tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11142245905226166022024-02-19T23:28:32.123-05:00streetpoloBenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.comBlogger425125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-48472016215435972482014-01-14T22:45:00.000-05:002014-01-14T22:45:07.461-05:002013 - The Year of Living Vicariously - Year in Review - <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MCuv17xoOmWpKb02DI34ZekNBlQpq7yZL9kt1oqVOmUZubzPFD709ZtzdgmE2QLZDZ9VFiklwgfL8XRCTbLZ5zObhIjEEkd4VdNFEd2AZSVJu62orzAimT3fzkZV20ap6xcdoCwa5Vs/s1600/IMG_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MCuv17xoOmWpKb02DI34ZekNBlQpq7yZL9kt1oqVOmUZubzPFD709ZtzdgmE2QLZDZ9VFiklwgfL8XRCTbLZ5zObhIjEEkd4VdNFEd2AZSVJu62orzAimT3fzkZV20ap6xcdoCwa5Vs/s400/IMG_0635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSV3mgaB_rbqibMqoOI0Fd4QcejlHW7zFxj2KiLi641vPdNLIic8Uhq1zfdG2wpSgPob657f8KbKNRkQxWaeFZ4e7Y01-USPilP1F37BuqGHRzwHekHm7LOMj5lFM9vzhvwwDnrMDzOw/s1600/IMG_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSV3mgaB_rbqibMqoOI0Fd4QcejlHW7zFxj2KiLi641vPdNLIic8Uhq1zfdG2wpSgPob657f8KbKNRkQxWaeFZ4e7Y01-USPilP1F37BuqGHRzwHekHm7LOMj5lFM9vzhvwwDnrMDzOw/s400/IMG_0646.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO56KWFOMpBX_zcqexZFZfcHlbaOYrG_lM-ZV0nWVXqb8dVAUCgOyotm9UXigRCA5yjrxtKIVt4Y-_wUfu53bfkN-LrYLz8AUOTkAuskrI9VB0-M-xQwhy52X2DEdMScPCH_u8FGVzqEg/s1600/IMG_0110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO56KWFOMpBX_zcqexZFZfcHlbaOYrG_lM-ZV0nWVXqb8dVAUCgOyotm9UXigRCA5yjrxtKIVt4Y-_wUfu53bfkN-LrYLz8AUOTkAuskrI9VB0-M-xQwhy52X2DEdMScPCH_u8FGVzqEg/s400/IMG_0110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UlmxBnlkY5QgEvEzGIKgXgpuYNdy1BDK9CHpZcStV0F9ZjRpLewXYRhg-Kgzv-MzQxlHTSs3_u6fDPYvsd6mHYR-moJVSmadvlLLcYTNisJkYFVDo7qd2MbZ84kzMwUyANtGm5-Q6QQ/s1600/IMG_1649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UlmxBnlkY5QgEvEzGIKgXgpuYNdy1BDK9CHpZcStV0F9ZjRpLewXYRhg-Kgzv-MzQxlHTSs3_u6fDPYvsd6mHYR-moJVSmadvlLLcYTNisJkYFVDo7qd2MbZ84kzMwUyANtGm5-Q6QQ/s400/IMG_1649.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicFnfFMoP45-bnGJm6oBSNsaqNpqb1PIPrO9CjqhyphenhyphenYeuuy2QOxX02phNtJ7nqzT4BuzvJzpt8viDJ-DTq9yCy9H3Ypht7fTf18hvEll8_9DIrezI-6lY4s5C4AhkXwZ8VJhEWMgYdbBY/s1600/IMG_2077.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiicFnfFMoP45-bnGJm6oBSNsaqNpqb1PIPrO9CjqhyphenhyphenYeuuy2QOxX02phNtJ7nqzT4BuzvJzpt8viDJ-DTq9yCy9H3Ypht7fTf18hvEll8_9DIrezI-6lY4s5C4AhkXwZ8VJhEWMgYdbBY/s400/IMG_2077.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk0Ap8i6nvlJAYCxvWmQpLQV2yidozIPT6YN9agUDxezQoReYEDIXvQaX11n9iJt0ygsJ0y3yuRlH1knNvjVxLuLKmQNr_o7XWwgyB4Cap0DDmqS6aOoC0V-3tol0uC4C7NzGOKYHWO0/s1600/IMG_1604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCk0Ap8i6nvlJAYCxvWmQpLQV2yidozIPT6YN9agUDxezQoReYEDIXvQaX11n9iJt0ygsJ0y3yuRlH1knNvjVxLuLKmQNr_o7XWwgyB4Cap0DDmqS6aOoC0V-3tol0uC4C7NzGOKYHWO0/s400/IMG_1604.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdqKB1sUfC4UHmEhBEvPUeF0EglokrHtfubRThUbkjRGVghGP5MMK2Gb9j3nEXieoSLNpvrIjokfbfpii3gF0biC9Gj_YNpXvZ2QhF9tHj9237XdvjXcU4yjLgVQtLftOZYZujd4POz0/s1600/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIdqKB1sUfC4UHmEhBEvPUeF0EglokrHtfubRThUbkjRGVghGP5MMK2Gb9j3nEXieoSLNpvrIjokfbfpii3gF0biC9Gj_YNpXvZ2QhF9tHj9237XdvjXcU4yjLgVQtLftOZYZujd4POz0/s400/IMG_1998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR2pJy-3gh6-CA7Q4nWhXNFpW_5FMWzsPGwAFKVeXsy_uthaPO5oRk4Fk1RL-mQ4E3cOEVjV-W87eHLY-DJS860Bj4A8GY6zaqXC4aaMX1mXFN5368chUo35_YtJlISByVjkRfmS6ShI/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrR2pJy-3gh6-CA7Q4nWhXNFpW_5FMWzsPGwAFKVeXsy_uthaPO5oRk4Fk1RL-mQ4E3cOEVjV-W87eHLY-DJS860Bj4A8GY6zaqXC4aaMX1mXFN5368chUo35_YtJlISByVjkRfmS6ShI/s400/IMG_0136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeffoVNBU1DTprSPhoHd9qW_hh3JOMAQOBtF4GWP41vWJtzgEcVn53gcx3GnAmEUZ4yIUJcAoEF2za6qHp2zZcejxMLLPezjGpU72roBw1n_HVMTyl3q-0CGcO1Zjc6DLv90c8QM7_zg/s1600/IMG_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeffoVNBU1DTprSPhoHd9qW_hh3JOMAQOBtF4GWP41vWJtzgEcVn53gcx3GnAmEUZ4yIUJcAoEF2za6qHp2zZcejxMLLPezjGpU72roBw1n_HVMTyl3q-0CGcO1Zjc6DLv90c8QM7_zg/s400/IMG_0170.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc2FleKQEUk8s8bJoGe5ELv4y1dNuu_d0xAaookqjCuCfHQmtrIw6Qq6fBQQAB1lefyypKRMZ4X5eSSScE3nXiNHeYN7ou3Dy2JGKWhya4BE_xbqxVUBxyUdUSjIDzdnZHoz2Kq9l1Mw/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc2FleKQEUk8s8bJoGe5ELv4y1dNuu_d0xAaookqjCuCfHQmtrIw6Qq6fBQQAB1lefyypKRMZ4X5eSSScE3nXiNHeYN7ou3Dy2JGKWhya4BE_xbqxVUBxyUdUSjIDzdnZHoz2Kq9l1Mw/s400/IMG_1390.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7tYcvh04qpk9YvhjIMPbAymcPTISSbgnfdZZdMb5-jDBo0pf-DSQer-DuLnDNBzNF4ONqfbBhANMR4vEliemZZEqnmjL5ANG6TJ3Yay7KyxAutd8K8nDp6aPMey9xoXb2cgpIKE93bk/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="396" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY7tYcvh04qpk9YvhjIMPbAymcPTISSbgnfdZZdMb5-jDBo0pf-DSQer-DuLnDNBzNF4ONqfbBhANMR4vEliemZZEqnmjL5ANG6TJ3Yay7KyxAutd8K8nDp6aPMey9xoXb2cgpIKE93bk/s400/IMG_0810.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU23FPJGHP1Fc2HgofcUPITRef6BcqyPC0M0uc5rD6Eo5Xg9qam1MlA5nRIGxjixn3_mnTg9xn-kigYHwmdMq3n-C0m3wXoyDmLx-vFZyU4hcSZfoX1ayFg0-DYToOlOzkIiORdciltzQ/s1600/IMG_0447.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU23FPJGHP1Fc2HgofcUPITRef6BcqyPC0M0uc5rD6Eo5Xg9qam1MlA5nRIGxjixn3_mnTg9xn-kigYHwmdMq3n-C0m3wXoyDmLx-vFZyU4hcSZfoX1ayFg0-DYToOlOzkIiORdciltzQ/s400/IMG_0447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkphSzoov-iR8hjtDHBc07QG_l7I32wkT0uiuyDPRUneJRjh1pi04PBpa_WgD7Y10T981rKDfzsG32yesSNtHGK4Vuuj4CusXHSXYDO0muZ4LsYyp6zsLmfSV4W-NBLCgMDqBbJ59Zu0Y/s1600/IMG_0364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkphSzoov-iR8hjtDHBc07QG_l7I32wkT0uiuyDPRUneJRjh1pi04PBpa_WgD7Y10T981rKDfzsG32yesSNtHGK4Vuuj4CusXHSXYDO0muZ4LsYyp6zsLmfSV4W-NBLCgMDqBbJ59Zu0Y/s400/IMG_0364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE_8FO3KRHXn_r2KMBoh9MXZxr5VYCg_ubvBR844Zbu4VGpskgc538rxygs6mshxGPjKaD8GzILifkzqrk0SIm7mMNh596kjvU_prEtUkIRXSDXosuHsNrrvqAsbZMP-F4TUGKu3K6yE/s1600/923035_504410629606527_1470186266_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE_8FO3KRHXn_r2KMBoh9MXZxr5VYCg_ubvBR844Zbu4VGpskgc538rxygs6mshxGPjKaD8GzILifkzqrk0SIm7mMNh596kjvU_prEtUkIRXSDXosuHsNrrvqAsbZMP-F4TUGKu3K6yE/s400/923035_504410629606527_1470186266_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXCq67VwUFD3hIEkibZnHQcH_SB6Y-IWtHKvaXypv2CqrpQ0Rq-Im2DgJDNaeZFXaOyIMOvXAnVPKKzutIEwuBfH552WB0-XkSRfv9TICmUHDw2h4dMEvhf_W4wzPm3ZISQhMacKWPec/s1600/IMG_0136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXCq67VwUFD3hIEkibZnHQcH_SB6Y-IWtHKvaXypv2CqrpQ0Rq-Im2DgJDNaeZFXaOyIMOvXAnVPKKzutIEwuBfH552WB0-XkSRfv9TICmUHDw2h4dMEvhf_W4wzPm3ZISQhMacKWPec/s400/IMG_0136.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnDc61XXLDUb0ijCrYmIhxfprWDbzr9Oiacsk-Pvmn7C8UvODv1rs6aT9N4zxY-liGQm7V9T5qjdP4mUr4KEFdL7Vyl84s4GGWB9fqO3BFAMKK3_jct6VuY6Qx-iWqqGXo0XjL-YztTc/s1600/IMG_0162.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnDc61XXLDUb0ijCrYmIhxfprWDbzr9Oiacsk-Pvmn7C8UvODv1rs6aT9N4zxY-liGQm7V9T5qjdP4mUr4KEFdL7Vyl84s4GGWB9fqO3BFAMKK3_jct6VuY6Qx-iWqqGXo0XjL-YztTc/s400/IMG_0162.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy49lcskiCE8e5zluV9UfYvp45J-768lqKaBj6iyyWXIok-ncgAgDM75NzFeK31UwONl9bcgU5cLYhWgiMeLR6EI6ZruKUERLDaF1uui8oSFsfmFjfW520ViM-cJK-Z-1B4ZvQMNjmyI/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjy49lcskiCE8e5zluV9UfYvp45J-768lqKaBj6iyyWXIok-ncgAgDM75NzFeK31UwONl9bcgU5cLYhWgiMeLR6EI6ZruKUERLDaF1uui8oSFsfmFjfW520ViM-cJK-Z-1B4ZvQMNjmyI/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuknYsfDDJhnDXlZLQbT2XbuJUG5uRWD9blZ-lk7XDzBwAK4P8bSacuMsHD5b30BN01oz7cbbUrMuLN3RDNeoNQ3x-doMEIDn-_W2bLxnPdChtUgTyTNDLpyQqCvBRY5if7nQhY0faN4/s1600/IMG_3277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuknYsfDDJhnDXlZLQbT2XbuJUG5uRWD9blZ-lk7XDzBwAK4P8bSacuMsHD5b30BN01oz7cbbUrMuLN3RDNeoNQ3x-doMEIDn-_W2bLxnPdChtUgTyTNDLpyQqCvBRY5if7nQhY0faN4/s400/IMG_3277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBTlkYzDxPSKwZH9YHshZuY4y05KNkrV_svWraGD8hwsg6hh_MxT8StoFljyZjeySlWO-3N0sLrHtjkRFhk9y5-IS2MhH9QQtKPv0XvisB9voxclzmX4FNjZNVZN1TsBKoemr5fzwbts/s1600/IMG_0031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBTlkYzDxPSKwZH9YHshZuY4y05KNkrV_svWraGD8hwsg6hh_MxT8StoFljyZjeySlWO-3N0sLrHtjkRFhk9y5-IS2MhH9QQtKPv0XvisB9voxclzmX4FNjZNVZN1TsBKoemr5fzwbts/s400/IMG_0031.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVwWZPPx60fMJNWNUGuBe7T0RQlpTWnK_WnnmPZUvnIa20PjT9oHv83vsfYLHThyphenhyphenybFysj5wSu_XkIPgPcr1hsWqk9iaeuS3kYZQ9pDTwCJhgRTb9uZmsnaMHOm3UaLB30hTrJNvp0NE/s1600/IMG_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVwWZPPx60fMJNWNUGuBe7T0RQlpTWnK_WnnmPZUvnIa20PjT9oHv83vsfYLHThyphenhyphenybFysj5wSu_XkIPgPcr1hsWqk9iaeuS3kYZQ9pDTwCJhgRTb9uZmsnaMHOm3UaLB30hTrJNvp0NE/s400/IMG_0004.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tKIi_BMKr4u60rxbvfCNBxQLZhISCaN-CHX-lqFoMDTPAx7YjAdPzVC1-fiJj6l3XIX4EuXvm-9Jz-Rd8Hso138CTQggAaZA7fV9SVBWscojyRU-U-pjLeHJFmnVeKHDeE8qsBoTm9k/s1600/IMG_3068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5tKIi_BMKr4u60rxbvfCNBxQLZhISCaN-CHX-lqFoMDTPAx7YjAdPzVC1-fiJj6l3XIX4EuXvm-9Jz-Rd8Hso138CTQggAaZA7fV9SVBWscojyRU-U-pjLeHJFmnVeKHDeE8qsBoTm9k/s400/IMG_3068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
As it turns out, these pictures are in reverse chronological order. Oh well, consider it a trip back in time...<br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-76282750911893048012013-07-29T22:32:00.002-04:002013-07-29T22:32:48.693-04:00Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We took a trip to the Toledo Zoo Friday, along with our daughter, son in law, and 9 month old grand daughter. Had a great time watching the animals, and I believe that many of them had a great time watching us and the other humans on display on our side of the walls, fences, etc. Here is a pictorial summary of some of the critters we saw Friday.... </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBrXwbsQr-628sIQrMjuyj2EJ34SpLgUOQHUmCOYntvkrUEAzhkqNs0s3wEwv0XcZERfpR70n5WDp5GvNZ13Y_d0_vpWQRuhMSNmcQ_SFs98-p_LR66zbutEodyqD6kG9t1MC8cq7nTI/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBrXwbsQr-628sIQrMjuyj2EJ34SpLgUOQHUmCOYntvkrUEAzhkqNs0s3wEwv0XcZERfpR70n5WDp5GvNZ13Y_d0_vpWQRuhMSNmcQ_SFs98-p_LR66zbutEodyqD6kG9t1MC8cq7nTI/s640/IMG_1224.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MxRIogy5HWnn-G1JwFl6__tMbIOt49HdwQRlupFZRopsryBtmbM5xYqncNg3jkpH0HmAImhqOSs0MElnuhyphenhyphenIhuhAwObOvA2buL31eBqSQLnQ1knIk-jcwT5CCXrXZjSfJpv-UXR0yas/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2MxRIogy5HWnn-G1JwFl6__tMbIOt49HdwQRlupFZRopsryBtmbM5xYqncNg3jkpH0HmAImhqOSs0MElnuhyphenhyphenIhuhAwObOvA2buL31eBqSQLnQ1knIk-jcwT5CCXrXZjSfJpv-UXR0yas/s640/IMG_1243.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXrhdRo09yEgCxeq4Ks86QY8KeRB7uxn1AWRZw68tYl40yDBBIcOimL8cV8FZEpBP_fWvAfLParS7OtRnx_Wej5rLgkRtj5Ch_-mFJ6Ir_VAngAlBcU-eC1YYi3gnP9bTdh6o4QKgtUc/s1600/IMG_1110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBXrhdRo09yEgCxeq4Ks86QY8KeRB7uxn1AWRZw68tYl40yDBBIcOimL8cV8FZEpBP_fWvAfLParS7OtRnx_Wej5rLgkRtj5Ch_-mFJ6Ir_VAngAlBcU-eC1YYi3gnP9bTdh6o4QKgtUc/s400/IMG_1110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6V2HBQDaiJeYC1PNt16haCVYSM8PMb8rxBTORxJak0MaWeXcPb78MjldXvNyvhXQwM5dRQv3TlGHy5iW7AGelREyHu5O3DO92XI4QEsmRoPb-xfSw1HOfTfnRIMzaeo0hdgi6CyPK-w/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6V2HBQDaiJeYC1PNt16haCVYSM8PMb8rxBTORxJak0MaWeXcPb78MjldXvNyvhXQwM5dRQv3TlGHy5iW7AGelREyHu5O3DO92XI4QEsmRoPb-xfSw1HOfTfnRIMzaeo0hdgi6CyPK-w/s400/IMG_1123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARfsu6B92UmKeI-4FdDKz-RtshTcBdqMgQgSiQIAKUFIuZbCtVz51euPBWUvDYKG-jItJfQDdm0tNLsxku881eQTHVSgR94HGsqkylpR5lV05Pi649XjGNWNlbB-Hsjn2p_tt1JWMS48/s1600/IMG_1128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjARfsu6B92UmKeI-4FdDKz-RtshTcBdqMgQgSiQIAKUFIuZbCtVz51euPBWUvDYKG-jItJfQDdm0tNLsxku881eQTHVSgR94HGsqkylpR5lV05Pi649XjGNWNlbB-Hsjn2p_tt1JWMS48/s640/IMG_1128.JPG" width="444" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_ow5WDAuqm5KrCFwuM1pVmvNKqcOUXiaJWBdw785m83dzY9OT2nLgUxPdZm-Y7Y4MwNr4MxlNg_WogAU1tykogB98B0qVFIeQwgzAM0zUld_qozS8qqPMz0wajqYU4sJ5af1Ian36z0/s1600/IMG_1131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl_ow5WDAuqm5KrCFwuM1pVmvNKqcOUXiaJWBdw785m83dzY9OT2nLgUxPdZm-Y7Y4MwNr4MxlNg_WogAU1tykogB98B0qVFIeQwgzAM0zUld_qozS8qqPMz0wajqYU4sJ5af1Ian36z0/s640/IMG_1131.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfo8GjYRgofCemy1I1czqajw0PdUT7cSpoX35R0E9TMO-t-2RskKpj5tBOojf0MOxxFsTcyJSeUcUOXancH-1Ib2GVvgYDNPlIBXQPwoFRvuejewwE7JEgAbB_tmEhXY4CiFnvrZFoo8/s1600/IMG_1187.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfo8GjYRgofCemy1I1czqajw0PdUT7cSpoX35R0E9TMO-t-2RskKpj5tBOojf0MOxxFsTcyJSeUcUOXancH-1Ib2GVvgYDNPlIBXQPwoFRvuejewwE7JEgAbB_tmEhXY4CiFnvrZFoo8/s400/IMG_1187.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqMimaH3rSuWRVRZMth8b0HGZd7TEv1X0ThwgjhCdFX9O0YMwZUQM9QZWBYkTVNuIhlZHuynIh4i968p-beq_eLmreLO8DJg2SVa_G7sSMLZS7SgOfTz31FYTqdTGkBmxFRf9rTcNbUM/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqMimaH3rSuWRVRZMth8b0HGZd7TEv1X0ThwgjhCdFX9O0YMwZUQM9QZWBYkTVNuIhlZHuynIh4i968p-beq_eLmreLO8DJg2SVa_G7sSMLZS7SgOfTz31FYTqdTGkBmxFRf9rTcNbUM/s640/IMG_1178.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEiIEql7RcxNHbyH2msJPX0Xs_PM9oBB62dxC8kfvZNCzBHKGe8bnPnzbOeAABo4jwE_YhMg6KJ_yUwtfST8nrWlfDxTV0-EiqwZVHH2zI5mQdm9Ayosdk5iYu4PD0EbBvW8S49UQvV4/s1600/IMG_1150.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEiIEql7RcxNHbyH2msJPX0Xs_PM9oBB62dxC8kfvZNCzBHKGe8bnPnzbOeAABo4jwE_YhMg6KJ_yUwtfST8nrWlfDxTV0-EiqwZVHH2zI5mQdm9Ayosdk5iYu4PD0EbBvW8S49UQvV4/s640/IMG_1150.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPVwa3Qm-V3ZFXP3KcuGDZu8CHsYneS82IU0zXe7-tRWmxRPZSBtGUiTrzuX4AyKAmzmIEb_ENvSypWbBRdoge1KEzgjXUoYhmYNhtsSMye4PLH0LEqNTrrxeyh80lkz7pqrwXbkdeGQ/s1600/IMG_1197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGPVwa3Qm-V3ZFXP3KcuGDZu8CHsYneS82IU0zXe7-tRWmxRPZSBtGUiTrzuX4AyKAmzmIEb_ENvSypWbBRdoge1KEzgjXUoYhmYNhtsSMye4PLH0LEqNTrrxeyh80lkz7pqrwXbkdeGQ/s400/IMG_1197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvPvdOCGehWAv_WA5rtpS0Hs_9Jv8rlZ7h-O-WA6E-fL7eF-LPjJWOHi_gcSCOaqYnTaXvkxHcc-obBqczLTrP5eCaFrvdti9gkYe32SclA6PZSoGBYlO_WEZRriDnlKlaukB6cYOOQc/s1600/IMG_1202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvPvdOCGehWAv_WA5rtpS0Hs_9Jv8rlZ7h-O-WA6E-fL7eF-LPjJWOHi_gcSCOaqYnTaXvkxHcc-obBqczLTrP5eCaFrvdti9gkYe32SclA6PZSoGBYlO_WEZRriDnlKlaukB6cYOOQc/s640/IMG_1202.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIc0fHnPVn0ZP04NKVUzucgvpIazlhqMRhIjdzcNdob2xxRDKwSHrLuHqx4OAllvt2Nd7vCHDEmeVScAmyjDV5bSvoWGWGOmzBanbGMWVYmZbwVT3T8yMnURFb1AC7O5JVP9Nt-P9h5w/s1600/IMG_1205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIc0fHnPVn0ZP04NKVUzucgvpIazlhqMRhIjdzcNdob2xxRDKwSHrLuHqx4OAllvt2Nd7vCHDEmeVScAmyjDV5bSvoWGWGOmzBanbGMWVYmZbwVT3T8yMnURFb1AC7O5JVP9Nt-P9h5w/s640/IMG_1205.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPVepo9n-mNls-TQBpNuYdOpIfTN8OhaZjmMHKSyweeEcu7bnuLJ9h9DMaONB18P3IhW-7xlz4dTRuQqmF6ulQ3PKYK27WjaguLeQIc1_2zKRF78Te2ZhqTGxWA-3ruphbiZX9ClkypY/s1600/IMG_1224.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1iNZJLLalRusA9alIO5JMUkfQ4zoshJ3YKQEdN8dr15o2l44frTENoXG1sAkLOVOS7cqZgzLpSwcf_tvsQgEr1-3VCeBMS1-VfX_acSdyG5oDDrYcUcGcgAZNuPcqGC1XXAct-3tK_0/s1600/IMG_1243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6nVE4GkzeTl5TYWbvkrs2IuYgnmEJ3Pk65yfYLu0vnK3o5pDDF5L-EBWWJ-q3KOFQa55lsNbmA95_x8hMuSRZyiKf-U-gvESarYjR-TiHb2V84engd3L4KmcNOEayrwjnjuFSSR2dHI/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6nVE4GkzeTl5TYWbvkrs2IuYgnmEJ3Pk65yfYLu0vnK3o5pDDF5L-EBWWJ-q3KOFQa55lsNbmA95_x8hMuSRZyiKf-U-gvESarYjR-TiHb2V84engd3L4KmcNOEayrwjnjuFSSR2dHI/s640/IMG_1211.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-70013910695003668672013-03-20T22:04:00.001-04:002013-03-20T22:04:27.852-04:00THE IDES CAME AND WENT<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Wow, talk about NEGLIGENT. I admit it, blog. I left you for another, mainly Facebook and Linked In. But I am back. I should not neglect you. You provided me with a lot of fun back in the day. Weird Object Fridays. Alphabetical memes. I think that's the word. I am of a certain age and am not really sure I am up on all the lingo of the time, including "meme". I am more sure of other words, like "avatar". But anyway, it seems like the blogosphere cooled down for me, considerably. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Anyhow, just to stay in the game, let's post a picture that I put up on Facebook some time ago, but I think it is really cool in an otherworldly way. Here it is:</div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5zZFrWdr2vUr6glYqWd1uqXvg9Hvd9qAQ7t9L1_uyLsSoUPJiazZxrH7O8fH-VfAOpxS1OGnWO9XnM786En2uSwDB72wN2X5wBayfq_AL04QjVnryr0zzwPt_mpabCzOtyfrAqfN1w/s1600/IMG_3242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6p5zZFrWdr2vUr6glYqWd1uqXvg9Hvd9qAQ7t9L1_uyLsSoUPJiazZxrH7O8fH-VfAOpxS1OGnWO9XnM786En2uSwDB72wN2X5wBayfq_AL04QjVnryr0zzwPt_mpabCzOtyfrAqfN1w/s640/IMG_3242.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Then there is this more thisworldly picture I took a month ago at Tappan Lake in eastern Ohio. I will be going by that same lake tomorrow and will probably have my camera with me, but I will be in more of a rush tomorrow with meetings three hours away followed by meetings here at home. Perhaps I will snap a shot as I fly by. Anyhow, I give you...two frigid-looking shots of Tappan Lake... </div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHNfLyG2ehRgHo0xm7LTbXRbPM_RktoevDTM0upMT1spXx5pSwsOThZhFmVe6oa2B0dZXouasVp0x-OmgaLM7Z_9JXqpTStGk7K7FenZ9uEkvCMJ7gXcKwDSBCPs6RKxmXGMAVN37bao/s1600/IMG_3109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCHNfLyG2ehRgHo0xm7LTbXRbPM_RktoevDTM0upMT1spXx5pSwsOThZhFmVe6oa2B0dZXouasVp0x-OmgaLM7Z_9JXqpTStGk7K7FenZ9uEkvCMJ7gXcKwDSBCPs6RKxmXGMAVN37bao/s640/IMG_3109.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRFK6aIztBQJhZr7tS4CCyh4Ljkxojr9kHqRfS0yzcbSZfuqTpK1F6uW4kusO5xCCQToiNsMM58dliRHFDhG1bwM6h0L1Yat4d1AfVAZ7aitpHUQZiDQbkfI4Pret6z6_-rzWF9EWmMY/s1600/IMG_3110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtRFK6aIztBQJhZr7tS4CCyh4Ljkxojr9kHqRfS0yzcbSZfuqTpK1F6uW4kusO5xCCQToiNsMM58dliRHFDhG1bwM6h0L1Yat4d1AfVAZ7aitpHUQZiDQbkfI4Pret6z6_-rzWF9EWmMY/s640/IMG_3110.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTuOja5keV_pi9mU4BoOwrji0ZTO5lUgufl4ami3bXvMW7vxJ-K305qu7aQQ4VO-vGFVywDCSIhgMCeec1pIYBxP33ZIixctAU3DBbaediO6reQz2Wktn1Zof3_ksLyC6sf30l-PLfZs/s1600/IMG_3261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">...and finally, for good measure, a four-goose flyover and touchdown. More later. I promise. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA1cbbXE1XthMEVghw0Ih0GhF1dvKQnPwKq_Hr0W4mUB2FJ8ppLAsCvatIopqMGN-265NsZZS1T3Gx0lgHHqFcei9_Vc1yyGLmrgxPMe3lHzuzVFMcuMIvBqzFuJ-ahm4YbHqrluM6i4/s1600/IMG_3250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOA1cbbXE1XthMEVghw0Ih0GhF1dvKQnPwKq_Hr0W4mUB2FJ8ppLAsCvatIopqMGN-265NsZZS1T3Gx0lgHHqFcei9_Vc1yyGLmrgxPMe3lHzuzVFMcuMIvBqzFuJ-ahm4YbHqrluM6i4/s640/IMG_3250.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTuOja5keV_pi9mU4BoOwrji0ZTO5lUgufl4ami3bXvMW7vxJ-K305qu7aQQ4VO-vGFVywDCSIhgMCeec1pIYBxP33ZIixctAU3DBbaediO6reQz2Wktn1Zof3_ksLyC6sf30l-PLfZs/s1600/IMG_3261.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHTuOja5keV_pi9mU4BoOwrji0ZTO5lUgufl4ami3bXvMW7vxJ-K305qu7aQQ4VO-vGFVywDCSIhgMCeec1pIYBxP33ZIixctAU3DBbaediO6reQz2Wktn1Zof3_ksLyC6sf30l-PLfZs/s640/IMG_3261.JPG" width="640" /></a>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-75608828911327146072013-01-02T22:35:00.001-05:002013-01-02T22:35:07.662-05:002012 In Pictures<div style="text-align: center;">
