mostly about my internet connection. She also mention the outcome of the box of ginger bread mix I’d given her. They were very happy with it...the stove worked as it should have...and the girls were not about to share it with me. Loved it! 1712hrs...Just in from out...having taken the bike to the back. I’ve felt strange all day. Took a look...and sure as hell...forgot to you know what! At least that explains it. Continue to read into the LORE. Up to 1992 now. 1746hrs...In from out...gave Ike his nightly nuked hotdog. Velence...1st November 2009. 0415hrs...A Cup with Ike, Joey and Dilly. It’s foggy...1.1°C and 23.4°C. Last night I looked into the Tent...and saw a black form...it was Joey...and farther in...there was Ike. Just now...Joey went back into the Tent...while Ike ate. Then Dilly took a look inside...as in wanting to go in...but Joey hissed him away. I wonder if she’ll let Ike back in? 0438hrs...Just in from out...Gads! Now it’s Dilly in the Tent...alone! 0504hrs...JIFO...fed four. Dilly, Ike, Kwan and Stranger. 0814hrs...2.4°C and 23.3°C...foggy...though thinning. Fed most of the crew. Ike drank a lot of the warm milk. The Tent was empty. 1614hrs... 1842hrs...Had been reading the LORE. Up to going to California...Janet...etc. 1856hrs...Tired! Velence...2nd November 2009. 0525hrs...Java with Stranger on the ledge. I gave him a saucer of nuked milk too. He is the fastest "lapper" of the bunch...Kwan the slowest. 0548hrs...10-02-96 (mmddyy) in the LORE...it was insane! Insane as in incorrect thinking...but believing that it’s otherwise. 0638hrs...It’s a mistake to think that one "thing" compensates for another "thing". Xmas card...‘96... from Janet: "MERRY CHRISTMAS. I THINK ABOUT YOU OFTEN. I JUST CAN'T SEEM TO FORGET YOU. I HOPE YOU ARE DOING WELL. LOVE ALWAYS JANET I MISS YOU." 0729hrs...Gads...I’d showed Janet my "Letter" to Perk...and I now see that I could just as well show this portion of the LORE to "A"...for exactly the same effect. Janet is thanking me for "getting" her into computers. DAMN RIGHT! 1203hrs...More Gads...Have been reading the LORE all morning. A good read! Time to hit the shower...a then the far store for cat food...of which we’re out of. 1226hrs...Out of the shower...without drama. 1323hrs...Can’t stop reading the LORE! Anyway...I’m heading for the store...now...I hope. 1406hrs...Back in one piece. I saw Bela and someone else...unidentified...in his yard. But they disappeared...as in out of sight...and I saw no one after I’d finished shopping. Fed the crew...but they will need to be fed again since one can is not enough for so many. 1435hrs...Gads! Ike has climbed in...over the window screen...as in he climbed up and over it...then down and in. He’s now exploring. 1512hrs...I’d put him out...and now he’s climbed over again. 1530hrs...I’ve fed him and now put him out again. He’s back at the window as I write. Kwan and Dilly are curled up on My chair where I’d put down some bubble wrap over which I draped an old towel. It’s 8.4°C...out there. The Tent is free. Ike really would like to be inside...I’m sure. Gads...He’s back in again. I’m afraid that he’ll strangle himself on the screen fibers that are now frayed. I’ll just take it all off. A single fiber is sharp and cutting! 1608hrs...Done deal. I’ve also brought back in the original "cat box" and filled it with what was left over from when Mom was "residing". I showed him how it "works". He’s very relaxed as I show him "stuff"...like how the Tent worked. 1853hrs...Burning out on the LORE. Will hit it again tomorrow. Ike is on the bed! Velence...3rd November 2009. 0241hrs...Mud with Ike on the bed! He was most happy to be inside all night. I can’t say that I slept well though. 0338hrs...Reading you know what! Time to go back to bed! 0604hrs...Just mopped up the bowl of Ike’s milk that I’d stumbled into...in the dark. I knew it would happen! 0701hrs...Back from reading! Time to crash again. 1028hrs...82 pages to go. Very interesting stuff...I must say. More on this later. Ike is stretched out on the bed like a happy cat. I heard the sound of a large truck...only to see the garbage collectors trying to get through the center gate. I thought that I should have enough time to take out my trash which I’d forgotten to do. It went according to plan. Then I thought about washing the pillow that had been outside for Ike in the corner. It was dirty and needed a bath. I thought then that I should at least take a look at the main water filter for the washer. Sure as hell...it was full of debris. I cleaned it out and screwed it back in place. Started the washer. Now the drama! Water was leaking past the filter...which I then noticed was not screwed in properly...as in cross threaded! DAMN! Nothing for it but to let all the water drain out and start again with said filer now screwed in correctly. Done deal. If one has never kept a journal, they don’t have foggiest idea of events...ok...semi-minor stuff...in their lives. I’ve been reading...what amounts to 30 years worth of "data". It’s 591 pages...and gets more detailed in the latter years since I was online for so many hours a day...and "real time". There are things...events...that I’m reading now that I didn’t remember...though granted...they were not of things that I would normally "ponder". Some of it makes me laugh out loud! Oh! I can’t find my cellular phone. A first. I know(!)...I could call the number...but that would be too easy! Doing a second Cup! It’s 4.3°C and 23.2°C...foggy with the sun breaking through. 1322hrs...I’d bought some fried chicken and decided to nuke some. Stranger was on the window ledge and Ike came into the kitchen...SO...after hitting it twice on the de-frost cycle...I tore off pieces which I then gave to both. Ike is still in the kitchen wrestling with his piece. Stranger...a powerful big cat just gobbled his. OH! As I came back from the kitchen...in the foyer...what do I see but the errant phone...in plane view! It goes to show that one should not put such things in "temporary" places. Back to the LORE! 1341hrs...From the LORE...dated 10-17-97...just goes to show! OH!!!....I got IM'd...by a "AgnesHapa"...a Hungarian gal...of 37...two kids...7 & 8...living in London UK. This is the second one I've gotten...where they say...something to the effect: "...you are/you...sound like a very interesting person.." Love it! The other one was Beata. A few lines later...I got kicked offline...and by the time I got back...she was gone. I Emailed her...with a photo. And another...one...telling her the time I get online. Hell...they're getting farther and farther away...hahahhaha. 1705hrs...well...it's midnight in London. Then from the LORE...dated the 18th: I put Agi on my buddy list...now at 23. They came out in '56. She calls herself a "56er"..hahaha. Well that’s not quite right...her parents came out in 56...but she was born (‘60) in UK Land. And technically she’s then not Hungarian either...but British. 1920hrs...***Pan*Fem***! HAVE FINISED reading the LORE at last...a done deal as it were. Last entry dated Xmas...12-25-97. Gads! Most interesting stuff. There is/was a continuation of the LORE...that is...a longer version...but I’ve not seen it in a long time. Not sure where to even look. Perhaps on another machine. That version would have taken things out at least another year. I wrote right up to the time of leaving for UK Land. I wrote nothing at all for the seven years that I was there. I took no notes or any other form of writing...so it would be impossible to reconstruct the time interval. And this document picks up the action from my moving here into this house. Velence...4th November 2009. 0250hrs...Hot Java with Ike. It’s 5.3°C and 22.9°C...assumed overcast. 0727hrs...Breakfast...Overcast...5.2°C. 1339hrs...Earlier...before noon...phone...Cila...needs more monies...ok. I hand it to her as she heads for the PO. Just ten mins ago...phone...looking for Istvan...gave the other house number...5 mins...phone...same gal...same problem. Can’t understand why Istvan didn’t pick the phone...as in everyone that she calls from her list should be standing by...waiting? Pissed off! Fed Ike some fish. He ate it! Dressed and about ready to hit a store...not sure which yet. 1431hrs...Back...far store...fed the crew. 1518hrs...Fed Blackie again. He hangs out all day on the kitchen window ledge. It must me a survival strategy. Just like Ike never leaving the balcony. There has been activity at the compound all day. Istvan and Lajos...doing "stuff". I now see an upended something...like a cabinet. No idea what’s going on. There is rain in the forecast. Now 9.2°C. Cila was commenting on how "cold" it was as I handed her the money. I was still in a bathrobe...and she was admonishing me to go inside. Actually it felt relatively warm. I’ve been thinking about all that I’d read in the LORE. Observations as it were. One that comes to mind is that I think we are "cast" at the moment of conception into that which we will become. You are in effect what you were. The basic "stuff" remains throughout life. A "prick" born will always remain a "prick". 1654hrs...It has in fact started to rain. It’s incredible to think that in TLOABs is the LORE. Now the LORE as originally written had some typos and other "defects". About half of it was written uppercase...all caps. Then I switched to the normal modes. I was also...even then using "my dots"...not three as I do now...but...if you can believe...just two...though I used more on occasion...a random number. NOW...in TLOABs...there would be the "original" version...and another...let’s say with "errors"...but those "errors" would not change a single word...but say just my dot count. Say two’s to three’s. It would in effect be that which I may/might have done myself. Then another version...with the "all caps" corrected. Yet another one with added text...that I could/should have written...but didn’t! OH! It’s not stated as such...since the topic of the LOABs is aimed at "book’s...written words...that there is another LIBRARY...that of ALL Images. Now...today we’d be using computers...and they are by nature binary...and that letter and symbols are represented by "numbers‘. 8 bit binary provides 256 characters/symbols. AND...taken in groups of three...red, green and blue...can and does produce over 16 million "colors"...more that enough for photorealistic images...or any image you like...as in art...paintings etc. AND here again would be ALL the images ever produced...will be produced...could be produced. Taken a step further...all films and videos. So...if we were to think of it as The Library of All Numbers...TLOAN...EVERTHING...that could be digitized would therein be contained! THE ONE THING THAT CAN NOT BE FOUND...is that which connects the "words" and "pixels"! Velence...5th November 2009. 1303hrs...Woke to sounds of Ike. He was trying to get past the window drapes...but got a claw hung up. He’s been out and now back in. Dilly was out there too...so I fed him. All the good places are wet with rain. I brought in the two wet towels. The blanket is still out there...and somewhat wet too. I should have checked inside the Tent. It’s 5.4°C and 22.9°C...and raining...lightly. Last night there was a very long car chase. It started...or at least it came into the area...on this side of the lake...and worked its way to the other side and eventually disappeared at the southwest end of the lake. Two cop cars...sirens and lights. 0615hrs...Java with Ike. Joey and Blackie on the ledge. Still raining. I eventually brought in the blanket also...it was wet but not soaking...as were the towels. It’s 4.7°C and 23.0°C...overcast. 0636hrs...The place is a disaster area! The radio doesn’t work...I assume it’s not getting power because of the way the power cord hangs...pulling itself out. I need to straighten out all the power plugs...a real mess down there. 0818hrs...Time to do some work around here...hence to power down everything. I should see about getting my FBS back from Bela...so that I can hook it up properly too. Bye...till we meet again. STOOAC! 1028hrs...Phone...Bela...bringing my FBS and paper cutter...as in now. 1053hrs...They have been here and gone...and the FBS is hooked up. Bela and Sari are on their way to Fehervar. Bela is/has been experiencing chest pains...hence the need to see a doctor NOW! He also brought along an 8MB Pen Drive onto which I’m to put Saci’s photos. Velence...6th November 2009. 0308hrs...Slurp...Ike in the kitchen...Stranger outside on the ledge. It’s 7.7°C and 23.1°C...overcast...I’m sure. 0526hrs...Copying images onto Bela’s Pen Drive...an hour to go...so I’ll go back to bed. 0805hrs...Showered. 0846hrs...About ready to hit the road. The DO. The chemist. Jutka’s. Store. 1154hrs...Back for 20 mins...and have started to fix Jutka’s cell phone charger. Fed the crew times two. Ike’s outside. I hit the DO...took 15 mins. Then the chemist’s...5 ahead of me...I left. Went to Jutka’s..."fixed" her toaster...as in I ended up just putting it back together...as in I was unable to glue back a critical part...but it works. Then to Bela’s...Sari was there so I gave her the Pen Drive. Bela was gone...taking care of business regarding having Palinka distilled. From there back to the chemist’s...two ahead of me but they went fast. Then the store...by which time Bela and crew were transferring the fermented fruit to be distilled into a container on the trailer. I left. I’ve found the problem with Jutka’s charger...just a matter of re-soldering two wires. She leaves for the states on the 26-27th and gone for six months! 1752hrs...Cute...really. I was looking for Ike in the usual places but didn’t find him. So I went around with a flashlight. Gads. I eventually washed the two towels and the blanket that constituted the Tent. There had been at least three cats that at one time or another used it...leaving a scent...hence the wash. I had to hang it up indoors because it was raining...and once dry I folded it up. Where to put it? I had been thinking about connecting up my otherwise new...second laser printer to the laptop. This would negate the need for the USB cable that runs along the floor...causing a tripping hazard. I’d taken down the box...but in the end just set it on the floor...causing a new tripping hazard...just in a different location. Ok fine...I put the Tent blanket on it. It looked good to me...and I even thought that I’d "show" it to Ike...but never got around to it. So...there he was...snug as a bud in a rug. He’d found it himself. He must have recognized it for what it was/had been...HIS! 0606hrs..It’s drizzling. I need solder to re-solder the wire to Jutka’s cell phone charger. I seem think that I have some (here) but have not seen it in perhaps many months...ok fine...it could be years. Hell...I’m now not even sure it’s here in the house...but...for some reason think it is...just can’t find it. So...if it’s not raining tomorrow...I’ll hit Anci’s garage...where I seem to think that there is some in a drawer. Velence...7th November 2009. 0201hrs...Ike wanted out! I now notice that the heat’s off! I’ll go look at the plug. 0218hrs...It’s 8.5°C and 21.0°C...drizzling. The plug’s in and the outlet has power...damn! Ike’s back in...and fed Dilly. Doing a Cup. 0651hrs...Have been policing the kitchen. Fed Mom and one of the Blacks on the ledge. Joey is on the ledge next to me. It was Kwan earlier...not sure if he’s using the "new" corner suite...now with rain cover and...AND a privacy FLAP! I pushed him into it twice last night...just to show him. Funny...I put water out for them to drink...as opposed to bathing...and they don’t touch it...not to bath but to drink. I now see Joey out in the street drinking rain water. I guess it must taste different to them...don’t know. 0901hrs...Dressed and ready to call over to Anci’s...and the go searching for solder. I think that there is rain coming this way...hence the need to go NOW! 0903hrs...Call made. I’m gone. 0952hrs...Turned out that while talking to Lajos he thought that he may have some solder...precluding my need to search the garage. Well...he did! A brand new spool...you know it was...0.5 mm...60/40%...with a flux core at that! Back here I ran into Istvan...and told him of the heat situation. 1003hrs...Have just finished re-soldering the connection...and it’s now charging the cell phone. 1403hrs...We have heat again. I’ve been scanning negatives...the Kodak 2475 stuff. 1925hrs...Finished two of what had been a three roll shoot. Velence...8th November 2009. 0344hrs...Mud...here...Ike in the kitchen. It’s 9.1°C and 23.6°C...assume overcast...not raining. At the time...about 1973-4...guessing...there was an event at a downtown Seattle art gallery. I now call it a "happening"...but that’s not correct. There were a number...perhaps 12 small sets wherein an "actor" portrayed...for lack of a better term...a condition. There was "The Groupie"..."The Prostitute"..."The Girl"...and others with a placard giving the name. Under "The Groupie"...it said..."Serve to lead". These placards were not placed such that it would make for a good composition...and I didn’t waste frames to include them...hence I have only the few mentioned. In retrospect I guess I should have taken notes...or better yet had Perk doing that. Anyway...the interesting part of it was that the patrons could talk to/with the "condition"...actors. Drinks were served also. There was even local TV...KOMO (4) news...coverage of the event. I shot three rolls...but at the time I didn’t print any of the frames. Perhaps it was the fact that I shot the whole thing on KODAK 2475..."available light"...and it looks like I used only one NIKON F camera...with probably the Nikkor 105 2 5 lens. Even with the fast film and lens...most of the shots are "soft"...not sharp and or slightly blurred...because of slow shutter speeds. I took a number of frames showing Perk...interacting with the "condition" actors. Other frames were just the "actors"...while other yet were patrons/actors. I’ve scanned 97 frames from the look of it. There were a few "half frames". Three rolls...11 frames short! If I exclude a number of nearly duplicate shots...that still leaves about 90 "good"...usable/interesting photos of the event. Some quite compelling. CoS: I ran one number and it came back with 18 months...but I’ve just run one set of real numbers and it shows 12.5 months which was my guess based on the first number. There we have it...it will not be any better...longer...than 12 months! This time next year! IN FACT sooner! My focus must now change somewhat. I need to get this document uploaded. And the Sepia Master images! What else? Thinking. OH...One score to settle! All these should be done at the earliest...so that I can "enjoy" the results! Thinking that I should start a countdown "clock". It would help me to stay focused. I should probably make up a list too. 0743hrs...Time for a second Cup. BIAF. 0750hrs...Took time to fix Ike a "happy meal"...ok fine...I nuked a hotdog! Groucho has discovered the kitchen window ledge too. Said ledge only supports two cats at a time...so when three show up at once...it’s quite a ridiculous scene. 0844hrs...WELL NOW...I’ve just finished doing a forensic examination of all 97 frames...looking for clues. Under "The Girl"...it reads...in part "Mine is not on...?...?"... with two words that I was unable to decipher. On a frame of the girl in a wheelchair...don’t know the title...it reads in part "?...?...I don’t care". AND THEN...on another placard..."Candy Castle Rose Divine"..."It’s not cosy". This is most interesting in that "Candy Castle" is a name known to me. And in one frame there is a dark haired girl...but I could not swear that it’s her...though Perk is in the scene...and she knew Candy. 1120hrs...A batch of brownies in the oven...and it’s now started to rain. Gads...I thought that I’d make a run over to Jutka’s to give her the cell phone/charger. And to Bela’s with a list of my favourite films for Gabor. 1123hrs...My opinion that the "world’s" gone totally insane keeps growing. I just looked a document from Barclays Bank. Like all the other financial institutions...it’s become "normal" for them to simply send you said document...wherein they state in fine detail...exactly how they will be taking advantage of you. The title of this five pager is...wait for it..."Changes to your agreement with us." Well...isn’t that just sweet. A close reading indicated that they are not "nailing down" any other fact...except that nothing is "nailed down". They can change anything at any time...WITHOUT NOTICE! You are of course TOTALLY POWERLESS! This was a VERY similar situation back in 1776. Powerless over arbitrary actions by others...no representation! They "decreed"...you "excepted it". No recourse! The bottom line is MORE (of your) MONEY INTO THEIR POCKETS! 1411hrs...Phone... 1442hrs...It was Cila needing to come over to look for a book. She did...and did. Velence...9th November 2009. 0345hrs...A Cup. Ike on the bed. Powerless...continued: When I was in grade school...1953-1956...we were encouraged to participate in a savings program. Tuesday was...I think..."savings" day. On that day we would bring...in my case 15 cents...monies to school that would then be entered into our bank books and taken for deposit. The obvious idea was that you were saving money...and...AND that money earned interest. You ended up with more money...over time...than you’d deposited...IF YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT! I’m not making this up! 0816hrs...Showered. It’s 12.7°C(!) and 23.5°C...foggy. I plan to go to Jutka’s...having called her last night. Powerless...and INSANEITY continued: At Jutka’s urging...I deposited a sum of monies into an HU bank...in dollars. Not only do I not get any interest...BUT THEY CHARGE ME A FEE! Why not have asked me how much money I thought of depositing...AND THEN holding out their collective palms...and quoting MY AGRREMENT with them...simply demand a sum of money. In fact...let’s not even bother to deposit said monies in the first place...just hand over MY...money...straightaway! I mean I’ve gotten nothing out of having had the account...so far...except the monthly statement showing the amount taken out. Every month I have less money! INSANE! 0933hrs...About ready to go. 1115hrs...Done deal. I hit Jutka’s and right off learned that Bela is in hospital as of last night! Did not feel well...weak. I explained charger care...to her. Then it was off on tangents...always the same thing...VITAMINS! And pills. The list goes on and on. And while we were outside(!) she hits me with a pair of glasses that need fixing! I then hit Sari’s to find out the latest about Bela. No answer...and just when I was about to across the street...Sari appears. Learned nothing new. She’ll be going into Fehervar later today. THEN she hits me with the fact that...OH...backup. I took a box of photos along to Jutka’s which contained two photos for Ildiko...her neighbour. Hence the box. I handed over the three page list of my favourite films for Gabor...and it was then that Sari asked about the box (of photos). This OF COURSE lead to the fact that somehow(!) ALL the photos that I’d printed for her...ended up with Gabor’s mother! AND not returned. As in Sari did a bloody show and tell...I assume...of my/her prints...and how they never came back...as in she NOW has NONE! 1634hrs...Just in from out...with a Cup...watching the sun...you know...the big bright thing in the sky...go down...with Kwan and Dilly. It’s been a month since the last time I saw the sucker. It was red...as it set. And it’s mostly clear right now...at 11.8°C. I heard them first...geese. Velence...10th November 2009. 