Due to a computer glich ( sometimes you just have to shut em off) and recovering from major hip problems I haven't been around. So I'm back, whats new??

Welcome back and I hope you are on the mend. How was your Asia trip? You have been missed. Cheers, Anne

Chip, welcome back! We've missed you and wondered if you were doing okay.

Welcome Back!! We were wondering where you disappeard to. Sorry about your hip surgery!

I didn't get to go to Asia because I dislocated my hip two weeks before I left. Not much to say about it because I really missed a great trip. Now that that is under control, I'm trying to figure where to go next. It's a little too late for MINT since I'm waiting for the travel insurance to kick in.

Hello!
Are you still on ROAR? We wondered where you drifted

Suzie, How's your ride? Staying out of trouble I hope.

I have not thought about ROAR and need to catch up on my ROAR reading. I've been to that part of the world once and I was working for someone so I was on someone else's budget. Which limited where I was allowed to go. So yeah, I'm game. It's far enough in the future so let the planning begin.

Chip, you are back just in time to keep us company while nearly 99% of LCT goes on MINT!

Was wondering what had happened to you, Chip. I was going to post on the MINT roll call to find out if anyone knew why you had ended up cancelling. Sorry to hear about your hip - hopefully it's feeling better.

Masaki

Hi Chip,

Welcome Back - we've missed you. Sorry to hear you've had hip problems. Hope you'll be back in the saddle again soon!

I have been wondering what happened to you. As I continue to fry away with the Houston heat, I have pictured you in some great Colorado mountain location thoroughly enjoying yourself.
Am go glad you are feeling better.

Welcome back, Chip! Hope you continue to do better!

Chip,

We missed you on the Seward to Toyko cruise, it was a wonderful cruise, sorry you could not make it.

Yallcruise

Welcome back CHIP!!! We'll miss you on MINT. Glad you are on the mend.

Glad you're back, Chip. Sorry about your hip/computer problems. We missed you but you're just in time to keep us "non-minter's" company on this board.

Chip, welcome back! Sorry you still can't make MINT, as it is not too late, great 2-fer still on the web site, and the bill would take a while to get to you while you are waiting for the travel insurance reimbursement! This is going to be a really big group, many of whom you met in LV, I think!

Thqnks Oliva, I still don't have a complete ok from the Doc yet. Although I am more optimistic than he is. This not being able to anywhere whenever I want, sucks. So I will be here with Donna and Karen holding down the fort and reading about what a great time you are all having. But Todd will organize another great cruise next year? Bermuda? Hint.

Oh Well, I got six weeks in of cruising this year. So I guess I can't complain too much.

Welcome back Chip. Glad to hear you're doing better!

We need help keeping the home fires burning while everyone is gone on MINT!

Chip
Glad to see you're back and on the mend.
Was in the Old Pueblo this weekend. Glad you guys finally fixed your freeway.

Chip
Glad to see you're back and on the mend.
Was in the Old Pueblo this weekend. Glad you guys finally fixed your freeway.

Chip -
Glad to hear you're better and sorry you had to change your plans. I was thinking of starting a "non-MINT" roll call just to see who will be around during that time!

Chip,

Welcome back. Glad you are recovering. We all missed you.

Betty

Welcome back, Chip! Hope your hip has a speedy recovery so you can cruise again!

Thanks for all the well wishes. I'm moved, I really am!

editing to add. Vicky I always enjoy using the freeways in LA, excuse me I mean Phoenix.

Geez, chip, I was hoping you would change your mind and give me some photography instructions since I have explored your website. You probably could have registered with RSSC as a "professor" on this cruise! Maybe next time!

You have been missed !! Joanna

Well I'll be on a cruise soon and I'll proably pick one that has a lot of LCT'ers on it. I don't know if I would be a good photography teacher, but I can pass on what works for me. Olivia, I recall your pictures that you took in Asia with that Fugi camera. You could teach me a thing or too. Sometimes I work too fast to get good landscapes.