Here are a few of the "highlights" of the past year...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLnpzP4wOFs9MeKxWLerV7rwhQjuTnBo154i4Y1YVphKSq7jkPi5e8CAmVvpjtq0JaK4u0pGQBRQtLAI6-4bakllHR1x-17YLLWsD4y2sDDmRhtrru6tM4HKaIPrJwj2IyYYVncjCTEO7/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLnpzP4wOFs9MeKxWLerV7rwhQjuTnBo154i4Y1YVphKSq7jkPi5e8CAmVvpjtq0JaK4u0pGQBRQtLAI6-4bakllHR1x-17YLLWsD4y2sDDmRhtrru6tM4HKaIPrJwj2IyYYVncjCTEO7/s320/IMG_2284.JPG" width="262" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Top story in our family came in October, with the birth of our first ever grandchild, Charlotte. Here she is, an hour or two old. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WjudTFwiFXnSyPbwB_jNE0D5WDeV6GpiDFzVqK_pMFOygfmVAq7C_Vt3l8lETBwonsxzH-cIoQE5bjzLMXPSKtJad_k4oYB4dpTupZv-Tonly6_3Alby2iR9egrRaYyqyWfeFlyJd7bP/s1600/2months.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8WjudTFwiFXnSyPbwB_jNE0D5WDeV6GpiDFzVqK_pMFOygfmVAq7C_Vt3l8lETBwonsxzH-cIoQE5bjzLMXPSKtJad_k4oYB4dpTupZv-Tonly6_3Alby2iR9egrRaYyqyWfeFlyJd7bP/s320/2months.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
They change quickly. Here she is at (how can I tell?) two months. The other sizable news involved...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokkIU3A5bCwc3zUMXZCyEc2UFX5OpVuRCWN_FRGaGAZGnN9IXYB2QMnZyQNjOvyuR-kU7g_pYV8OrFgaZa3KGZYma3lbQRMYXQAqM-OL797PcyZXhpOF-TQS6-1jZiJ2WWl65xdxvMrjF/s1600/willandmegan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokkIU3A5bCwc3zUMXZCyEc2UFX5OpVuRCWN_FRGaGAZGnN9IXYB2QMnZyQNjOvyuR-kU7g_pYV8OrFgaZa3KGZYma3lbQRMYXQAqM-OL797PcyZXhpOF-TQS6-1jZiJ2WWl65xdxvMrjF/s320/willandmegan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our son's engagement to Megan. Wedding planned for spring of this year. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So 2013 is guaranteed to have at least one "big event"!</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
OK, on to relatively lesser items culled from the 2012 archives...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm7AR6245Gcj70tNYDfIEmh31s3gtzMausPWm8sLt_31YoWR2aD6v2T_Y57dElRS187dHBDG2yLaakwD1R69cznoDUoYLOOA2-3j4qMLpb-0ChX0JuKgRm-ND-vBO_XDXvdKrYKVfCWmN/s1600/IMG_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm7AR6245Gcj70tNYDfIEmh31s3gtzMausPWm8sLt_31YoWR2aD6v2T_Y57dElRS187dHBDG2yLaakwD1R69cznoDUoYLOOA2-3j4qMLpb-0ChX0JuKgRm-ND-vBO_XDXvdKrYKVfCWmN/s400/IMG_0324.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The dogs that fill our otherwise empty "nest". They keep it real. They keep it jumping. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And the beagle opines too much, in whines and yowls and woos and such.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHpovBIRwmRDgRWO-szoiFVtYCooi8KlJF92KQnYMZcLcD-HfMs-Bn1aKxC5GIuLkSJguxu3srkemBvGbkNXSzwcdxb0hpAPzoWzTkSUoOqz2j5Yg93zBWt8JZ6_HVujZjT03hNnrgRhL/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHpovBIRwmRDgRWO-szoiFVtYCooi8KlJF92KQnYMZcLcD-HfMs-Bn1aKxC5GIuLkSJguxu3srkemBvGbkNXSzwcdxb0hpAPzoWzTkSUoOqz2j5Yg93zBWt8JZ6_HVujZjT03hNnrgRhL/s320/IMG_0331.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grand-dog Lily rocking the baby swing. A precursor of a blessed event to come...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCOekn0mNs2rpb4PAp7KH8Yxj-eJSjUOVs1-xxCf-P13ivQvyVKE4ZXDujGGXjevQjAnl5Pvb9R4Q4SY9rJNCjICVYnwQodNZbIwNdwY4Hyjs7BhrN2KWGxxJqfJ76ZpWd6LTPLX8gf-p/s1600/DSC04527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCOekn0mNs2rpb4PAp7KH8Yxj-eJSjUOVs1-xxCf-P13ivQvyVKE4ZXDujGGXjevQjAnl5Pvb9R4Q4SY9rJNCjICVYnwQodNZbIwNdwY4Hyjs7BhrN2KWGxxJqfJ76ZpWd6LTPLX8gf-p/s400/DSC04527.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXzxYfglZ00uuvCbK0CRCcvE5jqIkU3zpCFLj4frLibsZE56WT2hueqMfjOe4TRGziOYddqjyzGnQON0Gbg8Mm_I7nrRLaXs3Z4CcnZ_mFO6aX89-DWCpIwsfqMoidjWA8rVGEz0_hAuo/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The view from our seats at Severence Hall for a concert. No, not "Night on Bald Mountain" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I apologize to the guy one row up; that is cruel). People did show up and play and sing. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXzxYfglZ00uuvCbK0CRCcvE5jqIkU3zpCFLj4frLibsZE56WT2hueqMfjOe4TRGziOYddqjyzGnQON0Gbg8Mm_I7nrRLaXs3Z4CcnZ_mFO6aX89-DWCpIwsfqMoidjWA8rVGEz0_hAuo/s1600/IMG_0429.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXzxYfglZ00uuvCbK0CRCcvE5jqIkU3zpCFLj4frLibsZE56WT2hueqMfjOe4TRGziOYddqjyzGnQON0Gbg8Mm_I7nrRLaXs3Z4CcnZ_mFO6aX89-DWCpIwsfqMoidjWA8rVGEz0_hAuo/s400/IMG_0429.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Celebrating 3/4 century for our brother in law, Doc, in Marion - he's the one with the cool hat. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsewuiwJkREEZ6RuFyve0JeSQOBkhjvSmL85Gcm9QfPybg3F6T9qmZB1qZQRr-sl4etAghgdDdJvfxNAKINGwQ13y0pe6e_hfpKwneU8BQuTHHyv72TBrab5bPf04pMwP2xW3i7AsWJaT/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEsewuiwJkREEZ6RuFyve0JeSQOBkhjvSmL85Gcm9QfPybg3F6T9qmZB1qZQRr-sl4etAghgdDdJvfxNAKINGwQ13y0pe6e_hfpKwneU8BQuTHHyv72TBrab5bPf04pMwP2xW3i7AsWJaT/s640/IMG_0881.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Obligatory Nature Picture - out at the Norwalk Reservoir. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8qpnQystxZRl7Up9XRGt0PvHyeywMVCA-YwD0vRRRBqYITV7pOne5qp8DzCO1DU5Tbkg9e7Q5N2Tlyx84Htcmeft5DIHmNm2N7VX0B_BFPfZ8InJ8wgRKTL33hzjJy83PVTbZYmirHTR/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wu0hPtV42FB_ukb540PgW4O-DGoKFPLN96nhazsaJygK9PKIXrciY3xtXTjFGAszml6ilCTrJHyhfOswLK6RNflvz_NaVXrXIvbyPtLMqGna110k9O5Bw3Rkx6ksrkMcfqw7oEXrXXKn/s1600/IMG_1511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6wu0hPtV42FB_ukb540PgW4O-DGoKFPLN96nhazsaJygK9PKIXrciY3xtXTjFGAszml6ilCTrJHyhfOswLK6RNflvz_NaVXrXIvbyPtLMqGna110k9O5Bw3Rkx6ksrkMcfqw7oEXrXXKn/s320/IMG_1511.JPG" width="214" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Touching rays...and touching rays...and then touching more rays...at the Cleveland Aquarium. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We couldn't get her away from the "touch tank". </div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8qpnQystxZRl7Up9XRGt0PvHyeywMVCA-YwD0vRRRBqYITV7pOne5qp8DzCO1DU5Tbkg9e7Q5N2Tlyx84Htcmeft5DIHmNm2N7VX0B_BFPfZ8InJ8wgRKTL33hzjJy83PVTbZYmirHTR/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ8qpnQystxZRl7Up9XRGt0PvHyeywMVCA-YwD0vRRRBqYITV7pOne5qp8DzCO1DU5Tbkg9e7Q5N2Tlyx84Htcmeft5DIHmNm2N7VX0B_BFPfZ8InJ8wgRKTL33hzjJy83PVTbZYmirHTR/s640/IMG_1591.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZDJxt4eENkfisliNQrHCcy0MpkKcBpRo2o_K706BBcyjKUP4p4Q5NdUNuCgzw84PhgnsysOBk96bgmyULLfe-ltq9DTaQwiM5wWT7XUj3g8In1qr4HJEfQ9u2lkicXzZTHxKw1sxsgqP/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Obligatory Urbanscape Picture: Cleveland, City of Light, City of Magic. </div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZDJxt4eENkfisliNQrHCcy0MpkKcBpRo2o_K706BBcyjKUP4p4Q5NdUNuCgzw84PhgnsysOBk96bgmyULLfe-ltq9DTaQwiM5wWT7XUj3g8In1qr4HJEfQ9u2lkicXzZTHxKw1sxsgqP/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZDJxt4eENkfisliNQrHCcy0MpkKcBpRo2o_K706BBcyjKUP4p4Q5NdUNuCgzw84PhgnsysOBk96bgmyULLfe-ltq9DTaQwiM5wWT7XUj3g8In1qr4HJEfQ9u2lkicXzZTHxKw1sxsgqP/s640/IMG_1612.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Second obligatory Urbanscape: Baltimore: The Homeland (from our trip there last summer). </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJm9ZpgSMM-JaPLt42CMLYVGoj98Fm6QCBdwklYhHUW49VsFFxjH3mZnhxT0LugIXrFMwNYIEMbeB9slLfBvPtlUKRlG7i6WXvSrRApRznS-INsePk_Cios-6fxlt9jUA0nn-FtZpFuLM/s1600/IMG_1802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJm9ZpgSMM-JaPLt42CMLYVGoj98Fm6QCBdwklYhHUW49VsFFxjH3mZnhxT0LugIXrFMwNYIEMbeB9slLfBvPtlUKRlG7i6WXvSrRApRznS-INsePk_Cios-6fxlt9jUA0nn-FtZpFuLM/s400/IMG_1802.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The band from church, "Give 'em Heaven", after pulling off our second annual "Gazebofest". </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ok, not the real name. Also known as "Praising in the Park". </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12umV6oNzb6NaqvjKs7IYMsuoLOsSLa20LK0z7pTD8fMuz60jVOmFzQeoND9T853udRWxXCG_F6xuw7nPf_V7yzjGoRutdY0j5a9wIPPJKfwpvofmZlGxx-AaHlltp7Y37OIOMKLm-aTS/s1600/IMG_1822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12umV6oNzb6NaqvjKs7IYMsuoLOsSLa20LK0z7pTD8fMuz60jVOmFzQeoND9T853udRWxXCG_F6xuw7nPf_V7yzjGoRutdY0j5a9wIPPJKfwpvofmZlGxx-AaHlltp7Y37OIOMKLm-aTS/s320/IMG_1822.JPG" width="294" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Linda's mom and dad back in the day. We lost her mom in August. We miss her. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM4P9SkyjL5euoSK5z3izwcnxwasFjfoSq1wowlg_2O3j64XVfA04AK7x095oQxBxTjHktaKkHYiaC8DeVBqVjeS6yrxzHBnrIyaYPAK3_XV707MKdWiF_gKpR3eGYrqCtCPyueo1fvZB/s1600/IMG_1238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGM4P9SkyjL5euoSK5z3izwcnxwasFjfoSq1wowlg_2O3j64XVfA04AK7x095oQxBxTjHktaKkHYiaC8DeVBqVjeS6yrxzHBnrIyaYPAK3_XV707MKdWiF_gKpR3eGYrqCtCPyueo1fvZB/s400/IMG_1238.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The last NEARFest, ever, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA. Renaissance and Annie Haslam of the zillion-octave voice. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS15BGVxOVa4stqOnGd_l_C3AK04p4ot4uionITlmVY0lPSGveGyRjHDmUxkFyZph1-E1nLbj-U87GTGmaTbZyBhhVGKuJqXLFmUVCgNQWQ2XZVoiN_-ZzSmP47WreWG-qllQIqCkgsl1H/s1600/IMG_1981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS15BGVxOVa4stqOnGd_l_C3AK04p4ot4uionITlmVY0lPSGveGyRjHDmUxkFyZph1-E1nLbj-U87GTGmaTbZyBhhVGKuJqXLFmUVCgNQWQ2XZVoiN_-ZzSmP47WreWG-qllQIqCkgsl1H/s400/IMG_1981.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Made it up to the beach. Caught a cool rainbow before we left. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcVdlvgzCEKFqktlXpamdF1QXeAoqXhbhZIvgCVqZs-2y1uigPmKeE3E4Mrobl53LXgp46fVG9DPIfmsiDIk0C1ScwexvnzQVzcYpYl9_hSspMo92WA5SwuN1RJRgl1P-BGYRsjdyKWt/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="385" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHcVdlvgzCEKFqktlXpamdF1QXeAoqXhbhZIvgCVqZs-2y1uigPmKeE3E4Mrobl53LXgp46fVG9DPIfmsiDIk0C1ScwexvnzQVzcYpYl9_hSspMo92WA5SwuN1RJRgl1P-BGYRsjdyKWt/s400/IMG_2050.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another moocher at the African Wildlife Safari park. We also inducted/initiated/hazed Megan with some bison slobber. She passed the test and may thus marry our son.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx5bDoMAbHFTwINjSfG_n-QRXHeencguNVTV7R8fOJEcf1ivr9TnpWJPufOYNVGGwMHxAkJ35poZ4PST7JxLCqR_FBxKUn572XEMi6i8_81HUNVYk6N4qn12kYf2KjF06g3imXmd61HSQ/s1600/IMG_2175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQx5bDoMAbHFTwINjSfG_n-QRXHeencguNVTV7R8fOJEcf1ivr9TnpWJPufOYNVGGwMHxAkJ35poZ4PST7JxLCqR_FBxKUn572XEMi6i8_81HUNVYk6N4qn12kYf2KjF06g3imXmd61HSQ/s320/IMG_2175.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Day trip to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX1nkKBRG3wg8hD1uTCM5d-HLBxBYWIxvoPoJwn4AJvbazw7A7wgI8MiIit_JhbsjayeDQJp0zaNu7PtLmB5fLKjvdtEW2WOnRO8T-Q-stDI_eh578HrUgpQFOc8i7qSiWpDuODKwKu2q/s1600/IMG_2759.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJX1nkKBRG3wg8hD1uTCM5d-HLBxBYWIxvoPoJwn4AJvbazw7A7wgI8MiIit_JhbsjayeDQJp0zaNu7PtLmB5fLKjvdtEW2WOnRO8T-Q-stDI_eh578HrUgpQFOc8i7qSiWpDuODKwKu2q/s400/IMG_2759.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The dynamic duo becomes a triumphant trio... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlg8TJXEdgOSUBWG3F2AemdeTXa9cCakvpuu7W44RA9yc7sSpYmrEln72Tv3H-MtPkuTcYeam6KX4-oUJ0jR9EoANMk4s6Pf6c7PKRlHc8et3tSSDSf0raPFJ2EbXfwjGuRCFptgFo-bN/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKlg8TJXEdgOSUBWG3F2AemdeTXa9cCakvpuu7W44RA9yc7sSpYmrEln72Tv3H-MtPkuTcYeam6KX4-oUJ0jR9EoANMk4s6Pf6c7PKRlHc8et3tSSDSf0raPFJ2EbXfwjGuRCFptgFo-bN/s320/IMG_2883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cheers! Best wishes for 2013... </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-32272447111099250912012-11-27T21:02:00.001-05:002012-11-27T21:48:23.503-05:00I'm Not Dead Yet....(Still Here) Just a line from that Monty Python movie. No need to fret. Aside from the Mayan thing, which may claim us all in a pillar of fire or outrageous storm.<br />
<br />
Wow, what a month or two it has been. I have been too busy experiencing life, mostly vicariously, to get on here and update, post, just say "hi".<br />
<br />
First the daughter has a wonderful daughter of her own, and I am immediately in love with a new life on the planet. People had always said this grandparent thing is incomparable. Well, I suppose you can compare it with having a kid of your own, and that may be a hard one to reconcile. But there is something about sitting in a room or, as we did this past weekend, a van, accompanied by one's wife, son, and then the new parents and the grandchild. A new family, formed right before one's eyes. "Blessed" begins to describe the feeling. <br />
<br />
Having babies is clearly one of those natural acts that happens all the time - relentlessly in those larger urban hospitals. Indeed, this one was born in a pretty busy urban hospital, and staff attention soon turned to the next in line after all was well, post-partum, with the one we were waiting for.<br />
<br />
So now there is this new, inexplicably magnetic person on the planet, and there is this new activity (if you can call it that) which consists of quietly and peacefully holding this seven or eight or now nine pound baby, meeting any challenges, stifling the cry, sensing the bodily functions that may be underway, rocking and cooing and making ridiculous sounds that just seem to make sense.<br />
<br />
There is the perfection of an up-and-down motion I call "the elevator"- a maneuver that can calm the unsettled baby, usually making her arms fall limply and her eyelids close within a few seconds. There is the wonder of pivoting a "360" and watching her turn her head left, then right, to track the sunlight through a window. <br />
<br />
The world stops. Work issues, other pressing matters of the world all go away, and holding the baby becomes the world. That's the best I can describe it. Unparalleled.<br />
<br />
OK, the other big vicarious event. Our son told us this was coming, and indeed he carried it out. He asked a really wonderful girl a simple yes-no question, but one with lifelong implications. She replied in the affirmative and, bam, we have a new daughter-in-law to be, our new grand daughter has a new aunt-to-be, and we are looking forward to a big event in the spring. <br />
<br />
So the big deals are all being orchestrated, if you will, by the next generation. Me, I go to work and have good days and get some things done. Come home and walk the dogs and practice with the band, enjoy time with my wife, think about seeing Pi or Lincoln. These are all good things, but the spotlight is on the kids, and it is amazingly satisfying just to see how their lives are unfolding these days. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZr7-oB-IB0UxkMQhO5F0Pp1k3a-UnZUvrNCVxul4rZa35pMKJZm97Yme1aTt68Hwu5NfTeKPEkEhMlMBYkrAcESnUoRp9cInuvGEG1I6nUPCzhitfvro3cdjhZ_CZB3PGIPkdcqSpiF7/s1600/IMG_2719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZr7-oB-IB0UxkMQhO5F0Pp1k3a-UnZUvrNCVxul4rZa35pMKJZm97Yme1aTt68Hwu5NfTeKPEkEhMlMBYkrAcESnUoRp9cInuvGEG1I6nUPCzhitfvro3cdjhZ_CZB3PGIPkdcqSpiF7/s320/IMG_2719.JPG" width="242" /></a></div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-54312193462050587752012-09-18T21:33:00.001-04:002012-09-18T21:33:34.232-04:00Change of Season Summer is a hazy, heated blur. The dog walk tonight required jackets for the humans. The times, they are a changing. We are welcoming a new season. And with a (very) pregnant daughter, we are looking at fall as a season of new beginnings, perhaps moreso than spring ever was. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-XEKMCokzKuO78BBYBR6JT5nRH_vJfXs2UObyey8OpKdSfl_utdozo-9IpPHvgmmvCyKKGQWtGCscxZO4hQGEurD5cl9VAjyJ_3DCfuS3atd7hCliAXyC0dbqCccGRz1rf-yyQR3ay6_/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-XEKMCokzKuO78BBYBR6JT5nRH_vJfXs2UObyey8OpKdSfl_utdozo-9IpPHvgmmvCyKKGQWtGCscxZO4hQGEurD5cl9VAjyJ_3DCfuS3atd7hCliAXyC0dbqCccGRz1rf-yyQR3ay6_/s640/IMG_1963.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
