I needed to work it all out in terms of subject distance, so I drew up the following diagram to help me wrap my head around it all:

Not to scale.

So at the minute I am using the 14 – 42mm lens (orange field) and I am looking for a good amount of zoom which is suited to wildlife, sports and telephoto landscape shots. Where the 45-200 take over straight from where the 14-42 left off it just doesn’t give me that extra bit of zoom reserve in case I need to get that little bit closer to something. Further more take the small bird shot as an example I can always step further away from the subject if I am too close at 100mm with the 100 – 300mm, but I may not be able to get closer with the 45-200mm at 200mm without spooking the bird (subject) away.

The apature on both lenses is f4 – f5.6 so no loss of quality there and both have the Mega I.O.S stabilisation, the ONLY difference is that extra zoom. I don’t think I’m really going to miss much on the 45 – 100mm range that I won’t have with the 100-300mm lens. Therefore I think it warrants paying the extra £135.00 to buy the 100-300m Lumix Vario lens.

I will be ordering this coming Saturday (tomorrow at the day of writing this post) and will be doing a few review as soon as it arrives; I looke forward to never missing another shot of a bird in the distance ever again!

A brand as synonymous to gaming such as “Xbox” should surely be targeted at a gaming audience?

But after the reveal of Microsofts ’s new console, it seems they are targeting everyone.

It was pitched as an ‘all-in-one’ revolutionary product that would change the way we consume entertainment.

Yet, this contradicts the very brand Microsoft has created. Xbox.

When people think Xbox they think of games, not TV, not movies and not music.

But Microsoft is obviously aiming to change this. However, this is easier said then done.

At this point in time, it seems they are sitting on the fence as to whether the Xbox One is a gaming machine with extra multi-media capabilities or whether it’s a home entertainment system with added gaming functionality.

In order for the product to succeed, consumers need to have a clear understanding of what they are purchasing.

So tacking on an already established brand name to a product that is significantly different to its predecessors could be a potential problem.

Entertainment professionals around the world have expressed their concern for the device:

“It’s genuinely not clear to me at this point whom the Xbox One is aimed at.” IGN – Keza MacDonald

“Microsoft narrowcast the launch presentation of the Xbox One to a very targeted demographic group; the graying dad demographic.” CNET – Dan Ackerman

“After gamers across the country used Microsoft’s unclear revelations to collectively call their console “Xbone”, attention is now turning in two directions; PlayStation 4 and Wii U.” The Inquisitr – David Cornell

With such a mixed reaction on the product already, it is evident Microsoft has a lot to do in order to shift negative criticism away and ultimately provide consumers with a clear understanding of what the Xbox One is.

All sights are now set on the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June, where Microsoft will have a second chance to promote the Xbox One to the world.

Chance tapped me on the shoulder – then hid.

She likes to play this game.

Keeping me guessing at which side she’ll show up on.

And when I turn my head to see her, she’ll move.

She does this so that I’ll keep my eyes open.

So that I won’t become idle.

She’ll even go so far as to leave traces of herself when she’s gone.

Making my skin tingle at the possibilities she leaves behind.

When something stirs inside of me, inspiring the notion of hope – that’s her.

When the light of morning pulls me out of slumber – that’s her.

Chance turns up with each consideration.

Quickening my pulse at the thought that we’ll meet again.

In the event that we’ll come face to face.

Constantly mindful of the moment if it should arrive.

And that’s just as chance would have it.

Things change and I guess that’s life.

The thing is, ‘the simple life’ never seems to lose it’s charm, whatever the definition. We seem to be ever searching for ‘a better life’.

I have been reading a bit and thinking a bit on this new reincarnation of simple living and the thing is: I hope it’s not a fad. But. It will be a fad if the lifestyle is not whole-of-life and sustainable.

Firstly, I guess the basic premise behind Simple Living is to consume less, take away the unnecessary and only do what’s left or, equally, what you are passionate about. I guess the idea is that you get rid of the things, the tasks, the busyness in order to focus on the relationships with family, friends, society, nature, the world.

It’s alluring.  I really like this ideal.

But I’ve noticed a few things. Sometimes when simplifying we can simplify our own lives whilst making other lives more complicated and, inconsiderately, putting undue expectations on others.

For example:

Paring back on your own grocery items, cooking basic, bland food, but then relying on other people to feed you your essential vitamins and minerals and your meat (if so inclined).

