tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11248580788068815252024-03-23T03:14:56.537-07:00Mold|Breaker? nice trygranitix.blogspot reborn: similar cr@p, but a new font!
JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.comBlogger189125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-37700677156129699552024-03-01T09:19:00.000-08:002024-03-08T22:21:12.251-08:00welcome to March!<p> <br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjxUPPEpAzwm__DXDeOhAN-ohMpYOqTBWFcUh2JvJCYo_UrDTMWVGfnXKMF6yDxfT63wj5eWFGjpdP2pp1jMGcFd3jgz_zjB_JrxOZoVxIlZKn_Rbtna3hKaKrRn7z6aNwXow1WEGVtM5wdPrEtoDQ4mZwtoZTsu8Av6iXH4VePEb-wZqNJw8Rnp5TCc/s700/snowbar2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="46" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjxUPPEpAzwm__DXDeOhAN-ohMpYOqTBWFcUh2JvJCYo_UrDTMWVGfnXKMF6yDxfT63wj5eWFGjpdP2pp1jMGcFd3jgz_zjB_JrxOZoVxIlZKn_Rbtna3hKaKrRn7z6aNwXow1WEGVtM5wdPrEtoDQ4mZwtoZTsu8Av6iXH4VePEb-wZqNJw8Rnp5TCc/s16000/snowbar2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><b><div style="text-align: center;"><b>The cold, somewhat messy March lion has arrived!</b></div></b><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>After a five-day rally to make February into an above-average month (105%), March cones in chilly. The 7-day forecast is for about 1½" of wet snowflakes; we have a solid trace on our deck and in our grass as I type, and a snowy mix is falling.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>It seems that <b><u>our groundhog lied.</u></b> Break out the pitchforks and torches!!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Update. The early forecast was for perhaps 2" total snowfall, at best an inch each night and gone the next afternoon. Reality was more exuberant: over 9" on the ground at maximum, which today (3/8) is <i>still</i> three inches on deck and driveway! </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Exuberant indeed. </span></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-46791598926870500982024-02-27T11:10:00.000-08:002024-02-28T18:26:08.730-08:00late-month rally<p> With five days to go, February was 39% of normal for precipitation. That's asking a lot of five days.</p><p>And then it began to rain.</p><p>As of this morning we're at 60% - and forecasts add about 2½" more (thanks to having a 29th day this year!). If this pans out we'll have (a) two really wet days, and (b) 105% of normal!</p><p></p><b>Let's find out..</b><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix2jAuHJiVbdkQX45kihN0pCGmdEaXBNZrSe0RCBRpoTX_Rwgg54eX7yelwGlpofyrtl05W7fCC8h5KCnxmC5Rw30RJps8oFyWDRkOkktST9y25UZrROh-lIb0iM-K_TprZdhlt_LRhuRSghklTBt2t12QmF-Sw_EwEEG83RlmbFMnV1rwY429YjZjqGA" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="425" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix2jAuHJiVbdkQX45kihN0pCGmdEaXBNZrSe0RCBRpoTX_Rwgg54eX7yelwGlpofyrtl05W7fCC8h5KCnxmC5Rw30RJps8oFyWDRkOkktST9y25UZrROh-lIb0iM-K_TprZdhlt_LRhuRSghklTBt2t12QmF-Sw_EwEEG83RlmbFMnV1rwY429YjZjqGA" width="273" /></a></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b>Update, 28 Feb.</b> Now just 0.8" short of average (87%) -- and the cold front is making its appearance at the coast! We never used to have such detail, but the somewhat recent addition of a radar near Aberdeen really improved the up-wind view.</span></p><p><br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><br /></i><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>The next seven days are quite damp, showing that the first few days of March </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><i>will come in like a lion - and not just for us!!</i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></span></div></div><br /><br /><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-52485843638797791042024-02-16T11:13:00.000-08:002024-02-16T11:19:55.657-08:00California takes a turn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c3yRjGiZuZ_DE4aGJ05D9P6AeuMNeEJkBA3v4HmkhszlqqeXeJBeP95y6yJmA7gxCTx0Lpf69pDyGW0YC6HdGcnghdXhIl7mid-hrW3_urwUuHSkoEOlfZxWAj_30uzt3xRBVMVgzMwD6riW8EetkRfUH2hmDmacmLdKRAgJHIWBmzrBOgWWb8OG1jA/s896/Screenshot_20240216-105210-598.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="text-align: left;"></span></a><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3c3yRjGiZuZ_DE4aGJ05D9P6AeuMNeEJkBA3v4HmkhszlqqeXeJBeP95y6yJmA7gxCTx0Lpf69pDyGW0YC6HdGcnghdXhIl7mid-hrW3_urwUuHSkoEOlfZxWAj_30uzt3xRBVMVgzMwD6riW8EetkRfUH2hmDmacmLdKRAgJHIWBmzrBOgWWb8OG1jA/s896/Screenshot_20240216-105210-598.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis74bdkigFWsmaXTC1_BSL9lvQaF-93ImG_5_G_HjDw2007zw3u0BAnS0pgpuiFKYOc3HyoHEhwCuCkMwO1RZQQ2a824SzJfMXAMspI2RdLBiJg7-8SLb4GTRWIL6mSUlMzUOfsCv7C8pliHFlyNez13Ir3IiQq7ghhY8iDhdr9QY9flMUbDrNJGUYhpU/s896/Screenshot_20240216-105210-598.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><img border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="547" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis74bdkigFWsmaXTC1_BSL9lvQaF-93ImG_5_G_HjDw2007zw3u0BAnS0pgpuiFKYOc3HyoHEhwCuCkMwO1RZQQ2a824SzJfMXAMspI2RdLBiJg7-8SLb4GTRWIL6mSUlMzUOfsCv7C8pliHFlyNez13Ir3IiQq7ghhY8iDhdr9QY9flMUbDrNJGUYhpU/w168-h276/Screenshot_20240216-105210-598.png" width="168" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">February has been less damp than recent months, as the rapidly weakening el Niño sends moisture south of us for a while. We're around 30% of normal halfway through the month.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Our coming week has perhaps an inch of rain, but several recent forecasts have been too enthusiastic about amounts. We even flirted with a snow forecast this week, but in the end the cold vs. moist boundary ended up closer to Olympia. <i><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Oh look; our forecast now has a 900-foot snow level tonight..</span></i></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Next fall looks like we're back to La Niña - but many climate folks are now wondering if enough global change has been wrought to break our conditioned expectations. It's always been clear how things settle out in Niña and Niño years.. but last year's California weather was not typical at all. Lake Manly (aka Badwater / Death Valley) formed after Hurricane Hilary and it's been replenished by recent storms; Tulare Lake reformed and hasn't vanished either. Perhaps we need to watch a few more cycles before throwing out all our experience; we'll find out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-62206068089645215412024-01-30T22:30:00.000-08:002024-03-13T13:58:19.487-07:00kit<p style="text-align: center;"></p><h1 style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #1435a9; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Looking ahead not back</span></i></h1><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhciwG5cCuYwKe4m-sKu7uyOmxOc5Lkk_I7HObsn-17WGndGtxAVqQPE4Ddui-tk3hGAJ_Dg6hMDLfCoeAIYgAYKmLTC6LNlabQZ0o00jn33F_KPFhcHCZF_-rDKdZz10g2a7x9FdzUpcSR6LFUmTEEIb1aDLJApZ3Sz9Qkh-yBZU2VB0x3QwLtj6Ivw/s155/beta.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="155" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhciwG5cCuYwKe4m-sKu7uyOmxOc5Lkk_I7HObsn-17WGndGtxAVqQPE4Ddui-tk3hGAJ_Dg6hMDLfCoeAIYgAYKmLTC6LNlabQZ0o00jn33F_KPFhcHCZF_-rDKdZz10g2a7x9FdzUpcSR6LFUmTEEIb1aDLJApZ3Sz9Qkh-yBZU2VB0x3QwLtj6Ivw/w200-h199/beta.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><hr size="2" width="90%" /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed; font-size: medium;"><b>Update 3-5: <span style="color: #cc0000;">shifting</span></b><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b> from 12-35 to 14-140A, </b></span>with wx seals and nice range. This removes <i>three</i> lenses from my pile: 12-35, 45-150 and my damaged 14-140 with its chipped front element, which I cannot use with full confidence. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed; font-size: medium;">I'm also swapping a <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>G100 Lumix</b></span> in place of the gf7; its USB charging, two dials and viewfinder are solid positives over the GF7. No ibIS, but better 20Mpx sensor, excellent viewfinder, and audio inputs - and oh ya, 4k too.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b style="text-decoration-line: underline;">µ43</b><b> </b>primes:</span></span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>10-17-23-30macro-45mm</b>. </span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">The 17 and 45 are Oly f/1.8, and so the Zonlai 50 is now expendable. The 10 and 23 are manual focus, but AF rules otherwise.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">Zooms:</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>14-140 plus 35-100.</b></span><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> That </span></span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">brings me a range of 28-280mm/e with weather seals and 28-200 with </span></span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">decent speed </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-small;">(the 14-140 is a pinch faster than 12-60 at 35mm)</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">. That's plenty good enough for me. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">The </span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">elder 4thirds </span><b style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;">ZD 70-300</b><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: georgia;"> is available for longer reach. Its bulk won't make it a take-everywhere option but that's OK.