Idleness...

Not much is going on here. A slow beginning for my 3rd decade! Most importantly now is that I got my watch back after being in repair for 2 weeks!!!

I'm idle most of the time here and now I wish if I can just spend this time at home playing a game or doing something or thinking of some photography to do. The situation here is simply null. I can't even force myself on reading this eBook on PDF. Maybe because it is not a hard copy it seems I can't tolerate reading it for long time. All I do is surf the net and listen to music most of the time, and to fill my time, I go out checking on stuff I need here and there. I had plans to work on my website and to do many things, but alas, with me fasting I can't tolerate doing anything. Not because I'm tired or hungry or even thirsty, but merely because when I work, I need something to put my stress on; pepsi, chips, anything!

Well, my birthday was on August 17th, Tuesday, but the family brought a cake for the gathering with my name on it (along with my sister's and my nephew). I can't call it a real birthday party, but it was merely for the kids to have fun. No candles or anything. I ended up taking photos for others and no one taking photos of me!
Well, I had fun catching my niece anyway in several positions!

Not angry, but trying karaoke.

It was awesome though. I was trying 2 lenses, changing from one to another. The image above was taken with 55-200mm f/5.6 Canon @~200mm. I had to keep both lens in my pockets and sitting in one place one time and changing then. All of that done in a haste and without my Canon Speedlite 580EX II flash. I find it that after all, the RAW format will do its job, of course unless you ask for more speed control with higher shutter speeds, then yes I might have considered using the mounted flash to give me more possibilities and more still images. My shutter speed ranged from 80 to 160, and in fact still I had some shaky images. Some images were sort of weird but got a nice effect with my subject (my niece) being stable, but her hands are shaky!

Yeeeeeeees?

After all, I used the built-in flash, which is usually not unique, but it did the job here with some increment in the ISO (almost all shots were in ISO800 level). NeatImage is cool enough to remove those spots, specially when you have an EXIF embedded.

On the other hand I've been working on printing out some images on some new glossy papers I've got last week, and unfortunately the new ink is out of blue now, which is a disaster! It is a very consuming process. But I figured out some aspects now, specially when working on a non-HP glossy paper; it is always better to saturate and and brighten the colors little bit before printing, to make sure you get the vivid colors. ProPhoto color space is, I believe, I used to get such beautiful vivid colors in one image, but with my printing capabilities it becomes dull. After all, sharpening of course, despite the fact that it might look hideous on screen, but with printing the story is different and depending on the paper type, sometimes an excessive sharpening becomes a must, to bring the photo almost alive!

I've made some prints (A4 size) and kept them in a file along with previously printed panoramas, and I've spent a good deal of ink on experimenting with those and printing the same image over and over again and comparing. I think the best deal we can reach here is by manually fixing the saturation and brightness and then do a print out to stay on the same side without changing the options in the print dialog box after all.

I don't know when I'm going to post next, but I'll put anything new with my images here, if any! I leave you now with something that always moves the blood in me...

Alexander 6, V113.

Lovely weather indeed... NOT. Humidity is back again here and this time with a strange sky hovering around that I can't tell still is it just cloudy or another haze of dust on the way. I had plan to wash my car today, but changed my mind, luckily!
Nothing new for today though, except that I've conducted an experiment in the yard yesterday and it didn't work out at all. The experiment was to make a panorama with a monopod extended up high. The total height of the camera (monopod+VR-head) might have been around 2 meters from the ground. The breeze and the shaky mini-tripod legs were killing factors for me. I tried to balance or stabilize the monopod as much as possible with my barehands and I even tried my nose! Yes, my nose. I simply stood beside the monopod and extended my nose to support the monopod's beam, since my hand was shaking (for the excessive consumption of coffee).
This said now, my mind took the verge of two different ways of thinking, or let's say new methods of some sorts. I would either try to "think" of something to stabilize the monopod when expanded to such height with a VR-head, or I would consider now going on and work with what I like to call "dwarf's view" photography and make a panorama with the monopod folded into its minimum position (around 50cm in length). When unfolded of course, the monopod becomes more stable with little shake that can be managed. The thing is though, how to really stabilize the monopod? The only way I can think of is some support, of some sort, stabilizing the monopod depending on the ground, and even that might not sound feasible because the monopod's body is cylindircal and smooth. I have to resort to meditation as it seems!

