November 2009 12 of 12 - Washed Out Day

Credit for the 12 of 12 goes to Chad Darnell. Thanks Chad!

It was a wet cold day all around. So since it was a washout I decided to wash out my photos. It's all black and white this month. All the outside photos came out so color dull, turning them to B&W actually made them look a whole lot better anyway.


6:38am - My Office - Philadelphia, PA

Looks like one of my new secretaries was having a bit of fun with my paper clips overnight.

6:45am - Still in my office

"It wasn't me". Okay, I believe her. This is Lucky. God only knows how many rescued cats out there are named Lucky, but who am I to judge. My new mechanic and his wife rescued her and her litter a few months ago. They placed all, but her and two of her kittens, 1 male, 1 female. We took Lucky and her daughter, Scout. They are keeping the male... everyone is happy.

6:47am - Once again, in my office

Breakfast... Everything bagel with sausage, egg, and cheese and my first cup of coffee for the day.

7:41am - Another one from my office

I finally went and got glasses. The opthamologist wanted me to get bifocals, but gave me the option of just getting a pair for distance. I opted for the distance glasses since it was going to be hard enough to get used to wearing these since I really never had to wear glasses before. I'm still leaving them either at home, in the truck, or at the office. It's going to take a bit of time till I get used to wearing them... if I ever do.

8:34am - You know where by now

Here's Scout. She's purrfectly happy on my desk... especially on top of my laptop. I don't know how many times I've come back to find my computer turned off and in hibernation mode.
I think computer manufactuers have circuits to figure out when they have a cat laying on the keyboard. Last thing I need is to have my computer randomly reconfigured by my secretaries.
10:27am - In the shop ...Yea! out of the office at last

Paul, my mechanic split this Kubota tractor. It's been sitting idle since 2001, deemed a complete loss by the previous mechanic. After giving it a quick going over Paul had it running after only two hours, but found a problem he thought to be blown rear engine seal. He split it open (not an easy thing to do with only a floor jack and a dolly) this morning and discovered the oil leak was from a bad transmission seal. So, instead of a weeks work and a possible couple of hundred $ in parts, he should have it back together within hours of getting the seal. That may take a week or two as it needs to be ordered by our supplier.

12:27pm - Back in the office

Salad and chili for lunch ...and they had soft pretzels up at the pro shop (I'm so bad. Don't tell my endocrinologist). Outside of cheesesteaks, the soft pretzel is probably the one food most associated with Philly. I love how my wide angle lens can make things look so much bigger without making things look distorted.

3:35pm - St Joe's University, Philadelphia, PA

Done with work and I'm off to the brew pub. Okay, being bad again today, but haven't had a beer in more than a few days and rainy days make me feel so blah. I need a pick me up. ...and the food is rather good too.

4:51pm - Media, PA

Sitting at the bar of one of my favorite brew pubs looking out the huge window front... I really like the trolleys as they ramble by. There's something, not only about hearing the clack of the tracks, but feeling it come up from the floors right through the bar stool.

5:48pm - Media, PA

Dinner is served. I ate about half the sirlion before I remembered to take a shot.

6:37pm - Madia, PA

This is my third. Drank one before I ordered, one while I waited for my meal and while I ate it, and now this one.

9:04pm - Media, PA

Thought I would take a few photos around Media before I head home. I love this town. It has such a boardwalk seaside feel to it. ...so much different than the rest of the Philly area.

October 2009 12 of 12 - Dull Day

Credit for the "12 of 12" goes to Chad Darnell. Thanks for doing this for everyone Chad and god luck with the upcoming marathon.

This months pics are rather drab and boring. I was busy all day in the office. I didn't have much time to get out and take a bunch of interesting photos and even when I did it was overcast. We haven't even had our first frost, so the colors really haven't arrived in force yet. Pretty much more of the same stuff you've seen in months past.

8:14 am - Philadelphia, PA

I've been up since 4:30 and working at my desk since 6:30. I needed a break and also to take some shots for the "12". This is about the only color on the front side of the course and even then the tree (an ash) had dropped half it's leaves.


8:18 am - Pro Shop

Camera shy. Even if I did get a good pic of her she wouldn't let me publish it. At least with her head turned and in a blur I won't feel obligated to get her permission to post.

9:03 am - 15th fairway

At least this maple has some color.

9:05 am - 11th green

This is one of my guys starting a backpack blower. Here again you can't see his face.

