tron the game

The guy on the left in the image above is a young Jeff Bridges. The guy on the right is Alan Rickman [none other than Professor Severus Snape of Harry Potter fame]. This is an image from the Disney movie, Tron, one of the first CGI movies [1982]. The Jeff Bridges character, Kevin, is broken down into a digital data stream and transported inside a computer. During the movie Kevin and the Alan Rickman character engage in a gladiator-type game using flying discs. Tron was on satellite TV this weekend.

While on a summer expedition in the Smokies in 1987, some of the guys on the expedition and I invented a game based on Tron. Each of us had a frisbee in our backpack. We used frisbees as plates at mealtime. On Wednesday of that week, we got to our campsite very early, so we pulled our frisbees from our packs and started tossing around. Our Tron game just seemed to naturally develop that afternoon. Each one of us started the game with one frisbee. We could use the frisbee as a shield or as a weapon. If a player got hit anywhere other than on our shield [the frisbee] by another player, the struck player was out of the game. Players could run, hide behind trees, tents, anywhere. Players could throw their frisbee at any other player, and players could attempt to retrieve the thrown frisbee before getting hit by someone else's. Players could collect thrown frisbees, stockpile them, use them. The last man standing without being struck by a frisbee was declared the winner. Our game of Tron went on for a couple of hours that afternoon. I'll always remember it as one of the highlights of the summer.
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Song 508: I Shot The Sheriff
Artist: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Album: Burnin'
Year: 1974
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(I shot the sheriff
But I didnt shoot no deputy, oh no! oh!
I shot the sheriff
But I didnt shoot no deputy, ooh, ooh, oo-ooh.)
Yeah! all around in my home town,
Theyre tryin to track me down;
They say they want to bring me in guilty
For the killing of a deputy,
For the life of a deputy.
But I say:

Oh, now, now. oh!
(I shot the sheriff.) - the sheriff.
(but I swear it was in selfdefence.)
Oh, no! (ooh, ooh, oo-oh) yeah!
I say: I shot the sheriff - oh, lord! -
(and they say it is a capital offence.)
Yeah! (ooh, ooh, oo-oh) yeah!

Sheriff john brown always hated me,
For what, I dont know:
Every time I plant a seed,
He said kill it before it grow -
He said kill them before they grow.
And so:

Read it in the news:
(I shot the sheriff.) oh, lord!
(but I swear it was in self-defence.)
Where was the deputy? (oo-oo-oh)
I say: I shot the sheriff,
But I swear it was in selfdefence. (oo-oh) yeah!

Freedom came my way one day
And I started out of town, yeah!
All of a sudden I saw sheriff john brown
Aiming to shoot me down,
So I shot - I shot - I shot him down and I say:
If I am guilty I will pay.

(I shot the sheriff,)
But I say (but I didnt shoot no deputy),
I didnt shoot no deputy (oh, no-oh), oh no!
(I shot the sheriff.) i did!
But I didnt shoot no deputy. oh! (oo-oo-ooh)

Reflexes had got the better of me
And what is to be must be:
Every day the bucket a-go a well,
One day the bottom a-go drop out,
One day the bottom a-go drop out.
I say:

I - I - I - I shot the sheriff.
Lord, I didnt shot the deputy. yeah!
I - I (shot the sheriff) -
But I didnt shoot no deputy, yeah! no, yeah!

trail self portrait four

Here's the fourth in a series of self portraits taken along the Wolf River Trail with a Sony Cyber-shot T-19. This is a blended image of me and reflections of the forest in the river, taken this week. I multiplied the images [at 100 percent each] in Photoshop. Saved the blended image as Gray scale. Converted the image to a duotone, using black and Pantone 5665. Saved the duotone as an RGB image. Cropped. Sized. And there you have it.
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Song 507: Homeward Strut
Artist: Tommy Bolin
Album: Teaser
Year: 1975
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foods not to give your dog

When your doggie looks up at you with those big ole, sweet, loving eyes and asks you for a nibble of whatever it is you are eating, please be a responsible dog owner and resist the urge to share your food with her [or him]. Some foods are actually toxic to your pet. It is best to stick to the diet that your vet says you should give your dog. If you do occasionally break the rules, make sure the morsels you share are things like cooked, lean meat, plain bread, rice or pasta. PLEASE AVOID THE FOLLOWING FOODS.

CANDY
Anything containing Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, can cause your pet's blood sugar to drop, leading to seizures and maybe even death.

