Austintatious
Well-known
To move that "arm-war" I think you can rent a panel van from Home Chepo for around $20 for four hours.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Austin,
I had the same thought. I also have to buy some lumber that is bulky.
I don’t know how you remodeled so many houses. Remodeling is not for lazy-slackers. LOL.
Anyways, I feel like I’m at Grumman again, where my quality is “One And Done.” Pretty much not going el Cheapo route, and I’m building out for the long-term.
Yesterday I asked the plumber bout running water to the garage, the pitch required for a drain, and if a sump and pump was needed. Pretty much having half the garage being a darkroom.
With “Maggie” gifting me the smallest bedroom I will have a digital studio in the house. I’ll have a digital room and an analog room. Don’t forget that I have a 300B Single Ended Triode tube stereo, and all those guitar tube amps.
I pretty much have mucho lab equipment where my studio could resemble a National Lab. Only the best for me. LOL.
It kinda makes sense to have a dedicated analog studio, and a dedicated digital studio.
My past thinking was to build out a gabled roof to have an attic for my digital studio, but I think having a non subterranean darkroom in the garage is a keen idea.
Cal
Out to Lunch
Ventor
You must have some Australian genes. They love to hang out in the garage 
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
You must have some Australian genes. They love to hang out in the garage
I’m of Cantonese descent, we move around a lot. LOL.
A piece of history and anthropology: at one time Aboriginal peoples inhabited South East Asia. Southern Chinese, perhaps Cantonese, migrated and brought with them farming and domesticated animals. Pretty much a Pandemic killed off the Aboriginal people that were indigenous.
Evidently diseases jumped species because of domestication of animals and farming killing the hunters and gatherers.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I guess in 1912, when they built my Baby-Victorian, they didn’t have the Internet or Fashion Bloggers.
I measured the smallest bedroom (7x11), but it is filled with 4 clothes racks and a shoe rack that can hold a 50 pairs of shoes. All this clothing is big money luxury brands. Basically my digital studio is currently just a walk-in closet with two windows.
I guess in 1912 people were like me, they wore the same clothes every day. Today it is cold and perhaps October weather, and I wear a full zip bike sweater made of engineered materials for sports. It is at least 15 years old and is a bit ratty looking with some serious wear and tear, but it is familiar and comfortable. In places it is thread bare, but I don’t care.
So after the kitchen is done, I want to but an IBIS Exie bicycle which will cost about $13K, more than a Ducati “Monster” motorcycle. I figure I got my priorities straight, and the money has to come from somewhere. I also figure that my bikes kinda paid for themselves, and they got used a lot over the decades with health benefits as well as enjoyment.
I believe the Exie being a full suspension cross country bike is so advanced that it still will be a great bike a decade from now. It also is a game changer for me because it is a 29’er, meanwhile my old retro mountain bikes are either 24 or 26 inch wheels.
So my old house lacks closet space. I think I can add a closet in the guest room just by breaking through a wall. I know I can make a walled closet in the basement for exchange of winter and summer clothes, once things move along.
The problem with my digital printing is because I print big, I always run out of drying space.
I like the idea of having my analog studio separate from the house. I can use my stereo, and plug in my guitars. My high end acoustics, even without an amp, are mucho loud. I will have to build out the garage with sound proofing, and perhaps I’ll make it into a recording studio.
The nice thing about the Mitsubishi mini-splits is that they have pollen and dust filtration. I’ll have to ban eating in my studios, mainly because ”Maggie” is a “Crumb-Queen” who is worse than having a 5 year old.
Anyways, good thing I’m an artist. Pretty much a problem solver that is clever.
After today’s doctor’s appointment we should be caught up. Covid put off a lot of maintenance and delayed medical checkups. I can see how this could be bad for many people, but in our case there has been no surprises. We are now on top of things, but many are still behind…
Cal
I measured the smallest bedroom (7x11), but it is filled with 4 clothes racks and a shoe rack that can hold a 50 pairs of shoes. All this clothing is big money luxury brands. Basically my digital studio is currently just a walk-in closet with two windows.
I guess in 1912 people were like me, they wore the same clothes every day. Today it is cold and perhaps October weather, and I wear a full zip bike sweater made of engineered materials for sports. It is at least 15 years old and is a bit ratty looking with some serious wear and tear, but it is familiar and comfortable. In places it is thread bare, but I don’t care.
So after the kitchen is done, I want to but an IBIS Exie bicycle which will cost about $13K, more than a Ducati “Monster” motorcycle. I figure I got my priorities straight, and the money has to come from somewhere. I also figure that my bikes kinda paid for themselves, and they got used a lot over the decades with health benefits as well as enjoyment.
I believe the Exie being a full suspension cross country bike is so advanced that it still will be a great bike a decade from now. It also is a game changer for me because it is a 29’er, meanwhile my old retro mountain bikes are either 24 or 26 inch wheels.
