A 'lil HooHaa

Messing with the blogging world since 2005

a lil hoohaa

2013 in Review: Images on the go paint a picture of my year

Despite knowing I’ll be changing the dates a bit because of previous blogging commitments, today starts my look back at 2013.

This year really had its ups and downs. Between probably reaching one of the lowest points in my life, it’s ending on a super high note — one in which I’ve really been waiting to have happen.

Still, even knowing what I have been through, photography has been a big part of my life this year. Whether with my phone (often) or my regular DSLR, I captured a lot of things I’ll remember fondly.

This first installment is a video. It’s about 16:30 long, and features hundreds of images I took this year with my iPhone. Many are “Instagram” images, others are not really processed at all. These images really paint a picture of my year, which is what I was trying to capture.

The video has a soundtrack, too, of songs I kind of got into this year and I tried to make them pretty upbeat and such for the video.

I hope you have the time to sit back, watch the video and enjoy. I’ll have the rest of the series starting Jan. 1 (as it looks now, anyway).

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

2013 in Review: Upcoming

So I’m doing things a little differently with my year in review setup.

On January 1, I’ll still have my normal (lengthy) post looking back at 2013. But, this year, I’m also adding a few video posts to the setup. They will be as follows:

  1. A video of videos I’ve taken this year.
  2. A video of iPhone photos I’ve taken.
  3. A video of photos I’ve taken with my DSLR.

I’ve added music to the second two, mostly tunes I started listening to this year.

Two of the videos are already made, and the third will be made soon. I like how the first two came out, too. Hopefully, these will be posts people enjoy.

It’s been a crazy year, 2013 has been. It started out crappy, it wasn’t too bad in the middle, got really bad and then is ending quite well. I’ll explain it all in the four review posts.

The anticipated dates for the posts are as follows:

  • Dec. 27: iPhone video post
  • Dec. 30: Video post
  • Dec. 31: Regular photo video post
  • Jan 1, 2014: Year in Review

The first three are tentative in that I might move the placement of the videos, pending on how I want them done. The iPhone one is about 15 minutes long and the video post is about 10 minutes. The third one isn’t made yet, so I’m not sure there.

I’ve been working away at these posts, so hopefully they’ll come together as planned. I’m excited for them, too, as I think they show a good glimpse at my 2013.

Thanks, too, to everyone who has been a reader this year. I’ve enjoyed the interactions (though I really need to catch up on comments — I’m several weeks behind in responding!) and I look forward to another great year of blogging in 2014.

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook!

Notes from my noodle: March 21 edition

OK, this doubling up on blogs is tough!

Before I know it, I have one post elsewhere and then a neglect here. This is my apology to the friends of  A ‘lil HooHaa. As I get everything built up over at the disc golf blog I’ve created, I have made this one almost second in comparison.

It won’t always be that way.

But I have been working on getting that other site running and moving. Starting a new blog for a niche such as disc golf takes some patience because you have to line things up, get topics and ideas and line up a few extra writers.

We’ve done much of that thus far, but we have a long way to go.

And for neglecting here a little, my apologies. It won’t be a full-time neglect, I can assure you.

I’ve had some version of A ‘lil HooHaa since July of 2005 and I don’t plan on having it end here. Not because of another blog, anyway.

So fear not, I’m here. And I plan on being so for a long time. I just might miss here and there because of some other commitments. It’s my hope to build up a queue of stories, too, that I can post as needed.

But I have some other things in my noodle at this time, too.

While you are at it, however, if you like or are interested in disc golf — check out the new blog at RattlingChains.com.

***

I read a story today that talked about potential employers asking people during an interview for their Facebook password.

Seriously.

This person, apparently, has their Facebook stuff set to private (which is a smart thing. I do the same. Privacy, folks, is an important thing). During the interview, the interviewer turned and looked up said person and asked for his password to be able to look at his Facebook.

Say what? Talk about an invasion of privacy!

This gentleman promptly refused and withdrew himself from consideration for the position.