CHOCOLATE
Large quantities of chocolate is dangerous to cats and dogs, expecially dark chocolate or baking chocolate.

GRAPES AND RAISINS
Even a single grape or raisin could cause kidney failure. Never give these to your pet.

NUTS
All nuts should be avoided. Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic.

ONION
Onion can destroy your dog's red blood cells causing anemia, weakness and breathing problems.
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Song 506: Heard It On The X
Artist: ZZ Top
Album: Fandango!
Year: 1975
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Do you remember
Back in nineteen sixty-six?
Country jesus, hillbilly blues,
Thats where I learned my licks.
Oh, from coast to coast and line to line
In every county there,
Im talkin bout that outlaw x
Is cuttin through the air.

Anywhere, yall,
Everywhere, yall,
I heard it, I heard it,
I heard it on the x.

We can all thank doctor b
Who stepped across the line.
With lots of watts he took control,
The first one of its kind.
So listen to your radio
Most each and every night
cause if you dont Im sure you wont
Get to feeling right.

Anywhere, yall,
Everywhere, yall,
I heard it, I heard it,
I heard it on the x.

it came upon a midnight clear

Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Luke 2 [01] In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. [02] This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. [03] And all went to be registered, each to his own town. [04] And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, [05] to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

[06] And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. [07] And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

[08] And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. [09] And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. [10] And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. [11] "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. [12] And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

[13] And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, [14] "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

The above verses are from the English Standard Bible. Isaiah 9:6 from the Old Testament and Luke 2: 1-13 from the New Testament.
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The angel in today's post oversees the nativity scene in the front yard of St Frances Hospital.
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Song 505: It Came Upon A Midnight Clear
Written by: Edmund Hamilton Sears
Music by: Richard Storrs Willis
Year: 1849 [Words] / 1859 [Music]
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It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men
From heavens all gracious King!"
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come,
With peaceful wings unfurled;
And still their heavenly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing.

O ye beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way
With painful steps and slow;
Look now, for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace, their King,
And the whole world send back the song
Which now the angels sing.

two hour marley

[F]ine art daughter is truly amazing. Part of her Christmas gift to her new boyfriend is a painting of Bob Marley. She did this acrylic painting in about two hours today. I see a very bright future in art and photography for her. She is so incredibly talented. I asked her to paint me a picture of James Taylor for my office. She just needs a photo to go by. And I just happen to have one. Yea me!

We had a very enjoyable Christmas Eve. Dinner at [t]ae kwon mom's parents. Opening gifts around the tree and then my favorite Christmas movie of all time... It's a Wonderful Life. I honestly think the only year I have missed seeing this movie at Christmastime since my youth was 1972. My first Christmas in the Air Force. I can't remember seeing it then. So... I think I have seen this movie 40+ times. Hey. It's tradition. You can't break tradition.
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Song 504: Get Up! Stand Up!
Artist: Bob Marley and the Wailers
Album: Burnin'
Year: 1974
--------------------------------------------------

We sick an tired of-a your ism-skism game -
Dyin n goin to heaven in-a jesus name, lord.
We know when we understand:
Almighty God is a living man.
You can fool some people sometimes,
But you cant fool all the people all the time.
So now we see the light (what you gonna do? ),
We gonna stand up for our rights! (yeah, yeah, yeah!)

So you better:
Get up, stand up! (in the morning! git it up!)
Stand up for your rights! (stand up for our rights!)
Get up, stand up!
Dont give up the fight! (dont give it up, dont give it up!)
Get up, stand up! (get up, stand up!)
Stand up for your rights! (get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Dont give up the fight! (get up, stand up!)
Get up, stand up! ( ... )
Stand up for your rights!
Get up, stand up!
Dont give up the fight!

tuesday ice

We just can't seem to get snow around here. The weekend was cold and rainy. The week has been cold and rainy. Not cold enough for snow, but cold enough for icy streets and frozen ponds. Several of my coworkers couldn't make it into work today because of icy streets. I made it just fine, encountering only a few patches of black ice on the residential streets. The main thoroughfares were fine. On my first trip across the courtyard this morning I noticed the artistic forms of the ice in the pond at the base of the waterfall. With the wind chill factor the temperature was around 20 so I didn't hang around too long. Just long enough to capture a few frames of ice [actually about 30 shots].
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Song 503: The Grind
Artist: Tommy Bolin
Album: Teaser
Year: 1975
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I walked all day tryin to find me work,
I must have knocked on one hundred doors.
Would have swallowed my pride for some money,
And be satisfied sweepin' the floors.

