Every picture tells a post

Do you remember when there were blogs that just posted pictures of stuff? That was so pre-instagram. I'm not joining another source of distraction so these pictures will be shown here.

 

I offer you a few pictures of outdoor art and a song.  

 

How many youngsters know what this is?

This next one was not taken by me. I've never been to Belgium. I pulled this picture off the artist's page so I suspect the artist is in the picture (the human sized one). His name is Wilfried De Cock.

 

 

Bird watcher keeper

I snapped (clicked?) the picture of the next one. This object (leave your guess) was displayed inside but didn't start that way.

what is it?

Two of the parks nearby seem to be competing for visitors with art installations. Here's a picture from each of the them.

that nature look

too many fruit loops

Interested in a Spanish song by Linda Ronstadt? I know very little Spanish. No matter (no problema) I still like the beat that starts up after the intro. The title means frenzy.

 

 

More favorite things

Is it easier to name your favorite things or your most disliked things?

 

I don't know.

Maybe it depends on your current mood. Sometimes a favorite thing is related to a disliked thing. When you are expecting a favorite thing and shit happens, you end up with a disliked thing.

 

It’s hard to hit the ground running when I don’t have a leg to stand on.

 

so I'll just move on to some photos

 

Lectures by dinosaurs

 

Science

People with a sense of humor

 

Pictures with bears

 

 

More bears

Public art

Strange signs

Youtube music videos that STAY on your post, these are few of my favorite things.

 

 

 

Watch out now, take care

Watch out for technology messing up your day. According to this report, a driver in Iowa trusted the GPS directions more than the road construction signs.

Please Do Think and Drive

That struck-in-wet-concrete car reminds of a few sites I visited on a recent trip. I traveled through the Texas panhandle for my first time. (BTW I would not suggest panhandling in the panhandle.) If you happen to have a little time in Amarillo TX., and you cautiously use your GPS you should have no trouble finding the Cadillac Ranch and Combine City (the half buried combines were harder to find but Google Maps knew their location). So when they extract that car from the concrete it should be ready for becoming buried art.

 

Cadillac Ranch after a rain

 

Combine City

 

 

George Harrison back in the 1970’s warned us to beware of many things:

Watch out now
Take care, beware of falling swingers
Dropping all around you

Watch out now
Take care, beware of soft shoe shufflers
Dancing down the sidewalks

Watch out now
Take care, beware of greedy leaders
They'll take you where you should not go

Oh one more warning - beware of half buried combines.

Walk, don’t run

Actually the advice is stop walking and back away slowly.

Click on pic to read the wonderful advice

The various “tips” I read at the start of my short hike just about stopped me from proceeding. I thought of backing away from the sign and my idea.

An even better tip would have been bringing along a baton for dazzling the bear.

 

While enjoying the scenery, I constantly studied the scene for any creature movements. After getting further down the trail I decided to heed that last bear tip. I picked up a rock and heavy pointed stick. Then I saw a jogger (BTW I’m not a jogger but jogging on this trail seem stupid given just the random rocks and uneven surface) coming the other way towards me. I assume he was running for exercise and not escaping a bear or mountain lion. I said hello but he didn’t stop to talk. Before he had reached me I dropped the rock and stick. I didn’t want to appear menacing. Ok I really didn’t want to look foolish. Later on I came upon two hikers who talked with me a bit. One of the hikers was familiar with the area and the biggest animals he had seen in the past were deer. 

 

A couple of pictures from the trail.

Hey about 1 minute into the following educational twirling video you'll see the best batons for bear/lion defense. Flaming batons!

Duck cave horse

On the first part of the journey, I ducked into a cave.

Now I'm being followed.

And now someone is horsing around with my hat.

You see, I've been on a trip with a horse with a hat. 

La La La La La

 

 

when what whatever

I bought a ticket to the world
But now I've come back again
Why do I find it hard to write the next line?
Oh I want the truth to be said.

NOT my backyard

This post begins with words from the 80's song True by Spandau Ballet. Two thoughts in those lyrics is the reason I put it this post. First one is the difficulty in writing the next line. More importantly, the second one is wanting the truth to be said.

Confused yet? I sure am. The past hit song True would be classified as a love song. I classify this post as a grumble of thoughts and complaints.

Don't you agree, when you are doing or have done wrong then you want the truth to be hidden or denied.

In other words what is it you don't want us to know?

During 2000 and 2001, I made two business trips to Caracas Venezuela. I mention this because I just watched the story of family stuck in the current economic and humanitarian crisis there.

