Author: Peg

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buggy day

At the big flea market

Today, I went to our neighborhood’s monthly big flea market. If you ever tossed something in the trash or a Goodwill Box – and decided that you wanted it back – our flea market is the place to come. You will find it.

On the way home with my treasure – a 50 cent dress – I went looking for butterflies. Found none. But this unknown bug is almost as colorful as the flea market.

unknown bug

I was slipping into a deep dark funk about the fate of life on the planet after the upcoming elections. Decided not to worry – as long as Obama is President.  We survived “The Contract on America” – even Bill Clinton survived. The republic will survive – but it will not be pretty. All bets are off, if come 2012 the tea potheads win the presidency. Will I be too old to live the ex-pat life? Ah, nobody is promised tomorrow and the first Tuesday in November 2012 is many tomorrows away.

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Busy

Wild life photography.

Now, what I want to know is: “Why didn’t that rabbit turn around so his front end was in the sunlight and his back end was in the shade?” I took the “scenic route” home from the volunteer job today and found the rabbit. Think it is too hot for butterflies. I might have to put learning about butterflies off until next spring.

Been busy this week at the volunteer job. I am doing my annual inventory of our paper files. Trying to be sure we have paper records for all 2,000+ employees and that they are all tucked away in the file cabinets. It is sort of like “reading the shelves” in a library – but you don’t ever get distracted by what you are “reading”. But, with luck – that job will be all finished by Friday.

Just looked at the new Apple toys. Of course I want them all. Just like I want all the clothes in the JJill fall catalog. Nevermindthat I leave for warmer climes come mid-autumn.

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SUNday

Hot as hell, not a cloud in sight
Not a creature is stirring - especially not our Russian lifeguard

2 pictures, 0 words 2day.

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OOPS

Image Stablization Failure

That was not what I planned. It was an OOPS. Didn’t go check out the theater at the Beck/Palin circus today. I was too lazy and too afraid that I’d be mistaken for one of “them”. There were lots of “them” getting on the subway. They looked like me. White and aging fast. The good news – I didn’t see many young people.

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Butterfly Quest

Common Buckeye

When all else fails – learn something new. Butterflies. I downloaded a “Beginners Guide to DC Area Butterflies”. Took the camera (L1 with cheap Oly macro lens)  out today in quest of butterflies. Not a real easy job – here in my concrete neighborhood.

And while we are ignoring my forebodings about the economy, my sinus issues, and the upcoming Beck/Palin circus – how about a shot from last night.

Full Moon from the terrace.
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Wednesday

Nothing But Net. The camera insisted on focusing on the net.

What ever happens is what I planned. Actually that failed photo isn’t too shabby.

Got spooked about the stock market this afternoon. Sold some stuff. Actually, sold everything that does pay nice hefty dividends. The market is just looking too dicey near term. things should have settled out by late September. Then I can buy some non-dividend paying stock. If the market doesn’t have a big time correction – well, then I just took profits “too early”. Worse things can happen.

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Tuesday

Gray Hairstreak Butterfly

Nice cool cloudy today. Went butterfly hunting. Found the gray hairstreak.

Made some progress on the Japan image culling project. Down to 1,662.

Spent too much time thinking about the economy today. I think that Carlton and I will be OK. After all, we don’t have that long to go. 20 years max.  We’ll survive deflation better than inflation. Our biggest risk would be massive defaults in the bond market. If I were middle aged, I would be very worried. And, if I were young – I’d come up with Plan B. Maybe, select a nice 25 acres of land and learn how to be self sufficient. In my youth, we figured that the right 10 acres could support you nicely.

While I am at it, why don’t we worry about that great right wing boogieman, an EMP or my favorite worst case – a solar storm like the one in the late summer of 1859. Make a Faraday cage. But, what would you do with what you saved?

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Monday

Odaiba, Tokyo

Guess what? No progress in organizing/culling the Japan Trip photographs.

Living dangerously tonight – we are going to have eggs for dinner.

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Just thinking

Got a new Ikea catalog yesterday. It made me happy. Happy that I was NOT in the market for furniture. With luck – I’ll not be in the market for furniture anytime soon. Buying furniture does not make me happy. I still use the desk that I got when I was 10 years old. It was used then. Somehow or the other my Dad got it – it was actually a dressing table from the “officers” furniture stash. I guess it was some sort of midnight acquisition.

Much in the financial news about how regular folk just ain’t acquiring stuff like they used to. Hence, the  markets are not doing as well as we investor folk might like. Is this really a bad thing? I think not. Maybe people will learn that 3 more tee-shirts for $10 does not improve the quality of life on the planet.

About teeth and winding life down. I am not ready for death. I’ll be pissed as hell when the time comes. I am sure there will be things left on my to do list for life. But I hope the things left are “want to do” not “should do” or “must do”. Statistically I have 10 or 15 years left. But, nobody is promised tomorrow – so, the “should do” and “must do” lists – need to be kept clean.

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Getting Older

Lady Liberty in Tokyo Bay

Haven’t made any progress culling photos.

Carlton came home from the dentist today with a huge dental “to do” list. It isn’t the money that it will cost. It is the pain. I was feeling sorry for myself needing one tooth pulled. Carlton needs to have two teeth pulled. How much do you invest in teeth as you wind your life down?

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More Processing/Culling

This is the first serious cute train car that we encountered.

Today’s image starting count: 1,725

1830 hours – I have worked all day on this – how can I be down to 1,711. Not doing too very good.

1935 hours – 1,689 is the count now.

Sendai Castle Site
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Post Processing Today

Newly post processed Kanazawa Castle

Having been out of the loop, I did not know until this morning that S. Palin is scheduled to give a speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28 – the 47th anniversary of MLK’s “I have a dream…”. I have a nightmare.

I am setting out on a hour of serious culling of my Japanese images. Current count 2196. Will report back at 9:45 with an updated count. For now the objective is to stay on task. Updated count 2124. Not a lot of progress …