Shutter Wolf Ramblings

Back from the range

2008-11-13T23:44:00.000-08:00

Bitch Gon' Shooting

2008-11-13T03:06:00.000-08:00

Off to the Gun Range, a new one too! because Colfax was closed, Time to break in the new family member, my new Springfield XD40 Sub-Compact...

Birthday

2008-08-22T02:56:00.000-07:00

I'm 23 today.

If you see my last post I went to Washington and Oregon... and it was crap. few good parts, the Wolf Sanctuary was cool, as was Oregon, but Washington Seattle can kiss my ass. Back window of the SUV busted out in attempt to steal things inside, lucky nothing was in there to be taken. The Super 8 motel outside the SeaTac airport was shit too. Non smoking yet every room next to and across from mine was, hallways hazed with smoke and my room as well, my allergies had my face melting. TV was horrible, static and lines over the image on every channel. loose unsafe chairs to sit in, floor covered in stains, People at the desk, Insanely rude, would not listen and moved there hands in annoyed motions to me as I tried to ask questions, on the way and calling to get a room they said over the phone that they did have WiFi when asked about it. yet after settling in, turns out there isn't, its been out for over a week. I would have left after the first night, but some ass had to bust out the SUV windows and was stuck 2 more days till a place open could work on it.

Its ok though, I made sure to leave signs of my disapproval, Ever soak all the coffee and tea bags in the back tank of the toilet? bowl fills with brown water and coffee grounds. that and other little goods I left them on the day I left made up some.

Now Tenino was nice, beautiful, and loved the Wolf Haven. Then on to Oregon the hotel on the beach really kicked ass, just slide the glass door open and walk down to the beach. Was a great place there.

Anywho its August 22nd and my Birthday, I'm now 23, yup thats all. What do I wish for? My degrees already so I can cut out of this College BS and get real work and move out of California.

Its also the State Fair this month, like usual I went alone, no friends to go with me, There is a nice girl I met that I really would like to have gone with but she went on a trip of her own, so another me day to myself, wondered the entire day to night, talked to workers and other visitors, shopped and watched the shows, ate various unhealthy but damn good foods. Got kissed by a Sea Lion. in some cash back from a purchase I got one of those Wheres George dollars thats tracked, well its not as exciting as it seemed, there are lots out there. So yeah I have it, and since their ink has worn out on the stamps I went ahead and fixed it with links to this blog, How you like them apples WheresGeorge.com?

I want to go to the Chabot Space & Science Center, and again, I wanted to take that girl I met. yet, no go, and same with family, I think everyone is busy with their own things. no cards yet, no messages, maybe they are late? I dunno if I'll go alone, kinda tired of that route.

Well, Happy Birthday to me.

Vacation

2008-08-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Headed to Washington and Oregon for a week, leaving sometimes today. will be taking a lot of photos, taking my macbook pro with me, no idea if I'll have internet but least I can watch movies or play games and go through the day's photos in the hotel.

I have three nicknames with this photography now...
My business cards say "Shutter Wolf" on youtube it was taken, so comes "Aperture Wolf"
and my name on forums is "Wolves" so I wonder what the hell I call myself in videos, I suppose as its going to be going on youtube I'll have to go with Aperture Wolf. does any of it really matter? am I just this bored?

In the realm outside photography, I got myself a wavemaster punching bag. got it used for $50, had paint on it and scuffs. Well steel wool and paint thinner took care of the paint and scuffs, made the thing look seriously new, along with putting the car vinyl conditioner on it after. so filled the base with water, and now I have something to beat stress on.

So thats it, lots of new pictures coming in a week. hope I enjoy my vacation.

Beaches, Fireworks, Video

2008-07-16T23:04:00.000-07:00

I'm around, just tired from the 100 degree heat.

I have Firework photos!

I have Beach Photos!

