and the Summer Heat drags on

The sun sets on Oct

// October 31st, 2008 // No Comments » // depression, photography, workout

Originally uploaded by Tom_Rutledge

Happy Halloween everyone

So alot the last few days Sean graduated from his course as well as Tim from his, so some days it looks like the depression loses a battle here and there. The gout is only in a toe but wearing shoes aggravates it pretty good so tonight’s round of photos were all taken from the seat of a car.

David and Vinnie spent the afternoon at queens with the scuba club after pulling Vicky Marie out of the water so only Ashley-Dawn and Seaducer remain in the water to pull the remainder of the markers out this weekend. Vinnie is going to hold a pumpkin carving contest tomorrow and hopefully I can make it, but Cable is finally going to fix the problem here though.

Not alot of munchkins out tonight in the hood, but those I got to see had lots of different costumes on and the security patrols were in full force. No more cheap plastic masks and sheets for ghosts, a lot of thought are in them now and some pretty complicated ones as well.

Sean looks like he’s doing quite well compared to the summer so thats a great plus and he’s off for a couple of months so some diving and workouts for the both of us will do us good. I am hoping Monday I csn go to the stairclimber and shed the 20 lbs I put on this summer. We did start today with a long sauna which knocked the life out of me for most of day.

The shot I took at sunset as well as many one of the sun over the Invista plant which I will post later, not a ground breaking shot but one I have been trying to take for some time now. This one was a lucky shot as I was passing by and there was some sun left so I pulled into the lot and got it off.

the Smokie and Polly show

// October 30th, 2008 // No Comments » // Pets

So this morning greeted me with some great comedy relief. A mouse got in the house and smokie got him good. You would think that he would bring it to you as a gift like most cats do but no he has to play with it and play with it he did. Down to the bedroom with it and Polly starts beaking at him telling him to drop the mouse, i don’t know about anyone elses cats but this one don’t listen to well. He runs under the bed with it and surfaces on the other side missing the mouse so he starts searching and searching all the time Polly with a bag telling him to put the mouse in the bag. Finally the mouse gets dropped by the other cats who all look at the mouse and decide that no effort is the best effort and don’t move. Polly makes another feeble attempt at catching the little mouse and gets into the bag where it wiggles and down goes the bag and out goes the mouse.

Finally another attempt is made with some success and off to the front door to release the mouse. Smokie spends a while looking around and finally goes to sleep for the rest of the day.

So on the health front only in the big toe which is painful enough to confine me to the house again as i wait to see the Dr next week.

Finally getting the site back up

// October 29th, 2008 // No Comments » // photography

It’s taken a while but I think I got the site up and running to a liking I could live with. Not to bad for a hack so i have been informed. So today I went to the Dr and got a referal to another Dr for some test and off to the lab for some blood work. For the first time since retirement I got the ole army treatment the nurse jabbed me so hard I almost punched her.

I am still sufferig from yet another gout attack but they are getting less and less painful so the drug change might have worked. The first snow started as well about 2 but nothing on the ground.

This shot is from the Arch at RMC during the morning sun in the fall, it wasn’t the shot I was after but I forgot to pack my 50mm lens so I have retry it later,

Hopefully it will get better now

// October 27th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

kingston city hall, originally uploaded by Tom_Rutledge.

So I just finished my 4th Gout attack in the last couple of weeks and luckily last night I remembered that I once had a script for the drug the VA Dr has recommended for me.

So now I can start taking the meds and hopefully become better. This latest in the right ankle was so severe that the only relief minus painkillers was to be flat on my back with my ankle elevated.

Unfortunately I missed Steve and Chantelle’s wedding but my health had to take more of a importance if I am going to get motivated and healthy again.

I heard from Sean this weekend and he will be back on Fri so hopefully a gym buddy as well for awhile.

The picture above is one of my first HDR’s I like the effect and have been working on others as well as a new dbase backend for the gallery that I may switch to.

David is in town to see his mom at KGH she was admitted last week and they are trying to get her meds right, Poor David thinks this is an overnight process. Hopefully it will work out for him.

Some Exercise finally but,

// October 24th, 2008 // No Comments » // photography

lemoine point farm , originally uploaded by Tom_Rutledge.

So like all things related to the government I got the call from VA to come to the base for a medical checkup on a pensioned condition. So off Polly and I go and for the 3 time in the 19 years I have spent in Kingston there was a BDF going. I guess you need to practice to keep the skills up .

