It's Always Something

Fog
My neighbors, who are wonderful people, had family over yesterday and they asked me to come over and man the camera for a group portrait. I was happy to be asked. Ginny just wanted me to take a few pictures with her phone, which I did, but I also brought my X-T1 along as...backup?!

It was hot and the air was extremely humid. Just from taking the magic 50 (meaning, the XF 35mm ƒ/1.4) out of the air conditioning into the humidity, the lens fogged over! I had to wipe it off twice. Which just goes to show, it's always something.

I've had lenses fog up when I bring them indoors from intense cold (tip: put camera and lens into a couple of plastic baggies before coming inside), but never the other way around before.

Both the phone and Fuji pictures "turned out" very nicely.

Lulu
I should mention that Lulu died last Friday. It went about as well as it possibly could have—she was relaxed and supported and not in any kind of distress. I could write a 5,000-word essay on the experience but I thought there might be a few of you who might want to know. It's been very different around our house this week. She had a good life and a good and timely death, for which I'm grateful. I miss her. After months of getting up in the middle of the night to take her out I'm having difficult relearning how to sleep through the night. I'll keep trying.

Melt-in-your-mouth melon
In food news, I scored a coup yesterday—Honeybee Dave from up the hill (you remember Dave) let it out that he knows who grows the best melons in the whole area. When Dave makes a pronouncement like that, my ears perk up. I got the directions to a Mennonite farm and got over there yesterday and bought two cantaloupe. The farmer (no picture, because Mennonite) explained to me in detail how to choose good ones. Well, they didn't look like much, but [eyes widen] I've now tasted the grail of cantaloupe—lordy, lordy. Melt-in-your-mouth and bursting with glorious complex flavor. A different level altogether from the supermarket version. I get to have the second one for breakfast as soon as I finish this*.

And I got to taste Dave's own "Standish Stilton" homemade cheese, too. Another incredibly complex flavor, another rare treat.

Life is good, and goes on.

Mike

*It was just as good. My word.

ADDENDUM: Darn, I forgot to mention this. Remember that Solar Seiko I bought in June? (Quartz watch, runs off a battery recharged by light so you never have to change the battery.) It's been running for two months and four days now, and it's not yet a full second slow. My other Seiko has been running for a little less than two months, and it isn't a whole second off either, but it's fast. Considering that Seiko claims an accuracy of 15 to 20 seconds a month, both these very ordinary watches are far exceeding their spec so far.

Book o' the Week

Bystander: A History of Street Photography by Colin Westerbeck and Joel Meyerowitz (Laurence King Publishing, 2017). First published in 1994. In this revised edition, the story of street photography is brought up to date with a re-evaluation of some historical material, the inclusion of more contemporary photographers, and a discussion of the ongoing rise of digital photography.

The above is a link to Amazon from TOP. Here's Bystander at The Book Depository. The following logo is also a link:

Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Nicholas Hartmann: "So sorry to hear about Lulu. Maybe it went as well as it could have, but I’m sure it still wasn’t good. Treasure Butters, and all your two- and four-legged friends. Byu the way today is National Dog Day (our dog thinks that every day is National Dog Day, and that the particular dog being honored is him)."

Mike replies: Thanks to you and to everyone for the kind thoughts. I only wish my brother had been as lucky...to have lived to a ripe old age and then be spared suffering.

Robert Roaldi: "I'm 68 and I've probably never gone more than two or three days since childhood without eating cantaloupe, although I sometimes substitute other melons. It's probably only during vacations that I don't eat them because fruit is rarely on restaurant menus. I don't eat dessert; fresh fruit is my dessert. I know people who rarely eat fresh fruit—I find that bizarre. I'm saddened to hear about Lulu."

Comments

[Tex Andrews]

So sorry about Lulu. Our beloved pets pull at our heartstrings so profoundly. I guess it's the unqualified and unconditional love they give us that makes the bond so strong. May she play happily and eat her favorite things in the hereafter.

[Richard Parkin]

Not unexpected, but sad to hear about Lulu and thanks for telling us.

[Stan B.]

Condolences... and best of wishes to what remains, and what will come.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

Our condolences (Chris's & mine) on Lulu's death. That was a very lucky dog.

[Speed]

As a child the ultimate summer desert was a wedge of cantaloupe with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Normally we got one or the other, not both at once.

I'm sure that today's cantaloupe is sweeter and the ice cream we buy is creamier and more flavorable* but it couldn't possibly be as good as what I remember from those days long ago.

* Flavorable is not be a word but it should be.

[Nikhil Ramkarran]

So sorry to hear about Lulu. Don’t remember a time reading TOP that I haven’t periodically come across a mention of her (and I got a brief glimpse of her when I visited).

My condolences.

