End of August

It is hard to believe that August is over. I have been very busy with work and other activities. This weekend I washed the camper in preparation for my Florida visit over Labor Day week. That sure is a lot of vehicle to wash. going up and down a ladder really stressed my knees and the left one is hurting pretty bad. I also learned that I should wash it more than just once a year.

I have also been experimenting with "Green Screen" video production. You know, like the weather person on TV and movie special effects. I downloaded a free 30day demo Video Production software application from Sony. It is the same package that Les Strood uses, who is the creator of "Survivor Man" on TV.

It is a very technical application and the learning curve is long. The demo will expire tomorrow (Sunday) so I had to finish up my project today. Doing "Green Screen" is very difficult as the screen has to be perfect and the lighting more than perfect to prevent shadows and artifacts from showing up in the final rendering of the video.

I probably have over 40-hours in this 8-minute video and I'm still not happy with it. I did the "Gardener" scene with my web cam and I didn't notice it was out of focus, plus the audio was terrible. The rest was done with my cannon photo/video camera.

It is called "The TV Interview". It was all "adlib" except the TV interviewer did have a list of questions to ask.

At some points you will hear the "Producer" talking in the background. Even though the quality is low, it is kind of funny. Please leave your comments about the video on the Blog.

You can view it in a small window by selecting it in the Video Bar on the right or select it in the My Stories and Links Panel to see it directly from YouTube in a larger format.

The dogs are doing great. I caught Buddy sleeping on his back one day.

And Max has a new spot next to me when I watch TV. He has become very attached to me and is like my shadow.

That's all for now!

Another Hot Weekend

I had planned on doing several outdoor things this weekend but it is just too darn hot.

Max and I finished his advanced obedience course and he did real good and learned a few more things. His dog aggression is easing but I have to watch him carefully and correct him when it happens. When I have time I will teach Buddy some of the new things that Max learned.

I wrote another short story called "The Potato Days". It is listed in the right hand panel under My Stories and Links. Check it out!

The Lights Out inquiries are starting to pick up now and I have showed the boat twice in the last week. They are interested so hope someone buys it soon.

I received an IRS notice yesterday concerning my 2007 taxes. It appears that one of the mortgage companies did not report (Form 1098) the interest I paid so the IRS indicated I owed and additional $2,321 in taxes and interest. Now I have to go through a lot of trouble proving the mortgage company screwed up, or maybe the IRS did. Maybe I can get the same deal as Tim Geithner, the Treasury Secretary got!

Speaking of our government, I am so glad I am able to help so many people buy new cars with my tax money ($4500 Cash for Clunkers Program). I wish they would at least buy American Made cars! Too bad I can't take advantage of that program. Oh well, you know how "Spreading the Wealth" works.

I am just sharing some of my thoughts about our government here. Hmmm, maybe that is why I am being audited? Maybe my political emails have caught up with me! LOL

I finally finished Season 4 (the last One) of Battlestar Galactica. Thank you Phillip, for introducing me to the Series. I got hooked on it and enjoyed the entire series.

That's about it for now.