Also have a new video up on my review of the new OwnUser E51R

See all my new photos here
http://www.pbase.com/wolf_spirit/new_images

Still ouch

2008-04-23T18:45:00.000-07:00

Sigh, woke up yelling cause as I was waking I pushed myself up on my elbows.... bad idea, instant pain, chest tightened, and just yelled out, Still hurts, cant breathe fully, it hurts, sneezing hurts, talking hurts, coughing hurts... last night the pain was so bad I layed on the floor for hours cause getting up was just instant pain, wore my portable EMS (Electronic Muscle Stimulation) and had that massaging the muscles in random patterns, it helped me get to sleep, today I'm just on pain killers and Cissus Rx.

I still need to do my three entrees for the photo comp at the state fair this year, I have one image, need two more, would be out now since the weather has left some great skies, but noooo my back had to give out on me. I have one more month at least.

Looking at my guns and oiling them, my poor 1911 has just been picked on by corrosion, the park job on it was always weak, I keep it oiled and in a foam case with silica packets, in my safe in the closet, and in months the thing just builds up rust, none of my other guns do this, only happens to my 1911. So I'm tired of this, its ruining my gun, when I feel better I'll take it apart and degrease it with a gun scrubber spray and take out all the oil and finish, sandblast the frame and slide and small parts down to the bare metal and take out all the rust, then parkerize it myself. there is ready chemicals you add to distilled water and bring to near boiling and then place the parts inside to get treated.

I'm hungry,
On my computer I have TVU and can watch television from around the world, been watching Japanese stations, can't understand a damn word of it but I enjoy the game shows, news and weather, commercials, its all so alive and animated, the background music is cool. At the moment its a cooking show and damn does it look good, wish I knew what they were saying. its a nice brake from American crap, so sick of reality shows and over dramatic pointless news and politics, I mean seriously, Clinton and Obama, C-word vs. N-word ...don't care, I voted Ron Paul.

Oh man they are back on the cooking show, all the fruits they are serving look good, dammit, I wanna understand what is said!
...Corn.. what are they going to do with the corn!!? I Love Corn! grilled corn! yum! oooh and Mango on the side.

I love how the TV shows and news have J-Pop/J-Rock music in the background. Oh well, even if I can't understand it, its very entertaining.

Rain.....ouch..no really, Ouch

2008-04-22T17:56:00.000-07:00

Sigh, only figures.. instead of getting out for a relaxing day, the location I was headed is showers and severe weather warnings, and here it is now raining too. So went out and returned that hat with 2day shipping, an included money for express mail back with the large hat.

Other then that I went out and bought the movie Flash Point, damn good movie.

Lifted a mattress and fucked over my back, I'm seriously in pain, can't lift or turn my neck, can't stand straight or breathe fully cause it hurts, there is no comfortable position laying down, I'm typing this standing.

This is all I will put for tonight, Dammit I hope I'm better in the morning.

Bang, Bang...

2008-04-21T17:57:00.000-07:00

Sigh, I really hate ordering online, I order this hat
http://www.amazon.com/Barmah-Squashy-Cooper-Australian-Leather/dp/B000MFFHHO

takes three weeks to get it, and its too damn small, I measured for the medium and I have other hats in medium, but nooo, so now I get to send this back for a large and wait another long freaking time, now to them then back.

Seriously why is it such a pain, I measure my damn head to be sure I get the right size and follow the guide and the damn thing wont even go on my head at all... its a very nice hat too, really bums me out. I'm paying extra to ship it fast to them and they can charge me more to ship it faster, I seriously don't care. I mean its always something, the Rowbike took over a whole month, camera equipment I've ordered takes 3 weeks, this hat took three weeks.

Point is, if they have next day shipments, there should be no multiple weeks for basic. and I hate UPS, HATE THEM I use to work there, so I know what a load of crap it is. Even if your package should make it to your location or local hub ahead of schedule, do they ship it sooner to your door? no, they wait until the marked expected arrival date, I've had something ordered sit at the hub thats 15 minutes form my home for a whole week cause it wasn't scheduled for arrival till the end of the week. I could go there, and get it myself but no can't do that. its seriously BS, Come on Science, lets make the fucking teleporters already.

So, to vent some stress, tomorrow I'll be headed out to BLM land to unload, unload a bunch of lead into many objects, taking the Shotgun, British Lee Enfield, .45 1911, .357 Colt Python, and Browning Hi-Power 9mm.