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #6fa8dc; font-family: georgia;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">bodies: <u style="font-weight: bold;">eM1 mk.II</u> and </span><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>G100</b> are versatile in different ways; hopefully they will not interfere with each other. </span></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVMq_-vXP5dx3t741Mk6EnxUuCsHpN5QjRhWfJCSbHXBL7qjuLndNqagZvOBMRCpWxGQ2kmYggZt_PdOOfK_XSqANb1YdeMSRrRDQJzqvJfILGgLmYdXF0pQHxPnAv8NthIOlHeYHH8_5gJWnOvVydLC9R3duczh7374sviBVp1V66HQXTp7LMQbth4A/s374/glogMar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="300" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVMq_-vXP5dx3t741Mk6EnxUuCsHpN5QjRhWfJCSbHXBL7qjuLndNqagZvOBMRCpWxGQ2kmYggZt_PdOOfK_XSqANb1YdeMSRrRDQJzqvJfILGgLmYdXF0pQHxPnAv8NthIOlHeYHH8_5gJWnOvVydLC9R3duczh7374sviBVp1V66HQXTp7LMQbth4A/s320/glogMar.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><u style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"><b>Pentax:</b></u><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia; text-align: left;"> the K-s2 remains with me, awaiting its solenoid surgery. The camera works fine in M mode with aperture-ringed lenses, but DA lenses will not work properly with the camera until I operate. </span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia;">This kit is generally inactive and will be up for sale in the near future. </span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia;"><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElgivtB0ZQOzWKksNAtseioZ9VPp4YvsdLrFHjqTw2f-Kp5Q7fCYMJZp0aP8jEzejzqzpwmrPp1qBpKaSmbonK85VzH_eghhmXp0NTnghhsn00c827LHBgRV_VD9h5PbEv5_Lw4ie_4SJ9HLzjPL-QsqpqB2BTf9yZFk5ioM-v8qHbRykGjaWBD33nY/s262/blog24x.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="104" data-original-width="262" height="104" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElgivtB0ZQOzWKksNAtseioZ9VPp4YvsdLrFHjqTw2f-Kp5Q7fCYMJZp0aP8jEzejzqzpwmrPp1qBpKaSmbonK85VzH_eghhmXp0NTnghhsn00c827LHBgRV_VD9h5PbEv5_Lw4ie_4SJ9HLzjPL-QsqpqB2BTf9yZFk5ioM-v8qHbRykGjaWBD33nY/s1600/blog24x.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><b><div style="text-align: right;"><b>And here's a table with my </b><b>Pentax</b><b> primes, plus their effective speed-boosted values!</b></div></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">The 85/2 and 135/3.5 are really small even with the µ43 adapter, and while the speed-booster adds a bit of weight the spacing of focal lengths is nice. </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">I <u>could</u> also include the Pentax DA70 Limited but the speed booster I own would only shoot it fully closed. It would work fine as a 70/2.4 though!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: georgia;"><span><br /></span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="color: #783f04;"> </span></div></span></div></div></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-74724810301240273162024-01-22T20:44:00.000-08:002024-01-27T11:45:24.917-08:00Back to normal<p> Version 1: temperature is now above 45° and snow is down to tiny patches. A half inch of rain has fallen today so it may all be gone by sunrise. The melt plus rain was nearly 2"!</p><p>Version 2: with a week to go, January should end up at least an inch above normal <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: x-small;">(OK, 2½" above as of the 27th!)</span>. That means our water deficit since October will be a surplus.. for a little while, at least. </p><p><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-40154478042874653362024-01-03T18:31:00.000-08:002024-01-17T14:42:29.921-08:00a first glance at winter<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2hAfpV-xybijNZONYFTJsTqYNowCzI0VsSSVCQ9ViO8Cy114phN-TBYypsN-IwCSwKtIlMD0qVENBoeDhvvpjf9cppuQSUflyTIIRrFioMve186LjDfa4SPrgwkxfhPB_yvFm1zBQLkR3i0GEaOY80EKniuPNhDbymYhXlF8lPJluq8AltNOjAqkxEmY" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="218" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2hAfpV-xybijNZONYFTJsTqYNowCzI0VsSSVCQ9ViO8Cy114phN-TBYypsN-IwCSwKtIlMD0qVENBoeDhvvpjf9cppuQSUflyTIIRrFioMve186LjDfa4SPrgwkxfhPB_yvFm1zBQLkR3i0GEaOY80EKniuPNhDbymYhXlF8lPJluq8AltNOjAqkxEmY=w191-h356" width="191" /></a></p>Our moisture has come from the south so far this rainy season, so ski resorts and winter-focused events have not fared well. Many storms near California will do that, and el Niño often leaves its mark to our south, pushing warmer air our way to limit snowpack. It does <u>not</u> make us immune to winter weather though!<p></p><p>Today's Wx-Underground forecasts have turned toward snow about a week from now, which is surprising. Many models have made this shift, however; shown here is the well-regarded European model's view on Friday morning 1/12. This is pretty much the classic pattern for white weather down low, with cold air just onshore and marine moisture willing to be pulled in just to its south!</p><p>This could change in six hours with the next model runs, and in the course of a week's modeling the timing and location will likely revise a few more times. Still, it's notable. </p><p><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">We'll be watching..</span></i></p><p><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></i></p><p><span style="color: #e69138;"><u>7Jan update</u>: the forecast has twisted several times as to depth of cold air and accumulation, but the 12-13th remains white at our 750' elevation. Values have varied from 3½ to 12 inches from run to run!</span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;"><u>7-16 recap</u>?</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Curiously enough, winter weather began abruptly on Tuesday the 9th, with over 6" on the ground on Tuesday morning. It was a strong suspicion but nothing more on Monday night as we drove back from Anacortes in downpours.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">That settled down to 4" by Friday 1/12, when we topped off the crunchy old snow with 4" of fresh true powder. The arctic front dropped us to 16° at night through Monday the 15th. Today the cold air was overrun by a front coming from the SW; only a pinch of fz/rain has fallen so far, and the forecast has us above freezing by sunrise. It will take a day or two for the snow to vamish, but the wild times will return to normal in 36 hours or so.</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><b>7-17 - It was a good try</b>, but it took until 10am to reach freezing, and 2pm to reach 35. </span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Time to start shoveling the driveway!</span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></p><p><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br /></span></i></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-49306962669291803672023-12-27T20:09:00.000-08:002024-02-28T19:26:25.593-08:00GP MMXXIV: is it over?<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8AsQ7b0ZqFL1NthuE-UR81mn0CyEomOkctxboAVlFcRTmg78zUm9hmWwLP_z_eWqARplXr0eO_vqQJ7iYOaSKnrlDRcJ9seekU3X2h9o5CAznwbLsIS5kWO3ZweGbC-TQbl9t55Xt3rerkg1rgVmrmZGyzYGFsz7bExtKLabE5-ybpmXAvmDs3RXPiQ/s448/DecBlog.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="307" data-original-width="448" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL8AsQ7b0ZqFL1NthuE-UR81mn0CyEomOkctxboAVlFcRTmg78zUm9hmWwLP_z_eWqARplXr0eO_vqQJ7iYOaSKnrlDRcJ9seekU3X2h9o5CAznwbLsIS5kWO3ZweGbC-TQbl9t55Xt3rerkg1rgVmrmZGyzYGFsz7bExtKLabE5-ybpmXAvmDs3RXPiQ/w311-h213/DecBlog.jpg" width="311" /></a>The purge has ended, and <b>kit 2024</b> has arrived: the last lens<span style="color: #bf9000;">*</span> arrived on the 2nd of January. The kit is <u>very</u> different from my December posting (at right)! A couple of shoot-outs will help me decide which lenses will stay and if any more will depart. </p><p>Some things are clear though:</p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span face="sans-serif" style="background-color: #f6b26b;">The gold column</span><span face="sans-serif"> is gone. I still own a few</span> lenses, but they are bodiless and therefore useless to me.</li><li><span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">The green column</span> is here physically but is no longer a factor in my decisions. One or two lenses may remain when it's over, but it wont be a factor in my planning. Assuming I can <i>afford</i> any more plans!</li><li>I see eleven items in <span style="background-color: #d9d2e9;">the μ43 column</span> from early December. <b>Six</b> have changed (including both listed bodies), and an extra lens added. A few of those six may remain after the Purge - but definitely not many!</li></ul><div><u><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b>How it all came about</b></span></u></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>A new top body, the <b>eM1.ii</b> in Ex+ came first, funded by the Sony gear's departure. This would put the eM1 into the second spot and allow the A01 to find a new home. While I'm not a fan of flip screens, the many additional updates to the ii were quite persuasive.<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></i></li><li>After researching my ultrawide /astro options, I chose the <b>TTArtisan 7.5/2 fisheye</b>. It's a bit of a beast, especially compared to the 10 fisheye - but being three stops brighter was a worthwhile change to make. That made the 10/5.6 rather expendable despite its compactness, but I left that question unsettled for a bit.. <span style="font-size: x-small;">like perhaps <i>two paragraphs</i>?</span></li><li>I then decided to grab a nicely-priced copy of the <b>Lumix 20/1.7</b> to replace the TTArt 23/1.4 that I'd been using. A pinch less light and 'slow' AF, but enough benefits to take the spot and leave more space for the 30mm macro to get more use. I had considered if the Oly 17/1.8 would not have served a bit better.. but $50 less for very similar IQ and bulk helped. It may be that 10-17-23-30 is a better series than 10-20-30.. but for now I'm good.</li><li><span style="color: #cc0000;">OOPS! </span>I found a <b>Laowa 10/2</b> in good condition at a reseller, meaning it was affordable - but would be cheaper still if I were to let the eM1 v.1 depart. The Laowa is an excellent lens to have on hand for aurora seeking. It does force <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Shootout #1 </span>between the TTArt and Laowa.. and the Br*10 for that matter: two fisheyes is one too many, as is two 10mm. It does reopen the slot for 2nd body.. for a little while. <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Speaking of shootouts, </span></i></li><li><span style="color: #cc0000;">Whoa.