cbwaters wrote: >Ohio, People you used to like but don't need to see that often anymore. > >CW > > Actually, with me it is people I used to like, still do, and can't get see often enough. :)
ann >----- Original Message ----- >From: "ann sanfedele" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: "Pentax-Discuss Mail List" <[email protected]> >Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 1:30 PM >Subject: Re: GFM - Report and pics > > > > >>Much enjoyed your report - pics and text - so I've left it all in this >>reply as I never delete send messages >>and I'll be able to read it again later :) bookmarked the pics. >> >>It was great to see ya and meet your old school chum.... I wonder what >>there is about Ohio - >>two of my high school buds (one of whom I acted with back in the 50's, >>too) are both in Cleveland. >>Go figure. >> >>ann >> >> >>Cotty wrote: >> >> >> >>>After reading the excellent reports published already, there's not much >>>to add really. So here's a few random thoughts, in chronological order... >>> >>>I really don't like bad turbulence - on a flight. I think I'd rather >>>have bad turbulence of the 'I've eaten too much' kind any day. >>>Fortunately everything went to plan and my trip was otherwise good. Nice >>>to be back in the USA where nobody gives a shit ;-) >>> >>>I learned to drive when I was 15 in California at High School, so I'm >>>not shy of left-hookers. However, piloting a 25 foot camper in the >>>evening rush hour on the Beltway between the 66 and the 270 near DC was >>>akin to having bamboo inserted up the fingernails. Luckily I got that >>>hang of it and was soon cutting up all the mo-fos that had cut me up. >>>The maxim 'give way to larger vehicle' does actually work. >>> >>>I drove to Germantown and met up with Christian. Great to see you again >>>mate. We popped out for dinner to the Dogfish Brewery where loud waiters >>>proclaimed their undying love for our occupancy of their table, >>>repeatedly offered deals and sweeteners, swung by constantly in case >>>there was anything we needed. "Hi. I'm Carl and I'll be guiding you on >>>your journey..." I'm British. I'm used to being ignored in restaurants. >>> >>>We had beer. Well, it was between 9 and 18 percent and was served in >>>brandy glasses, but they said it was beer. I found a 3.5% called >>>Lawnmower Light and struggled not to ask what was in it. At least I >>>could chug it down to combat temps in the 80s F and high humidity. >>>Cesar, Stehen Moore, and long-time ex-lister Tom Van Veen (tv) joined us >>>and so we sat and laughed at Christian's haircut all evening. I had a >>>good time, thanks guys. >>> >>>Christian and his wife Kerry were perfect hosts for my pre-GFM sojourn, >>>and despite my protests gave up their bed for me. This was above and >>>beyond the call, but I relented and slept like a baby: I kept waking up >>>and was sick everywhere. >>> >>>Christian was amused when I poured sugar on my Weetabix the next >>>morning. Dude - California in the 70s, I keep telling ya! Cesar joined >>>us for coffee and we sat on Christian's back porch where birds of every >>>kind flew in for a nibble, Christian's Darkside 500/4 at the ready. That >>>guy has a good eye for the birds. >>> >>>Cesar thoughtfully brought some ballast for the RV: 12 bags of gear. Why >>>strain with indecision when there's all that room, right mate? After >>>saying ta ta to Christian, we hit the morning rush hour traffic on the >>>Beltway again. I don't think my driving had that bad an effect on Cesar. >>>He was very quiet for the first few minutes, until I realised I was >>>supposed to keep *between* the dashed white lines. >>> >>>9 hours and several stops later we reached GFM about 6.30pm and met up >>>with the occupants of PDML West (Cory's camper). Thanks for all the help >>>setting up things like shore-lines etc (these campers are so big they >>>have to be moored). Non-lister Bruce Metcalf waltzed over from his RV >>>and insisted I borrow some levelling chocks for the rental RV. This >>>theme of helping out set the tone for the whole weekend and people would >>>simply come up to you and give you things. Being a Brit, I would just go >>>up to people and apologise. >>> >>>This was Thusday, and so folk were slowly making their way up to the >>>mountain. Great to see old friends once again (Cory, Annsan, Nico, >>>Graywolf, Tom Reese, Doug, Mark, Bob, Don, Scott, Charles, Bill and >>>Phyllis - the list is endless), and some new ones (Scott, Dave Brooks, >>>Dave Savage, Mat, Mark Cassino, Ken Waller, and more - the names swarm >>>in my mind). Please forgive me if I have left you out, it must have been >>>the Lawnmower Light. >>> >>>Weather was cool and rainy, with dry spots in between. (Perhaps I should >>>go on 'Mastermind' - specialised subject: Stating the Bleeding Obvious). >>>The scenery is simply breath-taking