Get Lost!

Justice Served?

2010-03-26T19:47:00.001-05:00

Not really...

Judge Sentences Kenneth Shipp to Live in Prison Without Parole

Happy Birthday, Honey!

2010-03-03T10:21:00.006-06:00

Today is my honey's birthday. Unfortunately, he is in the 2nd week of about 6 weeks' worth of midnight shifts. Sucks.

He got one of these (in a miniature version) from Publix:

And he got one of these from me:

http://www.racingadventure.com/

I can't wait to see him take 6 laps around the track at TALLADEGA! Should be fun and results in lots o'pictures :-)

Happy Birthday to the greatest husband in the world! I love you!

SAR Saturday

2010-02-25T15:38:00.008-06:00

The NAPG Monthly Photo Contest for Feburary is: 24 - A 3 shot collage of a day in your life. So, I picked a SAR (search & rescue) practice Saturday. Here is my entry.

Here's the link to the original shot.

Idiotic Media Comment of the Day

2010-02-17T07:47:00.004-06:00

And trust me, there are lots of them some days. Strangely enough, this one comes from Fox News. They are not generally known for stupidity on camera. Generally.

Yesterday, a Fox reporter is giving details about the recent capture of the number 2 Taliban dude, Mullah Abdul Baradar, apprehended over a week ago in Pakistan. Baradar is a supposed close associate of everyone's favorite terrorist, Usama Bin Laden, and is reported to be the 2nd in command behind the "founder" of the Taliban, Mullah Mohammad Omar. So, obviously, Baradar has friends in high places.

The reporter gives all this background and then makes the statement that "some in the intelligence community worry that the capture of Baradar could possibly drive Bin Laden and Omar underground." Let that sit for a second.

Okay, now, if I'm not mistaken, everyone in the WORLD has been looking for Bin Laden and Omar for what, years now? If they aren't underground already, does someone REALLY think that the capture of this guy is going to drive them there?? If they aren't already "underground," then where the Hell are they? Give me a break guys. If you only have something stupid to say, just STFU. M'kay?

The Present

2010-02-10T09:14:00.002-06:00

I heard this quote on the way to work this morning:

"The Present is the living sum-total of the whole Past."
Thomas Carlyle—Essays. Characteristics.
(1795-1881, Scottish philosopher, author)

It really struck a chord with me on this cold, dreary day, with sleet hitting the windshield as I headed down I-565 @ 70 mph on my way to work. If one thing, just one, had been different in my past, I would not be who I am, what I am, today. If my momma hadn't died when I was 11 years old, who would I be today? If I hadn't met the love of my life 18 years ago on my first day at my new job as a nuclear plant trainee, where would I be today? If my daddy hadn't been struck down with cancer in 1993, what would I be doing today? If I hadn't decided to go back to school and finish my Mathematics degree, where would I be working today?

It does no good to dwell on the past. I know that. And I rarely do. The Present is important. Yesterday is not. And while I don't spend too much time wondering "what if," I do occasionally, when speeding down the highway, listening to the radio, spending time alone.

I do know this: I am what I am (to quote another great philospher, Popeye). That's all that I am. And, I'm damn happy with that.

Must See TV

2010-01-21T13:56:00.002-06:00

Remember the old "Who's on First" routine from Abbott & Costello? If you don't, go watch it before you get any further.

Okay - back? Well, sit back and enjoy the modern political version of it. This is from Chris Matthews' Hardball last night. The wildman Howard Dean made an appearance and it's one to not be missed:

What a stitch that one is! "If she wins, it's a victory. If she loses, it's a victory." And this is the kind of rhetoric that Dems/Libs really think most of us are stupid enough to believe. I had to keep backing up and listening to sections of it over and over, particularly when they started calling each other "crazy." And did you catch that subtle little John-Kerry-hautiness (he served in Viet Nam, you know) from Chris when he said, "This guy with a barn coat that said 'I'm going to vote to kill the bill...'" Hey, wait....didn't John Kerry run around in a barn coat??

Another priceless installment from the MSM. Gotta love these guys.

NEWS FLASH!!!

2010-01-21T10:36:00.003-06:00

I know this is going to come as a shock to many of you out there. Please brace yourselves. John Edwards has finally broken his silence and admitted that he is indeed the father of Frances Quinn Hunter.

Perhaps this is further fallout from the Scott Brown win in Massachusetts? Nah, he's just an idiot.

And what a day it was.

2010-01-20T11:32:00.003-06:00

I am in information overload today. I've read blogs, news articles, pollster opinions. I just can't get enough of this. I was tempted to break out the Champagne we didn't open on New Year's and toast Scott Brown. Wow.

How about this bumper sticker I saw on someone's tweet:
"I'd rather ride in Scott Brown's truck than Ted Kennedy's car." Unh-huh, that's what I'm talkin' about.

And the fallout continues. BO's nominee for TSA head pulled out of the confirmation process today:
"Southers, in statement, blames those who have "chosen to push a political agenda at the risk of the safety and security of the Am people" " - from Major Garrett's Twitter stream (which is an excellent Twitter stream if you are interested).

Virginia Sen. Jim Webb calls for suspending all votes on health care until newly elected Republican Scott Brown can take office.

And the fingerpointing and blame-laying between the Dems/Coakley/WH is just a stitch.

I am GIDDY today! Hope this feeling stays for a long time. And as I commented on another's blog, everyone says this sends a message to the Dems. Well, I say, it better by-damn send a message to the REPUBLICANS! They had their chance during the Clinton years and they BLEW it. Conservatism won yesterday. Con-serv-a-tism. Read it. Love it. Learn it. Don't start playing moderate. Don't start the bullshit "reaching across the aisle" to work with their Dem counterparts or the WH. SCREW 'EM. They have never, never tried to work with the Reps on anything. Just look at this piece of crap Health Care Reform monstrosity. They have locked the Reps out of all work on that. Turn about, buddies, turn about.

Well, tomorrow is the day...

2010-01-18T10:34:00.002-06:00

...for a lot of folks in Massachusetts to set some things right (no pun intended).
Reckon this is what we'll see come poll closing time tomorrow night??

Shameless...

2010-01-17T21:27:00.002-06:00

stealing from another blog:

Sorry, but it was necessary! This jewel is lifted from HillBuzz.

Bob Howard - One of a kind

2010-01-17T13:01:00.002-06:00

I received this via email today. I saw the report on TV back in December following Alabamian Col. Howard's death, but receiving this today just reminded me again of how lucky we are in this country to have men like this. Please watch and remember.

Blog Quote of the Day

2010-01-17T07:23:00.002-06:00

A fellow blogger turned me on to Hillbuzz recently. When I first perused it, I thought she must be crazy. I mean, these were a bunch of gay guys from Chicago who were Hillary Clinton supporters. Really. But, they are also HUGE Sarah Palin fans. Yeah, I know. Not possible. Once you get through that particular juxtaposition, everything else is easy.

These guys are very informed on all things Obama, Dem-related. They post lots of stuff, sometimes many times a day. They are all over the Scott Brown (as they call him, Hottie McAwesome) and Martha Coakley race in Massachusetts. They are very anti Dr. Utopia (that would be Pres. Obama). They are obviously extremely intelligent, and fantastic wordsmiths.

So, I'm sitting here drinking my morning cup-a and reading HillBuzz. A post from yesterday is talking about policemen (very positively I must say - refreshing) and this line pops up:
"No, we love cops because they are the opposite of stupid. They are brave, courageous, professional, and SMART. And some of them here in Boystown really know how to fill out a pair of blue slacks, gun belt, and a badge."

Now I am cleaning spewed coffee off my keyboard.

w00t! It's Friday...

2010-01-15T14:24:00.002-06:00

...and I'm smiling. Been a long week. Gonna be a short weekend, of which part may be spent back at work. Oh well, to quote the great philosopher, Tony Soprano, "Whaddaya gonna do? Nothin' you can do."

Had about a month off from SAR practice due to holidays and severe weather, so back at it again bright and early in the a.m. We'll be tromping around the top of Wheeden Mtn. on Redstone Arsenal looking for lost people. I am hoping the rain holds off till later in the day. Sunday may be a quick waterfall trip to TN, scouting out a location with fellow photog Cecil Holmes, assuming it doesn't just pour down rain, and assuming I don't guilt myself into coming back into work....We'll see.

And I leave you with this news nugget - actor Danny Glover blaming the earthquake and massive destruction and loss of life in Haiti on.....wait for it.....global climate change:

Late entry

2010-01-14T21:47:00.002-06:00

Didn't get any Christmas pics up this time around. Just too busy. But once Christmas was over, I had time to take a few shots. This is my beautiful Brandi posing for her Christmas portrait:

Isn't she pretty? :-)

Keep America Safe...

2010-01-14T10:35:00.002-06:00

the new ad from Keep America Safe - pretty slick.

Dang me, dang me...

2010-01-13T20:37:00.002-06:00

Sorry, old Roger Miller song running through my head there..."My pappy was a pistol I'm a son of a gun."

Anyway, here it is Wednesday and dang it if I haven't let two more post-less days get past me. One of these days...I will make it 30 days in a row. Maybe February? Hey, there's only 28 days in February...We'll see.

Let's see, to catch up? Monday was a typical Monday. It started way too early. I had lab time at 6:00 a.m. which meant I was up at 4:15 a.m. That sucks, major.

Tuesday, NAPG meeting at Tommy's Pizza. Had a really great time and I counted about 19 attendees. Big group again this month. Seems like folks are really getting engaged in the group and excited about getting together, exchanging ideas and learning how to take better photos. I know I am. We are going to try more "organized" photo outings this year, as well as some workshop/learning sessions. I'm hoping for and planning on lots of fun and learnin' this year. It's funny. I have met some of the most wonderful folks this past year via NAPG. But, on the other hand, I've run into a very few that really have an elitist attititude about the whole photography thing. Photography Snobs, you might say. They know more than the rest of us unwashed masses about all things photographic. Yet, they don't seem to want to help us poor numbskulls improve our skill or learn new things. I suppose that fits with the elitist attitude though. Oh well, it must suck to be them. :-)

Best thing I have seen in a long time occurred this week and that would be the snippets of video I have seen from the Scott Brown/Coakley debate in Massachusetts. Brown (or Hottie McAwesome as HillBuzz calls him) has pulled to within two percentage points of Ms. Coakley. Check out this little exchange:

Isn't that just precious? He also came up with a zinger telling her she could run again Bush and Cheney all she wanted, but his name was Scott Brown and he drove truck with over 200,000 miles on it! And then today we see video and pics of one of her thugs pushing down a reporter in D.C. Priceless.

Playing in the Dark

2010-01-10T08:08:00.006-06:00

Well, darn it, I missed another posting day yesterday. But, honestly, I had a good excuse. We were up and out of the house by 7 am on our way to Jackson County for another NAPG Underground trip. Twelve of us photogs headed into Limrock Blowing Cave at about 10:20 a.m. We emerged from the dark at approx. 5 pm. And yes, it was below freezing and brutally cold on the outside, but it was a comfy 60 degrees ambient in the cave. How sweet is that?? By the time we all got changed into clean and dry clothes (lots of wading in this cave) and stopped to eat, it was after 8 pm before our tired butts dragged back into the house.

One of the photographers, Dennis, is a Light Painter. You must check out his Flickr photostream. I promise, you will be amazed. Trust me.

And, on the subject of Light Painting, here is my first entry into this wonderful photographic art form:

This particular "effect" is created by the subject spinning flaming steel wool on the end of a wire and long shutter speeds. This is sooc (straight out of camera) with no post processing. Cooooooool! We've already started planning the next trip :-)

Quote of the Day

2010-01-08T06:36:00.003-06:00

And of the impact that Thursday's disappointment will have on his life, he said, “I've never questioned why things happen as they do. God is in control of my life, and I know, if nothing else, I'm standing on the rock.” - Colt McCoy following TX Longhorns' loss to Alabama Crimson Tide in the BCS National Championship Game, 1/8/10 [from The Houston Chronicle]

Hysterical.