9:06 am - 14th hole

Here's a dog walking his master.

2:58 pm - 7th green

I took this on my way out. Did I mention that the photos were really boring this month... I mean even more than usual?

3:16 pm - Bala Cywyd, PA

Belmount Reservoir is just beyond the fence. ...I did say boring.

3:53 pm - Bala Cynwyd shopping plaza

I really need to join this place... the gym not the Rite Aid. I need to see if they have a part year program. I'll have time during the winter, but once the weather turns warm again I'll be working 80 a week again.

3:53 pm - Bala Cynwyd shopping plaza

...and here's one reason I need to get to the gym. Best burgers in town... at least that's what it says in all the testimonials plastered on their walls. I never go by what other people think. I was born in Missouri, the "show me state" and even though I spent less than a year there, I take evrything with a grain of salt. They are really good burgers though.

5:10 pm - Newton Square, PA

On the way back from shopping, I stopped to take a photo of the Philly skyline and I saw this old "woody" being towed down the street.

5:11 pm - Newton Square, PA

Here's a shot I got of the skyline and if you look the "woody" is in the shot too. I had to stand in the middle of a four lane road to get the shot and it isn't even a clear enough day to get a good photo.

5:14 pm - Newton Square, PA

Back in my truck I got a more complete view of the slyline through my dirty windshield. I told you it was a dull boring day. ...better shots next month I hope.

September 2009 12 of 12 - Somewhere Between Summer and Fall

Credit for the "12 of 12" goes to Chad Darnell. Thanks for doing this for everyone Chad. It's the one thing I have to look forward to every month.

Today was a rather dismal dreary day ...the third in a row. It rained and blew all day yesterday and through most of the night. No sunshine today, but this is weather I can live with The rain came at a good time and any rain day means an early day for me. Well, Here's my 12...

6:15 am - Philadelphia (Roxborough), PA

New "puter" ...well new to me. There was nothing wrong with the old one other than the last super erased all the data and all the office software with it. He also left it password encrypted. I got around the password, but still needed Excel and Word. They set up this antique (note the 3.5" floppy drive) for me. It can't seem to pick up the wireless router. The signal is too weak. However my laptop has no problem. They said they will see about a antenna extention. I have my doubts about the integrity of this thing too. Despite not having run any real programs yet it's completely locked up on me twice.

8:05 am - Roxborough

11 tee... Everytime it rains hard the cart path washes out. So here I am to pull all the gravel back over the broken concrete and rake it all smooth ...until the next rain anyway.

8:31 am - Roxborough

Motoring up Walnut Lane on my John Deere. Won't see a farm tractor on the streets of Philadelphia too often.

9:16 am - Roxborough

Here's our complainer again... still wanting to be fed by mama. He must be feeding on something. He doesn't look all that emaciated.

9:35 am - Roxborough

I wanted to get a shot of a spider's web, but between the rain and the wind of yesterdays storm, there were none to be found. I suppose a tent caterpillar's nest will have to do. Maybe a nice web next month with a big fat spider for Halloween?

9:50 am - Roxborough

Just a ball rolling in on the practice green. I could have gotten a beter perspective if I was laying flat on the ground, but I didn't feel like getting completely soaked.

12:26 pm - Roxborough

A brand new engine... I'm just contemplating whether I want to try to start to replace it this weekend or wait till I have some help on Monday. Hmmm.... Monday it is.

1:54 pm - Roxborough

In south Philly there rages an on-going debate on who has the better cheese steak, Pat's or Gino's. Up here in Roxborough there is Chubbys and Delessandro's. Like Pat's and Gino's, Chubby's and Dalessandro's are right across the street from each other. Both have there plusses and minuses. Chubby's has a really great Buffalo Chicken Cheese Steak and better seating. Dalessandro's serves a bigger sandwich and faster service. Ultimately, I usually chose Dalesandro's because I can drive in my utility cart, park on the grass next to the football field, and not have to cross a very busy 4 lane road.

2:02 pm - Roxborough

Okay, you're thinking you've seen this guy before, but no. This is a different hawk. At least the third different one I've seen here. He had a bit of a mouse or something else he was pecking at. I don't know if he caught it or just picked it up off the roadside or something. Our complaining bird was squawking nearby the whole time this fellow made his appearence. That too made it easy to say they are two different birds.

3:00 pm - Roxborough

Time to go home... not because it's 3, but I need to get some chores done at home. I never really look at the clock. I'm salary not hourly. As long as I'm here each day to open up on time, I'm good. I still punch in and out, but my pay is not based upon my hours.

