Glenn's Underground Cabin Update

[glenn kangiser]

I told you I had to write the story about the oil change... had to get it while it was fresh.... [ouch]

I am real happy with the ZS20.... I am glad I checked reviews on the ZS10 and did not buy it.  The deer was about a 366mm equivalent in a 35mm camera.  That info comes out with the data on each pix including GPS coordinates, settings, etc. when you review it if you wish after DLing it to the computer.  The software CD makes it easy to review the stats.   It seems that battery life may be better than the ZS7 on GPS setting but that could be my imagination.... anyway.  It is a cool camera.   

To those who don't know... I am building shopping centers for the masses in Walnut Creek, so .... communication is "Con la computadora... "

...but a 2 day respite this weekend before returning to this asphalt jungle... the roar of the freeways and some decent people along with the rude city type....

Aren't we glad we can return to the hills.... 

[Sassy]

It was a nice day here - was supposed to be 95-96 degrees but only got to maybe 86 - very pleasant, especially for this time of year. 

Now I'm looking for a new laptop...  mine is going on 4 yrs & won't take flashplayer anymore.  It locks up my computer everytime. 

I have a Gateway which I've been very happy with until lately...  I like the backlit keyboard cuz then I don't need a light on - I don't look at the keyboard but it is nice to be able to see in case I start writing crazy stuff that doesn't make any sense.  No comments from you, Glenn 

Anyway, want the quad processor, backlit keyboard, 15.6 in screen...  Costco has a Toshiba that looks good & the price is right, only don't like the 10 key #'s on the keyboard - the mouse pad is to the left - seems like that would throw everything off - keys as well.  We haven't had good experiences with the HP's, never had a Mac & don't want one. 

We've had 3-5 turkey hens w/a bunch of babies hanging around our road for a few weeks.  If they stick around, maybe I can get some good pics w/my new camera    Took some pictures a couple weeks ago but they didn't show up too well in the long brown grass.

[Windpower]

 A good friend lives in Walnut Creek

nice area  -- for northern CA

[glenn kangiser]

Yes, Windpower,  it is a pretty nice area for the big city.  It is in the shadow of Mt. Diablo which actually has some pretty nice scenery.  I have taken a few of the back roads around it.

Sassy, I happen to like the ten key pad on the side of the qwerty board... you just slide to the left of it and pretend it is not there until you need it...then when you do, things are much easier. [ouch]

So... off to work this morning to read the elevations to the surveyor so my columns will come out at the right elevation.  Key here anymore is CYA.  Make them set elevations, etc. 

Crimoney.. the concrete guy put the openings in the wrong place and we had to move our steel to match... it just snowballs down the line.  Windows made to fit per plan had to be scrapped because the building was made to fit the concrete guys rubber tape...

Due to today's atmosphere of always trying to get someone else to pay for problems you always try to not make any, make someone else responsible if there is a chance one could be made, and always document the reason everything was late, pictures, notes, dates, times, etc.... ie:The other guy did not perform and did not have as many notes  as to why you may have caused the problem....

It is a sad world down here in the valley but that is just the way it is.  Nice to get back home where we may get there today, it might be tomorrow, but surely next month... or if not then, next year, and nobody too much cares.... it is expected.  We call it living on Mariposa time....

[desimulacra]

Sassy,
I have bought Dell for years and never had issues (maybe 30 computers or more)  Using Dell Alienware now and love it!!!!!!!!
I buy from the outlet and catch a sale on, get em at a great price with full warranty.
I work on my own puters so always get the std. warranty and they just send me the parts if they ever do break (three times, all ram)

[Sassy]

Sassy,
I have bought Dell for years and never had issues (maybe 30 computers or more)  Using Dell Alienware now and love it!!!!!!!!
I buy from the outlet and catch a sale on, get em at a great price with full warranty.
I work on my own puters so always get the std. warranty and they just send me the parts if they ever do break (three times, all ram)

Thanks, desimulacra...  for some reason DH doesn't like Dell - so never had one to see how they work.  Costco offered a good deal on a Toshiba i7 755 2760  QM w/8gb ram, 750 gb hard drive etc - trying to remember all the #'s as I had to go through Costco online - the website became temporally unavailable     while I was ordering...  besides, it kept changing the address - our street address is not in the postal code so a lot of businesses have problems w/it - the USPS does not deliver so have to have po box...  but then a lot of things are sent via UPS, etc who deliver to address     soooooooo  -  the tech help was able to get it ordered - it should be on its way     I have the VISTA operating system in this computer - I know I can upgrade to the Windows 7, but hey, it's time for a new computer   

[glenn kangiser]

This morning I experimented with the HDR setting on the ZS20 to see how it worked and the difference between it and the one on the Samsung Note. 