2010-01-07T13:54:00.000-06:00

Declassified!!

2010-01-07T06:15:00.003-06:00

I heard this morning that the Obama Administration will be releasing a declassified version of the briefing prepared for the President on what went wrong in the incident involving a 23-year-old Nigerian man who tried to blow up a Northwest Airlines flight.

I did a little poking around on the internet and was able to find a copy of the cover of the report:

Pretty damn scary stuff if you ask me.

A lack of "Gravitas"

2010-01-06T06:49:00.005-06:00

Alrighty, excuse me while I rant on a political note. During the run for the presidency by GWBush, the first time around I believe, the MSM vapor-locked on to a phrase, in various forms, that George W. Bush "lacked a certain amount of gravitas." And, they opined, that was why he chose Dick Cheney as his VP running mate. One of the radio talk show hosts put together a montage of the various MSM talking heads using that phrase, over and over and over and over, ad nauseum. Honest to God, it went on for minutes and minutes. And while that was their "opinion," (what's wrong with THAT statement?" perhaps there was some truth to it. However, once GWB was in office, I rarely ever saw a lack of gravitas. Yes, he was known to "cut up" once in a while, but when he needed to be Presidential, by God he was.

Enter President Obama. If ever anyone LACKED gravitas, it's this poser from Chicago. Here is a snippet from a Reuter's article from this morning:

Christmas incident was "screw up" - Obama said
"President Barack Obama told his security chiefs on Tuesday that the botched Christmas Day plane bombing was the result of a screw up by U.S. intelligence and that the country had barely dodged disaster, according to a quotation released by the White House.

"This was a screw up that could have been disastrous," the president said during a meeting in the White House situation room, according to the White House media office."

SCREW UP?? What the Hell? And yes, it was said in the Sit Room, but obviously someone knew it was going to make it to the Press. This has been the least "gravitas" President I've seen in my lifetime. "Christ a'mighty," to quote my Granny. Find him some gravitas, please!

Lookie, lookie!

2010-01-05T14:00:00.001-06:00

Snow in the Smokies....

(and there, two posts in one day! i am caught up. )

Manic Monday

2010-01-05T09:25:00.004-06:00

Well, so much for blogging every day for a month. Damn.

Anyway, yesterday was Manic Monday. The company which employs me, and which I have to say, given a headline I saw this morning, I LOVE working for, takes away all those lesser gov't holidays during the year (MLK Day, Prez Day, Vet Day, Arbor Day, Columbus Day, Armadillo Day, etc) and rolls them all into a glorious week off at the end of the year. I guess they figure ain't nothing getting done between Christmas and New Year's anyway, so what the hell. And yesterday was the first day back after that extended break. The brain was mush, the email box was bulging, my analysis is waaaay behind and I had to be in the lab until 7 pm last night. By the time I got home, starving, eyes burning, head hurting, blogging was not on my agenda. I'll post twice today to make up for it...maybe. :-)

Oh, and another pseudo-resolution also bit the dust yesterday. I had decided to give up the "F" word for a bit. You know, F-dash-dash-dash, to quote Ralphie. When I walked out yesterday morning to get in the car and was slapped in the face by a big old gust of Global Warming, I had to say it. At least once, maybe twice. It's part of a mantra I use when experiencing extreme weather conditions and the mantra just doesn't work without the F word in it. Maybe when it warms up a little I'll be able to control it.

And to close out this quick post, I leave you with a few headlines to prove that Global Warming is REAL, my friend:

Winter Could Be Worst in 25 Years for USA...

3 Deaths Due to Cold in Memphis, TN

Miami Shivers from Coldest Weather in Decade

Seoul Buried in Heaviest Snowfall in 70 Years

Look at it this way, if not for Global Warming, just imagine what a world of shit we could be in....

No s**t, Sherlock.

2010-01-03T19:17:00.003-06:00

Well, the hubby and I ventured out on this frigid January day to see the latest re-creation of Sherlock Holmes. Personally, "my" Sherlock is Basil Rathbone. Now, he was The Sherlock Holmes. But, Robert Downey Jr. makes a passable one.

I became a huge RDJr fan in 2000 when he showed up as Ally's love interest in Ally McBeal. He lasted for about 2 seasons and won several awards and nominations until they finally had to write him out because of his problems with drugs/police action/jail time/rehab. What a waste. I was really glad a few years ago when he finally seemed to come out of that dark place that drugs had taken him to, get his s**t together and get back to the important stuff.

And now, I am sitting on the couch with hubby and watching my Christmas present from him, Ally McBeal Complete Series DVD collection. We're still on Season 1. God, what a great and funny show this was. I remember now why I loved it so and was so sad when it ended its run.

Resolute...kinda sorta

2010-01-02T19:43:00.004-06:00

So, 2009 has come to a close and 2010 has come screaming in. I have managed to slink through another Christmas season. If you don't know why I put it that way, read here. All I have to do is make it through my birthday "season" in mid-February and I'll be good for the year, pretty much...except for Mother's Day and momma's birthday. All explained in the link above.

For the 4th (or is it 5th?) time, hubby and I spent Christmas week, + or -, at Cheaha State Park in central Alabama. Cheaha Mountain, the highest point in the lovely state at an amazing 2,407 feet. Wow. :-) It really is a lot of fun. Hiking every day (except for the mid-week quick trip over to the ATL to visit the in-laws for the day). Loads of photo ops - lots and lots of waterfalls. Fun with the pups and new pictures for the blog side-bar (coming soon - as soon as I get them downloaded from the camera).

And now it is time for the New Year's Resolutions. I realize I am a day late, but I honestly have a good excuse. We didn't come home until today, the 2nd. There was internet connection at the state park, but only if we went from the campground over to the other side of the park where the store/lodge are and accessed their wi-fi. And honestly, it just seemed stupid to spend a lot of time sitting in the parking lot at the store on the computer. I mean, my God, we were in a state park to camp and hike, not surf! So anyway, back to the resolutions.

My first resolution is to try blogging for 30 days straight. Notice the new badge in my sidebar. And here is a neat site to help me along (i hope): NaBloPoMo. We'll see how it goes. I tried Flickr's Project 365 last year, but it was just way too ambitious for me, particularly since I was such a "noob" in the digital SLR thing. Maybe Project 52 or Project 12? Now I think I could swing either of those, maybe.

My second resolution really is a repeat of last year's and best said by just reading this post. So, I plan to continue getting out of my comfort zone and trying new things, or at least pursuing thing further along. My first NAPG meeting in 2009 was a big step out of my comfort zone and I am so glad I made it. I've met some amazing photographers over this last year and gone shooting with many of them. I have learned so much from them and just absolutely had a blast along the way. I plan on doing even more this year along the photography path.

A "side" resolution last year involved getting out more into the "wild," so to speak. Hubby and I did alot of hiking in the nearby Sipsey Wilderness. It is a magical place, a true gift from God.

That is just a little taste of what can be seen in The Sipsey. Here are a few more of its treasures here.

Well, that's about it. A long post, but making up for missing the first day of my month-long quest. Stay tuned.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T10:25:00.002-06:00

The "Apology"

2009-12-09T12:20:00.002-06:00

In an effort to be "fair & balanced," I submit for your approval the "apology" offered by Chris Matthews on the night following his statement that West Point Academy was enemy territory for Pres. Obama:

I had posted the follow-up video on Facebook and meant to post here as well, but life is a bit hectic right now. I was reminded that I needed to update the blog after seeing a comment on the first video post.

Yes, he apologized, sort of. He just read a statement off the teleprompter (sound familiar?). I have a feeling that he suffered (poor baby) 24 hours of PURE hell after the first statement. And I'm pretty sure he had no choice but to read his apology on air. And my, didn't his apology sound heartfelt and soulful? >not<
Whatever.

Fra-Gil-Lay....

2009-12-06T16:54:00.004-06:00

Otherwise known as "fragile." And if you understand that statement, you are indeed a hip, cool cat in my book. ;-)

On Thursday last, my honey and I went to
The Princess Theatre to see "A Christmas Story," perhaps the single greatest Christmas movie ever made. Funny, I absolutely did not care for that movie up until a few years ago. I think it was about the time that Turner Classic Movies (i think) started showing it for 24 hours straight on Christmas Day every year. That's when it finally hit me. I LOVE that movie.

Unfortunately, the Princess doesn't have a "real big screen" like in the old days. They have a pretty big drop-down style screen, so it was almost like seeing it on the big screen. When I was growing up, Saturdays this time of year were spent at the Princess Theatre. Momma would take us kids down on Saturday morning and come back and pick us up on Saturday afternoon. That's when "Santa" went shopping. The first time I ever sat in the dark and held hands with a boy was on one of those Saturday matinees when I was in about the 4th grade or so. How funny. I think he even tried to kiss me. I was having none of that. You can get >pregnant< doing that! Well, at least that's what I thought at about that age. I bet 4th graders nowadays know more about sex and sex education than I did by high school! Oh well.

But, I digress. Back to the movie. It was based on short stories by Jean Shepherd, In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash and Wanda Hickey's Night of Golden Memories. Of course, there's the Triple Dog Dare, the flag pole, the Red Ryder BB gun, F---, Fudge, Scut Farkus, Little Orphan Annie and the Secret Society decoder pin, Peking duck, a hundred other little tidbits, and of course, The Lamp;

It was a thing to behold! They had one in the lobby and sold raffle chances on it. I bought 4. I did not win. Bummer. Of course, hubby asks, "What are you going to do with it if you win?" Details. I'm sure I would have thought of something.

I have a couple of blogging buddies who have mentioned recently that they just aren't into being "Christmassy" yet. Well, I'm getting there. Slowly. My next post will be a history lesson on why Christmas is the most miserable time of the year for me. However, seeing that movie and listening to a CD I picked up today (more on that later) have certainly helped me get into that "Christmas" kinda mood!

Is Chris Matthews really that ignorant?

2009-12-02T19:44:00.003-06:00

On the way home this evening, I was treated to a snippet of Chris Matthews' commentary following President Obama's speech last evening to the nation. He was giving this speech at West Point in front of the cadets. Here was Chris' take on it:

West Point cadets are "the enemy camp?" WTF? I would assume that Chris is of some reasonable intelligence level. Say, middle school or above. But enemy camp? Un-effing-believable.

The week that was...

2009-11-20T20:49:00.002-06:00

....well, a lot of things, I reckon.

Went to see Ricky Skaggs & Kentucky Thunder in concert on Thursday night. GREAT, great concert. Wow. Those guys really know how to rock the house. You should really check them out.

Work? Frustrating, infuriating, depressing, perplexing, stressful, intriguing. Yes, all those and more. It started out mostly frustrating and ended up quite perplexing. I had intended to only work half a day on Friday, but due to a potential software problem that popped up earlier in the week, I spent all day Friday chasing a phantom. Finally gave up and came home. I'll think about it and stew about it all weekend. Unfortunately, the folks that might be able to actually figure it out are all on leave from today until after T-giving. It'll just have to wait, I reckon.

The rest of life? Just generally sucking the Big One right now. I really want to be upbeat. I want to be happy. I want everything to be sunshine and daisies. What a crock. Real life just ain't that way, huh? The Depression Monster is behind the closet door just waiting to jump out. May as well let him. Shit.

R. I. P., Shaniya Davis

2009-11-16T13:25:00.005-06:00

Being a Search & Rescue responder, I am particularly attuned to news stories about missing persons. And if that missing person is a child, even more so. We are taught that all searches are emergencies, and I think that is especially true for a missing child, whether she wandered off or was taken off. I have a Google News search engine that runs every day and sends me an email with any news articles that have appeared that day with the terms "search rescue dogs" in them. So, I sometimes hear about missing folks and searches that haven't made it to the mainstream headlines yet.

