meet molli

As we entered Barnes and Noble, Guardian Angel Pet Rescue had a booth there and when we saw Molli I fell for her immediately. That's very unusual for me. We lost our cairn terrier just over a year ago and my wife and I have been hesitant about owning another pet just yet. Our daughters have both been encouraging us to get another dog. My daughters fell in love with Molli immediately. Our friends from Mississippi were with us and they also fell for Molli. She's a terrier mix, rescued from a neighboring county recently. She's so incredibly sweet. She's playful and happy. Very calm and loving. She fits our family so well. I can hardly believe she's part of our family but I am very pleased we were able to give her a home.
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Song 487: Bohemian Rhapsody
Artist: Queen
Album: Night At The Opera
Year: 1975
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friends and family

For days we have been anticipating the arrival of our Mississippi friends, [p]olymer clay artist and [t]he photographer. They arrived around noon on Friday and our adventure began. After a short visit at our house, our guests, my family and I all enjoyed a very nice lunch together at Booya's before heading out for an incredible afternoon of digital photography. We introduced them to our town square. The square is one of my favorite places to visit, with its quaint shops, gazebo, train depot, train cars and fun little nooks to photograph.

We had such an incredible day. I don't think any of us wanted the day to end. Our last stop before returning home for pizza was Barnes and Noble. As fate would have it, Guardian Angel Animal Rescue was there. One of the dogs they were offering for adoption absolutely captured my heart and that of my daughters as well. [T]ae kwon mom was a little more cautious. It has been just over a year since we lost our cairn terrier and it was a very emotional decision for us become pet owners again. You'll meet our new family addition in my next post.

To our great friends from Mississippi... thank you for spending time with us on Friday. We loved it and we are already looking forward to our next adventure. Check out the Crow's Nest and News From The Middle of Nowhere blogs for more pictures from our Friday adventure.
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Song 486: Black Friday
Artist: Steely Dan
Album: Katy Lied
Year: 1975
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electric arguments

Electric Arguments by The Fireman.

A new album arrived at iTunes this week. Just from listening to the 30 second snippets I decided to purchase it and the music immediately stole my interest. I have been immersed in Electric Arguments today. This is a collaboration between Killing Joke/Orb producer Youth and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney. This is actually the third album by the duo in the past 14 years or so. I have not purchased anything by The Fireman until today. This is by far my favorite McCartney work since the Beatles. This is my third time through the album already. I just can't seem to stop listening to it. It has overtones of Beatles and Wings, but it is fresh and new with layers of sound that are simply a joy to listen to.

I had to crank Highway way up, the way I used to listen to the Beatles. And by contrast I turned the volume down a bit for Sun Is Shining, closed my eyes and just soaked it in. Lifelong Passion and Is This Love? are simply mesmerizing. Paul and Youth [who also produces U2] span the gammut of musical interests from folksy to hard driving rock and roll with plenty of ambient musical pulsing along the way. Paul played all the instruments on this album, showing just how diverse and talented he truly is.

Lovers in a Dream, Universal Here Everlasting Now, and Don't Stop Running are like stepping into a fantasy or a science fiction movie, with chords and melodies bouncing all around in your brain.

I absolutely love this album... every cut... when the 14th track ends I just kind of sit here waiting for more. And then I click Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight and start it over again.
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Song 485: Lovers In A Dream
Artist: The Fireman [Paul McCartney and Youth]
Album: Electric Arguments
Year: 2008
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thankful

The sun streamed in through our front door pane this morning, spreading a rainbow of color across the floor and illuminating one of [t]ae kwon mom's spinning wheels sitting in the corner.

Today [b]iomedical engineer daughter and [f]ine art daughter will be home from college for Thanksgiving. I can hardly wait to see them. I'm very thankful on this Thanksgiving Day 2008. I'm thankful that I and my family are passionate, God-fearing, God-loving people. I'm thankful for my beautiful, wonderful, funny, artistic, exciting wife who is always going non-stop from the time she gets up until the time she goes to bed. For my super intelligent, soccer-playing oldest daughter who is compassionate, loves music, art, travel, life, learning about cultures beyond her own, books and movies. For my super creative, artist daughter who loves being with friends, loves everyone, loves going places, meeting people, painting, drawing, taking pictures, reading.

