Slow but steady improvement. Or so it seems. We’re trying to be patient!

Damn. Typed a long note and inadvertently deleted it. So you’ll get a redacted, shortened, abbreviated version. Sorry.

Kim and I are doing better. Fingers crossed that the infection in her spine is gone. See a neurosurgeon next month.

Never warmed to the C41 B&W film. Locked into decades of TriX and HP5. Having a darkroom makes it all a lot easier.

Have considered buying a used Hasselblad more than once. So far haven’t pulled the trigger. Perhaps I never will since I’m happy with the 35mm work. Hope to get it posted on the blog at some point. Right now I’m trying to figure the best way to present — on WordPress as part of Scooter in the Sticks or on a separate Squarespace site. Squarespace is more elegant but not sure I want to run two sites.

That’s the news from Boalsburg.

I’m having to keep mindful of the fact that you and Kim are mending from different things, and those meds can send you ’round the bend at least a bit. Hoping (and believing) all this will get lighter on the shoulders before terribly long.

Yes, 35mm is totally in my wheelhouse…has been for, golly, the better part of fifty years. My go-to B&W has been Ilford XP2 Super, based on the fact that (1) it has miles of tonal range and latitude, (2) has crazy-tight grain, and (3) is C41-compatible, which is the proverbial godsend for me as I continue to clear out/clean up the basement for future darkroom action for me and the wife.

Funny thing is, and old friend laid a Hasselblad 500c/m kit on me totally by surprise (long story): body, two film backs, standard-issue 80mm f/2.8 and 140 f/4 macro. Wasn’t sure what I’d do with it, but now I’m going to get a 60° prism finder, hood and strap, and actually do the medium-format thing for the first time in, well, nearly fifty years. (It helps that Le Wife gifted me an Epson V800 scanner for my birthday in January, helping me decide on keeping the Hassy.)

Really looking forward to the film side of your photo work. You’ve already inspired me to dust of and revive my long-dormant WordPress site.

Y’all get well now, hear?

Thank you for the positive vibes. Much appreciated. Just finished the midnight infusion. Off to dreamland for a few hours before the next one!

Lots of film still available in black and white — Kodak, Ilford, Foma, and others. It’s an antique process now I suppose.

We’re hanging in. Another month of infusions and then a few weeks off before another MRI to assess the spine. Fingers crossed for good news.