Souvenir Photo Studio, by Al Bourassa

Thursday, July 13, 2017

Thursday July 13, 2017 Sunrise

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Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

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Thursday July 13, 2017

There will probably be 2 Blogs todays, a rarity for my long-winded self,... lol. Actually you should see what I don't write...

I was walking the dogs just after 4:40am because we needed to leave the house at 6am for 7am tests at the Clinic/Hospital in the Industrial Park.

We were treated to a glorious sunrise this morning while waiting for the bus. It has been unusually cold in Cuenca in the mornings and evenings but the sunrise made us feel warm all over.

The #15 didn't show up until 6:20, and we were 2 seconds from getting a cab to at least Huayna Capac. We actually transferred to the #26 instead of the #7 because it was there first and I was 85% sure that it would bring us to the same place, hopefully faster... Nope, exact same route as the #7 until our usual stop. Although we found that we could have gotten closer by staying on for 1 more stop. We learned something...

Cristina waited in line for almost an hour before getting called in for her tests. Now I can't pick up her results until Monday after 10am..... At least I can make the 15-20 minute ride on Buzzer and don't need the hassle of an hour each way on the bus.

I amused myself a bit watching the action in the street with all kinds of market stalls opening up and all manner of livestock going down the hill. Curiosity got to me and I walked down to the curve where I could see what appeared to be a huge livestock auction happening. Pigs, sheep, cows, horses, donkeys, and more being dragged down the hill... The traffic at the corner was just nuts as idiots dropped off livestock and did all kinds of machinations to return in the direction they came from.. This is one of the places where they really need control from the Transito cops, not at intersections where there are already traffic control devices. The Transito cops are more interested in riding around in their fancy trucks with the lights flashing, just like the little boys that they are..

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day’s excitement.

Cheers, Al

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If you want to borrow a picture for sharing with family and friends, PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

17.07.13 Sunrise # 01

17.07.13 Sunrise # 02

17.07.13 Sunrise # 03

17.07.13 Sunrise # 04

17.07.13 Sunrise # 05

17.07.13 Sunrise # 06

17.07.13 Sunrise # 07

17.07.13 Sunrise # 08

This poor guy had sheep that did not want to follow, like they had premonitions...

Lots of horses, donkeys and pigs going by

And a lot of cattle...

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

Wednesday July 12, 2017 IESS

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Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Wednesday July 12, 2017

Happy 45th Birthday to my daughter, Jill.

Yesterday we began a round of more Doctor visits for Cristina by going for an 4pm appointment with a neurologist at this clinic above the Industrial Park which invloves a little walking as well, dodging traffic on a busy road. That spawned more approvals required by the big IESS office.

Today we went for a 8:50am appointment with a Gynecologist which also spawned more approvals required at IESS. So the next stop was at the said office. While Cristina was getting her approvals I decided to head upstairs and talk with Diana Calle about the new rules and premiums. Now Diana is one of the first people we met in Cuenca when she worked in the "VIP" division at Banco Pichincha. She speaks reasonable English and has since gone to owning a home lighting store to now working for IESS. I have emailed her 3 times since may 6th and she has not had the courtesy to respond. I read a very recent report of an interview she had with an Ecuadorian lawfirm which, among other things, stated that she was tired of being yelled at, but every Gringo presently on the IESS rolls had to see her personally because the rules go into effect this month... So, I was prepared to have the discussion, and to advise her that I would be staying with IESS for the time being. Guess what..!!!??? This @#$%& is gone on holidays for 3 weeks, and won't return until the last week of July!!! I was so upset that I tried to see the General manager but he was conveniently in a meeting. I did talk to another very nice young lady who could not take Diana's place, etc, etc, but at least she did confirm some of the major questions. We are at the absolute bottom of the scale for pension income $900 for 2 people) so my premiums will only jump from $72 to $189, or 21% of our income. It is easy to see why the more well-to-do pensioners are cancelling in droves. Remember, this is only for the health coverage, no Unemployment or Pension benefits like Ecuadorians qualify for. I don't blame people for yelling at this money grab.