Getting rid of your car to either a) take public transport (relies on a reliable and sustainable transport system) or b) rely on other people for lifts (relies on them having a car & money for the petrol) which can put pressure on your community to provide for you, when you are in fact well able to provide for yourself.

Perhaps choosing not to go outside of your area while expecting other people to come to you.

Or taking away the television only to expect to visit other people’s places to view the box.

I guess all these thoughts point to a central idea: In simplifying we must think outside of our own little box/apartment/house/self/family. If simplicity is to last it must be undertaken with the wider community in mind. Consideration of those around you must be your issue.  Expecting other people to provide for your needs (or as one blogger put it: stealing from plates on the dinner table.) builds resentment in the long run and can not lead to a long-term sustainable lifestyle of simplicity as in order for any lifestyle to succeed it must be supported by the community around it.

It is in the simplicity spruikers interest to encourage, even assist others to pursue simplicity, not simply to use others to maintain ones own lifestyle or budget.

As my friend says, it’s best to live simply and generously. Simplicity should not stop us from being generous to those around us. And simplifying should not in turn rely on the unending generosity of others, especially when we are well able to provide for ourselves and just choose not to, for whatever reason.

P.S. Pics and adventure updates to come soon. We’ve been living on low internet for a couple of weeks while away from where home is currently. We are back to high-tech living soon!

The rains came and the trail would be
a stream.
After some time it widened,
deepened,
filled,
until it became a river
which today I walk beside.

I think that perhaps I should step
away from its coolness and begin another
path,
but I am old and
path-making takes time.
It is pleasant here amidst the
willows and I am content that I have made
just one
river.

October 22, 1989

…into an Apothecary Garden.

We began by selecting the plants we wanted to keep (there was already plenty of useful self-seeded plants such as sorrel, chestnut, dandelion, nettle, clover and elder) and then thinning out the rest so we could plant other food, herb and medicinal plants.

The rain was a bit of a pain, but at least it made pulling the plants out easier

We then selected our plants…

…and marked them with our specially designed DUG tags…

Many hands made light (if wet…) work…

…and we soon had a wide variety of plants in place; including raspberry, mint, pak choi, rocket, chives, basil and oregano, to name but a few.

We’ll be back next week to continue planting during the New Fringe Exhibition party (don’t forget to bring some food and drink for the party if you’re joining us) and will be working on the garden throughout the summer.

If you’d like to join us or know of a patch of land which could do with a little TLC then leave your details via the contact form below…

… I am happy the basement hasn’t leaked.

… I am reminded of how much my kids pay attention, in many small ways.

… I am enjoying my new present.

… I am enjoying Siena wanting to do more studying on Egypt, even though I thought we were done.

… I am thankful we have a home and blankets, and food and clothes to keep us warm.  I feel lucky.

… We are all counting the days until summer break and enjoying this long weekend.

… We are having fun.  Playing, watching, taking pictures, watching videos of plays, dreaming, learning.

… I am enjoying all the photos I am going through.  From our visit with our friends who have just left home, and those photos from India I am still working on making our photo albums… an adventure that keeps on giving even after almost two years ago.

… I am happy for my parents that they’ll be able to celebrate, very soon, their oldest grandson’t wedding.  Oh… it’s really a beautiful news for all of us.

… I am wondering if we’ve gone back in time and it’s not really summer coming in a short month, we are actually in the middle of the winter!

… I am in love.

Have a good Friday!

I’m going to keep a small break from drawing. I recently started working on a new job and need to adjust my rhythm. I’ll start again next week, so check back then.

At the beginning of the show, billionaire Oliver Queen, ex-party boy, comes back from darkness in the form of an island where he was trapped for five years. He holds secrets and traumas (seeing his father committing suicide in front of him, tortures, manipulations by those who took him under their wings)…and has a mission.

Green Arrow (or “The Hood” as Starling City Police Dpt and the media calls him), Ollie’s persona, is the mix of a personal crusade (Ollie’s father, before dying, gives him a list of names responsible for “failing the city”), of anger and violence (he uses the skills he learnt from surviving on the island, mostly martial arts and of course, his bow and arrows) and guilt.

This guilt is not caused by some need to bring justice in Starling City : Oliver only follows his father’s dying wish (order?):  ”Survive”. By becoming a vigilante, Oliver Queen serves his own mission, crossing the names, stopping these people who failed Starling City, in the hope to honor his father’s name. At this point (first part of the season, let’s say), there’s no hero here. Just a young man throwing himself into work/fights. The guilt? He’s alive. Queen Sr is not. The father shot himself to save the son. A sacrifice. And now Oliver has to prove himself it wasn’t in vain. This mission is his redemption.

