Geri’s blog

Yes…the Tall Ships are coming to GREEN BAY….

For the first time, Green Bay will operate as official host port of the American Sail training Association (ASTA) Tall Ships Challenge Race Series July 27-31. 

A fleet of 10 to 16 ASTA ships will arrive at Port of Green Bay to kick off the coinciding Baylake Bank Tall Ship festival which is now in its fourth year.

They are expecting some 50,000 people to attend the event.  This could be a wonderful photo op.

Here is the link:  http://tallshipgreenbay.com/theships.html

The spring WACCO competition has come and gone….Judging still remains a bit of a problem but somewhat better than in the past.

It’s difficult to understand how I could receive the only 15 in the category (15 being the highest possible score) only to then receive a HM…..The only redeeming factor is that the image that beat out my Arctic Fox was of an Eagle in flight just having scooped up a fish…It (the Eagle) was deserving to win best of show…it was a wonderful image.

I am happy to say that I did win best of nature small mono print and first runner up….in the final 4, 3 belonged to me.  Also….I received 1st runner up in large mono print….In addition….I did receive a fist full of HMs…. All things considered… I did OK….

The only way we are going to change the judging is if we participate a few times and be asked to judge….and no…you cannot compete and judge the same competition….

Even if I was not happy with the judging….the experience is good and I still … after several years find it interesting.

See my award winning photos at: http://www.fstopcameraclub.com/gallery/v/GeriLaehn/

It’s that time of the year … again….

The WACCO spring 2006 competition will be held on Saturday, May 6th at the Best Western Brookfield, 1006 S. Moorland Rd., Brookfield 53005.  Starts at 11:30AM

Finish up that printing that you just haven’t gotten to.  Get the mat boards out and check sizes…either 11×14 for small prints and 16×20 for large prints.  Take a look at everything in you computer photo albums….This is just the 2nd competition with a digital division and it includes general and nature.  And slides are still in the competition…for how long…not sure.  It would be my guess another year or so.

The deadline for slides and digital images is this weekend….so bring them to the F/Stop meeting on Thur the 27th or get them to my office (Travel Visions, 4641 W. Forest Home Ave.)  by Friday 1PM….the prints can be brought to the competition on May 6th, competition day between 10 & 11AM.

If you have any questions regarding the WACCO competition….check out the WACCO web site at  http://www.wisc-camera.org/pages/1/index.htm or give me a call at my office (Travel Visions)…414 543 6767

SEE YOU ON THE 6TH….AT THE BEST WESTERN BROOKFIELD

So…I have this huge power ticket printer in my office which has been a work horse for ever and nothing ever goes wrong with it….until earlier today….The error message keep saying jam…in area D….

I keep cleaning out area D….and bewildered and not having a good day…as my laptop also crashed a couple of days ago,  My good friend Robb consented to take a look at it (actually them) the laptop and the printer…. To make a long story short…one of the O rings had broken on the printer.  I’d never heard of an O ring. Robb did a little checking on his laptop only to advise me that the part that included the O ring which they (the printer repair folks) would want to replace cost somewhat over $900.  New, this printer cost somewhere around $2000. 

Jokingly I suggested to replace the broken O ring with a rubberband…..Guess what…it worked…. yep…a rubberband.

We (Ginger, Robb & myself) went a little crazy when we actually generated the issuing of airline tickets…To think that a rubberband did the trick and save the day plus a lot of bucks…. I will admit that it is unlikely that I would have spent the $900 to repair it…….

1 printer fixed…..1 laptop still broke…. but I haven’t given up….good thing I have a couple of desktop computers to get me by….

Thanks Robb…you are truly a good friend.

Have you ever wanted to visit the White Continent….but found that all of the cruises were simply too long or too expensive or you normally travel solo and couldn’t find a friend to share? …..I have….But….I have found the answer.

I have just confirmed group space on the Marco Polo (Orient Lines). The dates are January 7 - 17, 2007 and the best part … the prices. Our special group rates start at $3,649 per person (inside cabin) plus port charges & gov. tax of $240.00 per person. The air fare is an additional $927.00 including tax and this would be from Chicago.  If you would rather, for a few dollars more, you could depart from Milwaukee but it would involve 2 plane changes. I’ve opted for the Chicago departure.  Here is the really great part….the per person price is the same weather it is double occupancy or SINGLE OCCUPANCY….. no need to look for a travel companion on this departure.

I have been in the travel industry forever…and have had my eye on Antarctica for a very long time….and believe me….this is an outstanding value….for a limited time, you will also receive a cabin upgrade.

Feel free to give me a call at my office 414-543-6767 if you are interested. I hope to have a link on the F/Stop web site shortly.

If your into eagles…here is the site to go to www.jasperjames.com

Jasper James is a Nature Photography who also writes songs and sings….He is the featured vocalist on my “Ice Bears of the Arctic” photo DVD. Just happens that Jasper is an outstanding photographer. He lives in Road Island but travels to Alaska a couple of times a year and has something like 50+ visits under his belt. Check his web site out….his photography is excellent…his eagles are totaly incredible.

WOW!!!

What a great day….All day Sunday was spent at Aztalan Cycle Club at Lake Mills WI…

It was a kick and a half. We arrived there at about 8:45AM just in time to see the last of the practice before the races began. We were lucky that we were able to park on site which we appreciated all the more when we left around 3 or 3:30 and saw that the cars were parked all the way down cemetery road, out to the hyway. They had 700 riders registered…The place was jammed.
OH!!! we refering to Robb Quinn and myself. We did this a couple of times last summer and were looking forward to the 2006 season which began on Sunday the 9th.

I would have pictures here, except for the fact…I’m not sure how to, or if I can upload them. So if you’re reading this….be sure to go to the F/Stop gallery…some of my favorites are posted there, and my favorites being the PeeWees and the Gals…..one reason… they don’t ride quit as fast as the big boys and I have a better chance of less blur. Truthfully….the peewees are great but the gals are something else…

The next event at Aztalan is May 14th…It’s mothers day….sooooo bring Mom along… Barring any unforseens…I’ll be there…I expect that Robb has it marked on his calendar also. Would love to have you join us.

By the way…. the burgers are great….

Quote of the day and one of my very favorites…..

“To the complaint, “There are no people in these photographs,”I respond, “There are always two people: the photographer and the viewer”. Ansel Adams

Welcome to Geri’s blog….

Thanks to Robb and his wonderful, beautiful, and ever so talented wife Wendy….the new F/Stop web site is up and running… To think that the entire web site was put together over the weekend is incredible….. I am thrilled with it and I hope you enjoy jumping around it & checking it out.

Any and all comments and contributions for the new web site are indeed welcome.

As you can well imagine, my favorite part of the web site is “Geri’s World.” It really is a happy place.