For my mother-in-law who loves flowers and plants, bargains, cooking and seeing family and friends. For my father-in-law who is so knowledgeable in so many areas like plumbing, electrical and mechanical matters, gardening, and building and whose beautiful woodwork adores our house with bookcases and other pieces of furniture. For my sweet, dear, petite, little 91-year-old mother, who taught me how to be who I am today. Who loves everyone, worries about everyone, would rather give than receive, cooks fantastically [without recipes] and gives the nicest hugs. For my sister who was like having a second mother as I was growing up in the fifties and sixties. Who loves my mother so much that she quit work to stay home and take care of her full-time. Who cares about everyone she sees. Who would give everything she has away to help other people, if she didn't need just a little bit to live on. For my middle brother who has battled cancer for years and won each battle. Who is so kind and warm-hearted. Who has the most precious family. For my brother who survived the savagery of war in Viet Nam and came home as my hero. Who can work miracles with his hands, rebuilding cars and building cars from scratch. For my oldest brother whom I have always looked to as a mentor. Who has such a fantastic sense of humor and a wonderful laugh. Who is always level-headed and thoughtful. For my youngest sister, who always had the sweetest smile as we were growing up. We have lost touch over the years. Her choice, not mine. I miss her tremendously. I wish I could tell her I love her in person. For my three sisters-in-law. Each one unique. Each one fantastic. Each one a sweetheart. For my brother-in-law, the deer hunter and stockcar race enthusiast. For all my nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews [especially the niece who keeps in touch with me more than anyone else in the entire family... keeps me informed... closes the gap of 500 miles... and... her son, the musician whom I always enjoy talking to and listening to as he plays his music]. For my nephew who was more like a little brother as we were growing up. He and I did everything together. We played in the creek and the woods. Played with our cars under the big pine tree. I chased him down when he broke a window while trying to kill a bee and took off running. I helped stomp out the fire that almost became a forest fire because he wanted to see the leaves burn. Where you saw one you saw the other.

For my dad, who passed away many years ago. He taught me what it means to love and care for family and friends.
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Song 484: Bad Sneakers
Artist: Steely Dan
Album: Katy Lied
Year: 1975
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Five names that I can hardly
Stand to hear
Including yours and mine
And one more chimp who isnt here
I can see the ladies talking
How the times are getting hard
And that fearsome excavation
On magnolia boulevard

Chorus:
And Im going insane
And Im laughing at the frozen rain
And Im so alone
Honey when they gonna send me home
Bad sneakers and a pina colada
My friend
Stompin on the avenue
By radio city with a
Transistor and a large
Sum of money to spend

You fellah, you tearin up the street
You wear that white tuxedo
How you gonna beat the heat
Do you take me for a fool
Do you think that I dont see
That ditch out in the valley
That theyre digging just for me

clouds

As I gazed up this morning the entire sky was a canvas. Whispy clouds and puffy contrails filled the sky. Swiftly moving. Changing right before my eyes. By the time I pulled my camera from it's case the sky had changed. And even though there was barely a breeze blowing on the ground, I could imagine how strong the current must be at the altitude of the clouds. I stared at the clouds for ten minutes before finally moving on.

As you go about the task of daily living, keep your camera with you and don't forget to look around you... up... down... side to side... backwards. If you don't look you cannot see.

The song for today is by Peter Frampton. I remember when this young man hit the charts with Baby, I Love Your Way. Back in those days, I was going to a concert or two every week. I could hardly wait to see Frampton on stage and he was incredible. I thought he would be a huge superstar of rock and roll. He had several super hits, but not what I was expecting from him.
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Song 483: Baby, I Love Your Way
Artist: Peter Frampton
Album: Frampton
Year: 1975
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Shadows grow so long before my eyes
And they're moving across the page
Suddenly the day turns into night
Far away from the city
But don't hesitate 'cuz your love won't wait
Ooh baby I love your way (everyday)
Wanna tell you I love your way
Wanna be with you night and day
Moon appears to shine and light the sky
With the help of some fireflies
I wonder how they have the power to shine, shine, shine
I can see them under the pine
But don't hesitate'cuz your love won't wait
Ooh baby I love your way (everyday)
Wanna tell you I love your way
Wanna be with you night and day
But don't hesitate'cuz your love won't wait
I can see the sunset in your eyes
Brown and grey and blue besides
Clouds are stalking islands in the sun
I wish I could buy one out of season
But don't hesitate'cuz your love won't wait
Ooh baby I love your way (everyday)
Wanna tell you I love your way
Wanna be with you night and day
Ooh baby I love your way (everyday)
Wanna tell you I love your way
Wanna be with you night and day

facebook oops

For weeks my wife's friends have been asking her to get a facebook page so they could share photos and leave comments on the wall and all the stuff that college kids have been doing for ages. Well, it's not as easy for a baby boomer as it is for a college kid. Setting up the profile went smoothly and then it was time to determine who she would invite to be her facebook friends. She thought perhaps it would be good to just invite three friends in the beginning. Try it out. Find out how she liked it and then invite more later. She browsed through all her contacts and sent three invitations. So far. So good. Then she browsed through her potential contacts [all those people she has emailed or has received email from... ever] and decided to wait before sorting through all those names. There were checks by ALL the potential contacts. And two buttons at the bottom of the page. OK and Skip. She thought Skip but clicked OK, thereby sending an invitation to everyone on her potential contact list to be her friend on facebook. Her boss. Her boss' boss. Online order houses. The guy at the Genius Bar at the Apple Store... You get the picture.