The turning point though, does not come from his mission. It comes from his personal life.

Family and loss are central themes during this first season. Malcolm Merlyn, the nemesis, is driven by a similar guilt – themurder of his wife. Both Ollie and Malcolm were helpless, and this guilt led them to serve a mission. And while Ollie lets his guilt lead him, Malcolm is soon driven by anger. And this is where their paths derail: Ollie never has an appetite for destruction. He always wants things to be better. For his family (not matter how disintegrated it becomes), his friends (Laurel & Tommy, of course, but also Felicity Smoak) and Starling City (co-operating with Detective Lance).

Speaking of friends, it’s impossible not to mention Diggle, bodyguard turned into sidekick, who plays a great part in the Arrow’s transformation: his friendship makes Ollie a better fighter, a better vigilante, and ultimately a better man. Because Diggle represents honesty and teaches Ollie to fight for his beliefs, he (and later Felicity) is the rock preventing Ollie from crossing the anger line Malcolm Merlyn crossed.

Remember what another hero once said? “The hardest thing in this world, is to live in it”.

ON THE WAY WEST TO FARGO, the land is wide, the sky big.

Fields and farm sites—punctuated by occasional cities, like Sauk Centre, Alexandria and Fergus Falls, and exits to small towns—once west of St. Cloud, define the Interstate 94 corridor leading northwest to the North Dakota border.

It is a place that can be both unsettling and freeing, depending on your perspective, your mood, your experiences.

Raised on the southwestern Minnesota prairie, even I am sometimes overwhelmed by the infinite spaciousness of this prairie, this sky.

I ground myself with my camera, locking on scenes that root me to the earth, give me the security of feeling tethered.

And when I do that, I notice the details of lines and shapes—in fence posts and grain bins, a lone farmhouse or a single tree, the angle of a barn roof or the vertical rise of a silo.

I still feel small in this expanse. But I, at least, feel less lost in the vastness.

Copyright 2013 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

Schoolhouse pendants. What would you not do with these??? They are amazing. I would put them over a kitchen island.

This desk and tackle box are sooo cute for a little boy’s room!

This mixing bowl situation…is ah-mazing. Just to have sitting in the kitchen or in the dining room. So cool.

Love this privacy screen! You could use this all over the house…even just as decoration against a boring wall.

This vintage wire baskets I thought would be neat on an open shelf in a kitchen. Or in a mud room for shoes. Possibilities are endless there…

Who doesn’t need a vintage first aid cabinet. This item is on my watch list.

I’ve been wanting a retro clock to go in the kitchen. This one was pretty great.

I fell in love with this hot pink door. probably the only place I could ever get this to fly in our house is maybe a closet door. but if I had a little potting shed I would definitely do this

This is just hilarious to me. probably because this looks like Finley.

I wanted this barbie doll…pretty bad…but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out what I would do with her. I not very big on buying things to keep in a box or not use.

This sign would be great in a kitchen. It’s so retro…can’t you see it in a breakfast nook?

I found all of these things in Seneca or Walhalla, SC. The first few were found at Drake’s Emporium–I wrote about them here. The others were found scattered about downtown Seneca.

Sellaband

- Minister Glenda – If anyone has a child at least 7 years old who would like to participate in the "virtual choir" please email me at gmjmpc@yahoo.com and I will send a copy of the song along with a music file for the child to practice with..

This project is in the early planning stages, however, I’d like to see what the interest level is among parents and children and I hope to attract children from all over the world to participate.

If you’d like to donate to this project please send an email to gmjmpc@yahoo.com including your name and the amount you’d like to donate and I’ll send you an paypal invoice which will serve as your payment receipt. Any donation will be much appreciated but donations of at least $10 will receive an audio copy of the song.

Thank you and God Bless You!

Minister Glenda Jackson

He is just kinda there. Hanging out. Watching all the other talking animals frolic about. Oh bother and such.

Pooh has his honey. Tigger has his tail. Kanga has her Roo.

What the fuck does Eeyore have?

Bummer man.

It looks to me like he has sad eyes.

But why?

Perhaps like me he was just born this way. For some reason we are in touch with our melancholy side. Much like Eeyore, sometimes I feel like I am full of sawdust. Tigger exhausts us. We think guys like Owl are assholes.

I don’t personally think that any amount of Prozac can take away what it naturally breed into us.

