Theoretically ...

my "stuff" should be here soon (no precise definition of "soon"). "Stuff" includes my new computer with dual 21.5" widescreen monitors, my guitar (I'm terrible, but plan to take the opportunity to get better). Once it gets here, I'll post photos every few days.

In the meantime, Elesa and Carl sent me a cheap phone and a MagicJack which I've plugged into the old laptop I have with me. So now I have a Cincinnati phone number and can receive and make calls. So far, I'd say MagicJack is pretty cool. It is even cheaper (~$40 for the first year, ~$20 per year after that) than packet8.net, which we have used (and continue to use) for our "home" phone for almost 6 years. If anyone is interested in the technical and practical differences between the two (and other VoIP providers) post a comment and I can go into the various advantages/disadvantages between the services (including the phone "bundled" with your internet provider", skype etc)

The National Arboretum

The Dogwood Collection in the National Arboretum is of our favorite places, we stopped by last weekend. As in the previous post's photo, I used water to try to create a bit of an abstract feel. The water was blowing off the fountain that is at the end of the collection.

The Dogwood Collection - National Arboretum, Washington, D.C.



The Dogwood Collection - National Arboretum, Washington, D.C.



The Dogwood Collection - National Arboretum, Washington, D.C.

Water as Abstract Art

Another quick one from our first few days visiting Seattle, where we had great "local" guides.

Near Pike Street Market - Seattle, Washington

South Sawyer Glacier

A very quick one from our Alaska trip...in general I've always found glaciers to be fascinating.

South Sawyer Glacier - Tracy Arm, Alaska

Back

I'm back, I have some computers up and running (including my brand spank'n new one:), I have heaps of photos from our trip to Seattle and Alaska...I just don't have heaps of time.

Mendenhall Glacier - Juneau, Alaska

A Point and Shoot

Co-workers were kind enough to lend me a digital point and shoot that has some controls. Of course, I can't necessarily find all the controls when I need them, but they are there none the less :) So at times I look like the people I make fun of...using the camera's little bitty flash to try to light up half a city, because I couldn't figure out how to turn off the flash. Well by tonight, I got that part down and took the picture below of the Latin Bridge. Archduke Ferdinand and his wife Sophie were assassinated after crossing the bridge and thus began World War I. (on the right side of the bridge in this photo)

Latinska Ćuprija - Sarajevo

Not My Best or Happiest Day Ever...

So last night I updated the firmware on my Canon 5D DSLR. While I was doing that, I happened to read Canon's Service Notice: EOS 5D: Main Mirror Detachment.

My "walk" this evening was more of an ascent, straight up through Vratnik to a small lookout and some cemeteries high above the city. I started taking photos...and "clUNK!" my mirror fell totally off. Just as described in the service bulletin. I'll have to rush ship it back to Canon in the hopes that it can be repaired in time for our cruise the latter part of August. What a bummer to be here for my last 2 weeks without a camera.


Cemetery At Sunset - Above Sarajevo



My Last Photo - Sarajevo

What I Learned Today

Yes, you can eat too many fresh blackberries (at least I can).

Today I finally walked to the huge cemetery, Sarajevsko Groblje Bare which I have photographed from a distance a number of times, including here. I learned it is the main city cemetery (Gradsko Groblje) and that there are very few victims from the war buried there (and so corrected my earlier blog post here). I walked through a huge chunk of the cemetery and it almost seemed as if people didn't die 1993-1995.

The cemetery is laid out in sections which vary in size and shape. But just to get an idea of the relative prominence of the various religions here goes. There is a section for Jews, a very small section each for Evangelicals and Adventists, 20 sections for Atheists, 14 sections for Catholic (plus a small one for "Old Catholic" (Staro-katolici) whatever that means), 26 sections for Muslim and 16 Orthodox sections.

I miss my Photoshop, but in the meantime here are a few of today's photos. I takes me 3x as long and the results are 10x worse using the laptop, the touchpad and the Photo Gallery/Paint combination.

Map of the Sections of Bare Cemetery - Sarajevo




Reflection in the Windows of the Meditation Building - Gradsko Groblje, Sarajevo




Groblje Bare - Sarajevo




Groblje Bare - Sarajevo




Groblje Bare - Sarajevo




Haystacks - Groblje Bare, Sarajevo