I heard OH NO!! just as "You've Got Mail" dinged on my laptop in another part of the house. And yes, there was my invitation from [t]ae kwon mom to be her friend on facebook. She quickly penned an email apologizing for sending an invitation to the masses, but also informing them that she would love to have any of them that were interested as facebook friends. By the time she hit send on her email, she had already received about a dozen acceptances from the facebook invitation. We chuckled for a couple of hours afterwards. I'm not so sure my two college daughters found it as funny as we did. For the most part, it seems that high school and college kids don't especially want their parents as facebook friends.
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Song 482: Alone Too Long
Artist: Daryl Hall and John Oates
Album: Daryl Hall and John Oates
Year: 1975
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Just a little boy lost looking for a lamb in the all night city
Living in his lonely limousine
And though he never has to worry
He's the only one and only one he's ever gonna need
Absolutely he's in definite need

Of a woman, child, and some better kind of love when the hot town's hurt him
And he knows how happy he could be
But he don't know if he can make it
Between the money and another lonely night
But now the time has come
Got to stay or run
Now the time has come

Oh maybe we've been Alone Too Long
And you don't want to be lonely

Another pretty face another body ache still awake three-thirty
Dial another number -- No one home
So he wastes his time with TV
And he wonders if he lost the only one
And wonders if he's free
Too afraid to see
How alone he could be

Oh maybe we've been Alone Too Long
And you don't want to be lonely

nasa spacecraft detects buried glaciers on mars

artist concept of glacier on Mars Artist concept of glacier on Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL. Information for this post courtesy of NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has revealed vast Martian glaciers of water ice under protective blankets of rocky debris at much lower latitudes than any ice previously identified on the Red Planet. The layer of rocky debris blanketing the ice may have preserved the underground glaciers as remnants from an ice sheet that covered middle latitudes during a past ice age. This discovery is similar to massive ice glaciers that have been detected under rocky coverings in Antarctica.

These glaciers almost certainly represent the largest reservoir of water ice on Mars that is not in the polar caps. Just one of the features examined is three times larger than the city of Los Angeles and up to one-half-mile thick. And there are many more. In addition to their scientific value, they could be a source of water to support future exploration of Mars."

Scientists have been puzzled by what are known as aprons - gently sloping areas containing rocky deposits at the bases of taller geographical features - since NASA's Viking orbiters first observed them on the Martian surface in the 1970s. One theory has been that the aprons are flows of rocky debris lubricated by a small amount of ice. Now, the shallow radar instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has provided scientists an answer to this Martian puzzle... apron areas composed of thick ice under a relatively thin covering. The radar does not detect reflections from the interior of these deposits as would occur if they contained significant rock debris. The apparent velocity of radio waves passing through the apron is consistent with a composition of water ice.

JPL manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. For more about the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mro
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Song 481: 50 Ways To Leave Your Love
Artist: Paul Simon
Album: Still Crazy After All These Years
Year: 1975
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"The problem is all inside your head", she said to me
The answer is easy if you take it logically
I'd like to help you in your struggle to be free
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover

She said it's really not my habit to intrude
Furthermore, I hope my meaning won't be lost or misconstrued
But I'll repeat myself, at the risk of being crude
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

Ooo slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

She said it grieves me so to see you in such pain
I wish there was something I could do to make you smile again
I said I appreciate that and would you please explain
About the fifty ways

She said why don't we both just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning you'll begin to see the light
And then she kissed me and I realized she probably was right
There must be fifty ways to leave your lover
Fifty ways to leave your lover

You just slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just get yourself free
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
and get yourself free

Slip out the back, Jack
Make a new plan, Stan
You don't need to be coy, Roy
Just listen to me
Hop on the bus, Gus
You don't need to discuss much
Just drop off the key, Lee
And get yourself free

colors

All designers and printers are familiar with the Pantone Matching System® [PMS®]. It's all about color and choosing colors that go well with other colors. It can be a challenging task to choose colors that go well together or colors that set the right tone or create a mood. It might take hours to select the correct color pallet for a series of brochures or a magazine ad or a catalog of products. I took a series of PMS color swatch book pictures yesterday. This is one of them.

Today, one of my best friends and fellow blogger, Sebastian, came by to visit and attend a luncheon of our local Advertising Federation [AdFed]. He and I had a great time talking cameras, photography, studio lights, college degrees, websites, blogs... I only wish he and his family lived closer [2.5 hours away]. I think our families would have some great times together. Check out Sebastian's blog... The Crow's Nest.
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Song 480: You Got It
Artist: Average White Band
Album: AWB
Year: 1974
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snowman cover

Today's assignment... create a whimsical snowman drawing to be used on the cover of a newsletter. The header will go across the top of this art and minimal type will overprint the right side of the page. This piece took about 4.5 hours to create in Illustrator and I am quite pleased with the outcome. I love my job. Every project is different. Every project requires a quick turnaround and I have a good mix of photography and graphic design requests.

