Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Waxing nostalgic
Playing Buffalo Tom's video to I'm Allowed I was waxing nostalgic on Facebook:
Flashing back to the great music to which I listened when I was in Honduras (94-95), Soul Asylum, Pearl Jam, and, of course, Buffalo Tom. Funny how music marks the milestones of our lives, this was one of the happiest times of my life. I was happily married to the girl of my dreams, I loved my job, and we felt reasonably safe. Ah but Dylan was right (Bob, not Thomas), the times they are a changin'.....
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Walk in the snow
Yesterday I got out for a couple of walks in the snow. I thought about taking the truck but I was just going around my neighborhood and I didn't see the need to burn the gas. I was glad I walked, because I saw things I would have missed. It was as Frost said, I took the road less travelled by, and that has made all the difference. For some reason I was thinking that Walt Whitman said wrote that , silyl me. Regardless, it was absolutely beautiful out in the snow. Mesta Park and Heritage Hills are lovely neighborhoods on a regular day, snow makes it art.
Some of the the art was based on nature and some was because of man. I found some flowers covered in snow, lilacs and daffodils. The robins were NOT enjoying the snow, they don't like to move but it allows you to get close to them. The homes were a treat as well. Beyond the fact that they are great looking houses, the snow changes everything. Some looked like paintings, with lights reflecting in the wet streets. Some looked like gingerbread homes, others like "grandma's houses."
I used to think I was a pretty good writer, but I'm resigned to the knowledge that on my best day I'm a bit above average. I wish I had the vocabulary to adequately describe my journey through the snow and convey all beautiful images. I'm a pretty good photographer, but there is no way I can show you what it looked like watching snow blowing off the roofs, one shot can't capture the rolling, swirling cloud of sparkling crystals dancing on the air. And there's now way I can convey the feelings, the peace, the wonder, gratitude of being there in that place and time.
Some of the the art was based on nature and some was because of man. I found some flowers covered in snow, lilacs and daffodils. The robins were NOT enjoying the snow, they don't like to move but it allows you to get close to them. The homes were a treat as well. Beyond the fact that they are great looking houses, the snow changes everything. Some looked like paintings, with lights reflecting in the wet streets. Some looked like gingerbread homes, others like "grandma's houses."
I used to think I was a pretty good writer, but I'm resigned to the knowledge that on my best day I'm a bit above average. I wish I had the vocabulary to adequately describe my journey through the snow and convey all beautiful images. I'm a pretty good photographer, but there is no way I can show you what it looked like watching snow blowing off the roofs, one shot can't capture the rolling, swirling cloud of sparkling crystals dancing on the air. And there's now way I can convey the feelings, the peace, the wonder, gratitude of being there in that place and time.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Lisa Mirick passing, very sad.
Ron Benton BOB-FM's "Givin' the Dog A Bone Bash" A Benefit in Memory of Lisa Mirick Friday, December 4th at Rock Theater, 5810 S. Western. Entertainment Lineup: 7:00 - 8:30PM: Scott Keeton 9:00 - 11:00PM: Street Kings 11:30 - 1:30AM: Metal Headz Tickets are only $10 and on sale now @ http://www.969bobfm.com Proceeds wi...
http://newsok.com/lisa-mirick-former-oklahoma-city-radio-personality-dies/article/3418500?custom_click=masthead_topten
http://newsok.com/lisa-mirick-former-oklahoma-city-radio-personality-dies/article/3418500?custom_click=masthead_topten
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
DC Trip report
I was in DC last week for the National Guard Public Affairs conference. In addition to learning a lot I met some amazing people. I met the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, a really dynamic guy. He basically said to break out and do the cool stuff you think needs doing (in PA) and get forgiveness later. "Here's my card, call me if you get in trouble." A get -out-of-jail-free card, how cool is that?
I think there's a life message there too, stop worrying about what others think and go live your life.
I also met the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs the VA, Tammy Duckworth. You've heard of her:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth
She's the helicopter pilot who lost her legs to an RPG and ran for congress. An amazing lady. I'll be posting a pic with her as soon as I get it.
There were a lot of other high ups, it was hosted by the National Guard Bureau PAO, he's a cool guy and really outgoing, which seems to be a trait for PA folks.
Met some really good people from AZ. One sergeant, Ed, was a former Naval officer and got out and came the NG as an enlisted man. He's from Brooklyn and I love that accent.