The country had problems then too. But nothing like today. I recall seeing the slums on some of the hills surrounding the city. But people were working. Both of my trips were enjoyable. I thought of going back for a vacation years ago. No more. Other than brave reporters who would want to go there today.

Some thoughts:

• Government is important and not to be taken for granted.
• No government system is perfect. No magical solutions.
• Government is more than political slogans.
• The respect and following of the rule of law is vital.
• Respect for all people is vital.
• The larger the gap between economic health of the rich and poor, the more potential for violence and unrest.
• The bottom and middle working groups need growth. Not the top rich.
• History shows that dictators don't run countries for the benefit of all its people.
• Venezuela is an example of dictators ruining the lives of their people.
• I'm worried about our current leadership's disrespect for law and justice among other inadequacies.

Lastly, the following thought came to me recently while I pondering common phrases:

More people should try eating thought for food. No calories and you may find a good idea.

Here's link to that song if you don't recall it.

my local universe

Wow, I almost failed in posting here during the month of November. For about three quarters of the month (BTW I encourage the use of fractions in blog posts) my wife and I were on the road again. We didn't sing the Willie Nelson song but we should have. We weren't making music but were playing music with our family and friends.

• We walked a beach.
• I splashed in the Gulf of Mexico waves.
• We held the newest baby of our extended family.
• We enjoyed a Blue Angels air show.
• We toured a house that George Washington rented once.
• We were held up in traffic jams and confused by Google map directions.
• We samples shots that tasted like pancakes (an excuse to drink before noon).
• We learned historical stories from guides and my brother-in-law.
• We played a new board game with family.

the gulf of Mexico

Garbage collection with a great attitude

Blue Angels

wildlife

shit happens

I could spend more time and come up with other memories of the trip. I don't write travelogues.

I want to move on to a sadder event this month. Like everyone's little local piece of the universe there is good and bad in it. While my local universe was offering many enjoyable moments for me, it had some serious stuff waiting for my attention.

We got a few updates on my uncle's condition during the trip. I don't know, maybe it waited for me. After we settle back in at home, we got the news that my uncle had gone into hospice.

I have posted about my king-of-the-road uncle before. link (there's a good pic of him in that older post)

He is the last of my dad’s siblings. He doesn't live too far away but now his current holding area in only about 2 miles away. He is barely holding on. I visited him twice on thanksgiving (truly, he didn't realize this gave me a reason to duck out of the crazy T-day preparations at our house). I visited with him again today. He struggles to talk but I try hard to listen and prompt him for more.

Today he told me some golfing stories involving my dad and other uncles. He getting other visitors too.

I know we can't hold off what is coming. I don't believe we ever can. He's in his upper 80's. I feel good about my visits. I noticed a little chuckle from him during one visit. I try to make him comfortable. I know I'll miss him but I try hard to be upbeat during the visits. I'm very happy he can recall memories to share.

His beard is growing. I told him he looks like Lincoln. 

Then the jagged edge appears
Through the distant clouds of tears.
I'm like a bridge that was washed away;
My foundations were made of clay.

As my soul slides down to die.
How could I lose him?
What did I try?
Bit by bit, I've realized
That he was here with me;
I looked into my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.
I looked into my father's eyes.
My father's eyes.

 

Sweet Blog of Mine

Where it began.
You can begin to knowin by reading the “Short Background”.

I’ve been inclined to make a parody of Sweet Caroline called Sweet Blog of Mine.

Words,
Touching words
Commenting
Touching me
Touching you
Sweet blog of mine, bah bah baah

Yeah someday I’ll finish it.


But for now I’ll just share a picture from the desert.

before the rain

I just got back from a great trip and reunion of many cousins. I’ve been to the desert, got hoarse from a cold with no name. I’m feeling better now. In the desert there was plenty of rain.

Ok how about one more picture. I figured out how to use the panorama mode on my smartphone camera. (click on the pictures to make them bigger)

doing a 180

As you probably know, I love the lyrics of good songs. Sometimes though, I just want to settle back and listen to an instrumental. Meet the culturally confused watermelon man.

a fly with a buzz

A fly with a buzz was the first thing I met.

I was looking at a river bed.
And the story it told, of a river that flowed,
Made me sad to think it was dead.

There were plants and birds, and rocks and things,

You see, this year I'm planning to go through the desert with no name. I mean I'm not wearing a name tag because in the desert you can remember your name.

'Cause there ain't no one for to give you no pain.

La la, la, la la la la, la la la, la, la 

Youtube nevermore

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten posts

Owl pumpkin carved by daughter

What would Edgar Allan Poe write?

