Here's what the Argosy Casino looked like when I moved to Parkville... A real cruising riverboat... but then tied up, no more cruising the river because they convinced the Coast Guard to say it was unsafe to do so.. As they wanted all along... Now it is just a land based building...
Anyway, Nice morning chat in the Kitchen but then what? I had a $6 Bingo to cash in so I hit the Price Chopper for another Bingo and Crossword.. both duds... Now what? So, I deposited BJ's C Note and another $100 in the bank to start saving for something... Whatever is next... Then back to the ranch to search for another Web Site Host... Yahoo is getting too high priced for my taste... and slow to upload new pages too... Spent quite a time searching among many... decided on one... Signed up and paid and then found it too difficult to wade through their instructions to switch sites... So I called and cancelled that... Back to square one and kinda down... Maybe try anoother later...
So, now down and really bored, what to do, didn't feel lucky but I got a couple Twenties out of the ATM and headed to the Boat... (not a boat now)... So, picked out a machine like my favorite, but decided to switch for once... and maybe next time too... Getting too much cigarette smoke from the bar at my usual one...
So I chose one and started out... winning a few little ones right off... But then some old gal chose the machine about 4 machines over and lit one of those 6 inch cigarettes... I HATE that!... And then she played a few minutes and the machine went nuts... Just shut down but making a continuous noise like a win... I looked over, no win, machine was locked up and the light on top blinking for an attendant... And the old gal started pacing as it took FOREVER for help to show up... FINALLY, after driving me nuts for what seemed a half hour... They gave her a slip and shut off the machine.. Hah, the whole row to myself again as I like
So as usual I was up and down... got down to 50 credits ($15) and then hit a few modest ones... then a fairly good one to put me over 200 credits... But that isn't as big a win as I like to settle for ($10)... So back to the task... But then... here's some luck... Hit 3 sevens!... 50 credit win, then the next roll another 3 Sevens!... another 50 credits... That's more like it... Then some more up and down and then I got two 3 BARS and a Five Times!... Now that is nice!... a 150 credit win and time to cash out for $84.50 and run... I will settle for a $44.50 profit any time... Time to hit the road.. And at least not as bored and down as when I walked in...
So then, back by the Price Chopper for an 8 piece box of Deli Deep Fried Chicken and back to the ranch for a glass of Vino Tinto... and a chat with Can on IM... and then a Deli Chicken Feast and finish the day catching up on the news... Another good day, considering... Ending up with more money that I started the day with... yeah!
~ Sometimes ... How Sweet It IS! ~
~ Saturday ~ February 27, 2010 ~
~ Chicken Pot Pie! ~
~ Another Experiment ~
Yeah, Let's get off the new camera kick for a bit... I like FOOD... I love to COOK! That's why I hang out in Kitchen Chat at coffee time in the morning... Sometimes we even talk FOOD there!
You know when I put this stuff on my BLOG.. it isn't to suggest that I am a good cook... Or cook exceptional things... I know most of you people out there probably cook better tasting things than I do.. Well, maybe NOT Smoked BBQ... I am doing pretty fair at that after 50 years or so... And I do some pretty passable Mexican things... But when I experiment or try something new or out of ~my~ ordinary routine, I like to show on here that I am trying and even sometimes successful... So...
Well, I had this roast chicken breast in the freezer for a couple weeks and was musing on chat or IM what to do with it.. Several suggestions and someone said pot pie... Yeah, I was thinking that too... Haven't tried that in years... So, take the chicken out to thaw.. yeah, two nice big breasts... All roasted up nice... Then to the Price Chopper for some peas and carrots and what about crust? Not another high dollar refrigerated one? Or a frozen one?... Well I saw a nice big box of Best Choice All-Purpose Baking mix.. Kinda like Bisquick, but a better price and a bigger box... Let's try that...