3:24 pm - Bala-Cynwyd, PA

Even on Saturday there's traffic... UGH!

6:01 pm - Upper Darby, PA

The obligatory food shot... Romaine lettuce, Broccoli, onion, cucumber, red pepper, baby white mushrooms, sliced jalapeno peppers with a fat free low cal asian sesame dressing. I could do better with the dressing, but I would have added oil and it would need to sit for a while to marry the flavors. I'm really all about convenience any more. I'll have more time for myself during the winter to cook and work on setting up my apartment to my liking. Hurry up cold weather.

August 2009 12 of 12 - Summer Swelter

Credit for the "12 of 12" goes to Chad Darnell. Thanks Chad.

5:33 am - Philadelphia/Roxborough, PA

Arrived at work. My humble office. Yeah, I spend most of my time on the course.


8:00 am - 3rd green

Can't say for sure what the weather will be today. It's been unsettled at best for over a week now. At the very least it will be hot and humid. So I need to water, at least a bit, just in case the sun comes out.


8:54 am - 12th hole

I've been trying to get a shot at this youngster for about 2 weeks now when I heard him crying for his momma. This guy is in his first year. You can tell by the dark band running across his chest. The older Red Tails are in molt and can't hunt very well right now. This is when these young fellows learn to hunt, but he keeps crying to be fed. Makes me want to go find him a mouse.


12:43 pm - 7th Hole

Joe and Joe... a couple of my friends from my old course come out to play.


12:51 pm - 14th hole

Okay, it's green.


1:02 pm - 15th hole

These guy are evrywhere around the course, but they tend to build their homes inside the wood line. I think this is due to the number of nieghbors who walk their dogs through the course. However this guy recently dug this hole on the boundry betwen the wood and rough.


1:07 pm - 12th hole

Here's our young bird on the wing crying as he's flying.


1:25 pm - 18th hole

I found this a bit interesting. This is whats left of a locust tree that up-rooted about two months ago. At first I thought it was coming back to life, but those aren't locust leaves.


5:06 pm - Broomall, PA

Produce aisle at Giant Foods.. my supermarket of choice. Okay a bit of camera shake, but didn't get too many shots inside the store.


5:09 pm - produce aisle

Okay, pop math quiz. Which is the better value... 2 lbs of carrots at $1.89 or 5 lbs at $2.49? I love to eat these things for snacks. So guess which one I bought. This was the last photo I took in the store before some manager asked me not to take any photos. Its against store policy. I think the whole world has gone just a bit paranoid.


6:15 pm - Upper Darby

This is the before photo of my fridge. Now you know why I went shopping


6:31 pm

That's better and that's all for this month folks.

July 2009 12 of 12 Playing in the Mud

Credit for the "12 of 12" goes to Chad Darnell.

Today Promised to be just another long day at work, but ended up being much longer than I wanted.



4:41 am - Upper Darby, PA

We had a big downpour over night. It ended just a ittle while ago.



5:18 am - Roxborough/Philadelphia, PA

Got to have my Joe.



6:27 am - On the golf course

Everytime we get a bit of rain this cart path completely washes out... yes this is a cart path. It'll take me the better part of an hour to fix it.





8:02 am

Number 11 green



11:30 am Delessandro's

I never was all that big on cheesesteaks until I tried one of these. People from all over the country rave about these. I have the good fortune of now working right next to the restuarant. The seating area isn't any bigger than a small living room. That's why most get them to go. You'll be getting more pics as the months go by.


1:27 pm

This is Abigail. Since there is a main access to the bike and walking trails that runs right trough the course, people walk their dogs through the course all day long. Abby belongs to one of our rangers.


1:38 pm

One of our banners blowing in the wind


1:41 pm

...and so the trouble begins. Found this leak on the 16th hole.



2:06 pm

Got to climb down and shut off the water.



3:27 pm

After some digging, I finally find a pipe. I started where I saw the water bubbling up at the point nearest to the lens. I found the pipe where the shovel is. Little did I know that wasn't the right one.


6:57 pm

Looking back up the 7th fairway on my way home.


7:38 pm - Upper Darby

Looking out my window I see the neighbors on their lawn. They're not all that friendly, but at least they're quiet.


Follow up Photo - 7/13/9 6:11 pm

Here's what took me so long to post my pics. I'll test it tomorrow after the fix has cured.