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~ Diabetes, Cancer Fighter, Father of Twins, Kayak Fishing, Lover of Life

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Tag Archives: 365 Day Photo Challenge

365 Day Photo Challenge 197/365 “Putting it in Perspective”

15 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Beach Chairs, Beach Time, Destin, Family, Florida's Beaches, Ocean, Seagrove, Vacation

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The place we’re in is not near as nice as the place we stayed in the past few years.  The beaches have a lot more people and you have no where to have a clean view of the beach without having to look over the people in front of you.  There are rude kids everywhere throwing sand and running into you.  There was a family of five kids just in front of us that had their radio jamming where everyone within a five mile radius could hear it.  The five kids all played paddle ball just in front of us and my son got hit several time with their wild hits.  The umbrella that they used was tossed in the air by the winds and I nearly got impaled through the chest.  At the days end I was not a happy camper.  I was ready to go home.  Not to the room but home.  I had enough.

I wanted to get to the beach earlier but my wife, who by the way knows everything, informed me that the chairs would not be available until 9am, (our room has complimentary beach chairs). I was not going to argue with her.  In a perfect world the chairs would be waiting for us at 9am but we don’t live in a perfect world.  I looked down and saw all the people heading to the beach before 8am and I knew what was going on.  Of course, I arrive at 8:30 to find that all the front row chairs were already spoken for leaving only the second row.  I put my belongings down next to an empty chair and sat in the other waiting on my wife to arrive.  When she did her first words were, “Why are you sitting back here when all these chairs are empty on the front??”  I politely informed her that those are already spoken for and that we should have gotten down there earlier.  She hates being told that she’s wrong.

To put things in perspective.  The place may not be as nice and it may be more crowded than the other place but we are here at the beach and I’m on vacation.   I had to bite my tongue several times today because I didn’t want to add to an already bad situation.  Our family has had several bad experiences and of course I’ve made it worse by saying something when I should’ve just kept my mouth shut.  So, I’m trying to exercise some knowledge that I’ve gained over the years.  The safety of my family is first and foremost on my mind.  I will say something when I feel that the wellbeing of my family is involved.  Otherwise I will just grin and bearing it.

Tomorrow is our last full day down here at the beach.  My plan is to get to the beach early enough to sit my big fat butt on one of the front row benches and reserve one for my wife and I.  Hopefully the family of five kids will be on the other end of us and I won’t have to worry about being impaled by an umbrella.

“Life is Good!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 195/365 “Bad Day For Pictures”

13 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Model, Oak Mountain, Photography, Vacation

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I met up with the young lady at the designated spot.  The shoot location was up a dirt road behind two locked gates.  I’ve shot there many times with no problems.  But today was different.  The first gate was unlocked when I drove up to it.  I started to go through it but though differently after I checked the lock only to realize that the combination was not the same.  Someone had changed the combination.  My fear was that as soon as I got to the shoot location someone would come behind me and lock the gate while I was still in there and I would be locked in.  Not happening.  I knew of another place and off we went.

The other place was not as nice as the first but there would be some privacy.  We drove up to the entrance and there was yet another gate.  This one was shut but not locked.  I got out and opened the gate and drove on through.  Probably not one of my smarter moves of the day.  The road to the top was about five miles and most of it was a one lane road with no room to pass.  We made it to the end of the road to where we were to shoot and there were construction going on exactly where we were going to shoot.  There were bulldozers, dump trucks and front end loaders.  Not a chance to shoot there.

On the road to the top there are a couple of overlooks where one could pull over and see down below.  Pretty nice view during the fall.  We pulled over to find a hiking trail so we did what any desperate photographer would do, we went hiking.  About a mile in we found a little outcropping of rocks that overlooked down below and we decided to shoot there.  It was a nice little location.

About twenty minutes into our shoot a group of mountain bikers road by and asked if that was my truck sitting at the trailhead.  It seems that the park ranger was looking for someone to tow it away because of the heavy equipment being used on that road.  Needless to say we packed up and left.  We decided to call it quits for the day and try it again some other time.  It was a sign for us not to shoot today.  We did get a few useable shoots but to be honest, I normally get around 900 to over 1200 pictures during a two hour shoot.  Today I only got 227 pictures.  Well below my normal.