So my old house lacks closet space. I think I can add a closet in the guest room just by breaking through a wall. I know I can make a walled closet in the basement for exchange of winter and summer clothes, once things move along.
The problem with my digital printing is because I print big, I always run out of drying space.
I like the idea of having my analog studio separate from the house. I can use my stereo, and plug in my guitars. My high end acoustics, even without an amp, are mucho loud. I will have to build out the garage with sound proofing, and perhaps I’ll make it into a recording studio.
The nice thing about the Mitsubishi mini-splits is that they have pollen and dust filtration. I’ll have to ban eating in my studios, mainly because ”Maggie” is a “Crumb-Queen” who is worse than having a 5 year old.
Anyways, good thing I’m an artist. Pretty much a problem solver that is clever.
After today’s doctor’s appointment we should be caught up. Covid put off a lot of maintenance and delayed medical checkups. I can see how this could be bad for many people, but in our case there has been no surprises. We are now on top of things, but many are still behind…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I figured out that I can add an attic pull down stairway to make a walk in closet. Presently the attic access is a 17-18 inch square ceiling hatch that requires a step ladder that oddly is in the bathroom.
My attic has a few standup areas and a lot of different rooflines.
That was an easy lazy-slacker solution. Wish all problems were so simple. Anyways I’ll need the pull down stairway for the blown in foam insulation and for the second floor mini-split ducted air handler for the second floor.
So finally we are all caught up with the medical and dental maintenance. What a disruption Covid has been. I feel lucky that there were no surprises, but I also kinda know that the Covid disruption is fraught for many others and there will be consequences.
It took a lot of time and effort to catch up, and I know many people don’t have the time and opportunity to catch up. I think the neglect will eventually an unintended consequence and outcome from Covid because all diseases are opportunistic.
”Maggie” and I dodged yet another bullet.
Cal
My attic has a few standup areas and a lot of different rooflines.
That was an easy lazy-slacker solution. Wish all problems were so simple. Anyways I’ll need the pull down stairway for the blown in foam insulation and for the second floor mini-split ducted air handler for the second floor.
So finally we are all caught up with the medical and dental maintenance. What a disruption Covid has been. I feel lucky that there were no surprises, but I also kinda know that the Covid disruption is fraught for many others and there will be consequences.
It took a lot of time and effort to catch up, and I know many people don’t have the time and opportunity to catch up. I think the neglect will eventually an unintended consequence and outcome from Covid because all diseases are opportunistic.
”Maggie” and I dodged yet another bullet.
Cal
Canyongazer
Canyongazer
Cal, I miss the avatar of you with 17 cameras around your neck.
Off topic, but true.
Off topic, but true.
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Cal, I miss the avatar of you with 17 cameras around your neck.
Off topic, but true.
CG,
My friend John did that for me. It is his shot. Somehow with the new RFF it got lost in cyberspace.
Perhaps I can get him to do it again, but that file is so old… Not sure he could find it. John shoots a lot.
Anyways Phil after a NYC Meet-Up, just outside Puck Fair decided to decorate me like a Christmas Tree with cameras.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
I did some house forensics and ventured into the attic. The hatch is in the bathroom, and I had to use a step ladder to wedge myself up and into.
Oddly the basement the first floor joists are full 2x10’s that are impressive, then the joists for the second floor I see in my kitchen, dining room and hallway are all full 2x8’s (only ceiling I did not demo is the living room/parlor which is the original plaster and lathe), but in the attic the 2x6’s are only 5 1/2 inches and is not full sized lumber like the floors below.
In the upstairs hallway the ceiling is sheet rock, and I wondered if there ever was a pull down stairway in the hall to gain access to the attic. I ended pulling up a piece of plywood to see if anything had been sistered in the past, but found no evidence.
Evidently the hatch is the original access to the attic. I’m kinda skinny, but my guess is some big guys just would not fit through the hatch.
Anyways there is a pretty large space to create a walk-in closet that we need. I can see me framing a room and insulating a space so that the walk-in closet is basically part of the house. Pretty much I just want to open the stairway and be able to go up and not to get either fire or ice as an environment.
Now I have to obsess how to allow access to an air handler that would be mounted in the attic and all the ductwork. Perhaps a layered sandwich of plywood rigid insulation flowed by another exterior layer of plywood that could be a removable wall.
Anyways I sold the idea to “Maggie” and she likes it. I think I will store some of my clothes there too. Will likely add some cedar to repel moths.
Anyways sometimes I’m a penis, and sometimes a genius.
Another lazy-slacker solution. Next I will be looking at pull down stairs.
So this also liberates some space in the basement. Eventually things will get moved out into the two studios from the basement. In the end the basement will be my warehouse. I have a beat up Bilco door that I think I will get replaced because garden tools, power tools, woodworking machinery will get stored in the warehouse and pulled out when needed, along with the pergola/patio furniture.
In effect my basement will be like a big garage.