We have tried to squeeze some fun into the declining weeks of summer, and finally got up to the beach a couple weekends ago. We got to wade in the water a bit and just hang out on the sandy beach for a couple hours. Then we enjoyed a soft-serv ice cream cone at the local stand. I had an orange-vanilla twist, in honor of my grandmother, who once upon a time downed a large orange-vanilla at the same establishment, after proclaiming "My, that IS large!" Before we left the beach, it started to rain while the sun behind us continued to shine. I knew this meant conditions were right for a rainbow, and we were rewarded!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihoJDkp8P9_d7T-4J2OfgmGove_hL4QGelVrztzSWA4rjvlHZ6XH2LQZAeMkGvb8a10thQjGNbrCic614GC61YPAEde0B7d67Kp9cREVXO6NOt5xXER8BK1O5147A8lDZ4TIM5lPAVhZh/s1600/IMG_1983.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihoJDkp8P9_d7T-4J2OfgmGove_hL4QGelVrztzSWA4rjvlHZ6XH2LQZAeMkGvb8a10thQjGNbrCic614GC61YPAEde0B7d67Kp9cREVXO6NOt5xXER8BK1O5147A8lDZ4TIM5lPAVhZh/s640/IMG_1983.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
This past weekend, we had a car appointment over near Cleveland, and after we took care of the free oil change, we departed for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and environs, only about 15 minutes farther than the car dealer. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWP0xleu-8ab6fRYSVGcd0KVpq16gViRAr622hmhkdZMUVNn4BZ2It7c1uCE13NofbKCaScsCmazzDDGJY_4oPQF0-pBqFB3RWM0MD5cxMsRz_FrPpZYZxT4NE2lLoLyOUR03DXOCeq99_/s1600/IMG_2168.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWP0xleu-8ab6fRYSVGcd0KVpq16gViRAr622hmhkdZMUVNn4BZ2It7c1uCE13NofbKCaScsCmazzDDGJY_4oPQF0-pBqFB3RWM0MD5cxMsRz_FrPpZYZxT4NE2lLoLyOUR03DXOCeq99_/s640/IMG_2168.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqz76FaCjfo2wD_je7-rKWK7F6WYgn1np0zE24fdGyIR-il9w0JfOZ9AmqG5yiHM7aiQZemMn7Xvbs8FkGa0osMEOdtf3fvNFhv_PTL3oyFSMoS80jLn_jlw8msFGihgOEu3qXwoIUv-m/s1600/IMG_2151.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOqz76FaCjfo2wD_je7-rKWK7F6WYgn1np0zE24fdGyIR-il9w0JfOZ9AmqG5yiHM7aiQZemMn7Xvbs8FkGa0osMEOdtf3fvNFhv_PTL3oyFSMoS80jLn_jlw8msFGihgOEu3qXwoIUv-m/s640/IMG_2151.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
It was a great escape of a day. We rode the Cuyahoga Valley Railroad the 22 miles down to Akron and the 22 miles back, a relaxing three hour trip. I enjoyed every rail crossing with gates down and cars a-waiting, sort of a payback for all the times I have sat at crossings, counting the cars and marveling at the illegible but really artful graffiti. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OF4MrAGzE_RypVSRkZTd_99i0p_A352f9Oo4_zOP9Lf3bwvimcPUQk09pJWcDF8aJWpPcRsP89LxiD3-4lOYZ7l1AnjIK01F2vB-BlqfAe_Be-RqjWsgd37YoGZMV_ewBj9C7K5TdsJF/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_OF4MrAGzE_RypVSRkZTd_99i0p_A352f9Oo4_zOP9Lf3bwvimcPUQk09pJWcDF8aJWpPcRsP89LxiD3-4lOYZ7l1AnjIK01F2vB-BlqfAe_Be-RqjWsgd37YoGZMV_ewBj9C7K5TdsJF/s640/IMG_2158.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOrFXCGOPSG0TlUzwI0AwaFl4VoOmEcmtkHydb9T17g2-m62DBxEwWfYbzO6JcmscAWuvIn0sCBMP859B814ztwPNM_NLRWnW885EbhxJLoXz92SUS5nSEVdTPjhJ2_dNZcxG5_51suoR/s1600/IMG_2181.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkOrFXCGOPSG0TlUzwI0AwaFl4VoOmEcmtkHydb9T17g2-m62DBxEwWfYbzO6JcmscAWuvIn0sCBMP859B814ztwPNM_NLRWnW885EbhxJLoXz92SUS5nSEVdTPjhJ2_dNZcxG5_51suoR/s640/IMG_2181.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFacpOoo_39lN8POmdBIEfT1mncOw67HmDYd8D227XeRc114n71BWqQ6DUef3bU926mPt-278VqIQp-kC_3BO15VKSFVtnfZ13yHZtXyAXQzTh0vZgYaaRKhdUXRkq129APX1CfV-k7u2/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFacpOoo_39lN8POmdBIEfT1mncOw67HmDYd8D227XeRc114n71BWqQ6DUef3bU926mPt-278VqIQp-kC_3BO15VKSFVtnfZ13yHZtXyAXQzTh0vZgYaaRKhdUXRkq129APX1CfV-k7u2/s640/IMG_2118.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrdug503LehYCkw4D4gJgCNnVYCIskZPZEAPL-ap2rQefeebIAgVGTsKDjPw8j0ehmuKdL2XuXFQYYK8ZOQjHdPiPej7cqOMFBHUvuvZiyku4fFNkZ4i56vMLHAskh4P_Oj3CJCE3s5T2/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfrdug503LehYCkw4D4gJgCNnVYCIskZPZEAPL-ap2rQefeebIAgVGTsKDjPw8j0ehmuKdL2XuXFQYYK8ZOQjHdPiPej7cqOMFBHUvuvZiyku4fFNkZ4i56vMLHAskh4P_Oj3CJCE3s5T2/s400/IMG_2111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We were told there would be an eagle's nest along the rail run. You couldn't miss it as the train slid by, but unfortunately its occupants were out fishing or doing whatever eagles do on a Saturday afternoon (Buckeyes football?)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYPC-2Qy0MbddJuQ_YCisNpI53PFkyFXpMf7etpz6x8zmOGqsLo8BJuoup9IoPrbt3diQHkLNOMyOq1gAvUeBEVfJwvSRkoNbDxLQSZwWOaIqQ2k-9kmat181g93v6d10eRWzrJThWVR9/s1600/IMG_2028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYPC-2Qy0MbddJuQ_YCisNpI53PFkyFXpMf7etpz6x8zmOGqsLo8BJuoup9IoPrbt3diQHkLNOMyOq1gAvUeBEVfJwvSRkoNbDxLQSZwWOaIqQ2k-9kmat181g93v6d10eRWzrJThWVR9/s640/IMG_2028.JPG" width="298" /></a></div>
<br />
TWO weekends ago, we traveled up to the African Wildlife Safari park, which is just about an annual event for us. My wife seems to score a carload ticket as either a radio prize or a half-off deal. This year we took our son's girlfriend along and enjoyed her reactions to such stimuli as slobbering buffalos and highly strung llamas. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfarFaK7LwA6gVKUldNwneG5DTjvs2XOVqHaGZmnNLFZIFYJPUzReT7ze9efACKPzTNkFvNIX73Q2uJvDHmTTYiBMYXmK8Ywe_Jw65bqtd79dDEy-SYokRHSC2ezl95DwJVz2Ioj7Bm3u/s1600/IMG_2048.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfarFaK7LwA6gVKUldNwneG5DTjvs2XOVqHaGZmnNLFZIFYJPUzReT7ze9efACKPzTNkFvNIX73Q2uJvDHmTTYiBMYXmK8Ywe_Jw65bqtd79dDEy-SYokRHSC2ezl95DwJVz2Ioj7Bm3u/s640/IMG_2048.JPG" width="640" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVNCn0l_GfWy6Cqmv-AdDZ3lWxqoAOiSb8zhnfGypp00UtFFuqAcoe8le4z64ZApRIBiF_H9hLd53Wl3PJw4e_art_SOkF6utzk4Qu3r-xA4ljVZbC6lDlmrrn5YCzAlm_Y5aIfepLZMw/s1600/IMG_2035.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVNCn0l_GfWy6Cqmv-AdDZ3lWxqoAOiSb8zhnfGypp00UtFFuqAcoe8le4z64ZApRIBiF_H9hLd53Wl3PJw4e_art_SOkF6utzk4Qu3r-xA4ljVZbC6lDlmrrn5YCzAlm_Y5aIfepLZMw/s640/IMG_2035.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
SO the past three weekends or so have been pretty active ones. Sooner than we would like, it will get cold out there and these activities will not be so attractive. They will be replaced by foliage tours and hikes, a coming venture up to see friends in Michigan, and who knows what all. <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5HyoYCZfP9et_oNzBzOfmiw88OqPWH28aOb9c452i0MGE3TYdf1r4u6wZb0dtSrn3uur9ZjVtKrDRoHwcGvZ56v4p-nXP0dyWaBNuSER2k8O_R8j1JY2mAYTRRjY54iZNDaX2B648WTt/s1600/IMG_2080.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg5HyoYCZfP9et_oNzBzOfmiw88OqPWH28aOb9c452i0MGE3TYdf1r4u6wZb0dtSrn3uur9ZjVtKrDRoHwcGvZ56v4p-nXP0dyWaBNuSER2k8O_R8j1JY2mAYTRRjY54iZNDaX2B648WTt/s640/IMG_2080.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-XEKMCokzKuO78BBYBR6JT5nRH_vJfXs2UObyey8OpKdSfl_utdozo-9IpPHvgmmvCyKKGQWtGCscxZO4hQGEurD5cl9VAjyJ_3DCfuS3atd7hCliAXyC0dbqCccGRz1rf-yyQR3ay6_/s1600/IMG_1963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovt1kgSsbN3BavoCpxNQJXSOaphuX6hYxVATKUxlM-Q4nvKj4YPV_6_j44WH2D93iHQpHM3y6Ex88B-xrCSzVCi8HC26jRVUqGbgQPN-R13tLyrdSQQLA7ONJ25qq-KQ0pEkivA8GPfWf/s1600/IMG_2050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="616" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovt1kgSsbN3BavoCpxNQJXSOaphuX6hYxVATKUxlM-Q4nvKj4YPV_6_j44WH2D93iHQpHM3y6Ex88B-xrCSzVCi8HC26jRVUqGbgQPN-R13tLyrdSQQLA7ONJ25qq-KQ0pEkivA8GPfWf/s640/IMG_2050.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljxJGAJfTkNUnu5JU6G3V9JGl3Q5bZeKqXNQj-IFM-VdgLSZcO-NhF7g4cwMNFRpwZnxWuK705QwZvv0a_n0Gqye7PFe_NH5fF8UpxVe5QUYafViVYlaBfr353-t3iS9D5RruEGUYmtb/s1600/IMG_2064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ljxJGAJfTkNUnu5JU6G3V9JGl3Q5bZeKqXNQj-IFM-VdgLSZcO-NhF7g4cwMNFRpwZnxWuK705QwZvv0a_n0Gqye7PFe_NH5fF8UpxVe5QUYafViVYlaBfr353-t3iS9D5RruEGUYmtb/s640/IMG_2064.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp3MOWrHvxPukkQDD-pPSrYC7Rprxl1pRGVrPKGe-nMAXCB_nzVZhpMQRm0qLRwA3YJlTXVmx-n22nXffh7ybKzQoTl_7CGfR5Ete5lrvthNLzZGyHgU2zyl2flgprFbjhBUipkrwfcKI/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="336" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfp3MOWrHvxPukkQDD-pPSrYC7Rprxl1pRGVrPKGe-nMAXCB_nzVZhpMQRm0qLRwA3YJlTXVmx-n22nXffh7ybKzQoTl_7CGfR5Ete5lrvthNLzZGyHgU2zyl2flgprFbjhBUipkrwfcKI/s640/IMG_2072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-16967218241533689562012-08-26T21:49:00.002-04:002012-08-26T21:49:53.192-04:00Random Summer-Nearing-its-End Pictures (Mostly Roses)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92TfsU9jwPDdv4hmsh-pYwd8wJi6ogCA0uv6eO4TP4rgrVhzYJ7xlJM94-8abpZP-IyHJxz1hQ1XGwn5psRO6ZKkXlwJZKNHRp6OqVG6cQNtQPWa2qeaaS6WtcifVdXaXc1uWhz5cWB7F/s1600/IMG_1803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi92TfsU9jwPDdv4hmsh-pYwd8wJi6ogCA0uv6eO4TP4rgrVhzYJ7xlJM94-8abpZP-IyHJxz1hQ1XGwn5psRO6ZKkXlwJZKNHRp6OqVG6cQNtQPWa2qeaaS6WtcifVdXaXc1uWhz5cWB7F/s640/IMG_1803.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Just to represent the highlights of the waning summer, here is a group photo of our little ol' bank from church (said church actually making it into this picture, with the steeple back there on the right hand side). We went out on our second annual "world tour" on August 11, traveling all the way down to this downtown park with a suitable gazebo and plenty of grassy area for folks to bring folding chairs. It was a lot of fun, aside from the rain that settled in for the last couple of songs, causing us to shorten the set list by a tune or two. Interesting factoid: the woman on the lower left-hand corner does not actually play guitar. But she can sing. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXxHXtkEeFWksg5X2qB3Vvob3pjQBuc5dLmMns8yhxtE6HqNEvjT_veLRq-lKAmnPyKpGx6rWFB7LnpGA0zyFOO4zTbX26RnXmdjQ4wzMVOhwUbr3Ll3Fyjph-Ksmu_N_BOha6obJEXjh/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQXxHXtkEeFWksg5X2qB3Vvob3pjQBuc5dLmMns8yhxtE6HqNEvjT_veLRq-lKAmnPyKpGx6rWFB7LnpGA0zyFOO4zTbX26RnXmdjQ4wzMVOhwUbr3Ll3Fyjph-Ksmu_N_BOha6obJEXjh/s640/IMG_1858.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
We were down at the reservoir park with the dogs a week or so ago and I liked the way the light was infiltrating a portion of the woods here, casting a kinda Kincaidian light, if you will. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5vgIXY4wuztjL4-h6Wdw8M-BVRveBVBuMkGbOsiATJtGvy56wgEjECROlkODWfU86zyB9xw5LV1jW6XSPMEIwyACdQ91Kj1ral416CHhvwxHajZu8hvMuL4ZNYzPlUmw9TnSHRWAHINr/s1600/IMG_1898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj5vgIXY4wuztjL4-h6Wdw8M-BVRveBVBuMkGbOsiATJtGvy56wgEjECROlkODWfU86zyB9xw5LV1jW6XSPMEIwyACdQ91Kj1ral416CHhvwxHajZu8hvMuL4ZNYzPlUmw9TnSHRWAHINr/s640/IMG_1898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Then just yesterday, we went down to Columbus to celebrate our son's birthday and took him and his girlfriend out to a Japanese steak house. I enjoy those places, and have been known to aggravate my wife on numerous occasions while clumsily trying to emulate the sounds and motions of the Japanese cooks who prepare the food in front of you, banging on and rattling utensils, flipping foods around and catching them on spatulas, etc. Its' great fun. Watching more than attempting in one's own home.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonlf3UfU7lljIoq128m6DHE4e0U20TSXabemIUo5ZVPjshv7PW7ZsrkZfSQkEDFMuP_3wg6byqtVSgwO5eXLt2UOExjBqmkhbKfrfbsOgzjpU3YTLSi_ijKHZclr_thT2S9zkrMY7kczE/s1600/IMG_1901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonlf3UfU7lljIoq128m6DHE4e0U20TSXabemIUo5ZVPjshv7PW7ZsrkZfSQkEDFMuP_3wg6byqtVSgwO5eXLt2UOExjBqmkhbKfrfbsOgzjpU3YTLSi_ijKHZclr_thT2S9zkrMY7kczE/s640/IMG_1901.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
So, anyway, there are clearly not pictures of a Japanese steak house. After we ate, William's girl friend unfortunately had to go to work, but the three of us went on to check out the Garden of Roses in Whetstone Park up in the Clintonville section of Columbus. It is an amazing place, and a friend on Facebook informed me that it would likely be moreso in June when there would be many more roses blooming. But when we saw it yesterday, it was not bad. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1hvNC1kAJBY1_kt8H-BP8cdeDnZ-LMVCJpLTPdkihome9RebHGoBOso7EprtkSVg8bxXoK4ThqP1atYyxtCmkrUuyPAqn10PO16wsqaPlYgdLMtlbzhGb1NpaxEsTxZry5KW1yc9SXdi/s1600/IMG_1903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1hvNC1kAJBY1_kt8H-BP8cdeDnZ-LMVCJpLTPdkihome9RebHGoBOso7EprtkSVg8bxXoK4ThqP1atYyxtCmkrUuyPAqn10PO16wsqaPlYgdLMtlbzhGb1NpaxEsTxZry5KW1yc9SXdi/s400/IMG_1903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I was amazed at the variety of colors among the roses. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFCx8dD4Bi7VNQTqTzSFVynmVDgBimmasMaDAA7hElwAw1aC-1m19HZHqrLj_UYJTEe9zvuH1V7rKOMYDF5KTeNetR4-4WP7V1lkqnC30tcwEQAXlYxXzZBPPTqQ8VzVmj0NdK1QmHh_w/s1600/IMG_1904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFCx8dD4Bi7VNQTqTzSFVynmVDgBimmasMaDAA7hElwAw1aC-1m19HZHqrLj_UYJTEe9zvuH1V7rKOMYDF5KTeNetR4-4WP7V1lkqnC30tcwEQAXlYxXzZBPPTqQ8VzVmj0NdK1QmHh_w/s400/IMG_1904.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnrjZxHShOE0TRI3afTOEhZFp99LJa9uiYxcTJoBsFhRumv9dFiH46HU-Zie2NSofMmBnizXeT0DSdciLS8dcUZ21QYcVc55c9otvk_E43OHBthhSumyZ9WmExFhD-k8Ycwnpv7PLvv_9/s1600/IMG_1919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnrjZxHShOE0TRI3afTOEhZFp99LJa9uiYxcTJoBsFhRumv9dFiH46HU-Zie2NSofMmBnizXeT0DSdciLS8dcUZ21QYcVc55c9otvk_E43OHBthhSumyZ9WmExFhD-k8Ycwnpv7PLvv_9/s400/IMG_1919.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
This is the view of the place from a nice little observation platform. I am a sucker for observation platforms, whether in Gettysburg, a park out in the middle of nowhere, or an urban rose garden. The grass was a bit scorched there on the left in the back, but whose isn't this summer?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E2f-j2-a23MFzd_MVa1pH9O116dx1Fw9oU9NAsK6jTh3YEq4pk1PPMu6qLcc0KXzHcz-L90BSvbUouRju4QB5vDqvyUpdTaQod1oXSYlFKKNBJ1l4BuritwOW5Y4GgWlsM9CB8vUXify/s1600/IMG_1914.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="552" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1E2f-j2-a23MFzd_MVa1pH9O116dx1Fw9oU9NAsK6jTh3YEq4pk1PPMu6qLcc0KXzHcz-L90BSvbUouRju4QB5vDqvyUpdTaQod1oXSYlFKKNBJ1l4BuritwOW5Y4GgWlsM9CB8vUXify/s640/IMG_1914.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And a few more pictures from the Garden of Roses. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrosrqe7eqb39KqzefDsyLZTYgMzPeOsTN1PFEoTOvqE5x2pdbDkg1LKXSrSTunB3E0VryUYhpjFVyP7LP47CsIGFiA53daa3v6P-lr9EBvx0ZJPKlI14II55w4QImzP0q09JMFkLHEpS/s1600/IMG_1907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcrosrqe7eqb39KqzefDsyLZTYgMzPeOsTN1PFEoTOvqE5x2pdbDkg1LKXSrSTunB3E0VryUYhpjFVyP7LP47CsIGFiA53daa3v6P-lr9EBvx0ZJPKlI14II55w4QImzP0q09JMFkLHEpS/s640/IMG_1907.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjBGaD42Cvb7iITBOlUBJE-bCyRC1dmFdbUlGpNe8P9Dl529VvCyaohZNuCqO1WON2PZ9VWCNJW2nc_TepTAb4xXi76p5uLs8FF2BlaNOUwt5ubidG8nW84E1I8TcQTjiHawPBko72ptF/s1600/IMG_1921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjBGaD42Cvb7iITBOlUBJE-bCyRC1dmFdbUlGpNe8P9Dl529VvCyaohZNuCqO1WON2PZ9VWCNJW2nc_TepTAb4xXi76p5uLs8FF2BlaNOUwt5ubidG8nW84E1I8TcQTjiHawPBko72ptF/s640/IMG_1921.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenpwwTBTjIawfCmxhicYw-bk9eImfLo0nJu10yprrE-mJgiS7uobdX3XUF6hreT1WT8niy8XltCJtPsnbtAo34t-k-cDcgubXDrdUiiNLjYGXZ_B2MbN0SWotG6h9MscL6nljvHE7bfBD/s1600/IMG_1922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhyphenhyphenpwwTBTjIawfCmxhicYw-bk9eImfLo0nJu10yprrE-mJgiS7uobdX3XUF6hreT1WT8niy8XltCJtPsnbtAo34t-k-cDcgubXDrdUiiNLjYGXZ_B2MbN0SWotG6h9MscL6nljvHE7bfBD/s640/IMG_1922.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-35089669166731118712012-08-11T12:41:00.002-04:002012-08-11T12:41:50.320-04:00American Politics, Appropriately, in a NutshellSo Mitt picked Paul Ryan as running mate. This is actually not a bad thing, as Mr. Ryan seems to actually have ideas. I may not be a big fan of all his ideas, but at least he seems to be known as "that guy who came up with something". The hope now is that the freight train of refuse known as the '12 presidential campaign, heading for the landfill we call Election Day '12, may actually turn away from the name calling and gaffe generation and focus, maybe just a wee bit, on things like -- oh, I don't know -- the economy, the need for jobs that support families, the global sea change in economics and productivity that has irreversibly shrunk the manufacturing workforce, the need to assist people that need to get back on their feet, and so on. At least Paul Ryan put something on the table, and now it could be discussed and dissected. <br />
<br />
Of course, Paul Ryan is what would have once been called radical right. Now he is a "Tea Party Pleaser". This maneuver seals up what I consider to be the basic tenet of politics as we know them today.<br />
<br />
Several years ago, there was a kid in my church who was talking about some of the rules at a summer camp, one of which was "no purpling". Assigning the color red to girls, blue to boys, the concept here was that the two should not mix, at least not beyond some platonic level of friendly discourse. <br />
<br />
Well, that's where we are as a nation. Blues, stay over there in your corner and just get bluer. Reds, you are over there. Now, behave like you all just used the best detergent available - making the blues even bluer, the reds even redder. All of you, just keep talking to each other, encouraging each other, distancing yourself from those crazy extremists over on the other side. And if you try to chat with someone over there on the other side, you will be excused from the game.<br />