0225hrs...Woke up to what I thought was the sound of rain...but it was the laptop fan. I’d let it run last night as it was doing a system wide virus scan. It’s still at it! And having just been out...it has in fact started to rain! It’s 9.8°C and 25.0°C...overcast. 0638hrs... 0900hrs...It’s now raining for real...a Seattle kind of rain...you know it is. 1213hrs...Time to get on track. Focus. I will now transfer this document onto the laptop. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX TO THIS POINT XXXXXXXXXXX 1918hrs...I just woke up! I don’t remember when I went back to bed...I must have been tired...and the rainy weather. I did in fact copy files over...and finished the last of December 2008...and started the first page...Jan-May 2009. 2105hrs...Have sorted out the scanned subdirectories. It’s raining...and I will need to hit a store tomorrow...but don’t like the idea of getting muddy...doing it. Getting the next blog pages ready to publish is a slow process. It’s not just taking out blank lines and redundant spaces...but having to read it too...for typos. Well...tomorrow is just 6hrs away...as in 0300hrs. I’ll hit it again then. Velence...11th November 2009. 0252hrs...Since I’m up...a hot Cup. Ike just jumped out. I woke up from one of my virtual dreams...it was "going" very well I thought at the time though it was getting dangerous...as in shots fired. In the last scene I discovered...to my happy amazement... as I searched the pockets of my old US Air Force great coat(!) on the off chance that I had with me my cellular phone...AND I did! I then fumbled with it...trying to dial...wait for it...911! All this while...a now thought to be terrorist was firing rounds in my direction...though I noticed that he was not trying to hit me...aiming only in front of and behind me...as he crossed a street...which just happened to be at the corner of 64th and Phinney...the location of my house/studio in the early ’70’s. 0622hrs...Up again. The winds are out of the NW...with what had been strong gusts. It’s 6.2°C and 24.2°C...cloudy. Not raining as of now. I’m hungry. 0813hrs...Time to hit the shower...then the PO and far store. The PO to pay a bill and to exchange 200HUF bills for coin. The bills are being taken out of circulation. 0843hrs..Done deal...but damn...it’s raining just enough to thwart...thwart I say...my enthusiasm for going out into the elements as it were. I have in fact fed Dilly and Kwan whom I think are sharing the newly covered corner enclosure. Kwan is getting worse and worse. Ike’s eye on the other hand is getting better...every day. It will be interesting to see...pardon the pun...if it heals completely. That would be a really good thing. There are a large number of cats with lost eyes. I was not able to tell right off what was to happen with Ike’s. Some days it was closed up. Other days it would be partially open...but since he was not cleaning himself...there was just no way of knowing either way. 1150hrs...It seems that it’s stopped raining...so it would be wise to leave post haste! 1243hrs...Back...and without drama! Though there was a bit of difficulty entering the property from Kemping...given that there was a substantial puddle that had to be negotiated. Using my massive cranial capacity and superb sense of balance...it was not a real problem...in as much as I just went around it! 1556hrs...Earlier...phone...just as I was mixing a batch of Blueberry Muffins...Cila...asking if I have heat...yes...given the winds last night. Then that there is a photo that needs scanning and printing...as in quantity...and to be paid for by the owner! Interesting...The day that Cila asked me to make a copy for her I couldn’t because my FBS was still at Bela’s...as in not returned. The very next day it’s brought back! Then the other day Sari complains that she now has NO prints...having given them away...and would I print up more for her. I stated that she never should have "given" them away in the first place...and that since everyone now had all the images...Pen Drives flying all over the place...that every one could/should now be getting their own prints made...given the expense of my doing them. I plan to find that last bill for paper just to see what a sheet costs. Hence now the surprise that the owner of print...he does want five...is prepared to pay for them. Which now brings up the question of how much. Though I could just scan it...and give him the image on a Pen Drive....like the other...and have him make his own prints. Even at cost...I don’t think that I can compete with the print places. I was taking a break from editing my blog page on the laptop...prior to publication. I’m only about a 1/3 of the way down the page...going slow. Velence...12th November 2009. 0455hrs...Java with Ike in the kitchen. It’s 8.0°C and 24.2°C...Calm...cloudy though I can see a crescent moon through the thinner parts. Yesterday...phone...Cila...telling me that Bela has returned from hospital...and gave me some of the details. Later...cellular phone...which by the time I located it...stopped ringing. Bela! Called him back...and he told me some of the details...and suggested that I should drop by tomorrow (now today). I said I would...if the weather is as predicted...sunny. 0834hrs...Have been policing the kitchen...and feeding the crew in various places. It’s the time of the Crows...as they harvest almonds. 1014hrs...Phone...Sari...to say that I should not come now...since Bela is going to the doctors...and did not know when they would return...given the potential for a long wait. I could not pin her down...at all....ok fine...she will call. I was in fact getting close to going...so this works out ok. 1301hrs...A few mins ago...phone...Sari...they have returned...but will be leaving for a funeral at 1400hrs. I told her that I’d not be coming then...given the short time and not wanting to add any pressure on Bela. I have in fact repaired Jutka’s glasses...and would have taken it to her as part of the trip to Bela’s. Not sure what I’ll do...but am thinking that I should hit the far store...(?). It’s sunny right now so it might be as good a time as ever. Got an email from Larry Johnston...thanking me for my (military) service. And correcting my spelling of his name. It was one on my many typos...sorry dude! 1312hrs..Have called Jutka...and will in fact go there...now. 1438hrs...Did the store too. Fed the crew...times two. I now wait for Jutka to call. I’m having her bring my tools. Cila, Istvan, Bela and Sari are at a funeral for a man that was at Saci’s wedding. He just up and died. Jutka told me his "story"...since I asked. He had been in love with a girl...I hope so...but her parents disallowed their romance...much less a marriage. Later she "fell" for a uniform...married...two children. He eventually marries...no children...adopt. Much later...her husband dies. A bit later his wife dies. You can now figure out the rest of the story. This...in a small village by a lake. 1515hrs..The call. 1558hrs...Just in from out. I was making a hot Cup when the phone rang. Jutka...about to leave. I’d instructed her to call when in fact she was literally "out the door". I logged the time as per above...put on a coat and headed for the door. I was only half way to the street as she arrived. We commented about the setting sun and the colors on the lake. I decided that I would go out onto the balcony to watch it set. I noticed a few smudges on the distant horizon to the SW. I thought that they were moving...but could not make out what it was. I came for my...still monopod mounted ...binoculars for a closer look. Sure as hell...they were moving. Geese I presume. Kwan was in the corner and soon Stranger showed up. Then I noticed that Ike was inside looking out...and let him out too. Gads...Stranger hissed...but Ike wanted some sort of contact with him. Stranger hissed some more...so I intervened with QT up on my chair. Stranger even allowed me to rub his belly...which I’d not done before. All this while Ike was sitting close by on the ground...which I thought a bit too close. Anyway...Stranger jumps down...with Ike right after him! Stranger jumps from the balcony...and again Ike goes after him. Gads! Today is the first anniversary of Pityu’s death. Jutka was going to the cemetery after dropping off my tool. I can not handle the emotional aspect of these events...hence don’t go to them. 2340hrs...Yeah I know! I have been editing the blog page. Almost done. Velence...13th November 2009. 0540hrs...Coffee...with Stranger...later Joey...fed same. It’s 7.5°C and 24.0°C...clear...a crescent moon with earthshine...Orion to the SW. 0614hrs...I should be able to finish the first 2009...Jan-May...blog page today. There is nothing scheduled...but I may hear from Bela. Most likely...I’ll call to find out what he’s up to. There is a problem with Pityu’s car. From the sound of it...it’s same problem it had over a year ago...blown fuse...under the dash...manifested as not being able to lock the car...with the remote...nor for that matter the keys. Which in turn means that they can not use said car. There is the main problem...as in why did it blow in the first place. I have a hunch. Lacking a schematic...it will take a bit of doing to nail it for sure...though at this time changing the fuse will "fix" the problem in the short term. 0902hrs...Just off the phone with Bela...it’s set...30 mins...at his place. He will pickup Pityu’s car and drive it there. I will go by bike...since I want the freedom of action. I need to go to the chemist’s too while there. I’d called Jutka earlier to confirm that the bill in hand was in fact mine and not her phone bill. I should have turned over a page and it would have been obvious...MINE! I now wait for Bela to call back. 0913hrs...Just called Cila...about Bela coming...and that she was to give him the photo. 0922...Just off the phone...Cila...about the photo...talked...ok...done deal...bye! 0945hrs...Things are running a bit late...I’d say. 0950hrs...Phone...gone! 1321hrs...Well damn! It was not the fuse! We’ve taken apart the right front door lock assembly. It was not without DRAMA...believe me. Getting it all back together will be nightmare. We don’t even know what the actual problem is...yet! It’s a bloody good thing that I went by bike. I had to come back here once...and to Anci’s for more tools. I have possession of Cila’s photo. Jutka had it wrong...when I asked her yesterday if it was the 13th . It’s of course today...with the clan going to the cemetery and church to commemorate Pityu’s death. I’m not going. I got the photo to the point where I thought I’d print it. Damn...6 prints later I was not even close to figuring out the bloody problem. In the end it came down to clogged print heads. One was clogged completely...one of the blacks...but the other one had problems also. The photos were all coming up a weird shade of green...and low contrast. Velence...14th November 2009. 0347hrs...A hot Cup. My remote sensor seems to need a new battery...hence no outside temperature reading this morning. There is thin fog...with stars visible. While taking off door panels and all...Bela lost a tip to my screwdriver. It sounded like it had fallen into a crevasse! It was too tight a place so it was not possible to simply retrieve it by hand. Since it’s metal to metal...even the use of a magnet would be tricky...as it proved to be. Just now as I thought about the problem...it occurred to me that I have a magnet that might just work. I can’t/couldn’t remember where I’d seen it last...so I looked around. GADS...in one box...there was the spool of solder I was looking for the other day! How had I missed it? I didn’t find the magnet...so I think it must be at Anci’s garage. We were called for lunch...and Bela indicated that he was not feeling well...and it was decided that we’d lock up the car and leave it for today. Jutka in the meantime had called Bela for his help sorting out salvageable metal in her backyard. Just the other day she’d pontificated as to how Sari should be "protecting" Bela from stress. Implying that she wasn’t. So what does she...Jutka...do but load him up with more stress. "Come here...do this...do that." Bela asked me to go up and explain the situation to Jutka...about his not feeling well...etc. The situation with Pityu’s car is not a great example either. Had I been thinking(!)...it should have been logically obvious that the problem now was not the same problem as before! The remote did work...it was the locks that would not stay locked. So besides wasting time taking out the fuse block from under the dash...with drama I might add...we should have then stopped. With the door lock now in hand...and if the thinking is good...as in it IS the lock that is the problem...and that there is no desire to buy a new one...then attempting repair sounds logical. BUT the construction of said door lock is such that major butchery must take place. And should we be successful in taking it apart...there is the remaining question of can we fix it? It may be un-repairable. More stress! 0559hrs...Well shit! Stranger appeared in the window...so I took some food out. I then decided to go out the front door to bring in the outside remote temperature sensor. GADS! It was NOT THERE! I had long ago wrapped it in a plastic bag to protect it from rain...and later placed a rock in front of it to prevent it from being blown away in the gusty winds. I’ve seen Ike up on the window ledge a few times now...so he may be the cause of it...the sensor...being somewhere down on the ground...which will take a major expedition to retrieve! Literally between a rock and a hard place. There was nothing there at all...not just no sensor in a bag...but the rock too. Drama...stress! 0630hrs...Have for all practical purposes finished work on Cila’s photo. We now have dense fog. Ike’s outside. I’m hungry. Oh...When I arrived at Jutka’s...Ildiko was outside also...raking leaves. At one point I asked Jutka whether she’d passed over the two prints that I’d made for Ildiko? I sensed a certain amount of "beating about the bush". 0654hrs...Just in from locating said sensor. We have 4°C! Anyway...Jutka was being evasive... and giving excuses. There are numerous stories of photos disappearing once in her possession...a veritable "black hole". 1534hrs...Done deal. It’s all put back together...and working. I’d gotten the call...Bela...at 0950hrs...saying that he’d managed to take apart the lock...and that now it was down to the details. And so it was. It came down to a shorted thermal switch that was there to protect a small motor. The switch had burned and was shorted. This would have prevented the motor from functioning...but the contacts to said motor were not making either. We drilled out the shorted remains of the switch...and bent the contacts to the motor. There was drama in getting it all put back together...as in it took more then one try at most everything before we managed to get it right. There was one screw left over...naturally! While Bela was putting the lock back together...I went to Anci’s garage. I came back with the magnet I was looking for...found it in the first place I looked(!)... and a couple of other tools. One was a pair of surgical forceps. I put the tools in my coat pocket. By the time I got back...we were ready to try the lock with power applied. I didn’t work! Eventually as per above...it was a matter of clearing the shorted thermal switch remains...and Bela used a small screwdriver...the tip of which promptly broke off...IN THE HOLE. It was then that I pulled out of my pocket the aforementioned surgical forceps...the perfect tool for the task at hand...you know it was. So while he put the lock back together...again...I rigged up an extension for my magnet. Bela had used a hacksaw blade the day before...which was the right tool for the task...but his magnet too large...so I used it also. It took only a second try...and I had the errant screwdriver tip in hand. Velence...15th November 2009. 0427hrs...Coffee with Joey...later Stranger too. It’s 11.4°C and 25.0°C...calm...high overcast. Yesterday after lunch I was shown some of Saci’s photos...the ones she’s had printed. She was not happy with them...but...except for the fact that most were not cropped...they were ok I thought. They were also a mix of mostly mine...but those taken by Dori too. Events will overtake reality sooner than I think...so I must stay focused. Monday I should hit the PO and chemist’s. 0519hrs...Joey is on the window ledge...waiting. I’ll fix her a "happy meal"...OK fine(!)...just a hot...hotdog. Stranger may be out there too...and he is such a "pushy" cat...he’ll eat it right out from under poor little Joey nose. We’ll see. BIAF. 0549hrs...Done deal times four. One of the "Blacks" bit me as I tried to see that Joey got most of the "dog"...but I manage to fight it off with a plate..."Back Simba...back!" 1150hrs...Well...it just goes to show. What I don’t know for sure. I’d gone back to bed and slept well enough and had an interesting dream. I got up a couple of times...but was able to get back into bed and continue it. I eventually got up for real. I noted the time...looking at the bigger radio clock across the room. The nearer LED clock...which tells time correctly for this time zone...is turned such as to be useless. I make the one hour correction to the radio clock reading and go about my business...thinking that it was about the right time...1100hrs. I shower...feed one of the Blacks and Dilly on the kitchen window ledge while waiting for water to boil...as in a second cup of Coffee. Kwan and Stranger are out on the balcony...and with said cup in hand...I go out to join them. I notice that after they stopped milling about...they settled down in the bright...hot sun. Stranger such that he was in the shadow of the railing...with his head directly in line with the vertical portion of said railing. His head cast a shadow just like the "Batman’s...pointy ears...you know! I feet the cellular phone in my bathrobe pocket...and though my wrist watch is in the other pocket...I took it out...to check the time. I pressed the button! GADS! It read 1245hrs! An hour later then I’d thought it should have been. Ok fine...I didn’t make the one hour correction after all...duh! I then notes the angle of the shadow cast by said vertical portion of said railing...and thinking that I should have picked up it as an indicator of the correct time. Amusing I thought...clues all around...etc. Back inside...fire off this computer...only to note the time. Gads(!)...1150hrs. Dressed by then...I went to locate the cellular phone...hit the bottom! 1250hrs! I remember thinking at the time how the cellular clock was off by about a minute...which had struck me odd the first time I observed it. But it’s now an hour off. AND...so much for shadows! It’s now a blistering 13.8°C...and in here...wait for it...28.7°C! The low sun angle...don’t you know? 1248hrs...About to go to the far store...as in now! 1319hrs...Have returned. Fed the crew. Going online. 1621hrs...In a search of 31,415,929 base 27 digits of pi..."TUBA" occurred 53 times. The significance of this is...nothing at all. 1650hrs...Kwan is curled up in the corner enclosure. I’ve put down four layers of the large bubble wrap for insulation which also extends up the wall a bit. Kwan is using the "feature". I expect to see Dilly in there too...later. Velence...16th November 2009. 0410hrs...Mud with Dilly and Stranger. It’s 8.8°C and 25.4°C...overcast. 0955hrs...Uploading...publishing the next blog page. Two more to go. 1023hrs...I’ll start editing the next page as soon as the last one finishes. And I should a least look at the Sepia Photo page too. 1203hrs...NATURALY my three dots caused a problem again! So I’m uploading again. The trick is to bring up the original HTML page in Notepad...Find and Replace "&ldots;" with "..."...and then save. It will ask whether you want to overwrite the original...damn right...done deal. It will save it as an HTML...contrary to what it may look like. 1638hrs...Have taken a two hour break. So...it’s back at it again. I’m now doing the underline and colour for the dates...having already taken out all the redundant spaces...and editing for errors. 2307hrs...Calling it a night. I have a few remaining problems...though the second page is ready to be published. I’ve started work...or more like a re-work of the three photo pages...but one defies me! Velence...17th November 2009. 0404hrs...Coffee. It’s overcast...10.3°C and 25.3°C. Back to the pages. Must stay focused. 0535hrs...Well...I see that I need to do more work on the Sepia Photo page. Not all the photos that I want on it are in place. I need to come up with a system of numbering that will put said photo in the order that I want them to appear. Otherwise they look ok. I had feared that they were...washed out on the LCD on the laptop...but now they look normal. 0834hrs...I’d gone back to bed...to think about it. Will now hit the shower now...then the far store some time this morning. I don’t need to worry about numbering the photos after all. I can just move them around as it turns out. 0910hrs...Done deal. And have taken out the trash. Hey listen...it’s a BIG deal...as in not forgetting to do it. 1036hrs...Dressed...thinking I should leave now for the far store. OH...should hit the chemist’s too! Gads! What a memory! 1049hrs...Took a last quick look at other usable Sepias. Time to go....now! 1141hrs...No drama. Hit the PO too...to pay a bill...and cash. 1341hrs...Ready to do more work on the web pages. First I’ll go online...to check things out. 1430hrs...Done deal...BUT I’ve created a problem for myself...Ike in drawer...on a towel I’d put there for him. Now he blocks me from getting close to the bloody desk. Before that he was stretched out in my office chair...snug-as-a-bug-in-a-rug! I had to con him off...just to sit down. I’ve pulled the plug on the heat. It’s been way too hot in here...I can’t work that like that. 1742hrs...Well damn! Finished collecting ALL remaining usable images. The count is 111 but that’s actually about 40 because I pulled some that I’d already done work on, plus the original negative...and brought those images over also. Still...40 some odd frames is a lot of work...though some are closer to completion than others. I’ve decided to make the "click to enlarge" images larger than I’ve been making them. More impact and makes it worthwhile to do so. All the Sepia images are now on one Pen drive. 1843hrs...Fed them bloody all! Kwan snuck in like lightning! Once in the kitchen it purred and purred! Velence...18th November 2009. ; 0454hrs...Java with Dilly, Joey and later Stranger...AND Korda came rolling in. Light fog...9.5°C and 24.6°C. 0946hrs...About an hour ago...phone...Cila...ultimately thanking me for fixing the car. I imagine that Bela related the story on Sunday. It’s again hot in here. Thinking I should unplugging it. Ike on the window ledge...as in outside. It’s sunny...and he should be out there enjoying it. A radio station...DANUBIUS...103.3FM...that I like to listen to...is being closed down for reasons I don’t understand. Today is the station/program’s last day. There are demonstrations of sympathy...country wide. I think that the program will relocate to another station. Three guys...very comedic...really...talented! Walnut Brownies in the oven! 1345hrs...It’s raining. Fed Dilly and friends on the balcony. The Brownies came out perfect! Have consumed one Brick already. A "Slab" being half a tray. A "Brick" is fourth of that. Half a "Brick" is a "Square"...the normal serving size...which I don’t even bother to cut...as being too small. You can’t eat just one...no? I did upload the second blog page...leaving Sept. to now. Thinking that I should publish...unfinished/incomplete...the Sepia page...and then just re-do it as new images become available. 