</span> A bargain <b>Lumix 12-35/2.8 </b>v.1 will battle the slower Lumix 12-60 as the 35-100/2.8's teammate. Sure I'd prefer the v.2 to match the 35-100, but this was in Bgn condition, therefore far less expensive than I expected for any copy of this lens! On an Oly body the Dual:IS boost of v.2 is irrelevant. <span style="color: #2b00fe;">Shootout #2 </span>will be interesting as I yet again contemplate speed vs range!</li><li>Either way, the 14/2.5 and 23/1.4 have no real place if the 12-35 prevails. We'll see how results play out soon!</li><li><span style="color: #cc0000;">Um/Ah -</span> then a <b>GF7</b> appeared on eBay with little use and a reasonable price. Far more useful in my bag than the A01, it's a gx7 internally but in a simpler wrapper and with fewer bonus features. Great imaging on the inside though!</li></ol><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWxgUdT6FvZFk7KjRM8lJa4xfsjTlXwx-GdiPER3qNAQLZm7jJI2Z51VRcyzd-AS7JzGVZoftPBA4wYZm1o7q7m2DG__fnDQGIZKi-AUpnmnbtUhZ1YbnrVPUkSkQiheZll4cLtwMyIvsnHdQMTM71h0f0allyTCJR93CO_QgUQUNCN2pd4KUKK5smBs/s272/blog24.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="123" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWxgUdT6FvZFk7KjRM8lJa4xfsjTlXwx-GdiPER3qNAQLZm7jJI2Z51VRcyzd-AS7JzGVZoftPBA4wYZm1o7q7m2DG__fnDQGIZKi-AUpnmnbtUhZ1YbnrVPUkSkQiheZll4cLtwMyIvsnHdQMTM71h0f0allyTCJR93CO_QgUQUNCN2pd4KUKK5smBs/w95-h210/blog24.JPG" width="95" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #e5d980;"> So here's the µ43 update, with<span style="color: #cc0000;"> new items in <b>red and gold</b>.</span></span><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"> </span></div></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="background-color: #fce5cd;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The only tempting change now is to swap out my Zonlai 50/1.4 with a slightly slower 42.5/45mm AF prime. That would save some weight, as the Zonlai is a dense little beast (listed at just under 200g, but the Oly45/1.8 is 115g). No hurry on this however. </div><div><br /></div><div>And as long as the Zonlai stays the TTArtisan 23 might also, since it's 2 stops faster than the 12-35; that could make a difference, now and then. Its resale value wouldn't be high anyway, and its focal length matches the sensor diagonal so it's the µ43 equivalent of a Fast Fifty!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I have assembled a little kit in my smallest camera bag. GF7 with Brightin* 10mm fe, 20/1.7, 30/3.5 and the Lumix 45-150. The 14mm and 12-60 are probably expendable now.. time and shootouts will tell.</div><div><br /><hr color="#CC0000" size="3" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;">Shootout notes</span></i></div><div><div><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">12-35 v 12-60</span></b><span style="white-space: pre;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"> </span> </span>28Dec 23</span></div><div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;">Both lenses show limited distortion when panning at 12mm, the 12-35 perhaps a bit less. Close focus is very close on both but the 12-60 wins with its longer range .. but that's at f/5.6. </span><span style="font-family: "Barlow Condensed";">The 12-60 is f/5 at 32mm, so 1+<span>2/3</span> stop slower than the 12-35.</span><span style="font-family: "Barlow Condensed";"> Focus depth does not really interfere at such distances but further off items will definitely blur out better with about two stops more light incoming. Weight of the 12-35 is a bit more, but it isn't apparent since the lens is so compact.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Barlow Condensed; font-size: small;"><u>Result:</u> this comes down to personal preference. Given the damaged 14-140 in hand (with minimal resale value) and >35mm coverage at f/2.8, the 12-35 makes good sense. While the 12-60 could hang out as the GF7 primary lens, the 12-35 is smaller even if heavier; a Lumix 14-42ii or 14-42X would do the job as well or better.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">10/5.6fe vs 7.5/2fe v 10/2</span></b><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span><i>still awaiting Laowa as of 30Dec<span style="color: #ffa400;">*</span></i></span></div></div><div><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;">All are now available, but the test hasn't happened yet - but one of these days.. !!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><hr color="#CC0000" size="3" /></div></div><div><div><span style="color: #bf9000;">* </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #bf9000;"><span>The Laowa 10/2</span> </span>decided to spend an extra day exploring Shelby MT rather than reaching me on the 29th along with the 12-35/2.8.</i></span></div><div><br /></div></div><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-4555350336598713772023-12-13T11:16:00.000-08:002023-12-28T16:37:21.550-08:00GP MMXXIV preview<p>The one advantage of trying every d@#n camera in existence (and actually recalling that you've done so!) is that you inevitably learn what's important, and what is less so. </p><p>Since 2009 and my Sony α200 I've tried nearly every Pentax dSLR (yes, the K-01 and Q too!), three Fujis, several Sonys (both mounts, both sensor sizes), a Nikon or three, Samsung NX and countless µ43 (all <i>three </i>brands!). Several of these were tried more than once, in various colors and/or Special Editions too! </p><p>I refuse to count them as it will bring too much unneeded grief to this appalling process. I'm really exhausted and frustrated by bouts of research on cameras I can't afford to equip, or will not use enough to justify even the shelf space to keep in sight or reach.. and so,</p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #ead1dc; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Architects Daughter;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> we begin the</span> Great Purge of 2024!</span> </span></h2><p><b>My goals for the coming year:</b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>assemble </b>a solid, affordable µ43 kit</li><li><b>repair </b>the K-s2 and <span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>let go</b></span> of Pentax</li><li><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b>let go</b> </span>of Sony/Minolta</li><li><b>organize </b>digital photos</li><li><b>scan </b>non-digital ones from old media</li><li>and <b>take new photos. Better ones!</b></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><u style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Barlow Condensed";"><b>Step 1. µ43</b></u></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;">Only one camera has brought me a hint of entertainment since the e-M1 original - and that is its immediate successor. That includes brief attempts to use the eM5.iii and the G9 - though not the eM1.iii which has not dropped to an accessible price for me. </span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;">The <b>eM1-ß's</b> lone annoyances are the flipout screen & the menus, which are a touch more insane for its expanded capabilities. In return though, it gains in every spec that matters to me: battery life, processing power, improved sensor and additional features that I <u>might actually use</u>. <i>Even 4k video, perhaps.. ? </i>It also uses a common USB connector for file transfers; too bad it won't charge that way, but USB chargers (even USBc options!) </span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Barlow Condensed";">are ubiquitous now.</span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: "Barlow Condensed";"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;">That sensor update not only improves resolution by a bit - it also increases its specs to my typical aps-c levels, which makes the K-s2 sensor a draw by dXo standards.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> I don't swear by the dXo data, but it does allow me to check gear in hand against each other; after all it's a competitive world where results at the modern end of the sensor scale could be biased, with or without intent.</span></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><i><b>*Late Surprise* </b>a new small body for my kit, to replace the Air A01 and its randomly problematic phone interface. Since the eM1 had departed, the backup role was definitely available!</i></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: Barlow Condensed;">On the lens front, few changes are needed. A few primes will be reworked for better spacing, but the 12-60, 35-100/2.8 and ZD 70-300 zooms do <u>very</u> good work in typical lighting. Our plans to visit an auroral sweet spot next autumn will be a factor in the changes though!</span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #03880e; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><u><b>Step 2: Pentax</b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><span style="color: #03880e;">I like so many things about Pentax - but it's been years since anything in my price range has been offered, and the mirrorless /live experience is better for what I do. I love its ability to crop to 4:3 and square in camera, and its post-capture raw save - but the eM1 can do the former and I can live without the latter. </span><span style="color: #03880e;">Once the solenoid has been fixed and demonstrated to be functioning properly, I'll offer up the camera and most of the lenses.