tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13971798781226521362024-02-02T02:21:59.134-08:00My BluHeavenDaniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-59764560458877286732010-02-16T11:30:00.000-08:002010-02-16T11:35:22.625-08:00A Moment of Silence Please<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Our dear Fishy has passed away. After being rescued from an evil craft store he lived a long happy life with us in a beautifully planted tank. We weren't sure how old he was, but a good guess would be at least 2.5 if not 3 years. Rest in peace Fishy, we will miss you. :(</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images33.fotki.com/v1071/photos/7/70144/4767961/CRW_5939s-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://images33.fotki.com/v1071/photos/7/70144/4767961/CRW_5939s-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-68741581483992589402009-12-21T15:00:00.000-08:002009-12-21T15:11:41.671-08:00Live Unplanned: Redux<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Well it's been almost a year now. January 29th I was put on an antibiotic and had a severe reaction to it. Everything went downhill from there. Panic attacks, depression, severe pelvic pain, bladder irritation and pain. No one could find a reason, no one could find anything wrong. Test after test, hospital trip after trip, 8 ER visits, 2 urologists and 3 months later I was in surgery and woke up to the news that I had</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"></span></span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" href="http://www.ic-network.com/whatisinterstitialcystitis/"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">Interstitial Cystitis</span></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >. It is incurable, and mostly untreatable. It takes months to a year or more for medications to start working, if they work at all. My life, in ruins. No more could I have the foods and drinks I enjoyed. No more could I go on long photo hikes with my now husband. No more could I take long rides in the car. No more could I work a job. Ruins.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >It's been a very long and hard road and while it's better, there is still no end in sight, no end to the suffering. Sometimes I feel ok, almost normal. Then some days I am in pain and some days I can barely do anything from fatigue and lack of energy. I cope though. I try to live, It's all I can do.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-28422543625208930902009-11-14T14:01:00.000-08:002009-11-14T14:19:16.591-08:00Life, planned.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images18.fotki.com/v342/photos/4/70144/7804172/DSC_0209-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://images18.fotki.com/v342/photos/4/70144/7804172/DSC_0209-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><br />I'll start with the planned part. :) On July 26th 2009 overlooking a foggy pacific ocean in Newport Oregon, John and I were wed. No one noticed the weather though. It was a perfect day spent with close friends and family. The three days of beautiful sunshine that followed for our honeymoon trip down the coast just made it all the better. The wedding was held at <a href="http://www.stonecrestbb.com/weddings.shtml">Stone Crest Cellar Bed and Breakfast</a> who did a wonderful job with all the planning, decorations and food. I'm glad the stress leading up to that day is gone, but I do wish that week could have lasted much longer and that more time could have been spent with everyone. Perhaps we'll plan an anniversary bash next year there on the coast.<br /></span></span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-52615250345095100962009-11-11T17:06:00.000-08:002009-11-11T17:11:55.476-08:00Life, unplanned.<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Yes, it's been a very very long time. Not always a good time either. I won't get into details in this post, but some bad things have happened health wise and some great things have happened such as the wedding! I'm going to try to get back into the blogging. Right now though I've spent too much time at the computer today already. I'll post details later. Just know this past year has not been what I wanted, not been what I planned for, but instead has been both a nightmare and yet everything I could have hoped for at the same time. </span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-89811884857422595262008-10-25T08:58:00.000-07:002009-08-20T13:08:15.382-07:00The Photos Say It All :)<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">So I'll let them do the talking. Obviously I said yes :)</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBJBZ-NGcsDDk0NdEPcHBg0j2sWjAvyDg5llhZ9RUBpHIlGiM8-36z3ph6c8wV2PqndugPeMkIqa1hdibxqIpWdBDtbLHhEOEow2bnmItraTDYm4a87g7bBbauus2AZpeeGmeCUqIz4KW/s1600-h/IMG_1113.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBJBZ-NGcsDDk0NdEPcHBg0j2sWjAvyDg5llhZ9RUBpHIlGiM8-36z3ph6c8wV2PqndugPeMkIqa1hdibxqIpWdBDtbLHhEOEow2bnmItraTDYm4a87g7bBbauus2AZpeeGmeCUqIz4KW/s200/IMG_1113.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261122068999872338" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe-EH2Rg0tL1qBH_w7MyDu0mnlb-a95nxCO6lwNuy8nU2vBzUyK2JcW7JFj_7JG_6qtgOsU3erO59zLx6OjSENKqelo5gRlsBnYR9YZSlyHhpYzvyoX_Ey_oMTg0oF1i30V3xWGViyBIo/s1600-h/IMG_4301.