New Online Photo Gallery

In late January of this year, I had a very nice online Gallery setup, where I could display our pictures from our various endeavors in life. Then one day, without warning, it broke, and could not be put back together again. And I could no longer easily share our photos with friends and family. But that is changing.

My good friend Steev told me about ZenPhoto and I decided to give it a try. I had heard of it, but did not know how easy it was. Well, it was a breeze. I have very limited knowledge about this sort of thing, but it was very easy given my little amount of knowledge. I didn't even have to ask my IT guru friend any questions. So, we now have a Gallery back up and running, it will take some time to get it restocked and tweaked to the way I like it, but it is up, running, and open to the public.

Enjoy.

OurZenPhoto Gallery

Got Gas?

Gas in North Georgia has been in short supply since Hurricanes Gustav and Ike beat up on Texas and the Gulf Coast Region. In the Atlanta area, people try to top off their tanks daily, which has created pandemonium. Those of us on "E" are left to search websites and follow traffic to the gas stations that will have gas...for maybe 2 hours and then they are dry again. Having a business road trip in two days, I had to fill up, I was past empty, and had already siphoned out the gas from my lawnmower and the gas can for the lawnmower. After reading some websites, I set out, and ten miles and 45 minutes later...the only thing I had accomplished was to burn off some more gas. The stations that had gas at 9 PM, were empty by 9:45. After returning home, we were still looking at the same websites, and one popped up that a station down the road had just been re-fueled. I set out again, a little after 10 PM. I go there to find a long line, but one that was being managed very well by the attendants at the station. It took about 25 minutes, mostly due to the time, and I was able to completely fuel up, full tank, a lot expensive. But it was a zoo, I have not seen traffic like that at after 10PM ever. people went off and lost their minds, one guy, waited in the line, and then realized he left home without his wallet. He was begging people to help him pay for his tank of gas. no one obliged. Not at $4.20 a gallon. I hope supplies start to roll in soon, or I will have to work from home all week.

The Verdict

Mpix gets a big thumbs up from me. I could not be happier. My order was processed, printed and shipped the same day I placed it. It was delivered the next day. One day turn around, and my pictures were in my hands. That is awesome. The metallic paper was well worth the whole extra dollar, it gives the pictures a luminance and a depth that can not be achieved on standard photo paper. I will absolutely have my printing done there in the future. Now I just need to figure out which pictures are next.

Mpix

Mpix is an online photo printing outfit. Based in Kansas, and run by the owner of one of the largest Pro Photo Service companies in the country, they offer semi-pro services to rank amateurs such as myself. And at a good price too. They offer 3 types of paper for your prints, and will print in all sorts of sizes, and claim to turn orders around in one day if it is a simple order, 24-48 hours for more complicated orders. And, they will color correct images to match the color calibration on their printing machines to make sure you get the image you were after.

Now, I have never used their services...until today. I placed an order for 5 8x10's. yes, I could have printed these at home on my Epson R330, a printer that used to deliver great prints. But it has failed me recently, turning my prints into Andy Warhol type barrages of bright colors and sharp contrast. If that is your thing great, but when that is not what you wanted, not so great. So, I uploaded my images, placed my order for prints on the metallic papers...something that should be seen to be truly appreciated...and will hopefully know tomorrow how the images turn out. We are finally getting some of my pictures printed from our Paris Trip earlier this year, and that is as exciting to me as the new found printing source. To top it all off, this service, is cheap. Less than $3 per print. Wolf Camera can't come close to that price or service. A win win situation if you ask me.

Mpix also offers many other photo services, but there are so many, a visit to their site is the best way to appreciate them.

So, a report will be forthcoming. The anticipation is killing me.

Thieves

I hate them. Especially the ones that do it where you least expect it. My Debit Card was counterfeited, sometime in the last few days, and some dirtbag in Athens, Georgia decided to clean out our Savings Account, and take as much as they could from our checking account. I hope the bank catches them, and donkey punches them in the crotch.

A little lesson, don't put your PIN # into those little pads at the gas pump, in the gas station, the liquor store, the grocery store, those free standing ATM's not in a bank, anywhere. The sophisticated thief steals your card number and your pin number from those. I suspect that mine got nabbed at a freestanding ATM in the hospital I was at last week, that was the only time in the last two weeks I have used my PIN # anywhere. I won't do that again. So, learn from my misfortune. Thankfully, we have a great bank, and they are crediting us our money, and are going to try to apprehend the lowlife responsible, or at least the idiot who stole the money.

Back to the Cutting Room

Time for surgery again. Yipee!! I got the results from a CT scan on my right knee back today. And I get to have surgery again...that makes #6 on one knee. One day it will either get fixed, or I will become one of the youngest total knee patients I have ever heard of. Worst part is, I don't have the schedule to get it done...until November. but, I have dealt with this pain for nearly 2 years, what is another two more months.