So I get to my appointment and Brian from VA has the paperwork ready to go and fill out and in I go to see one of my old Dr’s. So after 10 mins of conversation he apologies for wasting my time as it seems that the outcome was already decided but he needed a few additional facts.

He asked if I was taking meds for the conditions which I had to say no as due to other meds and conditions made it risky to do so. He couldn’t believe thats the instruction given to me but it was in writing so he had to shake his head.

So after telling me on which options I had and the best way to proceed he looks at my hand and gives me some help of what to do till I see the surgeon again.

Then a review of my medications peaks his interest where he notices that a drug that I am taking is famous for inflicting Gout, more good news but I have to wait till early Nov to get the prescription changed.

So he states that despite dizzy spells and other side effects I am going through that I need some fresh air, so off to the point where it takes me 40 mins to walk a km., well limp actually but I got this shot off and came home to drain my hand and relax for a bit.

Don’t think a trip to Ottawa on the weekend is going to happen unfortunately but at least I am starting to come around a bit and I am finally on the road to some type of recovery.

So today I found this site Lots of great information here of photography.

HappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappy!!!!!! Birthday to me

// October 22nd, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

HappyHappyHappyHappyHappyHappy!!!!!!, originally uploaded by ucumari.

Today is my birthday and due to poor health I am still confined to my bedroom mostly. So I got caught up with some of my online sites where this picture caught my eye.

So reading on and getting hint on how to better my pictures, I have come across a common thread the best shots are made by being lucky. So being due for some luck I should get some great shots coming my way.

Polly got me the new AC/DC CD and the kid got me the Hulk DVD coupled with the new D300 once i am walking out I will go for some more photo work.

So the insurance company finally called today to give me an update on my bike, they got it out of the impound yard today and are waiting for a few more bikes to be shipped east to send it home.

Thanks for the many well wishes on OD, Facebook and the other forums that send out well wishes.

Drug Side Effects

// October 21st, 2008 // No Comments » // depression

So if you know medications and have to live on them you know there’ the “slight” chance of side effects. So true to form the side effects are raring to go the last couple of days, starting today the three dose relief for gout “may” give you fevers and chills the amazing thing is it only took an hour. The new antibiotics “may” give you cold sweats 90 mins later they came.

The good thing is that the cast is off for now but, the infection is still raging and some bleeding is still happening and I get to take a normal shower and may be back to the gym by the end of the week.

One of the things that I have done in the last couple of days wist being confined to bed was to start reading my many photography books in between fixing board problems and bouts of unconsciousness and painful trips to te bathroom. I can really say I have had enough of this bout.

So in te mail today was a bill from California for the hospital stuff and a survey from the insurance company asking how well they are doing? Funny thing is nothing has been done.

Heres hoping tomorrow will be the start of something good.

Gout again

// October 20th, 2008 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

dusk over RMC, originally uploaded by Tom_Rutledge.

Two weeks ago I got hit on the right side ankle and toe and was confined to bed till I could get into see the doc. Well last nite it started again only this time in both ankles and the left knee. Thank god I see a Doc tomorrow.

You know just for a broken hand I am sure paying the price, Pain for the month so far two gout attacks, road rash and no gym, no patience and drive down the tube. All because someone just had to be getting there a sec before everybody else.

So they say pain i just weakness leaving the body, and I have had a lot of weakness going out.

So the photos that I have been posting are from my new D300 which I am enjoying quite well actually. So stay tuned for more pics.

Fright Night at the Fort

// October 18th, 2008 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

fort fright pano, originally uploaded by Tom_Rutledge.

Polly and I went to fright nite last night and I have to say it was fun, there was everything from ghouls, puppets, to actors all out to do one thing. SCARE. A lot of thought went into it and hopefully they will expand it next year.

So if you get the chance make the trip, I used tese settings for my entire trip.

Exposure: 0.05 sec (1/20)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 500
Exposure Bias: 0/6 EV
Flash: Flash fire
Exposure Program: Aperture priority
Date and Time (Original): 2007:03:04 13:29:08
Date and Time (Digitized): 2007:03:04 13:29:08
Shutter Speed: 4321928/1000000
Maximum Lens Aperture: 16/10

Whiched seemed to wokr quite fine, although they didn’t work for Polly

They themed the fright along the many tragic accidents around the Forts colourful history, 17 men drowning in 30 feet of water on the 200 yard row from Cedar island, a wife’s death from waiting for him to return from the lake, etc.

The Gallery for this adventure is here