I spent last night a sleep on a park bench,
'til a cop came and moved me along.
Told him I wasn't botherin' nobody,
Yes he told me to go.

Everywhere, I get the same kind of answer,
Not now or maybe then.
Well me time is runnin' out on me people, yes me people.
If you're down and without a friend.

Yeah, yeah.

roadside nativity

This nativity scene adores the lawn of the Baptist hospital in my hometown. I pass it every day... twice. On my way into work yesterday I decided it was time for me to stop and a take a few pictures to share with you. It was a cool, foggy morning, just before sunrise. Cars rushed by in a steady stream. I noticed one little gray-haired lady walking along the sidewalk about a block away from the nativity. I parked a few yards away from the statuary, along the side of the driveway leading into the hospital parking lot. Normally I see these life-sized ceramic statues from a fast-moving vehicle on a crowded street. Yesterday I saw them up close. Spent time there. Reflected on why they were here. I thought about the meaning of Christmas and how diluted the meaning has become in today's society. How offensive some people consider Christmas. But without the real lives that these statues represent, Christmas would not be a word in our vocabulary. Christ is Christmas. I thank God every day for giving me the privilege of living in a country [in a community] where I can worship Him and know who Christ is and know my future. When I finished photographing these white, ceramic figures I stepped back onto the sidewalk just as the little gray-haired lady walked by. We had a very nice conversation about Christmas as I made my way back to my car and she continued her early-morning walk.
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Silent Night was first performed in public in the Church of St. Nicholas, Oberndorf, Austria in 1818. In 1863, the song was translated into the English version we still hear today, by John Freeman Young. My favorite version is by Frank Sinatra.
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Song 502: Silent Night
Artist: Frank Sinatra
Album: Released as a single
Year: 1946
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Silent night, holy night!
All is calm, all is bright.
Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from heaven afar
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night, holy night!
Son of God love's pure light.
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.
Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.

around the office

Every floor in the tower I work in has at least one Christmas tree this year. Most of them have two or three. The really cool thing about these trees... they all have themes. The global sourcing floor decorated their main tree with transportation toys. matchbox cars. model trains. lego trucks. little plastic forklifts. You get the picture. My absolute favorite was the tree decorated in all natural materials. Ornaments carved from wood or made from twine like the ones above. A tree on one of the floors was decorated with food items. artichokes. berries. fruits and vegetables. A tree on another floor was decorated with all round, glass balls.

Christmas music drifts through the air. Baskets of colorful bell-shaped jelly candies invite passers-by to stop and enjoy the freshness of their minty taste. Boxes and boxes of chocolates dot the countertops of breakrooms and conference rooms. Potluck luncheons spill over into the hallways. Friends exchange gifts. Little ornaments, candies and Christmas toys mysteriously appear in stockings hanging on nameplates outside office doors and on corners of cubicle entrances. Year-end retirement receptions and parties pop up on an almost-daily basis. And in the midst of all this holiday cheer and hustle and bustle, work goes on... record setting work goes on. Projects that must be finished by year's end rush from office to office, gathering approvals and mandates for full-speed-ahead. There's no other time of the year like Christmas time.
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Song 501: Good Lovin' Gone Bad
Artist: Bad Company
Album: Straight Shooter
Year: 1975
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molli has a new toy

My secret santa at work knew we had a new dog in our family and part of my secret santa gift was a new squeaky toy for Molli. I gave it to her tonight and she has been playing with it all evening. She loves it. Thank you santa.

And now let's celebrate with a little KC and the Sunshine Band. Remember them. Disco is dead. Long live disco. I used to love this group.
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Song 500: Get Down Tonight
Artist: KC and the Sunshine Band
Album: KC and the Sunshine Band
Year: 1975
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Baby, babe, let's get together.
Honey, hon, me and you.
And do the things, ah, do the things
That we like to do.