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe-EH2Rg0tL1qBH_w7MyDu0mnlb-a95nxCO6lwNuy8nU2vBzUyK2JcW7JFj_7JG_6qtgOsU3erO59zLx6OjSENKqelo5gRlsBnYR9YZSlyHhpYzvyoX_Ey_oMTg0oF1i30V3xWGViyBIo/s200/IMG_4301.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261122059594290514" border="0" /></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-68126178444095913352008-08-25T17:22:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.762-07:00How Time (And my Sandwich) Flies!<a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVZg1ZkWgG_KgIwB2-eAhjuJpb2oMfrbrDWbTClVsg_uHsIDFF2Yc9UYmxde79DgdSzg_fV6_W3CVA6ddh5ysoQBZ4ZsdMJmUD8AYI9Sp_lzM4zzqAFpFYJBQCwc5Uk6JKp1acbOmGaHV/s1600-h/IMG_0419s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 5px 0px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioVZg1ZkWgG_KgIwB2-eAhjuJpb2oMfrbrDWbTClVsg_uHsIDFF2Yc9UYmxde79DgdSzg_fV6_W3CVA6ddh5ysoQBZ4ZsdMJmUD8AYI9Sp_lzM4zzqAFpFYJBQCwc5Uk6JKp1acbOmGaHV/s200/IMG_0419s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238615584296612626" border="0" width="130" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Saturday was my one year anniversary of moving to Portland. We can't believe it's been a year already! I know it's cliche but time really does fly when you are having fun. Well Saturday we had quite a bit of fun. The day started with flowers (ftw!) and a card that read 'Happy one year of adventures'! After situating those in a vase we headed out for Mount St. Helens. The goal was adventure, and the scenic twisties of the Windy Ridge drive.</span> <span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Despite a road closure cutting the drive off sooner than we'd hoped, it turned out to be a fantastic trip</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >. </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >We mostly went for the roads, but we did make a few stops along the way for pictures and lunch. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Our first stop was the volcano overlook at Bear Meadow where we shared a picnic </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkywvaACyFCsm65cx6-sdQ8YYLkWIFgVh7rJtGSi7sELSAqUlLk8pE2-nnEarRtofmf4fWLZCnySAK3zxzLWicISfBI1lmlT6oh5pVyjSZKVOn5o_i10lIgcpDqMXe65a7fdhnSAzj394z/s1600-h/IMG_0378.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 0px 0px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkywvaACyFCsm65cx6-sdQ8YYLkWIFgVh7rJtGSi7sELSAqUlLk8pE2-nnEarRtofmf4fWLZCnySAK3zxzLWicISfBI1lmlT6oh5pVyjSZKVOn5o_i10lIgcpDqMXe65a7fdhnSAzj394z/s200/IMG_0378.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5238619005091365634" border="0" width="170" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >lunch; just us... and 10 hungry grey jays. I had packed cracker crumbs for them </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >but they seemed to have other ideas. I made it halfway through my sandwich before they decided it looked tastier than crackers. Every other time I took a bite </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >a bird would swoop down, brace it's little feet on my hand and face, and snatch a piece of crust away. I finally gave up and let them pick at the last bit of bread. I put out more crumbs for them and tried to eat my apple only to have one little jay abandon the crackers, hop over to me and then up onto my apple. It couldn't quite figure out what to do with it though so it ended up just perched there. Needless to say, I didn't eat that part.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >After lunch we drove down to Iron Creek Falls where I had a losing battle with gravity, and fell down a small embankment. It didn't do too much damage, just a little bit of hurt pride as I had a bit of an audience. To the amusement of some though, I gave them a shrug and a thumbs-up from the spot on the ground where I had so inelegantly landed. We spent time taking photos there at the falls before heading back in and ending the day with dinner on the river at </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.mcmenamins.com/index.php?loc=33">McMenamins on the Columbia</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > in Vancouver. Photos from the trip are on my </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://public.fotki.com/adhaney/infrared/mt-st-helens-bear-m/">fotki</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >!<br /></span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-10797669512403867172008-08-20T14:06:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.769-07:00Triple D Goodness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIptnxPaL8X3cVlit-rksDZ4yA8TXKZ1gE91377MxIwoTG4xBpCybmWw-wKfMIG_4S29MqRMck1eo_WO4bbV5R-eBfiJ_BOnLlh7ggNL3lkMTERtGPKfYwU5ApKec9LIP5Srn-riN7QnAq/s1600-h/DSC00218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIptnxPaL8X3cVlit-rksDZ4yA8TXKZ1gE91377MxIwoTG4xBpCybmWw-wKfMIG_4S29MqRMck1eo_WO4bbV5R-eBfiJ_BOnLlh7ggNL3lkMTERtGPKfYwU5ApKec9LIP5Srn-riN7QnAq/s200/DSC00218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236709528734443250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >No trips this past weekend as Portland has reverted back to winter weather mode (I'm wearing a sweatshirt and watching it rain as I type this). We did manage to hit the Pearl District and enjoy some fantastic food though. </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_dv">Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network)</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > is one of our new favorite