Ups and Downs of the Week

Red Sox – Sad end to a season. Now the truth is coming out. Egos, excuses, finger pointing, and now the axe has fallen on Francona. Or he’s had enough and chose to leave. Believe whichever story sits with you better.

Unified Communications – Microsoft’s UC system is pretty slick. I can use the Bluetooth system in my car to call into the system and it will read my email to me or tell me what’s coming up on my calendar. Very cool.

Patriots – The offense is still scoring points hand over fist. The defense can’t seem to live up to the same standards.

The Red Sox season started low, built up in the middle, and ended low. Just like a bell curve. As bad as they were to start the season, they were worse closing it out. By the time they got denied entry to the Post-Season Club last night, Red Sox Nation was neither surprised nor shattered. It was a slow death that many saw coming. That it ended last night and avoided an embarrassing loss tonight at the Tramp…er, I mean Trop, was a blessing. Although the way last night and this whole month had been going, I would have bet my bottom dollar that the final blow would have come tonight. Happily we were spared that nightmare scenario. Looks like we’re back to “Oh well, wait ’til next year.”

I bought a Neutral Density (ND) filter to use with my circular polarizing filter to preserve detail in the clouds and around the sun while shooting into sunlight or bright skies. It takes some getting used to, but I’m getting the hang of it. The changeable skies we’ve had lately are giving me plenty of opportunity to experiment.

Taken today (9/29). Cloudless sky. I used a fill flash, too.

These are the only Rays I want to see this time of year.

Ups and Downs of the Week

Red Sox – The only reason they’re 2-1/2 games up on the Rays is because their game with the Yankees got rained out. They didn’t play so they didn’t lose and the Rays did. Pretty sad when getting rained out is a good thing.

Weather – It’s been cool and foggy in the mornings, but the light has been great for grabbing some interesting pictures on the way to work.

Patriots – Still early, but so far, so good. Still racking up 30+ points per game.

There was heavy fog this morning that lifted and gave way to clear blue skies. The light was pretty dramatic while it all was happening.

And a variation on the first image.

We don’t get much foliage out here in corn country, but we do get colors of a different sort.

Cats and chairs, too.

Oktoberfest starts today in München. Pricey beer, this year. Almost $13 for a liter mug. Wow.

Webcam

Ups and Downs of the Week

Fall Weather – I love the warm days, but the foreboding skies and cold, rainy days can be an ominous sign of the coming winter.

Red Sox – They won tonight to keep their heads above water, but they’re dangerously close to playing golf in October instead of baseball.

Clumsiness Part II – So it turns out my sprained ankle is really an avulsion fracture where the tendon pulled a piece of bone out of place. No wonder my ankle and foot are still swollen and turning ugly colors.