Before I go any further- fellow UHHer, Rufe, lives in and works around Jefferson City, MO, which was hit by a tornado last night. Talked w Rufe today. Their home is unscathed - but ones on either side experienced some damage. He said it was the worst tornado the area has ever seen and damage is quite widespread - roofs ripped off, cars thrown around. He said he and his family were very fortunate. There are many places through which one cannot drive. I was wondering about him when my phone rang and it was, Rufe.

Thank you all for your good wishes after I was so rudely interrupted by a fluttering heart valve event during the Christmas Card Challenge in early December! For reasons I'll never understand, I was spared this time and returned (with a Pacemaker), so I can post a fourth Christmas Card I wanted to enter in that Challenge. These were three buddies in Occupied Germany in 1946, a year after the Nazi surrender.

God rest you, Merry Gentlemen! Let nothing you dismay,
For Jesus Christ, your Savior, was born this Christmas Day
To save you all from Sin and Shame, lest you should go astray.

Thanks for the start off Lesley. I have some oldies but can't go diving for them now. Busy with Christmas #1 starting tomorrow morning and #2 starts tomorrow night, Christmas Eve through Christmas Day. A fun but exhausting time. I doubt I'll get to post until Free For All is almost history, so I wanted to send this greeting to all my UHH friends:

The Photog’s Christmas

It’s the time of year for a photog to reflect…
There’ve been landscapes, still life, smoke, water drops and yet,
Another year passes and no “big dollar” shot did I get.
With tripod, lenses, feet that zoom; I’m out capture a winning new “best”

Cryptic letters everywhere I look: ISO, Av, Tv, M and P,
Auto, WB, Sports, Fireworks, Portrait - oh mercy me! .
Help! Help! What should my settings be?
“mm”s, f stops and JPEG or RAW? I only wanted to “capture” a tree!

Intervals, bulb, pixels, filters and flash,
Clouds, PS, LR, Photomatrix, On1- computer PLEASE don’t crash.
Remote, AF, MF, sensor, mirrorless, and reviews that clash.
Be careful -Videos, YouTube, Classes, and Workshops can eat up the cash.

“DSLRs are so easy to use, “ words perhaps said to you too.
So, why did mine come with 500 pages of fine print to peruse?
My computer boasts more memory than I - too true!
And another back-up system? How long before I blow a fuse?.

Santa, I’d really love a lens, and some gear,
But I’ve no $$ left to buy programs or lenses this year!
Please be generous to my UHH friends so special and dear.
Thanks to them, I’m no longer clueless
AND my camera brings joy, not fear.