and nobody who goes there can fail >>>to be overwhelmed by the beauty of the place. Think then of my >>>anticipation as I awaited the arrival of a very dear friend who I knew >>>at school back in CA in the 1970s. Brian Kavanagh lives near Cincinnati >>>and upon hearing of my trip, had decided to drive down to meet me. He >>>duly turned up in his bright blue VW bug (too long a trip really for his >>>Triumph 900 monster although it would have only been 6 hours instead of >>>8...) and we hadn't met in 28 years. It was quite a moment, and we soon >>>discovered that we basically were carrying on where we had left off all >>>those years ago. To be doing this at GFM was simply the icing on the >>>cake. Great to see you guy, and now we'll keep the interim down to >>>years, not decades! >>> >>>Saturday saw us hiking up GFM, huffing and puffing in Mark's dust as he >>>rocketed up the mountain with a respectable crowd in tow. Kudos to Cory >>>for keeping up with the Mountain Goat On Crack. Cory later kissed the >>>car park tarmac on his return. You laugh, but he likes a Frenchy I >>>gather. Rick and Mat made MacRae before Brian, Scotty and me, and that >>>was far enough. It's quite a climb, and the sight of Scotty taking a >>>break between sweaty inclines with a cigarette in his gob was too much! >>>It was a great way of getting to know people. We helped each other out - >>>especially Brian's vertigo which gave me some great shots. Thanks guy ;-) >>> >>>Alas, there actually was a photo competition on, and I figured I might >>>squeeze in the winner after the mountain hike. I went into the >>>undergrowth later with my 5:1 macro lens and ringlight. The bloody thing >>>acts like an air pump (variable extension tube type) and sadly I must >>>have pulled in a ton of shit when I was trying to get a flower bud in >>>the frame - up on the Mac, all I could see was dust! I had little time >>>left, and it would have taken hours to sort it out so I bailed. In fact >>>I just spent several hours spotting pics in PS for the gallery, so it's >>>okay now, but there ya go. The hike was the highlight for me. >>> >>>Others have reported on the auditorium presentations, and just like to >>>echo those that hailed Mark Cassino's show. Great pics, and very >>>informative. Mark, you inspired Brian - he's going to seek out a decent >>>camera/lens to do some close-up work on the wildflowers in his pasture >>>at home. That's a nice touch. >>> >>>Brian and I cut a few of the talks, late Saturday night and Sunday >>>morning, in favour of more civilised activities like wine and cheese in >>>the RV, and bacon and eggs with coffee, respectively. The evening wasn't >>>too late, as Don had made it plain that apparently some people strangely >>>like to sleep. I kinda missed Mark yodelling. >>> >>>Brian had a long trip back, so left about 11am while everyone was >>>picking up travelling tips from a guest speaker. He told me to say ta ta >>>to all those present and convey what a great time he had. I think he was >>>pleasantly surprised what a good bunch you guys were. Yeah, well you >>>*can* be ;-) >>> >>>Sunday's presentations were great fun - you read about the 'Doug and >>>Mark' show and it's justified. Those guys put in a lot of work, and it >>>shows. What a hoot - thanks Mark and Doug. I said my good-byes and at >>>the last, I was chatting to Helen Hopper for a while. She is the GFM >>>official photographer, and boy was I hooked. She's lovely. >>> >>>Which about wraps it up - except to say a special thanks to Don Nelson >>>for making me feel so welcome. I am astonished that he has strength to >>>drive there, do all that, after a year of Hell on chemo. I have to take >>>my hat off to the guy. Don, thank you from the heart of my bottom. >>> >>>And finally to Cesar. My travelling companion for this trip, I think I >>>would have gone nuts without someone to talk to, well - let me re-phrase >>>that: someone to listen to ;-) Cesar can talk for the USA. What a star - >>>thanks mate. You made a good trip great. I owe you big time. Come over >>>again and see us when you can. >>> >>>And so it's back to work and thinking maybe popping back again in a few >>>years. GFM kinda does that to you. My son wants to come along, and that >>>would be fine, as he's 13, and so am I :-) >>> >>>Sorry! Pictures! >>> >>><http://homepage.mac.com/cottycam/PhotoAlbum6.html> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> >>-- >>PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List >>[email protected] >>http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net >> >> >>-- >>No virus found in this incoming message. >>Checked by AVG Free Edition. >>Version: 7.5.472 / Virus Database: 269.8.11/837 - Release Date: 6/6/2007 >>2:03 PM >> >> >> >> > > > > -- PDML Pentax-Discuss Mail List [email protected] http://pdml.net/mailman/listinfo/pdml_pdml.net