The rest of my time is almost idle, except of some photo processing for various images mostly those from Ireland taken last year. To tell the truth, I don't feel them. I just did it. It feels a bit like a sinner, but I couldn't think of anything to pass my time with. After that experiment failed, I even became more "hollow" from ideas and couldn't find much to do, except of of processing my images even though I didn't have much vision for what they would be like in the beginning...

 On the other hand, some memories started to flow (along with visions or imaginations if you like), that kept me listening to old songs all the time. It is a weird feeling of idleness. Maybe I should call it "Idle with emotions". However, I hope this week brings on some more energetic ventures to try out some projects concerning Ayvarith and photography. I don't feel the urge even to play games like before...
I shall leave you now with one of the most beloved songs to my heart. It's old, yet it feels new every time I listen to it. It has a great history and story behind it, if you like to dig more about it...

i

__________

2689. Alexander put his hand on the floor to keep his body up
2690. then the old man said with a smile: this is not everything dear
2691. and Alexander raised his heavy head up and gazed up
2692. he was waiting for more of the shocking news from the Hermit
2693. thus he did ask: and what else is there to be told O old man?
2694. the old man was so calm and with a gentle smile on his face
2695. and this he did say to Alexander: I am Agdalán
2696. the news were so tough for Alexander and he fainted
2697. time passed before he can open his eyes again
2698. he looked left and right and he saw the old man again
2699. and he could not hold his tears in his eyes anymore
2700. thus the tears gushed out and he shouted out loud
2701. he went hysterical and could not comprehend anymore
2702. then the old man approached him with a cup of a drink
2703. Alexander was looking at the old man with thoughtless eyes
2704. he did not know what is going on around him anymore
2705. thus the old man helped him to hold the cup and drink
2706. it was few minutes until he could gather his powers back
2707. then he said to the old man: what is going in this world?
2708. how come you are what you are for me? impossible!
2709. the old man then calmed Alexander down with a pat
2710. and this he said: calm down O son, and listen to me,
2711. by now, you should not be surprised by the miracles in life,
2712. my story is long and ancient, as old as time itself is

Begone Summer!

Idle idle idle. Got many ideas to do, but did nothing. Makes me a bit angry with myself. Yesterday for example, I was thinking of writing more in the new chapter of the story in writing.com, yet, did nothing. On the other hand, I spent most of the day (after work) trying to fix a photo for my niece. The original photo was not good, as the naughty girl kept on moving and my camera experience did not help here, add to that she was covering her face whenever she looked at me with the camera. Cute! But I made a design of her previously:

"Opus Dei" means "The work of God." Usually, there is an expression used here by some people. They say "God had drawn this with His own hand" noting something beautiful. Thus, I used "Opus Dei" with the same sense. The circle around the head resembles a halo, but I think I made it too thick. Should've been thinner. it is supposed to be an engraving on a wooden plate, but maybe I should've worked on it a little bit more and made some extra stuff on it. I'm working on another photo for her right now, and I tried to change and stretch some aspects of the face, trying to make her a bit older than she really is. She's 7 years old.

It had been also long time since I got into any contests in www.writing.com, which makes me think for now, is writing really my thing? Some people told me I have the skill with writing, but I'm not sure of that right now. Could it be that the summer is confusing my brain and makes me inspirationless? I hope this is the case here. In this country, you wouldn't get much nice views or nice weather in summer. Needless to talk about the frustration and the state of disturbance that spread among people in summer.

