9 Jan 14

BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!

New posts to the site in the last three days, why don't you take a look?

  I have passed one objective and only nine days late.  There are now over two thousand images listed for sale on my Fine Art America site.  2023 to be exact.  The next objective is to double that by year end.

  I did make the year end objectives of 350,000 visitors to the site and for that I am grateful to all who have taken the time to do so.

  I have a new twitter program where I can automatically post listings there, but I still will re-tweet under my own power because I want to control the quality of those I mention.  And of course I still drive my FB friend nuts with my listings, but they are all great and I think enjoy the posts I make there.  Finally, I am always looking for additional ways to promote my stuff (aka art).

Above is an image of the Pemaquid Point Lighthouse complex.  Nice photo, but more importantly to me is the type of processing used to create a different, but subtle, print.  The color in the photo was muted somewhat and a slight degree of sepia toning was added to age or make the appearance of age to the image.  I like the work and we'll see if people like this approach or the original.

But I will bet that the Sepia toned print will do better than the other two combined.

The above print will appeal to those who want an old photo look to a subject matter which in itself is American history.  Furthermore, the sepia is simply different than the other two.  A little more cutting edge in that most people don't want to hang something "Run of the mill".  I think the sepia fills that need to be different in presenting a traditional image.  The Sepia is different, cutting edge, great in groupings and pertinent with regard to history.  My belief in the Sepia is confirm to an extent in that of the twenty pieces sold in December, five were sepia toning.

So an old process and presentation used today in modern taste!

Who knew?

8 Jan 14

RECLINING

Not really!  Still cold here, but enough of that.  There are just not enough cool photo ops around here that one can shoot from the warmth of an automobile.  So....here I sit chillin with Jimmy Buffett making me a "Cheeseburger in Paradise".

We had a delivery of the new furniture last night around seven.  It seems they were delayed by the cold weather.  They told me they came up from Georgia to deliver.  Huh?  

The new stuff makes the living room look so much better and the good part is that our quality control inspector seems to approve.

The real beauty of these pieces is that they are all recliners.

Both ends of the sofa are motorized and change just like the seats in your car.  A press of the button and instant, quiet movement takes one to the horizontal.  

Now all I have to do is set up my industrial size neck and back massage unit that Sheri got me for Christmas from Brookstones.  If you haven't seen one of those yet, go to their website and look it up.  This thing ain't no toy.  I can't even put the thing on high without tearing myself up! 

OK, enough of domestic bliss.  Putting new images on the site this week.  Sales have slowed as most are probably recovering from Christmas credit card sticker shock.  But this too will change.  Good art is always a good investment, so have a great week my friends and remember the weekend is coming along with some warmer temperatures.

Jimmy is now into "Fruitcakes" telling me that we all came out of the cosmic oven a little early.  And we need more fruitcakes in this world.........I am doing my share.

7 January 2014

How cold is it?

At the risk of using any of the old trite jokes or commentary on today's weather, I will refrain from any "How cold is it" jokes.  I did, however, see a neighborhood dog frozen to a fire hydrant in a most peculiar position this morning!

This too will pass!

Suffice to say it is a big time freeze which keeps at least one or two failing TV networks and newspapers going on for at least another day.

Fuel for thought.  It's cold but will warm up.  July maybe!  But think Spring.  And I haven't even finished my current bucket list for Spring shoots.  Note to self, do that before July!

Now to the important stuff!  We have sprung for new living room furniture. And all I have to do is insure that my employee McGee doesn't think that it is his new bathroom.  But that's another story for another time.

  So..........We will be unloading, selling, giving away, or otherwise getting rid of the old furniture.  That's right here's an opportunity for somebody!

 Since we are doing an Alt, Control, Delete on the room, some lucky person, family or group can own all this slightly used but completely functional furniture.  If you're more than twenty miles away and cannot borrow a pickup truck the shipping will kill ya!  Seriously, we will find a new home for the following.

These two recliners are still very functional will no rips in the fabric and are comfortable enough to sleep on......Old man nap tested.