1827hrs...I decided to step out...and damn if Kwan did it to me again. In like lightning! I thought it was Joey at the time. I fed Dilly...and went to the kitchen to hunt down Joey/Kwan...and...with now...the real culprit...in hand...went back out to find Joey waiting! The good news was that with all the commotion...Ike got off my office chair...which was why I stopped working...Speaking of which...Ike is now in my lap! I’d fed him too...so I guess it’s "closeness" time...but difficult to type this way. 2002hrs...Have done 82 of the Sepia images. They are renamed and resized. I see though that I will need to run some through PS to pick up dust and other artefacts. I also think that I’ll look for a few more to round it up to 100 images. That was the number of photos I had in my exhibition back in 1971...42 years ago! Some of my now Sepia’s are of the very same images...though most were after the exhibit. Fourteen images need work! But not tonight! I will need to hit a store tomorrow for sure...hope doesn’t rain. Velence...19th November 2009. 0400hrs...It’s a bit chilly out there with a hot Cup. Dilly and a Black in attendance. Low light fog...stars above...9.2°C and 24.8°C. Ike just out the window. 0535hrs...Done deal. Photoshopped 15 images. The additional one was just a minor adjustment. Oh...I was working on an image of Melanie at my "castle site"...and at high magnification...I saw what I took to be "smudges"...so naturally I took them out with extreme prejudice. I back out...to see my handiwork...only to find that where there had been four buttons...there were now only two! I’d taken out two coat buttons! What to do? It was at the very end of the process of cleaning up the image...and I didn’t want to start all over. SO...I cloned the two remaining buttons! Well sure as hell...103.3FM...is now CLASS FM. 0959hrs...Have just showered. It’s now sunny and bright...though bloody nippy since there is a wind out of the west. I’m planning at trip to the store...a bit later...while I dry off as it were. I’ve in fact brought over a number of new images to be added. If all goes well...I should be able to publish by the evening. 1030hrs..Time to get dressed...methinks! Oh... A few days ago I had to move my pet rock...probably making it the most exercise it’s gotten in years! I say "probably"...because I can’t be expected to watch it all the time...and how could I know what goes on when I’m not here...or at night. I suppose I could set up some kind of surveillance camera...set to record at the least sign of motion. 1047hrs...About ready to leave. 1138hrs...Mission accomplished...with minor drama. It’s 12.0°C...and I’ve pulled the plug. Too hot in here. 1248hrs...It’s too bright in here to any image editing. 2004hrs...I got sidetracked with scanning more negatives. Hence no closer to my goal. And...about a half hour prior to the sun setting I headed for the pier...with the Nikkor 300 2 8...and the Slik monopod. I got a few good frame I think...though I’ve not looked at them as yet. Velence...20th November 2009. 0224hrs...Ike woke me up! Back to bed. 0549hrs...Up for real. It‘s 7.8°C and 24.1°C...thick fog...wind from the west. Java with Dilly...whom I fed earlier. It was funny. When I first went outside...at 0224hrs...and he saw that there was no food to be had...he went hurriedly back to his...still warm...den. Smart cat! 0649hrs...I’ve been looking at the images that I’m thinking of adding to the list...to see how much more work there is needed. Nothing for it...I’ll just have to get on with it. Every one run through PS. Right now I’m hungry. Ike’s just reappeared from having been out and about. His coat is all wet from the fog! 0659hrs...I’m going to reboot this computer...it’s running slow. And I want it running well once I start editing images. 0818hrs...Feeding the multitude is a veritable circus! I think I’m about to feed one of the "Blacks" that stays on the kitchen window ledge...an interesting survival strategy...when Mom shows up. Climbs the tree and I now have two. I feed her differently...but today I fed them both a "happy meal". Mom snarled a lot. Out on the balcony it’s the same thing...except that Groucho is now a regular customer. He’s still limping a bit...left leg/paw. I miss the guys on the radio. I didn’t like the format too much. A mix of mostly American...now...garbage...music...in my opinion. But when the three guys got on a roll...which seemed easy for them...it was great fun listening to them. There was nothing like it in the states...back when. It was the lone DJ thing. 0827hrs...Ok...time to hit my images! 0944hrs...Taking a break...thinking...thoughts. The technology exists today where by a "model" could take her own photos. The lights and camera would be setup...requiring only the model on the background...and through a signalling method...click...take her own photos. There were back in the sixties "models" taking their own photos through conventional means...as in a delayed shutter. Trip the shutter...get on the background...pose...wait...click...photo...repeat. My photos were taken with two of us on scene. There was an interaction that took place...better or for worse. We...in effect..."played" off each other. Interestingly...it is assumed that a photo was taken by someone else...in most cases. There was someone else "there"! There is always the "speculation" as to how the photo came to be. What was the "dynamic" at that instant in time. By another name...it’s called rapport. Some form of ...sometimes silent...communication taking place...in place. What was the joke...as it were? On the other hand...what was the agenda? There was always an agenda...naturally...but what about the "other" agenda? 1025hrs...Back from feeding the crew...AGAIN! And back to my photos...seven to go. ; 1039hrs...Some images are backbreaking! Anyway...this brings up TLOAI. There were at least a couple of times that I "lost" entire (an) roll(s) of film. I now don’t remember whether it was the entire "shoot" or what portion exactly. Debbie at night...for sure...and there were others. BUT...in TLOAI...they ARE THERE! AND every shot I wish I could have taken...but didn’t! I had occasion to photograph the same model over a number of years. There were some...that I would photograph as often as at least once a month. Others would call me regularly...but I never noted the interval. Had I remained in one location only...it would now be hard to say what the time span was...in fact. But since I moved the studio...three times...I can be certain...to some extent. Some of my models changed over time...witness the photos. I have sessions where I wish now she’d have looked different...given...later sessions where she looked spectacular. Again...in TLOAI...those images would be there too! That is...the spectacular look...but at an earlier shoot! Why didn’t I insist on not doing the shoot...as it was...but had them come back at another time...in space. Well...it would have changed the "dynamic"...that’s why! Infinite number of variables! That’s why in a simple sense...every photograph is such a special moment. 1105hrs...Back to spotting images. 1346hrs...DONE! 101 frames. Time for a little rest. 1551hrs...I had to Ike move...bodily...off my office chair so that I can write...as I am. It’s been foggy all day...but now there is no wind. I saw a squirrel for only the second time while here. I would give anything...as the saying goes...to be able to explore any of TLOAThings. 1802hrs...Have been redesigning the Sepia photo page. I’m changing the colour scheme. And I like it to the point that I’m going to change all the pages. I’m experimenting on this computer and not the final ones on the laptop...since it's better to screw it up here...as opposed to there...and right now...Ike is in the desk drawer! Interesting...that for a long time he’s flake out on his old blanket on a box in the other room...and then it was the bed...and then the kitchen window ledge...and he still lays down on some of my papers on the floor...which I find strange...unless he is sensing warmth underneath. But for now it’s the desk drawer. I guess he likes to be close. He gave Joey a thrashing today. Velence...21st November 2009. 0325hrs...Gads...As I was making my Coffee...Mom...black and white...showed up in the window...I guess she saw the light. She wasn’t as vocal as she’d normally be I thought. Ok fine...I diced a hotdog and opened the window. Damn...there was Stranger! He is what I call a "power eater". No fooling around...eat eat eat as fast as you can...that’s his motto. And while he’s not twice Mom’s size...he is close. All muscle...making him the biggest cat in the neighbourhood. Last evening my desk lamp started to flicker a bit. Damn I thought...it’s about to die on me. And sure enough...about twenty minutes later it did. A problem...in that I knew that I didn’t have a spare bulb. Thinking about it...it occurred to that I did have a 240V...screw base...bulb. Ok fine...first let’s take out the old bulb. The drama began. I wrestled with it for some time...thinking that is was simply stuck in it’s socket. In the end I managed to break the glass bulb from it’s still stuck base. I needed tools at that stage. I located the 240V bulb and a pair of heavy duty pliers. Up to this point my assumption had been that said lamp was one that I’d bought in the states...that is 120V...hence a screw base. Running on 120V...it would be about half the brightness...but ok for now. The now remaining and stuck base was not "stuck" as in stuck...was not a screw base but a bayonet...which I thought was strange for an American desk lamp! It was then that I saw a small label on the inside of the lamp shade! 240V...it read! Gads...I’d bought this desk lamp not in the states...but UK Land! Naturally I don’t have a spare two contact bayonet base lamp. A bit later...I hear what sounds to be a cat altercation taking place...INSIDE! I turned to look for the source of said altercation...when I notice that the window...the one next to me...is for all practical purposes wide OPEN! And Joey is inside...on the sill. I figured that she can not be the source of the commotion. I look to find Ike...who I last saw on my papers on the floor. But first I had to relocate Joey...as in outside...and get the window closed. Done deal...back to finding Ike. It was then...that in the dim light I see a form. GADS! Dilly. Ike is freaking out...as in thinking that this was "his place". Anyway...I had to eventually pick Dilly up...bodily...and dispose thereof out the door. Ike eventually went out so I had access to the laptop...and I moved over the Sepia images onto a Pen Drive...and started a new page. I’d noticed the other day that there was what looked to be a blank web page amongst all my other pages. Damn...I now took a closer look at said blank page. It was supposedly one of my latest blog pages...now blank. This is NOT a good thing. If I should upload under this condition...I could easily overwrite the still good...I’d checked...online page...with a bloody blank! 0511hrs...Have had breakfast. Fed Ike. It’s 8.3°C and 24.2°C...foggy...no wind. 0705hrs...Just in from out. Kwan in the corner den. He didn’t come out...a good thing. A man on a bike came along heading east on Kemping...I presume going home from a morning's fishing. I thought he might be one that says "’morning"...and it was. This was the same one that Ike went after a few weeks ago. I again fantasized that Ike was in fact his...lost...cat. Man fishing brings to mind the other day when I’d gone out to the pier. There was a lone fisherman some distance away...that I photographed. It soon became clear that he was rowing in. When he came abreast of me...though at a distance...he hailed me to show me his catch. I was just barely able to get him and the fish into the frame given the long lens. I had the camera set up for the sunset so I had to make adjustments...but they were not enough to get a sharp image in the failing light. Should have slowed down! The prospect of having to redo the "blank" blog page is disheartening! I have no idea how it came about. There are also a few thing about the photo gallery page that I’m not "on top" of either. I have policed the kitchen. 0720hrs...The fog is lifting some. Ike’s in the drawer again. 1833hrs...Have just finished reading all ten ’stories" pages. I see that I still have typos...though not that many. I should have taken notes...but didn’t! The last page ended with Sandi T. Gads...I thought I had more...AND I do. All the way to a 15th page! They’re in another subdirectory. I will go there now. 1934hrs...I’m tired...and ready to call it a day. Velence...22nd November 2009. 0247hrs...Ike is back inside. Dilly was in effect blocking him as I had suspected...so I went out for a look. Sure enough. 0538hrs...I’d gone back to bed...woke up dreaming a very strange dream. Too weird to relate! As in very weird people. It’s overcast...7.6°C and 24.3°C. A Cup. I will need to hit a store this morning...should have done it yesterday. 0604hrs...GADS! More unpublished web pages! Two in fact as best as can figure it. 0704hrs...Just finished reading "stories 15"...an unpublished page. 0724hrs...Time to hit the shower...methinks. 0802hrs...Done deal. 0900hrs...Found two more pages...only one useful. The other one led up to "D day"...eventually aborted. Time to get dressed. 0912hrs...Have made a list....and am out the door...almost now! ; 1001hrs...Back 15 mins. The only thing I was not able to get was a replacement bayonet based light bulb. This may turn out to be an impossible task...given the recent BS about doing away with incandescent bulbs. The store only had three bulbs in stock...period! ; Damn! Where to begin...with my web pages? 1018hrs...Oh...the "lost page"...was nothing more than a illusion. It was in fact all there...just out of sight...as in off to left of the large page width. 1254hrs...Ike’s been out and about all morning...so I’m getting ready to hit my Sepia page again...wish me luck...though that’s not what’s needed...but knowledge! 1306hrs...Well now...Looking at my trial page...in IE...I see that my choice of 700 horizontal pixels...after clicking to enlarge images...may be just a bit too large. The "Index" button does not work as it should...and right now I don’t know why. And the left hand cell width is uncontrollable. 1334hrs...Thinking! I think I’ll leave it as is. I want someone to see a larger image...not so much on my web page as when they do a GS and clicked the full size button! Ok fine. Now...Oh...there is another problem in that my viewer brings up my images on another page...which I need to reconfigure...but can’t find it! 1527hrs...I seem to have nailed almost everything. I’m now in the process of "photo placement"...which is only of interest to those looking at my images on my web page. That is I don’t want images of the same model too close together...but not in any order otherwise. 1631hrs...Done deal. Now for the names. 1719hrs...Still at it...names. And who should show up...Ike? I was getting worried. 1826hrs...Thinking! Velence...23rd November 2009. 0307hrs...Java with none...outside. Overcast...8.0°C and 23.9°C...calm. The Sepia page went well enough yesterday...though there are a few details left to rectify. I discovered that I’m missing an image or two(?)...won’t know for sure until I compare lists. Not sure if I know how to add a photo to the existing gallery either. 1250hrs...Well...I started a general pick-up of the area...but got side tracked when I came across the D200 with some unseen images. So I did! I seem to have lucked out. I thought for sure that the frames I took of the fisherman were useless. BUT the second frame of three was just fine. I had also taken some frames of the fisherman when he was off in the distance...with a yellow cast to the water and sky. The first frame was nice...so I ended up printing those two...and one of the setting sun...which was the reason that I’d gone to the pier in the first place. I now plan to track him down...and give him the three photographs. He seems to fish until sunset...so given a halfway decent day...I’ll go to the pier with the photos. 1623hrs...Lost heat again! Space heater on max. I’ll have to call over. Still no solution to my gallery page problem. Though I’ve not worked on it since this morning. I’ve move the blanket/box into the living room and showed it to Ike. It was then I noticed the lack of heat...since I put said box right next to the radiator...so he’d like it...now not. 1717hrs...Waiting for the ISS...an OVHP...as in the best in a long time...89.02°! Now at 6 mins to my radio horizon. 1739hrs...Done deal...BUT again I think I had focus problems. 1747hrs...Just took a look. Useless! Though from what I could see...had they been sharp...they would have been interesting! Perhaps tomorrow...weather permitting. I just need more time to check focus. And now it was fogging up too...so the star I used was dim. Plus I really would like to have enough time to take apart the MTO to de-grease it. It’s way too stiff. A 1/3rd Moon and Jupiter are in a close conjunction...nice. ; ; 1855hrs...Tired! Velence...24th November 2009. ; 0327hrs...Java with Joey. Didn’t look to see if there was anyone in the box pad. Foggy...calm...5.1°C and 22.5°C. CP this morning. 0330hrs...Ike just showed up. He’d been outside for some time. 0412hrs...Well now. Ike’s on his blanket box(!)...and hence not in the desk drawer. Too bad the radiator is cold. The thought of having to do again the Sepia page is disheartening. It’s not the loading of the photos...101...but having to type in the names of each one. And then...there is the strange fact that the page does not look right in IE...as in different...as in no good...and I can’t explain it. 0524hrs...Fighting the problem. I may be getting somewhere...but not sure where. I has to make sense...no? CP continues in varying degrees. Damn...I don’t need this...not right now! I need time. I’m going back to bed...and think. 0843hrs...CP continues in varying degrees. Not a good thing. I need to take out the trash...and if I knew for sure that they will not get here soon I’d not worry about it. Last week it was late late afternoon. I need to hit a store too...and planned to call/see Cila and Bela. 0857hrs...Logic says to take out the trash now...pain or not. So... 0914hrs...Done deal. Fed Joey and a Black...a happy meal on the kitchen window ledge. The rest of the crew will have to wait until I go to the store. 0949hrs...There you have it...the trash truck! Right now I’m looking for my "show and tell" box. I thought I saw it the other day. 0959hrs...A miracle...Found it! I now make a couple of calls. 1139hrs...No one answered at Bela’s. I showed Cila the photos of the fisherman...and she thinks she's sure of who it is. I ended up leaving the three photo with her since she will see the guy at Sunday...church. I also gave her all the photo in my S&T box...about 12. I gave her some monies. Chatted. Headed for the far store just as it stared to drizzle. It’s bright now...sunshine! Before I left...I noticed Ike...in the desk drawer...on his back...legs "flying" in all direction. The D70 was at hand...as it is always...and took a few frames. Happy kitty. Back here I fed the crew...X2...with dog food! They loved it! I feel better now...re CP. 1509hrs...The ‘Sepia page" is uploading as I write. It still has a few problems...but right now it’s more important to me to get the images up. I will be interested in how long it takes the search engines to pick them up...under "Steve Tuba Istvan"...as in "Steve Tuba" and Tuba Istvan". 1522hrs..Bloody amazing...Now I’m missing my "Stories I" page. And since it’s missing in the links...it means I’ll have to load it all over again! Like an idiot...I took out the link! "Measure twice...cut once!" 1536hrs...I now just wait. My new images are taking time...and there are 101 of them...so I shouldn’t be surprised. 161 files to go! 1555hrs...Done deal...fixed. It went better than I thought it would...but should have known nonetheless. I went to my site...but it’s not "up" yet...which is surprising though. 1723hrs...Poor Joey. When I went over to Cila’s...Jimmy was glad to see me. And with gloved hand I rubbed him all over. Now Joey is an affectionate...small...mostly black with some white...kitten. And when I head out...she will make a big deal of playing...given that I’m standing on the ground while she is at my eye level on the porch. So...when I returned from the store...she and the rest were waiting...and once I’d put away the bike...she again played her role. EXCEPT...that when she sniffed my glove...she took off like the proverbial you know what. She is...as I’ve mentioned before...very sensitive and alert for DOGS! So here I brought her...a dog as it were. I’m still laughing about it. Nothing online...my old pages are still coming up. Don’t know why. 1744hrs...Oh...There were a few time recently that I needed a piece of bloody paper. Just a small piece like those pads about two inches square. No big deal...I have one...but couldn’t bloody find it. So there I was today looking for the bloody S&T box...when...WHEN...I look down onto my desk. I can only assume that my pet rock had climbed up onto said bloody pad...obscuring it completely...as it were. I don’t know how many times I look at...the pet rock...and even noted how high it was...but just never connect the two. 1803hrs...Gads...I now notice that I’ve put my small flashlight on top of said bloody pad! I won’t go online again to night. I did change the colour scheme of all my pages. 1908hrs...I know that as soon as I write that there is still no heat...having mentioned it to Cila...who said that I should called as soon as I realize the lack thereof...as in yesterday...that miraculously Istvan will get around to it. I’m sure that there is a reasonable explanation as to why he didn’t come over right after work. I mean if it was imperative that I call as soon as there is no heat...then what is the difference now...being without said heat. 1922hrs...I’m tired...and hurting. Thinking that I should crash. Velence...25th November 2009. 0028hrs...Ike...out. I did fall asleep last night...hence 5 hours sleep. Well...I needn’t have worried...there is still no heat. It will be interesting to hear the reason why...not. My imagination is too strong...such that most of the time I get it wrong. Assuming that Cila didn’t forget to mention it...then what? Ok fine...I’ll go online to see about my web site. There too...what’s going on? Kwan outside on the window ledge. I’m sure he’d like to come in. 0046hrs...From bad to worse! The new pages are up...BUT from the look of it none of the images on the "stories pages". I think I know the reason. 