I was out with some of these new friends at a crazy hour very early Thur. morning, driving around the Mall area in DC, just looking around. I got off on a kind of side street, by the Daughters of the American Revolution building and stopped at a stop sign with the window down. I heard a Blackhawk on the other side of some trees about 500 yds away. I know a Blackhawk's sound and thought, "there's only one Blackhawk that should be in this area." Yep, Marine One (the president's bird). It lifted off and flew in front of the Washington monument. It was pretty powerful moment. I found out later the bird was heading back to Andrews after returning the President to the White House after meeting the bodies of the 18 troops killed in Afghanistan last week. It was one of the moments that only happen rarely in ones life.
Friday we were supposed fly out at 0945 (ish) to Chicago and then OKC. The fight to OKC was cancelled due to winds and the next best flight was at 653PM. I was pretty annoyed, especially since our bird was a Boeing 777. But the lady at the counter suggested I go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, it was close and there's a regular shuttle. Well that sounded ok, I'd think about it.
I was wandering around the airport (the Ethiopian Air counter area was interesting) and stumbled to the USO. Cool, this is a positive step. The ladies there gave me free shuttle tokens, I read the paper and found out where the President had been, and caught a nap. When it was time for the first shuttle to go I stashed my laptop and headed out. When I walked into the museum I was amazed. What a fantastic collection and facility. I'll have to make a separate post on all the stuff I saw. But the highlights include a book author signing his book, which I bought, the shuttle Enterprise, Wiley Post's plane the Winnie Mae, an SR 71 (kicked the tires on an operational one before so it was a bit ho hum to me) the Enola Gay, and an amazing collection for WWII American, German and Japanese planes.
So I spent the day just photographing everything in sight. I found a book of photo artwork of the planes in the gift shop and bought that. It's full of the kind of stuff I love to do but didn't have time and access to do.
So it turned out to be serendipitous to be delayed, who knows when I'd ever gotten to see that stuff other wise.
I'll be posting photos as I get to them.
It was a great week.
I think there's a life message there too, stop worrying about what others think and go live your life.
I also met the Assistant Secretary of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs the VA, Tammy Duckworth. You've heard of her:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tammy_Duckworth
She's the helicopter pilot who lost her legs to an RPG and ran for congress. An amazing lady. I'll be posting a pic with her as soon as I get it.
There were a lot of other high ups, it was hosted by the National Guard Bureau PAO, he's a cool guy and really outgoing, which seems to be a trait for PA folks.
Met some really good people from AZ. One sergeant, Ed, was a former Naval officer and got out and came the NG as an enlisted man. He's from Brooklyn and I love that accent.
I was out with some of these new friends at a crazy hour very early Thur. morning, driving around the Mall area in DC, just looking around. I got off on a kind of side street, by the Daughters of the American Revolution building and stopped at a stop sign with the window down. I heard a Blackhawk on the other side of some trees about 500 yds away. I know a Blackhawk's sound and thought, "there's only one Blackhawk that should be in this area." Yep, Marine One (the president's bird). It lifted off and flew in front of the Washington monument. It was pretty powerful moment. I found out later the bird was heading back to Andrews after returning the President to the White House after meeting the bodies of the 18 troops killed in Afghanistan last week. It was one of the moments that only happen rarely in ones life.
Friday we were supposed fly out at 0945 (ish) to Chicago and then OKC. The fight to OKC was cancelled due to winds and the next best flight was at 653PM. I was pretty annoyed, especially since our bird was a Boeing 777. But the lady at the counter suggested I go to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, it was close and there's a regular shuttle. Well that sounded ok, I'd think about it.
I was wandering around the airport (the Ethiopian Air counter area was interesting) and stumbled to the USO. Cool, this is a positive step. The ladies there gave me free shuttle tokens, I read the paper and found out where the President had been, and caught a nap. When it was time for the first shuttle to go I stashed my laptop and headed out. When I walked into the museum I was amazed. What a fantastic collection and facility. I'll have to make a separate post on all the stuff I saw. But the highlights include a book author signing his book, which I bought, the shuttle Enterprise, Wiley Post's plane the Winnie Mae, an SR 71 (kicked the tires on an operational one before so it was a bit ho hum to me) the Enola Gay, and an amazing collection for WWII American, German and Japanese planes.
So I spent the day just photographing everything in sight. I found a book of photo artwork of the planes in the gift shop and bought that. It's full of the kind of stuff I love to do but didn't have time and access to do.
So it turned out to be serendipitous to be delayed, who knows when I'd ever gotten to see that stuff other wise.
I'll be posting photos as I get to them.
It was a great week.
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