It’s probably been over five years since I last used Photoshop. I even had a blog devoted to editing photos in Linux, which is possible but not nearly as feature-rich. As of this morning, I’m excited to announce that I’m back on board with Adobe! In addition to Photoshop, Lightroom is included with my subscription. The total cost is $10 a month–a steal in my opinion.
Here are 10 photos I took this morning around my neighborhood from 9:50 to 10:10 a.m. to test out Lightroom–of which I’m a first-time user–and Photoshop.
Missy and Pugsley sit on the stairs waiting for mom to come homeSunstars are achieved by stopping down to the smallest aperture, in this case f/22My (parents’) houseThe leaves on the deciduous trees in my front yard fall later than any of the other trees in my neighborhoodMail truck in my neighborhoodStop sign for leaving my neighborhood on Audubon RoadCrosswalk for the other entrance and exit in my neighborhoodPine tree between my neighborhood and the National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MinnesotaDoppler radar at the National Weather Service Forecast OfficeThe former house of the late U.S. senator Rod Grams, located along Audubon Road in my neighborhood. He owned all the land in my neighborhood before my family moved there in 1993.
Lately, I have been active on my Facebook profile. I will try to update this post as I add more photos on Facebook.
09/19/2022: Even though I’ve lived in Chanhassen, Minnesota, for close to 30 years and been to Lake Ann countless times, today is probably the second time I’ve been to Lake Lucy—which is a stone’s throw away from Lake Ann. The first time was probably a week or two ago, when I didn’t even realize it (caption from Facebook).09/11/2022: Heron Dr. & Audubon Rd (with the National Weather Service’s Doppler radar in the bottom-left corner) at 7:46 p.m.09/11/2022: I took this photo of a baseball field at Lake Ann Park in Chanhassen, Minnesota, at 7:30 a.m.09/07/2022: Taken at 6:39 a.m. in Chanhassen, Minnesota, this photo shows three trees in foggy Sunset Ridge Park with Powers Ridge Senior Living in the background09/06/2022: This is me inside the historic Red Barn at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota. I took this photo at 4:31 p.m.08/31/2022: You know you’re destined for throne work when the Current plays Trip Shakespeare, the Velvet Underground, and Yo La Tengo for three out of four of the last songs. And all you want is Caffeine-Free Coca-Cola. #NQTD (caption from Facebook)08/29/2022: CNN announced at 8:38 a.m. EDT that Artemis I is not launching today. “This is good news they caught it [the fuel leaks and engine problems] in time,” according to Michio Kaku (caption from Facebook).08/24/2022: There are just three weeks left of Chanhassen, Minnesota, holding the title of “Best Place to Live in the U.S.“08/23/2022: Lake Ann in Chanhassen, Minnesota, at 8:18 a.m.08/21/2022: At 5:55 p.m., I took this self-portrait at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska, Minnesota08/17/2022: I took this photo at 8:06 a.m. across the street from the National Weather Service (NWS). It shows the City of Chanhassen putting a wind-damaged conifer through a woodchipper. The tree was growing sideways for years, and I always respected NWS for keeping it alive.08/11/2022: My neighborhood two minutes after sunset08/11/2022: Audubon Rd (the road outside my neighborhood) seven minutes before sunrise
The National Weather Service launches two weather balloons each day, separated by 12 hours. I took these photos at 6 a.m. this morning. The next launch is presumably at 6 p.m. (these times are probably different if the time is CST rather than CDT).
If you ever come across a weather balloon on the ground when you’re out walking, follow the instructions to send it back to the National Weather Service, since they reuse some of the equipment. As this “kidscorner” article on the National Weather Service’s website states, “The balloon flights last for around 2 hours, can drift as far as 125 miles away, and rise up to over 100,000 ft. (about 20 miles) in the atmosphere!”
These photos were taken at the National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, Minnesota.
Getting ready to bring out the weather balloonGetting ready to bring out the weather balloonBringing out the balloonGetting ready to launch the balloonThe balloon launchesThe balloon quickly rises
I took these photos of the National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, Minnesota. For the uninitiated, I have been photographing this entity since at least high school. It’s located right next to my neighborhood, and it’s been pretty neat getting to grow up next to it.
Pictured on the right is the Doppler radarThis is the building where they inflate the weather balloons. The dome on top houses the tracking antenna.Pictured is the Doppler radar and the office building
I seem to have run into some bad luck this holiday season. First, on December 1, I start showing symptoms of COVID-19; then, on Christmas Eve, I get pain in my gums that lasts several days; and, finally, on New Year’s Day, I get what I think are most likely hemorrhoids. What did I do to deserve all this bad fortune? I thought I had been a good person.
OK, maybe I’m to blame. I did lose 35 pounds in a little over four months. Maybe now my body is fighting back.
I had been looking forward to being slim not just for the last four months but for at least the last four years. Now I’m at my goal weight (I will write a post about my weight-loss journey soon), but it came at a price.
Still, I didn’t let these afflictions keep me from getting some nice winter photos today. After all, that is why you clicked the link, isn’t it? No, I shouldn’t have said that; my hemorrhoids are probably why you’re here. Well, I will be video conferencing with a doctor in an hour, so I will fill you in on all the salacious details. No, they won’t be examining my derrière over video. At least I don’t think that’s how it works. (Note: I will post the update after the photos.)
I’m starting to ramble. Here are the photos.
Sign for the National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, MinnesotaTrees with frostPrairie with frostThe National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, Minnesota
Update, 1/2/2021: I had my appointment with a physician assistant (not a medical doctor). We talked over the phone, rather than over video. Interestingly, I forgot to spend undue time making sure I had the right diagnosis, but I’m about 99 percent sure I have hemorrhoids. I’ve only had them one other time in my life—almost exactly 10 years ago—and the symptoms were the same as what I have now. I believe they went away within a week of using Preparation H, witch hazel, or a prescription (I don’t remember which).
The PA prescribed a medication, recommended fiber-rich foods, dispensed other home remedies and things to look out for, and generally answered my questions. I’m optimistic my pain will subside once I start implementing these treatments.
I’ll probably write at least one more update to this post once my body gets back to normal.
I bought my first Midland NOAA weather alert radio in 2016. It has informed me of weather hazards numerous times since then. Had I not owned the weather radio, I wouldn’t have bothered checking the weather report manually and wouldn’t have known that severe weather was approaching. The weather radios provide me with alerts in every season, alerting me for everything from tornadoes to blizzards.
The National Weather Service Forecast Office in the Twin Cities/Chanhassen, Minnesota. Pictured is the Doppler radar.
I’ve only used Midland weather radios, which are apparently the most popular brand. I have three different models: the weather-only WR120EZ, the WR400 (new model), and the WR300 (old model). The latter two include AM/FM, and they are therefore my picks.
I wanted to make this post to inform everyone how important it is to own a NOAA weather radio. I also wanted a way to save the user manuals, which I often worry I won’t be able to find (in my house or online). Here are pictures of the aforementioned weather radios in addition to their user manuals (linked at the end of this post as PDFs).
