Dick's Photo Meeting Gift

 

For years, Dick has been harassing me about my 110 film camera, ASA 400 film, and flash cubes. But upgrading cameras is so expensive! To mend my broken heart, he presented me with a beautifully wrapped gift at last week's photo meeting.

The thoughtful gift may have a prominent place in my home. Nancy has given me some ideas. Thank you Dick for being such a generous person!

 

Lin Wickett

NHAA Photo Group

 

Persistent Squirrel

It is difficult to constantly monitor the birdfeeder, which is about 4 feet outside our family room window. While we are not looking, the doves swoop in, and the starlings arrive in swarms, stealing the birdseed away from our friends, the bluebirds, cardinals, finches, and chickadees. But the doves and starlings scurry out of there when we open the window and clap our hands. However, there is one persistent red squirrel that is not so skittish. I have opened the window, asked him/her to leave, snapped my fingers and accused the squirrel of being a thief. I even told it that Nancy will come and chase it away. All of those tactics were to no avail and the little furry varmint only leaves on its own terms. So the other day (and today), I tried to wave at the critter with a short stick. I was ignored. Then I pulled out the dust mop for a better reach with the handle. I was ignored again. I even nudged it and tickled it on the back with the makeshift hanging string. Other than the need to buy more birdseed than normal, the little creature has provided some winter entertainment. As it would be hard for some to imagine, I have included 2 photos. The first was the squirrel watching the mop handle approaching, and the second was it ignoring me and returning to eating the birdseed.

Always keep a camera handy,

Linwood “Lin” Wickett

The Blank Stare

(Low-level photography humor)

Who is this Nut, Linwood Wickett?

About…
Who is this nut, Linwood Wickett?

Since there is no “About” tab on The Blank Stare blog site, it is probably a good time to explain the culprit instigating this low level humor photography blog, and (sort of) set the record straight. Jim Dricker, a remote Georgia member of our Photo Group in Portsmouth, NH, asked me to send along my silly photo stories for new blog postings. So, first let me list his link and his introductory comments.

http://jhdricker.blogspot.com/

www.InteriorsExteriors.net

Jim’s blog is a more useful and serious format and has a link to his great galleries and website.

Here is Jim’s introduction…

”I recently urged a friend to start blogging the e-mails he periodically sends out to fellow photographers who attend monthly meetings at the New Hampshire Art Association. His name is Linwood Wickett and he has the kind of humor that's come to be associated with native born residents of the state of Maine. I think it's called Yankee Humor. Lin is self-effacing and master of the understatement.

Lin's response to my suggestion was, "What's a blog?" Now, this guy is no fool. He surfs the internet for what he calls "bahgins" and knows how to put out e-mails to groups. Plus, he's a retired airline pilot who once crash landed a fighter jet on a sandy beach. He just likes to be considered unsophisticated and new to the ways of the world. And he enjoys pulling other people's legs.”

For the record:

I inherited my sense of humor from my late Mom and Dad, especially Dad, who found humor in many things others failed to see. So, likewise, I leave some others moaning and groaning with a curious look on their faces, or otherwise rolling their eyes in pity.

But I digress. Regarding the crash landing story from Jim, it was a mix-up of two newspaper stories I was telling him about after a photo meeting at the Rusty Hammer, a not so fast-food place for slow evenings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The first was in regard to the picture in my Wickett Family Scrapbook with the front-page Bangor Daily News story about the crash landing of my fighter jet on the runway at Bangor, Maine. The second was about me being chased by a huge dog on South Beach in Miami, and tripping beside a young lady who happened to be a reporter. I swear I maintained eye contact at all times! She reported, “Pilot crashes on South Beach after being chased by a Chihuahua.” (A Chihuahua is a big dog, isn’t it?)
Jim got the two stories mixed when he was distracted the blonde waitress who caringly flashed her eyes and asked him for his order. I swear that both of us maintained eye contact with her at all times! A picture of the jet crash is attached at the end. (Yes, I survived the 1973 crash!)

As for my photography, I have accumulated boxes of cameras, equipment and photos over the years. My photo interests are varied, depending on the mood and circumstances in which I find myself. I am a juried member of the New Hampshire Art Association and been involved with photo exhibitions and photography projects in the NH area. I enjoy photo history and digital photo restoration. As this blog is already lengthy, I will stop here.

If you dig deep from time to time, you may find a useful piece of information.

Attached photo is courtesy of The Bangor Daily News.

Best regards
Linwood “Lin” Wickett
The Blank Stare