I’m thinking I can get a nice router and router table so I can build out screened frames and windows to convert my front porch. Basically either a screened porch, or a closed porch by exchanging frames. I think the windowed frames will have to resemble double hung windows as to not to look so modern, but solid big screens will be EZ-PZ because I can recycle and incorporate the metal screens from the Jello-C windows.
In the end a cleaner more open look. The screens with the windows work like neutral density filters and block some light. No bueno. With double hung windows it gets complicated, complex and expensive, but my slacker’s way lets more light enter through the windows, gives me a brighter view of outside, provides more solar gain; and in the summer converts into a more elegant and simple look of just a screened in porch.
All I need is a router table, wood and some time. Not too complex. Also no building permit required because I’m only replacing existing windows, and nothing structural is modified or changed.
SMUT: you should know that the previous owner of our house was a bitch and was universally disliked. She called the city on my diagonal neighbor for working on his house without a permit. She called the city on my next door neighbor for a noise complaint when they Reno’ed their house. She and my dead end neighbor were caught “chest-bumping” and getting ready to have a street fight that got broken up.
She also was caught inside my neighbor’s garage on camera.
The previous owner it appears was a compulsive liar.
She said she worked from home, but we learned that with the pandemic she lost her job. She said she was moving to Arizona, but in fact she moved not so far away just further north.
My next door neighbor reports that her other neighbor rents part of their house, and at one time they had a tenant that use to cook in the kitchen nude all the time. Know and understand that my next door neighbor’s kitchen faced the next door neighbor’s tenant’s kitchen. Pretty much they put up some shrubs to obscure the “Nudie Show.”
Then there is a neighbor who is a bit of a busy body that is intrusive further up the block…
So I’m not exaggerating that I’m a bit hill-billy. LOL.
Anyways Peekskill is kind of a desert where there are not any Asians. About as many Latinos as Whites, some black population, but no Asians unless you count my stalker. Lots of young people, and there definitely is a Brooklyn vibe in Peekskill.
Also I’m 40 feet above sea level, and further north in Peekskill I get to 340 feet. Elevation is measured by the GPS in my Audi A4. Also I’m not so far from the Hudson River, in fact I hear the trains on the Hudson Line.
Cal
Oddly the basement the first floor joists are full 2x10’s that are impressive, then the joists for the second floor I see in my kitchen, dining room and hallway are all full 2x8’s (only ceiling I did not demo is the living room/parlor which is the original plaster and lathe), but in the attic the 2x6’s are only 5 1/2 inches and is not full sized lumber like the floors below.
In the upstairs hallway the ceiling is sheet rock, and I wondered if there ever was a pull down stairway in the hall to gain access to the attic. I ended pulling up a piece of plywood to see if anything had been sistered in the past, but found no evidence.
Evidently the hatch is the original access to the attic. I’m kinda skinny, but my guess is some big guys just would not fit through the hatch.
Anyways there is a pretty large space to create a walk-in closet that we need. I can see me framing a room and insulating a space so that the walk-in closet is basically part of the house. Pretty much I just want to open the stairway and be able to go up and not to get either fire or ice as an environment.
Now I have to obsess how to allow access to an air handler that would be mounted in the attic and all the ductwork. Perhaps a layered sandwich of plywood rigid insulation flowed by another exterior layer of plywood that could be a removable wall.
Anyways I sold the idea to “Maggie” and she likes it. I think I will store some of my clothes there too. Will likely add some cedar to repel moths.
Anyways sometimes I’m a penis, and sometimes a genius.
Another lazy-slacker solution. Next I will be looking at pull down stairs.
So this also liberates some space in the basement. Eventually things will get moved out into the two studios from the basement. In the end the basement will be my warehouse. I have a beat up Bilco door that I think I will get replaced because garden tools, power tools, woodworking machinery will get stored in the warehouse and pulled out when needed, along with the pergola/patio furniture.
In effect my basement will be like a big garage.
I’m thinking I can get a nice router and router table so I can build out screened frames and windows to convert my front porch. Basically either a screened porch, or a closed porch by exchanging frames. I think the windowed frames will have to resemble double hung windows as to not to look so modern, but solid big screens will be EZ-PZ because I can recycle and incorporate the metal screens from the Jello-C windows.
In the end a cleaner more open look. The screens with the windows work like neutral density filters and block some light. No bueno. With double hung windows it gets complicated, complex and expensive, but my slacker’s way lets more light enter through the windows, gives me a brighter view of outside, provides more solar gain; and in the summer converts into a more elegant and simple look of just a screened in porch.
All I need is a router table, wood and some time. Not too complex. Also no building permit required because I’m only replacing existing windows, and nothing structural is modified or changed.
SMUT: you should know that the previous owner of our house was a bitch and was universally disliked. She called the city on my diagonal neighbor for working on his house without a permit. She called the city on my next door neighbor for a noise complaint when they Reno’ed their house. She and my dead end neighbor were caught “chest-bumping” and getting ready to have a street fight that got broken up.
She also was caught inside my neighbor’s garage on camera.
The previous owner it appears was a compulsive liar.