Leather!  No real leather.  Not some poly-sumthin chemical concoction put together in a lab somewhere in ChinaStan or some other dump of a third world country.  Built  right here in our own emerging third world country.

And finally.........Ta Daaa!

Another leather piece inhabited in the last five years by only one small Chi-Wa-Wa.  This is the only place the little #^$%& doesn't pee.  So it is clean but that is not to imply that he does his stuff on the other furniture....just the rugs.

Seriously, if you live anywhere near us and want to discuss this fantastic once in a lifetime deal....just call, write, email or otherwise let me know.  

Ok, so this blog has now moved into a new low in marketing and crass commercialism.......an online Flea Market!  

Just wait till I sell my car!

Warm thoughts for ya!

4 Jan 14

MINIMUM WAGE?

I read somewhere that some of our resident idiots in Washington, DC want to raise the minimum wage ............ again.

  Well, today this is my "Trickle Down" thoughts on that issue as it directly impacts my own work force!  A non-union work force I might add.  So they have not had the advantages of the "Bubble Up" theories of the union movement.

I cannot afford it,  as a private, entrepreneurial, sole proprietor, small business employer!

In fact, under the current economic conditions....I intend to downsize!  By natural attrition of course....let them quit or die of old age and not rehire!  Fortunately, I don't have to worry about employing over fifty people but that's better left for another discussion.

  Those are the directions I have given to my HR department.

I can't even afford to pay myself the minimum wage, whatever it is today.  Let alone the lazy, conniving, disinterested and un-devoted group of uneducated and non customer service oriented bunch of slackers I employ here. 

 Heck, I couldn't even afford to have myself to go onto unemployment for two years.  Let alone this bunch that works for me.  I mean it!  It just isn't there.  So, I am against it.  The above attitude is probably what started the union movement in this country.  To me the key word there is "Movement", but what do I know.

In fact, I am in the process of the annual review for each of my employees and their past performance and attitudes will weigh heavily on my decisions regarding their current state of overpayment of wages.

HOOTEY

His job description includes these demands.  1. Not to poop on the floor.  2.  When screaming alert, alert, not to poop on my shoulder.  3.  When not in his cubicle, not to poop anywhere.  And finally 4. when in his cubicle not to eat all the food he can get his bill around to the exclusion of everyone else.  Current job performance grade out of one to ten.....with ten the best.....2.7358469.  You can tell I am a very demanding employer who is computer savvy and can get grades easily out to 7 or more important decimal points.

DEUCE

The LOUDEST racket is generated by this brown nosing, mildly educated, misfit.  The only song he knows is the wolf whistle.  Can't sign Dixie although many hours of training have been devoted to that effort including a confederate flag in his cubicle.  His work performance score is only slightly higher than that of Hootey at 2.7358470.  He and his cubicle mate are my front line of defense when it comes to anyone coming into my office.  Both score of 9.0 for that part of their jobs.  No one can sneak up on them without a shrieking sound at a million decibels emanating from their tiny souls.

McGee

He will probably be the first to get the attrition ax.  He is really way too old to be a useful employee but as a magnanimous employer I'll keep him on until he decides himself to move on to higher permanent employment opportunities.  Currently his job description includes no territorial job peeing, at which his currently failing.  As an active day time security position, his primary job tools include the ability to sever Achilles tendons on strangers approaching the kingdom.

MISSY

I probably get the least grief from this employee.  Other than loud barking at the mail and UPS persons.....which is clearly in her job description and at which she scores a 9.352684 out of ten...her duties include making me feel some sort of dedication to her.  Like having a  67 year old secretary (yup) with her gray hear in a bun as opposed to the young overly endowed newbie, supposedly overpaid because of her appealing appearance to the customers.  Sort of that kind of HR decision made by the boss.

Clearly, I do not run an overly benevolent dictatorship here!  I guess sort of similar to Washington.  

So go ahead and raise your minimum wage.  Make it another form of wage/wealth/income distribution.

  Then we all can hire with confidence those who score less than 2.89999999992, have poor to no customer service tools,  can barely speak English, and who don't give a damn for the company or their jobs in the first place.  Yep, that will solve a lot of problems.  God I am glad I voted the last go round.

