Uebelhart . Net

Happy New Year

Posted on January 5th, 2009 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Well, we did not have easy net access in Florida (aside from the iPhone), so I could not post pics.  I’ll get some up this week.

We are back in Houston now, and starting off running.  We pic up the dogs in a few hours from the kennel and then I have a short business planning meeting this afternoon.  Tomorrow I’ll be meeting most of the day with the business partners also.

We had a great time in Florida - more relaxing than normal since we did not run around trying to do everything possible.  It was mostly just laying around and chilling.  Dawn & I did get some great kayaking in (around mangrove islands and way down the Intercoastal Waterway).  We visited a few beaches and got quite a few fossilized sharks teeth through diligent searching and digging (we’ll send some to Dylan).

The one down side of the whole thing was that I managed to injure my left thumb/wrist again - the same one I shattered about 17 years ago and had repinned and in a cast for over a year, and then rebroke a few years later.  I don’t think anything is severly broken, maybe some greenwood style breaks and definitly some torn muscles and ligs.  It’s been about 3 days now and the swelling and bruising has subsided somewhat (my palm was almost black 2 days ago), and I have movement in my thumb, but no strength or grip.  Still really tender and awkward.

Upcoming plans:
1) Continued business startup work.  We are trying to get this going asap.  We have the business capabilities and clients waiting on the structure, just need it to be finalized.
2) Dawn’s Bday cruise.  In early February we’ll be taking a cruise to Mexico for a few days for Dawn’s big 4-0 Bday.  One of the shore trips we are planning is to some Mayan ruins.  Really looking forward to that.  Accompanying us on the cruise will be Butch & Mary Beth and Jerry & Frazier.
3) Reimplementation of my photo sales site.  I’ve been making continuous sales in photos over the year, but all low yield.  I need to get the photo sales site redone and structured so that I can increase the sales volume and prices.
4) Gallery structure - need to get a good photo gallery set up for this site to post pics to.  What is here now is hap hazard.  It’ll probably be done as part of a full update to uebelhart.net

0 comments.

Holidays at the Beach

Posted on December 26th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

We are in Siesta Key, Florida (near Sarasota) until about the third.

I may post some pics as net access allows. (this post is via iPhone)

1 comment.

Snowing in Houston, another sign of the apocalypse

Posted on December 10th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: Personal Junk, Photography.

I blame Gore & Obama.

Proof of snow in Houston:

And obligatory Macro-ish shot with narrow Depth of Field:

1 comment.

Turkey Weekend

Posted on December 1st, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: Photography, Camping.

Just got back from a weekend at Goose Island / Rockport camping out with Dawn, the pups, and Dawn’s Folks.  It was nice and relaxing.  That place is swarmed with fishermen.  Yikes.

Here’s some pics of the weekend:

Pelicans were everywhere:

Even saw other creatures, like this armadillo hiding it’s head in the beach sand “You Can’t See Me!”

And a Deer coming out to a fresh water spot (but there were gators, so it was scared to drink):

Nice sunsets every night:

Misc “Artsy” Shots from the area:

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Ike in Kemah

Posted on November 19th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: Photography.

Had a business meeting in Clear Lake / Kemah on Monday, so decided to look at some of the damage that is still evident from Ike.

2 comments.

A few pics

Posted on November 18th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: Photography, Art.

Just playing.

0 comments.

Modern Philosophy

Posted on October 26th, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Been awhile since I posted something, so here is a little rant.  I’ll stay away from politics, since both sides are idiots and it is too easy to slap them around.

Topic today: the Post Office.

It’s quite easy to ridicule the PO: Dogs v. Mailmen,  Going Postal, Those funny shorts in summer, etc.

But what was the Postal Service created for?

Answer: To efficiently and safely get your mail delivered to the recipient.

The rant comes from this: I had to send my beloved 40D into Canon for service, and they require the package be insured for it’s full value.

I go to the PO with a well bubble wrapped and packed camera and wait in the line (lunch time: when more people go to the PO than any other time except immediatly after work, yet only one person on duty?), then give them the package.  Shipping to California, 2-3 day delivery: $9.55.

“I Need Insurance for $1200″.

“Okay, one moment” types in computer “Insurance for that to Irvine California is $12.80.”

It costs more to insure the package than to deliver it, and the delivery is supposed to be “safe” already.  Kinda like double paying for them doing their jobs.

What a screwed up system.

0 comments.

We have Power!

Posted on September 23rd, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Best I can figure out by the kitchen clock, power was restored about 4:45 PM today.
I arrived home about 7 PM and found the lights on.  Had to do the quick rounds (set the fridge, reconnect the AC, close windows, etc), but now we are living in pseudo-comfort again.

Next step - clean (got dusty with the windows open and the oaks dropping pollen), and restock the fridge & freezer.

2 comments.

The Eye on Ike: Post-Ike experiences day 10

Posted on September 22nd, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Wow, it’s already the 10nth day since Ike hit.  Time flies when you have electric clocks and no power.

As of this morning we still are out - one of the only ones in our neighborhood.  The neighbors across the street, and the cross streets at the end of our block got it yesterday, but our block is still out.  They did come in sometime yesterday and chop up the trees near the powerlines in the backyard (we lost the biggest tree along the back fence because of this - they butchered it so badly we had to finish cutting it down - and they did not even clean up after themselves - just left the branches ina big jumble, some hanging from the tree and fence).  But I guess it’s a sign they are working on it.

Last night was also the warmest night yet - we actually ran the gen all night long with some fan wind blowing on us - moved the futon mattress to the living room floor and slept there.  Also used the laptop to watch some movies “in bed.”

I’ve got some work to do tomorrow, Wednesday and possible Saturday, with more yardwork to fill the gaps.

Also getting ready to update the software on this blog and change the appearance somewhat (found a great template I can modify today).

0 comments.

More Pics from Ike

Posted on September 21st, 2008 by Brian.
Categories: General.

Stuff from the 16th to today, including the Chase Tower Downtown:

Chase Tower views:

Glass from the windows of the tower and other buildings:

Various Signs and damage:

Obligatory power restorer:

And Obligatory Nice Sunset (we’ve had alot of nice ones since the storm):

2 comments.