[Patrick Dodds]

Sorry to hear about Lulu.
BTW, you need to be letting Kramer know about the Mennonite with the melons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huwBbFhO0x4&ab_channel=KahitAnoLang

[John Krumm]

Ah, local cantaloupe. In the Duluth MN area they only appear, it seems, one week a year and it was last week. I bought one, loved it, then returned to the coop for another and they had sold out of the locals and were back to the inferior shipped variety. When I was young and we lived in the Central Valley of CA, my parents were allowed to "glean" the ripe cantaloupes from a local farm (cantaloupe had to be picked a little under-ripe to ship). So we gorged on them.

Sorry to hear about Lulu, but good to hear it went well. Our old border collie has bad eyes, bad ears, and a bad knee. It won't be long for her either. I'm at the stage where to get her to eat well I cut up a little steak, cook it, throw in some water to make a broth, and mix it in with her kibble.

[Andrew Lamb]

Mike, I am very sorry to hear about Lulu. I hope you can draw some solace from the fact that it went as well as you could have hoped for.

There are a lot of pet owners out there who know exactly what you’re going through. I wish you well.

[Bill Tyler]

Ok. Don't tease us. How do you pick a good cantaloupe? In detail, please.

[Bob L]

Mike, I'm so sorry to hear about Lulu. My condolences.

[Albert Smith]

I live in Florida where the humidity is off the charts for half the year and therefore air conditioning is as necessary as oxygen. Many is the times that my cameras fogged up when going from indoors to outside.

I have a box, 8" X 8" X 12" that I put my camera and uncapped lens into with a blow dryer inserted into an opening. I "soak" the camera and lens in warm air for several minutes to get the temperature high enough to preclude condensation.

If I drive any distance at all in my air conditioned car, I set the dash board vents to blow hot air for a couple of minutes after arriving at my photo destination, holding the camera against the airflow.

Humidity is bad because the fogging you don't see can be causing internal issues when electrical current meets moisture.

[Graeme Scott]

Very sorry to hear that you've lost Lulu.

[Michael]

Sorry for your loss Mike I know how much Lulu meant to you after reading about her all the years I've been reading TOP you are to be commended for the care and attention you gave her in the last few years of her life and I know you have many happy memories of the times you spent with her to cherish.

[Henk]

I’m sorry for the löss of your dog Lulu. As a dogowner I know it can be a hard time. Wishing you all the best.

[Christopher May]

Condolences about Lulu, Mike. Our cat, Fantine, is reaching a point where we need to start having conversations about quality of life with our vet. So I very much feel your pain and will miss Lulu's appearances in the words and photos of TOP.

[Rob Griffin]

Mike,

Sorry sorry to hear of LuLu's passing. I feel for your loss. I am sure Butters will miss Lulu too. I know that is hard to lose a great friend and companion.

[Dogman]

So sorry about Lulu. There's not much else to be said. It'll take a while but you'll get over it. Hang in there.

[Dan Khong]

Mike

Thanks for sharing that Lulu has died. I think most of us who know about her life can empathize with you. If Butters could talk, he would have much to share what grieving also means to a dog.

Dan K.

[Henning]

I know it was Lulu's time, and how hard it must have been for her in the last while. And you. And yet; my condolences.

[JimK]

Mike,

Sorry for the loss of Lulu, but as you said--she had a good life and a good death. Deep down, I think that's what we all hope for in the end.

Thinking of you...

[Jay Pastelak]

So sorry to read about Lulu. My condolences.

[Marcelo Guarini]

I'm sorry about Lulu, sad to know. I have a dog that is not doing well too.

[robert mckeen]

Mike, sorry to hear about Lulu, time is a great healer. You will have great memories of her, they never really leave you.
In January 2012 we lost Charlie a toy poodle and vowed no more dogs, well that lasted till August of that year and Lottie a Rottie/staff cross rescue dog arrived , so you never know.
Take care regards
Rob

[Stewart Epstein]

I'm very sorry to hear of Lulu's passing. I empathize with you about how empty a house can become. Several months after our last dog passed my wife and I became foster "pawrents" for a succession of shelter dogs whose sporadic presence alleviated the emptiness in our home.

[Bear.]

Condolences on your loss of Lulu.

[Roger Bradbury]

Mike

Thanks for telling us about Lulu. It was good to know she wasn't in any distress at the end.

Best wishes
Roger

[Mike Ferron]

So sorry about Lulu. Dogs rank pretty much equal with humans in my house and every one I lose to old age breaks my heart.

[Bill duncan]

Sorry to hear about Lulu. To me, it's often harder than losing a close relative because we live with them, care for them daily. Be well.

[Susan Eilenberg]

Thank you for telling us about Lulu. These are hard losses.

[Stephen Scharf]

My deepest condolences for your loss of Lulu.

I've been through this a number of times with my cats, and personally, it's always been emotionally devastating.

What I've found that helps is to remember and treasure the days you had together.

[James]

Sorry about Lulu.

