Lucky Oliver and Photoshelter stock agencies closed, doing well in the others. I do need to shoot more people photos, need models, to upload. Sports and cycling photography is going very good, trying different things with strobes to make the lighting better. This can be difficult when trying to move around. Right knee that I sprained on the 4th of July is recovered, but knee is stiff at times now, need to ride more.

Tooling design is way to slow, so I decided to retire, semi that is. Time to devote more time to riding my bike and photography. Started doing microstock photography last January, in the fall I began submitting photos to midstock agencies.

Click here to view a short video of Marconni resting on my kilt, take today with my Canon G-5

Created and published my first web site, not too bad if I can brag a bit. Thank you to Rich, KC8NKA for the server space and getting the dns' pointed to the right place. visit me at www.ab8nd.us

Everything finally fixed or replaced from the lightning strike. Had to call Dell and get mad before I got a supervisor to authorize my taking the 'puter to Personal Business to get a $15 network card installed - works fine now. Now I have two 3 gig machines, more than I need, but doubt I will ever need to get a new one for work or what ever. Think I better start doing web sites or some other graphic work as the tooling industry is dead in this country. September 2006 tooling is more dead than ever; thank you Bill Clinton for the trade agreements.

AH-4 tuner after lightning strike 

Been away for a bit. To much work in February - not on the rollers but twice, I paid dearly when I got outdoors. Bought a Dell 3 gig putor at the end of Feb, very nice and fast machine. Been doing a lot of RTTY contest since 1st of the year, fun but nothing serious. Lighting hit the long wire on 21 May, the AH-4 tuner is destroyed. The coax was out of the radio, but the control wire was still connected so the IC-746PRO, the 1 gig computer, router and printer server are shot. The New Dell is having a problem with it's network adaptor. 20 days of rain in May flood the Grand, it was higher than I ever remember. I went to Egypt Valley last week, but forgot how muddy it can be with a lot of rain, not enough fun to make more than 1 lap. Been taking online classes at www.eclecticacademy.com 3 in Photoshop Elements, Acrobat, and Drawing. Great instructors especially Sara with the PSE and Acrobat class.

On the way to Seattle to the 3d Battalion 4th Marines reunion - love to fly, but hate the hassle in today's world. Sunday will drive over (up ?) to Mt Rainier and breath some fresh clear mountain air again, it has been far to long since I have been in the mountains. Only wish I could take my bike and ride some trails in the north west. It will be good to see the guys again and relive many old memories , some good and some painful, at least we tried to make a difference. It is good to be a Marine. Semper Fi