As if my fast-paced job wasn't enough, I conducted a Digital Photography Workshop last night for my community. I do these workshops regularly. I have developed a series: Digital Camera 101 [learning the settings on your camera]; Digital Camera 102 [tips and techniques for taking great pictures]; Digital Camera 103 [how to crop, resample, color correct, name and store your images]; and Digital Photography for Kids [digital field trips, camera tips and techniques for kids ages 10-16]. Last night's workshop was Digital Camera 103. It is supposed to be a 1-hour workshop but my students and I were having so much fun using PhotoShop and manipulating pictures that the workshop actually ran almost 2 hours. After one hour I told everyone they were welcome to stay longer if they liked, and every one of them stayed. What a great evening.
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Song 479: You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
Artist: Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Album: Not Fragile
Year: 1974
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along the river

One of the best forms of relaxation that I know is a hike along the river bluff. Even on a day like today, when the temperature is barely above 40, I really enjoy walking the trails, stopping to observe the trees and the last of the autumn leaves. Watching the squirrels scurrying about. Taking in the fresh, cool, clean air. I took this picture along the sandy beach of the river today. My walk also made me appreciate the heater in my little truck that much more.
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Song 478: Work To Do
Artist: Average White Band
Album: AWB
Year: 1974
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I'm taking care of business, woman can't you see
Got to make it for you, got to make it for me
Sometimes it might seem that I've neglected you
But I would love to spend more time
I've got so many things to do

Oh I, Got Work to do, I've got work, baby
Got work to do, I've got to give it
Got work to do, I've got work to do
Got work to do, got so much work, yeah yeah
I've been trying to make it, woman can't you see
Takes a lot of money to make it, let's talk truthfully
Keep your love light burning, and a little food hot in a plate
You might as well get use to me coming home a little late

'Cause I got work to do, I got work, baby
Got work to do, I've got to give
Got work to do, I got to work
Got work to do, got so much work, yeah yeah
Work, work, yeah, work, work
Work, work, yeah, work, work

I'm taking care of business, woman can't you see
I got to make it for you, got to make it for me
But sometimes it might seem that I've neglected you
But I'd love to spend more time, I got so many things to do

'Cause I got work to do, I got work, baby
Got work to do, I've got to give
Got work to do, I got to work
Got work to do, got so much work, yeah yeah

one of these nights

Last night was incredible. I had the opportunity to see the Eagles in concert. No opening act. Just three and a half hours of Eagles. Glen Frey, Don Henley. Joe Walsh. Glen is very funny. Don can still sing those classics just like he could in 1976. And Joe Walsh. Well Joe Walsh was incredible. The boys played songs from over the years. Songs from the Long Road Out of Eden album (which is available through Wal-mart exclusively BTW). Songs from solo careers. And they played songs from Joe Walsh's James Gang days. Funk 49 was incredible! Most of the audience was my age. Most of the Eagles are my age. I saw James Gang in concert in the seventies. I saw the Eagles in the seventies. The Hotel California tour. I didn't realize they had so many memorable songs until last night.

It was a little bit hard to get up and be at work on time this morning, but I did it. And all day long I had Eagles songs and James Gang songs stuck in my head. They're still there. I'll probably be hearing them in my dreams tonight. Oh well. Not such a bad way to dream. I only wish I could have taken pictures of the concert. Maybe next time.
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Song 477: Funk #49
Artist: James Gang
Album: Rides Again
Year: 1970
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Sleep all day, out all night
I know where you're goin'
I don't think that's actin' right
You don't think it's showin'
Jumpin' up, fallin' down
Don't misunderstand me
You don't think that I know your plan
What you try'n'-a hand me?
Out all night, sleep all day
I know what you're doin'
If you're gonna act that way
I think there's trouble brewin'

I LOVE THIS SONG! Joe Walsh's guitar work in Funk 49 is incredible. I cranked it up when I was a kid in 1970 and I still crank it up today. If you have not heard it . . . you have to find it and play it . . . loud!

capturing the spills

Today's assignment: a photo shoot of folders for a brochure. Specifically, how spills bead up on this folder material, making it easy to clean up the spill before it soaks into the paper. For a couple of hours this morning I adjusted lights and positioned folders for the spill. I took pictures of red, blue, yellow and green folders. A series of each color with water spills. A series of each color with coffee spills. Tea spills. Hot chocolate spills. Different angles. Different amounts of spill. Different reflections from the lights. It seems I am happiest these days when I am taking pictures. I thoroughly enjoy these photo shoots... from products to people to nature. They're all good.
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Song 476: Wild Cherry
Artist: Foghat
Album: Energized
Year: 1974
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ornamental