So I chopped up some onion, some celery, added the peas and carrots... Hey, not enough carrots there, diced up another carrot and simmered that a bit and added that to the pot... Then into the pot with the cubed chicken breast and added a can of turkey gravy.. Oh yeah... So while that mixture simmered some I whupped up a batch of biscuit dough, rolled that out thin and into an aluminum pie pan I had stashed... On with the top crust.. that pan was bulging with chicken and stuff.. and into the oven for maybe 45 minutes... I was thinking that stuffed pie would puff up and leak but it didn't... So, after cooling a bit, then getting a pic or two.. I sliced up a nice big piece for dinner... And VOILA! tastes a lot better than it looks here... Even if I don't care much for peas, that thing is stuffed with tender delicious roast chicken... How Sweet it Is!
Oh yeah.. AND... Today is Pay Day!... Month ended early... Yes.. we do have it made in the shade here in Parkville...
~ Ever Onward ... And Upward! ...But Where to Now? ~
~ Friday ~ February 26, 2010 ~ Addendum ~
~ More New Photos ~
~ Taking Things Slowly ~
~ Smith's Point on the Missouri River ~
An ever changing scene on the river... I have many different photos of this spot... Smith's Point... Named for me... by me!... Maybe the City should put a commemorative sign there for me? Here are a few more scenes of this spot...
~ Scanned 35mm Film SLR ~ Kodak DX7590 Digital ~
And a couple more of the Admin Building at Park University... Probably the most photgraphed building in Parkville, as the Union Station is in Kansas City... Well, it is an impressive 100 plus year old building and still quite up to date inside... It looks better today than when I took service calls there for IBM 40 years ago...
~ Scanned 35mm Film SLR ~ Kodak DX7590 Digital ~ Canon Digital Rebel XSi SLR ~
So enough of this for a bit.. See what else I can get into today....
~ Ever Onward ... And Upward! ~
~ Friday ~ February 25, 2010 ~
~ Taking New Photos ~
~ Getting this Thing Figured Out ~
~ Park University Administration Building ~
Quiet day.. all day... so far... Just Beamer in Chat this morning... Where were ya Jake? Well, we had a nice little chat... until I gave Beam the link to my Famous Guests page... Then she said something infected her Browser... And for me to get that site deactivated... ASAP! Well, I checked that page.. all OK on both computers... Has to be her ISP or something jumped into her Browser.. The mentioned the DELL ad... Well a Dell ad has been popping up when I am in chat on Yahoo Messenger, but that isn't on any of my pages.. and isn't spyware anyway... My pages and Domain are on a Yahoo Web Hosting site.. And I can delete a page butt I can't deactivate the site.. Well, I could delete the index page which would shut it down.. But there was no need... If something had infected that page, it would blast my browser too... But all is well as far as I can see... Maybe tomorrow she can tell me what she did to get rid of it .. Whatever it was...
Anyway, I dropped off my rent check to Boss Bob and showed him my new cam, and got his pic, gave him a print a bit later and he was impressed... He wanted to buy my other Camera But I already told Can he could have it... And I showed Boss Bob a US1 Photo web page where he could get a nice little Canon for a good price...
Then I wanted to try a few shots with my new cam and headed down to the College and the river... Took a couple of Smith's Point, my favorte spot on the ricer.. and then stopped in the Admin office of Park University to tell them I wanted to get a pic... Last time I was stopped by their security guard and he said I had to get premission to photo there... So, I got that permission with no problem today and got this pic I have on here...
OK, Here is a photo I took with a 35mm film SLR about 10 years ago... Different time of year, a bit warmer color but not quite as good resolution from that scanned 35mm print... Still one of the best shots I have of that building... And this is the one I have on my Home Page... I have a new scanner now, maybe a re-scan would look better?
~ Anyway... Off to Finish up the Day... ~
~ Thursday ~ February 25, 2010 ~
~ It is HERE! And it Works! ~
~ Smile! You're on CANON Camera! ~
~ Feb 24, 2010 12:14 PM ~ Delivered ~ PARKVILLE, MO ~
~ And Here is the First Picture ~
Well... 22 Days after placing the order and paying for it... I have the camera! And so far so good... No where near knowing how to work all the goodies but I LIKE IT! Need to get out to retake some of my favorite scenes to see how it compares... I got a lot of nice pics out of that Little Kodak digital... Now see what I can do with a capable Canon...