the grinch tree

There's a story here. This ficus tree has been around for a long time. It was around when I started working here almost ten years ago. Someone moved out and left it behind. My co-worker rescued it and put it in her office, where it stayed for five years. That co-worker moved on and left the ficus behind. It found it's way into another co-worker's office where it stayed until she departed. Then it came to live in my office for a year or so. I know it's sad... but I just didn't want it in my office so I passed it on to a new co-worker. It stayed there until just a few weeks ago. The poor little ficus has been in storage for a little while, and fortunately for it Christmas came along. My co-worker pulled it out of storage... she and I decorated it and there you have it. A nice little ficus Christmas tree. It reminds me of the Grinch, especially with the Santa hat resting nicely on top. Only a little over a week to go and this little tree will take a short little journey back to storage... unless someone claims it for their office. It could happen.
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Song 499: Fool For The City
Artist: Foghat
Album: Fool For The City
Year: 1975
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Goin' to the city, got you on my mind,
Country sure is pretty, I'll leave it all behind,
This is my decision, I'm comin' home to stay this time.

'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
Fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city.

Breathin' all the clean air, sittin' in the sun,
When I get my train fare, I'll get up and run.
I'm ready for the city, air pollution here I come!

'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city.

I'm like a fish out of water, I'm just a man in a hole.
The city lights turn my blues into gold.
I ain't no country boy, I'm just a homesick man.
I'm gonna hit the grit just as fast as I can.

I'm tired of layin' back, hangin' around,
I'm gonna catch that train, then I'll be city bound.

{Rod - Solo}

I ain't no country boy, I'm just a homesick man.
I'm gonna hit the grit just as fast as I can.

I'll get off on Main Street, step into the crowd,
Sidewalk under my feet, yeah, traffic's good and loud.
When I see my inner city child, I'll be walkin' on a cloud.

'Cause I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city,
I'm a fool for the city, I'm a fool for the city...
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
I'm a fool, (Fool for the city) A crazy fool, (Fool for the city)

I'm a fool yea, (Fool for the city) A fool for the city, (Fool for the city)
(Fool for the city) (Fool for the city)
I ain't no country boy, woo! (Fool for the city) (Fool for the city)
Woo! (Fool for the city) (Fool for the city)
A Fool for the city (Fool for the city) (Fool for the city)
Whoo! (Fool for the city) (Fool for the city) ...

little bunnies

These little bunnies are a Christmas tradition at our house. For fifteen years our daughters have hung this little ornament on the tree together. And it's always the last ornament placed on the tree. We were trying to remember tonight just how this tradition became a tradition. When they were little [t]ae kwon mom bought this little ornament and they both fell in love with it so they insisted on putting it on the tree together. [f]ine art daughter says the top bunny belongs to [b]iomedical daughter because it is protecting the other bunny [which belongs to her].

Right now our daughters are making chocolate oreo cookie balls... yum!

Oreo Cookie Balls

1 package Oreo cookies
1 (8 ounces) package cream cheese
1 package Almond Bark white chocolate

Put Oreo cookies in food processor, process until real fine. Place crumbs into a bowl and mix with cream cheese. Roll out mixture into marble size balls and place on cookie sheet. Put Oreo Cookie Balls in refrigerator to get cold. Take cookie balls out of refrigerator when cold and dip in melted white chocolate. Put cookie balls on wax paper to dry.

One last note: congratulations to [t]ae kwon mom. She took a four hour "final exam" this morning and she is now an officially certified lifeguard. Basically she is an amazing woman. She's an art teacher. A fitness instructor. A martial artist. A mother. A spinner. A weaver. A knitter. An artist. A graphic designer. A first responder. And now a lifeguard.
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Song 498: Fire On The Mountain
Artist: Marshall Tucker Band
Album: Searchin' for a Rainbow
Year: 1975
------------------------------------------------

Took my fam'ly away from my Carolina home
Had dreams about the West and started to roam
Six long months on a dust covered trail
They say heaven's at the end but so far it's been hell
And there's fire on the mountain, lightnin' in the air
Gold in them hills and it's waitin' for me there

the snowman

This has been a really nice day, spending time with my wife and daughters [who just moved back home from college for winter break]... and our new dog, Molli. She's been part of our family for two weeks and she is such a delight to have around. She brightens the room up when she comes into it. She smiles all the time, loves being with people, and is just a curious little bundle of fur. And fast! She can fly. She runs around and around our backyard, stopping on a dime, and taking off again. [F]ine art daughter bought her a bed and she loves it. We'll miss Molli during the day and we won't have to look very far. She'll be all curled up on her bed. And now she has fought a new favorite chill-out place underneath the Christmas tree. [F]uzzhead [our carin terrier that passed away last year] used to love to sleep underneath the tree. It is nice to see [M]olli there now.