0105hrs...Never fails. Rebooting the laptop. I want to see what it looks like under AOL. I’d done so under IE. 0114hrs...The images are in place on AOL. Am now reloading the changes I’ve just made...mostly corrections so it won’t take long. Don’t understand it...IE. 0144hrs...It’s 9.8°C and 21.8°C...clear...stars. Going back to bed. 0534hrs...Java with Ike. No heat. 0620hrs...I’ve not been out on the balcony as yet...but through the window I can see colour to the east. It’s 9.9°C and 21.4°C. When I went into the kitchen to make coffee to "my shock and horror"...a little joke...I discovered the window open! A gust must have done it. I looked around to see if I had any "visitors" inside. None was spotted...and I now think that there are none...else they’d have made themselves know by now...I hope. Thinking about my web pages...and the remaining problems. Hate it! The fact that a page looks just fine as created...and to then see it butchered online is a real bitch. I mean...what more can I do? On the Sepia page...the thumbnails are centered along with the text...names...but online they are left justified! I guess I could look at the HTML code to see. 0755hrs...I think I’ll shower now. 0825hrs...Done deal...and shaved...even! Doing a second cup of Mud. 1019hrs...I’m hungry...as in now! I will be going to the store later. 1113hrs...Making a list. Thinking. Have not heard from Cila...strange don’t you think? Jutka leaves tomorrow or the next day for six months in the states...Seattle area...to stay with Imre. I have a key to the shed. 1119hrs...Ok...ready to leave...as in now. 1225hrs...Back for about 15 mins. Fed the crew. On the way back I decided to take spin down to the pier...not bothering to unload. It’s a bloody scorching 13.7°C! A nice day as it were. "A" pack in on the charger. Thinking that I should go out...somewhere...with a camera. 1337hrs...Well...just in from out front taking photos of Kwan, Mom and Stranger...Dilly had been here but left. That would have made all of the original "Crew". Not sure what sunset will look like...so I wait. Earlier...nearly an hour now...Istvan drives up on his bike. Mentions the photos I’ d left with Cila the other day. I guess he liked them...the sunset shot in particular. And the fisherman. And that he had to get back since Bela and he were going to get wine for Jutka...who is in fact leaving tomorrow. I guess that Bela will be shown my photos too...and could also help ID the fisherman. OH(!)...he said nothing about the heat! Curiouser and curiouser. 1346hrs...It’s now 14.0°C! The cat’s think and act as thought it’s spring! 1537hrs...Heading for the pier! 1622hrs...Back for 10 mins. At least one usable frame. ; 1912hrs...Well now! For at least the last twenty mins...we’ve had actual...thermodynamic activity in the radiators. 1948hrs...Tired again...as in sleepy. Made two prints. NBD. 2003hrs...Gads...Fed bloody eight! Ike’s out and about. Have no idea where he hangs out. Velence...26th November 2009. 0409hrs...Java with Ike in the drawer. It’s 5.7°C and 23.3°C...clear and calm...stars. Yesterday I cleaned out more redundant and useless images. I answered an old email from Larry Johnston...and asked him to look at my web pages to see if he was getting the same results I was when using IE...as in no images on the "stories" pages. I’ve not looked at yesterday’s sunset photos as yet. OH! I’m now experiencing massive pain in my left knee. It hits when I sit down...bending said knee...stretching something in the process...tight across the front. It always comes as a great surprise. 0610hrs...Checked online...nothing from LJ. An email from a one H. D. Palmer...about Cut Bank (AFS) MT. Logged off...because of an update that wanted to do its thing...so I will answer it later after I do a bit of research. 1245hrs...Just had lunch. Earlier...phone...Cila...relating last night’s circus at/with Jutka. In passing...she’d forgotten...forgotten to tell Istvan about the heat! I did in fact answer said email. It asked if knew three names. Turns out that they rotated out...the last...in ‘61. I was there from ’63 to ’65. Have been washing pillows! Yeah...I know! The excitement is just too much to take. 1514hrs...I’m keeping an eye on a potential sunset shoot. Having said that...while the lake is calm...there are clouds to consider. 1853hrs...About twenty minutes ago...phone...Cila...sending Istvan with food that Jutka didn’t have time to prepare last night...ok. She’d offered it to earlier...but I declined it...at the time. I have been mercilessly tossing images...to gain back drive space. Tired again. My knee pain is still there. Velence...27th November 2009. 0155hrs...It’s the price you pays when you go to bed early! I did need to do that though. Coffee with Stranger and followed soon by Mom. Ike is finding new places to crash...seven so far. While looking for images to toss out I found many that I had done work on...but had not printed. There are some that would look good as an A3...while others that will be...for now...just fine as smaller prints. I didn’t count them...but out of 4218 images in that particular folder you’d think that there would be a few good ones no? The 4218 images are out of 7178 frames taken over nine months...which averages to 26 and half frames per day...a roll a day as it were. 0321hrs...Time to crash. 0440hrs...Up. 0522hrs...The last pillow is in the washer! 0628hrs...Have printed four images. ; 0712hrs...Printed another one. I need to hit a store today...and will do so this morning...sometime. ; 0859hrs...It’s 8.8°C and 24.7°C...cloudy...calm. 1126hrs...Have in fact been to the far store. Waved to Cila in compound as I was leaving...ok fine...she waved first. 1443hrs...Slurping a second cup of Java. 1422hrs...Email...Larry Johnston...reporting that my web page images are showing up just fine...on IE8. That is good news! It must be something set wrong on IE. I don’t use IE as such...so it must be me! 1524hrs...Bing and Google have yet to show my new Sepia images...though Google now shows more of my other images...and more PNWB rock group photos. 1556hrs...Gads...found that I had duplicate images of Sidney and Bonnie! Corrected same and uploaded. 1620hrs... More correction...and added more names...which is now all of them. I still have the "framing problem"...and don’t know how to correct it...as yet. 1719hrs...After 30 mins of screwing around...managed to close my never used PayPal account. This as a result of an email from them...the subject of which was in effect the old..."Changes to your agreement with us."...thank you very much. All I need is for them to charge me for doing nothing. Velence...28th November 2009. 0257hrs...Mud outside with Joey. A game plan came to me...regarding my web page framing problem. It will also take care of getting a few missed images onto the gallery...two of which...Delores in a chair and "Harlow". I also have the image of Laura M. that still has a few artefacts that need to be cleaned. I also have another...the last..."Photography Years" page that somehow never got published. 0412hrs...Nailed Laura’s frame quickly...but Delores took a bit of doing! 0728hrs...Getting ready to republish. Missed yet another image...BUT I did manage to center the bloody frame...so I hope to see it correctly on the web...soon. 0740hrs...Going up now. 0814hrs...I still have some problems with the web site. 1624hrs...Spent most of today working on the site...and of course reading it. I had mistakenly thought that I had two "new" (old) pages...but they turned out to be duplicates...for all practical purposes...I think. I’ll need to take a closer look. A spectacular sunset...colour wise...as I write. 1659hrs...Have done dinner...fed the crew and every other cat in the neighbourhood! I gave Kwan some of my tuna fish/mayo/pickles...and he ate it all...including the pickles! 1941hrs...Ike is out there talking to Stranger...in serious tones. And Stranger is the one backing down...though he is the larger of the two. Velence...29th November 2009. 0319hrs...Coffee with first Stranger showing up...then Joey. It’s 6.1°C and 24.6°C...clear...calm...stars. Thinking about what next to try regarding my web pages. The new colour scheme looks good. All but one of the "stories" pages are uniform. 0530hrs...Kwan showed up on the window ledge...so I fed him Ike’s leftovers...and since there was quite a bit of it...he’s now one full kitty! "Tango-Bolero" playing in the background...on YouTube. 0829hrs...It’s 3.6°C and 24.6°C...hazy...sunshine. Dilly is looking at me...sternly through the window...as in...when do I get some grub? 0954hrs...I should hit the shower. I will need to hit a store today. Should shave too...I guess! Groucho’s left paw injury continues to be a problem. The other day I saw him being chased by a large cat. He’d gone over to the other side of Kemping...looking for mice I guess. And this other cat thought that he was trespassing. Anyway...the chase started...and I could see that he was limping...fighting the pain...at full gallop. 0959hrs...Ok fine...shower time it is! 1202hrs...Have done the far store via the lakeshore. With church over...my photos of the fisherman are about to be shown to him. I continue to work on my web pages. Reading some...since I just can’t help doing so. I’ve left the bike out so that if a good sunset should develop...I’d be ready to go. 1444hrs...It’s 12.5°C and 25.5°C...mostly cloudy...windy. Keeping an eye out for a sunset. It will be a question of which lens. I’m thinking that I’ll shoot wide angle...hence the Sigma 10 20...since the sun is about to disappear behind a cloud bank. So I’d be looking for just lots of colour. I have a about an hour to go. The wind chill is right on the line. 1533hrs...Well damn...now it looks like the Nikkor 80 200 would be a choice too...but it lacks a tripod mount...so I’d have to use the camera body...which I’ve done but don’t like...and since I’d be taking the Slik Monopod...I’d have to remove the adapter from the 300 2 8. Just over twenty minutes to go. ; 1628hrs...Back for about ten mins. I had to leave on very short notice. And it took time to gather up all the gear. I couldn’t fine the 10 20...so that slowed me down. Anyway...it was a no big deal...in the end. The wind blew...and I had to pull up the hood...even! 1634hrs...A few mins ago...phone...Saci...asking to come over with Gabor...not sure what it’s about...ok fine. 1653hrs...Saci and Gabor arrive by car. 1721hrs...Saci and Gabor departed by car...the same one they came in. The had to leave to catch their train to Budapest. Gabor did get my movie list. They wanted me to "work" on a few images of the wedding. I’ve asked for image numbers...since we didn’t have time to find them now. 1827hrs...Just in from out. Kwan comes out of his hut...to see if any food in the offing...seeing non...goes right back. Smart cat. Joey...manning the parapet...runs back and forth as some cat thinks about jumping up. Turns out to be Mom. Mom notices the dry cat food...starts to consume same. Joey jumps off the balcony and runs around the yard...eventually up a tree...only to climb down...and up another one. This one being her favourite tree. Then Ike appears...coming from the next yard over...along what is now a "game trail"...and notices Joey! Up he goes threateningly. Joey climbs higher and higher...Ike right behind. Lots of hissing and stuff. I don’t actually see it...but in the end Joey jumps or falls out of said tree. Ike has regained all of his lost weight. He was skin and bone when he first showed up...but NOW he’s turned into a terror. Make you wonder what kind of cat he was before his injuries. 1838hrs...Speaking of the devil. In the desk drawer now...purring. ; ; Velence...30th November 2009. 0559hrs...Just in...Coffee with six...fed none. It’s 7.2°C and 24.5°C...thin clouds...stars above. Yesterday Saci and Gabor brought a "thank you card"...along with two photos of me...taken by Dori. They were right...that I had not printed them for myself...though of course I’d looked at them. One was taken prior to the wedding along the lakeshore as I was photographing Saci...not a bad shot. The other one was taken at the wedding reception with Saci and Gabor on either side of me. They also brought me a bottle of "Cream Liqueur". 0631hrs...Thinking that I should hit Spar this morning. With Jutka gone...she’s out of the equation. Cila mentioned the other day that she needed to hit Metro/Tesco...but that we were waiting on Anci to give us a date and time. There is colour to the east. Still nothing...as of yesterday...on Bing and Google of my Sepia images. Since I haven’t foggiest idea as to long it takes for their web crawlers to find them...I shouldn’t be holding my breath. But it will interest to see nonetheless. Think I’ll search on "Sepia" next time...just for the hell of it. 0645hrs...There are lights on at the Boathouse...house. The other day...I hear the sound of a car engine revving up...and the sound of spinning tires...at Gate 3 of the Kemping compound. This is the gate to the west of me...which can only be opened via a remote control. The car backs out onto Kemping...and heads east at high speed. As it passes I see that it’s a police car. It turns into Gate 2...the center one...which can only be opened by a key...and stops in front of said gate. Gads I think...this will mean having to call someone to gain entry. Time passes...which makes sense to me and I wonder who will come out to said gate...since it seemed that the police were in a great hurry to gain access. THEN...someone got out of the car...and opened the gate with a key! Why the delay? Anyway...once through said gate...the car again drives at high speed...slowed down by the very nature of the dirt road...and makes it to the Mediterranean House at the far end...though I lost sight of it in the end. 0803hrs...Dressed and getting ready to go. I’ll need to swap out the battery methinks...just to have a full charge...though I think the one in there now would make it there and back. 0818hrs...Leave in a few mins. 0944hrs...Back for about twenty mins...took an hour round trip. Fed a few. Going online to see if Gabor has sent me the frame numbers. 0948hrs...Nothing from Gabor. 1409hrs...Failed to mention....that I talked to Cila...ok fine...we yelled across the compound...wherein she indicated that the fisherman did not show up on Sunday...and that Anci plans on going to Fehervar...Metro/Tesco...sometime this week. 1519hrs...Online reading stuff. 1713hrs...Have put away the bike that I’d left out. Reading about A-12/SR-71 cameras. Velence...1st December 2009. 0422hrs...I stepped out with Cup in hand to find Dilly waiting...so I came back in to get him some food. Soon one of the Blacks showed up...then a large Gray...and then Stranger. None of this is relevant to an observation I made soon after I sat down to drink my coffee and to survey the scene. It was in fact cloudy...and calm. I noticed that there had not been the forecasted rain. I noticed some lighter shades of gray in the clouds...which led to the question of...in which direction was Budapest? This came to mind because when I had photographed the night sky a year ago...I was disappointed by the amount of light pollution in the form of an orange glow to the sky...mostly from one direction. I remember thinking about the source of said orange glow. I convinced myself that it MUST be the next village over. I tried to imagine all the street lamps there MUST have been to create such a strong glow...though I knew/suspected that my analysis was not...somehow...perfect. So...with a slurp of Java...and some confidence I said to myself that Budapest was in THAT direction...mentally pointing. Yes I said...that direction. Then another part of my massive brain asked...ok fine...nitwit...but what direction is that? As in compass. Gads...I was pointing to the southeast! It should have been to the north east...which then explained the orange glow! It was NOT the next village over...but bloody Budapest lighting up the entire bloody NE horizon! Mystery solved. 0522hrs...It’s started to rain! 0548hrs... Have taken out the trash...hence it’s Tuesday...for sure. 0820hrs...The rain has stopped...for now. Going online. Let’s see what’s out there! 0856hrs...Nothing from Gabor. 1028hrs...Phone...Bela...mail for me there since my mail now goes there given that Jutka’s not there for the next six months. I told him twenty mins. Actually the question was...was I going to the store...hence that I should drop in for said mail. I hadn’t thought about going to said store as such...given that it’s rainy. BUT...the reality is that I should...and would have thought about going to said store after all. 1357hrs...Back for twenty mins...Fed a multitude...though it worked out the crew...the original four...was out front...so they had a private meal...THOUGH Stranger got some on the kitchen window ledge too! The rascal! Chatted with Bela...and was invited for lunch by Sari. Then I hit the store...and the chemist’s. 0558hrs...It’s raining for real. 1832hrs...The "mail" had been my bank statement. I was interested to see the numbers as it were...and they are a surprise. One "chunk" was the two toner cartages for my laser printer. I’ll need to take a look at older statements and put it all on a spreadsheet...which I’ve started. 1846hrs...Phone...Cila...Anci says that it’s on for tomorrow...1200hrsish....Metro/Tesco. Velence...2nd December 2009. 0515hrs...Java with Dilly and Joey. Ike’s outside somewhere. It’s 7.1°C and 25.1°C...clear except for a few patchy clouds...a slight wind. Could be a nice day. 0912hrs...While just drying off...after a shower...I thought I heard the landline phone. I had...hate it when that happens. Looking for Cila...gave then the other number. 0933hrs...I’m hungry...but what to eat? 1149hrs...Dressed and about ready to go...once I get the call from Cila. 1226hrs...Gone. 1737hrs(!)...I have returned! Amazingly...I might add! 1751hrs...Phone...Cila...Notice: Kemping to be without water...0900hres to 1300hrs. I bought a desk lamp. A pair of amplified speakers for the laptop so I don’t have to disconnect the other one from the TV. A seven ports USB 2 adapter to replace the four port slow one. And four AAA rechargeable batteries to replace the four in the LED work light. Velence...3rd December 2009. 0335hrs...Mud with Dilly and Kwan. It’s 3.8°C and 24.6°C...hazy...full moon...some stars...light breeze. Going straight to work on my web pages. 0354hrs...I now seen to have a problem with WebExpress. Oh...yesterday as I was leaving the house...I let Ike out. He went willingly. I saw him in the front yard as Anci and I drove off. This was around 1230hrs. I have not seen him since! This raises the question of where he hangs out...when not here? 0815hrs...I’m about as ready as I think I can be for the water outage in 45 mins. I’ve reconstructed a "pad" for Kwan in the west corner of the balcony. I only had to show it to him once...the first time...stuck his head inside...and he’s been in there ever since. I felt sorry for him since when he shares space with Dilly in the other corner...he seems to end up on the short end of the...cold...stick. Getting nowhere with my web page problem. Yesterday I ran a power cord...as in longer...around to accommodate the new desk lamp...and amplified speakers...and they’re working just fine. I’ve charged the four AAA’s. There was...and may still be some drama regarding them. One of the cells never reached full charge according the light on the charger. I was pissed off to say the least. But when I measured the voltage...it looked ok. At least it wasn’t a dead dud. 0938hrs...We still seem to have water...so much for any precision! Yesterday at Tesco I went looking for a desk lamp. I hadn’t found one at Metro. I went to where I thought I’d find said lamp...and not finding any...I finally thought I should ask someone. There was just the right place up ahead...so I went there...noticing that there were others taking care of business...but just as I arrive...they all disappeared. Great I though...perfect timing! So...there is this young man of about 20 behind the counter. I fully expected him to look up at me...anxious to help the next customer...me. He was preoccupied with the task of clearing a wayward staple from the logically requisite stapler. His concentration was truly amazing...in as much as he never so much as looked up at me...not even a millisecond glance...so as to indicate that it would take him just a second. Now(!)...If I can detect and identify the facial nuances of my cats...rest assured that I can read a human face without overtaxing my massive brain. It was clear that... His first and only duty was to extricated that damn...pesky...jammed staple. I mean how can you project an image of confidence without a fully functioning stapler...ready to...dare I say it...staple two pieces of paper together? Hadn’t they trained days...learning the intricacies of said staplers. The various techniques of "Stapling"? Everything from the standard "one handed slam"...to the more daring and flamboyant one handed squeeze. Some in the course may have even done the very clever..."behind the back...one handed...double squeeze"...in case the first one "misfired"! As he eventual got close to the ultimate extraction...which is something a technically capable observer such as myself could discern in a moment...I again expected him to at least give me a glance of not only recognition as a customer...but even one of shared victory over said balky stapler...perhaps even waiting for my approving...and I might add overwhelming...admiration. The sad truth was that he was in fact trying very hard to IGNOR ME! Wishing that I would just go away and leave him alone. I stood my ground in bemused silence...as he noticed that the formerly jammed staple had ended up on the glass counter...littering it...as it were. This required his immediate attention and with a swift movement of his hand tried to rid the glass counter of the interloping staple...made more difficult by the fact he had to perform this complicated task...all the while completely ignoring me. It took him at least two attempts...though it could have been three...I wasn’t counting. Satisfied that counter was now "shipshape"...HE LOOKED UP AT ME! It was almost out of "Are You Being Served?"...as in "Are you free?" I cut to the chase. I thought that I asked for the location of desk lamps...not the bulbs that go into said desk lamps. His response was sheer efficiency and precision. Fifth aisle...left side. Now I knew that it could not be the "left" side as in the fifth aisle on the left side...because that was all bread and stuff like that...but perhaps the left side of the fifth aisle. Ok fine...off I went. 1050hrs...We still have water. No Ike. So...where does the aisle count begin? Do I count the first large open space as the first aisle? Nothing for it...I just keep going...looking into each aisle as they come up. At about the fifth one I notice bulbs...as in that which you screw into said lamp...but no desk lamps. It was another aisle or two that I eventually found what I’d been looking for...thank you very much. This guy needs a good swift kick in the ass. 1121hrs...We are NOW without water. "Tango-Bolero" playing the background. I have three version of this piece...all nice. Two are on 78’s...the other one is a live performance...JPP & Timo Alakotila-Juan Llossas. WELL NOW...it’s a bloody amazing thing. I noticed another piece credited to Jaun Llossas..."Adios Muchachos"...another Tango and as soon as it started I knew it was another one of my "lost" 78’s! I now need to find the 78 version. Turns out that JL was a composer, pianist...1900-1957...and known as the "Tango King from Barcelona". 1147hrs...No luck so far. I’ll go check the water...now....plus I’m hungry! 1154hrs...NW. 1226hrs...We have water! 1307hrs...Have hooked up the new USB2 port adapter...and it seems to as advertised...as in fast. 1340hrs...About ten mins ago...Ike showed up on the window ledge. Stranger was on the ledge hence blocking Ike from coming closer to the open window. I pushed Stranger off the ledge but Ike was keeping a close eye on him...and never came in. I now don’t see him at all. Interesting! 1347hrs...Spoke too soon. He‘s in the kitchen as I write. 