About a week ago, a precious little 5 year old girl named Shaniya Davis was reported missing by her mother in North Carolina. Responders spread out and started searching wooded areas around the mother's home. When I heard the report, I knew it was early and hoped for the best and said a little prayer for her and for all the searchers that would be out scouring the countryside looking for her. The next day, breaking news had the mother's boyfriend arrested and then released and then hotel security camera footage of a different man carrying Shaniya into a hotel room. At that point, I suspected the worse. The mother was arrested and charged with human trafficking and felony child abuse. Authorities believe Shaniya was sold by her mother for prostitution.

As the days stretched on and searchers continued to search, hope of finding Shaniya alive grew less and less. Today the worst was confirmed when her lifeless body was found dumped along a roadside in North Carolina.

What a sad end to a beautiful and blessed life. I ache for the rest of her family. I am sad for the searchers, that they were not able to have a happy end to this story. What would Shaniya have done one day? Teacher? Doctor? Beloved wife & mother? President? Engineer? We will never know and I think the world is a sadder place for her loss. There is True Evil in the world. If you don't believe it, just think about the last few hours of Shaniya's life. She died alone and most likely violently, not knowing why it was happening to her and crying for her mother or her father.

Hug your babies today, even if they aren't "babies" anymore. Tell them you love them. Thank God they are alive and well. And please say a prayer for all the folks out there that give freely of their time and effort whenever someone goes missing, in the hopes that the missing will be found and brought home safely.

O-Hi-O

2009-10-05T19:35:00.004-05:00

9 hours on the road Saturday found me in Jackson, OH for a week-long SAR seminar. Internet connection here is molasses. I was hoping to be able to post a few pics of the puppies working, but connection is a little slow for that. Maybe tomorrow!!

A little ray of sunshine...

2009-10-02T11:13:00.003-05:00

...on an otherwise cloudy, dreary kind of Friday.

My dear friend and co-worker did get a little good news yesterday following a PET scan earlier in the week. The oncologist reported that there were no additional tumors that they didn't already know about from the previous endoscopy and CT scan. Great news!! He will begin chemotherapy in a week. While the overall situation is still very serious, this one small "miracle" is so welcome. You have to take the little victories when you get them. I know he was extremely anxious about the results of the scan. It was a big relief to hear this little bit of good news.

I know you don't know him, but please keep my friend in your prayers. It will be a long and painful road for him and his loved ones. Thanks.

Tripping through the webcams

2009-09-28T16:35:00.005-05:00

I was getting my voyeuristic fix this afternoon tripping through some of my favorite webcams. Of course, I started with the Great Smoky Mountains cameras, visiting Look Rock and then moving on to Purchase Knob. Just barely starting to see the first twinges (or tinges) of autumn. Then I found a new one. This one is in Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Let me just share a snapshot with you:

Oh, yeah. This shot was taken around 4:30 pm, central time. Do you see that color?? Do you see it?? Fall is definitely in the air. I am heading to Ohio next week for a week-long Search & Rescue seminar. I am very much looking forward to cooler days, nippy nights, and changing leaves.

The week that was....

2009-09-27T15:24:00.003-05:00

....amusing, maddening, disburbing, and most of all, quite sad.

Well, this past week was the Post-Vacation week. It was a great trip to Canada (which I will share in installments), but it's always a great feeling getting back home to my house, my bed, my pillow, my puppies, and the list goes on. However, getting back to my job isn't always the greatest. Don't get me wrong, I do love my job, but I could definitely see myself as more of a "home" body, at least part time. There's just so much to do around here sometimes. Dogs, horses, 10 acres, 2 of which is "yard." Let's just say my real job definitely interferes with my home work.

Now, back to the list. The week was amusing and maddening for many of the same reasons: President Obama at the UN and then in Pittsburgh for the G20 summit. The US Apology Tour continues ad nauseum. I will not go into detail. I posted enough of that on the FaceBook and Twitter stream. Suffice it to say, there were plenty of opportunities during the week for me to be amused and pissed off. Oh yeah, and don't forget Muammar al-Gaddafi, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías. What a freak show. At least Benjamin Netanyahu was there to spread a little sanity over the gathering.

Disturbing? Videos of young school children (and I do NOT care whether it was the prompting of the teacher or guest author or whoever the Hell it was that instigated it) singing praises to Barack Obama, and to the tune of "Battle Hymn of the Republic" no less. WTF???

Lastly, terribly, terribly sad. On Tuesday I was told by a dear friend and co-worker that he found out on Monday he has esophageal cancer. He also has spots on two other vital organs. On Friday, I found out it is stage IV. I've worked with him for the 9 years I've been with my current company. I have worked very closely with him the last few months as we integrated a new hardware system in our software test bed facility. I've spent hours and hours sitting in front of a computer terminal with him while he worked his hardware "magic." He'll be starting treatment immediately, but the situation is very grave. I've shed many tears the last 5 days. He is my age. Sorry, I'm having a hard time seeing the keyboard. Everything's all blurry and something keeps dropping on the keys. He is a wonderful, smart, caring, funny guy. I know he will be strong and fight. What do I say? How can I help? I haven't seen him since mid-week. I'm afraid I'll just break down and start bawling when I do, which of course makes me want to avoid seeing him. But I can't do that, can I? Why can't I be strong? I'm such a crybaby.

Well, enough of the morbid. Sort of. My SAR team was called out on Friday to work a "cold case" a little further south in the state. I went along as support. So, while the handlers and dogs worked in the woods looking for some sign of human remains (it's a really cold case-years old), I took along the camera and took a few pictures of the end of summer wildflowers:

And of course one of Search Dog Rudy:

Postcrossing.....

2009-08-06T12:09:00.007-05:00

I ran across Postcrossing this week. I don't really remember how I got to it. From FB sidebar? Flickr? Just can't remember. Anyway, it looked rather intriguing and neat. It is an international postcard exchange group. You register an account and then you go in the big group and when others request to send a postcard, they receive a person at random to send a card to. You can set up your profile so that you only exchange with foreign countries, etc. So far, I have requested and sent 3 postcards: Finland, Germany, Taiwan. I've looked through the discussion forum and it looks like it can be several weeks before you start receiving any cards, but I'm hoping I get some soon!

I'm going to update the blog with rec'd cards. Should be pretty interesting to see what and where they come from. Stay tuned.

Back?

2009-08-06T10:26:00.002-05:00

Yes, I've been quite absent lately. I have been crazy busy. But, I am honestly going to try and be more faithful to the blog. With summer drawing to a close and fall just around the corner, I am hoping life will slow down just a bit. We'll see.

The political scene has certainly blown up lately. Some days I just can't get my brain around everything that is going on with this administration, Congress, the democrats and the republicans. There have been some major gaffes by all parties concerned. Of course, the gaffes by some have been a boon to others. Funny how that works sometimes.

The photography has been going well. I've made some really (in my opinion)great shots over the past few months, particularly the caving shots. I've had lots that have ended up the Recycle Bin. That's the beauty of digital!

Work is busy as ever. I am so very thankful to be in an industry and a geographic area that, so far, has weathered the recession well. Huntsville has received some hits, but so far, nothing really major. North Alabama is a great, great place to be right now.

My beautiful, smart, and most wonderful son got into grad school at Vanderbilt University. Yea! We got him moved from B'ham to Nashville, Tennessee two weeks ago. He's in class this week. The Masters of Finance is a one-year program. I am really looking forward to trying to catch a Vandy football game this fall. Beautiful campus, nice stadium, short drive.

My hubby's son & daughter-in-law welcomed the latest addition to the "Ski" family a few weeks ago, a beautiful, healthy baby girl.

Guess that kind of catches me up. I'll be posting some pictures and adventures from the last few months soon. I also stumbled upon a great blog project that I am hoping to get started on. More on that later.

Love to hear from you all! See you on the trail.

Ms. Boxer, you ma'am, are an ass

2009-06-19T09:39:00.003-05:00

As busy as I am, these folks just keep giving me an excuse to post. What an arrogant, pompous, holier-than-thou jerk this "senator" is. I didn't see any other clips from this hearing except Ma'am Boxer's, but I am willing to bet that not a single male senator insisted that the General call them "Senator" instead of "sir."

GIVE ME A BREAK!! And yet, these people continue to get elected. My fervent wish is that everyone and anyone who has to address Ma'am Boxer in the future will Ma'am her coming and going.

I've been busy, honest!

2009-06-10T14:02:00.004-05:00

Sorry - I have not fallen off the earth. :-) But, good gosh, have I been busy. For some incomprehensible reason, I agreed to become the Membership Chair/interim Board Member/ad hoc Newsletter Editor for an international search and rescue organization, based here in the good ol' USA called Canine Search & Recovery. I've been a "little" busy.

I have been meaning to get caught up on posting, but the further behind I got, well, the further behind I got. Had some exciting things going on over on my Flickr account. Went on a caving trip and had some photos make "Explore." One of my photos has had over 820 views!

Anyway, the thing that has shaken me out of my stupor and forced me to get back on here was an interview that took place this morning on MSNBC. Please, if you have a single conservative bone or fiber in your body, go and watch this info-Babe get way in over her pretty little head. It's a stitch!

Friday, Thank God it's Friday.....

2009-05-15T11:55:00.003-05:00

Remember that old song? And while I don't feel like getting up and breaking into a disco shuffle, I'm disco-ing inside, doing the Electic Slide, yeah, boogie down. Back it up! Step, unnnhhh. Oh yeah.

Sorry, I slipped off into Boogieland there for a minute.....Really, I'm just trying not to think about the weekend and all the damn RAIN that is again bearing down on the beautiful Tennessee Valley. Enough already!! Tomorrow I'll be driving down to Alexander City and back. The day is shot anyway, but Sunday....Bankhead and Sipsey are screaming my name, like ....Sirens luring me to crash on the boulders of the Sipsey Fork. And the damn weatherman is predicting rain, rain, rain, rain. The only "bright" spot for Sunday's forecast is no thunderstorms. Just rain. I can handle hiking in the rain, but it's a bee-otch trying to take pictures in such. Whatever. I'm going anyway. I'll just try to shoot between downpours. And who knows? Maybe they've got it wrong this time.....

Rumblings and Ramblings

2009-05-13T09:55:00.005-05:00

Good gosh, I am tired of the rain. Yesterday was beautiful, but I woke about 2 am this morning and could have sworn I heard rain, again. I convinced myself that I was wrong. Got up to let the pups out at 5 am and much to my surprise and consternation, discovered that I had indeed heard it raining during the night. It's gotta stop soon, right?

Went to the NAPG May meeting last night @ Tommy's Pizza. Had about 10 of the "regulars" there and had a great time. Lots of talk of waterfalls, hiking trails, Bankhead, Sipsey, Monte Sano, Three Caves... It's just killin' me! Have got to get out of the house and on the trails.

Unfortunately this Saturday will be spent driving to Alexander City for an AARS meeting. That's going to shoot Saturday to heck. But Sunday....forecast is showers but no T-storms....I don't care if it is raining. I'm going to hit the forestor somewhere that day.

And while I'm rumbling, I checked the webcam for Smoky Mountains. Here's this morning's shot:

Isn't it lovely? And green? And blue? I am so so so wishing I was there. Trying to plan a weekend overnight to Le Conte for June/July timeframe. We did it a few years ago. We always do the dayhike when we go up, but only overnighted at the shelter, near the lodge, once. Unfortuately all the sunset pics I took that trip were on my laptop that was stolen when our house was burglarized a few years ago. I have got to get back up there for another sunset.

Gloomy Day @ Brushy Lake

2009-05-11T08:05:00.001-05:00

Gloomy Day @ Brushy Lake, originally uploaded by tjs1963 (Terri).

Went out to Bankhead/Sipsey twice on Sunday. First time out to Sipsey and got socked by the rain after about an hour. Went home and got on the treadmill and "piddled" around the house all afternoon. Funny thing, after that first round of rain went through, it didn't really rain any more that afternoon even thought the radar showed a lot on the way. I guess it just broke up and went around.