So... A nice Kitchen Chat yesterday morning... Jake in Newfoundland and Beam in Australia... Kay missing... Havent talked to Can for several days... One nice new guy showed up from Australia, ID of 'Geist'... Sent me a nice email.. I'll add that to my Famous Guests page... Are YOU on there yet? Anyway... I kept checking the FedEx tracking on my camera... Had been sitting in the FedEx facility in Kansas City since Sunday morning... And at about 8:15 a.m. and ending chat... I checked once more to find this:
Feb 24, 2010 6:24 AM ~ On FedEx vehicle for delivery ~ KANSAS CITY, MO
And I informed Beam it was on the way at last... Then checked out of Chat but hesitant to get in the shower right away for fear of missing the truck... So breakfast at least and a shave and piddle around waiting... Peeked out to see the FedEx truck just about 12:15 p.m. AHA!
So then unpacking, reading the manual, charging the battery, uploading software... Finally ready to snap a pic... So I just shot my Computers and stuff... Looks pretty good... Later... much later... I made some roast beef hash and tried a food picture of that... and if nothing else happens... I'll put that one on my BLOG tomorrow... As for now... Back into that Instruction Manual and check into some of the sofware they sent...
~ I Have it... Finally... And Now ~ How Sweet is Is! ~
~ Wednesday ~ February 24, 2010 ~
~ It is in Kansas City ~ But Not Here! ~
~ And Baby! It's Cold Outside... Again! ~
~ 2 Degrees F. at 5 a.m. ~
Well... that camera left New Jersey Friday night, arrived in Kansas City Sunday morning... Been sitting at FedEx for three days now... So I called and she said it was to be delivered Wednesday, the 24th.. Which is today... The Tracking said that but I thought as it was in Kansas City... they would send it the last ten miles to me.. But NO! Checking the tracking again this morning... see if they get it on the truck, then I'll know it's on the way...
Well... We got that 6 inches of snow mostly all cleared off the last couple days, streets are in good shape.. But it turned COLD again... 9 yesterday and they said 4 this morning... But it is 2 degrees now... ( -16.6C ) ...This Global Warming hasn't set in for February yet.. It usually moderates about this time of year... Maybe I'll give Al Gore a call
So what else? Well I got a phone call... Who's this he says? I says who ya want?... He says Don Smith and I says ya got him... Well it was a friend from way back in St Joseph and he was in Kansas City... Hadn't seen him for 12 years or so... He said he had computer trouble and wanted my help... So he headed over here for my input...
Well you can't help much with a distant computer you can't see so we talked a little with no conclusion... But then he wanted to see my Web Pages and my setup here... So we had a nice long catch-up visit and a pretty good time, actually someone wanting to look at all my stuff here...
Today? Anticipation... It Has to Come TODAY!
~ Still Looking for that Camera! ~
~ Tuesday ~ February 23, 2010 ~
~ It's in Kansas City ~ But Not Here!~
~ So Let's Make another Apple Pie ~
~ They all Look Alike ~ So I put the Date on this One ~
Well, disappointment... They shipped that camera Friday afternoon, Arrived in Kansas City Sunday Morning... I thought it would be on the truck and delivered sometime Monday... It is just across town now, maybe 10 miles... So... It sat there all day Sunday and all day Monday... But the Delivery Schedule does say Wednesday before 7 p.m. Maybe there is a chance they can get it here today? Well I'll check the tracking information about sun up and see what is what.. If not another long dull day waiting...
So, what else? Lots of activity outside, guys shoveling snow, cleaning off the walks and decks... I got the snow off my windshield and headed up the hill to Price Chopper for some bananas and raisin oatmeal cookies and a Bingo, Crossword and a Wheel of Fortune... BAH! all duds... Back to the ranch to be bored most all day
Then thinking of dinner and what? Need some salad stuff... Back to the Price Chopper for a tomato, cucumber and what else... Oh... apples on sale for $1.00 a pound... time for another pie... Back home to put a cucumber in vinagraitte for later, then peel up the apples and into the oven for that hour of apple pie baking aroma... Later, a re-run of some roast beef and carrots and taters and then off to beddy bye all over again...