I had noticed the color intensification with the Note but not with the ZS20.  Apparently that is one of the major differences.  The ZS20 performs the operation of changing the High Dynamic Range photos quite well but does not apply any color changes or intensification leaving that to be done on an individual basis offering more complete control, but taking longer to do.

Here is a screen shot of a  Non-HDR pix with the ZS20




Here is an HDR picture with the ZS20




Note that in the HDR screenshot the areas in the shadows are much more visible.  Haze in the sky is greatly reduced and sky color is much more blue.


Here is the HDR pix with color enhancement added... contrast up, saturation up.





The Samsung Note adds the enhancements right away but only gives a few levels of intensity.  The Photofun Studio 8.1 with the Panasonic Lumix ZS20 is more work but gives you much more complete control.   

[glenn kangiser]

Studying the owners manual some more, it looks like there are more options for getting enhanced pictures from the ZS20.... hmm...

..... Why would anybody want to read the owners manual? 

[pmichelsen]

..... Why would anybody want to read the owners manual?

They should make manuals on tape. I know when I bought my Lumix LX3 I bought a separate book entitled "Photographer's Guide to the Panasonic Lumix LX3" it was a lot easier to understand than the manual.

[glenn kangiser]

Now they are just sending the manual out as a PDF on the CD so it is not too bad to read... I just need to get after it and do it.  On the other hand it is hard to pack with you in the computer, but I can load it into the Samsung Note and read it there. 

Got more rock today.  Touched up a few places that were a bit thin from last week , then went on down the road a ways.  It appears that I just pounded the old slate rock away with my truck over the last ten years. 





I think we added a couple loads in a couple spots in that time but not much.  My rock supplier said he adds to his every 4 or 5 years.  Slate is soft and wears some but the clay also sucks some of it down too.





My rock man spreads it pretty well except when it's wet and hangs up but it is easy work with the Bobcat to spread it out the rest of the way or even move a decent amount around if you are a highly skilled operator like I am....               [ouch]

[glenn kangiser]

Got a new one for you.  I am currently hooked to my Samsung Note as a WIFI Hotspot.... and it is pretty fast too. 

Don't try this with an American version of the Note as you will be blocked by your carrier unless you pay extra fees as far as I know.  ATT does it for sure.  All set up in the phone including security and nothing extra to buy.   

[glenn kangiser]

Made an extension for my Crane truck yesterday to hopefully reach a ways farther on the site I am working on.....

We will see...




Painted it red with spray paint to match the truck so it didn't look Mickey Mouse....

All the welding was done with solar power using my Millermatic 140 (120v) with flux core NR211MP.   

[Sassy]

When Glenn got it painted, it looked like it was fresh from the factory - Glenn's factory, that is 

I had a nice surprise when I got to the post office today.  Our friend Feng, from China, the one we went to see in Los Angeles for his baptism had sent Glenn & me a birthday present!  (Glenn's b-day 6/29 & mine in a few days - so he is OLDER than me!)



For some reason, photobucket will not upload any pictures except for what I sent from my android phone...  I think it is because I can't use Flash anymore on my computer - it crashes it everytime - I think either VISTA has a problem w/it or the computer is too old...  that's why I have a brand new laptop on its way    Soooo, if DH, Mr Glenn can fix this you will be able to view the picture instead of having to click on the link to see it.   

[glenn kangiser]

Wow - that is really cool.   

Sassy also mentioned that he said he got it in Beijing on his trip to visit there a couple weeks ago.  What cool extended family members we have.   

I got to try out the extension today.  A bit of red spray paint and it looked like it was meant to be part of the truck.... did some rule of thumb engineering on it and it was extremely light but worked well. 

The city guys run us out of the street or sidewalk area if they catch us....especially old anus face... "I'm from the city of Walnut Creek and ...blah ...blah... blah..." ...yeah right .. I was impressed the moment you stepped out of your vehicle....

I did go out there and set a couple columns after 5 pm tonight.  You know those guys are sitting home enjoying a cold one at that time and are not about to jump up out of the easy chair and chase me off of the sidewalk again.... [ouch]



That puts the hook out at about 40 feet from the rear of the truck now.  I just lift light stuff out that far as the capacity of the crane permits... you know... 500 lbs or so.....





Terribly cramped little job site but... we will make it....

Oh yeah... and don't get on the fresh concrete or we will come out and take pictures of your truck and try to blame you if it cracks...