About 2:30, I was going absolutely stir-crazy, so I grabbed my boots and camera and headed out again. Just went down to Brushy Lake and walked around a bit. Empty and dreary - but really beautiful. It was so green, green, green. But my mood was B & W.

Another guilty pleasure....

2009-05-05T13:05:00.003-05:00

.....Okay, I admit it. I love Mariachi bands. Have for a long time. And today, in the dining area at work, I got to hear a mariachi band! It was wonderful. Remember? It's Cinco de Mayo.

These particular guys used to play every weekend at the Guadalajara restaurant in Decatur when it first opened. They are from Birmingham. Banda la Perla - The Pearl. I always requested "El Paso" when they would take requests. It got to the point that they didn't even have to ask anymore. And today, they remembered me! It was so funny.

They had been playing several traditional songs and the lead guy looked across at me, smiled really big and started playing "El Paso." These guys ROCK!!!

That just made my day. See? I'm smiling. ;-)

Hallelujah!

2009-04-30T11:10:00.002-05:00

YouTube strikes again! Got this from my choir director today. It's a performance of Handel's Hallelujah Chorus by an order of monks. Enjoy!

Some Enchanted Evening...

2009-04-30T07:17:00.003-05:00

and I am absolutely sure I won't be the only person using that phrase today.

I refuse to spend one more minute of the precious time I have in this life watching a presidential press conference, particularly the current administration. It's nauseated me ever so slightly during the past ones watching the way the press gushes and fawns over the man. So, I "missed" last night's 100th Day Celebration Press Conference.

Unfortunately, I couldn't avoid snippets this morning while eating breakfast and surfing the news channels. This one actually stopped me in my tracks and made me laugh out loud:

"During these first 100 days, what has surprised you the most about this office? Enchanted you the most from serving in this office? Humbled you the most? And troubled you the most?"

It was from a NYTimes reporter I believe. Enchanted??? WTF?? Are they kidding me?

But, how about the really important questions? Like, did they ask how Bo was doing? Is he potty-trained yet? How many of Michelle's shoes has he chewed up? Who takes him for walks? Oh, and how about asking him about the fly-over on Monday? No? That didn't come up? And...that middle class tax-cut. I didn't see a clip of that question either.

Enchanted. God, I'm still laughing. It had to be a joke, right?

A complete bust!

2009-04-26T11:27:00.002-05:00

This weekend, I mean. Bummed out. The folks that were going to come up and go to Bankhead with me on Saturday had to cancel due to unexpected family issues with an elderly loved one. I was going to go by myself, but got "guilted" into yard work.

So, I spent the better part of Saturday afternoon on the Cub Cadet mowing our 2 acre yard. I was damned and determined that as soon as the last blade of grass was mowed I was heading to Sipsey anyway. Not. Honestly, I was just worn out. It's hard to believe that riding a lawn mower all afternoon would do that to you. I mean I was RIDING it, for God's sake. I was just beat to death. Our yard isn't the smoothest, most level in the world. And I had the thing wide open trying to get done as fast as possible so I could head to the woods. Just didn't work out the way I planned.

Then, my second hiking trip for this morning has turned out to be a bust as well. My hiking buddy for today was supposed to let me know whether she could make it or not, but she must have run into difficulties as well. So, here I sit. Bored to death. I guess I'll just go get on the treadmill and watch the last couple of episodes of Lost again, or maybe Deadliest Catch. Decisions, decisions.

Mize Mills Falls - cropped

2009-04-24T10:32:00.004-05:00

Mize Mills Falls - cropped, originally uploaded by tjs1963 (Terri).

So here's the cropped version. Wasn't sure whether to crop it evenly on both sides and keep the falls centered up or just crop the tree and leave uncentered. One of my contacts said he liked it this way. Says it looks like you rounded the corner and there it was. I think I like it this way too. I'm particularly fond of the green fronds framing the bottom and right corner. What do you think?

I realized once I logged into the blog, that the way the picture is displayed here versus the way it displays on Flickr are a bit different. On the Flickr site, it's very off-centered to the left side of the frame. It's also a bit elongated top to bottom here. Check it out on Flickr. I think it looks better over there.

Heading out to Sipsey/Bankhead again tomorrow afternoon and all day Sunday. Hope to get some good shots. Taking a couple of newbies out to some new spots they've never visited. It's going to be a good weekend! Hope you all enjoy yours as much as I'm planning to enjoy mine

Mize Mills Falls-uncropped

2009-04-24T10:30:00.001-05:00

Mize Mills Falls (Upper Turkey Foot), originally uploaded by tjs1963 (Terri).

Took this pic a couple of weeks ago. I just got it uploaded to Flickr last night. I'm having massive issues right now with the Virtumonde trojan/virus and it just pisses me off to much to even try and getting online at home. Anyway....

Someone suggested I crop out the tree on the left. So, I did that this morning and re-posted. the picture. Since I'm doing this from the Flickr account, I can only post one at a time. So, I'll post the cropped version in the next entry.

Motivation

2009-04-21T09:36:00.003-05:00

I get funny emails from time to time with jokes, pictures, news stories, etc.
This one fell in my inbox this morning and made me laugh out loud. I'm probably violating some copyright or something, but I just had to share it. Enjoy!

A-Day

2009-04-19T20:42:00.002-05:00

Pics from A-Day @ Auburn

Sunday morning ramblings

2009-04-19T09:35:00.002-05:00

I updated my FB status one day last week with a note that I was heading to my treadmill for a 3 mile walk/jog. One of my "buddies" made a sarcastic comment asking me if I knew that I could actually do that out of doors now that the weather is nice. You know, Point Mallard trail, Wilson Morgan Park? So I took his advice, threw on the shorts and tennis shoes and headed to Pt. Mallard for my 3 miles this morning around 8 a.m. I like the cover of the trees provided by the Pt. Mallard trail. It would just be too embarrassing to jog out in the open. There's just too much jiggle goin' on and I don't mean in a good way!

I always take my iPod with me when I walk/jog. I usually just put it on "shuffle" and let it pick the songs for me. Here's what it served up today during my 3-miles:
1. Desperadoes Waiting for a Train - Nanci Griffith
2. Wimoweh - Nanci Griffith
3. Wondering Where the Lions Are - Bruce Cockburn
4. I Still Miss Someone - Nanci Griffith
5. Sing Me to Heaven - St. Olaf's Choir
6. Who Knows Where the Time Goes - Nanci Griffith
7. No Rain - Blind Melon
8. Sunk a Few - Derby
9. Down from Dover - Dolly Parton
10. Showdown - ELO
11. El Paso - Marty Robbins
12. Mr. Blue Sky - ELO

A rather eclectic mix, I suppose. I don't know how, but my iPod almost always picks just the right song for where I am in the jog. It's almost psychic.

The jog was mostly uneventful. Other than dodging really bold squirrels that sit right in the middle of the trail until you are almost on them and one large black snake scooting off into the brush, the only really exciting thing was the pack of 6 or 7 Army guys that passed me about half-way through. I was able to keep up with them for about a minute. Damn those guys run fast. But at least it gave me "inspiration" briefly :-). Then I met up with the other Army guys carrying full tactical packs/gear. They weren't running, but I bet I wouldn't have been able to keep up with them either!

Yesterday I got up way early and headed down to the Loveliest Village on the Plains. Of course, that is Auburn. It was the annual A-Day game. My son met me and we got to hang out together for the day. We went to Little Italy and ate pizza and drank beer. We walked around campus for a while and did a little "catching" up, then headed to Jordan-Hare for the game. It was one of the best days I've had in a while. Looks like he'll be heading off to Vandy in the fall for a Masters of Finance degree. He's excited and I'm excited for him.

I haven't pulled the pics off the camera yet, but I hope I got some good ones. I'll upload them later today I hope. Bad weather is on the way, so the computers may be shut down for a bit.

I'm heading out shortly to the Chicken and Egg Festival. Sounds like fun, right?

And a final musing for this morning, if your off day is spent in typical fashion (i.e., watching Fox News, a DVD or two, maybe the treadmill, and various yard workings), does it really matter what time the bug man comes to spray the house?

New Navy Poster

2009-04-17T08:48:00.001-05:00

Got this from a co-worker who received it from a friend in the Navy. It's circulating around the Navy folks now. I just had to share it:

Just when you thought it couldn't get any stranger...

2009-04-17T07:00:00.002-05:00

Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-IL, releases a statement to the press. Hmmm.

A friend and fellow blogger posted yesterday that Rep. Schakowsky had labeled the Tea Party protests of April 15th as despicable and shameful. I won't say that I thought he was exaggerating, but I will say that I thought, "There's no way an elected official would come out and say such a thing, surely. There must be a mistake." So, I looked it up myself and sure enough, she did.

Here's her actual released statement:

“The ‘tea parties’ being held today by groups of right-wing activists, and fueled by FOX News Channel, are an effort to mislead the public about the Obama economic plan that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and creates 3.5 million jobs. It’s despicable that right-wing Republicans would attempt to cheapen a significant, honorable moment of American history with a shameful political stunt. Not a single American household or business will be taxed at a higher rate this year. Made to look like a grassroots uprising, this is an Obama bashing party promoted by corporate interests, as well as Republican lobbyists and politicians.”

Now, this is coming from a woman who is married to a guy who was convicted in 2005 of check kiting and tax violations. Two felonies. This is from the 2005 USA Today:

"The husband of an Illinois congresswoman pleaded guilty Wednesday to tax violations and bank fraud for writing rubber checks and failing to collect withholding tax from an employee. Robert Creamer, a political consultant married to four-term U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, could face four years in prison on the two felony counts when he is sentenced Dec. 21.

"In my heart, I know that these mistakes do not define or diminish this good man, or the good work that he has done over the last 40 years or that he will do in the future," Schakowsky, D-Ill., said after her husband's court hearing.

Creamer, 58, a prominent Chicago political consultant, was accused of swindling nine financial institutions of at least $2.3 million while he ran a public interest group in the 1990s."

I think I'm just speechless at this point.

Lest anyone ever doubt media bias...

2009-04-16T08:41:00.002-05:00

"Left-wing media bias" is the battle cry for many conservatives. I try to be objective when it comes to the networks, but this takes the cake. I watched this video clip this morning and I have to say it is disturbing, maddening, humorous, and completely representative of that left-wing bias. I can't believe this woman is a paid reporter. So, if you have ever doubted that CNN is biased (hello, what rock have you been under?), please watch them in action:

Un-effing-believable and sad.

For your viewing and listening pleasure...

2009-04-13T11:56:00.001-05:00

Ry Cooder and The Moula Banda Rhythm Aces from 1987
"Jesus on the Mainline"

Bring It...

2009-04-13T08:45:00.000-05:00

Reuters News Service:

"Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over the shooting of their comrades, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.

"The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now," Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone."

They were afraid

2009-04-12T08:12:00.005-05:00

Mark 16:1-8
When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you." So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Did you know that the Book of Mark originally ended with verse 8 of chapter 16? I didn't. Not until I joined the Episcopal church. And when I first studied this particular book of the Bible after joining that group, I was caught quite off guard by this ending. I remember thinking, "They left off the end! You know, where they speak in tougues, cast out demons, handle snakes, drink poison, lay on hands. (Mark 16:17-18)" I mean, there are whole groups of folks out there that take their entire religious foundation and practice from these last two verses. Remember the book Salvation on Sand Mountain ? Great book, by the way.

So, how and why did they leave off the "real" ending? Well, they didn't, exactly. The Episcopal Church uses the New Revised Standard Version Bible. Given my religious upbringing to that point, explained in previous posts, I had never really read any Bible except the King James Version. As far as my little country church was concerned, that was The Bible. All others were just wrong. My middle church? I don't remember exactly which version they used, but I do know that it had the proper ending as well. Then I get to the Episcopal church and they just turn it all upside down!