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a65b05; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #a65b05; font-family: Barlow Condensed;"><u><b>Step 3: Sony</b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #a65b05; font-family: Barlow Condensed;">And again, farewell. Love the tilt screens, miss the touch capability and other nice features that Sony has reserved for the latest = most expensive models, I don't get enough benefit from the 36x24 sensor, and their aps-c performance is similar enough to the eM1-ß. Despite my fondness for the Maxxum lenses that I have in hand (24-300mm range) it's time to accept that it isn't a realistic dream to unite them to a more modern body.</span></div><div><span style="color: grey;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;">- - - - - </span><span style="color: grey;">- - - - - </span><span style="color: grey;">- - - - - </span><span style="color: grey;">- - - - - </span><span style="color: grey;">- - - - - </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: grey;"><br /></span></div><div><span>As to organization and slide/neg scanning, those have been needed for years. My hiking web shots have corroded by jpeg duplication almost beyond recognition. The eM1 (either one) and the Oly 30 macro, plus a decent light box which I can improvise, will do most of the work other than attempting to balance the contrast and color issues that might arise.</span></div><div><span><br /></span></div><div><span>I recently read about others who used some bracketing and/or hi res shooting to capture better digital reproductions with good results. It will be interesting to see better captures of my numerous old memories!!</span></div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTA4wWnsS6Tz18HeLat99e-9GhKbIh1f-LRDyCDuNg1L9nUZfrqtaJyURoAc6Hnjb0gJURNNF_e52DmazF0O8gJWtg2K11p3Uim26a5ItZSwCGq-GfWyfkj5T_CwuphafXfuAb3xodwtbGlvqRGKvvxmaduYxMNVfYjWxsLldVhNLER6qesKAcKWCmZQ/s375/em1b2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="63" data-original-width="375" height="57" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUTA4wWnsS6Tz18HeLat99e-9GhKbIh1f-LRDyCDuNg1L9nUZfrqtaJyURoAc6Hnjb0gJURNNF_e52DmazF0O8gJWtg2K11p3Uim26a5ItZSwCGq-GfWyfkj5T_CwuphafXfuAb3xodwtbGlvqRGKvvxmaduYxMNVfYjWxsLldVhNLER6qesKAcKWCmZQ/w340-h57/em1b2.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>And t</span>hen - <b><span style="color: #9c34d8;">more shooting!</span></b></div><div>That sounds nice. 🙂</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i><span face="sans-serif">_ _ _ _ _ </span><span face="sans-serif">_ _ _ _ _ _ </span></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><i> <a href="https://granitix2.blogspot.com/2023/12/gp-mmxxiv-is-it-over.html" target="_blank">So.. is it over??</a> </i></div><p></p><div style="text-align: right;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: right;"><br /></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-46509049020788137342023-12-08T12:26:00.000-08:002023-12-08T12:26:37.321-08:00yet another storm.. then some peace?<p> </p><p>We've had three or four atmospheric rivers in the first week of December, putting us at 2/3 of normal monthly rainfall already. A quiet day today, then another punch coming for Saturday. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQV9LTpXN40GqihTjLWP8KI5LsVgW3RuzlvA8y9I3TdpbuwY8xRRpV2Dbekwu_BsrGuxSlc0MNjurhIxwIbn4KULZvemicABJXiSkw9PhvSIQURbU5Axqmx1wAndlDSnxDoR1ElX7kMQtrD2xLgTBcIy0WVLrqamfYy6kG2Frl5Ujw14WkBaW79UjXksg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="51" data-original-width="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQV9LTpXN40GqihTjLWP8KI5LsVgW3RuzlvA8y9I3TdpbuwY8xRRpV2Dbekwu_BsrGuxSlc0MNjurhIxwIbn4KULZvemicABJXiSkw9PhvSIQURbU5Axqmx1wAndlDSnxDoR1ElX7kMQtrD2xLgTBcIy0WVLrqamfYy6kG2Frl5Ujw14WkBaW79UjXksg=s16000" /></a></div><br />Hints of a few days of quieter weather are showing on the models. Not entirely dry perhaps, but fewer 2-inch hits of tropical temperatures and rainfall. We'll see how it pans out. The forecast for the first week of December was 5-6 inches, and it was correct at this location - 5.65" for Dec 1-6, plus 1/2" on the 7th and 1/3" on Nov 30th.<p></p><p><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-35626335641808438342023-11-29T21:23:00.000-08:002023-12-12T11:19:16.002-08:00Tele conundrum <p></p><div><span style="text-align: left;">So my α7r now has its 28-70mm native lens with oss and some degree of weather protection. How nice, given its 1st-generation body has no stabilization within. </span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: left;">Now I'm covered to 70mm with AF and x.shake..</span></div><div>and then?<p>A telephoto lens with autofocus, wx seals, and oss by any acronym would be ideal. But <b>where are they?</b> Oh they are out there, but not in my price range..</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The A-mount bodies had IS Inside so didn't need stabilized lenses (in fact Sigma and Tamron <u>removed</u> IS from their lenses in A and PK mounts!), and nearly all were screw-drive AF that would require an ea4 adapter ($200+).</li><li>Sony E-mount native options are few. And recent, so still expensive! The bargains are in the aps-c format (same mount for different sensor size) which isn't quite what I seek.</li><li>Tamron and Sigma have added to the E system.. but w/o stabilization below 400mm. Not ideal, as I'd be happy at 200-250mm but few players sell in that range. Other third-party companies have brought AF primes and a couple of zooms, but no wx or OIS capabilities.</li><li>Oddly enough, the <span style="color: #990000;">canon EF</span> mount has better and thrifty options for me. $100 adapters are available, and some earlier Tamrons like the SP 70-300 (with oss not vxd) have VC in canon mount. Canon's own 70-300 comes with IS and AF for less, though it zooms in the opposite direction to almost everything else I own. Actually <u>everything</u> I own goes the other direction.. except the Olympus 70-300 monster tele with 43-micro adapter! <i>Coincidence?</i></li></ul><div><br /></div><div><b>First attempts</b> with adapted lenses have been ..instructive. On a 36Mpx sensor, focus is really critical. Images that look all right on a tiny screen look blurry above 1:2 magnification - so AF is more important than IS and wx seals on the α7R mk.1 body. I can manage with the fast Pentax 85/2 and 135/3.5 if I'm careful, but with slower m-focus zooms I revert to focus guessing even when peaking +zoom is enabled.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I test-drove a Metabones EF adapter with the 70-300 Canon IS USD.</span> Many rave about the EF lenses, but apparently this particular lens is older than most and is quite leisurely to AF. And after updating firmwares all over the place it generally misses focus on my test shots. It nearly locks, then shifts one last time toward infinity. Multiple AF presses do not help. That pair is going back.</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHovJFY3Dv6ipvxU_zson6EysH6xMXFPSZ51hRvUfpJMkf0NBjqGSACqZ-2-BBouNUoC6JlLAVaJox9e8MO2QPfTYl_3gwnxkFlA7-pMPkOUfg1Hvz8ix3hWPhVOZR8fcBZ4mzvBIKhweVF1FlfQmFo9v0kOZk5y8HwxQvijEHOSQuRmmNxaXglvD40-o/s580/maxx3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="124" data-original-width="580" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHovJFY3Dv6ipvxU_zson6EysH6xMXFPSZ51hRvUfpJMkf0NBjqGSACqZ-2-BBouNUoC6JlLAVaJox9e8MO2QPfTYl_3gwnxkFlA7-pMPkOUfg1Hvz8ix3hWPhVOZR8fcBZ4mzvBIKhweVF1FlfQmFo9v0kOZk5y8HwxQvijEHOSQuRmmNxaXglvD40-o/w494-h105/maxx3.jpg" width="494" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ed9821; font-size: x-small;">70-210rs with dumb adapter, 100-300D Apo, 24-105D</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>So <span style="color: #b45f06;">on to plan B</span>: the EA4 adapter for A-mount. That will give me pdAF in the adapter and true aperture control in the body, but better technique will have to sub for the lack of stabilization. The best thing about this option is that I already have the <b>Maxxum trio</b> (photo) so plenty of range is already on hand - plus a <b>Tokina 20-35af</b>. I found an EA4 for less than the usual used price, so that's another plus. And it brings PDaf to the α7R, though at the price of a whiny AF motor drive. Presumably the gains will outpoint the losses on this!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>Fingers crossed</i></b> that this will do the job well enough. </div><div>I'm tired of looking at reviews and specs - especially since I generally miss the one site that says "<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i>don't expect this lens and that adapter work right with your current camera body</i></span>". I've learned that particular lesson more than most.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-26351573201419754362023-11-22T09:08:00.000-08:002023-11-30T19:20:53.331-08:00another dry-ish month. And then..<p>We've reached the 22nd and the forecast is for a dry week. As we sit at 79% right now, it means another sub-standard month will go in the books without a large shift in the forecast.</p><p>Since November through January are the wettest of months here, being around 80% is a decent amount, just over seven inches - but last winter all three were drier than average and that's a bad habit to get into!</p><p>El Niño is upon us, big time this year, which often means weaker storms for us as more energy dives south to California. It often strikes early in the calendar year, so more storms in December would be a <i>very</i> good thing. </p><p>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFdbku-3mbKHKmJUv5Z10hTKhP7jEvD79PaMO5PM3Uo7uykcqqEqsLcGQ0FRFRZTN9t3NoHrIDEXWKUS9aCpihLg4jaqyK27HCQozKHH3t0Gl09PkMAC-FQq7-XPXiDh3ADc2BUEH0oNl71-tDF4ZHpAY4v9v-otyAMNOEpqvjpbRkL_gat7KR_l0cvLE" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="144" data-original-width="207" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgFdbku-3mbKHKmJUv5Z10hTKhP7jEvD79PaMO5PM3Uo7uykcqqEqsLcGQ0FRFRZTN9t3NoHrIDEXWKUS9aCpihLg4jaqyK27HCQozKHH3t0Gl09PkMAC-FQq7-XPXiDh3ADc2BUEH0oNl71-tDF4ZHpAY4v9v-otyAMNOEpqvjpbRkL_gat7KR_l0cvLE=w246-h171" width="246" /></a></div><i><span style="color: #7f6000;">Update - maybe 1/4" on the 30th, but probably closer to 0.10". And then <b>the floodgates open </b>- as the models seem to do quite often at the turn of a month. I'll footnote this for certain to see how close we come to it! At our location <b>we'll call it 5" </b>- but the neighborhood is 4-9" and boundaries are rather vague at this scale! </span></i><p></p><p><i><span style="color: #7f6000;">This graphic runs through 4PM on the 4th, so nearly everything here is December 1-4.