<br />
No purpling! Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-42205557611033653582012-08-09T22:14:00.000-04:002012-08-09T22:14:30.163-04:00Flowers on MacroIt's always fun to take the camera out when some flowers are in bloom, throw the lens on "SuperMacro" mode, and see where the camera decides to focus (obviously, this is not a seasoned photog speaking). Anyhow, despite the drought conditions, the flowers are blooming up a storm. Here are a choice few pictures I have taken recently, mainly up and down the driveway. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF4Lkz-QhUxc65HrBa37ppLO9iPYFy-cF09ImBTsvMhXNo5hOIE5iS-fuP2xIfnq9-0T_nF3f8Pt_oY-fRB7gIMxEfW13jcCFpBd1F_pdnVNq7iQYQbc1FhfMNPgboyNxDoR4i5N31wkO/s1600/IMG_1742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF4Lkz-QhUxc65HrBa37ppLO9iPYFy-cF09ImBTsvMhXNo5hOIE5iS-fuP2xIfnq9-0T_nF3f8Pt_oY-fRB7gIMxEfW13jcCFpBd1F_pdnVNq7iQYQbc1FhfMNPgboyNxDoR4i5N31wkO/s640/IMG_1742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9vyyqZKBjD_rxxlPKxGjTdkEnWDqsL1skA84clhkO4gPD9bca_g9dO5eJ-JyeAEY2IcXmBp7H2Rsjbc9sZi_NdwaTkyWwew5jkHl8qFfCmmaWJNkJZoWdXkuu4rdZnQaYtJJxGvPqbs0/s1600/IMG_1750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9vyyqZKBjD_rxxlPKxGjTdkEnWDqsL1skA84clhkO4gPD9bca_g9dO5eJ-JyeAEY2IcXmBp7H2Rsjbc9sZi_NdwaTkyWwew5jkHl8qFfCmmaWJNkJZoWdXkuu4rdZnQaYtJJxGvPqbs0/s640/IMG_1750.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jogSOvrHbH8cXKtiKgBQH4X5qmlX32Xes2uuBrBgyLE5dCFVR9CgT2LcnYjWT-nGApRsmOPkM-4G6iw09cL58yM-X81sfYpOY3uAEqGUhZPgKaGXFISUcEf7O4E4OhciBK-5c42F4xV9/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3jogSOvrHbH8cXKtiKgBQH4X5qmlX32Xes2uuBrBgyLE5dCFVR9CgT2LcnYjWT-nGApRsmOPkM-4G6iw09cL58yM-X81sfYpOY3uAEqGUhZPgKaGXFISUcEf7O4E4OhciBK-5c42F4xV9/s640/IMG_1744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpMS-u8ZRK94KHW5NY_9HJ9DQjRGkHLtUGuWevlGmH_DGqfNC34f6OlDySDr8auT8U2MA5_0oWvjQu-UlTnoh31Ul7RoVT51PPnPPF0RyGsuGxHVDJc4gMJWgp5gVp8MaS_s_KeNZ7nga/s1600/IMG_1736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMpMS-u8ZRK94KHW5NY_9HJ9DQjRGkHLtUGuWevlGmH_DGqfNC34f6OlDySDr8auT8U2MA5_0oWvjQu-UlTnoh31Ul7RoVT51PPnPPF0RyGsuGxHVDJc4gMJWgp5gVp8MaS_s_KeNZ7nga/s640/IMG_1736.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy97tuSIXsUyiFmMwhwDvI1yL7X10UUQ2nZCx8xDQgGg_O5LLnR4ZmxZOzVBzuzOmskJwBPGzFvWEP-S4JtbUVOCt0qukkXTsLHHFJZEuc-C25FvnGs_AmxrbErU3opARq7zK6tnr9TN_t/s1600/IMG_1738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy97tuSIXsUyiFmMwhwDvI1yL7X10UUQ2nZCx8xDQgGg_O5LLnR4ZmxZOzVBzuzOmskJwBPGzFvWEP-S4JtbUVOCt0qukkXTsLHHFJZEuc-C25FvnGs_AmxrbErU3opARq7zK6tnr9TN_t/s640/IMG_1738.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Meanwhile, the dogs of summer continue to guard the fort. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnclGa3kiAnLm2Vn_-ZZE9MP1wNQmWJxS70U53LS6PY7XLimdmTOy1hicrOoCiCOPHNl6v_GGIkXj6e8nYrWWJBGfKPuObgcFE5I2FxV9pJwaa_LSvktRVVgh90uXRjHDae1K_32aOumR/s1600/IMG_1752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnclGa3kiAnLm2Vn_-ZZE9MP1wNQmWJxS70U53LS6PY7XLimdmTOy1hicrOoCiCOPHNl6v_GGIkXj6e8nYrWWJBGfKPuObgcFE5I2FxV9pJwaa_LSvktRVVgh90uXRjHDae1K_32aOumR/s320/IMG_1752.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-35033148767508399522012-08-08T21:53:00.000-04:002012-08-08T21:53:00.323-04:00"Just Taste-Testing 'em For Ya! Honest!"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRErFsYPm-21K4bm6UWPWZcuYjdvJGLZC2TkVvmrLDRJgc7XA5tAMk5xkqvnejwAoqZANOl2jOc8j_FgUo9rVs34exoPiyICayqKLxWdsKjERbf_adFZmTh_somNZl0dn9m3nb-WscqtU/s1600/DSC04645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRErFsYPm-21K4bm6UWPWZcuYjdvJGLZC2TkVvmrLDRJgc7XA5tAMk5xkqvnejwAoqZANOl2jOc8j_FgUo9rVs34exoPiyICayqKLxWdsKjERbf_adFZmTh_somNZl0dn9m3nb-WscqtU/s640/DSC04645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
My wife often stays up later than I do on weeknights. Such was the case when, some time after midnight last night, she found this little guy on the third shift doing some quality control testing on the grape trellis.Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-26281340227051699192012-08-07T22:52:00.000-04:002012-08-07T22:52:02.314-04:00The Occasional Nudge Back Toward PositivityI am in this group on Facebook where the moderator or founder or whatever, a good guy named Cliff (see WIXY to the right), poses a "Question of the Day" and people respond. Sometimes the question is just silly. What is your favorite this or that. Other times, once in a while, the question dances around politics or religion or other netherlands for discussion. And there are a few people in the group who attack such questions with both barrels. <br />
<br />
Today's question, for reasons I cannot fully explain, was my favorite one yet. It was simply this " <br />
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">What is one of your simple joys? </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">First, it was kind of fun reviewing in my mind what I considered to be the source of simple joy. I finally decided on this:</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">" </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">I like to go out on the deck
last thing at night, just sit out there listening to the crickets and
locusts, watch the dogs sniff around, and count my blessings."</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">This is actually something I do on a regular basis. A few minutes of quiet out on that deck, in the darkness, thinking about the good things bestowed upon me, helps put the rest of the day, with its frenetic failures and foibles, in perspective. </span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">But aside from my own recipe for calm, I enjoyed reading what others had to say about their simple joy inducers. Here is a sampling:</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">My three year old son reading to my husband and I at bedtime.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Feeling safe and loved is the best of simple joys.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">seeing my one year old grandson.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Coffee, watching the sunrise and listening to the birds.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">A cold beer and a fine cigar.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Getting a "Good Morning" text each morning from my guy to start start off my day....</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">rain on a tin roof, a beach at sunset, my husband's smile, the vioce of my grandson, and all the above.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Holding hands with my husband is good for me.</span></i></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text"> </span><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">forgot to mention my cat. he is a great joy to me</span></span></i></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> <span style="font-weight: normal;"> As I read these, it struck me that the "simple joys" are far superior to the more complicated joys that we try to manufacture. The best time of the day is often out where nature, Creation, or whatever you call it is front and center. Or it's when you connect, even just superficially (a texted "good morning") with a loved one or good friend. </span></span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="font-weight: normal;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Or when you can get a good, simple laugh out of something. For example, here is another reply to today's question...</span></span></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">Good drink, good food and a good woman.<br /> Well, I guess 1 out of 3 isn’t bad. <br /> Damn, just ran out of ice!</span></span></i></h6>
<h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"> </span></span></h6>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-12074051964459330112012-07-23T22:52:00.003-04:002012-07-23T22:52:51.805-04:00The Return to the Land of my People<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
A couple weeks ago we made the semi-annual pilgrimage to the land of my youth, my tribe, my people. I'm talking Baltimore, the land of the Orioles and Jim Thome (argh!), the Bay, Natty Boh, some football team named for black birds that say "Nevermore", "Hon", and oh so much more. We loaded both kids, (the son in law having to work) into the back seat (they are 30 and 25, and actually quite capable of loading themselves, truthfully). And off we went on a Sunday (travel pointer: Do not head in toward an East Coast destination on a Sunday evening in the summer. Understatement: You will not be alone on the road!)</div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
We only hung around for two full days, but packed a lot in. We visited with friends and hung out with relatives, staying at the comfortable and frog-guarded home of my sister; also saw my Dad and had the requisite dinner at the Double T Diner. I am not sure why we always go out there. It is just, as Tevye points out in 'Fiddler on the Roof', TRADITION. The cuisine is more than ample, and not bad, quality-wise, but perhaps we ought to expand our culinary horizons a bit. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Well, we did get to the G&M crab cakes before we left. A trip to Baltimore does not even count without consumption of one of those. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
Anyhow, on Day Two we got downtown to the Inner Harbor. There are two schools of thought about the Inner Harbor. People from out here in the Midwest who visit it say things like "I had no idea Baltimore had such a wonderful area by the water, with museums, shopping, the aquarium, the sports venues..." Then people actually from Baltimore say "aw, it's a big tourist trap and nothin' like the real Bawlmer". </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
My opinion is somewhere in the middle. The real Bawlmer is doubtless
seedier and a bit more scuffed up. This Baltimore's well-scrubbed best
face. Regardless, I like it. The picture I've been featuring up top
is Baltimore's Inner Harbor, taken from atop Federal Hill, on the
opposite side of the water from where I usually hang out when down
there. Here are a few more shots form our day in the city. </div>
<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfF5LJaNc3Gy1VtspnqQQxkW-MWWhTL5O6af3WYSS6qJhd8oOWkR0aL6klVBkf2Slno_-mfD4dy5kKjUUkCnjr11KwX0DgsBoV-YCo7FlVPq5b76ccOF9PnTrDpNB3wb1qqMh8HDX0fEJ/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfF5LJaNc3Gy1VtspnqQQxkW-MWWhTL5O6af3WYSS6qJhd8oOWkR0aL6klVBkf2Slno_-mfD4dy5kKjUUkCnjr11KwX0DgsBoV-YCo7FlVPq5b76ccOF9PnTrDpNB3wb1qqMh8HDX0fEJ/s640/IMG_1607.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The ship is the USS Constellation, a sloop-of-war constructed in 1854.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzEdLeIkFtfzaqhgz29kkM7rwYn1WMP643Ls6qMvhAWoNNuPvy1-jtrEa_MN7yRZc-pmJVGX5wNvBejjGAzJHGq8COmMUkkb4qG0xHkW2Py3joCrhgnDnfB5N7ci4aVs-_3toZFRmURdZ/s1600/IMG_1608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRzEdLeIkFtfzaqhgz29kkM7rwYn1WMP643Ls6qMvhAWoNNuPvy1-jtrEa_MN7yRZc-pmJVGX5wNvBejjGAzJHGq8COmMUkkb4qG0xHkW2Py3joCrhgnDnfB5N7ci4aVs-_3toZFRmURdZ/s640/IMG_1608.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Most of what you see in this picture below is the Aquarium. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTAIiKJYfNyZdrhEfaHPuvBmCSwCK7W1RmUeIb98OtfzpSlG2lYL3CZsnqJ7L71DJZzlRHRVgPnP6GLwgeDgHAvtK-i9soLJVC_zNKJ3UMChhtyafQXB6pfeRjXex1KWP-6PKeaIOGica/s1600/IMG_1609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTAIiKJYfNyZdrhEfaHPuvBmCSwCK7W1RmUeIb98OtfzpSlG2lYL3CZsnqJ7L71DJZzlRHRVgPnP6GLwgeDgHAvtK-i9soLJVC_zNKJ3UMChhtyafQXB6pfeRjXex1KWP-6PKeaIOGica/s640/IMG_1609.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This shot is looking up North on, I think, Charles Street. </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I used to see that gold top of the old "skyscraper" on the left (always was named for some bank) from my bedroom window, if I craned my neck a bit. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP0ddfPuzbXPSZ2xgWSDVReHRFo5teWmv2HCyQUUQx3HIGCbFhvlRhxzhJBn9evaRplhes28D5eDNvKDcyTUX1DYS7TQYqfKtrISWrJpm_71xYNSGJ_ISHkKhuLBt8q8AtauROV8l_6qS/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoP0ddfPuzbXPSZ2xgWSDVReHRFo5teWmv2HCyQUUQx3HIGCbFhvlRhxzhJBn9evaRplhes28D5eDNvKDcyTUX1DYS7TQYqfKtrISWrJpm_71xYNSGJ_ISHkKhuLBt8q8AtauROV8l_6qS/s640/IMG_1611.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We toured the Museum of Visionary Arts, which largely celebrates the work of artists who were not formally trained, per se, but just called to be artists for a variety of reasons. Photography is prohibited inside, but here a re a couple things one can see outside. This large overgrown weather vane of a sculpture has many moving parts and would make Rube Goldberg proud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVld1Za9SXtdyvG5JuyhNAq_A_UhLaZbuCW-TZYEC2g2f7NU2Rcg3Vj0pmxtCNH4NaekoPSPcwqyFgXQUk6Ac2hwBWcnx9F6jVyTNEDSgx0BV3Xg-BFwXrG8VVe3w-5w8NUMREOTpRc2S/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVld1Za9SXtdyvG5JuyhNAq_A_UhLaZbuCW-TZYEC2g2f7NU2Rcg3Vj0pmxtCNH4NaekoPSPcwqyFgXQUk6Ac2hwBWcnx9F6jVyTNEDSgx0BV3Xg-BFwXrG8VVe3w-5w8NUMREOTpRc2S/s640/IMG_1625.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Son William poses in front of what could be the Who's magic bus for all we know... </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3IAKw2hDb5PomKTYsEeRJ0vBI0XtsQp47dZLUNLeLwYtB5Sdu79cMt0q_UMqBvvc8NMbtP0ax-2rvK2I5Ze6XC5Hm4MhDDmroWTkJgYzi_Td4CPD9IcyKDASbImaCdjemISEsPvWd9n7/s1600/IMG_1626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3IAKw2hDb5PomKTYsEeRJ0vBI0XtsQp47dZLUNLeLwYtB5Sdu79cMt0q_UMqBvvc8NMbtP0ax-2rvK2I5Ze6XC5Hm4MhDDmroWTkJgYzi_Td4CPD9IcyKDASbImaCdjemISEsPvWd9n7/s640/IMG_1626.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I have no comment about this piece. It is what it is. Does kinda evoke the whole "freedom" gestalt, don't it?</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5rYJlM3c9FzI0EvXDm-11HLbF8nkwxCHsYp7fomOm_5-ptoTZeuPpp58DXD386rGzEyV1BXqvgkm0LviNTsN9kA0R75D8WwHdcXpH_WnZRA_GOvMw5J81qBNqpWuCvK30bVLDuYP219j/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM5rYJlM3c9FzI0EvXDm-11HLbF8nkwxCHsYp7fomOm_5-ptoTZeuPpp58DXD386rGzEyV1BXqvgkm0LviNTsN9kA0R75D8WwHdcXpH_WnZRA_GOvMw5J81qBNqpWuCvK30bVLDuYP219j/s640/IMG_1638.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I mentioned taking pictures from Federal Hill. This is a shot looking over at Federal Hill. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg98Tx9yMFYVy3cIaShkmv6PfODx_tWOC2IyRzMFGrPNeaXIjQWXdd3QPvnVmLXwJ_8HHazU1mMzyzxnyMvlD5NnNBOK-RiUR44P5kzjA9ivUY3Bu2g_ydhZxMxEP-LiMkwautS42qwN3x/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg98Tx9yMFYVy3cIaShkmv6PfODx_tWOC2IyRzMFGrPNeaXIjQWXdd3QPvnVmLXwJ_8HHazU1mMzyzxnyMvlD5NnNBOK-RiUR44P5kzjA9ivUY3Bu2g_ydhZxMxEP-LiMkwautS42qwN3x/s640/IMG_1629.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A nice example of what the planners call "adaptive reuse". All these uses - a Hard Rock Cafe, Barnes and Noble bookstore, and now a seafood restaurant, in a former power plant. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfdlObYdgxF1KQw-WAL1gStu74C47Mm_FqosSF5YdNQyY0mah_Y4_jzPntrJwg30-CO5IUi8i4ACdf4PBQfKjR4NhMQRTx9-j7sGNln_JP2-zA_WFep4D5PdkzFLrn9InrMmZ5aiHTZXK/s1600/IMG_1631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfdlObYdgxF1KQw-WAL1gStu74C47Mm_FqosSF5YdNQyY0mah_Y4_jzPntrJwg30-CO5IUi8i4ACdf4PBQfKjR4NhMQRTx9-j7sGNln_JP2-zA_WFep4D5PdkzFLrn9InrMmZ5aiHTZXK/s640/IMG_1631.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This is a shot looking over at the city skyline via a game of hoops, at the base of Federal Hill. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6ErO-bwKLSl89cw_Rgf5gBHj69wxhNUvaVAYjW-OfnBi1xHDcGStJfXo80ZtbBWojeJEzZ0LgOP9K6pimLo-j9nWHSESmGbOWbfx7xIJciy3ZjtfOL5_WDpcIoHIg1oDwKrmR8WxV92G/s1600/IMG_1636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6ErO-bwKLSl89cw_Rgf5gBHj69wxhNUvaVAYjW-OfnBi1xHDcGStJfXo80ZtbBWojeJEzZ0LgOP9K6pimLo-j9nWHSESmGbOWbfx7xIJciy3ZjtfOL5_WDpcIoHIg1oDwKrmR8WxV92G/s640/IMG_1636.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another exterior museum shot.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv436lHTxOH41IMn23snybrG5YhhcoJGAUmrcp23Y5ghjuDEycw71mRy0DaBAu1tJBJSrjsGMbBgQmynGbypSt8xT0bCTgLcRILAFwrp6RtVogs6kONr0Axtq2KOnqWmDNCpdpupy83er4/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv436lHTxOH41IMn23snybrG5YhhcoJGAUmrcp23Y5ghjuDEycw71mRy0DaBAu1tJBJSrjsGMbBgQmynGbypSt8xT0bCTgLcRILAFwrp6RtVogs6kONr0Axtq2KOnqWmDNCpdpupy83er4/s640/IMG_1637.JPG" width="632" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And finally, I cannot complete a trip to my sister's without at least one frog shot and, for a bonus, a dragonfly. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGn5ek9inE_NMPYwLgoua7Q9VIeBCvLTy5uzKJKqCvy_xJJgAHR_TIznRou6-aBwGZDg7qDvMITfyCMbwGsr3078m_YS_AGLEVlDpd7WW9kwMqTQfy_zY_RxPYLBweME64f5a4tYICRQ9/s1600/IMG_1643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGn5ek9inE_NMPYwLgoua7Q9VIeBCvLTy5uzKJKqCvy_xJJgAHR_TIznRou6-aBwGZDg7qDvMITfyCMbwGsr3078m_YS_AGLEVlDpd7WW9kwMqTQfy_zY_RxPYLBweME64f5a4tYICRQ9/s640/IMG_1643.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77YLB5rdm2alcx4VAkxoTqQ2VVvo2yWV-zhBFK6_EStLhxOlg_ZlDfyxSmSDoUPE3LGvvhLDv5N3ZyG4npFEKMjigKkuNjodnq9UTZrHuZMF235nupJIChNEJBJXnNADDD_SYUP1wqwbP/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi77YLB5rdm2alcx4VAkxoTqQ2VVvo2yWV-zhBFK6_EStLhxOlg_ZlDfyxSmSDoUPE3LGvvhLDv5N3ZyG4npFEKMjigKkuNjodnq9UTZrHuZMF235nupJIChNEJBJXnNADDD_SYUP1wqwbP/s640/IMG_1645.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-69812023806554823362012-07-15T14:22:00.003-04:002012-07-15T14:24:11.872-04:00Cleveland: City of Light, CIty of Magic, City of.... Fish?We were looking for a fun day trip when the kids were home, so we hit the road for Cleveland and the newish Cleveland Aquarium. While it does not boast the features of aquariums we have visited in Baltimore or Gatlinburg, it was a fun time and the fish world was well represented. Here are some shots of our trip to the aquarium.<br />