"They said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid." I'd say that's probably an extreme understatement. To loosely quote one of my favorite characters from a recent episode of Lost, "It's one thing to believe, but another to see it..." Jesus told them He would be raised from the dead, but did they actually believe Him? How could they? Would you? These women were going to the tomb to anoint a body. I'm sure they were terrified when they were greeted not by a body wrapped in linen, but by a living breathing being sitting in the tomb. Terror and amazement seized them. They fled. And they didn't tell anyone what they had heard and seen. Obviously they eventually did tell or the ending of the Gospel couldn't have been written.

But why didn't they tell anyone at first? Fear of ridicule? Fear because they were women and might not be believed? Just plain old raw FEAR? I don't know. No one really does. I try to put myself in their shoes and think about what I would have done. So, I get up on Sunday morning, heading out to the tomb of my Teacher, Leader, Friend, Saviour. He's been dead for a couple of days now. I saw Him hung on a cross until He died and then helped entomb Him. I have a couple of my buddies with me and we've got a task to do: anoint His body. You know the rest of the story.

Of course, they didn't actually see the risen Jesus, just the empty tomb. Were they more afraid of the emptiness? Did the appearance of this young man so terrify them? I've heard entire sermons preached about that empty tomb and its significance. I've also read about that empty tomb, dark hints that the body was stolen by Jesus' disciples to fulfill the prophecy and that Jesus wasn't really raised from the dead. I admit that I have swung both ways many times over the years. There are times when I absolutely know that my "Redeemer liveth." But there have been times that I was absolutely convinced that this whole religion/God/Jesus thing was just a fairy tale. I will say that I am not absolute on it anymore, but I do believe that my Redeemer liveth. How sad would life be if I didn't believe?

There are two alternate endings to the Book of Mark. One is short and reads:

And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterward Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.

The second ending adds verses 9-20.

My study Bible relates that these two endings were an attempt to provide a more "satisfactory" ending to the Gospel of Mark. The shorter ending, it states, is "clearly different from the rest of Mark in style and understanding of Jesus." The longer ending is believed to have been written in the early 2nd century and appended to the Gospel later in the 2nd century. The commentary says "these sentences borrow some motifs from the other Gospels and contain several unusual apocryphal elements."

The most interesting part of the commentary to me is the statement that these two endings were an attempt to provide a more satisfactory ending. Satisfactory? That's rather subjective, don't you think? I don't find either of the alternate endings very satisfactory. I read the Jefferson Bible many years ago. I won't try to explain it here. Check out the link. The Jefferson Bible ends with these lines:

"Now, in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus. And rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.”

These sentences are the end of John 19. And if you want to know more about the Jefferson Bible, please read this article from the LA Times last year: Jefferson Bible Reveals Founding Father's View of God, Faith. Personally, I like Jefferson's ending. Jesus had already told his followers what was going to happen. No one was there to see the actual resurrection. Jefferson lets the reader supply that particular "ending" for himself.

I realize that this post has rambled and isn't particularly coherent. But, that's me. Rambling and sometimes incoherent. Let me come back to the original thought regarding fear and the empty tomb. Their fear was real and I believe expected and understandable. Why was the tomb empty? I believe because He did rise. Some will disagree.

Let me end with this quote from Thomas Jefferson:

"Say nothing of my religion," Jefferson once said. "It is known to myself and my God alone. Its evidence before the world is to be sought in my life; if that has been honest and dutiful to society, the religion which has regulated it cannot be a bad one."

Maundy Thursday

2009-04-09T10:10:00.006-05:00

Another important day in the liturgical year has arrived: Maundy Thursday, also called Holy Thursday.

Tradition commemorates four important events on this day: Jesus' washing the Disciples' Feet, the institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper, Christ's agony in the Garden of Gethsemane and Judas' betrayal of Christ. Quite a lot for one simple, unassuming day in the middle of the week. I may hit on all of them before this is over, but let me start with the first one, foot washing.

My little country church never celebrated any *special* Easter Holy days except the BIG ONE: Easter Sunday. They just saved up all that shouting and hand-waving and carrying on for Easter Sunday.

My middle-of-the-road city church had a pretty big Palm Sunday deal and a big Easter Sunday celebration, but that was about it. No Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, or sunrise service.

Then, I come to the Episcopal church. Wow. It's just one big day after another, pretty much all year round it seems. But, Lent and Easter, they really lay it on. And I mean that in the nicest way. I love it. However, since I joined the choir shortly after I joined the church, I was always pretty worn out by the end of Easter Sunday. Seems like every time I turned around, the choir was robing up for another service. And Easter Sunday? We started before sunrise and didn't leave until early afternoon. It was a very long day.

Back to Maundy Thursday and our celebration of it. The service is very somber obviously. The music is muted. No Alleluias. And there's the foot washing. Let me just say that my first Holy Week at Good Shepherd was an eye-opener. Wash my feet?! I don't think so. I mean, whoever heard of such a thing? I came from a country church that baptized in the local cow pasture pond and they didn't even wash feet. My feet were just fine, thank you.

Those of you who have been to one know how it is. The rest of you, read on. It's really very..ummm...what's the word? Ceremonial? Stylized? Representative? Can't quite think of the right word. I need my Thesaurus. Anyway, there's a chair up near the altar facing forward. The priest has a large pitcher filled with water and there's a bowl underneath to catch the poured water. Another person assists and has towels. So, the participant just pulls off one shoe/sock. He sits in the chair while the priest pours a little water over the foot and then he takes a towel and dries it off. You're done. I have to admit that I never have participated in the actual foot washing. I have always been at the service, choir duty, but I always stayed in my seat instead of going up. Why? I'm not real sure why. Uncomfortable? It was outside my comfort zone. Too symbolic? Too fake? Don't know. Still, after all these years, I won't do it.

Here is the scripture upon which this ritual is based:

John 13:1-15 (NRSV)

Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand." Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me." Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you." For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.

According to our priest's explanation, the practice of foot washing was really a hospitality issue, particularly in a land where sandals were the main footwear. The host provided water for guests to wash with or may have had a servant to wash their feet for them.

Why did Jesus wash the Disciples' feet? To set an example. Obviously he didn't really mean for them to go out into the world and wash feet, but he was reminding them that if he, Lord and Teacher, would humble himself to wash their feet, be their servant, then they, and we, were to do the same. We are all called to be servants of one another. Some serve by doing (volunteering). Some serve by giving (donations of money and time). Some serve by sharing their gifts (singing, playing an instrument). Whatever form your service takes, give it freely and without grudging.

One of my favorite songs of a few years ago asks: "What if God was one of us?" What if? Remember that what we do for the least, we do for Him.

Stick Shift

2009-04-07T08:30:00.004-05:00

I dreamed about my first car last night. How strange is that? Sometimes when I dream about odd things, long gone things or people, I can usually think of something during the day that triggered it. But this one? Not a clue.

I turned 16 in 1979. It was the spring of my sophomore year. I was living with my paternal grandparents. My birthday was on a Monday. My grandmother, Granny, took me down to the courthouse as soon as it opened so I could get in line for my driver's test. I was going to be driving her 1976 Mercury Montego (I think that's what it was). It was like driving a tank except that sucker would fly! My Granny had a heavy foot and she loved to drive. She adored that car. It was a 2-door coupe and the hood was about twice as long as the rest of the car.

I passed the test just fine, even the parallel parking in front of the Post Office, and checked into school around 10 a.m. with a brand new license to drive. Just one problem. No car. Granny had her car. Pa Luther drove the Ford pickup. No one had even hinted at my getting a car and I wasn't asking. Daddy was working on the road and hadn't really said anything other than the vague, "Next time I'm home, we'll see what we can find, used, cheap." Okay by me. I didn't care as long as it would go.

About middle of the week, Daddy called and said he'd be coming home that weekend, sorry he didn't make it in time for my birthday, we'd celebrate when he got home. I was excited. We hadn't seen him since Christmas.

I was still riding to school with the guy across the street since I didn't have a car yet. When we got home Friday afternoon, I looked over at my house. Instead of my Daddy's work Suburban, one of these was parked in the driveway:

Yep, a canary yellow, 1972 Volkswagen Beetle. Imagine my surprise. I knew instantly that it was mine. All mine. Sweet. Only one, small, very minor issue. It was a stick shift. I had never ever driven a stick shift car. Small stuff. Don't sweat it. Right? Another small problem. Daddy was only home for the weekend. He had to catch a plane on Sunday afternoon back to where he was working. He'd picked up the car and drove it home for my birthday present. He had to fly back to the work site.

So, bright and early Saturday morning, we got up and headed out to Lawrence County to my other grandparents'. We spent all day Saturday and all day Sunday driving the backroads of Lawrence County while I grinded gears, popped the clutch, killed the engine and generally learned to drive my new VW in one weekend crash course. It worked though. By Monday, when I drove myself to school, I was the Master, or Mistress, of my VW Beetle.

That was the funnest car, even if it is considered a death trap by today's standards. It was fun to drive, fast, unique sounding. No A/C. So, summer's got a little hot. Black interior. I and a buddy from the magazine staff skipped school one day in about April of that year and I backed into a lady in the parking lot of Burger King. I had to call Pa Luther and tell him and he came down. Didn't hurt the other lady's car, but put a hell of a dent in my trunk/fender. Didn't have to call the police or fill out any reports, thanks to Pa. And, I didn't get caught skipping.

I kept that little car until I graduated from high school. I sold it to a family friend. Just couldn't see myself heading off to college in it. I have kicked myself a million times over the years for not keeping it. And a disclaimer: the picture above is not of my car. Can you believe that I can't find a single picture of my VW? Not a one. Can't imagine that I never took any pictures of her. But I can still see her, dent and all. As a matter of fact, I saw her last night and she was still sweet and fast and fun.

I Wish It Would Rain....

2009-04-01T07:28:00.003-05:00

and I don't mean the weather. I'm talking about the Temptations.

Musically speaking, I was born a little late. My XM stays tuned to "60s on 6" about 99% of the time. The other 1% is generally split between "50s on 5," "70s on 7" or "Bluegrass Junction." A little eclectic I admit. But the 60s are my Thing. Having been born in '63, I didn't really listen to that music until much later in life.

A few days ago when an FB acquaintance said she was having a Motown moment and had "I Wish It Would Rain" on her mind, I realized I had not heard that song in a very long time. So, I did what anyone else would do: I logged onto YouTube! Man, these guys were so incredibly cool. No one, and I mean no one, can hold a candle the these guys' coolness.

Enjoy the video.

Sunrise in Decatur

2009-03-31T21:02:00.001-05:00

Sunrise in Decatur, originally uploaded by tjs1963 (Terri).

This was my view on the way to work yesterday. Better than the cell phone shots, right?

Be of good courage....

2009-03-31T07:55:00.002-05:00

For a dear old friend who has a loved one facing surgery today:

Psalm 31:24 - "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord."

I pray that things go well and as expected. Know that you and yours are in my thoughts.

Baby grasshopper on wild iris

2009-03-30T16:50:00.001-05:00

Baby grasshopper on wild iris, originally uploaded by tjs1963 (Terri).

Still having problems uploading directly to Blogger. One suggested solution was to upload from the Flickr account. So this is a test to see if it works!

Three Days of Bankhead....

2009-03-30T09:27:00.002-05:00

Forest that is, with a little Sipsey thrown in at the end. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures to post here in the blog. For some unknown reason, I am now unable to upload photos to the blog from my laptop. It says "uploading" and then just sits there and sits there and sits...you get the idea.

I will get some on the Flickr account in a day or so though. I was just so darn tired last night, I didn't even download them from the camera.

I took half a day of "comp" time on Friday, grabbed lunch, changed clothes, grabbed Len and scooted off the to the forest for the afternoon. Saturday, as soon as search & rescue practice was over, we again headed out to the woods and met dixiephotogirl at Kinlock Falls for a little shooting. Unfortunately, the volume of water was so HUGE it was hard to get a good shot. That much water just blows out the white in the shot. However, she took us a little further upstream to a nice little falls/cascade area where I think we got some pretty decent pics.