</span></i></p><p><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="color: #6aa84f;"><u>11/30 update</u> - wx. underground 1-6 Dec. Six-ish in the forecast. Today is at .21" with a pinch more possible around midnight.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOZm83d3g6Fa5whUMIzcWnhnhJewkLHjPvww-iH9cTqBQN1yEWEeULUO0_gyHP17v4eUN2rdfK2nh5HvHH0m1ZunJdLLhGqQrX7Nlb351g6u5wuDjt2PecUN5sTs1T_ikByYY-DrK6Ad-NjAVJMvhYVH0JKmLOrWydH0Zn-C2bj7g2jJEXPKhWHfCCVhs" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="129" data-original-width="528" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjOZm83d3g6Fa5whUMIzcWnhnhJewkLHjPvww-iH9cTqBQN1yEWEeULUO0_gyHP17v4eUN2rdfK2nh5HvHH0m1ZunJdLLhGqQrX7Nlb351g6u5wuDjt2PecUN5sTs1T_ikByYY-DrK6Ad-NjAVJMvhYVH0JKmLOrWydH0Zn-C2bj7g2jJEXPKhWHfCCVhs=s16000" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-5986776197436611552023-11-05T12:10:00.008-08:002023-12-12T11:18:56.669-08:00α7R- refinements <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The<span style="color: #b45f06;"> <b>α7R </b></span>is getting some spare bits: flash-shoe covers, a tripod plate, an extra battery. I also found it an Ugly <b>28-70mm oss</b> for poor weather and lens stabilization, at a non-Ugly price.<span style="color: #e69138;">*</span> In good weather, it can fight with the Minolta 24-105 for sensor time.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsRys1xM6DYCoh4GEo_MMk1gaS-YUXBQsps9bbNXmGhxO4hfm9cFKUXh8aeDzQC3_IM7OLGTdgjtKSeQ4eR9Dk0T0xKYtBzBt4ixzAlwgNpZUGaxB8a6ce0bgLKyfPptPodpGjeckvy5l2GrORXDD0H-A745ZfiioG3_U83o-XJkqTnD7FTPOYDcLxn0" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="178" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhAsRys1xM6DYCoh4GEo_MMk1gaS-YUXBQsps9bbNXmGhxO4hfm9cFKUXh8aeDzQC3_IM7OLGTdgjtKSeQ4eR9Dk0T0xKYtBzBt4ixzAlwgNpZUGaxB8a6ce0bgLKyfPptPodpGjeckvy5l2GrORXDD0H-A745ZfiioG3_U83o-XJkqTnD7FTPOYDcLxn0=w170-h102" width="170" /></a></div>I also loaded it up with Apps that I bought almost a year ago for the α7ii, and since I paid for them they are still available. Such things as time-lapse video, action and composite shots, a wave-your-hand shutter release (not to be confused with the big-smile shutter release!) and a couple of other 'features' that most cameras tend to have in place without extra effort/expense. But it works fine and didn't cost much the first time - so I've been treated far worse than this. <i>But what can I do with that extra 43MB of memory? </i>I expect the answer is: lumpit.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3-q-apBApfGZYM3VtuYF9VWTmI-z3szlfWtnQr1-L6dYXW9AjQR9UuNVwM1swSSWU3hMTaxwDy1-X9mHOiETHES1n9VJCJoCv0jhP8kJxbjO1587z7lFUrgOMQCOpMUKzX2zLBn0zYPY8EFf52wF886PIdZlV0xu3Og_5xei3mwu2XPlwHeWxDNESLg/s1699/IMG_20231105_120426233_HDR~2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1699" data-original-width="1155" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj3-q-apBApfGZYM3VtuYF9VWTmI-z3szlfWtnQr1-L6dYXW9AjQR9UuNVwM1swSSWU3hMTaxwDy1-X9mHOiETHES1n9VJCJoCv0jhP8kJxbjO1587z7lFUrgOMQCOpMUKzX2zLBn0zYPY8EFf52wF886PIdZlV0xu3Og_5xei3mwu2XPlwHeWxDNESLg/w177-h259/IMG_20231105_120426233_HDR~2.jpg" width="177" /></a></div>So this camera weighs less than the eM1, and its 50/2 is smaller than the equivalent 23/1.4 on my µ43 mainstay camera. The eM1 is replete with amazing features, so the question becomes how much I would miss those in exchange for the larger sensor, higher resolution and a bit less bulk in a few circumstances.<p></p><p>First off, I'll look into the shutter-shock issue that ruined nearly every review for the α7R; some users laugh about its overblown presence, while others cry and point to evidence.<span style="color: #cc0000;"> <span>My turn to evaluate!</span></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #e69138;">*</span><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Update - as I've seen more than once, KEH Ugly label brings me a great lens, but with no caps or hood. The sucker looks new to me.</span></i></p><p><br /><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-39040912043229777132023-10-30T11:59:00.007-07:002023-11-08T17:23:27.539-08:00skeptical <p> We shall see how November starts - but given that most October forecasts came up short, this looks pretty .. enthusiastic.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskSsuCOTqo7UzEbM0LrxUk9SoiwNIvHewqsIyPezBG7Kup9NkK4B5QBT_eE5d1F7nkjRwBT-49qYTYrds355pEaK-aoalP2jTU7new6tcH1zvv_F-CEL19T9ZQUMExpjz9lwDBZMZzIQ1zh29zlGYeWUCkJBTKZGVkf9vOqRyr3RMQsMpWHKS7UX5BZw/s1261/Screenshot_20231030-115640-212.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="306" data-original-width="1261" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskSsuCOTqo7UzEbM0LrxUk9SoiwNIvHewqsIyPezBG7Kup9NkK4B5QBT_eE5d1F7nkjRwBT-49qYTYrds355pEaK-aoalP2jTU7new6tcH1zvv_F-CEL19T9ZQUMExpjz9lwDBZMZzIQ1zh29zlGYeWUCkJBTKZGVkf9vOqRyr3RMQsMpWHKS7UX5BZw/w400-h98/Screenshot_20231030-115640-212.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>Here's the news 7-day map. It also appears to be convinced.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2fHdJipRGPib7DrvJUKXqRsW2nWswk1hzJli4iFgTPgJG3nHPFvVkfFEPQwe-Moy-n8j9A9a4Z2V6bF7kaM2ecRNBW3s1DnCiPSp9i05BHwP3Kq-DrCEXIPCxGe4RBBBUDj6CvWetKLJh9WoVs8wEK_csSHuyLGpFrLxTQdpnYknnhPykuaT63cVq84/s882/Screenshot_20231030-152710-592.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="689" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2fHdJipRGPib7DrvJUKXqRsW2nWswk1hzJli4iFgTPgJG3nHPFvVkfFEPQwe-Moy-n8j9A9a4Z2V6bF7kaM2ecRNBW3s1DnCiPSp9i05BHwP3Kq-DrCEXIPCxGe4RBBBUDj6CvWetKLJh9WoVs8wEK_csSHuyLGpFrLxTQdpnYknnhPykuaT63cVq84/w313-h400/Screenshot_20231030-152710-592.png" width="313" /></a></div><br /><p><i>Update - </i>Nov 1-7 total ended up at 4.8", a bit lower than most forecasts but not a bust for a wide-area map that put us in the 5-7 inch range. Monday's rain was from the 3rd atmospheric river of the bunch and was pegged as the weakest, but location is everything with such streams of moisture. We had 1½" for the day and its the 4th day since mid-October to be over 0.85". </p><p>We're over 50% for November after the first seven days! The upcoming week may only add an inch or so, putting us at six inches at mid-month. Time will tell, as it so often does..</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-57824477164787441902023-10-22T22:32:00.011-07:002023-12-12T11:22:46.343-08:00Updates, on many subjects <p> October has been ..active. Here's a summary of the Story so far:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>My health</b> is pretty decent after surgery, but it took several days to be sure that the gut aches were gone since the surgery hurt the same areas of my gut! It seems that all went fine, best evidence being my late-evening discharge. I'll learn more from the doctors in early November.</li><li><b>Weather</b> has been underperforming for the month, as every large forecast has dried out upon reaching us. Split flow is common with el Niño patterns, as strong fronts are spun up to our north and the southern end does a soft landing near the California border. Maybe they will consolidate more in coming weeks, but October is looking like a 50-60% kind of month.</li><li style="text-align: left;"><b>Camera gear</b> was a surprise, as the new acquisitions of recent months all slipped through my willing fingers. I'm back to an eM1 and K-s2 - and am convinced that these are the best fits and image quality that I need. I'm a big fan of 4:3 images, more so than 3:2; thankfully Pentax crops to square and 4:3 very easily after capture.</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyB-wRPYZpfZJtBb98oHo9EyMAbPMNT2zfJrZEEid9va2HKmjRECUJsVGOI-2NcjMCkjniy9fFV9YvfeOyuIKQO7QSOzfR8vWAl3zCfGy2pYCqVXlaVLvlO5BVB-4pg0CX3ffSKInYwifqybg7e1AuJ4sImw_d5UXETo71qzuDNPrvMoIKQdhjVQPLtI/w163-h163/jim-ks2s.jpg" />
<img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQyd1nGUEFqiv0GjGazmuWyTzryBpdenFYUxBeZnuOq2vI90HxFlKll-3yBEX8Y2wm05mimZ5kT2C8Aps7f2WBCU24eb_KwvR8pbbxE81m45_pdk9aNW3vxpcyC96nCeH0lsYyOGligi26vo71s_brUbk7ErDLnSSUl-EkqHc1_cGjKeB3hceKiGsLUB8/w114-h167/Screenshot_20230413-200409.png" />
</div><div><br /></div><div>So things are going decently well, other than the somewhat dry weather. More coming tomorrow though!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-36568405867272234822023-10-16T21:23:00.013-07:002023-12-12T11:23:24.862-08:00Riding the tide<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;">I made an informed and reasonable decision, and put the G9 up for sale. The eM5³ was a better fit for me; still not the best fit, but preferable to the Lumix. The g9 was very nice but would require new muscle memory that was unlike my K-s2 and .. well, </span><i style="text-align: left;"><u>every</u></i><span style="text-align: left;"> advanced digital camera I'd used in 15 years!! Including every Lumix ever made, in the case of the front control dial.</span></div><p></p><p>So off went the G9 to market. </p><p><i>And there it sat.</i><br />I dropped the price thrice and had spare time for surgery.. but no one claimed it in three-plus weeks.</p><p style="text-align: left;">Well all right, I can take a hint. Let's put the eM5³ up and test the market with that. An offer came swiftly, though a bit low. I'll wait a bit on that.</p><p style="text-align: center;">But.. <b><i>what if Both sell </i></b>??!??<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Honestly? I could live with that.