Will be heading out before noon, so after some hours of shooting I'll take 20minutes to head east to the mineral bar and do some gold prospecting to relax.

Will also bring the camera and get photos. guess I should bring food too.

Forgot

2008-04-17T03:18:00.000-07:00

Already forgot I have this blog.

Well goings on, heres the photos of the pow wow
Pow Wow Gallery

Pano from SF

uuuh hmm what else, well ordered a new hat, this one is Aussie, leather one thats distressed, annoying part is its pushed to the 22nd, sigh, I want my hat now =(

Gold Fever...
Went gold panning Tuesday, no finds, not even a spec or dust, ah well, locations in CA are a bitch. only areas to prospect for fun are pan only, one part of the river, and just bleh, still good finds have been made in the recent past. I ordered a hand pump dredge, its just some PVC pipe, surprisingly to make my own cost double what premade ones with extras do, so just bought that instead. should allow gathering gravel from deeper water and cracks in rivers.

Movies..
Rented I Am Legend, and Hitman. I really need to stop pre judging movies, I thought Will Smith would be his usual hip cool dude like his other over acting roles. Surprised with this one it was pretty damn good. The creatures sucked, guess the money to make them look better or more real was put into the rest of the set design, that was good and impressive to see a ghost city New York.

Hitman, wow... The trailer made it look so damn gay, and Vin Diesel as a producer made me avoid too. I never seen the actor Timothy Olyphant before, read he was in a James Bond movie, but must of those all sucked, except Casino Royal, that fucking rocked. anywho WOW I rented the unrated version and this movie was so very enjoyable, no BS, finally a game made into movie done beautifully, altho I've never played the game, maybe that makes it better too. Violent? hell yes, Good dialogue? Yup easy to follow, Acting? YES. The movie even had nudity, and best of all he never gets with the chick and no corny ending with them hooking up or him changing his style. I might actually buy this one. only annoyance was the handguns with clips that never seemed to run out...silly hollywood.

Well I'm in bed, its 4am, I'm setting my mac aside and passing out now.

Phone call

2008-04-04T12:22:00.000-07:00

So I'm lazing at my computer looking out the window as I work on photographs, and my cell starts ringing, I pick it up and hear someone asking about the rowbike, but this voice is to familiar from watching videos, it was Scotty himself, inventor of the rowbike and rolllerblade, He liked my enthusiasm and dedication on the forums, and my point outs of ideas and errors, since they know this is my weightless exercise he said he wants me to be on his website for the before and after.

So, will have to take some photos, maybe video for fun.

Talked with scott a bit and ideas and told me about whats to come. And yes when I figured it out I had a fear of this guy wanting to kick my ass or something, I was like "Oh crap, my bad comment have done me in, this guy is calling me on it!"

But naw its all safe now. he doesn't even look at the forums I guess cause his comment was "They tell me"

Thats all for now!

Frisco,rowbike, pow wow

2008-04-03T20:37:00.000-07:00

So the goings ons. Finally went to San Francisco, was nice, and working on the pictures currently, the 5th I'm going to an all day native american Pow Wow, its 9am to midnight. Not sure on the rule of photos, sure they will announce when it is not ok.

Been rowbiking everyday, usually at an hour and a half to two hours, I'm surprised I can go so far, its been great, going up hills is easier, really feeling the workout after. My balance is better and can start off without need of pre starting the power lever, and the attention is still looks and questions everytime.

One Bitch with a kid as I was coming by had a disgusted look at me shaking her head after I smiled and nodded to her, I mean seriously, what was the issue with me, I was even nice and smiled and nodded, I'm a clean guy and even wore a helmet. If the cunt doesn't like me rowbiking then don't look at me as I pass and pay attention to your kid instead. And if thats just her face and she is ugly then I'm sorry ugly lady, but still she was shaking her head at me with her disapproving look....bitch.

