Some people know that I like to take photos--we only took about 3000 between the two of us on our last trip--just a few. With all that shooting comes practice.

One of the most fun ways to use a camera is to take pictures of an engaged couple for their wedding invitations. This past week I photographed Kate and Nathan. It certainly reaffirms my belief in love to see how a would-be bride looks at her groom, how he likes to hold and touch her. It's a real treat and an honor to spend an hour or so with such happy people.

I've been busy. Happily so.

Every once in a while the world throws something out to remind me that life is fragile.

Today it's the death of a toddler.



Jack was my son's nephew by marriage and was to be two years old in August. He died Monday in a tragic accident. It's one of those things: if they'd only remembered this, or done that, or if this had happened instead of that. A series of missteps and two parents are left inconsolable and a family loses a child.

Some have asked about the final look of the bookcases. This is a mostly-front view, books installed. We left spaces at the top left and right for Dave's nutcrackers. Lots of work, nearly gave it up along the way (thanks, Mom, for cheering me on the Saga of the Stereo Cords), but it's done. I do have odds and ends to deal with, as always. In every and any endeavor.

Side view, showing how the front bumps out a little, the ends bump out a lot. I love these. Thanks to Roger, our architect!

Tuesday Night with Megan and Emilee

Enjoying Grandpa's grilled hot dogs.

Watering the flowers--a favorite task.

Megan helps Grandpa wash his car.

Megan shines up the bumper.

Almost done!

Emilee and Megan came to stay for a few days. This shot was taken after baths on Monday night.

Cooking Little Hats from Italy

The very first trip I ever took to Venice, I fell in love with their multi-colored shaped pastas. I brought some home last year and cooked up the last of them this past Sunday.

I filled this dish with them, stuffing them with a meat-spinach-cheese mixture, then dousing them with red sauce (with lots of vegetables). I filled this dish, and another--which we'll have on Friday.

Take time.



Clip on YouTube
Full Story (New York Times)
Matt's Website

I don't speak this language!

So the new bookcases have been painted and have cured while we've been in Europe. Now the herculean task of reassembling the home theater components--with one catch. The connecting cables are now too short. I've hit every store in town but nobody sells my receiver's vintage or length, so online it is.

This may take more than I can give, considering I'm cottonheaded from jet-lag.

From a cable website listing the qualities of their cable:
Canare's original 3-piece connector design offers consistent and extremely reliable terminations with a wide variety of 75 ohm coaxial cable sizes. This unique construction reduces set-up and assembly time by >80% because no soldering is ever required! Belden 89259 Teflon Cable Specifications: 22 AWG stranded (7x30) .030" bare copper conductor, plenum, foam FEP insulation, bare copper braid shield (95% coverage), FEP jacket. Nom. Characteristic Impedance: Impedance (Ohm) 75 Nom. Inductance: Inductance (µH/ft) .092 Nom. Capacitance Conductor to Shield: Capacitance (pF/ft) 17.3 Nominal Velocity of Propagation: VP (%) 78 Nominal Delay: Delay (ns/ft) 1.3 Nom. Conductor DC Resistance: DCR @ 20°C (Ohm/1000 ft) 15 Nominal Outer Shield DC Resistance: DCR @ 20°C (Ohm/1000 ft) 2.6 Nom. Attenuation: Freq. (MHz) Attenuation (dB/100 ft.) 1 .3 10 .9 50 2.1 100 3.0 200 4.5 400 6.6 700 9.0 900 10.1 1000 11.0 Max. Operating Voltage - UL: Voltage 300 V RMS AWG: # Coax AWG Stranding Conductor Material Dia. (in.) 1 22 7x30 BC - Bare Copper .030 Total Number of Conductors: 1 Insulation Insulation Material: Insulation Material Dia. (in.) FFEP - Foam Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene .135 Outer Shield Outer Shield Material: Type Outer Shield Material Coverage (%) Braid BC - Bare Copper 95 Outer Jacket Outer Jacket Material: Outer Jacket Material FEP - Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene Overall Cabling Overall Nominal Diameter: 0.193 in. Mechanical Characteristics (Overall) Operating Temperature Range: -70°C To +200°C Non-UL Temperature Rating: 200°C Bulk Cable Weight: 36 lbs/1000 ft. Max. Recommended Pulling Tension: 70 lbs. Min. Bend Radius (Install)/Minor Axis: 2.500 in. Applicable Specifications and Agency Compliance (Overall) Applicable Standards NEC/(UL) Specification: CMP CEC/C(UL) Specification: CMP EU CE Mark (Y/N): No EU RoHS Compliant (Y/N): Yes EU RoHS Compliance Date (mm/dd/yyyy): 04/01/2005 RG Type: 59/U Flame Test UL Flame Test: NFPA 262 C(UL) Flame Test: FT6 Suitability Suitability - Outdoor: Yes Suitability - Burial: Yes Plenum/Non-Plenum Plenum (Y/N): Yes Non-Plenum Number: 9259