She said she worked from home, but we learned that with the pandemic she lost her job. She said she was moving to Arizona, but in fact she moved not so far away just further north.
My next door neighbor reports that her other neighbor rents part of their house, and at one time they had a tenant that use to cook in the kitchen nude all the time. Know and understand that my next door neighbor’s kitchen faced the next door neighbor’s tenant’s kitchen. Pretty much they put up some shrubs to obscure the “Nudie Show.”
Then there is a neighbor who is a bit of a busy body that is intrusive further up the block…
So I’m not exaggerating that I’m a bit hill-billy. LOL.
Anyways Peekskill is kind of a desert where there are not any Asians. About as many Latinos as Whites, some black population, but no Asians unless you count my stalker. Lots of young people, and there definitely is a Brooklyn vibe in Peekskill.
Also I’m 40 feet above sea level, and further north in Peekskill I get to 340 feet. Elevation is measured by the GPS in my Audi A4. Also I’m not so far from the Hudson River, in fact I hear the trains on the Hudson Line.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
A rainy day. Framing inspection later this morning, and a plumber might come by today or tomorrow.
Took out the Trials bike last night. I have to work my left leg for lifting the front wheel. I favor my right too much and pretty much I too heavily rely on it. I need to start with this basic skill that somehow I bypassed. In my driveway I have a nice sloping curb that makes for a good place to practice since the curb varies in height.
Thing about Trials is the gear is a single speed about 30 gear inches, or about a regular walking step for say a 5’10” man. Torque and quick twitch muscles are what get developed by the various “moves” that are made that really are connecting transitions to overcome obstacles.
The idea is to maintain balance and to not “dab” (have a foot touch the ground). Anyways lots of skill to develope that is mucho useful on the trail in other riding. One very cool thing about Trials is that pretty much I can build and practice in my yard, and that I can build obstacles to train on. I don’t really need a lot of space or go very far.
Last night I dropped the front tire pressure for more Cush. Have to check the presssure now that I dialed it in. At 145 pounds I don’t need a lot of air, but I don’t want to rim-out on a sharp rock or edge.
I have a few extra cinder blocks that I can stack to build a platform or later a staircase.
Know that the IBIS has a hyper short wheelbase of only 39.5 inches, and with the steep geometry and mucho high bottom bracket the handling is a bit unstable for many. The frame also is mucho heavy (steel), utilizes oversized tubing ( a new idea back in the day), and is way overbuilt.
Pretty much a retro bike that is lots of fun, is very unique, that is odd to see 35 years after it was built. Ronald Ray-Gun was in his second term when I bought this bike. I got it at “Brands” a very big bike shop that had a “Pro” shop. It was a leftover that went unloved because it deviated from being a standard mountain bike. Pretty much I got the bike for “no-money.”
It is a rare bike and over the decades I have never seen another one “in the wild,” but then again somehow through “divine intervention” I found a Titanium version on EBAY because I was bored at work and purposely did a search for something really obscure and impossible to find.
I did not know that IBIS made a Titanium Mountain Trials. I bided, got outbid, but then secured the Ti IBIS through a “Second Chance” because the high bidder was a deadbeat. Ended up that after contacting Scot Nicole, the President of IBIS that I have a one-off prototype. How crazy and cool is that?
Originally the steel IBIS had a triple up front, and a 6 speed rear. Shimano at that time developed SIS (indexed shifting). Also Freewheels were used and popular instead of cassettes of cogs.
Very cool still having my first mountain bike. It features a mucho loud “Fluorescent Orange” powder coat that I had applied after I trashed the OEM paint from wear and tear as well as crashes. The idea of the highly visible paint job was to avoid being shot by deer hunters. Pretty much what we called “single track” was deer trails, and we did come across hunters.
Today the powder coat has blistered in places and the rust now simulates a “spatter-coat” finish that was populat back in the day at IBIS.
Mike mounted a cow bell on his seat to avoid being shot. BTW out on Long Island deer hunters used bows and arrows. Kinda worse than a gun. The DEC Rangers wear Kevlar vests, but they offer no protection from arrows. An arrow will penetrate the armor. I learned this from a DEC Ranger we came upon in the woods.
Know that the trails we rode on in the pine barrens of eastern Long Island were so narrow that wide handlebars were a liability. A lot of counter steering had to happen to fit in between a narrow space between trees. “Bark-burn” was a term for the scabs on our shoulders where skin was worn off our shoulders from bumping and brushing trees.
Anyways this style of riding very much was like dual soll-UM skiing because the idea was to pick clean lines that involved lots of twists and turns. I guess there also was a cross country element also because these deer trails had lots of hills and climbs that were short and steep in a technical sense.
Today my old retro IBIS’s would be still great bikes for this style of riding. Perhaps a state of the art IBIS Excie would not be the best bike for our old single track. First off the new bikes feature wide bars and would not fit through the trees. Then the wheelbase on the new full suspension bikes are mucho long and not so great for twisty narrow trails.