Today's assignment. Photo shoot of Christmas ornaments for the cover of a publication. The final selection was a Santa hat with several ornaments nestled beside it. This picture is just one of many residual shots that fell on the cutting room floor... so to speak.
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Song 475: Whatever Gets You Through The Night
Artist: John Lennon
Album: Walls and Bridges
Year: 1974
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Whatever gets you through the night 'salright, 'salright
It's your money or life 'salright, 'salright
Don't need a sword to cut through flowers oh no, oh no

Whatever gets you through your life 'salright, 'salright
Do it wrong or do it right 'salright, 'salright
Don't need a watch to waste your time oh no, oh no

Hold me darlin' come on listen to me
I won't do you no harm
Trust me darlin' come on listen to me, come on listen to me
Come on listen, listen

Whatever gets you to the light 'salright, 'salright
Out the blue or out of sight 'salright, 'salright
Don't need a gun to blow your mind oh no, oh no

Hold me darlin' come on listen to me
I won't do you no harm
Trust me darlin' come on listen to me, come on listen to me
Come on listen, listen

ceremony...

When organizations recruit volunteers, one of the things they tell you is "It won't take but an hour a week!" From the late seventies until the mid-nineties I worked as a volunteer with the Boy Scouts, serving in many areas from assistant scoutmaster to scoutmaster to varsity team coach to explorer post advisor, with additional duties along the way, such as merit badge counselor, brotherhood member of the order of the arrow [OA] and OA ceremonies advisor. I think I probably spent 10-20 hours a week on scout activities during those years. During my time as ceremonies advisor, it was the responsibility of the ceremony team to plan and perform at the closing campfire of camporees and encampments. This is a picture of some of the members of the 1989 OA Native American Ceremony Dance Team. These boys made their own regalia [native costume] complete with headdress. They made the drum and props for the campfires and the young man in the white regalia was a master firestarter.

This particular picture was taken at the March 1989 Camporee Closing Fire. I remember that campfire better than any of the others. The Ceremony Team did an outstanding job and as a result they were invited to perform at several Executive Scouting functions, Webelos Events, Scout Troop meetings and other events throughout 1989. I wrote a poem the day following this campfire. Here it is. Because of the length of this poem, there will be no song posted today.

ceremony . . .

each boy chose his own design.
colors and patterns to paint his face.
circles and lines for chest and arms.
the boys help each other mix the paints
from charcoal, berries, mud, nuts.
drawing circles and lines with care
thunderbirds, lightning bolts, bears, wolves
blues, reds, browns, blacks, whites, yellows.
each one barefooted with a name given to him by a Cherokee chief
huya, anisoka, tenatsoleekee.
breechclouts made of leather or broadcloth
painted in their own designs, tied at the waist with leather laces
beaded and adorned with hawk feathers, leather pouches, deer hooves.
each boy decorated with arm bustles and
tail bustles of black tipped feathers.
each boy adorned with a roach
crafted by his own hands of feathers, beads, and leather.
twelve boys, standing tall.
two with hair of spikes and tails
the others with long strait hair.
all with braided feathers hanging at their shoulders.
each boy with rabbit fur or deerskin leggings
below the knees, hanging over their ankles.
biceps choked with leather thongs.
hands carrying war clubs, dreamcatchers, turtle shields,
staffs and shakers.
twelve boys transformed magically into indian dancers.

the cool, dark night waits upon the attending scouts
as they file silently into the black dark arena
escorted by two lone torchbearers
with faces painted half in white, half in blue.
each torchbearer wearing a traditional breechclout
and a single feather braided into his hair.
long minutes of total silence interrupted only
by the gentle sound of canoe paddles
breaking the surface of the lake far beyond the arena circle.
darkness interrupted only by the flicker of torchlight
from the canoes as they cross from the distant shore.
melodic rhythmns of a cherry flute softly travel the distance of the lake
as the approaching canoes draw near
and disappear beneath the ledge of the arena . . .
the flute falls silent.

only moments pass before the mighty pound
of the ceremony drums fill the arena.
a wall of smoke spews skyward as a band of indian dancers
spring magically through the smoke into the circle.
singers chant, drummers drum, dancers dance
around a cold tower of wood at the center of the circle.

one lone indian adorned with a long flowing
ceremonial buffalo bonnet of feathers
walks stoically to the front of the circle
turns to face the wooden monolith
and with a single indian word
commands the bonfire to light.

the drum stops
the dancers fall silently to their knees
the flames leap into the air
from the once cold wood.