1410hrs...Have backed up a bunch of files onto the external 400GB drive. Six of the seven USB2 ports are in use. It’s time to crash for a bit...methinks. 1451hrs...Ok fine...I’ll do it now! 1905hrs...Have made some progress with my web pages...though I managed to screw up a few things such that I have to now rebuild the Sepia page from scratch. The left justification problem is...I think...solved. 1930hrs...Well...I guess I shouldn’t be surprised...Dilly is now the resident of Penthouse West. Joey took a close look while Kwan was living there...ha ha ha. I thought for a second that she’d try it out too. How do cats "measure" these things? As in coming up with the idea that this place is "better" then that place. Velence...4th December 2009. 0508hrs...Up for twenty mins. Java with a Black...and later Joey. The Black didn’t like the food I’d taken out...but Joey ate it. Kwan and...get this...Dilly together in the West Penthouse! I woke up around 0100hrs...thinking about the solution to my web page problems. It was starting to make sense. Went back to bed...and again woke up working the problem. It’s 7.3°C and 24.5°C...cloudy...calm. 0651hrs...Just had breakfast. Need to do some more thinking. 0806hrs...Looking at my Sepia images...of necessity and getting a real "itch" to shoot again. There would be...I’d like to believe...a difference in exactly how I’d shoot today. Granados...Danza Triste...playing in the background. I need to find a place to do said shoot...necessary for mood and lighting...control. 1021hrs...Brownies are in the oven! Fed Mom and Blackie on the window ledge. 1233hrs...Uploading my web site...again...with a new Sepia page! 1736hrs...Back for ten mins...having come from the far store via Bela’s. 1753hrs...Agnes and I took a look at a number of web pages trying to find faster internet connections for me. I also had her go to my web site...thinking that enough time has elapsed...but we got the old page. WELL...I’m now loading it again! Most things now work as planned...though there are still a couple of issues. I’ll see how things are now...online...and then pick up the odds and ends. 1840hrs...Well...hells bells...the left justification problem has returned...along the left...cell widths having grown! 1935hrs...You can’t win! If it’s not one thing...it’s another. I can’t make heads or tails of it. The page looks just fine as I edit it...but once uploaded...it turns into something else. 1952hrs...Tired! Time to pull the plug. Velence...5th December 2009. 0622hrs...Java with...wait...I was up and outside around 0300hrs...again...and Dilly came out of not the West Penthouse but the East House and he was alone! I didn’t have a flashlight on me...so I couldn’t see if Kwan was in the WP. So...as I was saying...Java with Dilly where I last saw him...and a few others showed up including Stranger. Now the significance of this is the question of the abandonment of the WP...which Dilly and Kwan had been sharing. 0636hrs...In from out...this time with a flashlight. Kwan’s in the WP! There is enough room for two...but it’s not as though they make room for the visitor. And the other day I saw that Kwan was already inside when Dilly went in too. But he had to assume a rather uncomfortable position...not able to fully recline as it were. I guess it’s some form of cat etiquette...as to who’s there first...owns it. 0656hrs...It’s 6.5°C and 24.3°C...overcast...calm. 0806hrs...Now it’s Dilly...in the WP. 0833hrs...One of the images I’d printed the other day was of a passenger airliner occulting the Moon. I reflected...with some humor I might add...that given the right location...it was nearly a monthly thing...taking the weather into consideration. Such was the case while living in UK Land. I would note the full Moon rising...and which way the planes were landing...and I’d then go up onto the roof...and simply waited for an "eclipse". There was a window of about 45 minutes during which time there would be multiple "events". So...yesterday while looking at images on my web site with Agnes and Bela an image came up of said plane in front of said Moon...to which Bela makes the observation that it’s really quite a "thing" to capture such an event! I thought about explaining the mechanics of getting such a shot but changed my mind. Now that I think about it...the image that was showing was a daylight photo...with the Moon high(er) in the sky...not the sunset/moonrise ones I’ve just described. So ok...fine...It may well be a bit more extraordinarily after all. Having said that...it’s not at all uncommon for solar observatories to record hundreds of occultation’s. 0857hrs...Dilly in the WP...AND he’s left plenty of room for Kwan...though it’s on the outboard side. 1330hrs...I just had to laugh...again! I’d been meaning to take a look at a series of images that I shot on the way back from an outing with the clan taken in the summer of 2007. These images were all taken from our bus...through the window! I’ve been toying with the idea that I’d print them. So I took a look at those that I’d already selected...that is to say I’d done work on...and had put into a separate folder. The effect of this move was that in the original folder there was no hint as to which those images had been...though I did remember some of them on sight. I then decided to look at all the original images. I took a few for a quick spin...just to see if there was "something there"...that I’d missed. A quick crop...a colour push...sharpening...brightness...contrast...even sepia! Done deal...toss it! I did this to a few images...when I came across one that looked to have "possibilities". I do the deed...satisfied that this was worthy of inclusion...into the select group. Adding one more to the existing 53. I started the "save" process...which went without drama. It was then simply a matter of moving it to the other folder. Yeah RIGHT! Well it came back with a naming conflict! The file already existed! I’ve compared the two images. One is 11.06% longer horizontally and 4.45% shorter vertically. For all practical purposes they are the same! Two years after the fact...and I came up with virtually the same image to work on...with the intent to keep as part of the select group. This has happened many times now...but I’m still pleasantly surprised...each time it happens. 1856hrs...The Sepia page works more or less ok. The old Gallery pages still have their original problems. I need to think about it some more. I know what I want to do...but just can’t get to it...the file I think I need to find...and change. Strange! Still nothing on Bing and Google. Velence...6th December 2009. 0326hrs...Mud with Dilly, Kwan, Joey and Stranger. The waning Moon and a few stars are visible through clear patches in the clouds. It’s 7.0°C and 24.3°C. 0651hrs...5.1°C and 24.2°C...foggy. 0731hra...I think my Pet Rock is getting fat. Considering that I’ve not personally fed it anything...I’m not sure exactly how a rock gets fat. None the less...I think a course of callisthenics is in order. A few deep knew bends and more than a few squat thrusts should produce good results. 0905hrs..Have been editing pages. Gads...lots of typos! Anyway...time to hit the shower...and a shave...just for the hell of it. It’s still foggy out there...as in thick...and 4.7°C. 0934hrs...Done deal...no drama...but there could have been! Back to eintidg! It’s said that if the first and last letter of a word are correct...and all the other letters are there...but jumbled...it can be read properly...given context. So? 1423hrs...Had been contemplating going to the pier...given that the light is interesting...but it now doesn’t look so good after all. Clouds covering the weak sun. So much for that. I did a "search and replace all" on my web site pages...that I will now have to pay for...big time. It never ends! Velence...7th December 2009. 0237hrs...Talking about "paying". Last night...don’t know when exactly I heard sounds that at the time I took to be from outside. Thinking about it now...that should have seemed strange...but didn’t. These were cat type sounds...scratching...etc. The sounds eventually stopped. I guess I had slept too soundly. Anyway...Ike had wanted OUT. So it’s not his fault as to what happened. At least he got the room right! It’s 4.0°C and 23.9°C...thin clouds. 0610hrs...Mud with Dilly and Kwan. It’s 4.0°C and 23.8°C...dense fog. Another virtual dream. I was...surprisingly with X...in some kind of restaurant setting. It was bright...with a high ceiling...and large plants. As I look around I notice at a relatively close table...a 30 something female whom I find interesting...as in I’m attracted to her. She’s with someone...male...talking. I can just hear her voice. I feel compelled to go over to her...which I do. I ignore her companion...and as soon as we make eye contact...I tell her how charming I find her. She smiles. She looks vaguely familiar...as in a 30 something L.S. I sit down...the male disappears...and I start to tell her of a treasure...it’s a chest of some kind...and she seems very interested. This "treasure chest" is not in my possession. But she thinks that it is. Though this will come out only later. We make a "date" to meet later in the day. Scene change. The date. I seem to again be with X when I decide to "look around" for no apparent reason...just killing time before the "date". I wonder around...when of a sudden...there she is...reclined on a large beach towel...wearing a swim suit...or some kind of beach outfit. It was all very colorful. She looks older...I notice. She makes it seem as though she’d been waiting for me...a long time...implying that I was late for the "date". She immediately asks to see the treasure chest...asking "where is it"? I notice that she now looks to be a well preserved 60 something. Somewhat incredulous...I try to explain that I do not have the treasure chest and never implied that I did...a look of disappointment on her face. I then wake up to the sound of cat noises. 0709hrs...Yesterday I did not hear from Cila...though not strange...about my photos and the fisherman. 0922hrs...I notice that I’ve lost the heat again. From the radiator’s temperature it must have been hours ago! It’s now 4.8°C and 21.1°C...foggy. I’m planning a trip to the far store as in soon. Rain in the forecast tomorrow...so best I go now! 0940hrs...Gads...My cellular phone is still inop. The other day the entire "30" section went down. I tried to call Bela...in anticipation of dropping in. I called there on the landline...Sari...passed it to Bela...who was already out in the car...going to the doctor’s...says that I have to shut off the phone and re-enter the PIN code. Fair enough...but I don’t know where the paper is with said PIN code! 1420hrs...Bela had called back an hour later...and we talked through the situation relative the bloody phone. I’d found all the papers pertaining to said phone...but none contained said pin code. After Bela explained what it should "look" like...as in a small card...I eventually found it...right in front of me...in the packet that had my phone number printed on the outside. Should have looked inside it. Anyway...off to Bela’s and in a few minutes the phone was working again. I went to the (far) store across the street...and noticed a large bin full of DVDs...at reduced prices. I bought five...one of which was "The Final Countdown". I have just finished watching it. I liked it...since it’s one of my favourites...and...AND...I was able to play it in ENGLISH! Well now! I called Cila just now to tell her of my heat...or more accurately the lack thereof. She then without prompting volunteered that "Uncle" Bandi was not available...since he had to go into Fehervar. This was yesterday. Hence Cila could not take him the photos. Yesterday...phone...hello...a man..." will not be at home because I have to go into Fehervar...". I stopped him to get straight who it was he thought he was talking too. I gave him the other house number and hung up. So...it turns out that this..."Uncle" Bandi is a close family friend...and not the other Bandi whom they had originally thought had been "my" fisherman. This makes the whole thing even better. Cila did in fact meet with him yesterday at church....BUT she forgot to take the photos. He is to have said that he never expected to see the photos taken that day...nor who I was! This in response to my having asked Cila if he...the fisherman at the time...knew of me...on sight...hence the reason he'd asked me to take the photograph. 1924hrs...I guess today is turning into "make up for lost time day". That’s now the second DVD! Interestingly...about half way into..."Heaven’s Prisoners"...what is playing in the background...but..."The Thrill is Gone"? 1736hrs...I think I’m about have some heat. 2009hrs...Started watching two more flicks but gave up on them...for now. We do in fact have heat. Tired! Velence...8th December 2009. 0220hrs...Coffee. Up since 0200hrs...woke up at 0100hrs...feeling that it was not warm...as in no heat. This I confirmed at 0200hrs. Fed Ike...some warm milk...and stepped outside. Kwan came out of the WP. I looking around...I saw something moving. Turned out to be a deer...in fact two of them...making their way west on the other side of Kemping and the fence. Got some food for Kwan...and Dilly came out of the WP too. 0232hrs...It’s 6.8°C and 21.8°C...cloudy. The last DVD is "Hard Day’s Night". 0449hrs...Have just called over to say...Istvan answered...that the heat’s out again. Said ok. If I had waited...it would have been at least 12 hours before it could be fixed again. This whole business about the heat is of course ridiculous. The solution is relatively straight forward. Yesterday I mentioned the situation to Bela...and he noted it. Something needs to be done...and it’s really no big deal. It’s a 30 minute job...max! Hell...I could do it! But... I’m not sure what the problem is relative the keys to the garage. The garage is Istvan’s secret "treasure cave". I don’t know if anyone ever had free access to said garage without Istvan letting them in...as in being there. This is almost becoming a daily event and hence it means that the problem is getting worse...and will not get better. 0521hrs...The heat’s on. It will take at least an hour for it bring the room up to temperature. 0533hrs...I should have mentioned the obvious...that Istvan is incapable of fixing the furnace. 0923hrs...Have managed to feed all those that showed up. Warm milk seems to have gone over well. It’s now raining...has been for the last two hours or so. More in the forecast. Good old Seattle type of rain...should be a good day to get things done. 1202hrs...I am without heat again. I’ve just talked to Cila informing her of the situation. Talk now is to get Bela into the loop. I have also confirmed that Istvan has the ONLY key to the garage! Hence nothing will happen until he returns from work. This means in effect that nothing will happen prior to sometime after 1700hrs. The "fisherman" story is now clearer also. I had asked Cila to explain some inconsistencies in the stories as I thought I'd heard them. I will write it up later. 1256hrs...Had lunch...which I shared with first Ike...and later with what he’d left...with Dilly and Joey on the window ledge. Earlier I replaced the defective battery in the LED work lamp. And gave it a charge. Then tried it out...it works. I’ll let it discharge now. 1550hrs...I seem to have heat again. Not how that came to be though. 1641hrs...I do! And I hope it’s permanent. Bela showed up...and we were able to clean up the defect. Istvan had come by earlier and fired off the furnace...and left...hence the heat was on by the time Bela showed up. All I’m missing now it the heat shrink shroud that I’d cut off the batteries to the LED lamp...and then I can put it all back together. Naturally I can’t find it! Velence...9th December 2009. 0341hrs...Java...in the rain...well no...not in the rain as in standing in the rain...but as in out there out of the rain...but raining. Took out food that Ike didn’t like and gave it to Dilly who came out of the WP. Kwan stayed inside...it. We continue to have heat. It‘s 5.9°C and 23.4°C...and as stated...raining. Early this morning...loud cat scratching noises. I got up to investigate. The noise was in fact outside...Ike wanting in. I got back into bed...and who should jump up? He hasn’t slept on the bed in weeks. There now! Speaking of heat. The subzero temps are to come on Friday...today being Wednesday. I should be seriously thinking about stocking up...that is hitting the store. I need to do that today anyway...but don’t like the idea of being out there in the aforementioned rain. Oh...Jutka called last night...around 1730hrs...from the states. Yesterday I fired off "Dreamweaver". Think that I’ll load it onto the laptop too. It has a few useful features that might be of some help with my web page problems. Oh! When I first arrived hear at this house....Cila gave me a small flashlight. Ok fine...it was not small small...more like a small medium size taking two double A’s. I naturally turned it on. Well...it was anticlimactic...in as much as it seemed that the batteries were drained...hence the beam was not very bright...and the spot of light it produced was rather small I thought. The reason she gave me the flashlight was so that I’d have a light when traversing...here to the other house at night. The weakness of said light and the small spot size was not inspiring. So...I just put it aside...since I had my own flashlights. Anyway...said lamp has been floating from one location to an other...in plain view. I’d not put it away permanently. Yesterday...for whatever reason...I picked it up and switched it on. Nothing. Opened it...no batteries...explaining why it didn’t work. I had a number of batteries scattered around on my desk...so just for the hell of it I popped in two new cells...and hit the switch. Flashlight optics have always intrigued me. This is because I’ve been mostly disappointed by their inexact designs. Most of the time the "spot" is not well defined...along with "artefacts" that don’t contribute...in any way...to said lamps efficacy. Forty some odd years ago I had in my possession a 12-13 inch chrome plated reflector that had been part of a naval ship’s light. One foggy winter’s day I mounted a 500 watt photo flood lamp at it’s focus...and took it outside. NOW that was some fun! The beam could be seen in the fog. And the "spot" was very bright. I think one could have easily read a paper a block away...in it. So anyway...I took said medium small lamp outside. Well now! We’re talking LIGHTSABER. At over one hundred yards...I could see the reflected light...on the Korda house. I think that next I’ll try it out with my night vision scope...and perhaps rig up an IR filter. There have been times that I could have used just such a combination. 0627hrs...Gads...Joey’s in the WP...Kwan in the EH. 0742hrs...I have to laugh...again. Email...Ex-K7LPZ...the Little Pink Zebra! Donna...Donna...Donna! Subject: "Hello again (lots of dots) quite the guy you are!" Damn...here we go again...methinks! She writes in part: "Your life is fascinating...lots of adventure and lots of women! Lol/hihi." Ref to "hi" is ham talk...originally in Morse code...before there was "lol"! Hihi. Donna! She goes on: "Where are you now Steve? What are you doing?" Sorry (babe) to sound just a bit facetious but had you read my blog pages...you’d know exactly where I am and exactly what I’m doing! Mostly observing cat behaviour...and reporting current weather reading in a small village by a small lake in HU Land! HiHi! Am I being a bit too harsh here? I will hit the shower now and think this over. 0857hrs...Showered...not shaved. Ok...Donna wants to know if I’m...thinking of the right word..."un-encumbered"? Yes...I am un-encumbered! None...zero...nil...none. It’s stopped raining so I really should get my act together and go to the bloody store...before it starts again. 0921hrs...Dressed. More on Donna later. Time to hit the road...JACK! 1200hrs...Back for 20 mins. Fed the crew plus. I looked across the street as I arrived at the store and noted that there was no one about. However...on coming out...I heard one of Bela’s car running...and at first didn’t see anyone...but soon saw Bela...so I went over. I asked him where he was headed. He said that he was about to go up to Jutka’s...did I want to go along? I knew why he was going...and I thought I could be of some help. Then he started to tell me about a problem he was having with the other car. This car belongs to the Germans that have a summer house in Sukoro that Bela takes care of...and the use of the car. Anyway...said car has a heater installed that now comes on...when it should not be coming on at all. It’s part of a engine block heater system which is controlled from a box inside the car. The box has a number of buttons and a display. Ok fine...we go up to Jutka’s. We were to shut off the two outside faucets. Bela had brought along a long handled tool to close said valves...BUT...it was too short. Jutka had mentioned not finding hers...which of course is long enough. I suggested that we look in the garage first...on the off chance that she’d simply not seen it. Not there. I then suggested that the next place to look was in my transplanted shed out back. This required a key. I have one of two...but it’s back here. The second one should be in her house. Since we were standing in the back yard...I went to the back door...and successfully open the first of two doors. The key was in the other door lock...from the inside! This required going around to the front door. Then it was just a matter of finding the key. Miraculously it was on a small window ledge...the last place I looked. Out the second door using the key that was in place as seen from the outside. Out to the shed...and in the first round did not find said long tool. In the end Bela spotted it. Done deal with the valves. Then we had the task of moving Jutka’s car into the garage. But first we had to clear some room and bring in flower pots...to keep the plants from freezing. Got the car in...and we soon left Jutka’s. Back at Bela’s I asked for the keys to the German’s car. Took a look under the hood...and all that...which is kinda a "guy thing" you know. Then it was inside the car to look at the control box. The box had 5 buttons. Two were marked < >. One was marked "P". Another one had the symbol for a clock. And the last one was red...and marked with wavy lines. Bela told me that he had pushed all the buttons soon after discovering the problem...but to no avail. We played around for about five minutes...pushing buttons...he on one side of the open door...with me at the other. It was too dark to see the display...hence I asked for a lamp. Before re-entering said car...I asked Bela to go over the "logic" with me as to what and when the heater was supposed to do...what ever that was. The logic led to the question of whether days of the week were relevant? And the question of whether they would be in German. So while he went off to find the car’s instruction manual on the off chance that he might find days of the week as part of some instruction set...I re-entered the cockpit. Using my cold but massive brain...I deduce that I should first press the "P" button. Bela had noted earlier the number 2 in the far left corner of the display...which at the time I did not...for lack of sufficient photons. With said lamp I now saw the number 2 also. There were other number in the display...but I ignored them. I pressed the "P’ button again. The 2 changed to 3. Pressed it again...it change to a blank screen...as in nothing at all. I pressed it again...and the number 1 showed...along with other stuff...the same type of numbers...but different. I ignored these again. Pressed the button until I was back to the blank screen...and left it there. I got out of said cockpit to look for Bela. Someone had inadvertently pressed the "P’ button...putting the unit into one of three...four if you count the off position...programmed modes. The unit was armed at the point...and went on to do what ever it was "told" to do. Done deal. 1524hrs...Have made a second cup o’ Joe...consuming same. Where were we? So we nailed the German car problem. The battery pack for my electric bike weights about 29lbs. It’s about 20 inches long. Changing it should be a relatively simple task. Unlock it...lift handle...pull out a bit then pull up. However(!)