<br />
First, some of the occupants of the aquarium, including this turtle whose shell was being repaired with epoxy. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9w4Y5syUEWII3yidTkX5iy6ugTMS0EcLRxxPNY-nfdISm8-iBK7HUb5OCMI69uOE3HI5HlgYHBKM4p9IqPjs5CnvqYhH38q8ev8wt33RmlvhMz6PifOxnRAT4SUOV5DnhasAGMMQajoT/s1600/IMG_1463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9w4Y5syUEWII3yidTkX5iy6ugTMS0EcLRxxPNY-nfdISm8-iBK7HUb5OCMI69uOE3HI5HlgYHBKM4p9IqPjs5CnvqYhH38q8ev8wt33RmlvhMz6PifOxnRAT4SUOV5DnhasAGMMQajoT/s400/IMG_1463.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Avoid these when swimming. A piranha.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDWJQWJBPfkAxJJOv21X450rRDTsBBgYqg-hraLi1r5jT-jlW8ew9zQM7-73YntLHvwXiY8dsDs1AUil8Bbzgl38i4cY-ErmYtHFII0s3LobHNFCh9FmCa_fJlUU8Z_XOkSLTvIPc_R6b/s1600/IMG_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJDWJQWJBPfkAxJJOv21X450rRDTsBBgYqg-hraLi1r5jT-jlW8ew9zQM7-73YntLHvwXiY8dsDs1AUil8Bbzgl38i4cY-ErmYtHFII0s3LobHNFCh9FmCa_fJlUU8Z_XOkSLTvIPc_R6b/s400/IMG_1468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
The aquarium has a "touch tank" where visitors can experience the joy of touching rays as they swim by. Evidently the rays like it and are more than happy to swim up close to get the touch treatment. Here my daughter displays the correct "two fingers, wrist deep only" technique. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNxErqHTrvibURD6sILYerjHt8tIchDJA74ktHU6eKRcybMCA-cqis8goSfiUuDcwZKHP6EvhePFwGBdY1qLADAfA_a6U7-2822QakKCOt-rYMIcMk68ZAIbEctRyf-6PpxG6BTIblQ9P/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNxErqHTrvibURD6sILYerjHt8tIchDJA74ktHU6eKRcybMCA-cqis8goSfiUuDcwZKHP6EvhePFwGBdY1qLADAfA_a6U7-2822QakKCOt-rYMIcMk68ZAIbEctRyf-6PpxG6BTIblQ9P/s400/IMG_1513.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
Now we are in the realm of "interesting looking fish, but I have no idea what they are". I liked the color. I suppose it would blend in around the proper colored coral.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W9Pp_KnZfBepqwg3gD8JbYJwCiaMDsm5m-g2zg38dXgtOAh7RkWDJhZRaV213zvEZeO1qrYthZ9D-UPli8drlLXIfLKEN0XDNMESkjqCmcmBWpl9C7l9OP8hAwJWyOLQElq4DG2lGeZw/s1600/IMG_1535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7W9Pp_KnZfBepqwg3gD8JbYJwCiaMDsm5m-g2zg38dXgtOAh7RkWDJhZRaV213zvEZeO1qrYthZ9D-UPli8drlLXIfLKEN0XDNMESkjqCmcmBWpl9C7l9OP8hAwJWyOLQElq4DG2lGeZw/s400/IMG_1535.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
I have no idea.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWt9Bym_riysweJ_y1BA9_mHsZ6qQTuY5mbz3MKAMmTVw7wPTpSZVURbHHXsvsygbvDjtq3CBbZazWCOAxnEme9E5zMsmRZ52QxJ6de2yo86FabDMcAUAL4aWbz7WDC7WVnGWdPYKTuuM/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEWt9Bym_riysweJ_y1BA9_mHsZ6qQTuY5mbz3MKAMmTVw7wPTpSZVURbHHXsvsygbvDjtq3CBbZazWCOAxnEme9E5zMsmRZ52QxJ6de2yo86FabDMcAUAL4aWbz7WDC7WVnGWdPYKTuuM/s400/IMG_1538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Indeed, I should have caught the name of this spectacular species. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoami-wr4E-IZp6iL7cNAPEkOnFg_nk03Es3JAVhDffiu1PgW4Rj3tT4jd9nFh4atUHCzJVVXzGlpC6LCu1uekI7hgOTv5qZui5GnDlSxE35AKZTO9Rz-5pGnfWhYWP06M7VPwL6Gi8u2/s1600/IMG_1549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoami-wr4E-IZp6iL7cNAPEkOnFg_nk03Es3JAVhDffiu1PgW4Rj3tT4jd9nFh4atUHCzJVVXzGlpC6LCu1uekI7hgOTv5qZui5GnDlSxE35AKZTO9Rz-5pGnfWhYWP06M7VPwL6Gi8u2/s400/IMG_1549.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
These are likely sand sharks. They are kind of humorous, the way they just hang out on the sea floor. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcymA4cg9WpobbT5iD4JSxoyvktQ5qYSuOvVf87sEcNrOx95i3iBJLzK2i_uU9Bfuz2kDVq2V05Hsf6xrbseRCwWhSKfwpzoaPvBzNuvbmSt1XKewMTEi4TQUlTTC0MhP5AB0nD81JYJ/s1600/IMG_1569.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wcymA4cg9WpobbT5iD4JSxoyvktQ5qYSuOvVf87sEcNrOx95i3iBJLzK2i_uU9Bfuz2kDVq2V05Hsf6xrbseRCwWhSKfwpzoaPvBzNuvbmSt1XKewMTEi4TQUlTTC0MhP5AB0nD81JYJ/s400/IMG_1569.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
SHARK!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkwUwdqBtrNLsqLjlarnrw1n6dHFm9d7sN97zpP6wH-3Z7hWrdtJ940Uk10njB2GVSStomjmsR3GCQao1OrU2Fr3-oZz_Oumv9GzutwdiIqEkYtZlCywK0BH5IG-woKbdtoOxnqVhPeds/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkwUwdqBtrNLsqLjlarnrw1n6dHFm9d7sN97zpP6wH-3Z7hWrdtJ940Uk10njB2GVSStomjmsR3GCQao1OrU2Fr3-oZz_Oumv9GzutwdiIqEkYtZlCywK0BH5IG-woKbdtoOxnqVhPeds/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
My favorite feature of the aquarium is the "sea tube", where you walk through a totally glass "tunnel" through the large shark 9and others) tank, thus getting a sort of 360 degree view of the fish swimming around and above you. So you get scenes like this guy coming right at you. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AP49SZ_cAg0evghlsEFseJmyu2jlQC5dr6C0fBLLfTVxeHRh70ZaZXneHepIm2DqUUXt0Kj_ocOL7Mu9O4-pcx-pnFyiXr3kI9dXmgv1rrEoK7wGoJTaZ17w7N-aeaTPu8rgPwM3dGRI/s1600/IMG_1587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AP49SZ_cAg0evghlsEFseJmyu2jlQC5dr6C0fBLLfTVxeHRh70ZaZXneHepIm2DqUUXt0Kj_ocOL7Mu9O4-pcx-pnFyiXr3kI9dXmgv1rrEoK7wGoJTaZ17w7N-aeaTPu8rgPwM3dGRI/s400/IMG_1587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Then once outside, and rid of the sharks, we took in the Cleveland skyline across the river, and its distinctive Terminal Tower. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccX9BiiSzJbvdJfd0FX_TrIzbR1_RqQJE_IPExkLc94c_WAE0_kyKf11znICpO6QBIequmxDGQmPwSP78fX8zZaO82d1_r6tnxfj5yerVd-6cGB1IzHxGGKQ7zyHsjOTDlZopxRT9Y_6z/s1600/IMG_1591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgccX9BiiSzJbvdJfd0FX_TrIzbR1_RqQJE_IPExkLc94c_WAE0_kyKf11znICpO6QBIequmxDGQmPwSP78fX8zZaO82d1_r6tnxfj5yerVd-6cGB1IzHxGGKQ7zyHsjOTDlZopxRT9Y_6z/s640/IMG_1591.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhFtiuxCPQe_tiTJKhUnWVMU1LfVkBaQ8axwJNrIA8RX9eC_KlFIZtPKO-NXcnEAjFvGXBHZao_tCUZZPG3sK8aUGtVrWy6oxzB5Sp8Au-iPUU3YY5v9tNsh9Lp_EdoSk-ejC5sWMMvP8/s1600/IMG_1596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyhFtiuxCPQe_tiTJKhUnWVMU1LfVkBaQ8axwJNrIA8RX9eC_KlFIZtPKO-NXcnEAjFvGXBHZao_tCUZZPG3sK8aUGtVrWy6oxzB5Sp8Au-iPUU3YY5v9tNsh9Lp_EdoSk-ejC5sWMMvP8/s640/IMG_1596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Inside Terminal Tower and Tower City Center. The tower was built during the skyscraper boom of the 1920's and 1930's, and was the second tallest building in the world when it was built. It was the tallest building in the U.S. outside New York until 1964. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYkRUzpFKSSyMkBPDb_pdR9XHFPA2kTvPzyNelf8OgulRdZn_znKtpMcLg_SHy534ARx_sHcN2BW3YsLn3cn8TFyQlX2gAlM5Ha_A2BZvBkclFk8M-coKFqIqGZU6RaOa382-wJtBIK8w/s1600/IMG_1597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOYkRUzpFKSSyMkBPDb_pdR9XHFPA2kTvPzyNelf8OgulRdZn_znKtpMcLg_SHy534ARx_sHcN2BW3YsLn3cn8TFyQlX2gAlM5Ha_A2BZvBkclFk8M-coKFqIqGZU6RaOa382-wJtBIK8w/s640/IMG_1597.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A couple blocks down the road, we found this "back street" brimming with restaurants and pubs, and found a place to eat. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1Z9rPMuyYPs3wZYr-oxT0v2cUKRTCkpy-R4EjcuHRmNOhozcHsIpjNoe83BAXLesLMMpQPy0Wi6C7UjCUZk-ulpNMcebTIfaCj53CLc8gOiP3uFc34aW96HfvgAfSN6uCW7lA431dRvy/s1600/IMG_1598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1Z9rPMuyYPs3wZYr-oxT0v2cUKRTCkpy-R4EjcuHRmNOhozcHsIpjNoe83BAXLesLMMpQPy0Wi6C7UjCUZk-ulpNMcebTIfaCj53CLc8gOiP3uFc34aW96HfvgAfSN6uCW7lA431dRvy/s640/IMG_1598.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
A last look at the distinctive tower that still rises above its neighbors. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGsGPTV1B-lyd3RVKit9HAyFLbU2tGQ__QWj2TBRzpTuAvNRCtcLJeKhc4QdGHyZud3Q9GvvX3S1qT4_i2JqfFWxnuBNSzJ9yoBT5AARHkBnvQfWrSvGp4nNiQ6FF9Zd2Qca450J477e9/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWGsGPTV1B-lyd3RVKit9HAyFLbU2tGQ__QWj2TBRzpTuAvNRCtcLJeKhc4QdGHyZud3Q9GvvX3S1qT4_i2JqfFWxnuBNSzJ9yoBT5AARHkBnvQfWrSvGp4nNiQ6FF9Zd2Qca450J477e9/s640/IMG_1595.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-91658297042124733912012-07-03T22:28:00.001-04:002012-07-03T22:44:21.415-04:00PROG OCALYPSE! The Final NEARFest!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Long-time readers know of my affinity for progressive rock music, that anomaly where you just can't quite dance to the music because it is in 7/8 and you unfortunately have two legs, not seven. Proficiency on the instruments scores more points than getting people out of their seats and clapping along. I make no apologies - I am a nerd for this stuff and have been since about 1969 when the Moody Blues, King Crimson, and Procol Harum were pushinging some boundaries. Anyhow, at the risk of boring you, here is a round-up of what was heard in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania at the Zoellner Arts Center on the campus of lovely Lehigh University last weekend.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friday started off with Aranis, purveyor of "chamber rock" from Belgium. Yes, the lineup consisted of violin, upright piano, drums (capably handled by the ubiquitous Dave Kerman), upright bass, accordion, and flute. Some great sounds emanated from this band. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iBBedsfdaJMimFOmAfrrVhND_7v77Sq1vwxk1O63lSEriJE2ywSOMxdLC9S0X8ai4rzUQf1gX8VC7DpNLGLQ4FYyY823OWSMD5F0vacs_gDZal-B-p5UXUi0qLBYA5Q-Lme4F0zzke1y/s1600/uk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSBvVty4MCnVIIz88y6ymu0kVQv12SQlPhR_1cgzRnyoRKx3JfPtdebY8fxOatLvYHIVe0xJcK_Lyq46igjLTprbOOB29BlNM4sXumyg4IAVrmatUUy7JAC0eJpZYFgyHHJI7HqDgTouj/s1600/IMG_1073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSBvVty4MCnVIIz88y6ymu0kVQv12SQlPhR_1cgzRnyoRKx3JfPtdebY8fxOatLvYHIVe0xJcK_Lyq46igjLTprbOOB29BlNM4sXumyg4IAVrmatUUy7JAC0eJpZYFgyHHJI7HqDgTouj/s640/IMG_1073.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Aranis were followed by the venerable Van der Graaf Generator. This band has been around in England since maybe 1970 or so. Three of the original members got back together five years ago or so, and they have resumed putting out great new music. Yes, Peter Hammill's (no relation to the New York writer; trust me) voice may be an acquired taste, but I have acquired the taste.</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJUWGny4alW8MtG7nJLjktbZxM1SVICxciO6As1nUqOZOBB2ew1_jiSujYN77EjRtm1KK_aHiqTDdX2zZMzRpL-SAMjlolaOKaePIyDEqlPXdIcTpEg2l0ZncjuOqb2CteKY4oGRIePlu/s1600/IMG_1099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJUWGny4alW8MtG7nJLjktbZxM1SVICxciO6As1nUqOZOBB2ew1_jiSujYN77EjRtm1KK_aHiqTDdX2zZMzRpL-SAMjlolaOKaePIyDEqlPXdIcTpEg2l0ZncjuOqb2CteKY4oGRIePlu/s640/IMG_1099.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturday kicked off with the USA's oddly named Helmet of Gnats. These guys produce a sort of fusiony, sort of jazzy instrumental sound. As a particular fan of the keyboard, I always like to check out the players' arrays. This one seems especially full of things to push, twist, and otherwise get sound out of. Oh, you may have noticed. A lot of these musicians are not exactly millenials or Generation X'ers. They have been around the block a few times. Suffice it to say, there was not a lot of Bieber Fever in the room.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf3fMICOJGI-oEbMSHTCLjap40a74FVwKjI8LkR0rCERgNFVK6Uk2zDRD-24asXdcScD0urmrlf779ZZbyKDYk4wIf5yACr_OIOrBi_FbS67JRu3FKQ8H_T2MpU_7DgRg_jqRSQ_hPZTU/s1600/IMG_1104.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUf3fMICOJGI-oEbMSHTCLjap40a74FVwKjI8LkR0rCERgNFVK6Uk2zDRD-24asXdcScD0urmrlf779ZZbyKDYk4wIf5yACr_OIOrBi_FbS67JRu3FKQ8H_T2MpU_7DgRg_jqRSQ_hPZTU/s400/IMG_1104.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's the full Helmet, with pretty lights on the curtain. </span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8apOs23Na0Y0kICXwK6ZNHhguBXL6dks6Br52rlksXUGavlgCpA2qZNvNNqZQ3J405-h-aNQwup2joeaTLTZkmLj9Jd1zG3tg-113k9Z101pyrHUEbJqd61ns7lpfUAaw1pYEeB-ergN/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq8apOs23Na0Y0kICXwK6ZNHhguBXL6dks6Br52rlksXUGavlgCpA2qZNvNNqZQ3J405-h-aNQwup2joeaTLTZkmLj9Jd1zG3tg-113k9Z101pyrHUEbJqd61ns7lpfUAaw1pYEeB-ergN/s640/IMG_1113.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Break time! So we walked around campus a bit, taking in the flowers and towers. Here are a couple buildings we passed along our walk.</span> <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cfoLjdRv6xPfuNKxE-8esSnBNHsz4ze0rO9MMvpUidZ5kMI7j6UW71nKJNON6-NZVT6IX894hMqWUegcQteraCGt2k79mqkoCkwV-z5TDlByaU2oBF6EVNndKT1OYoRt2W-oNHBd_pYb/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6cfoLjdRv6xPfuNKxE-8esSnBNHsz4ze0rO9MMvpUidZ5kMI7j6UW71nKJNON6-NZVT6IX894hMqWUegcQteraCGt2k79mqkoCkwV-z5TDlByaU2oBF6EVNndKT1OYoRt2W-oNHBd_pYb/s640/IMG_1151.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ2NYzIOFl11kFTWXuqIcl-lJp1DoFbf_epLnctGSGezuEtfe8LlxxpIQZxg7RwqN2aXNHv2tx3zkZsuVdgnpTADSjIKni7jLjviwZvKf4l6alZ-H6qSTEH_YDeaFHr-JXhsCeTUBt1zo/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZ2NYzIOFl11kFTWXuqIcl-lJp1DoFbf_epLnctGSGezuEtfe8LlxxpIQZxg7RwqN2aXNHv2tx3zkZsuVdgnpTADSjIKni7jLjviwZvKf4l6alZ-H6qSTEH_YDeaFHr-JXhsCeTUBt1zo/s640/IMG_1155.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRXZVHdsDAGYl6OoAgz1HO5u7lswANHEyiSOlUU8unFSKP38X4QPMQ1WtsOCRPWGhcVix3f5vMTMSaa9fFPv34Mlc2nW9H2vZGnIXsZTQkoIPsuw3xlwt8D1hAzzu4puHlyynM7Cps59K/s1600/IMG_1123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRXZVHdsDAGYl6OoAgz1HO5u7lswANHEyiSOlUU8unFSKP38X4QPMQ1WtsOCRPWGhcVix3f5vMTMSaa9fFPv34Mlc2nW9H2vZGnIXsZTQkoIPsuw3xlwt8D1hAzzu4puHlyynM7Cps59K/s640/IMG_1123.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back to the action, and the next band (above) was Twelfth Night, from England. The guy in the middle with the guitar was pretty talented, and fluctuated between his guitar and the keyboard back on the left behind the stripy guy. They were pretty good, in a sort of dated, accessible way.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">OK, I mentioned that I was a keyboard fan. The picture below depicts how to make me salivate. Take two remnants from the Keyboard Past, circa 1970. A solid Hammond B-3 organ, and a Mellotron. The Mellotron is almost THE symbol of progressive rock. When you touch, say, the middle-C key, the thing plays a tape loop of an orchestra playing middle C, or a flute playing it, or a chorus singing it. Amazing - and really, really antiquated by today's standards. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTPynoDBWQSuWoUKkYjPGIaz74HVzW08IRMqVhjiOju4rWhVNdDu2aO1kWgmk4L_1OQ92RbkRTpjVZ5yX5WNZeP3AMT85wlwQxxwKi5WdqqphFmV8xbCMuy6-ykYV6EbKOIvf7kNj_sme/s1600/IMG_1165.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzTPynoDBWQSuWoUKkYjPGIaz74HVzW08IRMqVhjiOju4rWhVNdDu2aO1kWgmk4L_1OQ92RbkRTpjVZ5yX5WNZeP3AMT85wlwQxxwKi5WdqqphFmV8xbCMuy6-ykYV6EbKOIvf7kNj_sme/s400/IMG_1165.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those keys were from the band Anglagard, from Sweden. They actually had three - count 'em - THREE Mellotrons on stage. You can see two of them here. Why three? Why not? And check out that drum "kit"...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRS0zzDY01uw7QFsOEeOky95P1rvuYmO5zcbiHTydBO8z4o0yxAOgeCCBDcQc80bhf6Xc7SRdaFzTNh8-X1nJydsg1ghDMZOonK4cLLxNADSMeS1Cdmi37iF0v-H0kbp5AsYVrhyIzhP_/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRS0zzDY01uw7QFsOEeOky95P1rvuYmO5zcbiHTydBO8z4o0yxAOgeCCBDcQc80bhf6Xc7SRdaFzTNh8-X1nJydsg1ghDMZOonK4cLLxNADSMeS1Cdmi37iF0v-H0kbp5AsYVrhyIzhP_/s640/IMG_1179.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Headlining Saturday was the ol' Brit band Renaissance, fronted by "the lovely" Annie Haslam, she of the five-octave range. And after a couple shaky songs, she found all of that range and sang wonderfully. This band actually had moderate fame back in the early 70's. You might have had or seen their records - Prologue, Ashes to Ashes, Turn of the Cards, Sheherazade...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fAAiKu5xLicnyTCk4-qRqJjYr0GuJ8XUB1LE1nMVbDD4eZxccRMi39fahtS1z8vZMyjRIoXm-w8KRi2qMUIcpPyFjCCdoTJR6ozyyBd7mNfPr6BWFd1gxnmsYO_uzaDE-UtIIOAZhwbE/s1600/IMG_1231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fAAiKu5xLicnyTCk4-qRqJjYr0GuJ8XUB1LE1nMVbDD4eZxccRMi39fahtS1z8vZMyjRIoXm-w8KRi2qMUIcpPyFjCCdoTJR6ozyyBd7mNfPr6BWFd1gxnmsYO_uzaDE-UtIIOAZhwbE/s640/IMG_1231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's a vibe-off!!! Nah, not really, it is two players from the Swedish band, Gosta Berlings Saga. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QHgpVynXLBr2SAyp4btd4_l8Bt4OvmuZm2KzCr63JTzwiZvpZebBbdqvYmpirEn-hp-YvUeXX47V2zGvy4qJQQHNHfjA5_2t0UINOb1u6VK5bKAroUl3fObZCUXri7kNvIhSBPyuYx02/s1600/IMG_1270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QHgpVynXLBr2SAyp4btd4_l8Bt4OvmuZm2KzCr63JTzwiZvpZebBbdqvYmpirEn-hp-YvUeXX47V2zGvy4qJQQHNHfjA5_2t0UINOb1u6VK5bKAroUl3fObZCUXri7kNvIhSBPyuYx02/s640/IMG_1270.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And here is the full band</span>. <span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhMeaf6KEKiKN0FNxsqgjTeZpSEIe_Zxs3zjgN5Js8pZt0BmsjixOofgPqXpxq5d8xr_z5Qw4BrBz2Bfbtol8hOGipilIfWTz00Cm2y2kkyG0MA-6xbUt5zOh9ztnq7FuvjLO4fAKUMmR/s1600/IMG_1275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHhMeaf6KEKiKN0FNxsqgjTeZpSEIe_Zxs3zjgN5Js8pZt0BmsjixOofgPqXpxq5d8xr_z5Qw4BrBz2Bfbtol8hOGipilIfWTz00Cm2y2kkyG0MA-6xbUt5zOh9ztnq7FuvjLO4fAKUMmR/s640/IMG_1275.