Anyways, very cool to still own and have my first mountain bike. Very cool that it comes from the era when mountain biking was first invented, and from a legendary company that still exists in California where mountain biking was invented.
The build I created on the steel IBIS is all brutal overbuild. Many of the parts are built for tandem duty, and the cranks are built for trials duty. I have a hard to find “bash” ring on the cranks and the wheels are 16 straight gauge with brass nipples on heavy rims for heavy use.
Anyways I consider the steel IBIS “treasure” that I am happy I kept all these decades.
I wonder what old retro gear any of you guys still own that remains really cool. Perhaps an old motorcycle or car…
Cal
Took out the Trials bike last night. I have to work my left leg for lifting the front wheel. I favor my right too much and pretty much I too heavily rely on it. I need to start with this basic skill that somehow I bypassed. In my driveway I have a nice sloping curb that makes for a good place to practice since the curb varies in height.
Thing about Trials is the gear is a single speed about 30 gear inches, or about a regular walking step for say a 5’10” man. Torque and quick twitch muscles are what get developed by the various “moves” that are made that really are connecting transitions to overcome obstacles.
The idea is to maintain balance and to not “dab” (have a foot touch the ground). Anyways lots of skill to develope that is mucho useful on the trail in other riding. One very cool thing about Trials is that pretty much I can build and practice in my yard, and that I can build obstacles to train on. I don’t really need a lot of space or go very far.
Last night I dropped the front tire pressure for more Cush. Have to check the presssure now that I dialed it in. At 145 pounds I don’t need a lot of air, but I don’t want to rim-out on a sharp rock or edge.
I have a few extra cinder blocks that I can stack to build a platform or later a staircase.
Know that the IBIS has a hyper short wheelbase of only 39.5 inches, and with the steep geometry and mucho high bottom bracket the handling is a bit unstable for many. The frame also is mucho heavy (steel), utilizes oversized tubing ( a new idea back in the day), and is way overbuilt.
Pretty much a retro bike that is lots of fun, is very unique, that is odd to see 35 years after it was built. Ronald Ray-Gun was in his second term when I bought this bike. I got it at “Brands” a very big bike shop that had a “Pro” shop. It was a leftover that went unloved because it deviated from being a standard mountain bike. Pretty much I got the bike for “no-money.”
It is a rare bike and over the decades I have never seen another one “in the wild,” but then again somehow through “divine intervention” I found a Titanium version on EBAY because I was bored at work and purposely did a search for something really obscure and impossible to find.
I did not know that IBIS made a Titanium Mountain Trials. I bided, got outbid, but then secured the Ti IBIS through a “Second Chance” because the high bidder was a deadbeat. Ended up that after contacting Scot Nicole, the President of IBIS that I have a one-off prototype. How crazy and cool is that?
Originally the steel IBIS had a triple up front, and a 6 speed rear. Shimano at that time developed SIS (indexed shifting). Also Freewheels were used and popular instead of cassettes of cogs.
Very cool still having my first mountain bike. It features a mucho loud “Fluorescent Orange” powder coat that I had applied after I trashed the OEM paint from wear and tear as well as crashes. The idea of the highly visible paint job was to avoid being shot by deer hunters. Pretty much what we called “single track” was deer trails, and we did come across hunters.
Today the powder coat has blistered in places and the rust now simulates a “spatter-coat” finish that was populat back in the day at IBIS.
Mike mounted a cow bell on his seat to avoid being shot. BTW out on Long Island deer hunters used bows and arrows. Kinda worse than a gun. The DEC Rangers wear Kevlar vests, but they offer no protection from arrows. An arrow will penetrate the armor. I learned this from a DEC Ranger we came upon in the woods.
Know that the trails we rode on in the pine barrens of eastern Long Island were so narrow that wide handlebars were a liability. A lot of counter steering had to happen to fit in between a narrow space between trees. “Bark-burn” was a term for the scabs on our shoulders where skin was worn off our shoulders from bumping and brushing trees.
Anyways this style of riding very much was like dual soll-UM skiing because the idea was to pick clean lines that involved lots of twists and turns. I guess there also was a cross country element also because these deer trails had lots of hills and climbs that were short and steep in a technical sense.
Today my old retro IBIS’s would be still great bikes for this style of riding. Perhaps a state of the art IBIS Excie would not be the best bike for our old single track. First off the new bikes feature wide bars and would not fit through the trees. Then the wheelbase on the new full suspension bikes are mucho long and not so great for twisty narrow trails.
Anyways, very cool to still own and have my first mountain bike. Very cool that it comes from the era when mountain biking was first invented, and from a legendary company that still exists in California where mountain biking was invented.
The build I created on the steel IBIS is all brutal overbuild. Many of the parts are built for tandem duty, and the cranks are built for trials duty. I have a hard to find “bash” ring on the cranks and the wheels are 16 straight gauge with brass nipples on heavy rims for heavy use.