... Preventing the "pull out a bit" part is a not so thick piece of "rubber" that serves as a foot pad...and something of a seal around the battery so as to prevent water...in the form of light rain...from entering the lower part of the battery compartment. Fair enough! HOWEVER!... Said not so thick rubber foot pad/seal is made of a particularly interesting composition of...ok fine...let’s call it rubber...though more than likely it’s some form of plastic...in that said rubber is so hard...especially when cold...that the extraction and subsequent replacement of said battery pack is impossible without the expedience of a crowbar or lacking that...a stick of dynamite. A hammer is also advisable to have on hand...in as much as the pain of striking your thumb with the aforementioned hammer is less painful than the experience of removal/replacement of the batter pack. Put simply...giving your thumb a good whack before starting the process will make said process seem like a pleasure by comparison! But...I digress. I had mentioned my problem to Bela a few times...and we both have plans for other work that needs to be done to said bike. I told him that with the soon to arrive subzero temperatures it will be a veritable bitch...read as impossible...to change out battery packs...and that I really need to do something about...as in real bloody soon...so that I can go to the doctor’s office to take care of the aforementioned smashed thumb...on those day when I try to change the battery pack. It’s best to hit the same thumb each time because you won’t be able strike the other thumb with enough force given the bandages...not to mention the pain...hence alternating is not an option. And...a real plus...new x-rays will not be needed...the first set can be used over and over...thus saving time. So...there and then Bela suggests that we do something about it. I locate the requisite Philips screw driver...which they call a "star"...though I much prefer to call them...plus/minus. Eight screws and washers later the pad is in our hands. Bela led the way into his workshop...I followed. I had tried taking a knife to said pad but stopped for fear of breaking the knife. Bela switched on his grinder...and was soon making good progress...eventually grinding back about half an inch. It took a few more adjustments...more grinding...to complete the job. Done deal. 1638hrs...Donna Donna Donna! Donna is a nice name. It rolls off the tongue...well...nicely. She sent along a photo too...on her Harley! 1744hrs...Warm milk for the gang...the sound of three cats slurping...not enough room for more at a time...is fun to listed too. Stranger is the hands down power slurper. Fasted tongue of the bunch. Kwan the slowest. 1851hrs...The rain never did come back and there was even a bit of clearing. Velence...10th December 2009. 0407hrs...Java with Dilly and Joey...out of the WP! It’s 6.8°C and 24.0°C...high overcast...some wind. 1127hrs...Having lunch...fried eggs. 7.6°C and 27.2°C...clear and bright sunshine. 1302hrs...Have been doing a general pickup of the area. Took off the matt that I’d been using to cover the bike and hung it out to dry on the balcony. Also took out the WP pillow to dry. It got wet...somehow. Have as yet not written back to Donna. Still thinking about it. I mean "What are you doing?" and "Where are you Steve?" have cryptic overtones wouldn’t you say? 8.7°C and 26.7°C...Still sunny. I think that there may well be a trip to the pier at sunset. I’ll look at the sat images to see what the clouds are doing. If they look promising...I’ll bring the bike around to the front...for a fast get-a-way. Earlier Groucho chased off a bird of prey. Clouds are coming from the west...and there might just be enough time before they get here. From another image...it looks like they will be thin clouds at first...hence it might even make for a more interesting photograph. 1504hrs...An hour to go till sunset...and it still looks good to go. Huh? What to take for lenses? And(!)...do I stay afterwards for any colour in what clouds there may be? If I do then I should take the Sigma 10-20 also! A tripod would be a good thing too...instead of just the monopod. Ok fine...the two Nikons...the small Slik...the monopod...the Nikkor 300 2 8...and the Sigma wide angle. What else? I’ve misplaced my light meter. I should look for it right now...just for the hell of it. 1334hrs...I’m calling it off. The clouds have rolled in...and thickened up to the point where the sun is no longer visible. Velence...11th December 2009. 0311hrs...A hot Cup with none. Joey came out from under the boat the first time I went outside...but since I didn’t bring any food...she went back. I don’t know who’s in the WP...assume Dilly and Kwan. It’s 7.0°C and 24.5°C...cloudy...and there is a wind...hence chilly. I continue the edit pages. My typos are kill me! I’m also starting to type as though I’m dyslexic...which I think may be true. Yesterday I came across a web site that I found quite interesting by a physicist named Cramer. Spent a couple of hours reading into it. Even printed a few page. I’ll need to hit the PO today to pay a bill. And the store for CF. I found the missing light meter in the first place I looked...but the second time. It’s footprint was somehow smaller than the image in my massive brain. I can’t use the excuse that it was cold...my brain that is...since it was indoors. I was surprised nonetheless. Though it really came down to lack of photons again...I’d found it by feel. I don’t actually need said light meter as in to make an exposure. But it’s something "sexy" to do while just standing around waiting for the light to change. 0439hrs...Baked some CC muffins yesterday. Consumed three while still warm. Ike was there to help. He has a cute habit of sitting so close as to be touching me...should I stand still long enough in one place. 0504hrs...Thinking that I shall make a list of abbreviations that I’ve used. 0550hrs...Going back to bed...Ike has just come back in. 0728hrs...It’s 6.5°C and 24.7°C...gray. 0922hrs...Have just showered...not shaved...though I should have. It’s not raining...as of now...and may not later. None the less I should hit the far store...and the PO. Have not been going to the close store because...because(?)...well because I would be tempted to go all the way around...as I have done on one or two occasions in the past. As opposed to going up a steep ramp which was my usual method with the other...standard...bike. It was not possible to drive up it...so I’d have to dismount and push up it said ramp. Going around is at least three times as long. However...even though the electric is three times as heavy...I wouldn’t actually have to push it up the ramp. I’d let the motor do the work. On the other hand...if I were also going to Anci’s...the close store would be of interest...and in the past I’d go around...as stated above. Though with the other bike I’d use the ramp since that way was still shorter to Anci’s. So there’s no way around it...the ramp is the most logical way to go. 1012hrs...It’s started to drizzle lightly. Not a good thing! I’ll get dressed now. 1022hrs...Out the door...now! 1101hrs...WELL...so much for my massive brain! As I approached the High Street...where I would eventually turn right...I saw a women on her bike...ahead of me. Using my aforementioned massive brain...I deduced that she was also going to the store. And as soon as she turned right...into a parking lot...some distance short of the High Street...in effect a shortcut...I turned it into a race. I would be going a bit farther...but since I was electro-dynamically propelled...I knew that I’d win easily. AND I DID! The fact that I should have also turned into said parking lot was lost in the heat of intense competition. I get back here and as I’m about to retrieve my cell phone...from the very same pocket into which I’d put the bill that I had planned to pay at the PO...it dawned on me that I never went to said PO. My only excuse is that it was cold...AND drizzling a bit...hence my aforementioned massive brain was not working at maximum efficiency. Ok FINE...I was stupid! 1302hrs...Phone...Cila...her and Anci are planning to go to Fehervar...Metro/Tesco some time after 1800hrs...did I want to go? I think I said yes. I told Cila about my "race" and the resulting unpaid bill. Turns out that I will not be able to pay it tomorrow because the PO will not be open! BUT...She has a need to go to the PO today...and she offered to take my bill in. She’ll be coming by in about 30 mins. I’ll give her the bill and cash then. Back to writing my response to Donna! 1348hrs...Phone...Cila...coming now! 1519hrs...Done deal...about 20 mins ago Cila arrived back...gave me the stub...and I handed her a package of four of my yesterdays CC muffins. She will bring over...tomorrow...a document that I’ll need to then sent to Jutka...via email...having scanned it first. There are a few complication with this scheme though. 1559hrs...Oh...I did send Donna the email. Velence...12th December 2009. 0552hrs...Up for about 20 mins. I let Ike out the front door. In the kitchen...while boiling water for my Java...fed Blackie on the window ledge. Then out onto the balcony. It’s 4.6°C and 24.4°C...overcast...more or less...calm. Yesterday around 1800hrs I called Anci to say that I would not in fact be going with her and Cila. At 1835hrs Cila called to say that Anci would be picking me up...soon. I told her that I’d called Anci and told her that I was in fact not going. About ten minutes later phone...Cila...asking if there was anything that they could get me...given that I was not going with them. I thanked her for her consideration...but couldn’t think of anything that I desperately needed. 0810hrs...Yawn! I should watch a DVD. 0946hrs..."A Hard Day’s Night"...done deal! 1050hrs...Have watched all the "Extras"! Most interesting! 1112hrs...Back to work on my web pages. 1300hrs...A slight detour into turning pages in a 1962 Seattle telephone book. Found some new data. 1611hrs...Am again uploading my web pages. Velence...13th December 2009. 0539hrs...Mud with Dilly and a look-a-like...and a couple of others. It’s 3.3°C and 24.2°C...High overcast...calm. 0728hrs...Have had breakfast. I continue to re-read my web pages. Yesterday I did a GS...this time and for that matter from now on...on R1a1a. Which is the new designation for R1a1. As new information and data becomes available...the "story" changes a bit here and there...hence it makes sense to go back for a look. Well now! Such is the case...and I found a chart with a finer delineation of data that I may have. So this morning I need to dig it out! The "hot" new number is R1a1a7. 0831hrs...It’s now 3.0°C...and it’s trying to SNOW! As indicated I thought I’d have to dig out a page containing data that I need. The prospect of having to do that...stopped me. So I thought that I could get said data faster if I just downloaded it gain. To that end I found the web site...and plugged in my code. REJECTED! I tried a number of time...same thing! DAMN! So I was back to digging. As luck would have it...I found it about forty pages down the first stack I looked in. Well now! The plot thickens! Have printed out 14 pages with the new information. The "old" R1a1 becomes R1a1a...via markers M17 and M198. This breaks down...now...further into: R1a1a1 via M56 R1a1a2 via M157 R1a1a3 via M64.2,... R1a1a4 via P98 R1a1a5 via PK5 R1a1a6 via M434 R1a1a7a via M458 and M334 R1a1a7* via M458 (Only...subject to more data) And there is even an R1a1a8. I do not match data for R1a1a7! But I don’t match straight R1a1a either. So I must be one of the others..."-a1,-a2,-a3,-a4,-a5,-a6...-a8. 1206hrs...Back for about 20 mins...far store...etc. Bought more DVDs. Started to watch "U-571". 1401hrs...Done deal. 1414hrs..."Equilibrium" is next. 1450hrs...2.5°C. 1617hrs...Done deal. 1825hrs...About halfway into what must be the fifth incarnation of "The Four Feathers". Lest you think I’ve gone slightly mad...consider that I’ve not spoken nor heard English in over three years! I read it and write it yes...but it’s not the bloody same! Watching these DVDs...IN ENGLISH is a big deal. I don’t have to translate what I hear. And ALL the words I hear...I understand...for a bloody change! 1931hrs...Done deal. I have one more DVD...but I’ll save it for later. 2036hrs...The meteor shower that is taking place as I write is a bust due to clouds. It’s in fact snowing very lightly. The show flakes are lit up by the street lamp...and hence they look like falling stars. Charming...in fact. Velence...14th December 2009. 0445hrs...Half the Cup with Dilly, Stranger and Joey. It’s 2.2°C and 23.6°C...typical winter overcast...dark clouds. The light snow has dusted the ground...but just. 0534hrs...Have been looking at my scanned images. I came across two frames of Jan M. taken as she’s being photographed by the "New York" photographer...Jim something(?). [Hadley.] I studied the images and was struck...struck I say...by the fact that we were shooting under available light. NORTH LIGHT! All the shades are up. This was something that I just didn’t do. BUT should have! I think that that was because as you get farther from the windows...that is on the background...the light would have be much less. Close to the windows...I didn’t have a usable background. I’d have to have rolled it up...not an easy thing to do! But it would have been better to have had just a plain seamless. It was just too complicated to setup and take down. Having said that...I should have just DONE IT! 1036hrs...About ten mins ago...phone...Sari...has my internet bill...will pay it...ok...thanks. 1253hrs...Well NOW! I have found an extensive list of Y-DNA data broken down by a varying number samples from various (modern) countries. These are ostensibly...R1a1a*. I have just gone through this list and marked those that match mine...for the data that I have. The first hit was with a single individual from India. The next hit was with a single individual from Kyrgyzstan. The next hit was with three (3) individuals from Slovakia. The next hit was with a single individual from Slovenia. And last hit was a single individual from the Ukraine. On another table which included two more STRs...for which I had data: I had one hit for an individual from Kyrgyzstan. This "match" was the best for far. Eleven matches verses nine. This is GOOD! And most interesting! ; 1936hrs...Gads! It’s a -0.3°C...and trying to snow! ; 1951hrs...I’m tired...nearly falling asleep. Too bad it’s NCIS night. Having said that...NCIS is getting a bit old. It’s become more about the characters than the bodies as it were. On the other hand...there are characters that I find non-convincing on CSI...particularly NY. The young pathologist was not very good I thought...and now he‘s moved out into the field I see. Same with the female pathologist on CSI Miami. Not convincing. I think she hates her part...too. Velence...15th December 2009. 0348hrs...Half the Mud with effectively none. It’s mostly clear...hence -1.0°C and 23.1°C...stars. Ike is out. 0438hrs...Just offline. Back to editing pages. It’s going well enough. 0725hrs...Gads...I need to take out the trash! Damn! It was only because I heard the sound of tires on gravel...the center gate was about to be opened for the trash truck...later. SO...I guess I should do it NOW. It’s -2.2°C and 23.3°C...hazy. 0742hrs...Done deal. The other day I mention the scene at the far store where the young cashier is trying to hook me up with older proprietor. WELL now...it seems that we are now on more informal terms. I chuckle. Ever since that day...she’s been greeting me with the Hungarian equivalent of "Hi"...as opposed to the formal..."Good morning/Good day". Then...over the period of time that I’ve been here...there have been personnel changes at said store. There was a young gal there that I thought of as...well...interesting. I even entertained the idea of photographing her. Months pass. The last time I saw her...she had...become...what(?)...larger...I guess is a polite way to put it! She no longer works at the store. There is...now for months...a new girl...that is interesting for another reason. She’s shorter and wears glasses...and is businesslike. She’s the one I deal with...given that she’s the one that is authorized or responsible for those of us that use a credit/debit card. Anyway...I mentioned that I’ve been buying DVDs of late. The store had not had DVDs for sale until just the last week or so. I forgot to look through them the time after I’d bought the first ones...but did again the last time I was there. I needed help in "reading" that which was written on said DVDs...and there was another girl...large...that was close...so I asked for her help. And on one DVD "glasses" became interested with the unfolding "drama" and was enlisted into helping also. Ok fine. I go through the routine on another DVD and then it’s time to checkout. I needed a carton of smokes...so while "glasses" went off to get it...I unloaded my cart. I took the five DVDs and set them on the counter...edgewise...so as to make counting them easy...given that the price per was the same! One, two, three, four, five. No need to even handle them...right? This is where good old human nature JUST has to do it’s thing...along with...I believe...Hungarian small village curiosity! She went through my stack of five DVDs...shuffling them TWICE! I chuckle at the scene. What I bought in the way of said DVDs is now all over the village...I’m sure! I always wanted to be...dare I say it..."The Talk of the Town!"...and now I am. A bit ridiculous...though very funny. Ike came in with me when I returned from the street. 0912hrs...Think that I should hit the shower. And that I should hit the far store too. Drop in at Bela’s to repay Sari and thank her again. The forecast is for a bloody MINUS 15 degrees by Friday! I don’t want to have to go out then...now do I? Right now the sun is out...through some haze and still at a -2.1°C. The road has some whiteness upon it...but don’t know what is. A car just drove by...at speed...so I assume that it’s not ice. 0947hrs...Done deal. No drama...if you don’t count the dripping faucet. 1023hrs...Have just called over to Bela’s...he answered and he will be there. I’m out the door...soon. 1345hrs...Back for 15 mins. Fed the crew and then some. So...as I arrived the store there was young guy looking through the DVDs...and was still at it by the time I’d finished shopping...except my looking though them also. Anyway he moved over a bit...and I soon had picked out two. It then turned out that I got to the checkout before him. As I’m packing up...he’s checking out. "Glasses" is serving. His DVDs are stacked...she takes said stack...does a mental 1,2,3 and 4...done deal. No shuffling...what so ever. I rest my case! It’s now a plus 1.5°C and 25.2°C...still sunny. Had a nice long chat with Bela and for a time Sari. They are in the process of getting a car for Gabor. Gabor is to call from Budapest...and then they...with Bela...go to Fehervar to check out the car that they had already picked out. An Opal. Bela is to call me later this week to gather up some scrap metal...at Jutka’s...and now says at the compound(!) also...for disposal at a local junkyard. 1359hrs...I should be hungry. It’s just a matter of fixing something. I will now...take a look! I know...really exciting stuff! Believe me...it is! Ha ha! Well now...I should watch a DVD...while I eat. Grand idea...how do I come up them? 1652hrs...Gads...that was a long flick...2:35..."The House of the Spirits". Not bad...interesting...and I liked the photography...it was very...clean! The setting was supposedly South America...but it was shot in Portugal. Nice scenes. Banderas, Close, Irons, Streep and Ryder...as in Winona. I’d heard the name of course but I could never in million years have put a face to it. Ok fine...I thought that she was...nicely...hot! 2113hrs...Time to pull the plug. I think that I’ve knocked out all my web page editing. It’s 0.3°C and 23.0°C...cloudy. Velence...16th December 2009. 0356hrs...It’s 0.3°C and 22.8°C...overcast. 0505hrs...Gads! I just looked outside...the street is all white. It also has snow on it. (A bit of humor.) 0702hrs...Now 0.1°C and 22.9°C...still snowing lightly...but steady. Oh...This was about a week or so ago. Istvan’s brother was in the area taking large bags...of what I don’t know...from here back to his house on the High Street near Bela’s...by bike. Said bags were placed on Pityu’s old boat...for later transport. It was during such a retrieval that I had occasion to engage him in conversation...by virtue of the fact that I just happened to be outside on the balcony. Not my idea of fun...but what are you going to do? A number of months ago I strung a length of small gauge gray wire from my radio receiver...out the window...across to the other side of the balcony to the handrail...and from there east to a tree. It hangs about 3 meters above the ground where it crosses the path...that runs south from the compound along the side of this house...down to Kemping Street. I think it was Cila that had asked me one day what it was...the wire? I told her that it was an antenna...for my radio(s). Most likely it was Istvan that had noticed it first...and mentioned it to Cila. Given my eccentric reputation and their lack of general knowledge about radio stuff...I assume that they were not quite sure what the hell it was...the wire. Given that it ran from said tree at one end...while at the other end it seemed to terminate at the handrail...where it was wrapped around one of the uprights supporting the horizontal parts of the rail. Hence at first opportunity...Cila asked. At that point Cila now knew...and I must assume that later Istvan was made privy thereof. Though Cila and Istvan had been here a number of times...neither of them ever commented on my radios. The last time Saci was here...on my laptop...she noticed...what ever she noticed...but only commented on my Oscilloscope...which is sandwiched between two of my receivers...as in "what’s that?" Istvan’s brother has never been inside...hence has never seen my "gear". It’s also very unlikely...that my radio gear would come up in casual conversation..."Damn...did you see it...he’s got a Kenwood R-2000...with the VHF converter...?" So...there he was...standing right under my "antenna"...and while pointing up at it...asks..."is that an antenna?" He didn’t ask if it was the antenna. His choice of phrasing...would imply that he wanted it to seem as though he was knowledgeable about antennae. Not that he had heard that it was an antenna...from others. Hence it raises an interesting question. What if I had said to Cila that it was...in fact...a Framastat? Ah...the power of information. There is an interesting disconnect taking place. He heard about my antenna third hand. But not wanting to simply reconfirm it...which could be mistakenly construed...in his mind...to imply ignorance of such matters...he chose to ask in such a manner so as to imply knowledge of antenna’s...hence even radio’s! Ok...fine...what about framastats then? I’ll just use his first name...Joe. Joe had an Olympus 35mm camera. I’d seen him with it on more than one occasion. I even fondled...I mean handled it one time...to check it out...looked through the finder...etc. I made note of it...as no big deal...an Olympus! One day we got to talking about cameras...and I decided to show him my Nikon F...35mm camera’s...which just happened to be in a case close at hand. I opened the case and took out one of two. It was in a way to be a comparison of sorts. Ok fine...I wanted him to feel inferior and jealous, inadequate, small, envious, remorseful...and outclassed! Ha! He knew that! Because(!)