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="947" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMZKMqIbcCHHE03LGthoOMSEoFQOGgrbq1GKhUe0-gdeXTevKug8np6RtsrQh39MCNU7BqJ59vc921KUIv34vLXkHhgkcigdj4g0CSxzSJjtQ0iwUg8PMSB-hNtjVKDxCEJkSsHCmEbK-od-yEdaqiQ-OBw_qC97dMMxrCBELW2MhrtdXHvx6PprnCDts/w233-h178/Screenshot_20230723-220827.png" width="233" /><img border="0" could="" data-original-height="2031" data-original-width="2728" height="179" hr="" i="" img="" live="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGBCURffxIGzI8MEUnUwFFDCXBJoSMkJ-V5EnFctlN3WyCvZFFURpBl5rqjrUFyQhv_x2A8YGOwVKEUJi4bAaHcK0iihkcvJWAwA6BcF-VDvXGGeg7fgHetD7sCS581CpaOVEqLs92BjP2vNEGZhafSaPdG6gARPg5oS1N30d7vqqw2IH7XBB7WiR4efw/w239-h179/IMG_20231016_153004985_HDR~2.jpg" that.="" width="239" with="" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><u><b><br /></b></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u>Update 10-19</u>: I accepted the offer</b> on the eM5³. </span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The listing said I had four followers, so three said flat nothing to me as the price was lowered enough to show the 'price-drop' flag to them. Maybe that's typical; I've never watched such riveting online events before.</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">I have announced the G9's final price drop, but I won't pull it off-screen just yet. </span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Again, whatever happens I can live with it, whether K-s2, G9 or another eM1 Classic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><b><u>Update 10-21</u>: the G9 is claimed!</b> In response I grabbed another black eM1 with tripod plate. The more things change the less they stay the same! </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">And the end of my time of experiments; the eM1 is my best-fit camera in µ43 format, and now I've tried every alternative except the GX9. Wasting money on cameras isn't much fun any more.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;">And the K-s2 is just what I'd seek in a Pentax, with its compactness, decent live-view system and great Pentax ergonomics that I could use in my sleep. I really liked the K-5, but its video specs and a few other features make the diagonal step worthwhile. And once the solenoid is swapped out, results could be magical!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></div></div></div></div><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-12812455760914994702023-10-14T17:27:00.006-07:002023-10-19T16:34:36.383-07:00Over, and out<p>Wow. My surgery is done, and I'm resting at home!</p><p>The date changed several times before locking down on 10/12. The procedure name changed a few times too. And late in the game, the overnight stay became a 4-day stay! My wife needed to pack many items to stick with her diet plan, and her mom came down to keep her company.</p><p>In the end it did some real-time adjusting!</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>The 1:30 schedule slid to 4:00 or so</li><li>The time required was a bit less, and</li><li>They threw me out at 9:30!!</li></ul><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nblBnMEkvdY1yo_sl-kXdpJxsqmlaZJmwyRqW39NIrvbU0KEPM_9tmmML6PglqWzs6-jzJbSpHAD7Mb9-lC_-fCtkGHznXNTZA9cE0N_KAU-stK-L7oiE_0J9AbBMh4UstT6FI9fbol2reqPJbZmcGQIU7XJTavZpPm4BCp4SmeQ_OOeBHOaOlPPd7E/s2903/IMG_20231011_201929940~2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1250" data-original-width="2903" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6nblBnMEkvdY1yo_sl-kXdpJxsqmlaZJmwyRqW39NIrvbU0KEPM_9tmmML6PglqWzs6-jzJbSpHAD7Mb9-lC_-fCtkGHznXNTZA9cE0N_KAU-stK-L7oiE_0J9AbBMh4UstT6FI9fbol2reqPJbZmcGQIU7XJTavZpPm4BCp4SmeQ_OOeBHOaOlPPd7E/s320/IMG_20231011_201929940~2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Night one of our..one-night stay</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Since we had 3 nights scheduled at an on-site room, my wife had done plenty of unpacking. And I couldn't help her to repack! Thankfully her mom helped to get everything crammed into her car, and we left OHSU around 10pm - meaning arrival at home around 11:40pm. I stumbled toward the bed (and past the cats who wondered why they had a 4-day supply of food!) and marveled at how much had changed in 12 hours.</div><div><br /></div><div>Pain was strong but manageable, though my shoulder ached terribly - which I learned today is a common side effect of laparoscopic surgery. I am more mobile and less miserable now (5pm Saturday) - but that trip was <u>completely</u> <u>impossible</u> to plan!</div><div><br /></div><div>Results did go according to plan though: no more gallstone factory, and no more liver with a pint-size cyst crowding my belly. And the laparoscopic punctures were entirely predictable. </div><div>It was the clock that never could meet expectations. Ah well, 'tis done.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-47847920471127911802023-10-08T14:46:00.007-07:002023-10-09T21:35:26.959-07:00The next waves<p>After a nice few days in the 70s, the next cold fronts are set to drop in for a visit. Such is October on the PacNW west slopes: 80s, storm, 70s, storms, low 60s, and.. storms through early March. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjai3IlmiW7bnNE5WO0M9O05UawrMLfGsj41Xgl4iapc9YkFwSMUzroJ-ClgvOCPnarFnrvv4l7OuJHuTVEwMXKCE_7jb4pFe6mlqf4BuJvzjt_yBgFf9X4U5uKgOeJXcUWhyUc9NLhCgSccFsKkliPVJTVtTXzO7yWWo394QyU5VM3apbi75Mh2rqTEg4" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="43" data-original-width="689" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjai3IlmiW7bnNE5WO0M9O05UawrMLfGsj41Xgl4iapc9YkFwSMUzroJ-ClgvOCPnarFnrvv4l7OuJHuTVEwMXKCE_7jb4pFe6mlqf4BuJvzjt_yBgFf9X4U5uKgOeJXcUWhyUc9NLhCgSccFsKkliPVJTVtTXzO7yWWo394QyU5VM3apbi75Mh2rqTEg4=s16000" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;">Tomorrow will bring 1/2" of rain, and Tuesday will add over an inch. Maybe two. Similar to the previous set, the forecast Is for around 3" here over the next seven days.</span></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFIu-GFPOsZ5PQDYeqVFt5qVTeuplGzdP7GlaMIGgfGz4EGcHwbMiXntC4070taa5DyGo7hGxs9gsZzGZ0l4jUJNlpo2PYQCiaQZ5Na3SZEo5Z6IepkpA6MRoWqT09tZRMAroeMYqKjVRV7OjukXrymAQfkbhpsBoiQ5Z9izSjqEZqvqRUdY_A3NjIWs/s720/Screenshot_20231008-144745-131.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="720" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFIu-GFPOsZ5PQDYeqVFt5qVTeuplGzdP7GlaMIGgfGz4EGcHwbMiXntC4070taa5DyGo7hGxs9gsZzGZ0l4jUJNlpo2PYQCiaQZ5Na3SZEo5Z6IepkpA6MRoWqT09tZRMAroeMYqKjVRV7OjukXrymAQfkbhpsBoiQ5Z9izSjqEZqvqRUdY_A3NjIWs/s320/Screenshot_20231008-144745-131.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: x-small;">Gold means 5" or more in 7 days</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span face="sans-serif">This is why our average </span>each November and December is around eight inches. Three weeks of 2½" and a "dry" week of perhaps an inch. And 60° highs will only come with tropical air; solar energy isn't enough after mid-October.</p><p><span face="sans-serif"><br /></span></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-56454228044101990602023-10-02T21:52:00.009-07:002023-10-02T22:05:39.798-07:00A milestone <p style="text-align: center;"> <span face="sans-serif">For no particular reason. I refreshed the DPReview/forum screen after posting. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="sans-serif" style="color: #cc0000;">Wow, it was my <b>4000th </b>post!?!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_-r2juMZqlcEKB4Cn2KJk3FqN52Q4Qj_-qQmuWgL9TlquEVHO5sBh4ugz9pecnAp_-DAmb7UiOTcF4A6A3VDUcXAcGO4GrPr_FqqZ18E0PfRRfw9-m4SjYemP547jx209hiwRg47PEpYgjEDossiyu9qJD5BPBW4mq7ZXvICxsWZ9SBsA6vuNiDX8aI/s720/4kPosts.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="720" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_-r2juMZqlcEKB4Cn2KJk3FqN52Q4Qj_-qQmuWgL9TlquEVHO5sBh4ugz9pecnAp_-DAmb7UiOTcF4A6A3VDUcXAcGO4GrPr_FqqZ18E0PfRRfw9-m4SjYemP547jx209hiwRg47PEpYgjEDossiyu9qJD5BPBW4mq7ZXvICxsWZ9SBsA6vuNiDX8aI/w435-h195/4kPosts.png" width="435" /></a></div><p></p>
<p>No doubt a few of them were relevant to the topic, eased some tension or produced a chuckle. I was never banned during the dozen years or so that I've participated, which would lead some to conclude that I was pretty boring. I can live with that, from them at least.</p><p style="text-align: right;">I doubt that I'll double this number .. but<br /><i>here's to the next thousand!</i></p>
JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-55558362226159805492023-09-29T20:00:00.006-07:002023-09-29T20:00:41.674-07:00WY 2023 Fini<p>And so water year 2023 comes to its close. This was the driest year of our hill-top record (at 43 <span style="font-size: x-small;">1/3 </span>inches), and by a decent amount: over 12" below normal. Only April and August came in above normal, and August only did so because the 31st was so wet! November is now our wettest month by its 30-year average, so its reaching 95% kept the deficit from turning worse.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1wEbs5DIeGbPkjFUVqRI1SXjOdKhB_zTqk5U8_hNhCGWqZx-DIOt1v2EJBWlo72ntU99pHqpU4KNKsy3rhe-lYykI60oYzCKyVTdbw0Z8lyfkMkzSKqq2M7CJH6b4BmaHxEm1556xoYWHvK5tI8K0CHDJkZqH43vw8Yg4cQurHsct4rTcPXaM_LK6wI/s191/wx23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="166" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh1wEbs5DIeGbPkjFUVqRI1SXjOdKhB_zTqk5U8_hNhCGWqZx-DIOt1v2EJBWlo72ntU99pHqpU4KNKsy3rhe-lYykI60oYzCKyVTdbw0Z8lyfkMkzSKqq2M7CJH6b4BmaHxEm1556xoYWHvK5tI8K0CHDJkZqH43vw8Yg4cQurHsct4rTcPXaM_LK6wI/w128-h147/wx23.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>September came in just like the rest of the year: right around <b>75% of normal</b>. What's surprising is that <span style="color: #cc0000;">the wet season <i><u>And</u></i> the dry season</span> each came in at 75% also! Looking back I see that 2020 nearly did that (117% wet season, 114% dry season) - most years the difference was more than 25% favoring the wet months. Only in 2022 did the dry-season outperform the wet on a %normal basis. <p></p><p><i>Funny are the stories that numbers tell..