Look, I don’t use my Facebook to badmouth any employee — past, present or future. I don’t do it on the blog. I don’t do it. Why? Because burning bridges isn’t a smart thing to do. Especially in a public forum. No matter how something ended, whether bitter or not, there’s always something good to take away from the experience. It also gives you something to work for in the future, maybe as an improvement or something else.

Not to mention it’s public. Why would you want to blast someone where potential future employers would see it.

That still doesn’t give someone a right to ask me for my personal passwords and such to snoop around my Facebook, see my friends and all that. I have personal things on my Facebook — nothing major, but family things etc., — and the reason I keep things private is because I don’t want people to see these things. Well, outside my small group of Facebook friends.

Could you imagine being asked to fork over this stuff at an interview?

The story also notes that the city of Bozeman, Montana, until recently, asked for passwords and accounts for things like Facebook AND your e-mail!

I really would like to move on in my employment hunt. But if things like this are a requirement, is it worth working for a company like that? I’ve always liked to separate work and private life. I’m not going to let a potential employer — or anyone else for that matter — rifle through my personal e-mail.

Not a chance.

I realize it’s a buyers market out there for people looking for work, but that doesn’t give someone the right to play big brother to me. If someone wanted to see my Facebook, I have nothing to hide. I’d gladly show it. With me in control of things. There’s no need to surf my friends and such. You want to see my posts? Fine. Photos? Sure.

But e-mail? Never. There’s private things between friends and family and me. I’m not letting someone know every bit about my life. Unless said interviewer is willing to part with all their private info, I’m not doing it, either. That’s just wrong and a total invasion of privacy.

Has anyone had this happen to them? How did you react?

***

I don’t know about where you are, but the weather we are getting in my area is insane.

At one point when I was out and about today, it was 78.

In March.

In Upstate New York.

That’s just crazy. To think area high schools might get to play baseball and softball this year before April comes is even more crazy. I realize March games are usually on the schedule, but it’s rare for them to actually be played.

This years might prove it different.

Some cooler weather is coming in the coming week or so as things are supposed to dip into the 50s — which is my kind of weather. I’m hoping to get out and do a few things as well to break up the job hunt a little. Hopefully I’ll be employed soon enough, so then when getting out of work, I’ll appreciate the weather a bit more!

But high 70s in March. I can’t believe it!

***

I’ve been working on a story that will be partially on this blog sometime in April.

But the story, which involved professional wrestling, is really captivating and I think I can make it more in-depth and more detailed. Far more than for a blog because of it’s possible size.

So I’m looking to maybe try and get an Amazon Kindle Single.

The Singles are really nice reading. They range from 5,000-30,000 words and are quite in-depth reports or short fiction. The story I am working on, which I obviously won’t want to give away ahead of time, is compelling. I thought it was going to be pro wrestling and it goes way beyond that. I think it’s going to be some really good reading.

And, remember, to read a Kindle single, you won’t necessarily need to own a Kindle. You can get the free app to read things on smart phones, computers, iPads etc. They usually range in price from $1-$4. But the acceptance rate is different. They need to approve it, which I think is great because it makes you really write some of your best.

I’m hoping, when all is said and done, they’ll like my piece and want it as a Single.

And hopefully, people will buy it. I know most of what I do out here is free, but I assure you if it gets accepted, it’s one heck of a story. Plus, you’ll be helping an unemployed dude make a few cents!

More on this as it gets closer.

***

In closing, I’m going to get more on track here. Stick with me. I won’t be giving this up. I just need to get things on schedule on the other blog and get some things in my life taken care of. So I may miss a day or two here, but understand that I won’t be going anywhere. I love this blog. I really do. And I plan on doing it for a long time.

And please consider giving to my Relay for Life fundraising attempt. Remember, you can win a homemade quilted scarf. Details in my tag below!

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

Foto Friday: Zoom in!

OK, I didn’t realize Foto Friday was going to be such a hard weekly topic!

Something tells me I might need to think about making this twice a month instead of every week! But, if that happens, it will be down the road. For now, let’s tackle a new week of Foto Friday.

Specifically, making something that might not be so interesting into something that can be really interesting.

