Astrophotography - Take 2

The Quatranid Meteor showers were about a week ago.  I took my camera and tried to captured some meteors.  I saw 2, but was unable to get them with my camera.  But there are other things to take a picture of at night.  Like stars. and planets.  The moral of the story is I need to learn to focus the camera.  I had the camera autofocus on the moon.  But the focus seems to have shifted through the night.  I'm vaguely recalling something from observational astronomy where we had to refocus the telescope and CCD when the temperature dropped so many degrees.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46157142@N05/6676604719/" title="Orion and his faithful dog  by tfanetti, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7021/6676604719_0fb67fb421.jpg" width="500" height="320" alt="Orion and his faithful dog "></a>
I think this is 30 s.  There seems to be some trails starting.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/46157142@N05/6676599111/" title="Orion and his faithful dog take 2 by tfanetti, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7011/6676599111_67e88d46cb.jpg" width="500" height="319" alt="Orion and his faithful dog take 2"></a>
This one is somewhere between 10 and 15 s.

Obviously I also need to learn how to take multiple images and combine them into one.  I do know how (well, I used to anyway) to that in IRAF (astronomical imaging software) but I haven't the foggiest of how to do it in Elements if you can even do it.

Kale Chips

why.  WHY???  WHY?????????????????????????

Pigs are gaining in altitude

I'm giving relationship advice.  And how to have conversations with people.

Insert irony.

Unfriended

I have discovered that my sister has unfriended me on facebook.  I knew our relationship was on rocky ground.  I knew it was something I did, although I have no idea what it is.  But to be unfriended on facebook.  wow.

Uh

Me: the prettiest handbag will not save the world
Boss: everyone knows it is the prettiest high heel

Gum Drops!

Aren't they awesome looking??  I've always been nervous about making candy that isn't chocolate.  Hot sugar burns very badly.  I found this recipe (Scroll down...it's way at the bottom) and it only required knox, sugar, flavor and food coloring.  All of which I happened to have on hand.  

If you make these, more is better when it comes to flavoring.  I'm thinking 1-1.5 oz per 8x8 tray.  I just poured some in (not sure how much) and I think the flavor could be stronger.  I was disappointed in the yellow food coloring.  I used way more than the recipe called for and it's not yellow.  I squirted practically the entire little container in there too.  

Be prepared for sticky mess.  I got distracted while boiling the mix and it boiled over.  I have a gas stove.  Imagine hot gooey stickiness all over the gas pipes and the bottom of the stove and I can't get it all off.  Also, I used throwaway foil pans.  I didn't support the bottom enough.  It spilled.  Alot.  

The recipe said to cut with a butter knife.  I think that is so you don't damage the pan.  I ended up flipping the gum drops out of the pan and onto a cutting board and using a real knife.  I cut the chunks kind of big.  I'm thinking smaller.

I gave some to Photo Buddy, who was kind enough to fix my tripod, and he said they were better than store bought ones and very soft :)

I'd like to try this again but I'd use glass pans I think.  I'm also not sure where to get other flavor extracts.  I know I can get them at the grocery store...but those tend to be imitation.  I prefer to use real flavors when possible.   

On being honest

So I'm having a friend over for dinner. Because of my lack of budget skills and Jake's cough I'm a little short. I wanted to get some really expensive liqueur to make desert. I have lots of pennies so I took them to get counted. I wanted a gift card but they were out so I got cash. I redeemed the voucher and I realize the cashier gave me a $20 instead of a $10. YES!!! My lucky day. I should take it back. No I really need an extra $10. But her drawer will be off and she could get in trouble or fired. I'll have to go to confession too. :(. So I took it back.

Why is it so hard to do the right thing sometimes?