</i></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-65833455118561271862023-09-26T21:37:00.004-07:002023-09-27T09:02:16.759-07:00Hasty workouts <p><span style="color: #674ea7;">The wet weather forecast got me in gear for a week's </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">good</span><span style="color: #674ea7;"> </span><span style="color: #674ea7;">work!</span></p><p>My 2023 health issues have been documented in this blog (see the <a href="https://granitix2.blogspot.com/search/label/health" target="_blank"><i>health</i></a> tag). The result has been plenty of downtime and deferred projects.</p><p>When the forecast turned damp for the last week of September I finally got busy, or at least gave my best effort with my low stamina.</p><p><u>First up: the woodpile!</u></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaW0cDDwaX-hFhnS1gj3EUecmz-0UQhSDYnsU4zRutf8aEWJdiAOlKLHFKuaI1GgNizXpHDS0aNRSkc3a5gmFEiF66KotaPMTx6qxmm9BBeioFJN_2rFW9C4octSAKa881Cfj6BY3EKVdJqRAbQTrWhKB1kmsh9tEbX6DMVRG4fkXe09OHIq22rn4x-w/s2592/PXL_20230919_190154558.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2592" data-original-width="1944" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpaW0cDDwaX-hFhnS1gj3EUecmz-0UQhSDYnsU4zRutf8aEWJdiAOlKLHFKuaI1GgNizXpHDS0aNRSkc3a5gmFEiF66KotaPMTx6qxmm9BBeioFJN_2rFW9C4octSAKa881Cfj6BY3EKVdJqRAbQTrWhKB1kmsh9tEbX6DMVRG4fkXe09OHIq22rn4x-w/w210-h281/PXL_20230919_190154558.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>I had plenty of brush from last winter, but also several thick lengths of wood from the previous winter. I hacked the logs into wood stove lengths, then split them with the long axe and stuffed them under cover while the weather was good. <div>Evenings were spent relaxing on a heating pad.<br /><p>Thankfully, a few more dry days were left to me, allowing for another speed task: knocking last year's moss growth off the roof.</p><p><u>Part two: roof prep</u> </p>The temperature was dropping fast and shade had taken over much of the yard and house, so these last two days began in fleece and long pants. I brought up a rough brush and the cordless leaf blower and got to work. The roof will need replacing next year so a gentle scrub wasn't important this time. I got about 2/3 finished the first day before again relaxing with the heating pad.<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNzTZCh3nesSFcqi5T-SnQvHxMeOKxtvizAr3jJSWrSYWsPVHJOnQQnHewvTRbpBhKcQVG1USgGimP_1Kgurx5AaAJcqNLGH5Lm0PJ2fa-_keb7KdkLmXylpMgCePTVWlGmSIr_3NTXK9DEg96-zvoezO0q_h5Avjx_43TY5ajeBMtq1qjDfpHpLrXzU/s2592/PXL_20230921_204327891.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMNzTZCh3nesSFcqi5T-SnQvHxMeOKxtvizAr3jJSWrSYWsPVHJOnQQnHewvTRbpBhKcQVG1USgGimP_1Kgurx5AaAJcqNLGH5Lm0PJ2fa-_keb7KdkLmXylpMgCePTVWlGmSIr_3NTXK9DEg96-zvoezO0q_h5Avjx_43TY5ajeBMtq1qjDfpHpLrXzU/w252-h189/PXL_20230921_204327891.jpg" width="252" /></a></div>Day two found me blasting out one set of gutters with the leaf blower and a fresh battery before attacking the greener north facing roof. By late afternoon I was done up top, but plenty of moss tribbles were strewn across the north-side deck and south-side driveway. I was able to clean up the deck before dark, leaving a few dry hours on day three to blow the driveway from massive clutter to two thick clumps of green. <p></p><p><u>One more task</u> remained for the last dry day, so I opened the large lawn-nourishment bag I had hoped to use six months ago and spread it across as much lawn as it could reasonably cover. It had clumped and congealed a bit but not too badly.</p><p>With firewood and roof ready for the wet season, I considered things to be as good as could be managed. The storms were less soaking than was expected, so I soaked the lawn where trees had blocked the rainfall.</p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;">Now to await the coming dry spell late this week, to see how the grass and weeds respond to water and chemistry!</span></p><p><br /></p></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-28985751954668192822023-09-16T19:50:00.020-07:002023-09-29T20:32:12.195-07:00the wet season commences<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uYxoFRN3wdYnRrNVr6usdZb6jo8NPYbjGTINgkwX4VvGcFd0zrp-zOzYMN8I8m5W13NHOjN8j-JoYdzZnTemtgfqFW8VD7lpWCgzubNOajnrwNdqOKKBt4SvGBpP5SIoFThjyt9rmvbJOeNGtxVXemiiHryR3tXnSN4-uItz-mlzaVvlAxrRBrMY5kU/s656/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="257" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7uYxoFRN3wdYnRrNVr6usdZb6jo8NPYbjGTINgkwX4VvGcFd0zrp-zOzYMN8I8m5W13NHOjN8j-JoYdzZnTemtgfqFW8VD7lpWCgzubNOajnrwNdqOKKBt4SvGBpP5SIoFThjyt9rmvbJOeNGtxVXemiiHryR3tXnSN4-uItz-mlzaVvlAxrRBrMY5kU/w121-h311/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" width="121" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The end of September shows an 'interesting' weather pattern. Since that's two weeks away it's not likely to pan out - but models have fooled us before by being right!</p><p>This is the model output for nine days from now. It shows moisture transport at high altitudes, where atmospheric rivers are most clearly visible. Nothing for the next week.. then this. And another a few days after!</p><p>I'm leaving this graphic as a placeholder, so next week we can see what the near-term models have to say about it..</p><p>Might be the right time for a late-season dose of weed 'n feed?</p><div><br /></div><p><span style="color: #e69138;"><b><u>Update 9/18 8pm</u></b></span></p><p><i><span style="color: #e69138;"></span></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #e69138;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb5Xp65J5J1DqmjUI_FWZj0bz9-8wmEL7y5wFylAq0mRa3piVv07zazI6WiIcdsCGG93_YstbwrWAlIgctY54GxYyVUeY3NibuePA_knqV5U89Jxj79YfAly3MWpbO7cq2afABfvPeaWsRvQchKbzqUweXYCCfuxKmCmKjvnyhkeGBbrBe1e_TOiofcU/s782/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="782" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbb5Xp65J5J1DqmjUI_FWZj0bz9-8wmEL7y5wFylAq0mRa3piVv07zazI6WiIcdsCGG93_YstbwrWAlIgctY54GxYyVUeY3NibuePA_knqV5U89Jxj79YfAly3MWpbO7cq2afABfvPeaWsRvQchKbzqUweXYCCfuxKmCmKjvnyhkeGBbrBe1e_TOiofcU/w395-h292/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" width="395" /></a></span></i></div><i><span style="color: #e69138;">Each model run (updating left to right) is getting more energy lined up along the coast, and wow those arrows are getting long and dark! By Tuesday it pushes inland while dissipating - but some folks would really </span><span style="color: #e69138;">get</span><span style="color: #e69138;"> </span><span style="color: #e69138;">hosed if this comes true. </span></i><p></p><p></p><span style="color: #e69138;"><i>NWS offices in Seattle and Portland are now paying more attention, and some are suggesting 3" totals on some model variants. I'm showing the upper-air Water Vapor Integrated Transport data from u.Wash WRF model, which shows atmospheric-river activity better than many 'standard' models nearer the planet's surface (this also runs past seven days, unlike many other reference points).</i></span><p></p><p>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">9-21 Update: the strongest energy is exhausting itself before landfall now, so it's still coming - but not as excessive compared to earlier forecasts. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe8Pf8FQoYoq02DkqJ5irhuzhVr0JAZ1Q9aOG3SwXH72tDSkEk8ENZP9oTaR6Yncao_bYzDt6UvgWa4BQ_jgLNcDvjfRTb3NbeepeBfGADICCapQ4xZo31xPIZzoIo2IkoDEqGsOzbUZPzbeFI44Ifc_iaBgZjPlu8ma1GcfBw8fb1yZwhpGbqxEOFuw/s992/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="992" height="354" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPe8Pf8FQoYoq02DkqJ5irhuzhVr0JAZ1Q9aOG3SwXH72tDSkEk8ENZP9oTaR6Yncao_bYzDt6UvgWa4BQ_jgLNcDvjfRTb3NbeepeBfGADICCapQ4xZo31xPIZzoIo2IkoDEqGsOzbUZPzbeFI44Ifc_iaBgZjPlu8ma1GcfBw8fb1yZwhpGbqxEOFuw/w640-h354/atm-r%20sep25.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4j50J-DO-W_0UEP4i5DjXt7DiNmCp9hZE6TikKquuZTTSWt3aB8DKnqcVH3dmLwih_0FoaKT1Sjr4GeYUtkf55da9BKllpf-oKgSRr_ZmOAXMPkLaL_eoBeEr6BlkKMTANvArPOvb6vCDItjc1wgw74obGHydfotEfc7sL2fpr6lXrqV3CXOZ0hOvk4s" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="218" data-original-width="269" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi4j50J-DO-W_0UEP4i5DjXt7DiNmCp9hZE6TikKquuZTTSWt3aB8DKnqcVH3dmLwih_0FoaKT1Sjr4GeYUtkf55da9BKllpf-oKgSRr_ZmOAXMPkLaL_eoBeEr6BlkKMTANvArPOvb6vCDItjc1wgw74obGHydfotEfc7sL2fpr6lXrqV3CXOZ0hOvk4s" width="296" /></a></div><span style="color: #cc0000;"><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></span></p>Through Wednesday we could get 2-3" total rainfall. Another chunk of damp energy comes later in the week.. so reaching our September normal rainfall (just under 2½") looks like a pretty sure thing! *</span><br /><i style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></i><p></p><p><i style="color: #cc0000;">Map at left shows total through Thursday PM.</i></p><p><span><span style="color: #674ea7;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span><span></span></span><span></span></p><hr size="2" width="80%" /><p></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span><b>What really happened:</b></span><span> it seems the low-pressure offshore strengthened more than models had forecast, so the main energy streamed north offshore of us and slammed Vancouver Island. As of Wednesday at 9am, we've had about 1½" of rain - so half of the higher-end model estimates. Even the coast stayed near 2" .. a short distance west would have been in the thick of it! So not precisely correct, but a <u>very</u> good forecast a week beforehand.</span></span></p><p><span style="color: #674ea7;"><span>*<i> That "sure thing" September total is definitely optimistic now. We're over 1/2" short of the mark and the 30th looks dry.</i></span></span></p><p><i style="color: #cc0000;"><br /></i></p><p></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-38186049296207470862023-09-06T20:09:00.007-07:002023-10-09T21:47:13.008-07:00μ43 commentary, part 2<p> I've expended a lot of energy on research for cameras, and it generally pays off. In a curious way it has failed me several times recently, to my shock and frustration.