The sponge grips had to come of the handle bars as I was getting blisters and fatigued hands. the new ones I got are made in germany, called Ergon, the GP1 model, they have a paddled shape to better support your palms on bikes and ease the ache on the nerves. only thing is my rowbike my weight isn't really on the handles, its more pulling, and some resting onto them as I slow, But they work still anyway really well, and the paddled shape gives my fingers more to pull as I stroke, and its comfy and no more fatigue or blisters.

Today I got my first flat and had to change the tube out cause it was actually a tear at the valve stem, changing the tire was fast, only took minutes to undo the quick release, pop off the wheel, roll off the tire, change the tube, pop the tire back then pump it up and put it back on the chain and frame, locking the quick release, and took off. I didn't check for thorns because I know it wasn't the cause, it was the base of the valve stem tearing, my assumption is it wasn't aligned correctly and had some pinch on it that wore it to split.

well, thats all I have to spill, guess I'll finish work on those photos.

Indy Jacket

2008-03-30T00:26:00.000-07:00

My jacket arrived, faster than expected too, hand made custom from the UK to California all in under 2 weeks? amazing! Great work Wested!

The jacket is made by Wested leather, same company and guy who patterned and made the Jacket for "Indiana Jones: Raiders of the lost ark"

here I am in the snazzy new wear

Not a word about my sunglasses, if you want to look at an off camera flash blind you 20 times as you take pictures over and over without sunglasses go ahead...

Other happenings, Well I never got out of town, Family is really weird and can't choose a time to go throwing everyone off.
But that does mean ROWBIKE! I took this ride out and crashed! yup 2 times, was awesome, all stumbling of trying to save myself and the bike. After some tightening of the steering and a lighter gear getting off is not a problem now, just push off, stroke, and you're rowling, and yes that almost sounds perverted.. moving on, I was surprised I went for an hour on this, my arms did hurt but kinda went numb after my first rest and water, after that I continued laps around the local small lake, avoiding one hill, because wow going up that was killer, I actually made it up, but it drained me for a bit.

I was a bit surprised to the attention I got, I mean the looks, ok, but almost every lap I was stopped by people wanting to check it out and ask questions, got pictures taken.

I can really feel the areas of my body worked after I finished, I'm sure I burned good calories.

Can't wait for more!

Rowbike is built

2008-03-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well, about little before 3pm DHL arrived with my 720sport.

In the box was the bike, and neat extras, a basic bike computer, and touch up paints incase of scratches, nice set of allen wrenches, but no instructions.

I was emailed the link to 07 instructions and instructional video, but instead he link takes you to the 06 PDF file to download, And no video.

Building the bike was not to bad, I did it while I watched a movie in the living room. Problems I came to were the brakes, they are so tight it was a sweat getting them to connect on the cable, and with them on the brakes are rubbing the wheels, also its raining and I haven't had time to work things in, but they are adjustable. Second was the chain the Derailleur, it was a tangled game of correcting till I got it right.

Also a mistake in the instructions for adjusting the shock cord, it says "while the chain is on the Derailluer
largest sprocket (first gear)", when its suppose to be the smallest as shown in the photos and where it was attached to in the previous step, took me a moment to figure out.

Also they spell "Derailluer" when its suppose to be "Derailleur" just a mix up of the e and u

After that the rest flew together.
At the end, so far the brakes just look like they will need adjusting. The Shock Cord comes already nicely tied to the power lever and the Derailleur at 90 degrees.

Steering feels really weird, and when sitting the seat likes to escape your bottom so you have to hold it steady.

I've added a rear tail light, and a front light, the front light just barely makes it on the bar for the computer with the left over room.

Attaching the computer the magnet for the spoke you really must be carful tightening, mine will not get a secure hold and the screw acts as if stripped, so it just barely holds, I'll have to see if some loctite will help.

thats all for now, Rain is holding me out from testing it, and tomorrow will be out of town. looking forward to try it soon.
-Wolf

OK!