Heading to the beach tomorrow.  I’m excited.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 194/365 “Busy Day”

12 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Beach, Family Time, Ocean, Photography, Photoshoot, Weekend

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2014-Family-Beach-Trip/n-szRKS/i-nmHqzKV/A

Normally at this time I’d be trying to prepare myself for tomorrow, Monday.  Tonight I’m rejoicing the fact that I will not be going to work tomorrow.  Instead, I’ll be getting ready for the trip planned for Tuesday.  Tomorrow, I’ll have a lot going on including a small photo shoot.  Once the shoot is over with I’ll have some stuff to do but because I did most of it today it won’t be so bad.

Today, I cleaned out the back of my truck.  I’m not sure how the back gets so cluttered with junk.  Anyway, I got the back cleaned and hosed out.  I vacuumed the inside of the cab and gave her a good washing.  I then backed the truck up to my trailer and hooked up to it to pull it out to be able to work on.  I removed both tires and loaded them into the back of the truck so that I can get some new/used tires tomorrow after the shoot.  I looked like I had took a dip in a pool when I got done with all that today.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 193/365 “Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association”

11 Saturday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Car Show, Fire Engines, Fire Trucks, HDR, Heat, Photography, Vacation, Vintage, Volunteer Fire Department

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Fire-Truck/i-mVqR6MQ/A

I had all these plans lined up for today in preparation for our trip next week.  I have a habit of procrastinating and I’m always in a rush getting ready so I was planning on getting a lot of things done today.  It didn’t happen.

I got an invite from my uncle to go to a car show today and see some of the fire trucks that that have on display.  I couldn’t resist.  The photo above is a 1918 fire truck that has been fully restored.  It got most of the attention today.

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Fire-Truck/i-CmDsDhG/A

This engine was with volunteer fire dept. where I grew up.  I was involved with the department mainly because my dad volunteered.  I was able to ride in this truck to several house and brush fires.

After taking pictures of all the trucks, I took my wife out for lunch and came straight home and got out of the heat.  It was in the high 90’s today with the humidity was around 85%.  It was not comfortable outside at all.  Not even in the shade.  Tomorrow morning I will be outside cleaning my truck out and giving it a good cleaning.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.

“Life Goes On!”365

365 Day Photo Challenge 192/365 “Officially on Vacation!!”

10 Friday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Beach, Photography, Sand, Surf, Vacation

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/2014-Family-Beach-Trip/n-szRKS/i-Qgz9DNJ/A

As of 16:15 hours today I am officially on vacation.  I do not return to work until next Monday.  Believe me, work will be the furthest from my mind.

I met up with a beautiful young lady tonight that, if everything goes well. I’ll be doing a photo shoot with her on Monday.  I’m really excited about working with her.  She does professional Hula Hoops.  I’ve never heard such a thing.  We’re going to see if we can’t combine her hula hoop with some of the pictures.

Got a lot to do tomorrow and Sunday, yard work is one of them.  I’ll be getting up early to get started so I can be finished with everything by Sunday evening.  It’s going to be a busy weekend.

365 Day Photo Challenge 191/365 “Can’t Get Here Soon Enough”

09 Thursday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Beach, Cycling, Destin, Florida Coast, Ocean, Seaweed

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The sand between my toes, the sound of the waves crashing on the beach and watching my kids play in the serf, this is what I’m longing for and it won’t be too much longer.  We will be heading to the beach on Tuesday of next week and after a day like today, it can’t get here soon enough.  I’m even going to take my bicycle and do some riding along the coast while we’re there.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 190/365 “Dryer is Fixed”

08 Wednesday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Appliance Repair, Dryer, French Doors, Vacuum

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/HDR/i-BwHzXKd/A

I was able to find the parts for my dryer locally. The parts were even cheaper than online.  It took me some time to get the parts installed because I had to replace some of the wiring.  I’m really surprised that the wires didn’t touch the cabinet and trip the breaker.  I used a vacuum to suck up all the dust and lint and put everything back together and plugged it back in.  Now I’ve got to put new parts on the French Doors that hide the washer and dryer which means another trip to the supply house.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 189/365 “Chaos”

07 Tuesday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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365 Day Photo Challenge, Appliance Repair, Chicago, Dryer, Insurance, Photography

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Chicago/i-Sp5v23W/A

Can I have a “Do Over” for today or can it just be over with.  It’s funny how you have everything planned out but the least little thing can change everything you have planned.

It started last night when I had made plans to go bike riding today when I got home from work.  I got everything ready last night before I went to bed so that once home I could change clothes and go.  Didn’t quite work that way.

Item 1.  At about 2pm I got a phone call from my wife telling me that the dryer had quit working.  Luckily I know a little about appliance repair so when I got home I immediately started trying to figure out what the problem was that was keeping my dryer from doing it’s main job.   Burnt wire on the thermostat plus the thermostat looks burnt.  I’ve got to call the supplyhouse in the morning to see if they have the parts if not I’ll have to order them online.

