After some hemming and hawing, some pricebusting, some threatening, too much research, patience from “put on the spot” colleagues, we settled a new piece of equipment: One of those Canon EOS 30D rigs.

So good. See, we’ve always been ones to snap lots of pics, and, after years of having a trusty Digi-Elph in the front pocket, we decided to ramp up and get a little closer to the big leagues. We take for granted the prowess, dedication and skill of the many photographers we know and work with. Hell, the shots always come out great, so who’s questioning any of it?

It was time. We’re hitting the road soon and want to capture things with a little more firepower behind the lens. It’s just pixels in the end, but, the quality our friends serve up all around us just plain blows our mind.

Larry joined us as we ventured out to a Kits Camera at Jantzen Beach, walked in, called out the product we needed, confirmed the asking price and yelled, “Wrap it up!.”

I’ve got a 28-105mm from my old, trusty Canon Elan II SLR, and he’ll be my workhorse for the most part. I’m also gonna settle a 50mm for portrait stuff and a 20mm for wide open spaces.

Eight-million megapixels of thanks to Jeff Baker, Embry Rucker, Nazarin Hamid and Tim Zimmerman for suggestions and guidance in our quest.

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Scrambling somewhat today, as we gear up for a trip up north to a little enclave called, “Banff.” Turns out, Mark and Tevis’ wedding “is still on” so, action sport schmucks from all points stateside and to the north and heading up/out there. Should be one hell of a time. Better be, dammit.

I got the room. Bridges got the car. Turns out, he rented a Magnum. Fuck yeah.

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Went and saw Miami Vice late last night with Larry. Like dumbasses, we walked into the wrong theater, only to sit down-what turns out to be-some 40 minutes into the flick in progress. Not that we knew. We just thought we were a minute or two late.

Michael Mann’s characteristic “grainy, in-and-outta focus, trigger finger viewpoint” technique was refreshing. Always is. Great shoot-‘em-up scenes. The gunfire seems thick and dull and real. Even the sound of bullets hitting flesh. Meaty and thick. Yuck. Our favorite part was the trailer park scene. Mann knows how to use “silence” as a tool. Bravo.

Colin Farrell was completely painful and forced, so, fuck him.

About Mann: Ryno, you ain’t the only one who likes him, you dick.

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Check one off the “Fall Tour To Do List”: Got Big S tuned up real good today. A new “serpentine belt” was thrown on, the back windshield fluid spitter was fixed, and of course, the Volkswagen 557 point inspection was executed with expensive skill. We’re confident it’s time to say: “We deem him ready for the road.”

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Gary goes in for a little tuneup today, too. Keep him in yer thoughts cuz, there might be shot involved to ward off any nasty parasites of whatever. Be strong, little man.

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Not too much to share with ya today, as, we just sorta hammered all day long and did our best to wrastle all the open projects into submission. We weren’t successful.