Existing In BFE

I have never made a secret of my dislike for one of God's most misunderstood creatures. Nobody's perfect, I guess. They should never have been created, let alone become the focal point of the book of Genesis. When we were squirts in Seaton and had to light the candles for church service, we acolytes would go back to the reverend's office after doing our job to look at pictures in books.  While we were glimpsing Eve's nether regions, I was keeping an eye out for that damnable thing hissing in the tree. My mother was famous for keeping an ax handy for snake nests.  My Dad built a house in a new lot in Seaton and apparently was full of nests that we boys would uncover, then race to Mom for protection.  She swung that baby as accurately as Carrie Nation, and with as much fervor.  Looking back, they were most likely harmless garters but Marj took no chances.  I don't think I've ever seen anything redder than the blood of a snake.  If the sight of roiling dying sna

Longtime resident of the Grove Street community was Marty Cross.  Actually it was Martha but she never went by that name.  Descriptions of her are difficult, but suffice to say she was a character in every sense of the word.  She had her detractors, and her supporters.  I was in the latter camp.  One just sat in silence after the initial salutations, she would take off in so many directions you could get whiplash just listening.  She moved into the area and immediately became something of the neighborhood matriarch, often being invited to various shindigs.  One of them was our Hawaiian Party.  She was our guest for Thanksgiving one year. Like I said, you walked up gave her a hug, and then sat and watched or listened to the show.  She would give all of her block friends gifts at Christmas and even cooked for all us a couple of times in her house.  Those dinners ended when it was no longer possible to fit us all in her two-story house.  You see she was a spender and a hoarder, with an

I thought about posting this on a Friday or Saturday so everyone would have the time to see this, but then again, people are busy on weekends.  Whatever you do, see it through to the end.  It is very likely one of the greatest lectures on creativity I have ever heard.  It is the only one I have ever heard.  But even so, this is something you will relish long after you have listened to it.  Cleese nails this in a way that is funny, yet serious, and the structure of it is nothing less than brilliant.  PLEASE listen to it, it is my public service deed for the year.  (I know the subtitles are annoying, but you can handle it.)  Go grab a cup of coffee (or beer) depending on the time of day, pull up a chair and prepare to thank me for such an interesting post.

I like these kinds of posts because there is nothing I have to write. No words can describe other than just seeing for yourself. I took these during a sunset at Shawshank a month ago. They are not photo shopped or enhanced in any way by any photo program. I'll step aside now so you can see one of the most striking sunsets I've seen.

"You have the right to remain silent..." This is Aquarious Thomas.  He's not an Aquairus, however. He was born on December 18 which makes him a Scorpio.  Go figure.  This is Daniel Halter.  He looks like a woman.   This lady has some sort of skin condition. Attempted to commit prostitution.  "Attempted" seems to be the key word.  Wake up! Steady, steady. This guy's name is Victor Harry George.  Three first names.  Bet he says "What?"  a lot in crowds. She has a metalic bar through her upper cheek and a fairly gaudy looking tat on her neck.  The bar you can get rid of in a year or so, but not that tat.   He looks kind of like that guy in Men In Black whose head keeps growing back.  Oh well, watch the movie, you'll see. Probably not the most flattering picture this guy has ever taken. This lady was arrested for drug usage.  You can kinda tell. Holy smokes, look at them things.  Imagine carrying those around all day and s

Ask me the greatest weekend I ever had and I'll tell you, July 4th weekend in 2007. It was without doubt the greatest one I ever experienced and I've experienced a few.  It was a weekend where Brendan was able to join us from Clarksville, Tennessee while he was on leave there between tours in Iraq.  Joining us also that weekend were Michael and Alhanna. What we had, then was a good old family get-together.  I recall making plans to attend the 4th of July Car Show in Kewanee which is always held at Francis Park a couple miles outside of town.   I knew he was coming up with his friend Karen from England.  I had asked them to join me if they could at the car show, and if he really felt like it, to wear his uni, just for me. I'll be damned if he didn't and if I can say so, I was one proud father walking with his kid that day amongst the people and the old cars.  A memorable day that only got better. Michael and I went up to the depot to spot for trains.

This is the final day of the zoo, and I really didn't expect a three day post, but it really was a nice place, well done, with lots of neat exhibits.  Today is the primarily aquatic section.  So, let's go ahead and finish the tour. You won't find these guys at Brookfield, St. Louis and certainly not at Niabi.  Manatees are simply leg-less and armless walrus looking things without the tusks, too.  They are mammals so breath air but are very much sea creatures.  We have run into them at the beach and seen them in the Bay at the Vinoy, so they are not rare or bashful, but certainly not common.  Graceful, slow and lumbering they look like giant black blobs floating about. A mother and baby manatee swim about in a nice auditorium aquarium that you can also then go around and see them underwater through windows.  They are victims of boating props a lot down here, and protected with maniacal fervor. Alternating between food at the surface and then at the bott