A New Beginning.

Strange fascination, fascinating me

Changes are taking the pace I'm going through

(BOWIE, David "Changes." Hunky Dory. RCA Records, 1972)

You probably thought I forgot I had a blog!  I only did that once, but, then again, I was drunk when I started it.  Then it was a month before I posted anything, and that was just a picture of me and my cat!

OK, I forgot twice.  When I remembered to look again in September, I found I had a surprising number of hits (something like 50)!  I can only assume it was the picture of Katido that did it.  I found some pictures of her on my cell phone recently, here's my favorite.

This should help my hit count!

I still miss her.  I'm far from ready to get another cat.

I also recently had an emergency involving another old friend.  I've taken photography up again.  Five years in the photo industry and the only pictures I've taken in that time has been with my crappy phone camera.  After discussing with several of my colleagues at work, the decision was made: stick with film.  Of course, this was after I had decided what digital camera I was going to buy and had already purchased a film camera from an eBay seller just to get the lens (seriously, $25 for a $75 lens with a body thrown in?) that would work with it.  Only one thing to do: get a battery and film and start shooting.

And that's what I did.  

The lens is a 35 to 80mm zoom, and isn't that bad.  The body...  It took me an hour to figure out how to put it manual mode!  That's when I pulled out my trusty Pentax K-1000.  I've had this camera for about 25 years and has served me well.

Until last week.

While rambling about shooting pictures, I noticed the film advance was a little stiff.  Then I noticed gears grinding.  Then... nothing.  The film advance was shot.  Fortunately, it was at the end of a roll (she held o that long) and I was able to rewind the film.

I took her to a repair shop and asked about repair.  The clerk took her to the back so the tech could examine her.  After about fifteen minutes he cam back and said "Do you want to talk replacement".  WHAT?!?  Decommission my K?  The repair is going to have to be real expensive as a replacement K-1000 with a 50mm 1:2 primary is $175 and I have no idea what a suitable felt lined oak shadowbox for my  old one and her 50mm primary to go into would cost!

Apparently, she needs a full service to get back going and this is going to cost... <voice=doctorevil> One hundred twenty dollars </voice>.

I told him to fix my camera.

Looks like it'll be about 2 weeks before she's done.  This gives me time to get a few things together, and I will be taking this blarg in a new direction.

Stay tuned.  There is excitement ahead!

(Side note, I really did start planning how to enshrine my old camera when he brought up replacement.)