Sorry for going missing, folks

bmattock

bmattock

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Well, I'm not sure where to begin...

It started when Ann-Marie and I closed on our house here in Wilson, NC and began the process of moving in - which we are still doing! I had no idea I had so many boxes of cameras and camera accessories and books and so on. Really depressing! How can two people have 10,000 pounds of stuff? That's what was on the mover's invoice, not including the car they shipped for us.

Anyway, I've gotten a few private e-mails urging me to let everyone know what's going on, so let's do that.

First of all, my job is going great. Good work, hard work, but it seems so strange to go to the same job day after day and not have to get on an airplane every week anymore. I come home for lunch - I've got a 5 minute drive to and from.

My friendly old cat, Pooka, passed away about two weeks ago. She was about 16 years old and in good health, seemingly, but obviously there was something wrong. She just got sick one day - we took her to the vet, but she passed before the blood work came back. Miss her. At least we have a house now - we placed her in the back yard, and we'll get a marker for her. Hey, I'm a sap, I know - but forgive us, we have no children, so there ya go.

I'm trying to quit smoking - yesterday marked three weeks since I've had a cigarette. Man, harder than I thought. Oh well. I'll make it, if only because I don't want to go through this fun again later. And don't give me any friendly well-meaning advice on patches, hypnotism, potions, or soothsayers, please. Grr, growl, grr and so forth. I'm doing this cold turkey because I'm a glutton for punishment. I'm just glad this hasn't made me cranky (grin)!

I've also been unpacking boxes that I packed up when I got out of the Marines in 1985. Stereo gear I didn't even know I had anymore - and records (remember them?) and stuff. I've started pulling them all out and dusting them off, and I've got a serious (if dated) stereo system going again. Why not, we've got 2800 square feet here and just the two of us in this 1923 Craftsman-style Bungalow. Wood floors, 10-foot ceilings, etc. Man, I love it.

I'm selling some cameras on eBay, stuff I have finally decided I'll never use. I'm pretty much settled on my Cosina/Voigtlander Bessa R stuff, with Canon FD slrs and Bronica / Fujica medium format. So I'm getting rid of a couple of hundred cameras.

I'm not sure what else to say. I've had some problems getting my photography done recently. There are no camera stores in Wilson, not even the stupid ugly chain stores, Wolfs and so on. There is Walmart and Walgreens, and that's about it. There is a small camera shope up in Rocky Mount, but that's a good 1/2 hour drive away, and the owner is a guy who likes to talk about how he's doing great with digital and how glad he'll be when the last roll of 120 film is processed. Good for him. At least he'll still process my color and slide 120 film (for now). I'll probably have to get something going with mail-order. I bought some fresh D-76 and I'll mix up some chemistry and do some B&W medium format and 35mm soon, I hope. We'll see!

This is a beautiful part of the country - I need to be doing more photography every day.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks

www.growlery.com/wigwam - for the latest news.
 
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Good to hear from you Bill. I have been wondering where you were. Sorry to hear about Pooka.

The changes though sound like they are positive. Congratulations.

Keep us posted on your ebay stuff, I am sure some of us will be willing to help you thin your herd.
 
Thanks for the update Bill. It is much appreciated. Sorry to hear about Pooka. My wife and I have seven cats, so we understand.
 
hey bill, it's great to hear from you again!!
i had been wondering about ya but figured with the move, new job and then buying a house you just might be a tad busy.
i hope you get to drop by more when things settle down some.

so you're selling off some of your gear. please don't name any of it - i just can't afford to buy anything else just now and i would hate to feel i'm missing out on some great deals. of course if you happen to have ....

glad to hear about your old stereo stuff. i have a set up in just about every room in the house, some of it very old (for electronics) but sounds good none the less.

sad about your cat. i'm a dog person myself but anytime you lose a pet it hurts some.
my best to your other half and once again, good to hear from you.

joe
 
Thanks for the kind words about my old pal, Pooka, my friends. It helps. You'd think a big old tough Jarhead wouldn't be bothered by such a thing, but there ya go.

Anyway...Joe. About the stereos.

Audiokarma

You may hate me now.

As to the cameras - folks, tell me what you want. I have quite a large stash - I was very bad for a very long time when I had a larger income. No really high-end stuff, just a lotta what I love - less expensive fixed-lens rangefinders of the classic era. Let's see what I can pull outta my...hat.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
May Pooka rest in peace. As a cat lover I understand how you feel. :(
 
Welcome back Bill!

Sorry to hear about your cat... :(

Happy to hear about your new house :)

Excited to hear about you selling your camera collection...do post a list here in the forum with asking prices if you want to. :)

Here things are going well... I have become a Leica-owner (yeah, never thought that would happen myself...).

