Ottawa, KS

     Yesterday Dwayne and I decided to head south to visit Ottawa. I read briefly about the history of Ottawa, and I found that the land on which the town was built had been given to the Ottawa tribe for the founding of Ottawa University. 20,000 acres was traded to the Ottawa tribe, and a school was built to educate both Ottawans and whites alike. The word Ottawa means the to trade, and they eventually traded everything and moved on to Oklahoma. 

     The idea of creating a "tongue in cheek" travelogue and restaurant. revue came to our minds after drinking a 24oz schooner of Bud Lite beer in a Mexican Style restaurant that I neglected to note.  I will name and review this restaurant and fill in the blanks in a week or two. I can say that the waitress provided great service and answered our many questions.

     Ottaway has an attractive downtown, but many of the shops were not open, probably because of a lack of mid week visitors. The video attached to this review has a crazy end to it. I promise that future reviews will include more information as well as much more insanity.

Jack Died Today

     When Laura arrived home after work, she saw him. He lay head down next to his house, motionless and stiff. He was a Beta  and had been the king of hill. He wasn't aggressive, but would swim out and warn any trespasser to keep a respectable distance away from his home. Something happened today.

     Laura was sitting in the passenger seat when I left work. As I swung into and onto my seat, and not much afterward, she said, "Jacks dead."

     To tell you the truth, I felt a sudden wave of loss and became submersed in it. Jack was one of our first fish and he was a character. He was bigger than the rest, solid black in color and I suppose that he looked pretty imposing to the others. Even the racing fish.
     At first I thought he was a bully, but he quickly became a favorite as he took what he wanted and defended it. Laura thinks it was the racing fish that killed Jack. I don't know what these fish are called, but they swim and swim, never losing their speed. They are sleek, silver and gold, and they have pronounced black stripes. And they swim, swim, and swim. "Yes. I think it was the racing fish that killed Jack.

     We'll feel the loss for a bit, but he was just a fish, and I'm just happy that I'm here in CrowMac Creek, a place where even the most difficult and challenging situations will be reborn over night as not so difficult or challenging.

      I was feeling kind of empty when Linda dropped me off at the cabin. I loaded my camera equipment up, thanked Linda for driving, and bid her adieu. I tried to stay away from the puddles as I made my way to the front porch. Cheyenne stood there wagging her tail as I opened the screen door.

     "It's good to see you too." I stroked her head, and she bounded toward the front door. As I walked in, Huey slid down from his perch, waddled across the carpet, and began climbing up my pant leg, catching the sleeve of my shirt and made his way to my shoulder.

     "Okay!" he remarked.

     For whatever reason, Huey had decided that I'd be his best friend. This was his usual way of greeting me whenever I arrived home. Cheyenne and Huey always take the edge off difficult days, and today is a day I can use their affection.

    I had spent in excess of $4,000 on camera gear and I am hoping to enhance my social security income by professional photography. Today I allowed my camera to swing into the frame of Linda's front door and though the lens is usable, much of its function has been compromised. This leaves me with a FX 50mm lens which is not appropriate for the type of photography I have been practicing. 

     I sat down at my assigned table which operates as a computer desk, and Laura walked in, kissing me, then demanding that I keep the top of the table neat. I removed the SD memory chip from the camera, and reviewed in excess of 400 photographs. Some came out good: Most didn't.

I was pleased with the few I had kept, and now all I need to do is to find the best way to have my lens repaired. Then I will need to get a FX telephoto lens, hopefully 200-600mm zoom. Opportunities are beginning to appear, and I hope to get back on track with the gear I need.