03 January 2014

28 Degrees here in Shangra La South!

  Hey all you snowbirds from the north, we do get cold once in awhile.  I mean we're just not sunshine, beaches and emerald golf greens.  We got substance too!

It'll probably warn up later.  We even had some

snow a couple of years ago, but not much and not lasting.  One didn't even half to get out the colored golf balls.  

I posted some new images on the site yesterday and will do so again today, so check in and browse.  We had about 1200 visitors yesterday, which is a pretty fair showing and I think I added ten new images.

Too cold to walk today so it looks like desk work is the order of things to come for this guy.  And what can I write about that.  Cluttered desk, back talk from half of the work force (the ones with feathers), and after being given their morning gruel the other half is sound asleep!

For all of my friends on the northern corridor of the Blue Hair Highway, all I can say is think beach!

2 Jan 2014

A YEAR IN REVIEW AND A NEW VIEW!

Yep, a couple of trite comments regarding the passage of one year and the beginning of another.  I have been neglectful dear blog and resolve to be more faithful to you in this next 365 some days.

Last year was good for me business wise with a large increase in sales on my favorite site, and I can only hope, plan and promote another increase for the upcoming year.  So hang onto your hats kiddies, the roller coaster is at the top of the hill!

Health wise I had no major complaints in Thirteen.  Feet hit the floor most mornings giving me the opportunity the thank the Lord for his grace in saving this old curmudgeon.  Didn't loose too many teeth, need a new prescription for my glasses and the old heart seems to keep pumping. 

Renewed some old friendships with a few high school buds and actually did a rather successful show at the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is October with minimal fuss and muss.

And so the sun has set on another year and we all actually survived it.

But 2014 should hold all sorts of new adventures and photographs.  The bucket list is growing and as long as you people keep buying from the site, maybe we'll actually get to do some of them.

I will be concentrating on and around the state of South Carolina.  I know you thought I was going to say the state of confusion.  But I only go there sporadically.  Although these old brain waves do seem to bend in weird directions  from time to time.  But the photographic emphasis will be closer to home with only one NJ trip planned for October.  So far!!!

I will increase the number of new photos this year and promise (only half heartedly) to continue my sage appearance on this blog.  Frankly, my appreciation has grown in the last four years of writing this thing for those who must, because it's their job, write a column every day.  It ain't easy Jack!

I will continue and expand the effort to market my art.  Yeah, it's an art and always has been.  If you want to argue about it, give it your best shot in the comments section.  I closed the year with almost two thousand images for sale on the website and intend to double that in the coming year.  And I still have some slides that need to be scanned, so that number will increase.  And of course there is always new stuff.  Well that's the business plan!   And for you corporate types toiling in the cube farms, I know it's not a business plan but I understand it.  And so do my four employees....Missy, McGee, Duce and Hooty.

Let the 2014 games begin with a new dawning!

4 DEC 13

SHORT SHOOT

It's warmed up a bit here, fifty seven, this morning and so I have wanted to venture out away from the big glass eye to the world on my desk called "The Puter". 

 Yesterday I visited the Columbia Hydro-electric plant built in 1895 and wide open for all to see.  Kinda interesting in as much as the equipment is huge and not the kind of stuff one uses a pair of pliers to adjust.

Not your garden style, under the sink fix if something goes wrong project.  I am amazed that the usual sign of our times, graffiti, was not present as the place is wide open each day.  So somebody is doing something right.  

I guess I sound a little bitter from time to time when it comes to the public purposefully damaging property that is open to the public for educational purposes.  Maybe I am!

  And then there is this business about gangs of thugs playing this "Knock out" game.  What Game?  It's criminal!  But then again when we have leaders who are basically criminal.  Is it any wonder? 

Wow, how did I get from Hydro-electric to Hydro-rant in a twentieth of a second?

  You can't even hold a camera steady for a twentieth of a second and make a good photo.  So how can I make a point in such a short time.

Well, maybe I did.  For all the good it does.

Have a fantastic day all!