shows. The only bad thing about watching it is, well, it makes me unbelievably hungry and a majority of the places are very far away. It also doesn't help that we watch at night before bed so I can't get any food at all! Guy did visit one spot here in Portland though so we headed there on Saturday. Let me tell you... the </span><a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.bywayscafe.com/1001.html">Byways Cafe</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > has some of THE best french toast and pancakes I have ever had the pleasure of tasting, and I've had a lot of french toast and pancakes! John got the blue corn pancakes and I got Amaretto french toast, both slathered with their special honey pecan butter and pure organic maple syrup. The food was so good that we both ate well beyond the point of being too full to eat anymore. We are making a second trip this weekend to try the corn beef hash and fresh made desserts (also featured on the show). Weather is supposed to improve this weekend so we've rescheduled a drive/hike for then. Watch for a trip post and pictures!</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-14631363129382397922008-08-11T13:09:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.777-07:00What a Year!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images40.fotki.com/v1249/photos/7/70144/5832667/IMG_3964s-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 250px;" src="http://images40.fotki.com/v1249/photos/7/70144/5832667/IMG_3964s-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >It's been a while since I posted. Ok so it's been a very very long time, but we've been busy! The year has been filled with all kinds of adventure and fun. We celebrated our one year anniversary in June and here in a couple of weeks it will be one full year in Portland. There is too much to put into one post so here is a link to my </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://public.fotki.com/adhaney/">Fotki</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >, where you can see photos from all our trips.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >So, this past weekend was the Oregon International Airshow. I'd never actually been to an airshow so we took a trip down Sunday afternoon, just in time for all the really cool demonstrations. We arrived in the middle of the F-16 demo, just as a P-51 was joining it for the heritage flight. Afterwards we enjoyed several aerobatics teams, a model plane aerobatics demo, the Redbull MiG, an F/A-18 flight, the National Guard Jetcar, and the US Patriots flight, during which the above photo was taken. :) We didn't take any photos really, save for that one, and I must say it is my favorite shot of all so far. That one will be hard to beat, but we'll try anyway! :)</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-78658948430098541352007-09-28T10:59:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.004-07:00Fall Arrives<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255); font-family: verdana;">It's a gorgeous day here in Oregon. Overnight showers gave way to beautiful blue sky and crisp cool air. The trees are putting on their fall dresses of red and yellow. It's been a while since I posted anything. First stage of the move went well. We had a stunning drive up through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. I-70 between Denver and Grand Junction is especially beautiful, worth the trip just to drive through Glenwood Canyon. The cut up to Vernal and the Flaming Gorge was also well worth the extra miles. The TT mostly survived intact considering it was carrying two people and a good chunk of my belongings. It had a small overheating problem while climbing some steep curves but that was fixed later with a new thermostat. I absolutely love living here and I've never been happier in my life than I am right now. I have a feeling things will only ever get better.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-58641410101078415592007-08-14T21:32:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.996-07:00Chaos!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images29.fotki.com/v1034/photos/7/70144/4767961/boxes-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 0px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images29.fotki.com/v1034/photos/7/70144/4767961/boxes-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >This is sitting next to me in the office. There are 18 boxes there, although it doesn't really look like much. I didn't really have much to pack. Every time I get the last box taped up though I find something I forgot and have to start a new box and find things to fill it. Tomorrow is the last day I have to really work on getting things done and I really only have that afternoon; moving day is creeping up fast! I think this is the most fun I've had packing though. Usually it's something you dread, packing for a move, but it has actually been quite fulfilling and it feels good to get things packed. Next task, get them all localized into one spot (not the office) for the mover(s).</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-29144794501386428792007-07-15T15:54:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.988-07:00PDX or Bust!