Mainly, I’m taking about using the zoom on your camera.

Not all of us have macro lenses — and that’s fine. I don’t have one and get by quite well without it. You can still get in on a photo and have a macro feel without having the specific lens.

Take, for example, a couple of weather shots I took for my 366 Project.

When I initially took this shot, I was thinking bigger. I wanted several pine trees with the snow all over them. But it looked crowded, jumbled and blah. I moved to different spots and couldn’t get anything that seemed good. I zoomed slightly to get part of a bigger tree.

Nothing.

This, of course, left me unhappy. It was cold and I wanted to get my shot for the day and call it a day.

Then I zoomed in. I changed my focus. I did some angles. and I got this shot, which I truly love. I made the focus on the pines and went with the snow just being part of the depth of field. I loved the way it seemed to pop. I took something that I was convinced wouldn’t be a good photo to something that I thought looked pretty cool.

Then there’s a wet day…

This was a tough one because I was hoping to capture a drip (which I did, but the focus went off. Argh!) I, again, took more of a wide angle shot trying to show the whole branch. But it was too small to fill up the frame and if I took away some of the depth of field, it became really busy.

So, instead, I zoomed in as much as I could. I wanted to get the pricker with the drops. I loved how this came out with the reflections and such.

The depth of field is something I was stoked about as well. This is one of my favorite shots from the 366 so far.

Even zooming in or making a frame as tight as possible can give odd objects a cool feel.

Take, for example, a hubcap.

I drove by this on a smaller road in an area town the other day.

I was late for an appointment, so I had to skip it on the way over. But the way back? I knew it was going to be my shot of the day. The problem was making it seem interesting.

Though this shot is OK, too, I felt being zoomed in gave it a little more life.

Because, honestly, things like this are seen quite often in my area.

Alas, I was up for the challenge. With a solid blue sky as the backdrop, I just needed to figure out how to frame it. I took many images as cars zoomed by, no doubt wondering what the heck I was up to!

I liked a lot of the angles I took. I made some wide-angle, some close in and shot from different vantage points. And I liked several shots.

But I thought the life was given to the object once I closed in on it, framed it on the right (rule of thirds!) and then made sure to get that wonderful sky and the country backdrop in the shot.

I got down in a catcher’s position and aimed up. I had to zoom in tight because the sun was behind me, thus making it quite hard to keep my shadow out of the shot. Then I snapped away and I was super pumped with the image that came out.

With digital, too, it’s easier to do things like this. Back in the days of film, you wanted to make sure you liked the shot beforehand because it could get expensive to develop all that film! So take chances, try angles and zoom in. Sometimes you’ll take something you don’t think would be a good image and make it into something wonderful!

Fundraiser: I am, again, trying to raise money for the Relay For Life. If you donate to me — even a small amount — you will be entered to win a super-sweet quilted scarf. Click here for all the information!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook! 

A ‘lil HooHaa: State of the Blog

My fellow readers and bloggers, welcome to this year’s State of the Blog Address. I’d like to first thank everyone for stopping by, reading my words, commenting, linking, liking or tweeting. I’ve noticed an upswing in visits recently, and for that I am humbly thankful.

We here at HooHaa Nation strive to be a strong and viable blog. While we know that everything isn’t perfect and we don’t fit a certain niche, we feel this blog is carving its own spot in the blogosphere.

A ‘lil HooHaa started out no more than a small personal blog with a bunch of BS on it. It has grown a little and became more of a place for different items to be posted. In time, it’s grown to be a potpourri blog of all sorts of things — geocaching, sports, real life, current events, photography, hiking, disc golf etc.

That’s what makes this place “a ‘lil HooHaa.”

It’s unfortunate that I can’t find that one little niche to go forward in and make this blog something that a certain factor of people would follow all the time. Alas, with real life, it’s tough to focus on, say geocaching or disc golf or something along those lines all the time.

Plus, I’m not sure I’d have enough to say to cover those topics full time.