I ain’t no poet and I surely know it. Here’s an update for you Mr. Poe.

Once upon a midnight dreary, while I tweeted, weak and weary,

Well it’s a start. A failed start. Nevermore.

When failure pulls me down I turn to youtube. The variety of entertainment, nonsense, knowledge, music, and pure garbage on youtube is only surpassed by the internet itself.

Edgar Allan Poe’s The Raven read by Christopher Walken along with a Simpsons cartoon version are both available for your midnight dreary on youtube.

Today the maddening rapping and tapping on doors during Edgar’s time have been replaced by a cacophony of horns, beeps and screeching tires of city traffic. Well sure, that wasn’t a great segue but hey, I’m weak and weary. Note, I’m now moving on to ideas for traffic intersections.

My first experience with roundabouts was in the UK and then in Ireland. I think they work great without automated traffic signals except for very busy junctions. I’ve benefited from the optional extra trips around the circle while deciding on my route. Roundabouts offer an easier flow for junctions with more than two roads. There are a few roundabouts (circles) here in the Chicago suburbs but very few.

Apparently, Montana is introducing them there. Here’s an instructional video of how to maneuver a roundabout in Big Sky Country. Personally, the large arm coming down in Big Arm Country would freeze me motionless at the wheel.



So faintly you came tapping tapping at my SUV door. Nevermore.

oh my that's a big bear

No, not a bear rug but a big bear on a rug. The bear took up most of the room.

bear on rug

After a confusing descent involving staircases and elevators, we traveled deep into the lobby of a Grand Rapids MI hotel and were shocked by this sleeping giant. Upon close examination I suspect this bear was resting after a extensive pedicure.

We recently made a road trip to Grand Rapids to see Art Prize. Grand Rapids has presented 10 of these public art events. This was the third Art Prize I've had the fun of checking out.
I guess you could call it BIG art.

(interested? here's a link to the Art Prize web site) 

More hotel wildlife

He'll need a special size bed

city jungle attention grabber

Nice weather but she looks frozen

tough day at the park

this spot was buggy

rising recycling

One of the top prizes was awarded to "The String Project". I don't have any pictures of it. The project's many photos fill a website. To better explain I copied this from their about page:

"THE STRING PROJECT” began in January 2018 and features photographs from around the world. Their focus has been on creating a project that connects the viewer to the image in a more tangible way, bringing the photograph to life. In “THE STRING PROJECT” all of the people hold the same string, "a visible representation symbolizing an invisible connection."

Their website https://www.thestringproject.org/

it looked to be a nice Tuesday

Maybe my mind's picture of that clear blue Tuesday sky is easily recalled because I looked up at the sky much more that day than normal.

I was scanning the sky wondering what was going to happen next.

This year September 11 falls on a Tuesday again. I am hoping for a nice peaceful day. It will be a sad day.


This past spring my wife and I took a road trip to Pennsylvania. My goal was to visit the Flight 93 National Memorial. We made there, the weather that day was not anything like a sunny clear day. Sleet and low clouds swept across the hillside during our visit.

I have mentioned my connection with Flight 93 in previous posts. Here's a remembrance post from 2013.

I've worked at a handful of companies over my career. Airfone (GTE Airfone became Verizon Airfone) was one of my best engineering jobs. The Airfone service played a role in the Flight 93 event.

Certainly, more people died at the World Trade Center in NYC and at the Pentagon. But I do believe if a brave group of passengers had not fought back for control of Flight 93, many more lives would have been lost in or near Washington DC. At the high speed they were traveling, it would have been just minutes before the plane reached the DC area. These heroes figured out via communication with the ground that the terrorists had another target to destroy. The memorial displays the story of that day and how terrorists' plan to use Flight 93 was stopped that day. Flight 93 was crashed deep into an empty Pennsylvania field.

From the Sources and Detailed Information webpage on Flight 93 National Memorial site:

We know that Flight 93 was destined for Washington D.C. According to the 9/11 Commission Report, at 9:55 am, the terrorist pilot Ziad Jarrah dialed in the frequency for the navigational aid at Washington Reagan National Airport, clearly indicating that the attack was planned for the nation's capital.

display of recovered seatback equipment

this walk follows the final flight path

the victims

Remembrance, memorials, books, etc. are important for future generations to understand the terror that can be inflicted on people. Still all those things fail to prevent future similar tragedies. We can be protected but absolute protection would create a prison cell type life. Singer songwriter Donovan wrote the following in his song, "Catch the Wind".

