A New Tool

I got a new camera this week. A Panasonic LX100. Wow have they packed a lot of ability into a small package. I have spent a couple of days reading the manual, setting custom settings on the camera, and taking pictures. I want to have this camera nailed before I head for Sitges. This camera is not intended for the casual photographer, though you can set it for fully dumb automatic and hand it off to someone who will only need to point and shoot. This camera is very capable with features galore. I can easily set it for either full automatic, or aperture priority, or shutter priority, or fully manual. Many overrides are available and easy to access. It has a wonderful lens with f1.7 at the widest aperture. It should work great in low light. So far, two features have stood out - the electronic viewfinder and the level or alignment indicator. My last new high end digital camera, the Olympus Pen EP2 had these but they are much improved on the LX100. Five years of improvements in digital cameras is significant. Bottom line, top of the line lens, great features, great feel in the hands, well laid out, highly configurable, easy to carry.

 

The LX100 will replace the Olympus on this trip and take less room. With the Olympus. I carried three lenses and a flash and the EVF plus batteries and charger etc. The Panasonic has a built in 24mm to 75mm lens. I am giving up a lot on the long end, but I used my short telephoto primarily on the Olumpus. The flash is smaller on the Pana and the EVF is integrated. The battery charger takes less room because there is no cord. This means the Pana is more mobile - it will fit in my murse (barely.)

 

 

 

Remiss Again

Sometimes I think I am as lazy as Shelby! I have not kept up with the blog and even did a really bad job while we were in Costa Rica. Except for uploading pictures the Costa Rica blog was a bust.

Our spring in Chicago has been a bust also. A couple of weeks ago we had a surprisingly warm day and then the bottom dropped out. Since the official start of Spring we have had snow twice and the temperatures struggle to get out of the 30s. As. Sharon just said, even though the temperature has made it to 40 there is still ice on the pond. Each night it freezes over then may or may not thaw during the day.
We are seeing some normal signs of Spring. Robins have appeared, we saw a blue jay yesterday, I sighted my first chipmunk today, and crocuses (croci?) are pushing up and trying to flower. I have also seen tulips and day lillies pushing up.
In 19 days Katie Soler and I head for Sitges. I am both excited and almost nervous about going asI will be gone from home for about six weeks and will be Sharonless for four weeks. Sharon will be flying to Paris on May 16 and I will take the train from Barcelona to meet her. There will be no excuse for me not to blog a log on this trip.
We did have a fun and very relaxing trip to Costa Rica. Our condo was luxurious and we were very comfortable there. We had a lovely view, and a steep climb up from the beach! Most of our evening meals were in the condo - easy to do when talented foodies get together. We spent time at the beach, time at the pool, time wandering, time having cocktails. Yep, a good time.

We flew over Cuba on our way from Liberia to Miami. Beautiful. But, then check out the ice on the lake as we approached Chicago!

And to finish for today, I have a pork butt on the Traeger grill. I just we t out to check on it and put my iGrill thermometer in. It is raining out there and the rain is chunky. That's what happens when it is 34° on a spring morning!

Today On The Bird Feeder

Red Headed Woodpecker
Doves
Sparrows
Nut Hatches
House Wrens
Cardinals
Chickadees
I added many peanuts to the feeder last night and they appear to be a favorite choice for many of the birds. Lots of protein and fat.

Costa Rica

 

Off To Costa Rica

Sharon and I are off on vacation together. We are heading to Tamarindo, Costa Rica for a week of fun in the sun with the honeymooners, Larry Dunivan and David Gibson. Rebecca ? As I start this, we are on flight from Chicago to Dallas and thanks to Sharon's American Platinum status, we are in First Class. The only way to fly. We are 1st and 2nd on the list for upgrades on our flight from DFW to Liberia. Ahhh, mimosas then breakfast to start the day!

We were not so lucky on our second flight - no 1st class upgrades to be had. This is an Airbus 319, a short plane and it only has 8 seats up front. Even though we were 1 and 2 on the upgrade list, there was no room for us. We are at least in an Exit row and have plenty of leg room, though the window seat has no armrest and the Exit window has an obnoxious handle sticking out. Could be worse! We are on vacation.

 

A Wonderful Week Ending With Amazement

This week I flew to Redmond and spent the whole week with John and Kristie, Avery and Anika. It was great. Then on Sunday I flew back to Chicago and was amazed that I made it. The story follows!

Anika and Avery both had birthdays during the last week of January. Anika on the 27th and Avery on the 31st.

 

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Back To Blogging?

Another dry spell. I am now on a flight from Chicago to Los Angeles on the way to Redmond, Oregon to see Avery and Anika for their birthdays. I was prompted to open this editor and type because as I was leave the lavatory on this new Boeing 737, I noticed there was a pop-out ashtray in the door. Why? You cannot smoke on an airplane. You certainly cannot smoke in the lavatory of an airplane why is there an ashtray? One of life's little riddles.
Listening to Nora Jones right now. I should look up the music for some of her songs, I think my voice would work for them. Research time.
Sometimes a blog is a stream of consciousness and that seems to be the case today. Recently I have had numerous occasions when I had a desire to open the blog and write, but something always comes up to distract me. One of the joys of having Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. And no, I do not have ADHD because I don't think I have ever been hyper active, as a child or as an adult.
There are all new seats on this aircraft, leather or a reasonable facsimile. There are screens in the back of every seat and an outlet for 110v, a headphone jack, a USB port and some other connector. Pretty fancy. I paid extra for an exit row seat and I am very happy with the legroom.
I am using the built in screen to watch our progress and it appears we are currently right over the Grand Canyon. Can't see it, but there it is on the map.
Want to talk neuropathy? Probably not but it is a topic I cannot seem to get away from. My feet continue to be somewhat numb on the soles, and I am pretty much resigned to that being their regular state from now on. My fingers though seem to run through the range of being overly sensitive, partially numb, sometime tender and sore, and my hands do not want to make fists. I cannot tightly close my hands. My hands get much better after I see Melody, my naturapath, but then in a week or so I do something which gets them going again. It does bother me to play the ukulele but I play through it and soon forget the pain.