...you ask? Anyone that truly knew anything about 35mm camera’s would have known of the legendary Nikon F. And it’s reputation in comparison to all other brand names. At the time that I was using my Nikons...it was the professional’s camera of not only choice...but you were nothing if you weren’t using one. To have tried to pass yourself off as a professional photographer with...oh...say an Olympus...would have been the height of folly and a ridiculous proposition. The Olympus was a poor amateur’s camera...period! 0908hrs...It’s now...0.1°C and 23.2°C...still snowing. Whereas it was just the street that was white with snow...it’s now some of the grass also...and the house tops. So there we were. I handed it to him...knowing that he would be overwhelmed by it’s sensual feel...and it’s shear weight! He said nothing! I took back the F...and slid off the back...which on the F...comes off completely...exposing it’s most private parts...dare I say it...the rails...and the orifice...the latter of which was covered...modestly...by a...wait for it...titanium shutter. It was amazing...that he could not see...or more importantly...would not acknowledge ANY difference between his Olympus...and my F. I pointed out the titanium blades of the shutter compared to his cloth curtains. The surface finish of the rails was also obvious. And this from someone who clamed to be trained as a watchmaker! INCRIDIBLE! His last line was the very best. Loved it! "They’re about the same..." 1004hrs...Back up to 0.3°C...gads...a sharp rise! Still coming down. I think that I’m done editing my web pages. There are a few remaining problems...but I leave them for now. There is one more not as yet published page that I need to look at. AND...my massive rebuttal...which I shall go and find right now. 1125hrs...Now 0.8°C and 23.6°C...and...and...I can see a solar disk through thinning clouds. Back having started to read one of my rebuttal documents. DAMN! The lies! Incredible! 1259hrs...I’m going back for some shut-eye. 1531hrs...Phone...Cila...asking about my feet/foot. I explained the situation. Bandi did in fact get the photos on Sunday. He liked them as did his wife. Jutka doesn’t have an email address anymore hence negating the plan for me to scan and email her an official document. 1720hrs...Watching Sutherland in a 1976(!) flick. Felini’s Casanova...Gads! Waste of time! I shall now build some dinner. I use the term "build" because it is a construction...job...no? Someone...start a clock...1725hrs...TIME...1743hrs. Dinner...ready to eat. 18 minutes...and I fed three cats on top of that. Dinner’s on the table! 0908hrs...Just finished watching "Damage"...Irons again. Interesting. I’ll probably dream about it...one of my virtual dreams. Velence...16th December 2009. 0324hrs...-0.9°C and 22.6°C...overcast...not snowing. 0533hrs...-2.3°C and 22.8°C...now clear...stars visible. 0855hrs...-3.2°C and 22.9°C...some low haze but otherwise clear and sunny. 0929hrs...Ten mins ago...phone...Bela...Fehervar...ok. 1403hrs...Back for about 30 mins. I was hungry...so I fix some of that which I’d bought. Bought a pair of shoes too. The call came as a surprise in that while I knew that Bela and Sari would be going...I hadn’t a clue as to which day. I wasn’t dressed and I wanted to take a shower too. In the end it didn’t take me that long. 1659hrs...-1.9°C and 22.9°C...stars visible...though there are clouds on the horizon. It was warm milk for Dilly, Kwan and Joey. 2103hrs...-3.7°C and 22.9°C...stars visible...calm. Velence...18th December 2009. 0322hrs...-4.3°C and 22.0°C...Java with poor Dilly. Ike out. Overcast...slight wind. 0425hrs...-3.9°C and 22.4°C...Rebooting this computer...running slow...and CompuPic choked. 0436hrs...Done deal. 0725hrs...-4.7°C and 21.9°C...Clouds on the horizon...clear above. Warm milk was also on this mornings menu. 0923hrs...Thought I’d turn on the radio...just to see if the "LADS" were back on the air! THEY ARE!!!!!! This a GOOD THING! It’s -5.2°C and 23.3°C. 0951hrs...Stranger really pisses me OFF! As I’ve said he’s the largest of the bunch. That’s because he eats everything he can. As soon as I open the second door of two...the outside door...He’s up on my chair...wanting first sniff at whatever is coming. AND he wants first crack at it TOO. Hence he reaches up, and with his full power RIPS...RIPS I a say...the plates from my hand. This has happened before...so I should know better...and I thought I had. BUT...with trying to make sure that Kwan doesn’t sneak in...I’m distracted such that Stranger succeeds. This time the food went flying all over the place! PISSED OFF! 1113hrs...Houston! We have ice...on the lake! Have switched to FreeCell. 1350hrs...Just woke up...to cat altercation sounds. I had been dreaming! Damn...One Eyed Blackie! He was trying to intimidate Stranger. 1412hrs...Now he’s out there messing with Dilly! AND he’s looked inside the West Penthouse! Doing a second cup of Mud. 1548hrs...Took a few frame of the setting sun. I saw it coming with 30mins to go until it set...but at a -2.6°C...and the relatively short time...I decided not to got down to the pier. It looked good at 30mins...but with thicker clouds on the horizon...the magic dissipated quickly. Fed Dilly and Kwan...warm milk also. Ike is out. 2123hrs...-6.9°C and 22.6°C...clear...stars. Velence...19th December 2009. 0323hrs...Half a cup of Mud with none...given...-10.8°C and 21.7°C...clear...stars. Woke up working my web page problems. 0546hrs...-8.9°C and 23.8°C...space heater...now overcast...which could mean snow. Not a good thing at this time...since I may want to hit a store. 0650hr...-7.5°C and 24.0°C...overcast. 0822hrs...-6.3°C and 23.7°C...overcast...as in grey all over. Magpies in the area looking at the dry cat food. Gads! I’m now feeding the birds too! 1411hrs...Have just been outside to take a closer look at the SNOW. As in it’s snowing...small flakes...but lots of them...and there are gusts. Kwan came out of the East House...so I came back in for food. Once outside...Joey came out of the West Penthouse. I put it under my chair to afford some protection from the falling snow. It’s -6.1°C and 23.3°C...snowing...as in redundant. Have spent most of today online...reading. I have Woodfork’s web page up. Good stuff! 1551hrs...Still snowing...about an inch so far...-5.9°C and 22.5°C. Have switched off the laptop....read enough for now. I need to get some shuteye. 1802hrs...5.8°C and 21.5°C...snowing...larger flakes. Woke up to cat scratching sounds...thought it was Ike at the door. Got up...and as I was going to said door...thought that no...Ike’s inside. It was Kwan. Came back...and looked at the clock again...to make sure I’d read it right the first time. 2125hrs...well it showed 0925hrs...and hence I thought that I’d had quite a sleep. I was still sleepy though! 1926hrs...But...That was about the time that potentially interesting programs come on the TV...so I turned it on. It was then that I looked at the clock again. Gads! I’d read "5" as "9". I’d only slept for two hours...not five! Ike is in fact outside for the last twenty minutes...or so. The balcony is covered with you know what. 2047hrs...Snow ridded Ike...IS...IN! Velence...20th December 2009. 0404hrs...It’s -4.1°C and 23.7°C...not snowing...gusty. 0704hrs...-4.6°C and 23.3°C...snowing lightly...windy. Thinking that I should hit a store...but damn...I don’t like the idea. There must be about 4 inches now. There have been lights on at the Boathouse house and the Mediterranean. There was smoke or steam from chimneys of the Boathouse house last evening. Not sure what’s going on. Oh...the other day there some "real drama" playing out on the Kemping. I heard loud voices and when I looked out...there was this gal running east...followed by this guy...running after her. They were soon out of sight but I could still hear them. She was talking about being killed. Then two more people came along from the west...gals I think...one on a cellular phone. Most of the events by that time were hidden by trees. Then the first of the two gals came walking back...west...and she said something to me...but I didn’t understand her...she seemed mad...not crazy mad...but angry mad. I soon lost interest. 0854hrs...-4.3°C and 23.4°C...we have sunshine. Asking myself if it’s possible to use Electro-One. Kemping is free of snow but what’s left is perhaps packed...making it slippery. Won’t know until I go out for a look-see. If it is...then it’s to the close store on foot. 1036hrs...Heard a noise in what I took be from the kitchen...assumed Ike was up to something. Nothing crashed...but I went there anyway. There was Ike in the sink...drinking water from a plastic cup. I’d put water out in the past...but he didn’t drink it. He...and all the other cats drink in a few..."odd" places...outside. Anyway...I’ve put water out again. Happy slurping. Going to get dressed and take a look at conditions outside in winter wonder land. 1054hrs...Out the door in 5 mins...or so. 1200hrs...Back for about 30 mins...give or take. It could have been worse! I’ve shovelled the front porch...this before I left. And just now the balcony. Fed Dilly and Kwan. Ike outside on the balcony window ledge sunning himself. I went by way of the stairs/ramp. It was covered with snow. I took the stairs which I could hardly see the edges of. On the way back I followed a path made by someone else...for the same reason I didn’t want to try the stairs going down either. Kwan is now on the window ledge too. 1214hrs...Had gone back to the kitchen...there’s Ike drinking WATER from his new water bowl! 1500hrs...-4.4°C and 23.8°C...sunny...gusty. The wind has sculpted the dry ice crystal drifts. Oh...snow depth was closer to 5-6 inches. 2151hrs...-7.4°C and 21.3°C...clear. When Ike first appeared he was in very sad shape. Bloody...skin and bone. So about the second or third time he showed up...I decided to bath him. I brought out a bowl of warm water and some paper towels. He was not the least bit afraid. I’d like to think that he sensed that I wanted to help him. I’d already given him some food and milk. He was very thirty...and lapped and lapped. So the bath went well enough...the first day. The next day I repeated the procedure. I had wanted to give him a complete bath...as in all over...but the first day I had to settle short of my goal. On the second day I started with his head, back and chest...when he just flopped right down...and exposed his underbelly. I washed him...while he purred. I thought that he some how knew that he needed to be clean...all over...hence letting me do whatever it took. Now that he’s much better and we’ve had a "relationship"...I brush him at least two...three...times a day. So what does he do...all the time...but flops right down...exposing his belly...and rolls from one side to the other...endlessly...as I brush him. Naturally I don’t know the critical factor...if that was something he "just" does...and did before he showed up...or since the second time I bathed him. I’ll never know for sure. But he sure does it well. 2228hrs...-8.2°C and 21.2°C...it’s supposed to get much colder tonight. Velence...21st December 2009. 0313hrs...We have a CVI...in progress! Pain radiating to left arm. This is not a good thing. I’m not quite ready yet! It’s -11.6°C and 20.6°C...assume clear. 0323hrs...Ike spent the night on the bed. Interesting I thought. He’s just gone out. 0347hrs...Mud... 0529hrs...-11.6°C and 22.2°C. Feel better. Blackie showed up...fed same. There are many documents that I seem to think are here...but have not come across for some time. Military stuff. Interestingly...My DD-214 does not indicate the USAF Good Conduct Medal...BUT...I have a copy of the orders awarding it to me. I also have orders naming me a QC Inspector. I should probably up load my DD-214. Lederer’s web site doesn’t come up any more?! [Yeah it does.] Re-reading a story of another 304x4...sent to Canada. I liked reading it. And oh how true. 0739hrs... Still feeling weird. Ice crystals on the window. I should take a few frames. 1046hrs...I did. It’s now -7.7°C and 23.1°C...sunny with thin clouds. 1110hrs...Phone...Bela...haircut...he’ll be here at 1650hrs...for a 1700hrs appointment...ok. 1241hrs...I think it’s time to bake some brownies! While it’s in the requisite oven...I shall take a shower and shave. Start a clock...1243hrs. Stop the clock...1324hrs. 1641hrs...Phone...Bela...coming now...as in early...ok. 1938hrs...Back! Ike out. Dilly on the ledge...Joey shows up too...feeding both. Agnes to call soon with frame numbers of images I’m to print by Xmas! Gads! Sari continues to pine over the loss of the photos that I’d given her...that Bela ...it turns out...then gave away to Gabor’s mother...but this will be my second free haircut as things would turn out...and Bela’s was free too! 2044hrs...Just off the phone with Agnes and the frame numbers. 2115hrs...Time to pull the plug. Velence...22nd December 2009. 0332hrs...Java with Joey on the ledge outside...me inside...window ajar. It‘s -3.8°C and 23.1°C...assume overcast. 0447hrs...Ike out. Time for some breakfast. 0532hrs...It is in fact overcast...hence warmer...and it will continue through Xmas. Have been researching the "Silk Road" as it pertains to Kyrgyzstan. Thinking that I should have my Y-DNA done again. This time with greater resolution. We now have R1a1a...R1a1a1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. From the look of it...I’m not R1a1a7. 0602hrs...Took a look back...and conditions seem to have been about the same two years ago. And we are at the winter solstice. The days will be getting longer now. Brighter already! Found some more typos...but there is this ongoing problem of having two versions now. The one published...and this one. Anything I find on this one will never make it to the published pages. I have to make those changes there. Out of sync! 0700hrs...Fed Blackie on the kitchen window ledge. Now Joey and Kwan on the patio table on the balcony. One of them is growling...at the other...over the food. Ike took a drink from his water bowl. For some reason I get some bizarre pleasure from that fact. Not like when I feed him. Food is a given. The water is something more...fundamental. I’ve had milk out for him...but is not "into it" any more. On the other hand the outside cats like their milk...which I nuke...to lukewarm. 0751hrs...So...a few mins ago I again went to the kitchen...Ike got up ahead of me and as I watched...he went to his water bowl and began to drink. I noticed that it was not with any enthusiasm. Then...the next thing I see is Ike looking to jump up onto the counter...and does! There was a small tumbler filled with water...from which he began to drink. The last time it was from a large sized plastic cup. So while he was drinking...I found one...and filled it from the tap. He freaked out a bit...but stayed. Took a sip...ok fine...a slurp...and went back to the tumbler. Then...of all things...he moved over to the other basin...and began to drink out of my ceramic breakfast cereal bowl! I don’t get it. Could be the smell of plastic. 0801hrs...Thinking about taking out the trash. Shoes or no shoes? Ok fine...barefoot...as in slippers only. I think that they will run late today given the semi-arctic conditions...but one never knows for sure. GADS! It’s a sizzling...sizzling I say...-0.4°C! It’s funny...the weather reporters will say...that in the next few days the temperature will rise 20°C. And you think...Holy Shit! It’s like saying..."well...I’ll see you NEXT year." 0809hrs...Ok fine...I’m going out there...now! 0819hrs...Well...it went ok...but not without drama. I soon had a case of "snow in the slippers"...known formally in the trade as "Slipper Snow"...and I nearly slipped on the way down to the street. This was not the result of SS as such...but just plain old run-of-the-mill slippery slope. A case of reduced coefficient of friction. FUN came to mind...F=uN. Had I not been carrying the trash container...which I used as a crutch as soon as said coefficient of friction went to near zero...I’d have ended up on the snow covered ground...where I would have had to perform the requisite "INQC" look...while looking around to see if anybody saw me. Getting up could have been interesting...and entertaining to watch. Oh...INQC="I’m Normally Quite Coordinated!" Had someone been watching...they would have said to themselves..."I thought he looked more coordinated then that!" 0914hrs...The critical frame is printed. 1230hrs...The 21 other images are also done...plus one vignette. I had called over to Bela’s...wanting to talk to Agnes...she answered...asking what Saci’s favourite colour was. She said blue. So I made the vignette background that colour. 1233hrs...It’s now a scorching...plus 2.3°C...and the great melt has started. I went out to retrieve the bin...slipped twice and nearly fell! As I went along...I practiced my INQC look...just in case I needed it. 1256hrs...Istvan has arrived from his last day of work for this year...goes back on the 4th..of next year. Yesterday on the way back from having gotten a hair cut...I asked Bela if I could hit the store before he brought me back here. I bought two more DVD’s. Velence...23rd December 2009. 0440hrs...Half the Mud with an unknown. It’s too dark to tell. But not one of my crew. Ike out. It’s a plus 2.6°C and 21.9°C. I woke up...around 0230hrs... to the sound of rain in the drain...pipe. It’s still raining....more like a drizzle. Kemping Street is clear of snow. 0656hrs...Ike in. Listening to the Lads. Funny guys...truly. 0850hrs...Have dismantled the East House. Everything had gotten wet...and needed a wash. I’ll re-assemble it when all the parts have dried. 0957hrs...A plus 4.5°C and 23.0°C...some sunshine. Thinking that I should hit a store today. There is rain in the forecast. Have showered. Could hit Bela’s too...for that matter. 1039hrs...Have called Bela’s...to say I’ll be there in ten mins or so. 1212hrs...Back in one piece. Bought three more DVDs. Fed the crew and a few more. Ike out. 1246hrs...A plus 7.0°C! Bright sunlight in my eye! 1503hrs...Just in from out...having taken a few frames of the pending sunset. There is some good colour in the sky and hence on the ice on the lake. 0357hrs...A bit of statistical data. The contents of two...semi-randomly selected...ok fine...the last two I had...48g size m&ms...were: GRN=2 BLU=4 ORN=3 RED=13 BRN=14 YEL=16 Total...for package number 1...=52 GRN=3 BLU=3 ORN=2 RED=17 BRN=20 YEL=6 Total...for package number 2...=51! Not only do the totals not match...but there is an obvious case of discrimination against the colour GREEN while favouring the colour BROWN nearly 7 to 1! I don’t particularly like GREEN m&ms as such...but BROWN? Speaking of the colour brown...did you know that brown is in fact a very dark YELLOW? Velence...24th December 2009. 0234hrs...A plus 4.2°C and 22.9°C...cloudy...calm. Most of the snow is gone...leaving only small patches here and there. 0250hrs...Mud with none...Ike’s been out all night...so far. 0701hrs...Fed Dilly and Blackie on the kitchen window ledge. Warm milk also. When I went out the front earlier...Ike came out too...a bit of a surprise. And the while feeding Dilly and Blackie...he appeared below...having gone around. Seemed like he wanted to jump up...and I think he tried once...but fell back down. It’s now a plus 5.3°C and 23.0°C...cloudy...calm. It had rained a bit too. 1157hrs...I’ve re-built the East House. I picked up Kwan and took him over to it. I placed him inside. He stayed. Later...he was curled up...comfy. It’s now 6.6°C and 23.8°C...mostly cloudy...but with gaps letting through some sunlight. 1343hrs...Time to knock out some prints. Agnes gave me a...what I believe to be a very short...list. These were to replace the photos that Bela gave away. Anyway...I’ll go with the list...as is. 2006hrs...Just finished watching the last of my DVDs. There are a few that I’d not have gone to theater to see...that’s for sure. NOR will I ever watch them again...at least not in this life. In Hell they may make me watch them...over and over! There are a number of issues on my mind...that I need to get a grip on. Time is running out...the clock is ticking. Tomorrow Cila will call me for...I guess...Xmas lunch. Sari said that I’ll be called for another meal...not sure when nor what day. Then there is "the gathering"...traditionally at Cila’s. I missed a chance to have Cila and Anci buy presents for me. Anci said that there would be another day...before Xmas...but it never came to pass...as it were. I don’t relish any of it. There are things I need to finish...for that matter start. Not clear in my mind as yet. Nothing on Bing and Google re my Sepia’s. Not heard back from Miss Donna. Don’t know what it means. [Donna never comes back. She will simply send an email out of nowhere...sometime later as in months.] Velence...25th December 2009. 0325hrs...A Cup with Kwan...both of us in the rain...because it’s coming from the south. This seems to have driven Kwan out the East House as well. What luck! Or the lack thereof! And nearly blinded by some type of light. This light was not there yesterday. I thought at first that it was located at the Korda house...but with binoculars...it seems to be closer to the house in front of it. Still not sure if it’s connected to the house...or just close to it. In daylight I’ll know. It’s so bright that it lights up this house...at a good 100 yards. It makes the street light 50 feet away look like a candle by comparison. Today is not going to be a good day. Ike sitting...inside...on the window ledge...looking out the open widow. Fed Kwan...I thought...but Mom showed up too. It’s 10.4°C and 22.9°C...and as reported...raining. 0424hrs...Time to get some work done. 0512hrs...Work going well. Preparing to make brownies...not the Betty Crocker Supreme though. 0537hrs...All the snow is gone...even that which the snowplow piled up along the side of the street. 11.0°C...not raining at this time. The light really pisses me off! It’s blinding! 0615hrs...FreeCell stats. 6500 games played. 4156 wins. I never replay a game. [Since I wrote that...I do.] Back to work. 0707hrs...A miracle...the light went out about 30 mins ago. It was still...as it is now...dark. So I can’t explain it. Winds are out the west now...and there is some howling. 0840hrs...Daylight! Well now! The aforementioned light is in fact at the Korda house. It’s plugged into mains power. It looks to be about a 1,000,000 (beam) candle power...give or take a candle! Brownies are in the oven. 1035hrs...Showered...without drama...if you don’t count the fact that the hair dryer fell off the shelf...knocking the telephone onto the floor...hence dislodging the handset...all the while thinking...hence leading to my chanting...endlessly..."You just can’t win!" This was in fact appropriate...given that when it came to bringing said phone back here...the cord snagged...snagged I say...under the bathroom door. This had no other effect except to start my chanting all over again... 