Happy to see you back!
 
Bill,
I am sorry to hear about Pooka. Sixteen years is a big part of your and Ann Marie's life; it is natural to grieve. I tell Nina that when I go just bury me in the backyard with Felix and Ernie.

I am glad to hear the job is going well and that you like that part of the country. If you need translations from Southern into English, let me know. I, Suh, am from the South. Originally from Georgia, but in the DC area since 1970. I can still remember when the Carter administration was hiring translators.

You have a BIG house! You don't need to sell ALL of your classics! Everyone, put together a list of what Bill has to Keep! Canonet QL17; Yashica GS(N); Hi-Matic 9; Konica S2; You must retain a core of excellance!
 
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Good to hear from you again Bill, I was getting worried as you were averaging over a post a day and suddenly, nothing.
Sorry about Pooka, I know how you and Anne Marie feel. Our cat Freddie died about two years ago. We had him cremated and we take his ashes everywhere, especially to our country place in upstate NY because he loved it so much here.
Looking forward to more posts from you.
Kurt M.
 
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Bill, great to see you here again !! I saw you connected a couple of times but no posts so I thought you should be really busy with the moving, new job, etc.

Sorry to hear that about your cat :( I'm more of a dog person myself, but I decided not to have more animals as it hurts when they go.

If you're going to post some of your stuff for sale here... let me cover my eyes first so I don't feel tempted :)

Hope to see you as a 'regular' here again, and best of luck for both you and Ann Marie.

Oscar
 
Bill, I'm glad to see you back. I know the move and adjusting to a new job must have been hectic, and I'm very sorry to hear about Pooka.

Post more, when you have the time and feel up to it.

Gene
 
Great to see you back again Bill. Hope you and Ann Marie are settling into the new house. Sorry to hear about your cat Pooka. I know as a couple with no kids, we tend to dote on our dog and I'd be lost without him. I also know how you're feeling about the camera collection and thinning down the horde. In the last month I bought 5 SLR's, around a dozen RF's, a Duaflex lll, (I had to, the price was right) and two folders. Now I'm feeling the lack of space to adequately display them, and since I'm still having some annoying leg problems, I'm not using any as often as I'd like. Might not sell them off yet, but the thought has crossed my mind to cull the herd a bit. Wish the two of you well and hope to read you again soon. P.S. Be careful with those gas station pumps, they can be murder LOL. Curt in Canada.
 
Hi Bill,

Good to see you back. I don't post often enough for people to notice, but I also just completed a move from hell. I told my wife that this was the last one and I'm old enough to make it stick.

Gerry
 
Gerry,

I know whatcha mean. Man, even with the movers doing the heavy lifting - I've felt drug out and run over for over a month now! I'm still taking things out of boxes, fer crying out loud!

And nobody even noticed - I'm now on week 4 of no cigarettes. Cool or what?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
bmattock said:
And nobody even noticed - I'm now on week 4 of no cigarettes. Cool or what?
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Bill, that's definitely very cool, and I admire your resolve and determination to overcome the habit! I think "cold turkey" is really the best way to do it, and that's how I too did it 20+ years ago. Keep at it; you can succeed! In fact, after week 4, going by my experience, you should now be finding resistance getting noticeably easier.

I'll contribute to the chorus welcoming you back here from "vacation". I had noticed your absense and wondered how things were going, but had not quite arrived at the idea of emailing to find out!
 
Bill,

Mine was a 500 mile move and involved things like the house we sold closing three weeks late, the poor guy who we bought from dying and throwing the house into probate and me winding up in the hospital for week on the wrong end of the move. Never again.

Gerry
 
Doug said:
Bill, that's definitely very cool, and I admire your resolve and determination to overcome the habit! I think "cold turkey" is really the best way to do it, and that's how I too did it 20+ years ago. Keep at it; you can succeed! In fact, after week 4, going by my experience, you should now be finding resistance getting noticeably easier.

I'll contribute to the chorus welcoming you back here from "vacation". I had noticed your absense and wondered how things were going, but had not quite arrived at the idea of emailing to find out!
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Well sure, but I still 'like' smoking, ya know. I just aint' a gonna do it no more. Sigh.

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
Flinor said:
Bill,

Mine was a 500 mile move and involved things like the house we sold closing three weeks late, the poor guy who we bought from dying and throwing the house into probate and me winding up in the hospital for week on the wrong end of the move. Never again.

Gerry
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Oh man, that HAS to have sucked badly! I'm sorry to hear it. Our move went very smoothly by comparison! I hope everything's ok now?

Best Regards,

Bill Mattocks
 
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