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Another break - and we checked out the old Bethlehem Steel Works. The locals have preserver the old works and plunked down a cultural center, park, and even venue amidst all the old boilers and extruders and ovens and whatever else steel works have.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPylUbKvqAnJYzhm7cz_2A9dcunKC_Yf6Hzf61GW4mLJVQzE-7oWLpQZah9NtLD-EvQQt2XhyphenhyphenNypmpgGKWczKOd-1ItIETZRqUFuwq8onloLtu8gfraiKxmbZWDbvzGftolSudH3OoLuX/s1600/IMG_1292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPylUbKvqAnJYzhm7cz_2A9dcunKC_Yf6Hzf61GW4mLJVQzE-7oWLpQZah9NtLD-EvQQt2XhyphenhyphenNypmpgGKWczKOd-1ItIETZRqUFuwq8onloLtu8gfraiKxmbZWDbvzGftolSudH3OoLuX/s640/IMG_1292.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back again in time to hear Italian band Il Tempio Delle Clessidre, fronted by venerable singer </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Stefano "Lupo" Galif. Gotta have at least one Italian band in one of these fests. </span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIe-Lj9kUi4GnlCl1bv22XuZxNR0GGnbek_V4Ob5hvHPFvKewA3kVtsr2tjw1JbNhyEHjQs1pECTPudAXmJToY1rEdA5RlA3Wd1qHapRfRmbSEp_4Xr8BrTjRhPwfFpQNX2fRAIHfKj42Q/s1600/IMG_1345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIe-Lj9kUi4GnlCl1bv22XuZxNR0GGnbek_V4Ob5hvHPFvKewA3kVtsr2tjw1JbNhyEHjQs1pECTPudAXmJToY1rEdA5RlA3Wd1qHapRfRmbSEp_4Xr8BrTjRhPwfFpQNX2fRAIHfKj42Q/s400/IMG_1345.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here is the full band...</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w7gSFGmcheRCd5UkwuNjHVGQkvJ-Bbc6IHcyoyL_B04gvg4NC_HwR7VcqNg5t9Sfa2m6K59q9vzY4Rzqv6nA2nAFo_gop14AEspvtu48uVlyI9wnpmJWQ3qcTM0FPzOUDrhEU7ETsvCV/s1600/IMG_1343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_w7gSFGmcheRCd5UkwuNjHVGQkvJ-Bbc6IHcyoyL_B04gvg4NC_HwR7VcqNg5t9Sfa2m6K59q9vzY4Rzqv6nA2nAFo_gop14AEspvtu48uVlyI9wnpmJWQ3qcTM0FPzOUDrhEU7ETsvCV/s640/IMG_1343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The penultimate act was the amazing Mike Keneally band. Mike plays guitar and keys really, really well, and sometimes both at the same time! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPh-EychNhsITdxyT3dUG_9AdYXw-_fC-NY0sZJwcoQwcUiBlv2XFR0EE_0K6FlrskJwFA2k26fSfbKkS0thyphenhyphenoSK9YYXUaBNDX20oBoCl5AciRZFu4n1dOWjgBDSAeXwFWNCjY9aywVtCC/s1600/IMG_1367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPh-EychNhsITdxyT3dUG_9AdYXw-_fC-NY0sZJwcoQwcUiBlv2XFR0EE_0K6FlrskJwFA2k26fSfbKkS0thyphenhyphenoSK9YYXUaBNDX20oBoCl5AciRZFu4n1dOWjgBDSAeXwFWNCjY9aywVtCC/s400/IMG_1367.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's Mike's full band, with a cool picture on the backdrop. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVHPMCxRuu0vQLKnOkt-Q0E1Vu9L42MnG3yf5Nl-fzwSfzKFVFjetgwJwL3wZ5XqTlB-W1fwZQRXpMiMmolFpqzBf9XsU7yDHUVXkD2KbOJmHxriW2mo2bJMwy0i9AJ0bwA82OOwgUmvL/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVHPMCxRuu0vQLKnOkt-Q0E1Vu9L42MnG3yf5Nl-fzwSfzKFVFjetgwJwL3wZ5XqTlB-W1fwZQRXpMiMmolFpqzBf9XsU7yDHUVXkD2KbOJmHxriW2mo2bJMwy0i9AJ0bwA82OOwgUmvL/s640/IMG_1369.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fest ended with a performance by British band UK, led by keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, and bassist/vocalist John Wetton. Eddie has a strict "no photography" rule at his shows, so this is a fuzzy stock photo of Eddie and John saying howdy to some other crowd.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-iBBedsfdaJMimFOmAfrrVhND_7v77Sq1vwxk1O63lSEriJE2ywSOMxdLC9S0X8ai4rzUQf1gX8VC7DpNLGLQ4FYyY823OWSMD5F0vacs_gDZal-B-p5UXUi0qLBYA5Q-Lme4F0zzke1y/s400/uk.jpg" width="398" /><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So that was it. The final NEARFest; they called it NEARFest Apocalypse. Two of the guys who have organized this show are college professors during their day jobs, and they have simply burned out doing this, as much as they love it. They decided to put on one last show (which sold out its 1100 or so seats almost instantaneously back last winter), and it was a great time. I will have to replace this annual event with another fest; there is on in the spring in Gettysburg which is quite enjoyable. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the important thing is this: prog lives on. </span>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-60772063883325350922012-06-19T22:33:00.001-04:002012-06-19T22:34:56.371-04:00Hardin County, Ohio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUQEMLMe9vqz-IMqQDrxp5gqaxNn7tbKYW-iacokryBa2vPCKpS0FsSkcCF9f4HogDj2idMpTLR4VAt-Q2YaH9XFPaj-mkpUBoqgY1OIPb_DO5i0nr92ygOb23CZeiwq6Ue1JGj7agkfZ/s1600/IMG_0924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvUQEMLMe9vqz-IMqQDrxp5gqaxNn7tbKYW-iacokryBa2vPCKpS0FsSkcCF9f4HogDj2idMpTLR4VAt-Q2YaH9XFPaj-mkpUBoqgY1OIPb_DO5i0nr92ygOb23CZeiwq6Ue1JGj7agkfZ/s640/IMG_0924.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Spent a day in Hardin County (pop. 32,000) one day last week, shooting pictures for a report on the county. Most of these pictures did not make the cut for the report, but they are still of some interest. For example, who can miss this real estate up near Dunkirk?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWt4J5uOfZvGEbj2Kg8GCvwhPRO-cDDcStGCJ2SNS-l_aUKntx1ti6g1PuLpuEY1HVfs2A36Wi7ArdbdnaVtNsKh3KWdwNWa8ZL_u8kXLeJlwsLZAIwJboLtX4c6-Y14LWYQbECW4kv63R/s1600/IMG_0921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWt4J5uOfZvGEbj2Kg8GCvwhPRO-cDDcStGCJ2SNS-l_aUKntx1ti6g1PuLpuEY1HVfs2A36Wi7ArdbdnaVtNsKh3KWdwNWa8ZL_u8kXLeJlwsLZAIwJboLtX4c6-Y14LWYQbECW4kv63R/s200/IMG_0921.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Or this fine residence in the Village of Forest?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYG_wczy0wSqLbmT_z6Ro2rF5XBotTneLC6uGs5xXHJxwI7meRdCNN83QIB2JCVsX5dQtcTysWTWl64EpcIB1Kg33mblqpWqE5EP0j6z7kShpTxJHM7XQlFmeMeNDDnrHlpLxejJGGyBh/s1600/IMG_0955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaYG_wczy0wSqLbmT_z6Ro2rF5XBotTneLC6uGs5xXHJxwI7meRdCNN83QIB2JCVsX5dQtcTysWTWl64EpcIB1Kg33mblqpWqE5EP0j6z7kShpTxJHM7XQlFmeMeNDDnrHlpLxejJGGyBh/s640/IMG_0955.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Hardin County and the Village of Ada are home to Ohio Northern University, home of the Polar Bears. The university went "green" enough to set up three or four of these wind turbines west of the campus. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGpbbA1tzk0Yjjpm4CeFsE-C5mu9MVLZDSf9uyYHTfSvOwMytmmsolkAwCnMvsQvEv6FMWzYri2L7tfLPe30zPmOYD2NwFFfNK-kUk__8U4BqgTmzWhn9sbcbnAwOUK19F2gNLWOzpPZT/s1600/IMG_0974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGpbbA1tzk0Yjjpm4CeFsE-C5mu9MVLZDSf9uyYHTfSvOwMytmmsolkAwCnMvsQvEv6FMWzYri2L7tfLPe30zPmOYD2NwFFfNK-kUk__8U4BqgTmzWhn9sbcbnAwOUK19F2gNLWOzpPZT/s640/IMG_0974.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Meanwhile, In Kenton, they put in some railroad tracks in parallel to be able to become a goods-moving center. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7scH0nN05GfM2RxUGAvIIQtCA5sSYEjrFtQJCYH7cNqh6usfGpDj3DPV0NHpJMcwYs8jLBb0HNU2oEPaU6GNOnKV7nboHETYuinfYlWWZo-PUvdidjszzPDhpNDf8OSpRb5IzEaEbS5J/s1600/IMG_0977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7scH0nN05GfM2RxUGAvIIQtCA5sSYEjrFtQJCYH7cNqh6usfGpDj3DPV0NHpJMcwYs8jLBb0HNU2oEPaU6GNOnKV7nboHETYuinfYlWWZo-PUvdidjszzPDhpNDf8OSpRb5IzEaEbS5J/s200/IMG_0977.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I got a little laugh out of the sign that appears as one departs - by car - from the county airport.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNreX1jWO0NeOAE0uCWaYkVlcDfDDguEvEUKn9aVohENAGxi_HSP5tPHCNIibagmjUVFYL25ZI_D0FFwiNsI0VxtVYxIwzuN6NkMrTHo6nPhZStYuGUcs9R94iw6lp4jucFWK5l1Ekytsh/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNreX1jWO0NeOAE0uCWaYkVlcDfDDguEvEUKn9aVohENAGxi_HSP5tPHCNIibagmjUVFYL25ZI_D0FFwiNsI0VxtVYxIwzuN6NkMrTHo6nPhZStYuGUcs9R94iw6lp4jucFWK5l1Ekytsh/s640/IMG_0996.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And Hardin is one of those counties where the distinctive courthouse becomes the centerpiece of the downtown. Indeed, in Kenton, it is, as stores and offices occupy the other side of the street, all the way around the square. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTi-j1Cgq7KSItXfX2LgaVR62nI49LHzygzdIW6ScicqABgArUPDwPQeRYBZRBG6hWy_DnAPHgWBdiuSCtJ1u0ugQL3KrRMzv7KaCFu922M9Ndc38SuE3M3G4bawCdvZlNv35OzyFPDGo/s1600/IMG_1016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTi-j1Cgq7KSItXfX2LgaVR62nI49LHzygzdIW6ScicqABgArUPDwPQeRYBZRBG6hWy_DnAPHgWBdiuSCtJ1u0ugQL3KrRMzv7KaCFu922M9Ndc38SuE3M3G4bawCdvZlNv35OzyFPDGo/s640/IMG_1016.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The armory is a block north of the square, and it is distinctive in its own way.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiHXXlg_miF-_jW0Mvc3NJo1pN5jXIeHia1hsrSNgsGWgApUJBszXEOZ5B-K-xOM1aQmk_MhonMX4XlJJdy6PyzYgIra_HHzCngCfYJVLC8rM_fgT2G_cUxfOlK_cKqJbRsQmSa5k_6e3/s1600/IMG_1033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiHXXlg_miF-_jW0Mvc3NJo1pN5jXIeHia1hsrSNgsGWgApUJBszXEOZ5B-K-xOM1aQmk_MhonMX4XlJJdy6PyzYgIra_HHzCngCfYJVLC8rM_fgT2G_cUxfOlK_cKqJbRsQmSa5k_6e3/s640/IMG_1033.JPG" width="598" /></a></div>
OK, this is not distinctive in a super-attractive way, but for some reason I was intrigued by this "tunnel" entrance or portal, if you will, into the alley beyond...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIToMzIyW0i4sdmcE-4_bcmDdd0e16mk3QKXLBHZvm2I79T8Z5fshBz4Y-kcgCARej8Zlkdyew_SRPcT5xTCAriKcV6pYc7kCW9ItUykFQ4el9FEmNeyqw2AbbARytgZXM5u3Aj1h2MjEN/s1600/IMG_0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIToMzIyW0i4sdmcE-4_bcmDdd0e16mk3QKXLBHZvm2I79T8Z5fshBz4Y-kcgCARej8Zlkdyew_SRPcT5xTCAriKcV6pYc7kCW9ItUykFQ4el9FEmNeyqw2AbbARytgZXM5u3Aj1h2MjEN/s640/IMG_0970.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
And this is what remains of the county's former largest employer, once Rockwell international, providing work for some 1,200 people. Not any more.<br />
<br />
Despite that sad site, there is plenty going on, not the least of which is growing crops. Agriculture still reigns supreme among the county's land uses. I had lunch with the development director for the county, and he voiced his amazement at how much is going on in the county.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsT24BxszoVfUhZpPEd1vk0ak8mIBrTzhdtD3aFv0fjjBHXH5bItNcl-mWHxFZ6UcJSm2XOaNRLFD47tQ9TSM96XU_8tE5xz5w7wPvbbGfnhUVi7xfDQTuI1mFciWuHq-23aHyzvhnTB5/s1600/IMG_0951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIsT24BxszoVfUhZpPEd1vk0ak8mIBrTzhdtD3aFv0fjjBHXH5bItNcl-mWHxFZ6UcJSm2XOaNRLFD47tQ9TSM96XU_8tE5xz5w7wPvbbGfnhUVi7xfDQTuI1mFciWuHq-23aHyzvhnTB5/s640/IMG_0951.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A fountain and floral planting at Ohio Northern University.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RgT0WWKBiNg6slxJ8tPMjRPjZoB33fduuUbymeVDNtZqrnuLLXZzTos1pJG1ropJeC0IFPgLtXxL95-LV5t96XiIYCXCjr5Ex0IpSQ5tCD200GeijvtR8hB1TmaOvdII28oB_8lMHtcT/s1600/IMG_0963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RgT0WWKBiNg6slxJ8tPMjRPjZoB33fduuUbymeVDNtZqrnuLLXZzTos1pJG1ropJeC0IFPgLtXxL95-LV5t96XiIYCXCjr5Ex0IpSQ5tCD200GeijvtR8hB1TmaOvdII28oB_8lMHtcT/s640/IMG_0963.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
Those familiar with Ohio's byways know that this logo got painted on one barn in each of Ohio's 88 counties back in 2003, to commemorate the state's bicentennial. Here is Hardin County's selection, on SR 309 west of Kenton. <br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-48941077482929685952012-06-09T22:30:00.002-04:002012-06-09T22:30:28.385-04:00Concerts Down at the ReservoirLast Wednesday, we drove over to the reservoir for the first of the City's Wednesday night concert series. The singer was a local guy named Chris Castle. He's a singer-songwriter, as they call 'em, who has actually cracked the Billboard Americana charts with his new CD. And it is pretty good stuff. For those who know their music history, it was recorded in the late Levon Helms' studio. And fellow Band member Garth Hudson contributed some B-3 organ playing on a couple of the tracks. <br />
<br />
These are some pictures of Wednesday night's event, including a swallow who was busy feeding young 'uns up above the venue floor. Them birds are gonna be rocking for the next few Wednesday nights.<br />
<br />
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsYF4nyystKzWB8nVHeg3O1j1D2klXIBXhrHfhhwvhPx_Y8EVqbEQokep5RPJ0aazyYvn3OF0T7ue-mC3O4GLT29Aq9NtCCVu1BxSHM1tpnbPq5ATvE866OiNtiXzlcy9p-wemw4fE1Kh/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXsYF4nyystKzWB8nVHeg3O1j1D2klXIBXhrHfhhwvhPx_Y8EVqbEQokep5RPJ0aazyYvn3OF0T7ue-mC3O4GLT29Aq9NtCCVu1BxSHM1tpnbPq5ATvE866OiNtiXzlcy9p-wemw4fE1Kh/s400/IMG_0845.JPG" width="276" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPrOiIZlqhXy5OwNewcjHOMkn4RCcqyLzHQ9lk_vJoX6RXd8r2hIWHpwJx_UISCvFJpeavCYgp6WTXR9AKwX9hm_kVJJ_RCS09wqqVPLtJ7jCh5K5GkXRYS1A_zVL2WkThrLBdtyjmL-m/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPrOiIZlqhXy5OwNewcjHOMkn4RCcqyLzHQ9lk_vJoX6RXd8r2hIWHpwJx_UISCvFJpeavCYgp6WTXR9AKwX9hm_kVJJ_RCS09wqqVPLtJ7jCh5K5GkXRYS1A_zVL2WkThrLBdtyjmL-m/s320/IMG_0848.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqebkmPObfgSWZ0J1uW0v3SQ9ApVJBfVEXtQoB4FOZWMmJgkJmYcXaiq8rg-9lKOJujKs4fv8Z6R-_8VJpB_p9R5cvZcmGU6ponf8CJxDIi4-1wEZXg8t-toQcCoxTRLgs8jdxdlTaYgF/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqebkmPObfgSWZ0J1uW0v3SQ9ApVJBfVEXtQoB4FOZWMmJgkJmYcXaiq8rg-9lKOJujKs4fv8Z6R-_8VJpB_p9R5cvZcmGU6ponf8CJxDIi4-1wEZXg8t-toQcCoxTRLgs8jdxdlTaYgF/s400/IMG_0865.JPG" width="337" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAAr9QkApHMzj7cCVdFV9BoVG-4Vkmsuin6Q1GLoXMBaS_nK4t0f7pi45mhvBhkm0_iXdticv7kQisXVP0_-6-qkySFzUaxYAW7TiuWu4nffiLVajNMYlbUBRLsGyyeYm2UTnMFMjUF5N/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAAr9QkApHMzj7cCVdFV9BoVG-4Vkmsuin6Q1GLoXMBaS_nK4t0f7pi45mhvBhkm0_iXdticv7kQisXVP0_-6-qkySFzUaxYAW7TiuWu4nffiLVajNMYlbUBRLsGyyeYm2UTnMFMjUF5N/s400/IMG_0855.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGxhMmL-n9nk85eyUrMDMNh3ZCfTHsLwbCKgz6mQP-VHgmpsAk2sZFNui7tDR-HBtAMC734odsQP5t3liGZN3I0YqenXueUxeMVY2AGLzijx5ULKwglbliLNMofeADLOrHOjCwhkXN51e/s1600/IMG_0843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGxhMmL-n9nk85eyUrMDMNh3ZCfTHsLwbCKgz6mQP-VHgmpsAk2sZFNui7tDR-HBtAMC734odsQP5t3liGZN3I0YqenXueUxeMVY2AGLzijx5ULKwglbliLNMofeADLOrHOjCwhkXN51e/s640/IMG_0843.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
We went back to the reservoir tonight for a different kind of
concert, listening to the songbirds in amongst the reeds. Here are some
shots of what we found about 400 feet away from Wednesday's venue.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEAAr9QkApHMzj7cCVdFV9BoVG-4Vkmsuin6Q1GLoXMBaS_nK4t0f7pi45mhvBhkm0_iXdticv7kQisXVP0_-6-qkySFzUaxYAW7TiuWu4nffiLVajNMYlbUBRLsGyyeYm2UTnMFMjUF5N/s1600/IMG_0855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXWakC3gaOFYGn8uqQT5An3xpLAk6grpiEZizS8dK8gwNogbShai6Rl7UrqpmLg4rO-nBddfWunwGf5uhKaT6SpFUSWF3bQ2ETZdBjLnLCEhPjjT4tPh5C5zlIZ3tIcShYcvIswI0GaNF/s1600/IMG_0902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgXWakC3gaOFYGn8uqQT5An3xpLAk6grpiEZizS8dK8gwNogbShai6Rl7UrqpmLg4rO-nBddfWunwGf5uhKaT6SpFUSWF3bQ2ETZdBjLnLCEhPjjT4tPh5C5zlIZ3tIcShYcvIswI0GaNF/s640/IMG_0902.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CY9N0yPZDRwqun4RwKL1bYX1ZjP5CV1FXeTie2woBLEFsioJ0QIARiL8xL0POXlBm9I7SkJ_C2WGOFAZx7xDEhuOHyw3MdNfrF1MYsK8rDtwhsVx2pyWS3vQCv-Cq5MHYWsAPlNa3yY4/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CY9N0yPZDRwqun4RwKL1bYX1ZjP5CV1FXeTie2woBLEFsioJ0QIARiL8xL0POXlBm9I7SkJ_C2WGOFAZx7xDEhuOHyw3MdNfrF1MYsK8rDtwhsVx2pyWS3vQCv-Cq5MHYWsAPlNa3yY4/s640/IMG_0901.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUYkL6BR31R9Lt01E5X3CTcHEyS3rOGUx3_A8EBIAnPNgAfPOxITUeanG2f0OejqnBDRZeMBx8p1I3jKarCJ5jMfkhPcu4OS4o0rSFqnC1lZbf_B6WhquxRI-ncSxERiyUsDLGNFemxUQ/s1600/IMG_0890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUYkL6BR31R9Lt01E5X3CTcHEyS3rOGUx3_A8EBIAnPNgAfPOxITUeanG2f0OejqnBDRZeMBx8p1I3jKarCJ5jMfkhPcu4OS4o0rSFqnC1lZbf_B6WhquxRI-ncSxERiyUsDLGNFemxUQ/s640/IMG_0890.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG5C-nurde6Hgd6P6GkyUsQ1vZTwI63sTV17SsbNkyDAOi1vyFWxoqsm393HofIaM1EwxHGOA98J86Bq02X5kHmrEC3ZPN6KPYGO9nLCviQtLr8QNU67J7f2uMRudXNJ4DHyOBnLH6azF/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixG5C-nurde6Hgd6P6GkyUsQ1vZTwI63sTV17SsbNkyDAOi1vyFWxoqsm393HofIaM1EwxHGOA98J86Bq02X5kHmrEC3ZPN6KPYGO9nLCviQtLr8QNU67J7f2uMRudXNJ4DHyOBnLH6azF/s640/IMG_0891.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyPrOiIZlqhXy5OwNewcjHOMkn4RCcqyLzHQ9lk_vJoX6RXd8r2hIWHpwJx_UISCvFJpeavCYgp6WTXR9AKwX9hm_kVJJ_RCS09wqqVPLtJ7jCh5K5GkXRYS1A_zVL2WkThrLBdtyjmL-m/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iUN7j1lQXX7hxNdHXivTH9RbVf5L6qJYSCndQiDsVNTIR0-SZ0oRvp0pxNospaU5Q4qa5lrESf3CuPR5BHVNAo96kMwvHjiUTPoDTht6iZYNAxixrId-GCQ5pkd5P3IPtTEfpzJ7uudZ/s1600/IMG_0881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-iUN7j1lQXX7hxNdHXivTH9RbVf5L6qJYSCndQiDsVNTIR0-SZ0oRvp0pxNospaU5Q4qa5lrESf3CuPR5BHVNAo96kMwvHjiUTPoDTht6iZYNAxixrId-GCQ5pkd5P3IPtTEfpzJ7uudZ/s640/IMG_0881.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD_DNRkrlbNctSg0WuibnCz4HIHh3HZEnowmlXFOn-j9aHnISgIWYQBZ4ZeKdEc8UMwXvastVl_635h7WW2siYc73BCCd_xHMmsKY5Re3Ka9AJtqIviLzNQLkNJwz8VkouN1z4onmEBAJ/s1600/IMG_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="574" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeD_DNRkrlbNctSg0WuibnCz4HIHh3HZEnowmlXFOn-j9aHnISgIWYQBZ4ZeKdEc8UMwXvastVl_635h7WW2siYc73BCCd_xHMmsKY5Re3Ka9AJtqIviLzNQLkNJwz8VkouN1z4onmEBAJ/s640/IMG_0883.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkNAXRZbpfYPN5w-VmkxXRwVpl7UcjAbPDY08QtTW0GaCZ6S8LHo3-nmYHyoAblpAjEvVXAVqAVdJW0-eJ4US3Dl97kFLhpupzv5OqxFBJViBrFCBVLY1PZ_M0vODsaIQZGzoy-JCpelj/s1600/IMG_0901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5sysiHvHG1GsC4SAZ_FVAPvJafOu6BpnX6-fNskfhBXjK1iPHghzRH1Wccnyy05bfBTSahNlTcgaTUac9KNeYU_ERjwD0YKpa7D_IlVzI3QUwwsImPweJXynPaEjvzavFPeEeTaAsTOZ/s1600/IMG_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP5sysiHvHG1GsC4SAZ_FVAPvJafOu6BpnX6-fNskfhBXjK1iPHghzRH1Wccnyy05bfBTSahNlTcgaTUac9KNeYU_ERjwD0YKpa7D_IlVzI3QUwwsImPweJXynPaEjvzavFPeEeTaAsTOZ/s640/IMG_0880.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-681580853446009422012-05-29T22:31:00.005-04:002012-05-29T22:31:46.974-04:00Flower Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;">