Anyways I consider the steel IBIS “treasure” that I am happy I kept all these decades.
I wonder what old retro gear any of you guys still own that remains really cool. Perhaps an old motorcycle or car…
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
WOW,
Long rants lately, and I seem to go off digging into fine detail. Pretty much the opposite of sin-ILL-it-T.
Anyways I hope it is co-hear-ent.
Also lately my spelling is getting worse, or perhaps I am exploiting that I am a person of color, and it is right and duty to butcher the American language, and develop and create slang.
Kinda funny that “Maggie” went to Catholic schools. She tried to correct me, but I defended myself saying that correcting me is oppression and that culturally I have the right to express myself in a manner of my choosing.
Know that Maggie professionally a Social Worker and is a PhD. Anyways I go ghetto, and butcher language and invent new definitions for words, and even new words that don’t exist.
BTW this annoys Maggie. LOL.
BTW I hate the auto-correct on my IPAD.
Cal
Long rants lately, and I seem to go off digging into fine detail. Pretty much the opposite of sin-ILL-it-T.
Anyways I hope it is co-hear-ent.
Also lately my spelling is getting worse, or perhaps I am exploiting that I am a person of color, and it is right and duty to butcher the American language, and develop and create slang.
Kinda funny that “Maggie” went to Catholic schools. She tried to correct me, but I defended myself saying that correcting me is oppression and that culturally I have the right to express myself in a manner of my choosing.
Know that Maggie professionally a Social Worker and is a PhD. Anyways I go ghetto, and butcher language and invent new definitions for words, and even new words that don’t exist.
BTW this annoys Maggie. LOL.
BTW I hate the auto-correct on my IPAD.
Cal
Nokton48
Veteran
Alice 1995 by Nokton48, on Flickr- 8x10 Sinar Norma 480mm Rodenstock F11 at F22. 8x10 HP5+ D76 developed in 8x10 Unidrum. 4x8' softbox at 90 degrees left, 3x4' softbox at 45 degree left, 4x8' white foamcore at 45 degree camera right. Had a straight 16x20 print made on RC paper, at local commercial lab.
Everybody enjoyed the session and they liked this one
Nokton48
Veteran
"I wonder what old retro gear any of you guys still own that remains really cool. Perhaps an old motorcycle or car…
Cal"
SONY DSC by Nokton48, on Flickr
Arca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Hood, modified to fit Plaubel Auto Makiflex.
Cal"
SONY DSC by Nokton48, on FlickrArca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Hood, modified to fit Plaubel Auto Makiflex.
- Here I've quickly adapted the Arca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Magnifying Hood to the Automatic Makiflex. Hollywood Gaffer's Tape and razor blade (many layers) makes a semi-permanent installation. I love it! No wonder Geoff Berliner at Penumbra modded his and sent me phone pix. What I like about is that it is uber high-eyepoint, there is a one inch wide black border around the 9x9 framing. All my other finders work better with 6x9cm. Geoff told me I am nuts to shoot 6x9 with this camera, square is it. It's rather unique in that aspect. Anyways I have a another of these finders coming from KEH, with the rubber eyecup For 9x9 shooting the groundglass grain is sharp to my eye and I always compose from the edges and move in. So this finder is wonderful to me and my square uses.
These are my shorter automatic iris lenses. On the camera the 150mm Maki Schneider barrel Symmar auto iris, in the center the 150mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. Then on the right, the 180mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. I have not used these shorter lenses much and am looking forward to this seasons work. Plaubel recommended this camera for Fashion and Reportage. 
Adding K2 Yellow filter and rubber hood to each of these lenses. Will all fit in an olde Domke F2 press bag. Along with holders
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
"I wonder what old retro gear any of you guys still own that remains really cool. Perhaps an old motorcycle or car…
Cal"
Arca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Hood, modified to fit Plaubel Auto Makiflex.
- Here I've quickly adapted the Arca Swiss 4x5 Reflex Magnifying Hood to the Automatic Makiflex. Hollywood Gaffer's Tape and razor blade (many layers) makes a semi-permanent installation. I love it! No wonder Geoff Berliner at Penumbra modded his and sent me phone pix. What I like about is that it is uber high-eyepoint, there is a one inch wide black border around the 9x9 framing. All my other finders work better with 6x9cm. Geoff told me I am nuts to shoot 6x9 with this camera, square is it. It's rather unique in that aspect. Anyways I have a another of these finders coming from KEH, with the rubber eyecup
These are my shorter automatic iris lenses. On the camera the 150mm Maki Schneider barrel Symmar auto iris, in the center the 150mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. Then on the right, the 180mm Maki f4.5 Schneider Xenar auto iris. I have not used these shorter lenses much and am looking forward to this seasons work. Plaubel recommended this camera for Fashion and Reportage.
Adding K2 Yellow filter and rubber hood to each of these lenses. Will all fit in an olde Domke F2 press bag. Along with holders
Devil Dan,
I love stuff like this.
