See why we live here? Took these shots yesterday at the overlook. The lake is filling nicely, and the snowpack looks awesome. Yay! Somebody tell the tourists.
1/2 price day at Turtle Bay
I repair my camera flash
I was heartbroken when my flash unit failed a few weeks ago. Especially because the repair center wanted nearly as much money to fix it as it originally cost. Repair or replace? It’s a tough call. It’s the same with iphones isn’t it. or any electronic for that matter! I count myself lucky constantly for having a great mobile iphone repair shop not too far away. Shame it couldn’t be the same for my camera flash.
I spent 10 years or so of my career as an electronics tech, so I decided to try to fix it myself. The trouble is that everything electronic is so tiny now that it probably does make more sense to dispose of it than to attempt a repair.
Getting it apart was like a Chinese puzzle. Which makes sense, since most of this gadgetry is made in China. All this stuff is designed on computers, and mostly built by robots. They manage to design it with very few screws or fasteners, which makes the assembly very integrated. Everything has to go in precise order. It’s very meticulous.
So, an inductor has failed. You can’t really replace the semiconductor, unless you were a nano-robot soldering machine. I ordered whole new logic board for $64, and crossed my fingers. And eyes.
Then the trick is getting it back together in the right order. No small feat.
Success! That was a good feeling. I was really hoping not to just throw it away and buy another. Waste not, want not.
I guess it’s because I’m 55 years old and have accumulated a few skills over the years; that plus I’m stubborn and frugal. My gamble paid off for this item, but I’m probably a relic from bygone days of Heathkit television “sets” and computer kits. I can’t imagine younger people looking at a broken cell phone, or failed flat panel TV, and saying to themselves. “hey, maybe I can fix that myself.” Which is kind of a shame, since it likely means more disposal of e-waste. End of an era really. DIY, it’s Really Redding.
Best photo of the fashion show
Sunday, I ran several photos I took of last Saturday’s benefit fashion show titled “The Collage.” I got some OK shots. But ultimately the most beautiful photo I saw was this, captured by my evening companion, the lovely Karry, using a Nikon S570. This is Kim, of Kimberly Nicole Boutique. The full size shot is really nice, with poetic depth and grace, and a good balanced composition. It’s a shot I wish I could say I took! I hope you enjoy this web version. Our thanks to the model, and again to all the models and show participants.
Aren't the wheels supposed to be on the bottom?
Beermaking in Redding
An old car brings back Kodachrome memories
“So why did you put that old car and barn in your blog header? It doesn’t look Really Redding,” asks Karry.
Not Really Redding, but I did spot this car sitting in a field adjacent to a home I was showing in Cottonwood. It brought back a gush of memory. I bought an Alfa Romeo like this for a few hundred bucks when I was 15. Well, maybe it was in slightly better shape than this, but so was I back then. Who can forget their first car? As you get older, your favourite make and model of car gets older with you, cars get upgraded and new, more desirable models come out. It makes me so sad! It’s more of an option these days to replace parts on your old car from services like TDC Automotive and build your beloved motor back to life. Sometimes I when the memories hit me like that, I wish I would have attempted to keep my little AR alive.
It was a poor choice for practicality. It literally came with a second car just for parts, which was good, because parts were near impossible to find since I didn’t live in Italy. Nowadays, car parts are easily accessible with websites like Czok, mostly used for upgraded performance and style. But who cares about that when you’re 15? I envisioned myself driving it looking like this one, shiny, red, and sleek, whilst hoping that it didn’t break down on me. But when you buy a car that isn’t really practical, I almost expected it to happen. I hear so many stories of people needing to look for something like these Woodward Synchro-Start Solenoids because their engine has become faulty and they need to get it replaced as soon as possible. Luckily there are so many places that sell them these days that it might not be much of a problem. Surprisingly, I don’t think I ever ran into any problems with my little old car. So, I went looking for photographs of my red Alfa among my oldest shots, and at my parent’s house, but found none. How odd. Nowadays I take photos of life’s smallest details, but back then it wasn’t important. Or so it seems. Perhaps it’s best. In my head, the Alfa was bold and stylish, but the reality was probably something more like this one out to pasture in Cottonwood.
Kodachrome
They give us those nice bright colors
They give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day, Oh yeah
I got a Nikon camera
I love to take a photograph
So mama don’t take my Kodachrome away
Thanks Paul Simon, for the bittersweet observation.
Coldwell Banker C&C Properties Christmas Party at Riverview
Here’s a few photos I took of my friends and family at the company Christmas party in Redding.
It seems like we don’t get too many opportunities to dress up in Redding, so this is always fun. It was like Prom night for some folks. I enjoyed hearing singer Summer Schappell’s take on a few Christmas classics. It was a great evening, but it kicked my butt apparently. I’ve been down with a cold for about a week ever since that night. That’ll teach me to party. At least until next time. Thanks to all who were there, and to the Crafts for throwing a tres cool soiree every year.
Hilltop Drive night view
Took some night shots of the palm trees on Hilltop with their new lights:
I was partly inspired to try this by the beautiful night photos of Las Vegas seen HERE.