the fast, excited heartbeat of the drum
brings two sneak up dancers to the circle
as the other indians retreat beyond the edge of the circle.
one dancer with a wolf pelt headdress, the other with fox.
the braves trail one another, find one another
and fight to the rhythmn of the drums.
one brave claims victory, one brave dies.
and as he dies the beat of the drums slow with his heartbeat.
the victor carries the fallen brave from the arena.

a fellowship dance.
a snake dance.
a dance of dedication.
and then the last dance of the evening.

the fast one-beat of a single drum
brings forth the eagle dancer from a wall of smoke
stepping high with wings outspread
the eagle dancer wears no bells.
the eagle dancer wears a white breechclout of feathers.
white paint covers his face, chest, arms, legs.
wings of black tipped white feathers.
a bustle of black feathers.
a long flowing feather headdress crested with an eagle's head
whose beak juts out over his eyes.
the eagle soars to the tops of the clouds
dips into the valleys
silently glides through the air
to the beat of the single drum.
from behind the arena a hunter aims his musket
into the air and fires a single shot.
the eagle tucks his wounded wing
and struggles to keep aloft.
the drum slows as the eagle makes a final journey to the ground.
the drum slowly dies with the beat of the eagle's heart.

all the dancers
in procession
find the eagle
and carry his limp
twisted body from the arena.

three strong beats of the drums.
the ceremony is finished.
scouts sit silently until the indians depart.

the show is over.
the boys pack away their regalia
erase the paint
and ease back into the flow of the camporee
to be 12 young white boys again.

the spider and the fly

Once a spider built a beautiful web in an old house. He kept it clean and shiny so that flies would patronize it. The minute he got a “customer” he would quickly clean up his web so the other flies would not get suspicious.

Then one day this fairly intelligent fly came buzzing by the clean spider web. Old man spider called out, “Come in and sit.” But the fairly intelligent fly said, “No, sir. I don’t see any other flies in your house, and I am not going in alone!”

But soon he saw on the floor a larger crowd of flies dancing around on a piece of brown paper. He was delighted! He was not afraid if lots of flies were doing it. So he came in for a landing.

Just before he landed, a bee zoomed by, saying, “Don’t land there! That’s flypaper! But the fairly intelligent fly shouted back, “Don’t be silly. Those flies are dancing. There’s a big crowd there. EVERYBODY’S DOING IT! That many flies can’t be wrong!” Well, you know what happened. He died on the spot.

Some of us want to be with the crowd so badly that we end up in a mess. What does it profit a fly (or a person) if he escapes the web only to end up in the glue?”

SOMETIMES IT’S SAFER TO STAND ALONE THAN TO GO ALONG WITH THE CROWD!
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Song 474: Walking Man
Artist: James Taylor
Album: Walking Man
Year: 1974
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Moving in silent desperation
Keeping an eye on the holy land
A hypothetical destination
Say, who is this waliking man?

Well, the leaves have come to turning
And the goose has gone to fly
And bridges are for buning
So dont you let that yearning
Pass you by
Walking man, walking man walks
Well, any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walks

Well the frost is on the pumpkin
And the hay is in the barn
An pappys come to rambling on
Stumbling around drunk
Down on the farm

And the walking man walks
Doesnt know nothing at all
Any other man stops and talks
But the walking man walks on by
Walk on by

Most everybodys got seed to sow
It aint always easy for a weed to grow, oh no
So he dont hoe the row for no one
Oh for sure hes always missing
And something is never quite right
Ah, but who would want to listen to you
Kissing his existence good night

Walking man walk on by my door
Well, any other man stops and talks
But not the walking man
Hes the walking man
Born to walk
Walk on walking man
Well now, would he have wings to fly
Would he be free
Golden wings against the sky
Walking man, walk on by
So long, walking man, so long

creech hollow lake

I took the day to return to Montgomery Bell State Park to take pictures of the fall colors. This was typical of the brilliant colors along the trails of the park. My favorite hike of the day was the Creech Hollow Lake Trail.

Although reds, golds and yellows dominated the landscape of the park, evergreens lined the shore of Creech Hollow Lake. A cool breeze chilled the air of a cloudless sky.

I spent more than an hour on the banks of this lake looking out over the water. Listening to the rustle of the leaves in the breeze. Watching leaves flutter to the ground.

This is my favorite picture from the day's adventure. As I was standing on the bank of Creech Hollow Lake a strong breeze began to blow and right before my eyes the reflection of the trees on the opposite side of the lake transformed into an impressionist work of art.
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Song 473: Walking In The Wind
Artist: Traffic
Album: When The Eagle Flies
Year: 1974
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... I'm walking in the wind looking at the sky
Hanging on a breeze and wondering why, why...

lake woodhaven

[T]ae kwon mom and I stopped by Montgomery Bell State Park for a nice hike along the banks of Lake Woodhaven. The reds, oranges and yellows of fall were shining brightly in the afternoon sun.