”Brutal,” I say.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
- 8x10 Sinar Norma 480mm Rodenstock F11 at F22. 8x10 HP5+ D76 developed in 8x10 Unidrum. 4x8' softbox at 90 degrees left, 3x4' softbox at 45 degree left, 4x8' white foamcore at 45 degree camera right. Had a straight 16x20 print made on RC paper, at local commercial lab.
Everybody enjoyed the session and they liked this one
Devil Dan,
So nerdy, yet cool.
The technical detail would give “Maggie” a headache. LOL.
How annoying is that?
Cal
Nokton48
Veteran
I have recently been described as being "inspirationally sick". Whatever. LOL
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Saw a Hummingbird the size of my thumb from my dinning room “kick out” windows feeding on Road-A- DEN-drums that are on my side yard. Pretty much these bushes are monster sized even though I pruned them over the winter when they were dormant.
The framing inspection had some glitches. Pretty much the contractor is trying to press on with the work, even before some work is not completed. I happen to love my building inspector. He is not a jerk, but he also is working in my best interest and making sure the job is done properly.
Since the bathroom floor was formally part of the rear porch it slopes. My carpenter was going to shim the joists and set a new floor on top of that, but my building inspector wants to have sistered joists to level the floor and for 3/4 inch plywood to be glued and screwed for a stronger floor.
I know this extra work will come out of my pocket, but then I know I will have a strong floor that will not crack tile or pop grout. The best interest for my contractor is to push the job through and get paid. In this case this meant taking a shortcut, a shortcut that is not in my best interest.
So I learned that my house features balloon construction and that each stud spans two floors with an effective chimney to help accelerate a fire. Code update would require installation of “Fire-Stops” that are sections of 2x4 to work like a sill to effectively eliminate the long chimney by cutting it in half.
Because I spec’ed Rock Wool for insulation and it is not flammable it effectively works as a “Fire-Stop.”
I’m about 5 weeks into this kitchen remodel. I’m a bit fatigued, but I want things to be “one and done.”
I’m cool with my building inspector, but I see how building inspectors and contractors don’t get along so well. Here in New York each town has their own rules and department. In my case my inspector is kinda working for me and my best interests.
BTW I picked Rock Wool because of its mold resistance and longevity. It does not compress over time like fiberglass. Bonus is it if non flammable.
Tomorrow the plumber and carpenter show up.
Cal
The framing inspection had some glitches. Pretty much the contractor is trying to press on with the work, even before some work is not completed. I happen to love my building inspector. He is not a jerk, but he also is working in my best interest and making sure the job is done properly.
Since the bathroom floor was formally part of the rear porch it slopes. My carpenter was going to shim the joists and set a new floor on top of that, but my building inspector wants to have sistered joists to level the floor and for 3/4 inch plywood to be glued and screwed for a stronger floor.
I know this extra work will come out of my pocket, but then I know I will have a strong floor that will not crack tile or pop grout. The best interest for my contractor is to push the job through and get paid. In this case this meant taking a shortcut, a shortcut that is not in my best interest.
So I learned that my house features balloon construction and that each stud spans two floors with an effective chimney to help accelerate a fire. Code update would require installation of “Fire-Stops” that are sections of 2x4 to work like a sill to effectively eliminate the long chimney by cutting it in half.
Because I spec’ed Rock Wool for insulation and it is not flammable it effectively works as a “Fire-Stop.”
I’m about 5 weeks into this kitchen remodel. I’m a bit fatigued, but I want things to be “one and done.”
I’m cool with my building inspector, but I see how building inspectors and contractors don’t get along so well. Here in New York each town has their own rules and department. In my case my inspector is kinda working for me and my best interests.
BTW I picked Rock Wool because of its mold resistance and longevity. It does not compress over time like fiberglass. Bonus is it if non flammable.
Tomorrow the plumber and carpenter show up.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Dan,
Sometimes I describe myself as a delusional artist. The funny thing though is that I surprise people with my results.
I’m doing an experiment where I am cutting my lawn frequently. The idea is to use the short grass clippings as mulch, and to curb the weeds. The lawns are getting thicker, the weeds are less, and also the bonus is that mowing with my push mower (no motor) is a lot less work.
So only a few days have passed, but it rained a good amount, and the lawn needs a trim again.
Anyways my lawns are starting to look like a golf course. In a ways I’m an environmentalist restoring a marsh by getting rid of invasive Knotweed, and making a nice lawn without fertilizer, weed killers, or chemicals.
It seems the birds are concentrated in my yard for a reason. I think tomorrow I will give the yards another trim. In the past I use to rake up the clippings, but with my trims that is not needed or required.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Now I’m thinking I want to pretty much be project manager on my garage/studio, this involves simplifying the project to keeping the hip roof. Looking into closed cell foam insulation, and this involves hiring a contractor. Also will need a pro mason to do the floor/driveway. Of course the mini-split involves a HVAC pro.
I can do studs and finish the garage. I can strip off and put on new roof shingles. I want some skin in this game.