Now to Use Up Another Fine Day!
~ Still Looking for that Camera! ~
~ Monday ~ February 22, 2010 ~
~ It's in Kansas City ~ Delivery Today?~
~ Feb 21, 2010 7:11 AM ~ At local FedEx facility ~ Kansas City, MO ~
~ Not a Reprint ~ Sunday Morning New Snow ~
Looked outside when it got light yesterday.. WHAT! More Snow.. Well they were hinting at that... Went out to sweep the snow off and go get a Bingo... But BJ came down the hill very slowly, Got out to say it was treacherous out there... Well, there was some ice under the snow I was trying to sweep off the Walk... Making no progress... So I just took this photo and came on back in...
But... After a long wait and more snow, I dug the Blazer out and headed up the hill, no problem... So far the second deepest snow we've had this winter... So, then I headed on up to the Price Chopper... And the parking lot was FULL on a snowy Sunday morning...
So I tried to cash in my $10 Crossword win but the Lotto system was down and wouldn't pay me... So, I hit the ATM for a Twenty, got me a Bingo, Crossword, Wheel of Fortune and a $1 scratch to round out a $10 bill... Then a gallon of my favorite Vino Tinto and headed on back to the ranch...
Worked the $1 scratch for a dud, then the Wheel of Fortune for a dud, then the Bingo for a dud... then the Crossword for a $6 win... down $4 for the day... But I still have $16 worth to trade for more today...
Then snow all day... the snow plow came out at least twice, got maybe 5 inches or more of accumulation, looks like it has stopped this morning... So then a long dark snowy day... Simmered up some carrots, potatoes and celery in chicken stock, added a bit of cornstarch to thicken the sauce... hotted up some more of that roast beef... and that was a sumptious repast to end the day...
Now waiting for someone to show up in Kitchen Chat, had a nice crew in yesterday... Then I will check FedEx to see if the delivery truck has been loaded and look for that new camera... and I am betting before noon today...
~ Oh Yes... Life has been Sweet... to ME! ~
~ Sunday ~ February 21, 2010 ~
~ Oh Yeah ~ What Can I say ~ But Hooray! ~
~ But Let's Have Una Comida Mexicana While We Wait! ~
~ Cheese and Onion Enchiladas ~ Smothered with Beef Chili ~
Well... Can the Man said it would sit there the rest of the weekend... But it is on the way again... And Indianapolis is closer to Kansas City... than to New Jersey where it started... I am betting it is in Kansas City tomorrow and may even be delivered Monday or Tuesday... And.. still deciding whether to be happy with the silver color on send it back and make them give me the black... Oh Well...
Date/Time ~ Activity ~ Location ~ Details
Feb 20, 2010 10:46 AM - Arrived at FedEx location - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
Feb 20, 2010 8:22 PM - Departed FedEx location - INDIANAPOLIS, IN
In the meantime, a break from the roast beef and vegetables... Thawed out a good sized lump of enchiladas... There are three large ones under that pile of chili... And GOOD! Si Si Senor.. Delicioso como siempre! Well now, actually the enchiladas were on Friday night... Yesterday it was back to the beef stew with carrots and taters.. and that is good too!
So now... They are saying more snow, maybe heavy later today or Monday... Oh well, as long as it don't slow down the FedEx man... HUH?
~ AND!... I STILL Want My New Camera! NOW! ~ (even Silver?)