<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images29.fotki.com/v1012/photos/7/70144/5228178/CRW_3914s-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I'm moving to Portland! That break I talked about? The above photo explains it all. Love of my life. Yup. I'll still be here for another month due to work (on both our sides), but after that it's goodbye OK and hello OR. No doubts, no regrets, no fear; just a clear head, a heart and soul full of love and a spirit ready for adventure.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-41603758314662545732007-07-02T13:08:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.013-07:00Broken<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Something started back in May, a little shift that made a hairline fracture through my so called life. June though, June blew it wide open. I am broken and broken never felt so good. I have never felt so full of passion and life and love. In being broken I have never felt so complete and so much myself. I cannot go back to that life now. I cherish this new too much and with that I refuse to be put back together.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-69060724317806491842007-05-28T07:09:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.853-07:00Don't Point at Buffalo (and other life lessons)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images30.fotki.com/v465/photos/7/70144/5438814/CRW_6280s-vi.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://images30.fotki.com/v465/photos/7/70144/5438814/CRW_6280s-vi.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Last week was the best week I've had this past year. John arrived Monday afternoon and we spent quite a bit of time just hanging out, laughing and catching up with old times. Wednesday I took him out to Wichita wildlife refuge for a day of fun hiking, driving, picture taking and good food. We learned that buffalo do not like it if you point at them, Holy Cities can be creepy, and fried peaches are pretty good. Thursday wasn't near as much fun though; John continued on with his trip and I went back to work.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >This is where we get to the 'deep thoughts'.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >His visit has me at a realization, or really more like a remembrance. There is nothing better in life than spending time with a great friend, especially when that great friend shares so many common interests with you. I say a remembrance as this is something I already knew, but with so many friends scattered across the country and only a handful I consider really great friends, I tend to forget what it's like. I also didn't realize how much I want that contact until it's there and gone again. Here I always thought being the loner was just fine by me.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >John, you're right. I think I need to get out of this town. Either that or everyone else needs to move closer. :)</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-80199509630476764562007-04-13T06:18:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.024-07:00Early Summer Fun<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">It's going to be such an awesome summer this year! On the 21st I get to go shooting with some good friends and the OLP photographers at Wichita MWR. It will be my first real shoot with the new IR camera. There is a Bluegrass Festival from the 26th to the 28th and a friend from highschool will be there performing. I haven't seen him in years so I hope I get a chance to at least say hi. May is my birthday at the beginning of the month, and a really good friend from Oregon will be on a road trip and hopefully stopping in for a few days at the end of the month. He likes photography too and I want to tow him around to all the scenic parks and just hang out and have fun. June brings TT-West 07 and a 2000 mile drive to Ashland Oregon for a great weekend filled with amazing drives and some of the best friends I've ever known. Life is good. :)</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-331293805737241832007-04-04T14:01:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.036-07:00Sucked In By A Black Hole<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >A little known fact about me: I do love my music. Not only music but the gear used to play it. I've a love affair with high-end audio. Like any good audiophile I strive for that 'absolute sound' reproduction that is musical and involving, dimensional, dynamic and as close to life as possible. Like a good many audiophiles I know this sometimes involves a tweak here and there. I'll admit a good many tweaks and gimmicks are just that, and don't provide much of anything for your money spent (except maybe a lighter wallet). I just found something that is the exact opposite though.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >After </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tweaks/messages/143086.html">a glowing review</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > from an acquaintance online I gave in and picked up a Black Hole CD mat from Herbie's Audio Lab. The cost? $4.50 for the mat and $.50 for a little case plus priority shipping for a total of less than $10.00. The performance was astounding. It cleaned up some upper midrange/lower treble glare and beefed up the thin bass on some discs. It also really brought out previously veiled micro-dynamics. Imaging on good discs is downright eerie in it's 3-dimensionality. I did what could be called the audio version of a double take on more than one occasion. My so-so discs now sound more like my great discs did before the mat, and my really bad discs are at least now listenable if not somewhat enjoyable. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >The price to performance ratio for the Black Hole is off the charts. I'll probably buy a few to </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >leave permanently</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" > on my favorite discs, and keep a couple more for swapping between less listened to CDs. It would be inexpensive enough to do. </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/cdmat.htm">Herbie's Audio Lab Black Hole: Five stars and two thumbs up from me.</a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-84154777398449522392007-03-28T07:11:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.048-07:00IR Fun!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.fotogenik.org/dani/CRW_6202s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 5px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 150px;" src="http://www.fotogenik.org/dani/CRW_6202s.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Well it's been really cloudy and wet lately; not good for IR shooting. I did manage to get out one day after work before the storms rolled in. The camera works beautifully as far as what it was designed to do. I had this one set up for use with the canon EF-S 10-22mm exclusively. It still works great with other lenses; they just take a bit of fiddling with the focus. I can't tell you how much nicer it is to be able to just point and shoot hand held instead of fiddling with three stacked filters and constant tripod use. Look for new 2007 galleries in My Photos soon. Here is a sample shot for now. :)</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-92154539872366019322007-03-27T13:29:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:08.748-07:00Spring Cleaning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnOK6wG_miEiZhCy9GSvD9_AUNe5gBnW70ryGrkvG-vE5fAQ52_pLQd3HL_dKOz4o6tVvzOfhrotGq70vz0EkLi3-wcLMPCkr_ntZdX4d0ED3grwtwF7d3puctYzi1-DK3-eGbU0zabLv/s1600-h/CRW_6175s.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnOK6wG_miEiZhCy9GSvD9_AUNe5gBnW70ryGrkvG-vE5fAQ52_pLQd3HL_dKOz4o6tVvzOfhrotGq70vz0EkLi3-wcLMPCkr_ntZdX4d0ED3grwtwF7d3puctYzi1-DK3-eGbU0zabLv/s200/CRW_6175s.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5046704984402444178" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >It's that time of year again. Time to swap the summer shoes on and then break out the bucket of detailing products, sponges, towels and the buffer and make up for the neglect of winter. It took me three days to get the TT into summer shape, but then I'm a bit obsessive. I think the results speak for themselves though (too bad the photos just don't do it justice).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >This was also one of those years that called for fresh microfiber towels and a restock on alot of supplies. I get my microfibers from Pakshak in Hawaii. They are top quality towels and you get top quality service. Plus they are on sale right now! You can find the pakshak </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.pakshak.com/">website here</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">.</span> For 'wax' </span><a style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc">I use Zaino</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);">.</span> Zaino can be as intensive or as easy as you'd like to make it, and I always make it intensive this first detail of the year. The car was polished with Z-PC and is now sporting one coat of Z-AIO, two coats of Z5pro w/ZFX, one coat of Z2 pro w/ZFX, and two coats of Z-CS, all with a Z6 wipe down in between and a final topper of Z8 grand finale spray. It doesn't take all that product to look great though, thats what I love about Zaino. One could just apply one coat of Z-CS and have an amazing deep shine. Z-CS is easy because you just spray it on, rub it around evenly, and don't buff it off just walk away; which is exactly what I'll be doing the rest of the year. </span><br /><a href="http://www.pakshak.com/"></a>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-5093748254994726272007-02-21T13:48:00.000-08:002009-08-19T16:00:08.734-07:00New CamIRa On The Way<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41z6X33RuUT6WlY9Ill7Q3dOABmsVHSM6Z4Uj6fbKiBncH-fmHfx1Krm4l8cEWJ_YwYwcbnVVXXxrlteB25oH3__kmQmh2REevDfoYun0WbGGXbwxGkjQp5sWovxG4KmKSJXASicvYgRX/s1600-h/trail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41z6X33RuUT6WlY9Ill7Q3dOABmsVHSM6Z4Uj6fbKiBncH-fmHfx1Krm4l8cEWJ_YwYwcbnVVXXxrlteB25oH3__kmQmh2REevDfoYun0WbGGXbwxGkjQp5sWovxG4KmKSJXASicvYgRX/s200/trail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034108599611730962" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have a new (to me) Canon Digital Rebel on the way. It will be sent to <a href="http://www.maxmax.com/aXRayIRCameras.htm">MaxMax</a> for their infrared conversion and I will have two Rebels, a regular color 300D, and a dedicated infrared 300D-IR! I love shooting IR and for years now I've been using my trusty Sony F717 in nightshot mode with stacks of filters. The resolution isn't the greatest and the nightshot programing is very limiting, but it's worked well for me. Now I'll be able to use any lens, any shutter speed, f-stop, or ISO, and I'll be able to shoot handheld instead of always having