We are like two pea’s in a pod, Eeyore and I.

But we fight really hard to stick around and fit in. Pooh occasionally cracks wise, and makes us laugh. We appreciate when so many people offer to help us attach our tales again. It falls off often enough, that is for sure.

I am surprised that Eeyore isn’t sporting hundreds of holes in his ass by now.

Why can’t Piglet take a sewing class?

Some quotes of Eeyore:

Bite me Pooh.

• Thanks for noticing me
• If it is a good morning
• It’s not much of a tail
• Most likely lose it again
• Days, weeks, months, who knows
• I found it
• If you ask me
• It works. Didn’t expect it to
• http://www.just-pooh.com

]]> http://justlikeyousaiditwouldbe.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/time-to-let-go-again/ Fri, 24 May 2013 12:47:36 +0000 oberonsky http://justlikeyousaiditwouldbe.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/time-to-let-go-again/  

My thoughts are moving slowly today and the words not seeming to reach my hands. The expression of my heart seems not to be synchronizing with them either. I know they are there, just lost in the fog of tired. Perhaps some rest is necessary to reintegrate this moment. Perhaps some time to allow the connectivity of heart and mind. Letting the silence fill the void while the noise melts away from what surrounds me. This is a cue to walk a little slower today. Work a little more wisely remembering that my arc is long and I need not be in a rush to get to where I think I am going. After all, how am I to know?art

photo credit: Sreejit Poole

1 – 2 – 3
1 – 2 – 3
Sam taped his foot
to Miles blowin’
on
‘All Blues.’
Miles certainly wasn’t
a contemporary of his
but
it didn’t matter
his dad liked it.
At some point
maybe 19, or 20
when Sam was trying to make the transition
from being a boy to a man
he had looked at his father
and tried to copy it
all of it.
Now he sat
with his father’s shoes
his father’s sleeves rolled
only half way up his arms
while drinking his father’s black coffee
and reading
an actual newspaper
as Mile’s ‘Kind of Blue’
played out.
Sam’s father was still alive
and no longer wore those same black loafers
that Sam now copied
but it didn’t matter.
His father had long since moved on
to reading his news on the internet
but
Sam was taking pleasure
in the little things
like
the feel of the paper between his hands
as he reclined with his legs crossed
his foot tapping the three
and the smell
of freshly roasted black coffee
filling the air.
Sam lived alone
and
that was not a problem for him.
He never found much comfort
in the company of others.
But
suddenly
without notice
it dawned on him
just how alone he was.
I chose this life
he thought.
But it didn’t matter.
Something was missing.
Sam put down his paper
and just
stared at the wall. 
As
Miles played on 
a question arose within him.
Was
he living?
Or
merely playing
a role?

Panic is all encompassing
All it seems to be is soul trespassing.
Not unlike a nosy friend
In time who drives you round the bend
Creating this mind that needs more than a mend.

Internally you scream,
Night and day through the conscious stream.

To salvation you hope,
He or she will help you to cope,
Endeavouring to make you do more than just mope.

Mind echoes with doubt
Intensely shouting through the night to let it out
Niggling away at you through the day
Destined to make you suffer in order to pay.

Last year I bought my condo and moved in the beginning of October… less than a week later, I had an issue with my shower. I only had scalding hot water… I had no cold water in my shower even if I turned the handle to cold. I reported the issue to my building and it was discovered that there was a part that was old and rusted and causing this problem. I was informed that I could either replace this part or the whole faucet/handle/shower head system. I was unable to get the part at my local Home Depot and since I do not have a car I opted to buy a new faucet/handle/shower  head thingy. Well, the building engineer did not want to replace the faucet/handle/shower head so he went and got the part and replaced it and the problem was solved. Fast forward to this Tuesday evening. I had finished my run and went to take a shower but had no shower pressure. The shower was fine that morning so I thought (and definitely hoped) that the construction work in the commercial space of the building (a few floors down) caused the issue. Nope… the building engineer tried to replace a part but it didn’t work. I know HAVE to replace the faucet/handle/shower head. This will also require some tile work so I need to get replacement tile. After speaking with the building manager to be sure I knew everything I needed to get and the specs (yea… condo association… very specific requirements…). The building engineer said he could do the work if I got what was needed… IE new faucet/handle/shower head and tile. So off to Home Depot I go. The guy that helped me when I was there was very helpful and after a special order and a next day delivery my faucet/handle/shower head is on its way. I get some tile too… It doesn’t match what I currently have but time and cost (mostly cost) is the issue and lack of car means I am not able to go running to every single tile store in the city looking for a match. I don’t hate what I currently have but I am not particularly attached to it either. I had already been toying with the idea of re-tiling my bathroom down the line… Plus I can close the shower curtain and the only people that will know are the ones who use the shower. Horrible I know… but I care more about a working shower.