Item 2.  Once the dryer was looked at and all my tools were put away I looked at the clock and decided that I still had enough time to go for a ride but my wife had something she wanted to discuss with me.  It seems that my soon to be 22 year old son has been found to be driving reckless and driving too fast in and around the neighborhood.  He’s already had one speeding ticket and our insurance skyrocketed so we really can’t afford another rate hike.  My wife and I decided to tell our son that if he gets another ticket that he will be removed from our policy and he will have to pay for his own insurance.  At an estimated $1000/per six months, I don’t think he can afford that.  Maybe that will slow him down knowing that he may have to pay $150 a month to drive his car.

Item 3  After my meeting with the wife I had just enough time for a half loop.  That’s 15 miles.  It’s better than nothing so I go and start changing clothes.  The phone rings. The wife answers, “What’s Wrong”.  Two words that you don’t want to hear when all three of your kids are supposed to be on their way home from work. Keep in mind that all three of my kids work at the same water park. One daughter is upset from something that happened at work and now she’s quitting.  The other daughter says she’s going to quit if this superviser that made the first daughter so mad she’s going to quit is not fired.  Still with me?  Now my son arrives at home just as my wife is trying to tell me what is going on.  My wife stops in mid sentence and starts asking my son what happened.  Without going into great detail it seems that they have a problem with a supervisor and my son, who is about 4 years older than that of this supervisor, got caught in the middle. My son is supposed to see if he can talk to the supervisor’s boss in the morning to see if he can sort this whole mess out.  If not, someone will face the wrath of my wife tomorrow I can assure you.

Item 4 I quit looking at the clock at this point.  My girls come home.  We go over the entire events of the afternoon again with little to no resolve.  Again, my son says that he will talk to the boss in the morning when he gets to his training session.  If there is a solution my girls will go to work at 10 am as scheduled.  If no resolve, they will all quit I’m guessing.

I decided to take this opportunity to discuss the lead foot my son has with him.  I tell him of the $150 a month insurance plan, he’s not impressed with having to pay that amount.  Will it work, I doubt it. We shall see!

No riding for me today.  Going on vacation next week but will I have any money left to go after the repair work on my dryer?  This is only Tuesday and we still have three more days remaining in this week. The weekend can’t come soon enough.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 188/365 “Change of Plans”

06 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

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Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Brush Clearing, Cycling, Firewood, Tires, workout

http://tchphotography.smugmug.com/Prints-For-Sale/Botanical-Gardens/i-bkwWVgz/A

I had every intention of getting home and taking a ride on the bicycle this evening but with everything else I tried to do today my plans got changed.  I’m moving my son out of one apartment into another in a couple of weeks and being that we’re going to be out of town all of next week I decided that today would be as good a day as any to unload the firewood from my open trailer.  But first, I had to get to the trailer.  It seems that over a period of a few months brush had overtaken the area so I had to cut them down.  Once that was done I noticed that the tire was flat on the trailer so I’ll be calling the tire shop to order some used tires. The area that I have for my firewood was also growed up so here I go again cutting down more brush.  After about two hours I finally got my trailer unloaded and the firewood stacked.  I really need to unload my truck tomorrow but I think I’ll take a ride on the bicycle tomorrow.

“Life Goes On!”

365 Day Photo Challenge 187/365 “Did a Little Riding Today”

05 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by Tim Hughes Living with CML in Photography

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

365 Day Photo Challenge, Alabama, Bike Riding, Cleats, Clipless Pedals, Cycling, Photography, Shoes

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And I do mean little.  A little over 14 miles to be exact.  I road to a friends house which lives about 7 miles from me in another city and we had a small meeting.  After about 45 minutes or so I left and went to another friends house and stayed about the same amount of time.  I left there, got about half a mile up the road and then the bottom fell out.  Stormed all the way home.

I got new pedals, cleats and new shoes.  I’m not sure if I have the cleats set just right but so far I’m not having any issues.  I am having issues with clipping in on my left pedal.  I’m sure it will come with time but I had a lot of trouble and in the most inopportune time.  I stopped at a traffic light and unclipped.  After the light changed to green I had to start up this steep hill.  I never did get that left foot clipped in until after I got up that hill.  I was wore out.  I stopped a couple of times trying to practice but it seemed to do no good.  I can do if fine while stopped but while riding it’s another story.  Like I said, I’m sure it will come with time.

“Life Goes On!”

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