Looking out across the lake as the sun began to hang low in the afternoon sky.

Reflection of fall colors in the waters of Lake Woodhaven.
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Song 472: Tin Man
Artist: America
Album: Holiday
Year: 1974
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Sometimes late when things are real
And people share the gift of gab between themselves
Some are quick to take the bait
And catch the perfect prize that waits among the shelves

But oz never did give nothing to the tin man
That he didnt, didnt already have
And cause never was the reason for the evening
Or the tropic of sir galahad.

So please believe in me
When I say Im spinning round, round, round, round
Smoke glass stain bright color
Image going down, down, down, down
Soapsuds green like bubbles

Oh, oz never did give nothing to the tin man
That he didnt, didnt already have
And cause never was the reason for the evening
Or the tropic of sir galahad

So please believe in me
When I say Im spinning round, round, round, round
Smoke glass stain bright color
Image going down, down, down, down
Soapsuds green like bubbles

No, oz never did give nothing to the tin man
That he didnt, didnt already have
And cause never was the reason for the evening
Or the tropic of sir galahad

So please believe in me

fossilized coral

[T]ae kwon mom and I recently spent the day on the road, with our destination being Nashville. Along the way we stopped at a location that we frequently visit to search for fossilized coral. We've been here several times over the years. Just about every time we travel across the state we stop here. Most of the time we find a few fossils sparcely scattered on the red clay surface. Not this time. This time we found many fossils. Mostly horn coral, honeycomb coral and crinoids. We also found several quartz crystal geodes and nodules. After an hour of collecting we were on the road again, stopping at Montgomery Bell State Park for a short hike.

Today's song was written by Buddy Holly and Foghat did a fantastic rendition of it. During my younger days, I saw Foghat seven times in concert. What a high energy band!
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Song 471: That'll Be The Day
Artist: Foghat
Album: Energized
Year: 1974
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Well that'll be the day when you say goodbye,
Yeah that'll be the day when you make me cry,
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie,
'Cause that'll be the day when I die.

playing around in the studio

I spent quite a bit of time in the studio today, shooting specialty items for a catalog. Near the end of the day I just couldn't resist. I pulled my little Sony Cybershot compact digital out and shot a few pictures of the Olympus sitting on its tripod. I got a few really nice blur shots.
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Song 470: Wishing Well
Artist: Free
Album: Heartbreaker
Year: 1973
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Take off your hat
Kick off your shoes,
I know you ain't going anywhere.
Run 'round the town
Singing your blues
I know you ain't going anywhere.

You have always been
A good friend of mine
But you're always saying farewell
And the only time that you are satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well.

Throw down your gun
You might shoot yourself,
Or is that what you are tryin' to do,
Put up a fight
You believe to be right
And someday the sun will shine through.

You have always got
Something to hide
Something you just can't tell
And the only time that you are satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing well.

Oh!
But I know what you're wishing for
Love and a peaceful world
Yeah
Love and a peaceful world
Oh! Yeah
Love and a peaceful world

You have always been
A good friend of mine
But you're always saying farewell
And the only time that you are satisfied
Is with your feet in the wishing....well.

Yes
I wish you well
I wish you well
Everybody has a wish
Everybody has a dream
I wish you well.

graffiti 2

[F]ine art daughter spend the past four days in the Bronx. South Bronx. More specifically in Mott Haven. She flew to New York on Thursday. This was her first time to fly without family. It was actually only her second time ever to fly. I told her all I could about how to prepare herself for the flight but you can never prepare someone for takeoff. You just have to experience it. She said it freaked her out. She was silently screaming on takeoff but she survived and totally enjoyed the rest of the flight. I may never know what all she did while she was in New York, but I do know that she feel in love with the Big Apple. She wants to move there... now. I have not seen her so excited about anything in a long time. She spent time there working with the kids of the Mott Haven neighborhood. Working through the Graffiti 2 Ministries. Some of the stories she told us last night were heart wrenching, emotional ones about the children of that neighborhood. Many of them are living in poverty. Many from single parent homes. Many with major life problems. [F]ine art daughter spent time with several of them, laughing, drawing, playing games, just hangin' out. I like what she did and how she did it. I'm also glad she's home.
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Song 469: Muddy Water
Artist: Free
Album: Heartbreaker
Year: 1973
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I was born on the muddy water
I didn't know right from wrong
My mom she said look here son
I'll show you how it's done
Take you a woman and treat her right
She'll be by your side night and day
The first time you deceive her
You've broken her spell
Then I had bad luck
Like a fool I fell where I stood
I was walking in the rain with my shoes untied
Tryin' to find a dry place to hide
To hide.
But I'd rather sleep that say a word
I don't believe a word that's heard
The first time I deceived you
I held it inside
Take you a woman and treat her right
She'll be by your side night and day
The first time you deceive her
You've broken her spell
Then I had bad luck
I held it inside
Like a fool I smiled on my pride
I was walking in the rain with my shoes untied
Tryin' to find a dry place to hide
To hide.
I was walking in the rain with my shoes untied
Tryin' to find a dry place to hide
To hide.
I was walking in the rain