Anywho – Yesterday I try to find out when the engineer can do the work. I know it is a three day holiday weekend so I am hopeful (but do not expect) that the work can be done this weekend. But I hope that it can be done by Friday at the latest of next week. I find out that the engineer now (Suddenly) has all these projects to do and it will be three weeks AT LEAST until the work can get done. I am more or less told to hire a contractor. This is NOT an option… I cannot afford nor can I take the time off work to have one come and do the job. Not only that… but the building manager got a new job and there is a temp there until they get a permanent replacement.

I am beyond livid… I wanted to replace the faucet/handle/shower head when I moved in back in OCTOBER… Its now like 7 months later and I have a problem again! And why on earth would you say you could do the work?!?!?! I cannot imagine that three weeks worth of stuff got dumped on you in the 12 hour time frame between my conversation with you and your needing to do all these other projects.

Its not the end of the world because the building does actually have a shower on the second floor that I can use but given my work hours it is beyond a royal pain in the butt. Also, as a runner… I generally take two showers a day… so yea… trucking between floors… not fun. And my Dad is visiting in a week so… not having a shower is a bigger deal to me because my dad will be here. I really have no idea what to do and I also fear that there is nothing I can do. I simply cannot afford to hire someone… so short of begging friends to drop their plans to help me… I think I am stuck…

So given the shower situation which I have been dealing with the past two days there has been zero running and strength training. I have done quite a bit of walking though… But yea… I am going to call this week a wash with the strength training.

As for running… I am still on track to get in my 4 days this week…

Yesterday I decided to sign up for the Soldier Field 10 Miler which is tomorrow… Nothing like the brilliant idea to sign up for a 10 mile race at the last minute :-p Now, I know damn well that I am not trained for a 10 mile race but this race has been on my mind for several months and I really have not been able to shake the desire to do it. So my plan is to run 6.50 miles solid and then run/walk the rest… If I happen to be feeling great and can run all of it then thats great but I am not going into this race with that expectation. Essentially this is just an amazingly fun race that I want to do. I am aware I will hurt after and I am aware that I am trained for it. I am just going to enjoy the race… it will be pretty cool tomorrow morning as well so that will DEFINITELY help. There are lots of water stations on the course too which is a bonus. I am looking forward to the race

Also plan to get in some beach Volleyball this weekend… The weather is going to be just so so but it shouldn’t be too bad. I also still really need to get around that whole cleaning my place thing…

Anyone have any exciting plans for the weekend?

Sometimes its the things that we cannot hold in our hands, that last the longest.

Sometimes its the most short-lived of moments, that stay in our hearts forever.

Sometimes its the simplest things, that bring the greatest joy.

Do you believe, that everyday can be a Happy, if only we look for the right things?

Photogrqphy-wise; there is CS6, Coral Aftersot Pro, Lightroom 4.3, Camerabag 2. For writing, there is Office 2011, Simplemind Free, Wunderlist, Evernote, iBooks Author, Memonic, MacJournal, Pages and Notes.
For fun; Meme Generator. Day to day stuff; MoneyWiz, Memory clean, twitter, zipeg, free memory, cpuled, bit defender and smart utility. Phew; what a lovely list of applications

This laptop is awesome. Battery life is impressive, considering that i have been hammering her since i got her to test her out. She is not new by all means, has her moments. But creatively, she is set up to rule the world. Now what to do to do that?

As you, loyal readers know, i finish working from end of next week and further, when i finish, my due date is less than five weeks from then. I do not plan to be bored, i plan to sleep and be productive. This is the first step; getting everything arranged from baby stuff to technology, so there is not much thinking that needs to be done when Baby Byron is here. Because i have already done it.

Although what is taking an age and peeing me off at the moment is HMRC with the lack of communications and hold up with releasing my tax overpayment. It is the last thing that i have to sort and it is waiting on this government. I think their processes need to be overhauled. They must now be inundated when i got my return in nice and early to try and time the release for when i go on maternity. I mean come on. I want my last few weeks of carrying my son to be stress free, with nothing to do except wait. Not too much to ask eh.

At least my technology is sorted, right down to choice of ebook.

Kelly

xxxx