Pipe Creek Texas March 9, 2015

Rambo on his way to fight imaginary villains

What does a real life hero look like. Here is a picture of one of my favorite TV hero's. I have watched Sylvester Stalone in the Rambo movies probably too many times to count. He sure looks ready for anything.

But what does a REAL life hero really look like? I think that it is somebody who just sees a need in the world, gets up and says, “Hey! I think I might be able to help with that.” They are just ordinary people who are as afraid of the unknown as we all are, but somehow, someway they rise above their fears. Like us, they sometimes wake up in the middle of the night sweating with fear, but still they rise up in the morning, have a cup of coffee and get on with what needs to be done.

A real life American hero

What does a REAL life hero look like? She looks like my 72 year old wife who after helping stop the spead of Ebola in Liberia, Africa ( she says she had a lot of help from MSF, Doctors Without Borders) is now off once again, this time to Sierra Leone to hopefully do the same. She says she is going to try to stop the spread of ebola there, so we don't have to worry about it here. This Is what the face of a REAL true American hero looks like, and I am once again proud to be able to support her in her quest, and I hope all of you can do the same?

You can read all about her work at my blog or go right to the source in her blog https://kimfedericisblog.wordpress.com

I know she would appreciate a thought or comment, a word of encouragement, or just a simple thank-you note as she begins her work of making the world just a little safer. She will be gone for the next two months. As I write this she is in the air on her way to Africa, and I couldn't be prouder to call her my friend.

But of course that's just my opinion!

Here is just an interesting story for anyone who has ever flooded their DSLR.
While on a extended trip to Mexico in 2009, I fell out of a canoe with my Pentax K-10 and a Tamaron 18 to 200mm lens. I did all of the right things to try and save the camera, but to no avail. By the way the SanDisk 8G card was fine and I was able to retrieve all of my images.

When I returned to the states, I sent it off to Pentax for an estimate. It was out of warranty, but several weeks later they gave me a quote of $276.00. I said OK, but 3 weeks later when they shipped it back, they enclosed a note that said it was “not repairable.” No other explanation was offered. Thanks Pentax, for letting me know! I now had a very nice bookend!

So I bought a K-20, which 3 years later, after a month long trip to the Suriname jungle, started acting erratically. With 1 month left on the warranty I sent I back to Pentax for repairs. Expecting the worst and not being able to wait, I bought a K-5. To my surprise they completely rebuilt my K-20 and shipped it back. I later sold it with the help of the Pentax Forum. Thanks!

Just for grins, I loaded a freshly charged aftermarket battery in my K-10, and surprise surprise it worked. It still has a little trouble on auto focus, and the flash appears to not be working, but I have tested it extensively, and it takes great pictures. In fact, I have even won a couple of contests with the pictures I have taken with it!
Moral of this story, if it has one, is never give up on your Pentax DSLR

Here is even one of my award winning photos called “Playing for Money” shot with an not repairable Pentax K-10.