and the yard-rolling battle is on

Let me set this up just a little bit. We have new neighbors on our right side. They have four children [all great kids BTW]. Now the neighbors on our left side have been our neighbors since their children were small. They have two sons [also great kids]. The right neighbors kids range in age from about 12 to about 6. The left neighbors kids are about 12 and 16. When 12-year-old right neighbor boy found out that 12-year-old right neighbor boy was moving in just one house away, he was extremely happy. They're buddies. School buddies. Baseball playing buddies. Good friends. So... Halloween night happened. When I went outside yesterday bright and early to get the newspaper, the stark whiteness of toilet paper fluttering in the morning breeze caught my attention. Our new right neighbor's yard had been nicely rolled overnight. Not overdone, but nonetheless a welcome to the neighborhood. My first thought when I saw it was "Uh oh. The yard-rolling battle is on." I figured left 12-year-old neighbor was the engineer.

The TP remained in the right neighbors yard all day yesterday [and is still there] so I figured they were quite possibly planning a counter attack before cleaning up their own yard. This morning when I went outside to get the newspaper I didn't even have to look directly into our left neighbor's yard to see the beginning of the flow of white toilet paper. The partially used roll pictured above was in front of our drive. And then I looked north to the left neighbor's yard. Every tree draped in TP. The low shrubs lining the front porch sculpted in TP. The property line neatly laid out in TP. The mailbox wrapped... and wrapped... and wrapped in TP. Dozens [possibly hundreds] of white plastic forks sticking all over the front yard. Fluorescent orange and yellow sticky notes plastered all over the windshield, mirrors and bumpers of left neighbor's truck.

Oh yeah. The yard-rolling battle is on.

And now a musical interlude. While searching iTunes last night [until well past midnight] I rediscovered an album that I played daily in 1973 and 1974. How could I have neglected putting my favorites from that album on my daily song posts. So for the next three posts, songs from the Heartbreaker album by Free will be featured. Here's the first.
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Song 468: Heartbreaker
Artist: Free
Album: Heartbreaker
Year: 1973
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Well my maker
must 've been a hard heartbreaker
I said my maker
must 've been a hard heartbreaker
I'll tell you why

I'm breaking my own heart
tryin'....to love a faker

Like a blind man
my little house is on fire
just like a blind man
my little house is on fire

I'm burning my own eyes out
tryin'....to reach the door

Well the sun is shining
but it sure don't seem to reach my heart
well the sun is shining
but it sure don't seem to reach my heart

I'm wasting my whole life
tryin'.....to make a new start

Make a new start
make a new start
make a new start
make a new start

art collaboration

[T]ae kwon mom teaches homeschool art classes. Today will be culmination of an art collaboration project which involves all of her art students in all classes. [T]ae drew line art pictures of kids doing various active things, like jumping rope, playing soccer, jumping, running, exercising, tumbling, and other stuff. I scanned each one of the line art characters and [t]ae arranged them in one large square. We blew the art up so it fit comfortably in a 25 x 25 inch square. Printed the art. Cut the art into 5 x 5 inch squares then [t]ae placed each square on a separate piece of 8.5 x 11 dark paper and copied them. She gave each student a sheet [with a white square containing a portion of the final piece on it] to color. Each student worked individually on their particular square, not knowing where it would fit on the finished piece, and using their own distinct style. The only rule was they had to use colored pencils. When [t]ae collected all the squares, I was amazed at how nice they looked. [T]ae and I trimmed each square to 5 x 5, and this morning I put the whole thing together. Using a 30 x 40 piece of black foamcore board as a base, I adhered all 25 squares on the board in 5 rows of 5 squares, leaving approximately 1/8 on an inch between each square. The finished collaborative art will be hung on the wall where [t]ae teaches for all to see.
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Song 467: Take The Highway
Artist: Marshall Tucker Band
Album: Where We All Belong
Year: 1974
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Take the highway
Lord knows I've been gone too long
Lot of sad days, yeah
One day you'll turn around
and I'll be gone
And the time has finally come
for me to pack my bags and walk away
Hear me say...
I'll be back someday
But darlin' please don't
wait for me too long
There's just one place I can't stay
Memories of your love still linger on
And the time has finally come
for me to pack my bags and walk away
Here me say....
Take the highway
Take the highway
Take the highway
And the time has finally come
for me to pack my bags and walk away
Here me say...