So, Cristina has her approvals and we must go to Monte Sinai Hospital for appointments for some tests. One of the approvals was wrong so we had to go back to IESS again, then back to MSH. So after over 5 hours, 3 different offices, and 6 bus rides later, we have a morning 7am appointment in the Industrial Park, and return at 3pm for the results, then rush to Monte Sinai for 4 pm test(s). Hopefully we can get squeezed in for the second test as well or that will mean yet more running around... So this was not a fun day and I am not a happy camper...

I hope you enjoy the photos, taken with the new Lumix. That was the day’s excitement.

Cheers, Al

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If you want to borrow a picture for sharing with family and friends, PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Table ornament in a restaurant

Reparations happening at San Blas

Church near Banco Central

Monday, July 10, 2017

Monday July 10, 2017 Processing

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Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Monday July 10, 2017

By 9:30 I had walked the dogs, got ready, went to IESS hospital, waited in 3 lineups, saw my surgeon, made appointments for x-rays and MRI, then went to SRI and G+G, and then walked the dogs again. All that was before I even had time for my coffee.

I bypassed some rigamarole by waiting, first in line, to see my surgeon who gives me a slip to go to the front desk to get an actual appointment, then come back to see him. He apologizes for his forgotten English and his poor memory. I showed him a paper outlining the crazy feelings in my body and asking if he could help me to try traction to unblock the nerve(s) since regular physiotherapy has been ineffective. He said that I would need x-rays and an MRI beforehand which I wholeheartedly agree with. So he gave me slips to make the appointments for those, and I stood in the very long Monday lineup for a while only to find that both will be August 5th.

Then I jumped on Buzzer and headed for the SRI office with my facturas (receipts) to submit them in person once again. My biggest problems are getting the SRI forms to cooperate with my computer, the getting my printer to do what I ask. It was a breeze at SRI like usual.

I then walked across the street to G+G to get my May receipts and to pay my bill for letting them handle it. I asked the young girl why I submitted $55 in receipts and only got $48 back. She said my two hotel receipts don't qualify and one receipt did not have my name on it. I explained that whenever I submit myself to SRI I get every penny back, except 10c kept by the bank.... My argument is that if a company charges me the IVA tax, rightly or wrongly, it does go to the Government and I am still entitled to get it back. Anyway G+G was a failed experiment.

I did not take any photos today but did work on some photos from our exploratory tour in 2010 of Panama. I thought it would be of interest to show you some 'before and after' work that I am doing these days. I am way beyond just 'happy snaps' and posting raw, poor photographs. My new program of Smart Photo Editor now complements my PhotoShop and 'artworks' are the order of the day. Making a pretty basic photograph into a work of art is exciting and has revitialized me. I am actually posting works for sale from last July, I am so backlogged....

I am showing a screen capture of Smart Photo Editor, and you can see that there are 12 options, and it shows that it is Page 11 of 616, so you can do the math... And then I can choose to process it again using another effect with another 12 x 616 options, so I thing we are in the millions of possibilities. I have been known to stack 3 or 4 effects to get the different look that I want....

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day’s excitement.

Cheers, Al

******

If you want to borrow a picture for sharing with family and friends, PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.

Pelican and egret are almost lost in the original shot

Hardly the same photo, is it??? 2 effects used+++

Loved this shot in Panama but needed a different take on it

2 different effects are stacked on this baby

A 'nothing shot" that needed rescuing

3 effects stacked on this puppy...

Page 11 of 616... 12 on a page... Over 7,000 choices... And that's just the start...

Saturday, July 8, 2017

Saturday July 8, 2017 Joes' Secret Garden

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Please see more of my artworks for sale at my websites: http://souvenirphotostudio.neocities.org/ or http://saccc05.tripod.com/

******

Saturday July 8, 2017

Had to catch up on my rest today before heading to Joes' Secret Garden for a much-anticipated new meal of Roast Beef.

Perhaps that is why there was a disproportionate amount of Canadians in attendance tonight, and many of us were westerners raised on Alberta beef.

Ken and KP slow-cooked the beef for 7 hours so it was tender and delicious. Well done guys! And keep it up with the berry desserts too... They are a hit as well.

I hope you enjoy the photos. That was the day’s excitement.

Cheers, Al

******

If you want to borrow a picture for sharing with family and friends, PLEASE give me credit for the photo.

NOTE that you may click on any photo for an ENLARGED VIEW.