Saturday Snap Shots

I am a chronic snap shooter. When something catches my eye I often just make a quick snap of it just to see how it looks photographed. In this digital age I can judge right away if the subject warrants more of my time. I then go about working the subject. That is, photographing it from various angles, adjusting the composition by changing lenses and that sort of thing. The following pictures were all made on the same day.

It was Saturday morning and I was sitting in a Watertown NY parking lot waiting for the music store to open. I saw blossom on a tree. Then I noticed the green trees and buildings in the distance. It was raining. I lowered the drivers side window and made those two snaps.




The music store I was waiting for to open is Musicology. I teach there on Saturdays. So, after snapping the above two photos I started looking at a music book that I had with me. The book is a collection of guitar etudes written by Mauro Giuliani. For what ever reason, I cannot analyze it, my eye was attracted to the dimples where the last page of the book meets the cover. So I photographed it. Notice how you can faintly see the music notes through the back of the page. I actually like this photo:



Later that day I get home and a cheese cake that the Better Half made was sitting on the kitchen table. Again, it looked to my eye like it needed to be photographed. So I did. Then it got eaten. It really was a lovely Saturday.

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My Bank Account Was Robbed

I went online to check out my checking account and discovered a $500.00 bank transfer of money from my account to a PayPal account. I didn't authorize that. Just a couple months ago there was an attempt to transfer $600.00 from my account but nit was foiled before it took place. At that point I changed my user name & password on the advice of my banker. He said who ever initiated the fraudulent transfer had to know my user ID & password. So, with those changed I thought everything was fine. THis $500.00 transfer went through and my checking account was debited. So I had to call the bank, go in in person and sign some paperwork. I was also told I may need to file a police report.
Anyway, the evnt happened on April 12th. A couple days go by and just on a fluke I was going to make a purchase with a credit card I have not used in a long time. I called the 800 number to check my available credit and discovered that it had been maxed out. NOT BY ME! I have not used that card in FOREVER. So I call the bank (Chase). This is not the same bank as my checking account. Someone sent $4,000.00 from my credit card to a paypal account. Low and behold that event also took place on April 13th. Makes me wonder if I have been a victim of identity theft. The credit card issue was easy to resolve. Chase Bank was terrific in how they handled it. However, it may take 5 to 7 days before my checking account is credited with the missing $500.00
This is most disconcerting. We put our money in banks assuming it is safe. The bank is supposed to keep our money safe. It's supposed to be the one place where you will not get robbed. My money was in THIER bank. It was stolen from my account but for all intents and purposes, THE BANK WAS ROBBED! The lesson learned is: Our money is no longer safe in banks.
Now I see no choice but to close the account. Two incidents in about 3 months leaves me no choice. What a hassel.

Thomas Jefferson Tavern Ale

Back in March when my mother was in the hospital my sister S happened to be coming from Arizona to Philadelphia, PA where her daughter lives. When she heard how desperate Mom's condition was she drove up here. She brought with her a case of Thomas Jefferson's Tavern Ale. It is a strong, rich beer made by the Yard's Brewing Co., Philadelphia, PA. The label reads: "Based on Jefferson's original recipe, this golden ale also includes ingredients that were specified and grown on his Virginia estate."
So it was that I was able to celebrate Mr. Jefferson's birthday on April 13th with that fine brew. Thank you Sister S.

The photo is a self portrait.

Updates

I snapped this photo while driving down Route 81 in the south bound lane. I just pointed the camera out the drivers side window with out looking through, keeping my eyes on the road. The resulting image had to be cropped to be usable and interesting. Thus, the file size is small which will reult in a smaller print size should I decide to make a print.

Easter Sunday went quite well. The Better Half & I put together a dinner & took it to my mother's house. Brother's A,& r and nephew T were also there. We had ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cole slaw, broccoli salad, Apple Crisp and a Rasberry Almond tart.
A month or so ago I thought my Mother would be dead by now. She has really came back. She no longer requires a daily nurse. The nurse visit is now once a week. She is talkative and seems to be very happy. She now gets around the house in a wheel chair. She also is using the bathroom unassisted. Inside the bathroom One of us just helps her stand up from her wheel chair. Then we leave her to her business. She has even been trying to use a walker. So we are thankful for her improvements.