[Tom Burke]

Sorry about Lulu. I met her once, although to be honest it was Butters who made the bigger impression! I remember my father many years ago going through the same decision as you have; he found it very hard.

Fogged lenses: what you describe is common anywhere that has air-conditioned shopping malls and homes, and outside air that's hot and humid. Our daughter lives in Mississippi, and based on her descriptions of summer conditions there, I wold expect the same problem to be fairly common in the southern states of the US. I'm familiar with the phenomenon from trips to SE Asia - Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, etc.

[Dave Pawson]

Feel for you Mike. Losing Lulu after a long partnership. Not easy.

Re the Seiko, I switched to solar (and radio sync'd) a few years ago and never looked back.

[Zyni Moë]

Very sad about Lulu. Dog of my childhood died ten years ago I still think of him every day but thoughts are less sad eventually. I wish I could have another dog but is not practical (nomad scientist).

So interesting thing about quartz watches: watches will often keep better time if you wear them. Reason for this is that frequency of quartz is mildly temperature-dependant. Before atomic clocks became really cheap (or if you don't need one, GPS is good enough) people used 'ovened' quartz clocks: ovened clock is one kept in an oven controlled by good thermostat (is useful that it is a fair bit above ambient so that you never need refrigeration even accounting for heat dissipation from clock, so perhaps at 40C or so). Well, your wrist is maintained at quite a stable temperature and the metal of the watch is a good conductor of heat, so this keeps the crystal at a quite stable temperature.

(Of course by 'keep better time' I mostly mean the scientific definition: its rate will not vary much. May be it will gain a second every day but it will gain exactly one second every day. For a scientist this is a perfect watch ... not so much for ordinary use perhaps.)

[Luke]

Oy.

We have enjoyed all your tales about Lulu over the years.
Thank you.

[Roger]

Our Pugs are rescues. The pair were found wandering and mostly starved on a rural road well south of us. The theory is that they were ditched by a puppy mill after the female was no longer “productive”. When the time comes to let them pass we will take some comfort in the knowledge that they had several years in a good home where the only expectation was that they enjoy their many naps.

You gave Lulu a wonderful life unlike the life far too many animals suffer through. Thank you for being all the things Lulu needed to be a happy dog.

[Paul]

Dear Mike
I'm sorry about Lulu.

Take care
Paul

[Mike.]

Sorry to hear about Lulu,Mike. It breaks your heart, I know.

[Dave Karp]

Sorry about Lulu Mike. It has been a rough year for you.

[Dave]

Mike,

I'm sorry to hear about Lulu's passing.

It's always tough to lose a good dog. (We never had cats, for a myriad of reasons.)

It sounds like it was the right time -- not too soon and not too late. On her terms, to put it another way.

It's a great loss, but at least Butters will be around. Eventually the good memories will overcome the grief.

Take care.

=====
After checking www.time.gov, the following results were found:

My SUR311 ( https://seikousa.com/products/sur311 ) is three seconds ahead.

The SSC715 ( https://seikousa.com/products/ssc715?_pos=7&_sid=b24074057&_ss=r ) is one second ahead.

The SNE039 like your watch, except for a black dial, ( https://seikousa.com/products/sne039 ) is still on time.

Not too shabby for a month's worth of timekeeping.

* Oddly (or maybe not), the non-solar watch is the least accurate so far.

[John R]

So sorry to hear about Lulu, Mike. I've never met either of you, but I feel genuine sorrow to know she won't be keeping you company anymore. I'm thankful you were able to share each other's lives for as long as you did. A good life well lived is worth celebrating!

[Derek]

My sincerest condolences, Mike. You and Lulu were lucky to have each other. I've always enjoyed your posts about her and Butters, and still remember when you first got Lulu. Speaking of which, I imagine not many of us write about our pets, but I suspect your writings will serve as a nice set of memories that you can return to when you're feeling like you need a little "Lulu time." Hmm, now that I'm thinking about it, I'd love to see "Dogs" or "Pets" as a category in the sidebar.

Take care.

[darlene]

May peace be with you and Lulu’s loved ones. She lived a good life and knew she was loved. Thank you for sharing her with us.

[Kevin]

Mike, with all that time you spent in DC, did you never eat an Eastern Shore cantaloupe? I've lived many places, but no place grows melons like the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Still recall buying one in the 80s from a roadside stand. The thing was as big as a basketball. No joke. The seed pod was only the size of my fist. Took me a week on concerted effort to eat it! Wonderful.

Sorry to hear about Lulu. A good dog is missed.

[Scott R.]

So sorry to hear about Lulu. My condolences. That is a very painful thing to go through - especially when they are like one of your children. You gave her a great life, and in return - she gave you a great 15+ years. Sorry for your loss.

I second what Derek stated above: “ I'd love to see "Dogs" or "Pets" as a category in the sidebar.”