I'm going to change my website so that I can add and delete photos from anywhere I am. I'm working on a system to do theme slideshows. I let everyone know when I get the first book done. Maybe Radisson will hire me. Maybe I'll get a Butler with the Cat C suite as part of the deal. I guess I need to work on my landscapes

Chip,

There is a really good school in Santa Fe that teaches amateurs and mostly professionals. The landscape classes there are incredible. I took the Beginners (which I was not, but a friend was) and another class called "Finding your Photographic Voice" with one of Ansel Adam's former assistant's. Check out www.santafeworkshops.com
I will probably try to squeeze in another week there next year between PIP and my two weeks in Italy.

I really did mean it as a compliment that Tucson finally got it's one (1 & 1/2 if you count I-19) freeway fixed. Now my teeth no longer jar loose as I drive. But however do ya'll get across town if you want to go east to west?
I'm glad you enjoy using the freeways in LA, er, Phoenix. I cuss them each morning as I travel from the 60 to the 101 to the 202. But at least I can get there from here!

Vicky, I never get on the freeway unless I'm leaving town. Everything I need is within a couple of miles. Safeway, Drug store, 2 Sushi bars. The farthest place away is the airport. 20 miles. If I never left town I doubt I'd drive more than a couple of 1000 miles a year. We don't have traffic jams. Some people that comute across town run into traffic but it's not like the big cities.

Kathy, That is a really great idea. I've heard of that school.

So much for driving on our I-10, Vickie and Chip. Starting next week construction begins...again!

I also live 20 miles from the airport, the difference is that I also work at the airport so I drive that 20 miles twice a day.

Donna,
what are they doing now? By the way, any pics from your trip?

Chip,
since Tucson's population is almost 500,000 and Pima County is about 900,000, what do you classify as a big city?

Well where I live which is right up against the Santa Catalina's there will be no more growth. The building is limited at the line with the Coronado Natinal Forest. So it isn't the size it's that it's not going to change. I came from Douglas County CO. which has been one of the fastest growing counties in country. Started out living in a town with a couple of 100 people and turned into a metroplex of several millon. Now that's a big city.

Tucson is now the size about what Phoenix was when I moved here in 1969. And we too only had basically one freeway at the time. Now look at this valley!! Ya, I know the growth explosion thing. Which is why I'm considering retiring to some place like Sierra Vista.

Off this subject and onto cameras. Is there anything out there in the digital market that can equal an 35mm SLR with a 70-300 zoom, produce a print that has still has fine detail in an enlargement (up to say, 14 x 16) and doesn't cost as much (or more) as a cruise?????

I think so. Many of these mid level digital cameras are up to 8 and more megapixals now. So in theroy, since I have never tried it, you can really blow things up. Don't forget the focal length of digital is 1.5 X 35mm.

Hi Vickie,

I just got a Digital SLR, (Canon 20D) but, yes, I could have had another cruise for it's price by the time I added a new lens to my collection and the other accessories. I love the results from it!

I was using a Canon G2 and with the digital zoom, it was good for travel snapshots. 4 Megapixel. You might check out the Canon G6 which is the latest model and I think 6 megapixels. The Nikon equivalent is also noteworthy. Go to the website below and you will learn more than you might ever want to know about the current offerings in Digital Cameras: http://www.dpreview.com/

Chip & Kathy,
thanks for the info, especially the link, Kathy. This is much harder than deciding on an old fashioned 35mm SLR! Is anyone familiar with the Konica/Minolta digitals? My 1st 35mm SLR was a Konica KT1 (or FT?). Loved that camera! Most of my best pictures / enlargements were taken with it. So simple, 3 modes: full manual, apperature, or shutter speed priority.

Chip,

Welcome back. I have been not well also. Surgery I hate. I hope all on this board will be well. My best for a speedy recovery.


JPar