The little snowman in the picture above is hanging comfortably on our tree, waiting for Christmas to arrive. Less than two weeks to go. I'm really looking forward to celebrating with family and friends.
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Song 497: Feel Like Makin' Love
Artist: Bad Company
Album: Straight Shooter
Year: 1975
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Baby, when I think about you
I think about love
Darlin, dont live without you
And your love
If I had those golden dreams
Of my yesterdays
I would wrap you in the heaven
till Im dyin on the way

Feel like makin
Feel like makin love
Feel like makin love to you

Baby, if I think about you
I think about love
Darlin if I live without you
I live without love
If I had the sun and moon
I would give you both night and day
Of satisfyn

Feel like makin
Feel like makinlove
Feel like makin love to you

And if I had those golden dreams
Of my yesterdays
I would wrap you in the heaven
til Im dyin on the way

Feel like makin love
Feel like makin love
(repeat many times)
Feel like makin love to you

the military man

One of my friends is on the road right now. Her son just finished basic training and she is driving 12 hours to pick him up and will drive 12 hours to bring him home for the holidays. Her son, [t]he military man, struggled to define his life after high school, and the direction that kept coming back to him was ...join the military... and so he did. He volunteered for service. There is no draft. There is no mandatory enlistment. He made this decision on his own. The first phase of his military career is finished and now it is on to the next. He's combat-ready, mentally and physically. He's ready for the assignment that lies ahead of him.

I can relate to [t]he military man. My father was drafted as young man, with a wife and three children. He had two brothers who were already serving in the Army in Germany during WWII, but he was drafted anyway and he too sailed for Germany after basic training. My dad fought on the front lines of France and Germany for over a year. He was 20 miles from Berlin when the war ended. Although it was not his choice to join the Army, he served proudly and valiantly. Fighting for what his country saw as the right thing to do. He came home to a hero's welcome. I am very proud of my father.

My brother [six years older than me] was drafted in the late sixties. After basic training he was sent to Viet Nam for 13 months. He fought in the rice paddies and tunnels of South Viet Nam. He slept in short naps, keeping vigilant watch for the enemy among the reeds, swamps and scorpions. He quickly moved up in ranks to tank commander and rolled through the swamps and reeds, in search of the enemy. He did not choose to be in the Army, but our country needed him and he served proudly and valiantly. He came home to the protests and flag-burning mobs who blamed the soliders for the war. I am very proud of my brother.

After high school I trotted off to college, working my way through school without the benefit of massive scholarships [only one small local scholarship to help defray the cost of books]. I earned my degree, but I felt a need to join the military. My father had fought. My brother had fought. Now it was my turn. There was no draft. There was no mandatory enlistment. I made the decision on my own. I joined the Air Force and graduated basic training and combat training. Our nation was just coming out of Viet Nam when I joined. I took part in Operation New Life, helping to bring refugees out of Saigon and transplant them in a new home, the United States. I never saw ground combat... but I was ready... trained... willing... wanting to do my part to help keep America and the world safe and free. After my time in service, I returned quietly to civilian life. No parades. No protests. No welcome-home parties. But I served proudly and valiantly.

My prayer is that our nation will continue to support our troops. Honor them. Respect them. Sleep soundly knowing that hundreds of thousands of men and women VOLUNTEERED to keep you safe and secure and free. War is not a good thing. But neither is insecurity and oppression. I don't know the minds of those who committed us to military action in the middle East. But I do know that we must trust our leaders to do what they feel is best for us, collectively as a nation. I, as all Americans, will be glad when our sons and daughters come home from these battle-torn lands, but we cannot leave those lands until not only we are safe, but so are all people in all nations. We are a compassionate nation. A caring nation.

And so, to [t]he military man, I salute you and all your fellow soldiers. May you be alert and untiring. May God be with you and bring you home victoriously and safety to your family and friends. I know you will serve proudly and valiantly.
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Song 496: Earthshaker
Artist: James Gang
Album: Newborn
Year: 1975
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1.7 million trees every day

As a follow up to my last post I thought I would talk a little bit more about paper. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] forest land in the United States has increased by 5.3 million acres in the last 30 years. Most paper produced in the United States today comes from trees that are grown as managed crops grown specifically to be used for paper. All of the paper produced by the number one paper company in the United States and the number one paper company in the world is made from sustainability managed forest land.