Recent development is that “Maggie” wants to gift me the room that is currently our master bedroom. Pretty much a phase in from the “Baby-Room” which is the smallest bedroom.
What we call the “Green-Room” faces the front of the house, and if we take down a wall the turret room would be added as a “dressing Room.” The Green-Room/turret room will be our new master bedroom.
Remember the other day I figured out a clever solution for the lack of closet space: add a pull down staircase to the attic and build out a massive walk in closet in the attic.
So now with closet space not being a problem we can eliminate two closets that separate the turret-room and the green room gaining about 30-32 inches of living space that runs the length of a wall. “Maggie” wants French Doors to separate the rooms. This involves a load bearing wall so a beam will be required.
The Baby-Room would be the guest room and will have a fold out couch for a bed.
My patience is paying off, and it seems like I’m getting prime real estate that best suits me. Maggie wants to have her work space spread out to the patio/pergola, the dining room with the mini-split HVAC, and the front enclosed porch.
Don’t forget I have the basement and porch basement for a warehouse and storage.
The Baby-Room, the upstairs bathroom, and my future digital studio all have the view of the back-backyard, the frog ghetto, and the forested hillside. A gable roof would obscure this fantastic view that resembles the English countryside.
This update means a much larger digital studio. Also the closed cell foam insulation has a R-Value of about 7 per inch of thickness, and the bonus is that it is also great for soundproofing the garage.
The Baby-Victorian is close to Route 9, and we hear the noise of the highway, trucks and motorcycles. The Green Room does not face Route 9 and is much quieter.
A sound proof garage for me is a great asset, ideal for a recording studio and my tube stereo.
This little/tiny house is turning out to be a dream come true. Maggie is also talking of getting a shed for our garden tools and wagons.
Cal
I can do studs and finish the garage. I can strip off and put on new roof shingles. I want some skin in this game.
Recent development is that “Maggie” wants to gift me the room that is currently our master bedroom. Pretty much a phase in from the “Baby-Room” which is the smallest bedroom.
What we call the “Green-Room” faces the front of the house, and if we take down a wall the turret room would be added as a “dressing Room.” The Green-Room/turret room will be our new master bedroom.
Remember the other day I figured out a clever solution for the lack of closet space: add a pull down staircase to the attic and build out a massive walk in closet in the attic.
So now with closet space not being a problem we can eliminate two closets that separate the turret-room and the green room gaining about 30-32 inches of living space that runs the length of a wall. “Maggie” wants French Doors to separate the rooms. This involves a load bearing wall so a beam will be required.
The Baby-Room would be the guest room and will have a fold out couch for a bed.
My patience is paying off, and it seems like I’m getting prime real estate that best suits me. Maggie wants to have her work space spread out to the patio/pergola, the dining room with the mini-split HVAC, and the front enclosed porch.
Don’t forget I have the basement and porch basement for a warehouse and storage.
The Baby-Room, the upstairs bathroom, and my future digital studio all have the view of the back-backyard, the frog ghetto, and the forested hillside. A gable roof would obscure this fantastic view that resembles the English countryside.
This update means a much larger digital studio. Also the closed cell foam insulation has a R-Value of about 7 per inch of thickness, and the bonus is that it is also great for soundproofing the garage.
The Baby-Victorian is close to Route 9, and we hear the noise of the highway, trucks and motorcycles. The Green Room does not face Route 9 and is much quieter.
A sound proof garage for me is a great asset, ideal for a recording studio and my tube stereo.
This little/tiny house is turning out to be a dream come true. Maggie is also talking of getting a shed for our garden tools and wagons.
Cal
Calzone
Gear Whore #1
Earlier in the week there were temperatures in the 50’s, but today we had a blast of 4th of July weather with temperatures in the 90’s and mucho humidity that was oppressive.
Been doing after dinner walks. Kinda like walking the girlfriend to exercise her. We often have really good talks, and one night we both asked each other why are we doing the modeling gig. We don’t need the money, we would rather not be so busy, and we already had a good amount of free travel and enough of the experience.
Perhaps we are now at a higher level, and the pay more lucrative. It is still work…
Anyways things are gearing and scaling up, and we don’t know where this is going.
Could be a fun adventure. For me I seem to have jumped ahead into an elite position, even though I have zero experience.
I guess we are on the fence. Our agent wants a three year commitment, but we would like a one year trial.
Cal
Been doing after dinner walks. Kinda like walking the girlfriend to exercise her. We often have really good talks, and one night we both asked each other why are we doing the modeling gig. We don’t need the money, we would rather not be so busy, and we already had a good amount of free travel and enough of the experience.
Perhaps we are now at a higher level, and the pay more lucrative. It is still work…
Anyways things are gearing and scaling up, and we don’t know where this is going.
Could be a fun adventure. For me I seem to have jumped ahead into an elite position, even though I have zero experience.
I guess we are on the fence. Our agent wants a three year commitment, but we would like a one year trial.
Cal