Just a few shots of the flowers appearing in our yard over the last month. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: red; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMgfjJBmu5Sap94ltWQr2_fpqOGhHTqq5mttgY3QXUYVfwHvwEv-OEj3YFjHBaBJTXJhSGBuNQA16Xcupg0eG46bwnjkjFeInVmEp2jFb5LZyyeHXQFc1bUIRYhswbefVJMNKvAOh4YwBy/s640/IMG_0674.JPG" width="640" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7e0d2KtYh7RxwPDM1LYWOxCkVUfYCr4Xq-K6BdtLMqcaYhuLOjH7YcziR68-ngKmvuxfgYaVJGL4nAPAwfOOWjagvs14BL7TJxOmj0EM7myRVCg4kXdmOO-rWaavO_ZHS8og96v7lpg1/s1600/IMG_0722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU7e0d2KtYh7RxwPDM1LYWOxCkVUfYCr4Xq-K6BdtLMqcaYhuLOjH7YcziR68-ngKmvuxfgYaVJGL4nAPAwfOOWjagvs14BL7TJxOmj0EM7myRVCg4kXdmOO-rWaavO_ZHS8og96v7lpg1/s640/IMG_0722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINXsMpwDpylcjQSxuCkxk77wghEkf_o2nmi2nySn4XPCI91zPQ150vadimxW4hLBJUQ4LWuzdSJ6SD3mHHKCRZppYGzkPjSBRqFgJRbR3CuagF8oXrODy5_Dd0oh4MWxM__LYuFXVIU_u/s1600/IMG_0730.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgINXsMpwDpylcjQSxuCkxk77wghEkf_o2nmi2nySn4XPCI91zPQ150vadimxW4hLBJUQ4LWuzdSJ6SD3mHHKCRZppYGzkPjSBRqFgJRbR3CuagF8oXrODy5_Dd0oh4MWxM__LYuFXVIU_u/s640/IMG_0730.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit9kU_xXnBVR7tR04G7PTF5KQ11cvg1BcWtOlsy9ZNd4b0qIjwUVGID-a21KOzcuIVMTQDzoDkn-Nc9xR737plhtA_Da0AEXf1rhV-KI3egbVdJv3OtntV7VB_MnBU79FevoNvTbiBRO-/s1600/IMG_0734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhit9kU_xXnBVR7tR04G7PTF5KQ11cvg1BcWtOlsy9ZNd4b0qIjwUVGID-a21KOzcuIVMTQDzoDkn-Nc9xR737plhtA_Da0AEXf1rhV-KI3egbVdJv3OtntV7VB_MnBU79FevoNvTbiBRO-/s640/IMG_0734.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvMqghw4CczySi3u50Ri0RhFhP7jj5BiH6Nu4jz4d2XJIj_yZRynEy2pq4YlGPLXqIv-JQJyRXV30stPfI47vStKPOxyIzoDShITFOFZs2K6x-WgUuRPvEfB3qalbGpXPS-1nqJaXA5uH/s1600/IMG_0744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="534" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwvMqghw4CczySi3u50Ri0RhFhP7jj5BiH6Nu4jz4d2XJIj_yZRynEy2pq4YlGPLXqIv-JQJyRXV30stPfI47vStKPOxyIzoDShITFOFZs2K6x-WgUuRPvEfB3qalbGpXPS-1nqJaXA5uH/s640/IMG_0744.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdAhmjFyLuNWreEGZPUUQKJfyWnR8pY8tqsPrwTvEdT1BkuFrBeASaoOdVRQcShgt9UbQV3_5BkIWHIJMj9QLKo88-SY1P_ulXYJAp3STrOOzxyQCnz5qTgHmMuDNA-gs3hPFNvonPPtd/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWdAhmjFyLuNWreEGZPUUQKJfyWnR8pY8tqsPrwTvEdT1BkuFrBeASaoOdVRQcShgt9UbQV3_5BkIWHIJMj9QLKo88-SY1P_ulXYJAp3STrOOzxyQCnz5qTgHmMuDNA-gs3hPFNvonPPtd/s640/IMG_0835.JPG" width="586" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ-LzQ9Hy5UUgjbNwznDUabZxGqcXm1P2J55djZs_EvQMKvxcxDehw0OUvNL2r-FVd8npqgvcGCOpez2vISPvvnY2Hb0kyGh7U4MKkUyZRHTxj_7SuBMMkxdjM9bazRHWyT0ENcSAsoIn/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_iqLUEYhUV-uyb1TDd3u3sLh1UkLkTd6oZygGLZrmI6MKa9P24w46_cWwkR4YX34VpOZ2WD3fVQPTsXr4IT72e1tTxUci73xw_jc6EK-fgWE4YVgQrwKD_qUx9hvjon187m6arYWONVO/s1600/IMG_0812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9_iqLUEYhUV-uyb1TDd3u3sLh1UkLkTd6oZygGLZrmI6MKa9P24w46_cWwkR4YX34VpOZ2WD3fVQPTsXr4IT72e1tTxUci73xw_jc6EK-fgWE4YVgQrwKD_qUx9hvjon187m6arYWONVO/s640/IMG_0812.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino4U7XNwmfzBAVBbl8DzKCcCVVx8YY18ZeTQ1ZorGFvKYqpZHZ7PdTP7im9xf3-77FE5Tu-za6nLRB_py9rv9B4Qo8SWdzPUCdhbvHJCVHpCqkJCmd-iHoFMl8dAGGnqK6CARHTPLrW4V/s1600/IMG_0810.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino4U7XNwmfzBAVBbl8DzKCcCVVx8YY18ZeTQ1ZorGFvKYqpZHZ7PdTP7im9xf3-77FE5Tu-za6nLRB_py9rv9B4Qo8SWdzPUCdhbvHJCVHpCqkJCmd-iHoFMl8dAGGnqK6CARHTPLrW4V/s640/IMG_0810.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJZ-LzQ9Hy5UUgjbNwznDUabZxGqcXm1P2J55djZs_EvQMKvxcxDehw0OUvNL2r-FVd8npqgvcGCOpez2vISPvvnY2Hb0kyGh7U4MKkUyZRHTxj_7SuBMMkxdjM9bazRHWyT0ENcSAsoIn/s1600/IMG_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-62924694891558630532012-05-23T19:51:00.001-04:002012-05-23T19:51:23.617-04:00FIFTY YEARS OF GOOD VIBRATIONS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdwRIuKKiP4oakYHAYlZKhEp3LBVSZ0TcaAuAs7XrMEEgV2RysZdejGliScb964tSBZZcEd62PRvMWVh53H3rHZQxrX5mqt35Pl3BVQGG9dUYZkriH6S6QGGVp01L9XRTjv-a9U5IjAs7/s1600/beachboys1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCdwRIuKKiP4oakYHAYlZKhEp3LBVSZ0TcaAuAs7XrMEEgV2RysZdejGliScb964tSBZZcEd62PRvMWVh53H3rHZQxrX5mqt35Pl3BVQGG9dUYZkriH6S6QGGVp01L9XRTjv-a9U5IjAs7/s400/beachboys1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Beach Boys - Then</div>
<br />
I think the Beach Boys have been around about as long as I have seriously listened to music. Back in the '60s they were the ultimate carefree car and surf summer tune generator. The hits just kept coming. Then they started getting a bit more experimental. For me, that's when it got interesting. I thought their best work appeared around the time of the album, "Surf's Up". Most of the world thought the pinnacle was reached when they released "Pet Sounds". That's the one that the Beatles heard and knew they had to kick things up a notch to "compete", resulting in the sea change that was Sgt. Pepper. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCivIGS9s8k995mN5DGEhaH4B3D7uIHaEthJ-mbtZy3_SDgugIs4GTyDZhDVebFnPr1S_oWAzaVZB-9p4zeH9XhY9ly9Nnu7Oulh9OL9hCGgg8FOB3a7G1b6ODHy_VZLblaGW5dYIkb19/s1600/beaxhboys2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCivIGS9s8k995mN5DGEhaH4B3D7uIHaEthJ-mbtZy3_SDgugIs4GTyDZhDVebFnPr1S_oWAzaVZB-9p4zeH9XhY9ly9Nnu7Oulh9OL9hCGgg8FOB3a7G1b6ODHy_VZLblaGW5dYIkb19/s400/beaxhboys2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Beach Boys - Now </div>
<br />
Pet Sounds was great stuff. Instrumentation was, to a degree, unconventional, straying from most bands' guitar/bass/drums. And Sloop John B is a personal favorite. This was followed by the incomparable "Good Vibrations", the song that brought the eerie sound of the theramin to the pop world. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFB8axio2jEkANE1r-dURQSKdTFcwOx5eUULEPWpwggSNE_b5fqxpOBdaZXAaWUggNbrATQbAS_1dSl29KbOcFDmCijVKiFezKWNFoTacdGUv_vjnFNLxhZ4NXfKcWOHKr4YoB2dpd88c/s1600/beachboys3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFB8axio2jEkANE1r-dURQSKdTFcwOx5eUULEPWpwggSNE_b5fqxpOBdaZXAaWUggNbrATQbAS_1dSl29KbOcFDmCijVKiFezKWNFoTacdGUv_vjnFNLxhZ4NXfKcWOHKr4YoB2dpd88c/s200/beachboys3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One fascinating legend from way back when was the recording and subsequent non-release of the magnum opus known as "Smile". Brian Wilson was still at his creative peak, before his well-noted meltdown and retreat to the grand piano in the sandbox in his living room. "Smile" was creative and unconventional, melding songs and snippets and ideas together, with obscure lyrics offered up by Van Dyke Parks, but with the unmistakable signature sound of Mr. Brian Wilson. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLOk50fxrya0_esxy8VZ1hSdMJ7ss3Bk_BKiPDZS3lXlmmYM71KqAa7s08xRC91VlnmBH33597b7yjR07LSjZLDp710RhwTaim63qgPJ4S7zFXQ_TLuaUN5nMQu5reFMTYVSgJA4etVgn/s1600/beachboys4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCLOk50fxrya0_esxy8VZ1hSdMJ7ss3Bk_BKiPDZS3lXlmmYM71KqAa7s08xRC91VlnmBH33597b7yjR07LSjZLDp710RhwTaim63qgPJ4S7zFXQ_TLuaUN5nMQu5reFMTYVSgJA4etVgn/s1600/beachboys4.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A Brian Wilson version of Smile was released a few years ago and it carried the Beach Boy tradition forward with class. Finally, in the past year, the original Beach Boys version was released in a huge box set. I have the Brian Wilson version but have not yet heard the new release. However, bits and pieces of Smile have existed for decades on record, with tracks appearing in an album called "Smiley Smile" and on the title track of "Surf's Up", and elsewhere. But this recent release finally put it all together as intended.<br />
<br />
This year marks fifty years of the Beach Boys. The surviving original (and nearly original) members are reuniting for a limited-engagement tour. There is a single release out there, and an album of new Brian-penned material will be in stores soon. <br />
<br />
I count myself a fan; I have been a fan since Daddy Took the T-Bird Away. The nostalgic part of me is pretty stoked that the Boys are back and even adding to the oeuvre, as it were. The band is one of those American musical treasures, and in an era where pop and rock icons from my past are departing this world with unsettling frequency, it's great to have these guys back together, even if this proves to be a last hurrah. Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-52138167901246998842012-05-18T22:34:00.000-04:002012-05-18T22:48:55.207-04:00le petit vache princeI remember having to attempt to read that well-known French work, Le Petit Prince, by a dude named Antoine De Saint-exupery, in French class (which was known to me as "the bane of my high school academic existence"). Anyhow, the book is full of illustrations of this kid on this small planet. So small that you could see about 270 degrees of its curvature, if not all of it, in most of the illustrations. Ridiculous. I mean, how does such a small planet produce enough gravity to keep even a petit prince from floating away?<br />
<br />
So anyway, I was driving home from some meetings for work and came across this small hill with cows on it. The curvature of the hill was ample enough to remind me of that absurdly small planet in that French book. I was able to snap off one picture as I sped by. So, here is the cow prince and his friends on their cow planet.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyGDC1lvLGzHBaIRxcN8lRKtnNreQrnua2aSbns1S1xxV0wKUrI3hyEPKxWphENjaDdlSgdZtMsMNBMhuePx0xwz7uIfmPiGteE8eSTDJNtcI_nEOtgVbvXTJppu7HUc7Mv0KoTBOpRc2/s1600/IMG_0766.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpyGDC1lvLGzHBaIRxcN8lRKtnNreQrnua2aSbns1S1xxV0wKUrI3hyEPKxWphENjaDdlSgdZtMsMNBMhuePx0xwz7uIfmPiGteE8eSTDJNtcI_nEOtgVbvXTJppu7HUc7Mv0KoTBOpRc2/s640/IMG_0766.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
I will add this "bonus" picture. Farther down the road, between Urichsville and New Philadelphia for all of you with Ohio maps handy, is what appears to be this cement doggy out in someone's yard facing the traffic on US 250. I'm just wondering, "why the doggy?" I mean, I like it. Quite a bit. That tongue hanging out was a great touch. But I just wonder about who made this decision that they really wanted to have this cement doggy out there in the yard. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF-LTN25b7O7VPxGmlp-Fkn0nsyrMTOeu5RPvSegzVZrSGkZBbxTjtEzHkTJ5AziO8wOLTygQ6sL7CmnljCkfMnxipixbsTDKc15TP7yLy3A-OuJcjeYkPREU_juSS7hrjinEtRktAt_0/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZF-LTN25b7O7VPxGmlp-Fkn0nsyrMTOeu5RPvSegzVZrSGkZBbxTjtEzHkTJ5AziO8wOLTygQ6sL7CmnljCkfMnxipixbsTDKc15TP7yLy3A-OuJcjeYkPREU_juSS7hrjinEtRktAt_0/s640/IMG_0769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-4902291302748178912012-05-15T21:28:00.004-04:002012-05-15T21:28:58.855-04:00BACK TO THE BLOG<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
I will not let a month go by without posting SOMETHING on this blog. This is one day - three hours, actually, shy of a month. I suppose I can say "I've been busy. No time for such frivolity." Partially true - it HAS been a busy month. For example, I have to get up and drive 150 miles tomorrow to a series of meetings in a land far away. A land where my long-held hotel reservation got "bumped by the White House" because V.P. Joe Biden is visiting the area and they have some sort of right to go and reserve a slew of rooms and kick us commoners to the curb. They wanted to send me 20 miles up the river. I said nyet to that and we found an accommodating place just six miles away. Now I fear I will be dodging motorcades and all that. And avoiding that original hotel like the plague. You know what them Secret Service boys attract to such places! Ain't getting caught up in that! </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpPvCE67pZfv0vGrSGZBRwmxrJCYWSzJp0C5Qbj7Z2B3luQLI_DFRoa9CL4CoO3v-shUz60KFsH0X0G6FZZos9nzPFmx4vhJtZv0sk7HJIlcjyMVUnedUv1Uqi56cYK6yWoNLmCwtG04Y/s1600/DSC04516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="518" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGpPvCE67pZfv0vGrSGZBRwmxrJCYWSzJp0C5Qbj7Z2B3luQLI_DFRoa9CL4CoO3v-shUz60KFsH0X0G6FZZos9nzPFmx4vhJtZv0sk7HJIlcjyMVUnedUv1Uqi56cYK6yWoNLmCwtG04Y/s640/DSC04516.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Okay; two pictures. The first being an interesting bird multi-unit dwelling alongside the lakefront park in Lorain, Ohio. Kind of a cool thing, and it looks like it is rented up. The Lorain lighthouse can be seen in the distance.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK2jcSQmgRzJAmYUZuu31r3dZ6W6ke7m3Japl2NGT7XbY8XCsykCQgI9WxLEFYKQ1lMo_EOEWMr4U-qRFRJhmosjMZzlgNdUbAMNjd8oo_xKTtYWRR83HYwbf26BjkeoxKNrawF6iBBDU/s1600/DSC04522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSK2jcSQmgRzJAmYUZuu31r3dZ6W6ke7m3Japl2NGT7XbY8XCsykCQgI9WxLEFYKQ1lMo_EOEWMr4U-qRFRJhmosjMZzlgNdUbAMNjd8oo_xKTtYWRR83HYwbf26BjkeoxKNrawF6iBBDU/s640/DSC04522.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
The second being the facade of Severance Hall, where about a month ago, my wife, a friend, and I took in a concert - the Cleveland Music Institute or such, and a huge choir, doing Mahler's Symphony No. 2, which is quite a ride. It was excellent, and the accommodations were exquisite. Severance is a wonderful venue, with the largest, deepest stage around. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
And a shout out to the Q'doba (did I get that right?) about a block and a half away right on Euclid. The staff there were the most empathetic, people-oriented, caring staff I have ever encountered in such a place. Absolutely astounding service and humanity to go with those pretty good super-filled burrito things. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
OK - I hope to appear here more frequently; pick up the pace a bit. To be honest, this blog is searching for some sort of uniform voice, some theme, some thread that can carry it. I am all over the place. I could easily do music reviews, but that is a bit too nich-y (as opposed to Friedrich Wilhelm <strong>Nietzsche</strong>, the German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist.) Although, yeah, I want to come across here as a philosopher, poet, composer, and, yes, by all means, a phililogist. Are they legal? Hang on...</div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Ok, it turns out that philology is the study of language in written historical sources; it is a
combination of literary studies, history and linguistics. Honestly, I really don't want to do that. But the other items, sure. And I take a few pictures along the way, as well. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyhow, this whole post has been what my college roommate, who took a psych class or two (actually, I did too - and he was in the class. It was not a very good class, but the subject intrigues me), referred to, correctly, as "displacement activity". I need to be doing something else right now, but this is less taxing, more fun. So I am avoiding some homework-like stuff. I guess I do have this long drive tomorrow, so I shall get on that assignment and call it a post for now. </span> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
Until next time, here is a pretty nice shot of the State Capitol building and other architecture down in Columbus, Ohio. </div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufRoIoI7yBRmFznUTVUTjGVivuFBxgh0hNIYr4u5DX4TkUvPAPXOJeuGLEh2ROxilAKYT0SiXQ-fx8-9sCDoLlAoEGCoRgsha1WYmtkVw0ytrXessv4zRKGcOMV1KGIblOgMM8xru6qMA/s1600/IMG_0596.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjufRoIoI7yBRmFznUTVUTjGVivuFBxgh0hNIYr4u5DX4TkUvPAPXOJeuGLEh2ROxilAKYT0SiXQ-fx8-9sCDoLlAoEGCoRgsha1WYmtkVw0ytrXessv4zRKGcOMV1KGIblOgMM8xru6qMA/s640/IMG_0596.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-50009239079008589282012-04-16T21:39:00.000-04:002012-05-15T21:49:34.526-04:00After a Particularly Good Walk at the ReservoirThe trillium are out. Trillia? Anyhow, here are a couple shots of them as they now appear at our local reservoir park.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoyTYNbl3Ak8lztUKYTvLNXc7JWhy7y_IAmN6CUAy487M5jPc_zbPM8A3zWovyvJir-oapgaagZN8Tw4fqR5ZaW4tGM_ehugwQczhik1tYfS4RdIRJdDVFiW3BAqCMVgWln-AQ6zUy-ua/s1600/IMG_0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKoyTYNbl3Ak8lztUKYTvLNXc7JWhy7y_IAmN6CUAy487M5jPc_zbPM8A3zWovyvJir-oapgaagZN8Tw4fqR5ZaW4tGM_ehugwQczhik1tYfS4RdIRJdDVFiW3BAqCMVgWln-AQ6zUy-ua/s640/IMG_0555.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll_vyu5tJZJs86S4w2vKUCBwgVF0b9Y1bAjfHyIuIAwKWHzLedPDkbFPCAlyladKfbHb5AgLM3ayT3Gc7_pvczt31WZQMTfHVxT57HFJxlYOUxHTy-RrXIp7WjJc3amHy5-Hdd3gJSXi4/s1600/IMG_0558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjll_vyu5tJZJs86S4w2vKUCBwgVF0b9Y1bAjfHyIuIAwKWHzLedPDkbFPCAlyladKfbHb5AgLM3ayT3Gc7_pvczt31WZQMTfHVxT57HFJxlYOUxHTy-RrXIp7WjJc3amHy5-Hdd3gJSXi4/s640/IMG_0558.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uFZTkiALBSh_9l6JO3VZZXha7rmZssMy5TOj1y2mrCJvSDSB2wZI6B5A_dqFcYH5N6XBDEgLO5rg1oLtPn-M6KOcCHBu1i0Pqo4uMlYrEzIOO2eMdUn9Fy3nxxpNuxOJ2V0Zkd6wFeus/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