</p><p>Put simply:</p><p style="text-align: center;"><u style="font-family: "Architects Daughter"; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #ffa400;"><i>Why can't I like newer Lumix bodies??</i></span></b></u></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr00kiuztbmFz5Vih-8p8mZ0ICoGCUN4rLxKWeltoXKDShtrDDIhxTQfB8nq0FihMotXhgX2sXn4V_cea0YimgQrLWEuZaT5wetDLY5C3Bs6y3MEvWMGW4xvJ_hye7uzPjlD1DAA0PzzOKTz4_sd35D_-nKT1VXbeR1s4EJkto9TAawSBqEUoZOGYlp8/s901/g9strip.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="81" data-original-width="901" height="36" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlr00kiuztbmFz5Vih-8p8mZ0ICoGCUN4rLxKWeltoXKDShtrDDIhxTQfB8nq0FihMotXhgX2sXn4V_cea0YimgQrLWEuZaT5wetDLY5C3Bs6y3MEvWMGW4xvJ_hye7uzPjlD1DAA0PzzOKTz4_sd35D_-nKT1VXbeR1s4EJkto9TAawSBqEUoZOGYlp8/w400-h36/g9strip.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />I loved the G1, so small and with many nice options (unique ones in fact, as it was the first mirrorless body!). The GH1 was also nice, though I had to part with it quickly in one of many budget crunches since 2010.<p></p><p>The GX1, GX7 and EM1 supplanted the early bodies for quite a while, as did the eP5. Each brought new features that I really liked.</p><p>My next steps forward just didn't work out:</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li> The G7 had all the specs I sought (wx seals and iStab were covered by my Pentax gear) and it fit my hand so well. But by now I was happier with tip screens so flipping was less fun, and my brain didn't mesh with the 4k features despite my coveting them.</li><li>I then reverted to the GX series with the GX8 and its wx seals and IS.. but the flip screen and external Exposure Comp dial irritated me. Close but not quite, compared to the eM1 original.</li></ul>Oh My: had I gone over to the OM side and its curiously complex menus? Both systems brought cool new features, but <i>on paper</i> Lumix made more sense. <div>So I tried a few more times!</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>When the <b>G85 </b>came along with better stabilization and wx seals it just <u>had</u> to be the one!! Nope. The <b>GX85 </b>brought a new shutter and in-body charging.. but I reverted to my preferred GX7 and its oddball USB connection. Of course is not the <i>same</i> oddball USB connection as Olympus.. that would be too easy. </li><li>Last and not least: the <b>G9</b>. So many agree it's a bit large but Perfect for their needs. Nearly every owner said <i>"try it first, it's not for everyone"</i>. They are correct: this camera fit me worse than all the others. The first time i turned it on I put my finger on the shutter, moved forward to change the front dial - and powered the camera off. Front dial is <i><u>Behind</u></i> the shutter, Canon style. Having used everything except Canon this was contrary to all my previous experience and would once learned every other camera would feel wrong. I couldn't bear it.</li></ul><div>- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - </div><div><br /></div><div>And so I continue in the μ43 system with the best I can afford, the eM5.iii (and its 'normal' micro-USB connector!) and have reluctantly accepted that Lumix G bodies don't suit me. </div><div><span style="color: #ffa400;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="color: #ffa400; font-family: Architects Daughter;"><i>Though I shall never know why !!</i></span></div><p></p></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-60382619952015164132023-08-30T08:41:00.011-07:002023-09-05T09:40:15.821-07:00normal, the hard way<p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>The August normal for rain on the hill-top is 0.99 inches. We're making a 3-day run at it, and given our forecast for the 31st we'll come close but likely a pinch short. Before the 25th we stood at 0.02", so it's a mighty effort to close the gap. We can always reach 90° again in September, so summer has probably not vanished entirely - but it's a very nice respite.<p></p><p></p><p></p>As far as annual rainfall though.. normal is <u>not</u> going to happen. In order to be our driest ever Oct-Sep water year of our nine-ish years living up here, we just need to stay below 15 inches in September. Since our wettest Sep is about 5½", that's a pretty safe bet. Wetter months have happened though, so a few typhoon remnants at the right time can make the unlikely come true!<p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><span style="color: #f6b26b;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkeC7GrPL2iGrL1IbALzsUUi5uWurl7UDuiiP3oDMOnQe4wMFb0Sm0R9grFnbM6wNEgu6Y63sugi0FqZF40qAhaAHOhGG0_sKs4tfnRbbtgtjK3RixmcSWPdM7M_ANMgMKKlc7lwxekO1Nl3SlD7tBjvDnwUnbDHvqiQfTNqhgZTYAEJ31J-ZDq9_Ks90" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="193" data-original-width="165" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjkeC7GrPL2iGrL1IbALzsUUi5uWurl7UDuiiP3oDMOnQe4wMFb0Sm0R9grFnbM6wNEgu6Y63sugi0FqZF40qAhaAHOhGG0_sKs4tfnRbbtgtjK3RixmcSWPdM7M_ANMgMKKlc7lwxekO1Nl3SlD7tBjvDnwUnbDHvqiQfTNqhgZTYAEJ31J-ZDq9_Ks90" width="205" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></div><i>Update: we made it to normal, thanks to a surprising damp last day. No forecast had more than 1/2" but we reached 2/3", and ended August at 118% of normal. A few showers spilled into September, so we need only 14" and change to have a 'normal' year. Yeah, .. no.</i></div></span><p><br /><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-497708462014442552023-08-22T12:34:00.004-07:002023-08-22T12:34:29.161-07:00Six weeks later -<p> and I'm back in the hospital, fighting another pancreatitis event. This time I'm at OHSU in Portland, where hepato-biliary folks are hopefully available to chip in with insights. A sleepless night full of new tests and an early chat with <b><u>four</u></b> MDs in my room.. yes I'm a bit punchy.</p><p style="text-align: center;">They gave me a room with a nice view, though mostly of clouds and campus.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5Acd-IE5Dc7-VFtWi6XD37FDLtPe0mc6CpPcoxYrI1mkKSTTend3hV3_kTont0FvLjgzt_tnBhYWj_lNP53DAce-QiFptrBjfBoOMmamCOfhohfwszoxI7r9a9eN4VFz_OV-BpO8BlE2Yex31qG2VJIiujuNPkhewl8lwN0U2JYfrVwJ9LQ8O518SgE/s2592/PXL_20230822_190419431.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1944" data-original-width="2592" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP5Acd-IE5Dc7-VFtWi6XD37FDLtPe0mc6CpPcoxYrI1mkKSTTend3hV3_kTont0FvLjgzt_tnBhYWj_lNP53DAce-QiFptrBjfBoOMmamCOfhohfwszoxI7r9a9eN4VFz_OV-BpO8BlE2Yex31qG2VJIiujuNPkhewl8lwN0U2JYfrVwJ9LQ8O518SgE/s320/PXL_20230822_190419431.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1124858078806881525.post-66317778254111320502023-08-10T08:30:00.004-07:002023-08-16T10:39:02.021-07:00Hot spell?<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaSdDj9neW1G0koqsvizmyC6gAWDGnG9I40kyVwB_nVSl8k3TVjuHm8YPZ21xBy7ZYIT083tGDwfPoVAUbdK5WX4JVIUZiBg5VbhUP8QmXqZ1jNCbVcBtZoRGCyIhJc4YNnrR81HxVG6bBVfjGJQ366ZCOKoIiYS3rJxY8Dl7RbNIxuNUdzLwyhjkvrU/s1867/Screenshot_20230810-082008~2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="291" data-original-width="1867" height="82" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipaSdDj9neW1G0koqsvizmyC6gAWDGnG9I40kyVwB_nVSl8k3TVjuHm8YPZ21xBy7ZYIT083tGDwfPoVAUbdK5WX4JVIUZiBg5VbhUP8QmXqZ1jNCbVcBtZoRGCyIhJc4YNnrR81HxVG6bBVfjGJQ366ZCOKoIiYS3rJxY8Dl7RbNIxuNUdzLwyhjkvrU/w521-h82/Screenshot_20230810-082008~2.png" width="521" /></a></div><br />It's been in the forecast for several days now; the weather service has backed off a bit<span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span>, but WxU is holding strong. If NWS has its way their peak is Wed at 90° here.. which is 100° around Portland most likely. Definitely good weather for sleeping outside under the Perseid meteors!<p></p><p>Looks like we picked up a portable swamp cooler just in time.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;">* <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thursday models are showing more heat again, so the WxU could be about even with NWS forecasts.</span></i></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-small;"><b>Update - NWS remains at mid-90s peak on Monday - but WxU has boosted things a bit!</b></span></span></p><p><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhfqeGZWCDMUA73fk7ta1cptaal9Ve-baH_mdhfPFLJu5C0RK3kSyesK2pw7Asak0ZcjN1TzeMOQ6jeK8YGzu6Xx-Cxwc9xneoZE4P282GYaWVMy0T7xSZE755zDGUXOjK7pxsHWW6RjNtb_Cy2to5dT0aZnqUP3db55_b2VXPOmrlTUkTDbHDJxOQzA/s697/wx.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="94" data-original-width="697" height="74" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhfqeGZWCDMUA73fk7ta1cptaal9Ve-baH_mdhfPFLJu5C0RK3kSyesK2pw7Asak0ZcjN1TzeMOQ6jeK8YGzu6Xx-Cxwc9xneoZE4P282GYaWVMy0T7xSZE755zDGUXOjK7pxsHWW6RjNtb_Cy2to5dT0aZnqUP3db55_b2VXPOmrlTUkTDbHDJxOQzA/w552-h74/wx.JPG" width="552" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">2nd update. WxU wins again! </span></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">NWS never gave us a 3-digit forecast.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: medium;">Portland hit 108° on Monday..</span></span></div></span><p></p><div><span><span style="font-style: italic;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ4VCWgcQ9_vkNT6TUROvfBBvI0VGyDjUhP7PDrcH78XML-Srr1PFRGfOUm9eoGp7YiS_oZGExccwN69I5vCJSJPZwgwnW_lQdZAFkFeZwAGtVoYSBkNJv0CEcjQW8Gq0ody6KNri2syCLsPbUoUHtsytOxdmytSINYgi3G7ATiZa_UR1N9sqUV7Pghgs" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="79" data-original-width="179" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiZ4VCWgcQ9_vkNT6TUROvfBBvI0VGyDjUhP7PDrcH78XML-Srr1PFRGfOUm9eoGp7YiS_oZGExccwN69I5vCJSJPZwgwnW_lQdZAFkFeZwAGtVoYSBkNJv0CEcjQW8Gq0ody6KNri2syCLsPbUoUHtsytOxdmytSINYgi3G7ATiZa_UR1N9sqUV7Pghgs=w200-h88" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></span></span></div>JimR 'Longviewer'http://www.blogger.com/profile/06080132970316399941noreply@blogger.com0