Even though you and I get tons of junk mail every year, all the mail in your mailbox and every mailbox across America only accounts for 2 percent of landfill waste nationally. That figure could be greatly reduced if we act responsibly as citizens and recycle. The vast majority of all this mail is made from a renewable resource... trees. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, we have more trees today than we did 70 years ago because the forest industry replenishes more trees than it uses, planting 1.7 million trees per day. Did you catch that last figure... 1.7 MILLION TREES PER DAY.

I am a strong supporter of using paper versus plastic, metal or glass. All these materials are made from natural resources. Paper is the only one of the four materials mentioned in my last sentence that is renewable. Although... we can... we should... reduce, repurpose, reuse as much as possible and responsibly discard every item that we choose to toss in the trash. For example... do not throw toner and ink cartridges in the trash. Take them to collection sites or send them back to the company that manufactured them. Each cartridge you purchase comes with a postage-paid envelope for you to send the used one back in. Take advantage of that. Help save our land and water from contamination. We can help make sure that our planet doesn't turn into to Soylent Green [the 1973 science fiction movie starring Charlton Heston].

Visit the American and Forest Paper Association and the Environmental Protection Agency for more information.
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Song 495: Drift Away
Artist: Rod Stewart
Album: Atlantic Crossing
Year: 1975
--------------------------------------------------

Day after day I'm more confused;
I look for the light in the pouring rain.
You know that's a game that I hate to lose.
I'm feelin' the strain; ain't it a shame?

Oh, give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.
Give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.

Beginning to think that I'm wastin' time;
don't understand the things that I do.
' Cause the world outside looks so unkind.
Now I'm countin' on you to carry me through.

Oh, give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.
Yeah, give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.

And when my mind is free no melody can move me.
When I'm feelin' blue guitars are comin' through to soothe me.

And thanks for the joy that you've given me;
I want you to know I believe in your song,
and rhythm and rhyme and harmony.
You help me along, makin' me strong.

Give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away, yeah
Give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away.

Oh, give me the beat, boys, to soothe my soul;
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll and drift away,
Yeah,
won't ya help me,
won't ya help me,
won't ya help me drift away

no more walks in the wood

The new CD by The Eagles, Long Road Out Of Eden, has already become one of my favorites. I especially enjoy the songs which feature the four-part harmony of Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy Schmit. When I saw them in concert last month, they performed several songs from Long Road Out Of Eden with just the the four of them and acoustic guitars on stage.

No More Walks In The Wood is a sad song about the destruction of trees by man. I love the song but I feel it leaves an incomplete message. There are men who destroy the forests in today's society. And in there place we find parking lots and housing developments and shopping malls... hundreds of shopping malls. And yet, I barely ever hear anyone speak of their concern for that destruction. But I do hear people leading campaigns to "save our forests, stop using paper". Those folks are just simply misinformed. Trees are a renewable resource. Paper producers are among the world's BEST stewards of the forests. There are more forests in North America today than there were 5o years ago. It's called sustainable forestry. When trees are used to make paper, more trees are planted in their place. Those trees are nurtured and groomed and cared for over the generations, ensuring that there are trees and forests for our kids and our grandchildren.

Plastic is the thing that should be curtailed. Plastic is also made from a natural resource... petroleum. But petroleum is not a renewable resource. I have yet to see someone plant new oil! I think the campaigns we should be waging are those that would call for the elimination of plastics and the encouragement of more biodegradable, renewable sources... trees. Can you imagine what our world would be like if we did not have paper. Think about all the things that we have that are made of paper. Packaging for one. Look around your kitchen and tell me how your cereal would get to your house without paper packaging. How did you get that cereal from the store to your house? It was either in a "plastic" bag or a paper bag, or a paper box or a cloth bag. What do you think the cloth bag is made of? It's either synthetic unrenewable materials or natural fibers [like wood or cotton]. And how about your bathroom. Tell me how well you would fare without paper there. How about your office. Unless you are one unique individual, you use paper all day long. You write on it, send letters in it, wrap packages in it, file notes in it. It's a renewable resource. If the manufacturers of paper were not using renewable, sustainable resources we would surely be out of paper and forests in a matter of months. But that's not the case. Paper manufacturers take care of forests the way you might farm the land. I never hear complaints about farmers plowing the land, planting it, cultivating it, harvesting it, feeding the masses from it, and then doing it all over again. It's the same thing. Trees are plants too. We grow them. We use them. We plant more. The best way I can see to do our part is to plant more trees ourselves. If you must remove a tree from your property, plant two [or three] in its place. Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the air and give off oxygen. We need to help eachother out a bit. Do your part. Give up plastic. Use paper. Choose products packaged in paper [corrugated, cardboard, paperboard] and leave the plastic alone as much as possible.

