Back in May I spied a yellow bird dancing around the branches of my cherry trees inspecting my cherry blossoms.

I quickly grabbed the Alpha 77ii and went about the business of photographing the little guy.

My neighbor to the east was outside and she tried to strike up a conversation with me. I believe it was on this day that I realized that she hasn’t the slightest clue about what my name is…

“Neighbor guy. Neighbor guy. Neighbor guy.” She kept calling to me.

I was trying to ignore her and hoped she’d go away. Not just because being called “Neighbor guy” is super annoying. It is like being called “buddy” or “pal”. 2 failed attempts of endearment. But the reason I was ignoring her this time is because all I wanted to do was photograph this bird.

I didn’t want or need another conversation about if I think her dogs bark too much or how I trained Naima to not bark constantly when she is outside. I didn’t want to hear about how her other neighbor had called the police on her because her dogs bark constantly when they are outside.

I just wanted to photograph this bird!

So I never made contact with her. I just kind of said, “Yeah” and “Uh-huh” to whatever she was saying and kept photographing the bird.

Here are a few products of my rudeness:

She also calls Naima “neighbor dog”. She is an interesting lady. Very interesting.

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Here is an update on my 10 Step Process to buying a drone.

1. Car paid off. – I got the pink slip daddy!
2. Training Budget Reimbursement – Bought about 10 books and signed up for an online portrait photography class that I will discuss someday.
3. Purchase Popcorn Maker – The Union Street theater has procured its very own popcorn maker from Flat Earth Joe. The one that was borrowed from Andy’s friend of a friend has been returned.
4. Computer Upgrade – I have completed upgrades on my home computer. I’ve put in a solid state drive to run the OS and the applications, I upped the RAM to 16 GB and I replaced the video card with a video card with twice the ram and that is capable of running 3 monitors.
5. Figure out the effect of the Iowa GOP Tax Scam – The Iowa GOP Tax Scam will indeed result in me paying more taxes. There is about a $7 effect on my paycheck, meaning I am getting a tax cut of roughly $200. (Assuming the withholding from my paycheck is being done right.) However, since the Iowa GOP Tax Scam made it so a 6% sales tax is levied on all online purchases, I will be taxed well more than the $200 benefit. For example, I’ll pay over $100 in taxes on purchasing the drone that I wouldn’t have had to pay before the Iowa GOP Tax Scam became law. 
6. Rear Brakes – I had the rear brakes replaced on my car last night. It costs me about 40% of what I was expecting Win!
7. Computer Mine Bonus – I did indeed get a Computer Mine Bonus. I can’t complain about it one bit. 
8. Bank Fraud Resolution – I am going to consider the bank fraud situation resolved. I haven’t received a letter saying that it is a done deal, but the bank did place the $350 that I requested in my bank account as a provisional credit. The investigation is still to be closed by January 31. I have a naive faith that the investigation will end in my favor. Otherwise, Credit Union Time?
9. Federal GOP Tax Scam – The Tax Scam didn’t effect my tax refund at all. It was almost like it wasn’t meant to be a tax cut for lower class and middle class people. It is almost like it was a cash grab for millionaires, billionaires, and corporations under the ludicrous precept that some of the benefits would trickle down to us poor folks. I can say this with 100% certainty. I respect a person that believes the earth is flat way more than I respect somebody that believes in the Laffer Curve. 
10. Change Jar -I have added some change to the change jar, including the change I won in a football pool at the Computer Mine. However, I am still probably 2 inches short of being almost full. I should effort to go through the cushions of my couches. If I can get within one inch, of the top of the jar, I will call this quest complete and proceed to order my drone.
    

9 out of 10 steps are complete. I might call my change jar good and take it to the bank soon. With the weather being so brutal, you can’t really even use a drone right now. Although this weekend’s weather report would be good enough. Hmmmm… decision… decision…