1043hrs...Speaking of the phone...phone...Cila...1230hrs. Afterward...help decorate the tree. Everyone else to arrive 1600-1700hrs. Where was I? Ok...the only good thing about it was that I hadn’t chanted all that long when the snag occurred...I think I was in mid-chant...third rep...when it happened. 1215hrs...About ready. I had time to print the "ice crystals on the window" photo...for Cila. 1223hrs...I’m gone. I’m putting Ike out. 1442hrs...Have been back for over 25 mins. I’m here baking! I indicated to Cila that it might be best if I baked her cake here...given the cantankerous nature of her oven. She agreed. 1511hrs...About ready to go. Back when I’m back. 1945hrs...I have returned. I called it quits...the rest are still there...chatting etc. 2006hrs...Tired...sleepy...long day! Velence...26th December 2009. 0246hrs...Mud with Dilly on the window ledge...Ike in the kitchen. It’s 7.9°C and 24.6°C...clear...stars...with an occasional strong gust. With the relatively high temperatures...the ice on the lake is melting. As a result...yesterday I saw something I’d never seen before. A dense fog began to form over the lake. It was eerie to watch as it bellowed onto the land. At the Xmas gathering...I gave away about 10 of my recently purchased DVDs as presents. It was my Name Day also...hence got an extra set of hugs from the girls. I took a number of photos...but nothing like in the past years. Have as yet not opened my presents...though some were obviously bottles...of something. One present was from Bela/Sari...and she made a point of my "trying it on"...then and there. It was a pullover of sorts. I did...and a bit later took it for a spin outside in gusty wind. It worked just fine...and reported it as such once back inside. Everyone was pleased...though I suppose not amazed. 0308hrs...Ike out. We have this ritual now. He assumes the position...supine...and I rub and scratch his spine. He loves it! He purrs...just like a kitten...which is not surprising nor amazing for that matter. I will need to hit a store today. Cila indicated that I may get a call for lunch. Oh...I no sooner got back...phone...Cila...to say that while escorting the guest...looks like they all left soon after I had...that she noticed that my front porch light was on...and did it mean anything? I told her that it didn’t mean anything except the fact that I’d forgotten to turn it off. Speaking of lights. "You just can‘t win!" The other day I flipped the bathroom light switch...with negative results. That is to say that though the switch was in fact in the "on" position...the expected photon emissions were absent...in the extreme! Ok fine...I thought...well not really...I’ll have to take a look at it later. I had had a problem with said lamp/socket before. I had also replaced that original 40 watt with a 100 "watter"...you know I did! Later I took a look...as I said I would...and while doing so...that is to say...not the fact that I was "looking" at it with my eyes...but as in working on it...it came down to extracting said bulb from said socket...in the dark...given that there were no photos about. The bulb didn’t want to cooperate resulting in a classic case of "BB". The broken bulb’s remains ended up in the sink...resulting in the requisite cleanup taking place in the aforementioned photon deficient environment. Hazardous to say the least...I might add. Ok fine...not really...I located my last remaining spare bulb which was not a 100 watter...since I used that one to replace a 40 watter at the compound months ago since I needed more photons there...at the time...and brought it (40W) back. Took said...old and used...40 watter and screwed into said socket...with the much anticipated result. Ok fine...really...I’ll get a replacement 100 watter when next at the store...though I had some misgivings...given that 100 watters are not that common. I‘m at said store and my massive brain remembered to look for light bulbs. I was pleased that I’d remembered...not so much remembered...but that I had not gotten sidetracked. As I had expected...no 100 watters. Ok fine...not really...I decided not to purchase a new 40 watter...given that I didn’t want a 40 watter...I wanted a 100 watter. More photon you see. Then...less than a day later I flipped said switch...only to be rewarded with non existing photons. Lacking any spares...I was struck by the fact that perhaps I should have bought one of the damn 40 watters after all! "You just can’t win!" Even a couple of photons are better than none. 0403hrs...Gusty out there...but only occasionally. Interesting! Time to open presents. Full report to come later. 0914hrs...It’s a plus 7.1°C and 25.6°C...clear and sunny...AND(!)...the lake is ice free! Amazing! It’s also breezy. 1005hrs...At 1000hrs...phone...Anci inviting me for noon lunch. I hesitated as I explained that I was to have been called by Cila...at 1000hrs...confirming lunch...noon assumed. She says that that should not be a problem given that she was about to call Cila...inviting her also...thus negating Cila’s invitation. 1005hrs...phone...Cila to tell me that she’s received an invitation from Anci for lunch at noon. The significance "noon"...as explained by Anci...was that she had things to do right after...hence it could/should not be later. Cila went on to expound that I should get there no later than noon because she could not be there exactly at noon...given that she would at that very moment just be getting out of church. In effect I was to be the surrogate for the three of us...Cila, Istvan and myself. The fact that Anci had indicated that I could arrive at any time...prior to said noon...was not related to Cila...given that I had indicated to Anci yesterday that I would go there to measure her oven temperature some time today...which I planned to do serially with hitting a store...before said noon. 1124hrs...Phone...Sari inviting me for lunch at 1400hrs! Gads! Said I’ll be there around 1330hrs...ish. 1910hrs...Back! The stores were all closed so no food for the cats. I’m short a few things also. Got to Anci’s early...ran into Cila and Istvan heading home...saying that they will show up in 5 mins...consternation over the fact that it was well before noon...but it took longer...lunch was not in fact ready. I did measure the oven temp...it was ok. Afterwards I came back here to regroup...swapped batteries on Electro-One. And went to Bela’s...for the main event. The fellow that had put together a video of Dori’s wedding arrived...and after a great amount of pontificating...we watched the DVD. I had heard that he was given my 1000 some odd stills...which he was to incorporate into the production of the video. I also heard the he was impressed with the quality of my images. [Turns out the he only got the pre-wedding photos.] I didn’t know what to expect. We started watching a DVD of which there were two versions...unknown at the time. Most of the images were mine...with music in the background. My images did look quit good...even if I do say so myself. The actual video footages was nothing to write home about. More later... Velence...27th December 2009. 0249hrs...Half my Java with Kwan and Dilly in the East House. It’s a plus 3.6°C and 24.9°C...overcast...calm. ; So...back to yesterday’s DVD event. The two versions were different only in the background music...NONE of it Hungarian! We started to watch one version...mostly my images...up to that point...then switched to the second version...started from the beginning...which we then watched all the way through...about an hour long. He used images that I would not have printed...but they looked ok in context. He made a big deal out of his choice of background music...with lots of explanation...which I thought was a bit much! As though it was the music that "made" it the true production value. This was in fact negated by the very fact that he had two version. Granted...once you had the images together...changing the music was a no big deal. Based on his preamble...I tried to form an image in my mind as to what to expect. Oh...he used many of my soft focus images...which Dori didn’t particularly like...as prints. Had she done I as I’d asked...I could have perhaps stopped down the lens...so as to reduce it’s softness. Anyway...in context of the video...they were...just fine. I had managed to "capture" Dori...nonetheless. The back half of the video was...mostly live stuff...of poor quality. None of it shot from a tripod...and lacking image stabilization...made for jerky images. I must believe that he was given only my pre-wedding photos...because had he had the rest...I’m sure he would have used them...or at least could have...to break-up the monotonously mundane video clips. Overall it could have been much better...but it went over well enough. Cila and Istvan arrived...and a bit later dinner was served. Since we’d eaten earlier...we didn’t partake thereof. Bela had gotten a new DELL laptop for Xmas...and those that were interested...played with it. At one point I had the opportunity to be alone with the DVD man...I’ll need to get his name...and I took the opportunity to give him my card. He had indicated during the preview...that the quantity of my images...given that he could and did zoom into many of them...were superb. And I expected to engage in some technical if not philosophical dialogue with him. I’m still using the British English dictionary...hence the sometimes strange spellings. Sorry about that. He asked if he could refer to me informally...adding that he was of...the year ’47...just in case he was the older. I countered with...’44! He immediately went into a drawn out story...as to why he didn’t have a card to give me. NBD...I went on to innumerate the information on my card...ending with the fact of having a wed site. Things then went downhill...as in an avalanche! He brought up a name I’d never heard of...and asked if the laptop was connected to the Internet...it was. He then proceeded to go to the web site...named. He scrolled around...and then went right into...wait for it...the 9/11 HOAKS! This "information"...gotten off the web site...and adding that he reads it every day...and everything taken as gospel...implied! WELL THAT DID IT! I spades. He began to explain what had really happened on that day...9/11! At first I kept my mouth shut...to get an idea just how far this would go...down the road of stupidity. It would turn out...all the way! He asked me if I agreed with...or believed it...the "true" story. When I indicated that I did NOT...he invoked...the proverbial..."Oh My God!"...as in how could I be so stupid as to NOT believe it! I was incensed...to say the bloody least! It would be best if the children under 12 left the room...now. Over 12s...love to listen to adults in heated discussion. Oh...failed to mention...that it all started when he asked me if I knew...of...I presume...Martin Sheen? That’s like asking the Pope if he knows of the Virgin Mary. I remember thinking..."OH shit!"...here it comes. And it did. I said yes..."I did"...remembering that he stared in one of the DVDs that I’d recently watched...and had just given to Gabor/Bela. and from West Wing etc! Yeah I knew of Martin Sheen...AND his drivel. It was Sheen who’d said that he could not believe that the Twin Towers came down as a result of nothing more than the two airplanes colliding with said buildings. Invoking Sheen’s opinion is ridiculous! It’s meant to invoke "respect" for an unscientific theory. As in..."Well...if Martin Sheen says that he can not believe that the towers came down simply as a result of the two planes colliding with the buildings...then it MUST BE SO!"...as in it MUST be something else. One MUST ASK the obviously profound question..."So what...if Martin Sheen can’t believe it?" So first we have the connection to someone that’s known...as in Martin Sheen the actor...as opposed to say an unfamiliar eminent physicist, mechanical engineer, structural engineer...etc...such that we are to believe the known...familiar...though in no way qualified person’s unfounded theory...and not even ask for a "second opinion"! As in...ok fine...that’s what Sheen says...but what do the knowledgeable scientists and engineers have to say? What qualifies Sheen to say anything about the technical aspects of the case at hand? Oh but of course...he didn’t actually say anything "technical"...just that he could not believe it. "SO WHAT?"! Do you think for a minute that Martin Sheen hit the internet to study up on physics so as to render a "better" opinion? As in..."Well...I’ve looked at all the data...etc...run all the formulae relative to structural dynamics...analyzed all aspects of fire and heat relative to building steel...etc...looked into the structural integrity of the two aircraft in question...under the high speed impact...the behaviour of tanks fully loaded with jet fuel...etc..."AND I STILL CAN"T BELIEVE IT!" HELL NO HE DIDN’T! Bet on it! The value...the "weight" of what he says is practically zero. What if he’d have said that he believed that it was in fact UFOs that had caused the two aircraft to collide with the two buildings? Would you then believe in UFOs? More later... 0930hrs...Just showered. Will now take a look at the DVD I was given yesterday. 0937hrs...Ok...done deal. I know...that was a short look. I need to hit the far store...Cila’s...and perhaps Bela’s. 1053hrs...Phone...Cila to say that they are going to church...then the cemetery. Ok fine. Dressed...ready to hit the store. I’m gone. 1133hrs...Back...fed the crew...Mom twice...once on the balcony and then on the kitchen window ledge. She’d put on a pair of little kitty glasses...believing that I’d fall for that old trick. I played along. 1600hrs...Back for about twenty mins. Got the call...be at Bela’s around 1300hrs. Done deal. Velence...28th December 2009. 0248hrs...Ike out...Mud alone...since I’m inside. It’s 4.0°C and 24.3°C...mostly cloudy...setting Moon visible to the northwest. 0500hrs...9/11 conspiracy continued: The first thing you have to ask of any (CT)...Conspiracy Theorist...is..."Is there ANYTHING that I can say, demonstrate, PROVE or explain...that will change your mind?" "Do you have ANY doubts...about what you THINK you believe?" "Are there ANY "little" details that just keeps coming up for which you don’t have a good explanation?" In the case of 9/11..."Do you believe that you are technically qualified to render a reasoned opinion that could/would not be (easily) shown to be false?" "Is your "theory" original...to you, or are you simply repeating that which you’ve heard or read...from others?" "Do you in any way question the qualifications of the authors...or take it (them) at face value?" These are very profound questions! 0754hrs...Sun’s up. 3.4°C and 24.4°C. My mind just reels as I contemplate the CT "problem"! It is deeply rooted in the mind’s of certain individuals. It is in a strong sense...a form of "Religion"! The DVD Man is not looking for the solution to a true "mystery"...but the creation thereof...and the perpetuation thereof...a non existing "problem". It then takes on a life of it’s own. Another question. "Do you.... More later... 0941hrs...About to hit the road...Jack. The PO...DO...Chemist’s...Store...Bela...later Cila. It’s a plus 5°C...but feels colder. Anyway...I think I’m out the door!...NOW. 1320hrs...Back for ten mins. The DO was a bust. Same with Bela’s...no one there. I left the bottles on the porch. 1831hrs...Well...it took a bit of digging but I think I’ve found what I’ve been looking for. An explanation of the mindset of the CT individuals. It’s far too easy to dispel their illogical drivel...hence there must be some other answer for the phenomenon. And to my satisfaction there is. I’ll write it up after I’ve done some more reading on the matter. So while everything that I’ve written...about CT...is true...it’s NOT the true point of the issue. I fell into the trap myself...thinking that all one needs to do...is to set them straight...with the real facts! The real facts are not the issue! I was once told by a dear...female...(another "A")...friend the purpose of religion...as she understood it. It made sense to me. She said that it was to "explain" the unexplainable. I thought it was profound. I spent most of my entire life dealing with facts...and logic. There was never a need to look "outside" for an answer to some problem. There never were situations where I needed to find a "alternative" explanation. There is a "parallel" here with the CT phenomenon...though there is a slight twist. 2107hrs...Nailed it! I was given a 3D puzzle as a Xmas gift. Everyone got one. Young Bernadette can "do it" in seconds. Bela claims to have un-done it...and them back...once...but not since. It’s a 3x3x3 cube. All the 27 pieces (smaller cubes) are strung together with one bit of elastic string. I watched Bernadette work the puzzle...and noted that at one point she "had to" pry apart some pieces to then insert others. I thought it a bit odd...but what do I know? Anyway...my massive brain took what it thought would be a different path...expecting the "pry and insert" move at any time...but it never came. I just kept folding and twisting the pieces...until it was suddenly done. My moves were all logical. Velence...29th December 2009. 0330hrs...Mud with Dilly. It’s 1.9°C and 24.2°C...clear...calm. 0721hrs...Signs of ice on the lake. Frosty. 0744hrs...Sun’s up! 0930hrs...Lots to read. 2002hrs...Read...and watched a DVD...tired. Velence...30th December 2009. 0422hrs...Coffee with Dilly and Stranger...Ike out... 0425hrs...Ike now in. Fed the two. 0502hrs...It’s 4.6°C and 24.2°C...overcast...calm. 0714hrs...Started to do a total frame count. I’ve thought for some time that I had mislabelled a folder as...what was to have been the start of 50,000th frames...was labelled 40,000. The work went well enough...but far from finished...when I thought that I should go back farther in time...since I bought the 200 in UK Land. While looking...I came across folders containing scanned negatives. In one were photos of the "old studio" wall...not the very first ones that I had taken of the wall...but closer to the beginning than the end. The first one I looked at was a oblique shot...the 4x5 Super Combo tripod mounted in the foreground blocking some photos on the wall. Since there are no records to indicate when a particular photo (of the wall) was taken...I get a kick out of trying to figure it out...based on the photos on the wall. So...let’s see...mmm...pre-Troupe...I said to myself...with some satisfaction. Kathy, Debbie, Estelle, Denise and Wanda. No photo of Perk or Delores...was my first observation. But then...just to the right of the 4x5...was a photo of Sandy...taken on "day one’ at Seward park. Ok fine...the photo of the wall was taken after that day...BUT before I actually knew them as Troupe...met Perk...etc. Satisfied that I’d "nailed" it...I went to the next frame. This photo was less oblique...and taken form the right of the tripod mounted 4x5...which brought to view another photo. GADS! It was a photo of Katy...and it was a studio shot! I went back one frame...and then I noticed another photo of Katy that I’d missed the first time...excusable given that it was a negative image...and mostly black. WELL...there we have it. The photo of the wall was taken after the rock concert at Volunteer Park. I should ask Sammy...PNWB...if he has any records of that time...specifically the concert dates. The first photo of Katy that I’d entered in SPS competition...which by the way took first place...was on November of 1968. Damn! I was just about to write that as I remembered the photo...it was not the "negative" image photo...but one that I took that day at Volunteer Park...Katy’s first day stuff. I went back for yet another look...only to find that very photo...just visible in the dark extreme corner of the frame! SO THERE WE HAVE IT. The photos were taken some time in November of 1968 or after. A photo titled Katy#2 took a second place in January of 1969...and that one could well have been the negative image photo...hence the obvious. Case closed. 0857hrs...Foggy...5.1°C and 24.0°C. Time to hit the shower...shave. 0925hrs...Done deal. Stepped outside...Joey...back in for food. Back out...Kwan came out of the West Penthouse...were I’d put the now dry pillow back in...followed by putting Kwan in...he stayed...into which he returned after a bite to eat. Dilly came out of the East House. Mom showed up and growled...mostly. I need to hit the store...possibly the DO...etc. 1029hrs...I’m out the door...now! 1120hrs...Back...but not without drama. The DO was open...as in there was someone there...BUT...their computer is down...AND won’t be up until...bloody MONDAY! Five days! Bought three more DVDs. No one at Bela’s...as in one of the cars was not there...hence I assumed that Bela was not in. I’m hungry...so it’s off to the kitchen...soon. 1806hrs...Just in from out. Took frames of the Korda anti-aircraft searchlight. There is some fog...so the beam shows up nicely. Or could it be a UFO beacon? 2142hrs...Ike is acting strangely. He wants to be close to me. He’s not eating. Well...he is a flopper alright. Velence...31st December 2009. 0250hrs...Up...but as yet have not made a Cup. I will in a few minutes though. Ike spent the night on the bed...and I just now put him out the window. It’s 5.7°C and 24.1°C...overcast...light fog. I told myself that I‘m wasting time...have lots of work that needs to be done...which is bloody true. And that I will regret it if I don’t have it done...in time. One mostly written web page...that I should publish. One major event that needs to be written up or at least edited. I did start to look into it...but was unable to find all the documents that I’d generated years ago...hence frustrated. Time to make some Java. BIAF. 0311hrs...Done deal...and half of it outside with none. 0658hrs...It’s now foggy...as in dense. I can’t see the other side of Kemping Road. I’m changing the name to "road" because the more I thought about the translation...of "ut" to English is in fact "road"...not street. This will apply to "The High Street" too...so even though the common meaning...is in fact High Street...it is nonetheless High Road. 0731hrs...Time for some shuteye. 1047hrs...Have fed most of the crew. Doing a second cup of Mud. Ike’s out. Kwan now in the window. I didn’t actually get any real sleep...though I do remember dreaming...but it went virtual. I knew I was having a dream. Have read the unpublished web page...a couple of times. It needs a bit of work. Another case of having written it straight through...hence could use some polishing...more details...etc. 1636hrs...Phone...Cila...invitation for dinner after 1800hrs...will call when back from church...ok...since she‘s making one of my favourites...by design...I presume. Remember to take photos along! This will mean taking a shower and I suppose a shave too. I’ve been reading/writing all day...hence not even dressed! 1700hrs...Time to hit the shower...as in now! 1817hrs...Phone...Cila...10 mins I say...ok she says. 1831hrs...About ready to leave. Back when I’m back. 2032hrs...Done deal. It went well enough. See you all next year.
Continued: To be continued in STBlog2010 Jan-May.. when pullished
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