[Sassy]

Thanks, Sweetie 

Looks like the extension worked...  just don't do anything dangerous or break your equipment   

BTW, went & picked up Glenn's Dodge Ram at the transmission shop today - seems like it is all fixed 

My hands were filthy after driving it (and probably the rest of me) it had been sitting for a few months besides it being his work truck 

[glenn kangiser]

Awe...shucks...it were nuthin'.....

That carving looks like bronze to me but I'm just looking at a pix....

BTW, took the pix you emailed me and blew it up a bit ....

Do you think the mechanic might have got my truck dirty.... I am so neat and clean you know....

[Ernest T. Bass]

Pretty professional-looking piece of heavy equipment there! My opinion doesn't rate real high when it comes to this sort of stuff, but I think it's pretty impressive anyway, and the paint is a nice (and somewhat surprising ) touch...

I know it's important not to look all rinky-dink, even if the stuff performs well.. It's like trying to get permission to film a movie in a store when your homemade dolly looks like a skateboard on pvc pipes. It might work just as well as the shiny black $1500 model, but it doesn't bode well.

[glenn kangiser]

You got it, Andrew.... There are so many bosses etc. running around here I needed it to look like it was part of the crane.  They aren't crazy over safety here at least....just don't want to get them started....

The boss said he didn't see anything or want to know anything when I mentioned I might have to go work from the street after 5pm...

Here is a bit better shot of the extension right after I put it on the truck...



I just happened to have the right size Sluggers to cut the pin holes so it looks pretty good.  Used my shear and band saw on some of the parts too... all running off of solar power ... - well the Iron Worker runs off of the generator but the rest is solar.... welder, big band saw, big grinder.....

[Sassy]

   Got my new Toshiba laptop today!     Went down the hill to the garden terraces today to see how things were growing & decided to take a picture of a few of the veggies I picked - there's still lots more in the garden...  oh oh, forgot to save my bookmark for photobucket...  I'll be back w/the picture 



Here's a picture of one of the day lilies my SIL gave me - both pics taken w/my new camera...  now I can actually download the pics to photobucket 

[Sassy]

Last week I took my granddaughters to 6 Flags in Vallejo - 1st time they'd ever gone to a big amusement park.  We had a really fun time, I even went on a bunch of rides - the lines were short    One thing, bring your own food - their food is awful & expensive!  These pictures were taken w/my Samsung Note.

Angelina - 9 y/o



Amya

[glenn kangiser]

Wow...colorful pix.

Just got to dinner at.....Taco Bell. ... I guess its a form of dinner anyway.

Got the three hard canopies put up today. Maybe I will make it back to the underground complex this week after all.  [ouch]

[rick91351]

Wow...colorful pix.

Just got to dinner at.....Taco Bell. ... I guess its a form of dinner anyway.

Got the three hard canopies put up today. Maybe I will make it back to the underground complex this week after all.  [ouch]

Sassy your photo of the veggies looks good enough to eat or at least be in a seed catalog.

Glenn that is good news.  (Not dining at Taco Bell  )  But that you are making good progress.  Get home and enjoy........   

[rick91351]

Sassy with those grins looks like your granddaughters had a GOOOOD! TIME!! at Six Flags.

[glenn kangiser]

Hurrying every chance I get, Rick.

It's been hot lately too not helping matters much but I keep plugging along. 

Ventured into the forbidden zone yesterday... worked right over the sidewalk.  City boy didn't show up.  Funny how things are not important if he doesn't happen to be around.....

These are the three canopies I got up yesterday afternoon right after the lathers pulled off the stuff they put in place ahead of time because they didn't follow the plans....the one on the right was on my new extension.. made things much easier otherwise I may have had to rent a reach lift or something.  Saved the company some money there.  That should be worth some Brownie points.

Other stuff in my way.. sorry boys but you have to tear it out... [ouch]

The framer has been working well with me and their troubleshooter has been here changing whatever needs it.  Only a few minor things he had to fix for me and some didn't affect me.  I am putting the steel in first in some places then he can come up under it with his wood posts.  I will just rest it on a 2x4 nailed on the wall so he can match the exact location.  Makes it easier for both of us then.  [idea]



Yup.... looking direct into the sun almost but...the only shot I could get to show all three canopies. 

The canopies are at 12 feet high and the big ones are 20 feet long - around 800 lbs ....small one 11 feet long - about 500 lbs.

[rick91351]

Glenn in your photo - those turnbuckles they use in those applications are they real or just for looks?  I have seen them in other places and applications and they really do not look like there is a good anchor point in what they are hanging off of.  Real or eye candy??