Friday is Thomas Jefferson's birthday. This year I have aquired some Thomas Jefferson Ale, brewed by Yard's Brewery in Philadelphia, PA. We look forward raising a toast to Mr. Jefferson.

Columbus Circle Syracuse

I took these three photos within 5 minutes while walking through Columbus Circle in downtown Syracuse, N.Y.

I am teaching guitar this afternoon at Musicology in Watertown.
Have spent a good portion of the morning organizing documents and reciepts in preparation of filing my income taxes.

I played guitar at Carl's Furniture in Watertown this past Sunday. It went very well. A woman who was browsing through the store came upon me and was surprised that the music she was hearing was from a live musician. "I was thinking how I'd like to get this CD the store is playing." she said to me.

Ron Paul Revolution Sign: I Don't Get It

I recently went to photograph a job at a high school in Syracuse, NY. I noticed this sign on the door of a history class. I do not know what to make of it. Is the poster of this sign for or against Ron Paul and his ideas?. Maybe I am stupid. I would love to here comments about what any of you out there think or know about it.


Ron Paul is a conservative running for president of the United States, trying in vain to garner the Republican nomination. He has been vying for that position against Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, and Mit Romney.

First Place Win For Military Drone Protestors Photos

Just found out I took First Place in Still Photos - Carl Single Award for Spot News Photos in the Syracuse Press Club Awards for photos of protestors at Hancock Air Field, Mattydale, NY, demonstrating against the military's use of unmanned drones.

North Country Arts Council Muse 2012 Performance

Just returned from Muse 2012, a multi arts presentation of The North Country Arts Council. The entertainment was terrific & varied. I played 3 guitar pieces by Fernando Sor, but the most mesmerizing event was hoop dancer Jozette Borrmann accompanied by electric guitar played by Aaron Horeth. It gave me goos bumps at one point. It was INCREDIBLE. Horeth played his guitar through some type of effects box made by Roland. I cannot even begin to describe Jozettes dancing, but it was stunning. Stupid me, my camera was in my car which I almost NEVER leave behind. But I was wrapped up with setting up my sound system and helping out some of the other acts that it was too late to run back to the car because I would have missed most of the hoops/guitar act. Jozettes web site is www.whirledpeacehoops.org

Now for my part. I played 3 pieces by Fernando Sor, Spanish army captain, contemporary of Beethoven's, prolific composer of guitar music. They were selected from Andres Segovia's compilation of 20 Studies For Guitar by Fernando Sor. They were stuies #2, #4, and #5. For the most part I played them well. But I suffered from stage fright which caused me to sweat and have shaky hands. In particular my left hand. There were about a 150 people in the hall. They were dead silent as I played. I had a slight memory lapse at the very last measure or 2 of the 4th study. As best as I can recollect, the Study #2 came off very well as did the Study #5. I don't know why I wasn't more relaxed, but I wasn't.
What I need to do, and have thought about doing for years, is to set up a series of guitar recitals. Those situations where people actually sit and listen as they did this evening. I'm sure if I did 50, 60, a hundred or more of such events I would get comfortable with it. I just have to make myself do it. The problem is that the first few ( who knows the first dozen or more?) will be nerve racking and stressful until I find my way and settle into a groove.
One of my ideas is to set up a series of recitals in the local libraries here in the North Country. Between Jefferson, Lewis, & St Lawrence Counties I could book a lot of recitals. It's like every thing else, I just have to DO IT!

Strange Looking Spider

The weather continues to be unseasonably warm here in Northern NY. The photo I post here today appears to be a spider that has been encased or wrapped up in some sort of silk from another spider. I have never seen anything like this before. My brother R was cleaning out the basement of our mother's house when he came upon this attached to the glass of an old storm window. There were 3 or 4 other spiders in the same condition.