Got up bright and early Sunday morning (brrrr, cold) and headed out for one more day of all day hiking and waterfall chasing. We met up with Jeremy and Geoff at the Brushy Lake picnic area and took off. Please check their photostreams. They've already posted some great shots, as has dixiephotogirl.

So, I'm a little sore this morning but greatly refreshed after 3 days enjoying God's glory in Bankhead Forest and the Sipsey Wilderness. Yes, I spent Sunday in the wilderness instead of the pew, but I think it was just as spiritual an experience. I praised God with my hiking books and my Canon XS. And I was extremely thankful.

The Annunciation

2009-03-25T08:04:00.002-05:00

According to the liturgical calendar of the Episcopal Church, today is the Day of Annunciation. The Annunciation is the revelation to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, that she would conceive a child, the Son of God. What a concept, no pun intended.

I was raised in an evangelical, holy rolling, Bible thumping, speaking in tongues, slaying in the spirit, laying on of hands, we did everything but handle snakes, country congregational Methodist church in Lawrence County, Alabama. And I don't mean any of those terms in any derogatory way. But, I couldn't describe that little church in any other way. I can still remember standing up in the pew singing "I'll Fly Away" before I could read the words in the hymnal. "Altar Calls" could last hours while the piano player played "Just As I Am" the whole time. And if you don't know what an Altar Call is, just Google it. There was no gray area in this little church. It was black or white, good or evil, Heaven or Hell. Your choice. My Ma Zola was there every time the doors were open (no exaggeration) and if I was staying at her house, I was there too. There was no A/C and not much heat. During the summer, we used hand fans from the local funeral home with a picture of Jesus knocking on the door on one side and the funeral home's advertisement on the other. If you weren't using it to fan, you were using it to swat and kill wasps. These were my formative religious years.

After Momma died, I went to live with my paternal grandparents and started attending a church "in town" with my best friend. It wasn't quite what I would call "high" church, more "middle" church. A good bit of pomp and ceremony, but not overly stuffy and self-righteous. I was there until my divorce. He got the church.

I didn't go to church for many, many years after that. I was a little bitter about losing "my" church in the divorce and honestly, I was still a lot bitter over the other major event in my life, my mother's death. I decided it was time for a break. Then I got a job at a certain nuclear power plant and was working rotating shift work. The few Sundays I had off were MINE, not His. Then things changed again and I got a regular Mon-Fri kind of job and weekends were free. Along comes that same best friend from my childhood telling me about this great new church she had been attending, Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal. Episcopal?? What the heck is that? My first trip to COGS happened to be Easter Sunday 1998. I was going to go to the 2nd service and meet my friend there and sit with her, since I wouldn't know anyone. Guess what. She wasn't there. I was alone. Crap. But an amazing thing happened. I felt like I had been there forever. I actually ended up knowing a few folks there and those I didn't know made me feel so welcome, I didn't feel like a newcomer. COGS Episcopal turned out to be a perfect, absolutely perfect fit for me. I love the liturgy, the ceremony, the readings, the music.

I didn't really start this blog today with the intent of reciting my religious history. But, I suppose it is all a part of who I am today, religiously speaking. I've been a bit lax for the last couple of years. I think I needed a break. I haven't left the church again, just taking a vacation I guess. I still read the Book of Common Prayer and the Lectionary on a semi-regular basis.

I used to take The Bible very literally, the result of that little country church. Then I took it a little less literally, the result of that "city" church. I suppose at this point in my life, I am less sure of all things religious and Bible-related than at any other time in my life. But I'm okay with that. I know what's important to me and I let others worry about what's important to them.

Today's Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer is one of my favorites:

Psalm 40:1-11, BCP
Expectans, expectavi

1
I waited patiently upon the LORD;
he stooped to me and heard my cry.

2
He lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the mire and clay;
he set my feet upon a high cliff and made my footing sure.

3
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God;
many shall see, and stand in awe,
and put their trust in the LORD.

4
Happy are they who trust in the LORD!
they do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false gods.

5
Great things are they that you have done, O LORD my God!
how great your wonders and your plans for us!
there is none who can be compared with you.

6
Oh, that I could make them known and tell them!
but they are more than I can count.

7
In sacrifice and offering you take no pleasure
(you have given me ears to hear you);

8
Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required,
and so I said, "Behold, I come.

9
In the roll of the book it is written concerning me:
'I love to do your will, O my God;
your law is deep in my heart."'

10
I proclaimed righteousness in the great congregation;
behold, I did not restrain my lips;
and that, O LORD, you know.

11
Your righteousness have I not hidden in my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your deliverance;
I have not concealed your love and faithfulness from the great congregation.

And from today's Gospel reading:
Then Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." Then the angel departed from her.

If only we could all respond with Mary's conviction.

So I'm at Wal-Mart yesterday....

2009-03-24T08:07:00.007-05:00

...on my wy home from work. In between the 12-pack of Angel Soft bathroom tissue and the Signature Artisan Bread - Wholegrain Filone, I had a bottle of Meridian Chardonnay. Wal-Mart has always been a little flaky in their "carding" rules. Sometimes I get asked for ID apologetically and told, "I have to see everyone's ID," while other times the cashier barely even glances at me. I noticed that the guy in front of me also had wine among his items, Bella Sera Pinot Grigio.

I know as I've gotten older that "young" folks look younger and younger, but trust me, this guy was no "young thing." Thinning hair (very thin), moderate crow's feet, etc. Had to have been in his....well, definitely OVER 21, way over. I saw the cashier scan the wine and then ask him for his ID. He obliged, finished checking out and was gone.

I'm up. I swipe the debit card and leave the wallet out because I'm sure she's going to ask for MY ID. No way I look older than that guy. She scans the bottle, grabs the toilet paper, scans, eye drops, scans, ..... Are you getting the drift?

I tried not to let it bother me, but I was tempted to chase down that guy in the parking lot and demand he show me his damn driver license. Probably would have just made me feel worse. Whatever.

Here's another crappy phone picture of another beautiful sunrise from my little house in the country:

Thank God for beautiful mornings like today. Brightens my day, lightens my mood.

Whew - what a week

2009-03-23T10:08:00.005-05:00

Spent the entire week last week in Scottsville, TX attending the annual Shreveport Fire Deptartment's Canine Search & Rescue Seminar. This is our 3rd one. Had a great time, met some wonderful new folks in our wilderness/airscent class and got to visit with some old friends from previous seminars. I will be posting some pics on Flickr and will link when I do.

We got home Saturday afternoon. I got up bright and early Sunday and hit Bankhead Forest for a full day of hiking. Unfortunately most of it was solo, but I had a blast anyway. I did meet 'Seester and daughter, 'Seester's sister and daughter, and Bo at Caney Creek for a quick trip down to the falls. Bo, Seester and I had a *fun* hike down and back while sharing stories about dating, dumping, old flames, unfriending, misogyny (thank goodness for The American Heritage), obnoxious students and various other topics.

Here's a link to a few of my pics: Terri's Flickr photostream. I'll post more later. A little story about the one of the black snake...One of my earliest memories of Bankhead Forest happened at Brushy Lake (where I snapped the shot of the snake). Momma & Daddy, my two brothers and sister and I went to Brushy Lake alot in the summer. Picnics, playing, fishing, a little hiking. I still remember my two brothers and sister running down the path toward the dam. Of course, I was the *baby* who always got left behind! I ran after them. There was a big black stick lying across the path. They all jumped over it. I decided to kick it. Not a stick. Big black snake. Just like the one I almost stepped on yesterday, same path, almost same spot, on my way to the dam. Of course, I grabbed the camera, slapped on the zoom lens and started shooting.

Back to work today, bummer. But, I was greeted with a beautiful sunrise as I pulled out of the driveway. Here's a crappy phone shot:

Life is STILL good and getting better every day.

SAR Dog Seminar

2009-03-16T19:15:00.002-05:00

Posting will be rather skimpy this week I'm afraid. Len & I and the doggies are in the beautiful hamlet of Scottsville, TX (pop. 203). We are attending the Shreveport Fire Department's annual Search & Rescue Seminar this week. I should have some good doggie pictures to post. Weather is going to be sunny/partly cloudy and in the 70s all week! Perfect.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!

2009-03-13T08:50:00.004-05:00

I didn't get a card in the mail, but here is the next best thing:

To a wonderful and dear friend now living and working in the great metropolis of Birmingham.

Happy Birthday, Christy!!

Comfort Zone

2009-03-11T10:13:00.005-05:00

I must say that my "comfort zone" is gradually getting bigger. I made it to the March NAPG meeting. The anxiety level was much reduced this time around. Of course, Saintseester was there (thank you very much for the geocoin!!), as was my dear hubby, who drove all the way to Huntsville to have pizza with us, even though he worked off of midnight shift that morning.

There were over 20 NAPG members there for this meeting. Tommy's was packed! Several of the folks I met last month were there, along with a whole bunch of new ones. We had a great time, shared stories and pictures, and got a nice quick HDR demonstration by Nick.

Further widening my "comfort zone," I took several folks out to the Sipsey Wilderness on Saturday afternoon for a little waterfall shooting. 'Seester was there with her gang and two other folks from Flickr who I had never met before that day, Kelli & Justin. It's a little scary meeting someone for the first time by taking them hiking in a wilderness area. It all worked out beautifully and I think everyone got some terrific shots. Check out all three photostreams. I think you'll agree.

BTW...

2009-03-09T20:27:00.001-05:00

I am officially giving up my Flickr 365 Project. I just can't do that yet. Oh well - I gave it a try. "Maybe next year." ;-)

A sense of urgency

2009-03-09T13:56:00.003-05:00

Last month I *celebrated* (yeah, right) my 46th birthday. With the exception of my 30th birthday and then my 40th, birthdays in general haven't really bothered me all that much. Until now. For some reason, this magical 46th has completely thrown me for a loop. I don't know why. Perhaps it pushing over that halfway point between 40 and the DREADED 50.

In the days since Feb. 19 I am feeling more anxious and filled with urgency. I lay in bed at night trying to sleep and keep going through all the things I want to do, I *need* to do.

My husband and I have been hiking for years. Sometimes we go more often than others. We sit and look at the maps and books and talk about which hikes we are going to do, or want to do. But recently I keep thinking I have GOT to get them done and soon. I just want to get out and hike every day. The hell with work!

I recently got a really nice digital camera, something I've wanted to get and learn to use for years. But now, time is a-wastin'. I just want to get out there and shoot, shoot, shoot.

I've been doing canine search & rescue now for a little over 5 years. I am getting the "itch" to train another dog in a different discipline than I am currently doing because my current pup just doesn't seem really interested in the other displine, but it's something I want to try. Gotta do it now, before it gets too late.

Time is just slipping through my fingers and I'm desperately trying to slow it down, even just a little. I'm scared of that day when I won't be able to do the things I want to do. It's getting closer with every passing day.

Ahh, Sipsey

2009-03-08T08:00:00.004-05:00

Yesterday I again had the pleasure to accompany/lead a small group of digital photographer buddies into the Jewel of the South - The Sipsey Wilderness. One of them had never been to Bankhead (unbelievable!). One of them had only been once, a couple of weeks ago. And the last has only been a couple of times. None of them had been to Saturday's destination: Turkey Foot Creek Canyon.

I think I'm safe in saying that they were all very happy with the trip. It's a relatively easy hike, just around 1 mile, up through a beautiful little canyon. I have been to this canyon numerous times and have run into other people there only once!! So few know about it. It's really just off the road and you would never imagine that such a gorgeous canyon is just outside your car door. But, that's a good thing really. I like going there and not having to fight crowds. Plus, it remains very trash-free just because of that fact.