The dogs got a pretty good walk around the place. One indicator of a reasonably good and taxing walk is when panting Chloe gets that nice hook at the end of her tongue while on the drive home. That's the sign of a decent workout.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uFZTkiALBSh_9l6JO3VZZXha7rmZssMy5TOj1y2mrCJvSDSB2wZI6B5A_dqFcYH5N6XBDEgLO5rg1oLtPn-M6KOcCHBu1i0Pqo4uMlYrEzIOO2eMdUn9Fy3nxxpNuxOJ2V0Zkd6wFeus/s1600/IMG_0575.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-uFZTkiALBSh_9l6JO3VZZXha7rmZssMy5TOj1y2mrCJvSDSB2wZI6B5A_dqFcYH5N6XBDEgLO5rg1oLtPn-M6KOcCHBu1i0Pqo4uMlYrEzIOO2eMdUn9Fy3nxxpNuxOJ2V0Zkd6wFeus/s640/IMG_0575.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-48137093038114902912012-03-13T21:03:00.003-04:002012-05-15T21:53:39.779-04:00All in a DayI was only armed with a cell phone, but took a handful of pictures today anyway. First, on the way to work, I passed by a fire - not an ordinary fire. A magnesium recycling facility had this one raging in a couple trailers where they store magnesium. Remember your high school chemistry? This stuff cannot be extinguished with water - they had to let it burn for quite a while.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0I3WnUks-iwOQ0TCgelCw1CsWNlr-kEmflEnPhkymAaMYGBTi5ZmcxVJa153wK09QlOWx8-KgiyVEz5bJvOeRIy8Ga2-tgRctbV_IBeigA11nB-L2COlY-wlBgMi8-OMDUdnWKhXPxyb/s1600/0313120744a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="614" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh0I3WnUks-iwOQ0TCgelCw1CsWNlr-kEmflEnPhkymAaMYGBTi5ZmcxVJa153wK09QlOWx8-KgiyVEz5bJvOeRIy8Ga2-tgRctbV_IBeigA11nB-L2COlY-wlBgMi8-OMDUdnWKhXPxyb/s640/0313120744a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Then, an unusual day at work, hosting some people from Kyrgyzstan, who were interested in some of the things we do. I really liked this gentleman's hat. He wore it most of the day. I believe it is a traditional thing that they wear over there. He is an elected head of a subdistrict over there. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjQ427iqzpxTrmp_-OwLfp7zLMJri7MjAQHrel-mR0nnG8wy4NHc74X8fX42lT5OgV-DgawqsHDkfI7cb1AKanE8AD3eGBEkXBTY1y9fP0UylHXZTuOAyXWVJJFyhVkCn9a-g70n61RVH/s1600/0313121429_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjQ427iqzpxTrmp_-OwLfp7zLMJri7MjAQHrel-mR0nnG8wy4NHc74X8fX42lT5OgV-DgawqsHDkfI7cb1AKanE8AD3eGBEkXBTY1y9fP0UylHXZTuOAyXWVJJFyhVkCn9a-g70n61RVH/s320/0313121429_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
And if, like me, you do not know where Kyrgyzstan is, you've come to the right blog! Here is a map: <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNV-eTf8uLGeTbAlpSMUX9RX2Kn01mCqUB1zCRUUxQQAFRhKAtuqSaGujVbU0CQMeobUlXZ-0VO6Vs9it80hWFvle43hI4WBHOkEkA0L6BtUk33gRYG0hpo5KqcOp7HJhEN2sPTB0GrKy/s1600/kyrgmap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgNV-eTf8uLGeTbAlpSMUX9RX2Kn01mCqUB1zCRUUxQQAFRhKAtuqSaGujVbU0CQMeobUlXZ-0VO6Vs9it80hWFvle43hI4WBHOkEkA0L6BtUk33gRYG0hpo5KqcOp7HJhEN2sPTB0GrKy/s1600/kyrgmap.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Walking the dogs tonight, I was able to confirm another important sign of spring upon us: The Buzzards are Back in the Hood! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiTR-jKl3SA5qD1-ugUfFhr-6-Me9gMYcvOUnq587FquZ8l6yps9gJs7UvbjlSAhio7_ZFr3lV2RT6gt84wb16TCgIPJvqgCWTUf_Rii5tQTK5JXAWgQAqQXXrb4exojyGwFmsL5CP3Uz/s1600/0313121942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyiTR-jKl3SA5qD1-ugUfFhr-6-Me9gMYcvOUnq587FquZ8l6yps9gJs7UvbjlSAhio7_ZFr3lV2RT6gt84wb16TCgIPJvqgCWTUf_Rii5tQTK5JXAWgQAqQXXrb4exojyGwFmsL5CP3Uz/s320/0313121942.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And yet another sign: a lawn a couple blocks away is having its annual inundation with whatever these little flowers are.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R6dIg1ORlXhl-7b1xhs3teAyGXLlBWw1NapjFagq98rX4CSEmzSUbA61269iFLDHRlPA56dKkN5MlZboc6eGiywIzxPP_pOzWbljkk8Yeo_idV-087LRzMVqQzhBmNg9EpWVsDU8_e2G/s1600/IMG_0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2R6dIg1ORlXhl-7b1xhs3teAyGXLlBWw1NapjFagq98rX4CSEmzSUbA61269iFLDHRlPA56dKkN5MlZboc6eGiywIzxPP_pOzWbljkk8Yeo_idV-087LRzMVqQzhBmNg9EpWVsDU8_e2G/s640/IMG_0402.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C9cc88POWTya5_3S8Yzy4rkvrKoy7VxZ175AAIG3oqtj6Z4hXYdKkac7N493_wIc1AwfHAj_-TBLX5elt_2sWtAjj6hC4VtGRlFUBumFKpb2sHknggIHajgqwJdesErJ5g9IbPV8FpmD/s1600/IMG_0406.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8C9cc88POWTya5_3S8Yzy4rkvrKoy7VxZ175AAIG3oqtj6Z4hXYdKkac7N493_wIc1AwfHAj_-TBLX5elt_2sWtAjj6hC4VtGRlFUBumFKpb2sHknggIHajgqwJdesErJ5g9IbPV8FpmD/s320/IMG_0406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
And here is an indoor variety of flower - an orchid my wife got.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBdFOjQJZ08w0UIBp3EmVqkVZQqizKdDee2W_gq_nCVabQtdb5CnAfWIFCx9hMUTCX5iwDf8vzL7WZMkQARXvPxrWEo_wU8VylUdEMAoErdH77sZz_w8EZI82Qj67ninD6A_onKE-gz80/s1600/IMG_0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBdFOjQJZ08w0UIBp3EmVqkVZQqizKdDee2W_gq_nCVabQtdb5CnAfWIFCx9hMUTCX5iwDf8vzL7WZMkQARXvPxrWEo_wU8VylUdEMAoErdH77sZz_w8EZI82Qj67ninD6A_onKE-gz80/s320/IMG_0382.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And just to toss in an obligatory dogshot, here the canines are checking out my work as I...yes...our some dog food into a container. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZztdXlY12AyNiLdISY7TbDWyzRXq5po2IlOvaes4GImcwpgkHnaHpo0nk78Io1WkAQGHoCZqXOs-r-FTXjRnUWZKReMzzI5G16mzHBp8mg7ULTl7dXVCNAwWNUT2n7ORgZYK2p-Qiebg/s1600/IMG_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQZztdXlY12AyNiLdISY7TbDWyzRXq5po2IlOvaes4GImcwpgkHnaHpo0nk78Io1WkAQGHoCZqXOs-r-FTXjRnUWZKReMzzI5G16mzHBp8mg7ULTl7dXVCNAwWNUT2n7ORgZYK2p-Qiebg/s640/IMG_0408.JPG" width="546" /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-13303726670760541092012-03-02T21:22:00.002-05:002012-05-15T21:52:17.608-04:00color in the sky, dog in the swingSpent a lot of time in the car this week. The weather has been variable, to say the least, and we set a record with a robust 69 degrees a couple days ago, but those bucolic blue skies are still hard to find in northern Ohio. Not an ideal setup for picture snapping. I look forward to taking many more pictures of a couple of my work destinations, and the scenery along the way, once there are leaves on the trees and - with a little luck - the skies brighten up. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2rF3UeRW2RtwSoIhR4psNjGXdFIzyFsVTYFlDtJH4rnw_Goh5kIabGKV_f4UHASoM3e2yBl5h-6TKpxfB9QT3GZNkXm5hIuxdtj5BbqGwtRFdQ6R0r4A598XwzpTmr5hP5pUOnoU1p-B/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2rF3UeRW2RtwSoIhR4psNjGXdFIzyFsVTYFlDtJH4rnw_Goh5kIabGKV_f4UHASoM3e2yBl5h-6TKpxfB9QT3GZNkXm5hIuxdtj5BbqGwtRFdQ6R0r4A598XwzpTmr5hP5pUOnoU1p-B/s640/IMG_0357.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG4iWh17Age_-TVgVckaCjKjaK4rRsMb3hAdWxxOyrWvws-Ntz4b6gGpf38BNqOCcd73yqd29P24C1X7qhcK1PT8atquVejY5cOh-8twIN8c7BPXf7ppilhqPUAWgXk9uV_e1ZuvQhUdv/s1600/IMG_0352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZG4iWh17Age_-TVgVckaCjKjaK4rRsMb3hAdWxxOyrWvws-Ntz4b6gGpf38BNqOCcd73yqd29P24C1X7qhcK1PT8atquVejY5cOh-8twIN8c7BPXf7ppilhqPUAWgXk9uV_e1ZuvQhUdv/s640/IMG_0352.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywC_MgtjjSE7HYWPvaiXmU5qAQIWinBUZErZB-dHdPoQAX0EqlNQz0HTpuWufeDKdwesmAZHp2tM6NYoiutYdmw7mAM8MJhkyXPt-1ZXsfFNZ9qByqBn3Vpuj-ezP3Dk2BbAW4cjNgGgK/s1600/IMG_0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiywC_MgtjjSE7HYWPvaiXmU5qAQIWinBUZErZB-dHdPoQAX0EqlNQz0HTpuWufeDKdwesmAZHp2tM6NYoiutYdmw7mAM8MJhkyXPt-1ZXsfFNZ9qByqBn3Vpuj-ezP3Dk2BbAW4cjNgGgK/s640/IMG_0362.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnv2Jy9P5g8zrT9OXVnao9SvdoBvm0_yV7dlKKlrsZC8iF6mXFQusvK2_OyQU5CPoG_jhpad0PvNdPind4RUygSstLr9os7W4w5B6GjWnfwtXRtVHwGTcoQiecHGfbVciPIqR56cfnB8n/s1600/IMG_0361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnv2Jy9P5g8zrT9OXVnao9SvdoBvm0_yV7dlKKlrsZC8iF6mXFQusvK2_OyQU5CPoG_jhpad0PvNdPind4RUygSstLr9os7W4w5B6GjWnfwtXRtVHwGTcoQiecHGfbVciPIqR56cfnB8n/s640/IMG_0361.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div>
<br />
Then, tonight, coming home from work, I was led along by this rainbow, or at least one good leg of a rainbow. This was of some interest because the sermon last Sunday included, among other things, references to rainbows as signs of assurance. I guess I like the idea of coming home on a Friday evening with a sign of assurance in the sky. Nevertheless, on one run I seem to be making lately, I always have to
take a pic or two of Tappan Lake, so here is what I got while speeding
along at 55 mph or so...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtIPYZKp4SyRge7TCgmwd63Le9p4g0tlJmqRaWTI-eXg_I48LNbpFkFdb0Av1yG-lC3G_Fqr-VrXODnQpwdeIousRqsASp0HfV1R1MxBnLfUONqm5MHbh_D1K6WqDPXFLrDKWsqwcCouY/s1600/0302121756a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtIPYZKp4SyRge7TCgmwd63Le9p4g0tlJmqRaWTI-eXg_I48LNbpFkFdb0Av1yG-lC3G_Fqr-VrXODnQpwdeIousRqsASp0HfV1R1MxBnLfUONqm5MHbh_D1K6WqDPXFLrDKWsqwcCouY/s640/0302121756a.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
But enough about the big natural order of things. Let's dwell briefly on how nature also brings chaos, of a certain four-legged variety. Herewith, the requisite dog pic. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Z0sVjs26CeOZQETkeHrIoAGXIwOOaWH1HiJWW0LSlmw2WofVOi4r0MA6PgkadCUjUXZD88WHPvrrwBOewX8FUNjU3Czm4oQ7Cxs95YiOAfMREQFrXWdNiDr2rKNRydafG9EKoJmLRRM/s1600/IMG_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM7Z0sVjs26CeOZQETkeHrIoAGXIwOOaWH1HiJWW0LSlmw2WofVOi4r0MA6PgkadCUjUXZD88WHPvrrwBOewX8FUNjU3Czm4oQ7Cxs95YiOAfMREQFrXWdNiDr2rKNRydafG9EKoJmLRRM/s640/IMG_0323.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
I forgot to toss in this somewhat older picture I shot out the side window of a speeding car on a trip to southeastern Ohio several months ago. I had passed this abandoned church a couple times, and it has<br />
always intrigued me. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUAcqjGE0mNHegjGn4bIzou2t3uy0JVkt3bqHJKbu3H-K1cCXfKC_nX0GFFSC4LaORLMqDdYBox4SgbT9k_kAq90rORRLsUCA3WL-ZyCqSD8s7ScsOuBMgQeX-T91_fTNhG2lxclG1lCg/s1600/0217111615.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUAcqjGE0mNHegjGn4bIzou2t3uy0JVkt3bqHJKbu3H-K1cCXfKC_nX0GFFSC4LaORLMqDdYBox4SgbT9k_kAq90rORRLsUCA3WL-ZyCqSD8s7ScsOuBMgQeX-T91_fTNhG2lxclG1lCg/s400/0217111615.jpg" width="361" /></a><br />
<br />
And we leave you with our daughter's dog, Lilly, oddly at peace with the world, as long as the swing was in motion. I believe if it kept swinging, she would have taken a significant nap. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKGREWuClYkaYzP6tI3W27hkRGO1BfLVEhIE7E3gLQnb3RvgPeciQYZUR0dcdHuxOuxEPoERfA1pzcVmFg9uiCAqumi8rlLYOqJ5rXI8P-rsTrx3THvf2T4y8abygDS8x6J3SefFSGzYZ/s1600/IMG_0331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKGREWuClYkaYzP6tI3W27hkRGO1BfLVEhIE7E3gLQnb3RvgPeciQYZUR0dcdHuxOuxEPoERfA1pzcVmFg9uiCAqumi8rlLYOqJ5rXI8P-rsTrx3THvf2T4y8abygDS8x6J3SefFSGzYZ/s640/IMG_0331.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtIPYZKp4SyRge7TCgmwd63Le9p4g0tlJmqRaWTI-eXg_I48LNbpFkFdb0Av1yG-lC3G_Fqr-VrXODnQpwdeIousRqsASp0HfV1R1MxBnLfUONqm5MHbh_D1K6WqDPXFLrDKWsqwcCouY/s1600/0302121756a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUAcqjGE0mNHegjGn4bIzou2t3uy0JVkt3bqHJKbu3H-K1cCXfKC_nX0GFFSC4LaORLMqDdYBox4SgbT9k_kAq90rORRLsUCA3WL-ZyCqSD8s7ScsOuBMgQeX-T91_fTNhG2lxclG1lCg/s1600/0217111615.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-11858096287565977182012-02-18T15:52:00.001-05:002012-02-18T15:52:51.800-05:00Hope Springs Eternal; Dogs aren't springing anywhere<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBzdX43T48X3ORruHYLK0sjQXaTWRJrWgLdbu2woe8Q2A3rS3u_vlExA_1foSZwkOgwbXDRJD2AVnPviEQ-MJMxCWNRLeEUo1TAx_KI6Em-Ln4oAhtPyMYSMz0V5vxZDWo4MNyZWIQW9n/s1600/IMG_0341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBzdX43T48X3ORruHYLK0sjQXaTWRJrWgLdbu2woe8Q2A3rS3u_vlExA_1foSZwkOgwbXDRJD2AVnPviEQ-MJMxCWNRLeEUo1TAx_KI6Em-Ln4oAhtPyMYSMz0V5vxZDWo4MNyZWIQW9n/s320/IMG_0341.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I had not been out in the yard for a while, but I was scouting around today, cleaning up some fallen branches, replenishing the bird seed, and the like, I noticed this little guy trying to put a little bloom into the surroundings. Well, it is still mid-February in northern Ohio, and although this has been the mildest winter I can remember thus far, there is still plenty of time for things to get nasty out there. <br />
<br />
I wish this little flowering plant the best of luck; it's going to need it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jCHHfjNcJl392nqttB_f19mYGu4uB4X03TpZhLaslZQXi5xfMSZwNa7Gw1H_56eoey97-NFLxl3cN00D7TJqEyd5hX1G_d6BXTdc3neFI7tuxFYTy8WSVtL46B_RMLsvM2xvIRwZh5DI/s1600/IMG_0342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jCHHfjNcJl392nqttB_f19mYGu4uB4X03TpZhLaslZQXi5xfMSZwNa7Gw1H_56eoey97-NFLxl3cN00D7TJqEyd5hX1G_d6BXTdc3neFI7tuxFYTy8WSVtL46B_RMLsvM2xvIRwZh5DI/s320/IMG_0342.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Meanwhile, inside the house, the dogs are doing their best to appear (and actually be) as comfortable as possible. They pretty much have it made, only having to brave the elements to take care of business. This high comfort level was demonstrated capably by Chloe this afternoon. <br />
<br />
According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the phrase, "It's a dog's life" is: "<i>n.</i> <i>Slang</i><br /> A miserably unhappy existence." From the looks of the picture above, and my experience with these animals around the house, I beg to differ!<br />
<br />
<br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114224590522616602.post-34468604680775303342012-01-30T21:20:00.002-05:002012-01-30T21:20:41.161-05:00Pop Goes the Culture<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXrOViUbocFghIeBRmkg4BA6AHYBshQMH7TKkEF450TiuPvKKkkx_TWr9jHMMIupyl8ZVF90sbuEbp2LGgodN7e3idxk5ZtM7fsxQMS3PNa-6HJ6pweeghX3XKeTIh6OwOAZs5wazaYet/s1600/kardashians_2011_a_l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXrOViUbocFghIeBRmkg4BA6AHYBshQMH7TKkEF450TiuPvKKkkx_TWr9jHMMIupyl8ZVF90sbuEbp2LGgodN7e3idxk5ZtM7fsxQMS3PNa-6HJ6pweeghX3XKeTIh6OwOAZs5wazaYet/s320/kardashians_2011_a_l.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Okay, this really won't take long, and then I will feel better. Maybe you will, too. An item in this morning's paper sort of set me off. It stated something like this: "Angelina Jolie snubs Stacy Keibler on Private Jet". This caused me to stop chewing my cereal and ponder who in the world would need to read beyond this headline. Does anyone need the deep facts behind the snub? And how far has American journalism come when some editor decides to devote precious ink to this breaking, unfolding story? This, in the age of the shrinking newspaper, where fewer stories are picked up, and fewer paragraphs are devoted to each story. Right now, some editor is probably pondering: "Hmm, Europe's economy teetering on the brink of collapse, or, no..wait a minute! Pretty sure that's a new hair color for Justin Bieber. Run with the Bieber!"<br />
<br />
I am aware that the National Enquirer and its ilk have been around since I was a small pup, and TV shows like Hollywood Extra or TMZ or whatever it's called populate the pre-primetime hour, and enough people turn in their Arbitrons or Nielsons saying they watch this stuff to generate advertising dollars and keep the shows running. I am also aware that there has always been this fascination with our glamorous Hollywood "royalty", and the lives of the millionaire celebs. I get that.<br />
<br />
What I don't get are the objects of our fascination. I will grant that the aforementioned Angelina Jolie has some acting acumen and in some quarters she is viewed as a humanitarian for taking on half the third world as her personal family. So I am not so much pointing this discussion at her (except to note, again, that I do not understand why anyone would care who she snubs on a private jet, unless maybe it is the Pope, and even then, actually, I don't really care, although I may be a tad curious about the booking of THAT flight). <br />
<br />
Back in the olden days, people were fascinated by the like of Grace Kelly, who gave up a pretty distinguished acting career to marry a Prince and become the Princess of Monaco. Now, to me, that is interesting on several levels. What movies did she appear in? How does one throw that heady lifestyle and one's home country away? Where is Monaco and how does an entire country exist mainly by providing a gambling venue for James Bond? <br />
<br />
Now, however, the masses appear to follow a different breed of celeb. I offer as Exhibit A the picture at the top of this post. These people I understand to be known as the Kardashians, a seemingly solid Armenian surname. I also understand that millions of people follow their nearly every move. I have yet to understand the nature of their contribution to human progress, or the arts, or philanthropy, or the sciences. I don't get out to the movies much, but have I missed some cinematic magic in which one or more of them appear? Someone may say: "But the mom married Bruce Jenner." Okay...THAT provides some basis for much further discussion and fawning!<br />
<br />
Here is what the Kardashians have contributed, as far as I can research it: They have partially averted America's thirst for celeb news away from Paris Hilton. And for that, I'm here to offer my teensiest bit of gratitude.<br />
<br />I would go on, but it would inevitably lead to a discussion of the whole "Snooki" thing, and I'd rather just not go there. <br />Benhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13298907000328055519noreply@blogger.com4