~ Saturday ~ February 20, 2010 ~
~ Say it Isn't So! ~
~ I Wanted BLACK ~ They Say they Shipped Silver! ~
~ BULLETIN! Your order is now shipped. Fedex Tracking #438597286734 ~
Date/Time ~ Activity ~ Location ~ Details
Feb 19, 2010 1:54 PM - Shipment information sent to FedEx
Feb 19, 2010 3:43 PM - Picked up - UNION, NJ
Feb 19, 2010 8:25 PM - Left FedEx origin facility - UNION, NJ
Feb 19, 2010 8:49 PM - Arrived at FedEx location - NEWARK, NJ
Feb 19, 2010 9:14 PM - Left FedEx origin facility - UNION, NJ
Feb 19, 2010 9:28 PM - Departed FedEx location - NEWARK, NJ
Well... Now what? A couple days ago the man at US1 Photo said my Camera would be here Thursday... So I hung around all day expecting it.. to no avail.. as they say... So, I called Friday Morning.. Real nice guy falling all over himself saying how sorry he was... Yes, he says the camera was Drop Shipped and would be here next Wednesday.... Next week! They said it would be here today... Well, he says they had some weather problems, and he said Black was out of stock and back ordered and they -upgraded- my order to Silver... Had sent an email advising me.. Except I got no email...
So, what is this UPGRADE anyway?.. I wanted the black as I think it looks more professional.. But it is the same camera... And I checked the price today... The black I ordered at $544 had been increased to $569.. and the silver was priced at $659! What? $110 more just for the color... I don't get it... And before this the silver had been priced lower than the black... Maybe it depends on a fluctuating demand? So what do you think, you like the black or the silver? Looks like the silver may be on the way anyway...
And.. if I ever do get it.. It adds up to a good deal... The camera alone is priced in other places at $650 and more... Here I get the camera priced at $659 for $544... Plus a free tripod, case, lens cleaning kit, LCD cover and memory wallet... And also a Spare extra-life battery and 4GB memory card for $55 more... for a total of $599... No tax.. no shipping.. Now that ain't so bad.. even if it is silver... HUH?
~ ANYWAY!... I STILL Want My New Camera! NOW!~
~ Friday ~ February 19, 2010 ~
~ Now Here's a Camera!! ~
~ 1948 Pacemaker Speed Graphic ~
~ Technical Review: "The most influential camera of the century, the Graflex Speed Graphic was the quintessential "professional" camera from the 1930's through the early 1960's. Hundreds of thousands of these workhorses were manufactured, sold and used. This made them one of the most popular 4x5" camera systems available to that day's Press photographer." ~
~ Scott AFB, Illinois, 1951 ~
Now... Why the old camera review? Well I was griping to Can on IM yesterday that my New Camera wasn't here yet... and He was telling me about his Dad's Nikon that was a really complicated camera... IDEA! Why not a blog about my VERY complicated camera?
Of course everyone has seen an old Speed Graphic of one model or another in the movies for years... But the first time I saw this one in the Sears Photo department in 1948... I HAD TO HAVE IT!
I was 16 years old, just graduated from High School and started my first job at Sears Roebuck in the huge Mail Order House in Kansas City... I worked upstairs but on break I would wander down to the Retail store to look around... Anyway, I fell in love with his camera, mom signed the time payment plan but I made the payments... The price for the Camera alone was $400 in 1948...
OK then, complicated? well yes... The film came in 4X5 inch sheets packed 24 sheets to a box... These had to be loaded into film holders in complete darkness... Then they had to be developed and printed, im your own lab, or a commercial film lab... I built my own darkroom in a basement garage and did my own developing and printing...
And... complicated? yes... There were two shutters in the camera, choose the front shutter for speeds up to 1/400 second or the rear focal plane shutter for speeds up to 1/1000 second... And there were three viewfinders, optical, wire frame sports finder or the ground glass on the rear of the camera... And three ways to trip the shutter, body release button, solenoid release from the flash gun, or a cable release for slow shots... And to focus... the optical rangefinder, a scale on the lens rail or focus through the ground glass on the back...
Now.. to take a photo? Point and Shoot? Hardly... First... insert a film holder in the back.. pull the slide from the holder... then set the shutter speed, then the lens aperture (f stop) then cock the shutter (front or rear) then focus and shoot... with the body release, cable release or mostly the solenoid button on the flash gun... Then replace the slide, pull the holder, flip it over and reinsert for the second shot... Complicated... yes and then some... Then back home to develop the film, make the prints and reload the holders with fresh film for the next project... But fun?... Ah yes for me I loved it!