to use a tripod or brace the camera on a rock. I'll get images with more detail and be able to print larger too. I can't wait to get out and go shooting this spring/summer. Look for me shooting IR images at TT-West this year! *Excited*</span></span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-66938075726774059782007-02-12T14:14:00.000-08:002009-08-19T16:00:09.056-07:00The Blues<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Sometimes you just get the blues, ya know? Maybe it's the weather. Sunny days have been few and far between and the constant damp and dreary cold and overcast skies drags me down. My faithful reader(s) from the NW know what I'm talking about. It seems if I'm not at work I'm cooped up inside the house because of the weather. Thank the lord for good books and music to keep me somewhat sane, though I've now read several books two or three times and I'm starting to wear out my favorite CDs. The knowledge that spring is just around the corner buoys my spirits though, and I'm thankful that this is Oklahoma and not a more northerly state.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-63678557344180832942006-12-30T05:41:00.000-08:002009-08-19T16:00:09.066-07:00Happy Belated Holidays<span style="font-family: verdana; color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">So I'm a bit late for Christmas... but at least I made it in time for new years! It's been a very odd year, and I think back and remember that alot of the events I'm thinking of actually happened in 2005! Where in the hell did the year go??? I don't know. I'll try to make the time for a Christmas post later on and then perhaps a year in review, although there isn't much to talk about. Till then!</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-30320958483041571212006-11-23T13:22:00.000-08:002009-08-19T16:00:09.075-07:00Happy Thanksgiving All!<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Well the turkey feast has been prepared and enjoyed and I'm just finishing off a slice of pumpkin pie and a cup of coffee. I'm thankful this day, as I am everyday, for being blessed with a wonderfully loving and supportive family, friends I love, a job I enjoy, and good health among other things. Hope everyone else had a great holiday as well! Cheers!</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-43000829305358858712006-10-25T15:23:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.083-07:00I <3 Cheese!<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);">Cheese is one of the best foods evar! I just finished off a stick of cheddar with chipotle peppers.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-91621045116730819082006-10-02T14:05:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.109-07:00Snack Addiction<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >I have a new snack addiction, and it's healthy! My aunt came to visit one week and came back from the grocery store with several cans of Garbanzo beans aka Chickpeas. I would have never thought that chickpeas would be a decent snack or even taste good... but just drain the can, put a cup or so in a bowl and season to taste ( I like a little salt and pepper) then enjoy! They taste great, they are good for you, and you can also use them in salads and lots of other dishes. I could very likely eat an entire can by myself. Carefull of the brand you buy. I like Bush's Best brand (in the blue can) because they are great quality and size and in a light juice that drains off easily and doesn't affect the taste. We tried some off brand in a red and black can once and had to toss them out. They were very small and were packed in a thick jelly that tasted funny.</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-26169712421337009122006-08-17T14:34:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.097-07:00Guilty Pleasures<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Do you have one of those secret guilty pleasures? You know, the ones you don't tell anyone about because you think you'd be embarrased? Like (guys) getting an occasional facial, or eating pineapple and mayo sandwiches, or maybe you (ladies) think Will Ferrell is cute. Well mine is bluegrass/folk music. Yup. I love Bela Fleck, Alison Krauss & Union Station, Nickel Creek... in fact I'm going to the OIBF (thats oklahoma international bluegrass festival) this October. I found an old highschool friend is a member of <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www.myspace.com/51483195">III Generation Bluegrass Band</a> and they will be playing at OIBF along with my neighbor, whos a member of a little 'garage' band. So there you have it! I love bluegrass! So what's YOUR guilty pleasure?</span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1397179878122652136.post-2187459341681313472006-08-06T10:51:00.000-07:002009-08-19T16:00:09.129-07:00Beary Cool<span style="color: rgb(204, 204, 255);font-family:verdana;" >Here's something for the wildlife lovers, <a style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" href="http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/wildcamgrizzlies/wildcam.html">National Geographic's wild grizzly cam</a>. I'm watching 5 bears fishing in the falls right now. The best time to watch is from 1 to 5pm Alaska time, when someone from the Pratt Museum will maneuver the camera. </span>Daniellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06185754367131184044noreply@blogger.com1