2008-03-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

So I'm laying here in bed on my macbook pro, and listening to coast2coastam, and also working through my german lessons on Rosetta stone. taking random moments to poke through youtube, and come to a video I get a good laugh at, I like foreign action movies, even if the effects are cheap, I just hate hollywood style flicks these days, Tony Jaa is an amazing guy and long as he avoids hollywood then he should be ok, he has been in Ong-bak and Tom Yum Goong for most known, Tom yum goong is actually known as "The protector"here in the US, and its horrible, and why is that? cause as I said, Movies here suck and when hands got on this they cut out about 30 minutes of footage, changed the subtitles to incorrect meaning, took out the spiritualism and culture aspects, and it was just shit, not regular shit, nasty flu bile shit. Anywho, I had the movie on DVD a year before is was out in theaters in the US,and mine is uncut proper true to the original, because the movie had been out in other countries already. Moving along One of the best parts of the movie was the 4 minute uncut shot of Tony going up a building just kicking ass in brutal fashion. to the point , I found a humor themed edit on youtube with fighting game dubbing that had me laughing.

I don't know if its just my macbook pro (what I'm on right now) or most in general, but I really hate the keyboard on this thing, I have to punch it like a type writer or else I have missed keys and have to go back and correct my spelling, sigh, I need to get to the mall and poke the apple store for questions.

think its time for sleep now, almost 4am, night!

They were shitting me!

2008-03-26T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ok turns out the College system has a bug and a lot of students are listed as foreign. So I just need to wait for the error to correct itself before I pay.

I might be going out of town this Friday, thats also the day my new bike arrives, a rowbike, Hoping it arrives before I leave so I can keep it inside and not have it out. I have to put the thing together, if you are curious what a rowbike is, well here is a picture

More of an idea here is a video

its actually a great

machine, its no myth or wonder about rowing being a powerful exercise,

and has great benefits. will be great to start this!

Oh and the price? $1075

That really isn't that bad when you compare it to other high end road bikes

that exceed $2000 BUT today I got an email saying the price will be going

up after April 15th, what changes to bring this price? I asked, NOTHING,

they just feel like getting more out of our wallets maybe?, this is actually

the second time they have upped it, at first the 720-sport was $995, after the

dave-cam update it went to $1075, Im taking a wild guess the new price will

be $1200. Also until April 15th Shipping is free.

So, thats all for now, I just packed my stomach with subway and headed to

Frys to look at water coolers for my oven of a PC.

Are you Shitting me!?

2008-03-25T19:55:00.000-07:00

$1200 for two classes at my College for a month and not even including parking permit and class supplies!?

well, this isn't good, I think I need to figure out a plan.

Registrations opened today and thats the price for a Business introduction and Economics.

Not cool.

About time!

2008-03-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

Things are finally settling the end of this month, I e-mailed Rowbike and got a reply that the bike has been sent, I should have it any day.

Wested e-mailed me telling my my jacket has been made and will be shipped.

And I got a dead guy's Fedora, the fedora isn't what I imaged or what I was shown, but I got it anyway. And ok I'll stop saying dead guy, it was someone's grandfather who passed or whatever, thing is from 1941

I will eat your soul

2008-03-24T16:45:00.000-07:00

No seriously I'm really hungry and no food in this house and I can't cook because I burn everything, so, what do I do, well, Drive through, why am I sharing? because I'm bored!!

I ordered a rowbike ( www.rowbike.com ) in February, and still waiting to receive it, YES its been over a month! I keep sending them taunting emails and they will be getting another tomorrow if I see no shipping alerts.

I also Ordered a Wested Special offer leather jack thats the same design from the first Indiana Jones movie, its coming from the actual makers of the original, in the UK. I've needed a new jacket, mine is faling apart and uses a paper clip for the zipper, a zipper that likes to jam and unzip from the bottom making me stuck.

I hate waiting for deliveries, but most things have to be ordered online for what you really want these days.

Oh yeah, I bought a dead guy's Fedora too, more on that later =D

As for the title of this piece, this songs been stuck in my head

So it begins

2008-03-24T01:20:00.000-07:00

I've made a Blog. Where will this go, who knows, not fully positive why I made this beside just sharing images or my wants of photo equipment, or just the normal life rantings to spill cause I had no one's ears to complain to.