Spring Flowers

I awoke early today, about 6:00am. Got up and put is some pretty good guitar practice. The Sun came up blazing in a clear sky. I painted a second coat of paint on one of the dining room walls. Then I spent about three hours doing yard work. Picking up tree branches, sticks, raking up old leaves and the like. That's when I spotted the Spring flowers. Just this one small group in the entire back yard. And, it is still Winter here in Chaumont, NY. The first day of Spring is Tuesday. The temperature out doors is wonderful 70 degrees Fahrenheit.


I am now going to grab a beer (I know, Lent is not over & I gave up alcohol, but my understanding is it's OK on Sundays), and play a littlle bit of guitar outside before going to my mother's house. Hope all of you are having a good day.

Home From The Hospital

There was a hail storm accompanied with tremendous thunder & lightning last night in Chaumont, NY. Everything was soaking wet this morning. But by mid morning the Sun came out and the rest of the day was beautiful.



My mother came home from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Hospice arrived earlier in the day with a bed, oxygen equipment and some other odd & ends. We quickly discovered that we needed to add an electrical outlet in the living room to accomodate it all. So brother Ron set about installing that. My celebrity brother went to the hospital to oversee Mom's discharge and transport home. She was transferred by ambulance as the accompanying photo shows. Meanwhile I went shopping for linen for the hospital bed. Not knowing what to expect I bought numerous flat sheets & fitted sheets as well as a mattress cover. When that mission was completed I set about making the bed. So, the three of us were busy prepping for her arrival and brother T was missing in action. (But he has his own things happening with a son that needs heart surgery). She arrived just as I completed the bed. Fifteen minutes later I had to head to Syracuse area to photograph a job for the Post-Standard. The following photo came from that shoot. It was taken at the Fayetteville-Manlius High School Observatory.

Trouble Sleeping

It is after midnight. I have been in bed for two hours and have not fallen asleep. I HATE IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. This is night 2 of the problem. Last night I lay awake until 2:00AM, got up ate a salami sandwhich went back to bed & finally dozed of around 4:00. Got up at 8:30. Why I am not collapsing in a dead sleep tonight is beyond me.

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This photo was taken by my sister C while she was in town from Arizona. It is me playing at Carl's Furniture Sunday brunch in Watertown, NY.

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My mother will be coming home from the hospital tomorrow afternoon. (Well, actually today) She will be under hospice care with myself, my daughter, and three other brothers doing what we can to fill in.

I am basically miserable lately because my routine has deteriorated to no routine. Or at least a routine I dislike. The Better Half no longer works. That's wonderful for her. But, she is always home when I am home. I rarely have the house to myself. That never used to bother me a whole lot because I used to get up about 5-5:30 every morning and have until 8:00 o'clock or later to myself. I got my guitar practice in and other creative endeavors. Now it seems I can never get up before 7:00 Now the Better Half rarely sleeps in either. She is up about the same time as I am.
that combined with my my job schedule and my freelance work I have too little time of my own. One needs space. For the past 18 months or so I have been working evenings on Mondays & Tuesdays for the Post-Standard. So I can never get to bed before midnight on those nights. I know that overall I have had a blessed life and should not complain. And, I really am not complaining. I'm just tired of the way things are going and I must figure a more satisfactory way to spend my time. Maybe I need to make job changes.

Of course things are more trying these past 3 weeks with my Mother being hospitalized and at death's door for few of those days. Now she is entering into her own new routine. I doubt she will regain enough strength to be able to walk around and care for herself again. Add to that the rising price of gasoline and other expenses and it begins to make one's head swim.

On another note, it was terrific having both of my sisters here for a visit. THis past Friday we had a good time at my home in Chaumont. We had fish and various salads from Jeans Beans, a long time family owned deli in Watertown. But about 2:30 in the morning I woke up with a churning stomach. That moring I was sicker than a dog. I had to cancel my guitar lessons. I was much better on Sunday, but still not 100%, however, I managed to play my three hour Sunday gig at Carl's furniture.