When rain has hung the leaves with tears
I want you near to kill my fears
To help me to leave all my blues behind





I may as well try and catch the wind

unexpected trip

Last week I got a call from my brother who has a place in the middle of nowhere (older post about that). It's not unusual to go a few of weeks without a phone call with him.

He called with a proposal for me. Would I be interested in traveling to the middle of nowhere with him. I've enjoyed my trips over the years down there but I also like to plan my trips.

After my positive reply and a few calls the start of the trip was set for the next day. It was a short trip having the main objective of checking on his place down there.

This whole short trip turned out great. My brother is quite the story telling (that's the nice way to say it). I've been told by family that I tell a story too slow with too much detail. My brother owns that characteristic at an even higher level.

Now over the years I would guess I visited down there about 10 times. On this trip the locals still surprised me. Most of them are best neighbors you could ever find.

We had just crossed the border (it feels to me like there should a marked border there) into the area via ferry. The ferry crew knows my brother and his wife very well. After the common exchange, "how's things haven't seen you in awhile", the talk turns to this guy who got released early from prison because he was willing to wear a wire. This local guy was bad news and has been for a long time.

Some miles down what turns into a dirt road we meet a neighbor of his traveling toward us. We stop, roll truck windows (definitely truck country) down and talk. The conversation quickly goes to this wire-wearing-bad dude.

It might have been during this longer conversation that I learned of another local crime story. Guy who runs a the only pizza place for miles has been busted by the feds for tax evasion. The guy is scheduled to show up at federal prison soon.

Now we decided to get some of this pizza one night. The business will probably be sold but for now the guy's family is still running it.

We walk in and there are a few customers but it's mostly empty. It is winter and there's little going on around the lake (except for crimes I guess). Well look who comes in? The fed-busted guy. We have never met but he knows my brother.

Surprising to me, he sits down at our table. Not too many sentences into the conversation he starts telling his tale. Much of it has to do with his ideas of who was out to get him.

After at least an hour of talk, we left. I told my brother that I was shocked that he shared all that detail about this with customers. He certainly didn't know me. I could have been a fed.

Just one more crime story - we stopped at the local store and post office. Very interesting place. For those of you who can remember Mayberry R.F.D., it could have been used as a set piece. One difference is this place is not a R.F.D. because you need to drive in to pick up your mail.

Of course you can rent P.O. boxes at most every post office. I just don't know how many still have a local postmaster handing your mail to you.

Before we left the store/post office, I learned that someone tried to break into it last month. Luckily they failed but did set off an alarm and damaged a door.

typically can't see the lake in summer

While I still am not planning to join the twitter "space", I do enjoy clever funny tweets. I found this one on the Chicago Tribune site.

Winnie the Pooh is an addict who doesn't wear pants and lives in the woods. 
If he were a person, he'd be the first suspect in every crime. 

Hey how about something not at all related to this post? Here's an unexpected version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" - enjoy -

Breaking out of the cloister bar

My retirement has resulted in more time being spent at home than in the past. This is not all bad of course. The longer low stress time allows me to wonder about a plethora of topics. To sound more interesting I will start saying that I’ve been cloistered in my quiet study at home.

But the world is not your cloister. The saying is the world is your oyster. I really dislike oysters. I never could get my head around eating raw stuff. Regardless of the shellfish, one should get out into the world.

Occasionally I do get out and about. Most recently, I journeyed from the Illinois prairie to South Carolina hoops-n-hollers (commonly known as hills and valleys). I hope you enjoy my recent discoveries as much as I enjoy sharing them.

Lego has included seniors

During the visit I discovered these interesting Lego characters in my grandkids' collection. I can only hope their Lego characters help them think of me.

I thought running was healthy

I spotted this worn out 5K runner in a nearby town around Halloween. Strange way to advertise for an upcoming 5K. That guy definitely has blown out his knees.

clever? NOT funny

I noticed this clever modification of the sign on this baby changing table. Now while I’ll admit it’s clever, I didn’t find it funny. Probably done by a young guy who thinks he’s clever but probably has not experienced becoming a father yet.

peaceful restful place at a rest stop

Two things helped improve my cross country road trip. Nice clean rest stops help. This relaxing waterfall was at a North Carolina rest stop. A second more recent addition to my travels is satellite radio. I rather listen to music than talk or commercials. On this last trip there was a Margaritaville channel. It was a temporary channel that offered me plenty of Jimmy Buffett that was new to me. Here’s one I liked.




Hey before the volcano blows leave me a comment.