That being said, it’s nice to see when you hit a certain spot, you get the readers and such. For example, my post recently on the Vibram Open was my largest single-day count for visitors (since I started keeping those stats in February). It was magnificent!

Though it went down after that day, the reality is, this blog has grown to average more than 3,000 visitors per month and for that, I thank you the readers.

I hope this site continues to grow.

So what is in store for the coming year or so of the HooHaa Blog? A lot, I hope. A lot of growth. A lot of good content. And a lot of good ideas.

I hope, anyway.

***

To, hopefully, make the blog better, I have made some changes.

The biggest is probably the commenting system.

I switched to the disqus comment system. This is a plugin that eliminates the original WordPress comment system.

This system is much better (I’ve tested it on another “fake” blog I set up to check things out). The replies to people are much better, it allows people to comment by using social networking sign-ins (I won’t be having them all) and you can still just log as a guest with your name and website address. It’s extremely simple, so if there are any issues, drop me an e-mail and I’ll help you out.

If you are going to just post as a guest, type your comment and click in the “post as” box. In there, you’ll see many options to post. If going as normal, just put your e-mail address (required as was before), your name and, if you want to add your web address, click the link that says “Optional: Link to your website.”

I notice many websites are using this system, so I’m sure you’ve all used this already anyway! And, if for some reason I decide I don’t like it, I can go back to the old system without any issues. (All comments are still there, they are just transferring over to the new system. They should be done soon. If not, I’ll be going back to the old system very quickly).

Another change that has been done is adding social sharing icons at the bottom of each post. If you liked a post, like it on Facebook! Or tweet it. Or make note of it at StumbledUpon. Or give it a “+1” on Google Plus. All of those options are at the bottom each individual post. I thank you in advance for any of these things you do!

One other change — or addition — is contests. The first one is currently going on (see the quick note at the bottom of this post) and my hope and plan is to do a contest every few weeks. There are many things I am giving away (and have received some donations recently, too), so hopefully as the contests continue, more and more people will enter and win some good stuff.

If you have other ideas, hook me up with them! If you think you have something that might make a good blog post, let me know and I’ll see what I can do.

***

Besides the changes that have been made, there’s more coming.

  • In-depth journalistic-type posts. I have been working on a few series of stories that I hope to share with my readers. As many of you know, I was a journalist for many years and I still like to dive into those types of things. Though these won’t be hard-hitting news stories, I am hoping that the feature-like approach will be an attraction. Some of the topics I have been working on are long-distance hiking, professional wrestling and disc golf. All have been compelling so far and I hope they will be when I am done with the projects. I am looking for more ideas, too.
  • Guest bloggers. I am hoping that I can work it out to get some good writers/bloggers to come aboard and do a guest post. I’d be more than willing to do ones for others, too. I won’t publish just anything, however. There needs to be a distinct topic being covered (can be pretty much anything) and be written well (in other words, no Internet shorthand, proper grammar, spelling etc.) IF you would like to be a guest blogger here, drop me a note so we can work it out! I have three or four people already interested and hope to add more to this list!
  • Photoblog integration. This is not a guarantee, but a hope. For those who don’t know, I have a daily photoblog. It’s something I’ve had for years, but I would love to be able to integrate it into this blog and have them work together. However, I don’t want to bring it all over here if things don’t transfer well.

***

I have had this blog since 2005 in different “lives.” Since February, I’ve done a lot to try and make it a place to come for some interesting reading. I hope that can continue. I’ve seen the page views raise on the blog and it’s starting to average upwards of 2,500 or more visitors per month. That’s a good thing and I hope that continues as it helps me continue to do this on a daily basis.

And for those of you just reading, thanks for coming. But feel free, too, to drop a comment or two at times. I love hearing from readers!

***

Reminder! Contest going on! I am holding my first (of hopefully many) contests this week. It runs from Sept. 11- to 12:01 a.m. Sept. 18. You can see all the details on the contest post. Enter for your chance to win!

Feel free to leave a comment, or e-mail P.J. at hoohaablog [at] gmail.com. Also, please “Like” HooHaa Blog on Facebook by clicking the button on the right side of the page!