Then later, joined the Air Force in 1950 (Korean War) and trained as a Camera Repairman, later tranferring (in grade) to Photographer... and after Basic Training, lugging that big old camera everywhere I went... Denver, Colorado for Camera repair training, then To Scott AFB, Illinois, then to Luke AFB, Arizona, Then to Randolph AFB to finish my tour in Texas... Ending up with two huge albums of 8 X 10 photos from all the bases...
Now when that new Camera does arrive... Even with today's advanced Digital SLR, set the automatic controls and then just run out and point and shoot... HAH! Auto focus, auto exposure, no processing.. just upload and edit in the computer... How simple can it get?
~ ANYWAY!... I Want My New Camera! NOW!~
~ Thursday ~ February 18, 2010 ~
~ Beef Chuck Roast! Out of the Oven! ~
~ And Delish! You Bet! ~
~ Sometines I Hit a Home Run ... Cooking! ~
See all that good beef and onion juice in that dish? Well I lift out the meat and then into that juice goes some taters and turnips and celery and carrots and more onions to roast to tenderness and then... Slice up some beef, dish out those veggies and what a FEAST! And I still have that larger portion of beef wrapped up nicely and waiting for another application...
AND.. On the scratcher front... Traded in that $20 win for another Bingo and Crosswords and won another $9... Then I went back to the Price Chopper for more carrots and celery and than got another Wheel of Fortune scratch for another $6 winner... and a Lotto for Wednesday.. But that was a dud... Oh well.. today is another Day!
~ BUT... I Want My New Camera! NOW!~
~ Wednesday ~ February 17, 2010 ~
~ Beef Chuck Roast! ~
~ Hey Can... I got Me One! ~
~ And What Did Your's Cost? Mine was $1.98 a Pound! ~
Now that is a nice hunka meat for just $5.78... any day... Chatting with Can the Man on IM yesterday, said he got some nice chuck roast for either $1.49 or $1.99 a pound, wanted to run right up to the Chopper to get one... But good that I waited until today... Sale day... and got that one for $2.95 off... Last time they had no chuck roast in the display and I got an arm chuck roast which was a bit on the chewey side.. I can tell that this one is going to be much better... I'll get that into the oven here pretty quick... With my sure fire El Pato oven pot roast recipe... Yeah!
And... Where is that Camera? Well the man said Thursday and that is tomorrow.. But did he say Priority Mail? I hope not... Fed-X comes early, the mail man doesn't come til late afternoon... Well it's been almost three weeks now, can another day hurt all that much? WELL YES IT CAN!
And, Oh Yeah, that Crossword, a nice one... Won a $3 Bingo and a $6 Crossword this morning, took those back to trade for this $20 winner, that paid for the roast beef and then some.. YEAH.. Another GOOD DAY!
~ BUT... I Want My New Camera! NOW!~
~ Tuesday ~ February 16, 2010 ~
~ Snow Again! You Gotta be Kidding! ~
~ Well, just a Half Inch this Time ~
~ But Boss Bob Still had the Salt Truck Here at 5 a.m. ~
Yeah, only a half Inch this time, but still a nuisance, I think we've had two years quota of snow this winter... Wonder how late planting time will be this year with all this Global Warming, coldest winter here in years!
Amyway, the Snowplow Man salted the street, not deep enough to plow, the Maintenance Man swept off a couple decks, I brushed off my Blazer and it's all gone now... Can we hope that this is the last one? Boss Bob does, he has to pay for the snow plowing on this street... And I bet he's thinking how to pass it on to the renters...
So, what else? That CAMERA! Two weeks today and no sight of it... I called US1 Photo again yesterday for the third time.. and for the second (or third) time he said it had been shipped... So, I says how come no tracking info, he says I should be getting that and he said he would call the Warehouse right then and get it set up.. So since then, still no tracking info but it is not quite 5 a.m. here as I am writing this today... BUT.. He said it will be here THURSDAY! Write that down.. I will be raging if it doesn't show up then...
But my video cam does a fair job taking stills of some subjects like that snow pic here and in wide screen too... BUT!
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