Although I'm happy to get the Irish visa finally and hopefully will fly on the 29th of September, I still have some fears. It is my first time to travel alone, and the first time to "really" travel, as my only 2 flights out of the country were to Iran (in 1996 and 2008), which was more like a pilgrimage traveling rather than a vacation traveling. The time of the flight itself makes me feel hard about it: first to Istanbul, Turkey, and remain there for 4 hours, then flying to Dublin. From Dublin I must check out a way to get to Galway and from Galway I think I have to get a taxi or something to go north where the resort lies. It is a nice spot called The Waterfront. I just hope the view is as it is in the photos! Although they said that October is not a good time to visit Ireland, but if I like winter here, then I'd hope to like it there. My other concern is, the swine-flu thing. I don't know what kind of procedures they are following right now all around the world, but the news are contradicting each other. The WHO announced it as a 6th grade epidemic, meaning, as I think, it is more dangerous than the avian-flu before. I know an English girl who got cured already from that and she is fine as she said!

Winter, Winter, Winter... when dost thou come!

On anothr note, a generous donor allowed me to put their picture here. I did it some months ago. The line at bottom reads "Beannacht na Sí" (where the "ch" is replaced with a dotted C), meaning "Bless of the fairies," and reads as [byan-nakht na shee, Irish Gaelic]. The age is to be for your own estimation!

Few Good Men

Completely and idle day. I feel like drugged... can't do a thing, can't comprehend anything. I was almost going to not fast this day but well, I did fast although it is not a complete fasting, but at least let's say I didn't eat or drink.

Couldn't face my paper work... my diary... my story... well I typed some few lines in my story but it wasn't much in fact. I'm typing these last words and waiting for my time to get out of this office and head home and sleep like I never did.

I'm going out with my friend tonight, to some theatre play. Thus, I predict for myself, that I won't be able to attend work tomorrow. Let's hope I can at least fingerprint and get back home to nap. I wish if I do have some good men to depend on and do me this favor. My only friend, is far from this place. The heart and its ways of identifying thing is amazing when it comes to friends and enemies. Your brain translates it as something, but yet, your heart says something else. This is all what I have around me... laughing people, and few good men... if any.

Idle Day

An idle day. Didn't go to work, and slept most of my day. I didn't sleep at all last night and remained awake til early hours of the morning. Downloaded a new game, I guess I will go on and spend some time with it. Also, I got the latest series of Poirot! Woho!

Just not to keep this day so idle like that, and since, usually, I don't do any translation work for Alexander's story at home, I decided to start writing a story or something. I write 3 lines so far, and I consider it so much compared to my mental activity nowadays. I have no mood for anything in fact.

Last night it was a special one. I was able to draw a smile on the face of someone in need. This is, I believe, the virtue of being sinle and not married; you can help others without any fear of being short in cash or something or not being able to feed your kids... . Sometimes I do really ask myself, is life supposed to be that hard? Children are supposedly a bless, what makes them such a hard burden on the back? Personally, myself, I've been sick of other's kids and I don't think I would like to have kids any time soon... speaking like I get married in the first place!

Well, better check some games... I might get some positive mood back!

Idle...

Been idle for some days. Trying to take care of the new kitty that was left out from the couple, after the death of the previous one. Feeding him and taking care of plants and spraying water all over the place fo cool down the place in this crazy heat... I'm powerless.

Thoughts race through my mind of how to begin drawing a manuscript-like sketches and color them to be added later on in my photos collection and also to be an aid in my Ayvarith page. Also, I almost forgot that I have to translate the 6th and final part of Alexander's story! The Ayvarith page in Geocities will be removed since Yahoo! will end this service soon, which leaves me like a homeless now! I have to think of another website to build up this free page. Not only that, but also to transfer the files and also maybe make a new template for the webpage. Moving the dictionary alone is a killing pain. Still no news about the exact time of the closure.

Things at work are going smoothly, and I'm waiting for a reply from the Irish embassy about my Visa status. I've been writing some poems, the latest was "If the world is made of gold"and trying hard not to lose the trend of ideas for poems in my mind.

Walking with my camera and taking photos here and there. It helps sometimes to make some ideas for poetry as well.

The little amigo lying on the floor and staring at my camera.

I found him yesterday out of the house for some reason I don't know,

and he was thirsty and hungry and barely could stand up with this crazy heat.

I think today he is better and able to walk again.