I love taking folks to the Sipsey. People come from all over the US to hike there, but so many people within north Alabama don't know anything about it. It's a wonder, a jewel, a secret place. But, it is one that begs to be discovered.

Here's a shot:

You gotta love this administration...

2009-03-06T11:14:00.001-06:00

...so many quotes, so little time:

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told an audience Friday "never waste a good crisis,"

And from this past November:
"You never want a serious crisis to go to waste," Rahm Emanuel, Mr. Obama's new chief of staff, told a Wall Street Journal conference of top corporate chief executives this week.

So, Crisis = Good. Yes?

Hiatus

2009-03-06T08:52:00.004-06:00

And is was purely unintentional. Seems like every day, right in the middle of something, I'd think, "You need to get online and post." But alas, I suffer from AADD (adult attention deficit disorder) and when I would actually get unbusy and have time to post, I would lose myself and my time doing something else. You know, like reading 'Seester's blog, or obsessing over my Facebook page, reading DrudgeReport, perusing the pics on Flickr. You know, important stuff.

I'm working on something, but it's not ready. Needs a little tweaking. So, instead of a wordy post, enjoy a little beauty from GSMNP:

Visibility is not too good today, but it's still a beautiful place and I am still wishing I was there....

A VERY bad wife...

2009-03-03T19:46:00.002-06:00

...almost. I didn't forget it, but was just so darn (good word - Lent) busy at work I just didn't get a chance to post.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, LEN !!!

Oh, for the love of....

2009-02-26T11:22:00.001-06:00

Angel Float

Lent

2009-02-24T07:03:00.004-06:00

From Wikipedia:
"Lent, in some Christian denominations, is the forty-day-long liturgical season of fasting and prayer before Easter. The forty days represent the time Jesus spent in the desert, where according to the Bible he endured temptation by Satan. Different churches calculate the forty days differently.

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer—through prayer, penitence, almsgiving and self-denial—for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, which recalls the events linked to the Passion of Christ and culminates in Easter, the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ."

Having grown up in a small, evangelical country church and then going to First Christian, Disciples of Christ for most of my young adult life, Lent was never even a blip on my radar. It wasn't until I joined the Episcopal church that I really learned about Lent, its place on the liturgical calendar and its importance. I've never gotten into the whole "self-denial" thing, but I've tried. Honest. For the first couple of years as a new Episcopalian, I tried. I tried to give up....cursing. Don't get me wrong, I don't cuss like a sailor, but I do let fly when the spirit moves me. Some people, some situations, just call for a choice word or two ( or three ).

At Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal, the youth group has a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday. It's that one last chance to stuff yourself with as much carbs and fat as you can before the 40 day penitence. One year, I got there a little early and was talking to our priest. "So Harrison, what are you giving up for Lent?" I asked. "Brussels sprouts," came the reply. He was totally serious, didn't smile, didn't elaborate. I'm assuming that he was serious. "And what are you giving up?" he asked. "Cursing," I said.

He looked at me askance and said, "Really? I've not ever noticed that you curse all that much." "Well, hell, Harrison, I'm not going to do it at church!" I said. And then I had an Epiphany. "Wait a minute, Hell, that's in the Bible, right? And ass, and damnation (damned for short-at least in some versions). So, I don't have to give up many at all, except maybe the F-bomb." I thought I had Lent locked up that year. Not.

I've never made it through Lent and been successful in my selected penitence. But, I'll keep trying. I have until tomorrow to decide on something. Maybe I'll try giving up cursing again.

I really don't mean to get off into the political quicksand, but...

2009-02-23T09:01:00.002-06:00

I got this email today and it just begs to be shared. Indulge me.

11 Most Expensive Catastrophes in History

# 11. Titanic - $150 Million
The sinking of the Titanic is possibly the most famous accident in the world. But it barely makes our list of top 10 most expensive. On April 15, 1912, the Titanic sank on its maiden voyage and was considered to be the most luxurious ocean liner ever built. Over 1,500 people lost their lives when the ship ran into an iceberg and sunk in frigid waters. The ship cost $7 million to build ($150 million in today's dollars).

# 10. Tanker Truck vs Bridge - $358 Million
On August 26, 2004, a car collided with a tanker truck containing 32,000 liters of fuel on the Wiehltal Bridge in Germany . The tanker crashed through the guardrail and fell 90 feet off the A4 Autobahn resulting in a huge explosion and fire which destroyed the load-bearing ability of the bridge. Temporary repairs cost $40 million and the cost to replace the bridge is estimated at $318 Million.

# 9. MetroLink Crash - $500 Million
On September 12, 2008, in what was one of the worst train crashes in California history, 25 people were killed when a Metrolink commuter train crashed head-on into a Union Pacific freight train in Los Angeles . It is thought that the Metrolink train may have run through a red signal while the conductor was busy text messaging.. Wrongful death lawsuits are expected to cause $500 million in losses for Metrolink.

# 8. B-2 Bomber Crash - $1.4 Billion
Here we have our first billion dollar accident (and we ' re only #7 on the list). This B-2 stealth bomber crashed shortly after taking off from an air base in Guam on February 23, 2008. Investigators blamed distorted data in the flight control computers caused by moisture in the system. This resulted in the aircraft making a sudden nose-up move which made the B-2 stall and crash. This was 1 of only 21 ever built and was the most expensive aviation accident in history. Both pilots were able to eject to safety.

# 7. Exxon Valdez - $2.5 Billion
The Exxon Valdez oil spill was not a large one in relation to the world ' s biggest oil spills, but it was a costly one due to the remote location of Prince William Sound (accessible only by helicopter and boat). On March 24, 1989, 10.8 million gallons of oil was spilled when the ship ' s master, Joseph Hazelwood, left the controls and the ship crashed into a Reef. The cleanup cost Exxon $2.5 billion.

# 6. Piper Alpha Oil Rig - $3.4 Billion
The world ' s worst off-shore oil disaster. At one time, it was the world ' s single largest oil producer, spewing out 317,000 barrels of oil per day. On July 6, 1988, as part of routine maintenance, technicians removed and checked safety valves which were essential in preventing dangerous build-up of liquid gas. There were 100 identical safety valves which were checked. Unfortunately, the technicians made a mistake and forgot to replace one of them. At 10 PM that same night, a technician pressed a start button for the liquid gas pumps and the world ' s most expensive oil rig accident was set in motion. Within 2 hours, the 300 foot platform was engulfed in flames. It eventually collapsed, killing 167 workers and resulting in $3.4 Billion in damages.

# 5. Challenger Explosion - $5.5 Billion
The Space Shuttle Challenger was destroyed 73 seconds after takeoff due on January 28, 1986 due to a faulty O-ring. It failed to seal one of the joints, allowing pressurized gas to reach the outside. This in turn caused the external tank to dump its payload of liquid hydrogen causing a massive explosion. The cost of replacing the Space Shuttle was $2 billion in 1986 ($4.5 billion in today ' s dollars). The cost of investigation, problem correction, and replacement of lost equipment cost $450 million from 1986-1987 ($1 Billion in today's dollars).

# 4. Prestige Oil Spill - $12 Billion
On November 13, 2002, the Prestige oil tanker was carrying 77,000 tons of heavy fuel oil when one of its twelve tanks burst during a storm off Galicia , Spain . Fearing that the ship would sink, the captain called for help from Spanish rescue workers, expecting them to take the ship into harbour. However, pressure from local authorities forced the captain to steer the ship away from the coast. The captain tried to get help from the French and Portuguese authorities, but they too ordered the ship away from their shores. The storm eventually took its toll on the ship resulting in the tanker splitting in half and releasing 20 million gallons oil into the sea. According to a report by the Pontevedra Economist Board, the total cleanup cost $12 billion.

# 3. Space Shuttle Columbia - $13 Billion
The Space Shuttle Columbia was the first space worthy shuttle in NASA ' s orbital fleet. It was destroyed during re-entry over Texas on February 1, 2003 after a hole was punctured in one of the wings during launch 16 days earlier. The original cost of the shuttle was $2 Billion in 1978. That comes out to $6.3 Billion in today ' s dollars. $500 million was spent on the investigation, making it the costliest aircraft accident investigation in history. The search and recovery of debris cost $300 million. In the end, the total cost of the accident (not including replacement of the shuttle) came out to $13 Billion according to the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.

# 2. Chernobyl - $200 Billion
On April 26, 1986, the world witnessed the costliest accident in history. The Chernobyl disaster has been called the biggest socio-economic catastrophe in peacetime history. 50% of the area of Ukraine is in some way contaminated. Over 200,000 people had to be evacuated and resettled while 1.7 million people were directly affected by the disaster. The death toll attributed to Chernobyl , including people who died from cancer years later, is estimated at 125,000. The total costs including cleanup, resettlement, and compensation to victims has been estimated to be roughly $200 Billion. The cost of a new steel shelter for the Chernobyl nuclear plant will cost $2 billion alone. The accident was officially attributed to power plant operators who violated plant procedures and were ignorant of the safety requirements needed.

# 1. 2008 Presidential Election- $800 Billion in the first two months………..

WTF ??

2009-02-22T10:43:00.001-06:00

Harris Interactive Poll

I find this disturbing in so many ways. Of course, I know what Bo will say about why I do...

A little behind....

2009-02-21T18:35:00.002-06:00

Well, not really. My behind isn't very little, but you know what I mean. Thursday night we went to my favorite restaurant for dinner: Simp McGee's in Decatur. Len & I had our very first date there waaaaaay back in 1992. We still go back for our anniversary, our first date anniversary and usually for my birthday.

Simp's is a locally owned resturant, located in Old Decatur on Bank Street. It's a very special place. Pretty expensive. Very "adult," meaning you generally don't see folks with little children there. Don't get me wrong..I love kids, but sometimes I like to eat at a restaurant where there are NONE!

Simp's made it on the "100 Dishes to Eat in Alabama Before You Die" - the seafood filled mushroom caps. Of course we had them and yes, they are that good.

Oh, and by the way.....

2009-02-19T11:44:00.004-06:00

to me!

Perhaps spellcheck would help...

2009-02-19T10:02:00.013-06:00

Ran across this picture of protesters waiting for The One in Mesa, Arizona:

If you're gonna hold up a 10 foot sign that is probably going to make it on the news and possibly be seen by The One, at least make sure it's correct.

Have someone proof it for you!

Again, I'm remiss in my blogger duties...

2009-02-17T19:26:00.005-06:00

It was a wonderful, long, full weekend. And then.....Monday. Work. Yuck. Let's catch up.

Sunday, Len & I headed back out to Bankhead/Sipsey for a couple of more hikes. We started at the Sipsey Recreational area, heading upstream to Fall Creek Falls. You have to cross Borden Creek to get there. In the summer time, not so bad. In the winter time, not so good. Borden is very wide, but not too deep. But the water is COLD !!! I'm going to invest in a pair of Wiggy's Waders since we've decided to spend more time in the wilderness. You just can't hike much out there without having to ford a few streams. And when you are waterfall chasing, you are going to get wet.

After Fall Creek Falls (above), we had a quick bite back at the car (PB & J of course) and drove over to the trailhead for Parker Canyon/Falls. A couple of Flickr buddies met us at the falls (BamaWester and Jolly Swagman). Check out their photostreams. I promise you won't be disappointed. Here's my picture of Parker Falls:

I was pretty happy with my results this time out. Could be better, but I think I am improving. Wes gave me a few tips. I let him know that it's his fault I got hooked on the digital photo thing in the first place. A couple of years ago, my son spent a semester in Tokyo going to university there. He got a Flickr account so he could post photos so I could *see* him while he was gone. I did a search on "North Alabama" one day and the first Flickr person that popped up was BamaWester. I swore then that if I could EVER take pictures even half as good as his, I would die a happy woman. It took me until last summer to finally get a camera and get started, but I've had a blast so far!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T20:18:00.003-06:00

My honey, Len, and I hiked out to Sougahoagdee Falls in Bankhead Forest this afternoon...