OK there's my rant for the day. I wonder how many comments will come in on this one.

BTW: The picture above is of a paper package, with a paper booklet inside, sitting on a wooden table. And yes the CD inside is... plastic. If only we could figure a way to make those out of paper. I do use plastic. I just try to use as little plastic as necessary. Had this CD been available on iTunes I would have downloaded it instead.
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Song 494: No More Walks In The Wood
Artist: The Eagles
Album: Long Road Out Of Eden
Year: 2008
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No more walks in the wood
The trees have all been cut down
And where once they stood
Not even a wagon rut
Appears along the path
Low brush is taking over

No more walks in the wood
This is the aftermath
Of afternoons in the clover fields
Where we once made love
Then wandered home together
Where the trees arched above
Where we made our own weather
When branches were the sky
Now they are gone for good
And you, for ill, and I
Am only a passer-by

We and the trees and the way
Back from the fields of play
Lasted as long as we could
No more walks in the wood

the cross

I took this picture at 4:05am this morning. We have a new sanctuary at our church and tomorrow will be the first worship service there. As part of the dedication events, we read through the entire New Testament from the new pulpit in 25 hours. One of my best friends and I shared the 3:30am time slot. We read Acts 27-28 and Romans 1-3. I would read a chapter and he would read a chapter. Looking out over the empty seats at that time of the morning was a humbling experience as we read from our pastor's own Bible. His Bible is filled with liner notes, underlined and highlighted verses, his thoughts and cross-references. The cross is the highest point in our city. You can see it from miles around. It symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection on Jesus. May it be a light to our community. May we be light in a dark world.

At the end of the day my wife and I joined about 30 friends and carolled our way to the homes of several shut-ins. They welcomed us in and we shared songs of Christmas, gifts made by the children, and words of encouragement. Christmas is such a great time of the year, but it also a sad time for many. All these dear elderly men and women were so emotional when we came to visit them. Most of them are all alone. No one to care for them or share the holidays with them. Just a short little visit from a groups such as ours seemed to brighten their day, and many of them commented that they had been looking forward to our visit for days. Hugs and tears were abundant tonight.
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Song 493: O Holy Night
Written by: Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure
Composed by: Adolphe Adam
Year: 1847
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O holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of our dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
'Til He appear'd and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees! O, hear the angels' voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born;
O night divine, O night, O night Divine.

Led by the light of Faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here come the wise men from Orient land.
The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friend.

He knows our need, to our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, Behold your King.

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother;
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name.

Christ is the Lord! O praise His Name forever,
His power and glory evermore proclaim.
His power and glory evermore proclaim.

stopping by the courtyard on a frosty morning

OK, so it wasn't frosty... just cold. The courtyard between the towers where I work looked so inviting this morning, I just had to stop for a few minutes and take some pictures. The sun was filtering through the trees, bouncing off the glass towers and illuminating the courtyard brilliantly.
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Song 492: Daisy Jane
Artist: America
Album: Hearts
Year: 1975
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Flyin me back to memphis
Gotta find my daisy jane
Well, the summers gone
And I hope shes feelin the same

Well, I left her just to roam the city
Thinkin it would ease the pain
Im a crazy man
And Im playin my crazy game, game

Does she really love me
I think she does
Like the stars above me
I know because
When the sky is bright
Everythings alright

Flyin me back to memphis
Honey, keep the oven warm
All the clouds are clearin
And I think were over the storm

Well, Ive been pickin it up around me
Daisy, I think Im sane
And Im awful glad
And I guess youre really to blame, blame

Do you really love me
I hope you do
Like the stars above me
How I love you
When its cold at night
Everythings alright

Does she really love me
I think she does
Like the stars above me
I know because
When the sky is bright
Everythings alright

tips for your holiday menu

Thanks to a friend for passing these holiday tips to me and now I am passing them to you.

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving cheese balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare. You can't find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-aholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's the holidays!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat step #3.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted cookies in holiday shapes, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple. Pumpkin. Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Reread tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by: 'Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming 'WOO HOO what a ride!'