This was my 2nd Valentine's Day card left in the sand...

Paraskavedekatriaphobia

2009-02-13T11:02:00.001-06:00

Happy Friday the 13th, ya'll!!

Dorothy Mae NeSmith Standridge...

2009-02-12T05:00:00.001-06:00

...was my mother. She died on this day in 1975, one week before my 12th birthday.

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. The one on the left was a very small photo I have that is less than 2" x 2" in size and it was in really bad shape. I have done my best to clean it up. The one on the right wasn't much bigger, but it was at least in better physical condition. She was very pretty I think. The left photo has always been my favorite picture of her.

Momma was born on March 10, 1930. I don't know what date the picture on the left was taken, but I figure she was probably in her early twenties. The nursing picture was her graduation picture after she became an LPN. I think she went back to school after I was born, so I figure it was taken in the early to mid-60s.

After all these years, I still think of her often. I have moved back out to the "country" to family property and the little country church where she and my Daddy are buried is just down the road about a quarter of a mile. When the weather is nice, we walk the dogs down past the church. So I am reminded of her every time we go by.

Sometimes I hear friends talking about doing things with their mother; talking to her on the phone, going to visit her at Christmas, etc, and I am so envious. But sometimes I'm not. I'll explain in a moment. I dream of Momma sometimes. Usually it's a "present day" kind of dream, not something from the past, and she still looks just like she did when I was 11. I suppose my imagination just won't let me age her.

Momma died of pancreatic cancer. It was angonizing but swift. From diagnosis to death was less than 5 months, which encompassed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and pretty much my birthday. Suffice it to say, it was many, many years before the holiday season was anything but miserable for me. It's just been in the very last few years that I've actually started to look forward to Christmas again. Thank you, Len.

For the last few years of Momma's life, everything in our world was in turmoil. She and my Daddy had been in the throes of a divorce for several years. They never did get the papers signed before Momma got sick.

When I found out Momma had cancer, I had just started the 6th grade, new school, all new classmates. I remember praying and praying and begging God to please not take her. I tried bargaining, promising, pleading. My Ma (Momma's mother) was what you would call a "Holy Roller." She was a very Godly woman, went to the evangelical church down the road every time the doors were open, and talked to God just like He was sitting at the kitchen table. She and I prayed together about it many, many times and I think I really believed that Momma was going to get better, for a while. And I kept believing that up until just a few weeks before she died. By that time, she had been in the hospital for over two months. I went to see her every day. By February, I knew it was hopeless. And was I pissed. God was on my shit-list. And He stayed there for a very long time. Even though I continued going to church, got baptized, sang in the choir, did the youth group thing, did all those other things you are "supposed" to do, inside I was railing against Him. I was in the church, but it wasn't in me. It was just a social function.

Luckily, I got over that phase of my life. Of course, it was about 1998 before I did. Thank you, Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal. Story for another day.

Now let me explain why sometimes I'm not jealous of others with (living) mothers. For the last couple of years before Momma died, she was very sick with pancreatitis. I don't know if this led to the cancer or it was just coincidental. Who knows? But because she was very physically ill, I think she was mentally ill. Sometimes I wonder if she was really mentally ill first and that led to her physical problems, although not necessarily the cancer. I have always believed that physical health and mental health are very closely linked. As an adult, I can look back on things that happened and I wonder if Momma really was mentally ill. I don't know anyone who is bipolar, but I've read about it over the years. There were days where she was just as happy and normal as anyone, but there were also black days. About a year before she was diagnosed, I walked into her bedroom and found her sitting in her bathroom holding a loaded revolver threatening to kill herself. I ran. She didn't. If she hadn't gotten cancer, would she have gotten help? Would she have killed herself anyway? I don't know. But I do believe that things happen for a reason. After Momma died, I was raised by my paternal grandparents. By this time my Daddy worked for a company based in Virginia and he was on the road working. I graduated 4th in my senior class and eventually graduated from college (with a marriage and a baby thrown in the middle of that). I was the only child of Dorothy and Neal to graduate from 4-year college. As a matter of fact, I was the first person in my immediate family all the way back beyond my grandparents to graduate from college.

How different would life have been if Momma had lived? I don't know. How good has my life been since she died? Very. And although I don't usually say it out loud, I think the way it all happened was for the best. I love my Momma and I miss her terribly, but I'm afraid that my life would have been very, very different (and not in a good way) if she had not died when I was 11 years old. I am not, and never have been, happy about her death, but I am always thankful to God that my life has become what it is.

Life is good.

I have worked on this post for about a week, trying to get it just right. I still don't think it is, but it is what it is. Momma was a beautiful, loving, smart, caring mother. She had problems. Don't we all? She did her best in the few years she had and that was enough. I look forward to seeing her again one day. It will be a great reunion.

The (non) Comfort Zone

2009-02-11T08:05:00.006-06:00

As part of my New Year's Resolution of..."traveling off the beaten path, taking the road less traveled, reading between the lines, dancing to the beat of a different drummer and not letting life pass me by while I stand still"** I headed out yesterday evening to have dinner with a bunch of folks that I have never met before. To say I was a little anxious would be an understatement.

Every month, the Flickr group North Alabama Photographers Guild meets for dinner to have a little something to eat, meet the faces behind all those gorgeous photos and share a little photography knowledge with each other and luckily with those of us who have very little so far.

I had planned to go to last month's meeting for the first time, but just couldn't make it. So, this was my first. I was going by myself and I was extremely nervous. In the two hours I had to kill between getting off work and the meeting, I was headed back to my car several times to just go on home. But I persevered and am so very glad now that I did. Of course, the anxiety was greatly relieved when I looked up and much to my surprise, in walked the 'Seester!!

It was great meeting so many of the folks whose pictures I have been admiring so long. And Tommy's has great pizza! :-) Of course, being at a meeting with a whole lotta camera gurus is not a very comfortable place for someone who doesn't really like having her picture made. Again, part of that whole "getting out of my comfort" zone thing. Every time I looked up someone else was snapping away.

It was raining when I got there and I didn't want to get the "good" camera wet. I grabbed a quick picture with the cell phone before I left:

(**original credit for this resolution goes to Wendy Lang Beck)

Out of pocket...

2009-02-08T05:26:00.001-06:00

I'm out of pocket all weekend taking a SAR class.

Visibility - 118 miles....

2009-02-05T13:45:00.001-06:00

View from Look Rock in Great Smoky Mtns National Park - Visibility 118 miles, temp 21 deg. I am so wishing I was there.....

Photo Tagged

2009-02-05T10:13:00.003-06:00

A fellow blogger was Photo Tagged.
The rules are:
1. Open the fourth photo folder of your computer.
2. Choose the fourth photo in that folder and publish it in your blog.
3. Explain the photo.
4. Challenge four bloggers to do the same.

Since I am at work, my "Photos" folder is a little different (alot) than my "Photos" folder at home. But it worked out okay. Here's the 4th photo in the 4th folder of my Photos:

No real story behind the pic. I was out in the yard with the doggies and just snapping a few pictures. Brandi tilts her head over when you say certain words, like "Biscuit," "Treat," "Ball." So I was having fun with her. Like Seester, I'm not challenging anyone else, but it's a fun thing to do.

An hour and ten minutes

2009-02-05T08:44:00.002-06:00

That's how long it took me to get to work today!! 35 MILES, 70 minutes. I'm just too pissed off to post anything else right now. :-)

It was bound to happen....

2009-02-03T19:56:00.003-06:00

I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Unfortunately, I couldn't get pulled over before the song was over to get a clear shot, but this will have to do.... :-)

Thanks to XM for providing a laugh today!

Project 365 - Update

2009-02-03T11:46:00.004-06:00

Shhh...blogging from work again, but it IS my lunch break!

I'm at Day 34 of Project 365. I've done so-so to well I think. I've missed posting a picture two days somewhere in there.

What I've learned so far from Project 365:
1) It's okay if you miss a day! Carry on the following day and keep on posting.
2) I don't have very many photogenic items in my house, except for those two gorgeous German Shepherd Dogs. ;-)
3) I find myself constantly on the "look out" for something to photograph when I'm out driving or walking. It can get really distracting!
4) Take my camera with me everywhere I go.
5) If I fail to follow #4 above, remember that my cellphone has a camera that will do in a "pinch."
6) I don't post to the group every day. Sometimes I have to play catch-up. But I do take a photo every day.
7) Aperture and shutter speeds are starting to make more sense to me.
8) White Balance is fun to play around with if taking low-light pictures.
9) Gorgeous German Shepherd Dogs will NOT remain still for a long-shutter shot.
10)Waterfall shots are very difficult for me to get without overexposing and blowing out the light parts of the water.

I'm sure there are more, but unfortunately, I have to go back to work.

A little Monday morning fun

2009-02-02T08:32:00.003-06:00

I'm shamelessly stealing this from Bo's Blog. It's Monday. It's raining. It's cold. So, take about 4 minutes and enjoy this little video. I promise you, it will make you smile (and probably laugh outright!).

Movie Quiz...

2009-02-01T20:33:00.001-06:00

"I ain't been droppin' no eaves, sir, honest!"

Anyone?

Great weekend

2009-02-01T19:05:00.004-06:00

It was another great weekend. Search & Rescue practice on Saturday. Got to spend the day in the woods of Redstone Arsenal being "lost" while a couple of other dog teams in the group came to find me. I took the camera and played around with the "aperture" mode. I pick the aperture and the camera gets to pick the shutter speed. Here's a neat vine next to where I was sitting for awhile I dubbed "Together Forever":

Today I was privileged to introduce a couple of friends, Saintseester & Bo, to the beautiful jewel of the south, Bankhead Forest. We went to Upper Caney Creek Falls. Here's my somewhat lame attempt at a good waterfall picture:

And remember the #1 rule of a road trips:
"What's said in the car, stays in the car."
:-)

Appreciating photography

2009-01-28T10:33:00.002-06:00

Because of my recent foray into the world of DSLR cameras and photography, I have started paying much more attention to the color/composition/effect of photographs. I ran across this collection of photos from Australian photographer Patrick Boland. It is called the Cockatoo Island Project. The island was a former prison/reform school that was then turned into one of Australia's biggest shipyards. Now it is in ruin. Check out the pictures. You won't be disappointed.

Good gosh, what a weekend!

2009-01-26T10:05:00.003-06:00

It was a whirlwind weekend here in north Alabama. It was fun, but glad it's over. Unfortunately, that means it is time to go back to work. :-( And that's where I am. Shhhh, please don't tell them that I'm updating my blog.

Friday night I've already told you about. Super show at the Princess Theater. What a treasure that place has turned out to be over the years for the City of Decatur. They have offered many wonderful opportunities for folks around here to get a little culture, entertainment, education, and all around fun. Next Friday night Punch Brothers, featuring Chris Thile, will be performing. Thile was the mandolinist and vocalist for the Nickel Creek band. He has formed this new band. He is a national mandolin champion, great vocalist and gifted songwriter. Tickets are still available and affordable. You should check them out.

All day Saturday and Sunday I was in Birmingham for a photography workshop offered by Rocky Mountain School of Photography. Let me just say, "WOW!" I had so many "a-ha" moments, I had to stop counting! I was also thrilled that a fellow-blogger, Saintseester, was there for the Saturday workshop, and a fellow-Flickr buddy, dixiephotogirl, was there for both days. It was a superb weekend workshop. Best $$ I've spent since I got the digital camera.

Southern Nights and Broadway Lights

2009-01-23T21:54:00.002-06:00

Just a quick post before bedtime. Len & I went to the Princess Theater tonight for a benefit concert for the Foundation for Mental Health. It was a great show with some wonderful local performers. But I must say that the guy who "stole the show" was Robert Montgomery. He is a banjo player from Moulton. He was absolutely incredible. Please check out his website. He also has a MySpace page and videos on YouTube. I can't wait to see him again !