The views and opinions expressed in this post are not necessarily the views of Blogspot, its users, viewers or this blogger.
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Song 491: Cut The Cake
Artist: Average White Band
Album: Cut The Cake
Year: 1975
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Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme
Gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme, gimme that cake

trail self portrait three

I totally like the way this image came out. I overexposed the base image in Photoshop then imported the second image [swiftly running water rushing over a rocks in a leaf-covered stream] as the top layer, then multiplied the top layer at 30 percent.

It reminds me of Obiwan or the Sand People in the original Star Wars. Of all the Star Wars movies, I think that one [which is officially known as Episode 4] is still my favorite. I saw it 17 times [17 days in a row] when it first came out in 1977.
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Song 489: Somebody's Saturday Night
Artist: Walter Becker
Album: Circus Money
Year: 2008
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...Somebody’s Saturday night says oh I get it
You want to go where no man’s ever been
Down in the coal mine goin’ down turn around push push turn around
Digging up the gold and carrying it back again...

wintertime reflections

I think there's something about the crisp, cool winter air that makes reflections in water more endearing. The reflections here caught my eye as I walked by today and I had to spend some time beside the water, watching the changing ripples being pushed about by the breeze.
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Song 490: Can't You See
Artist: Marshall Tucker Band
Album: Searchin' For A Rainbow
Year: 1975
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Gonna take a freight train,
down at the station,
Lord, I don't care where it goes.

Gonna climb a mountain, the highest mountain,
but gonna jump off nobody gonna know.

Can't you see, whoo Can't you see,
what that woman, Lord, she been doing to me.
Can't you see, Can't you see,
ah what that woman, she been doing to me.

I'm gonna find me, a hole in the wall,
I'm gonna crawl inside and die.

Come a later now,a mean ol' woman,Lord,
never told me goodbye.

Can't you see, Whoo, Can't you see,
what that woman, Lord, she been doing to me.
Can't you see, Can't you see,
ah what that woman, she been doing to me.

I'm gonna buy me a ticket now,as far as I can,
Ain't a never coming back.
got me a south bound, all the way to Georgia,
now,
till the train a run outt'a track.

Can't you see, Lord, Can't you see,
what that woman she been doing to me.
Can't you see, can't you see,
what that woman, she been doing to me.

grizzlies

My wife and I attended a Grizzlies game this past weekend. First row, right on the floor, only inches away from the court. Saturday night was one of the coldest nights we have had so far this winter. A drizzly cold rain misted the air as we parked two blocks away from the FedEx Forum and began our quest for the open door. There were dozens of doors, but none of them were open for admission. We worked our way around the forum to the parking garage and attempted to gain entry to the building that way only to find that there were very few entrances from the garage as well. Finally we found the First Tennessee entrance and talked the door guards into letting us enter, even though we were not attending the game as First Tennessee guests. They directed us to the elevators and we proceeded down to the ground floor and finally found our seats.

The Grizzlies did well against Oklahoma City [who has the worst record in the NBA at the moment] for the first half. Grizzlies were leading at one time by 11. If the game had been called at the end of the third quarter we would have barely won, but for some reason the officials insisted on allowing the game to continue to its fourth quarter end, thus resulting in our defeat. We did enjoy the unique experience of seeing the game from the floor though. We enjoyed it very much. It's exciting to watch the players as they charge down the court, as loose balls come flying in our direction. So close you can hear the swoosh of air as the ball passes. At one point in the game Marc Gasol [the guy on the cover of the program pictured above] came crashing to the floor right at our feet. I enjoyed watching the photographers sitting cross-legged just out-of-bounds, clicking bursts of pictures as the players raced up and down the court.

I could not help but watch as two women [sitting on row one near half-court] became more and more verbal as the game progressed. They yelled at the officials each time a call was made. And as the game continued, the women became louder and louder, with slurred speech and exaggerated arms flailing about. With only a minute left in the game and an obvious defeat headed our way, the women announced to all who could hear that they were not going to stay and watch such a badly called game. As they rose to leave one of them knocked her almost full glass of beer over, and it just happened to pour nicely into the expensive-looking black handbag of her companion. A fitting conclusion to their obnoxious public display.

BTW: The officials did a fine job. And the Oklahoma City team isn't quite as bad as it was before this game. All in all we had a fine night out at the Grizzlies game. I only wish we had won.
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Song 488: Boogie Shoes
Artist: KC and the Sunshine Band
Album: KC and the Sunshine Band
Year: 1975
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