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2008 has been interesting. Yes, the entire year.
From J1 to D31, it’s been a trip. So many things, events, people and places stand out in my mind … many of which are fluffed up and/or buried in my weblog. My favorite moment this year was … well … gosh there are so many … finding one is pretty difficult.
Or should I say narrowing it to one would be (and is) difficult.
With that thought in mind, I’ve learned a lot this year and grown up a little. Funny how we tend to look in the rearview mirror and wince at our errors, misgivings, and all the yucko moments we either created or egged on. Why those stand out I’ll never know?! Can I get a WTF?!
Okay then. If I were to narrow the ‘best of the best’ this past year I know that I’d forget some thing, someone or sweet sunset – so I won’t. Suffice it to say, all 366 days (it was a leap year) were a blessing.
The year has been a mixed bag of everything. It’s had healthy doses of smiles, laughter, travel, exhiliration, lost accounts, joy, ’shout-outs’, 100-milers, sunsets, Aloha’s, shutter snaps, flat tires, business trips, tears, firecrackers, simple lunches, cold-winter rides, summer-time death marches, flops in the sand, fallen trees, and certainly tense moments at home … along with good times too.
As crazy as it sounds, I’ve grown closer to myself, become more confident in my gut feelings, and certainly affirmed that no one is going to take care of me better than me.
We must do that ourselves.
Alas, it’s New Year’s eve – and I’m blogging. What does that tell you? I suspsect that when we turn the calendar over to J1 the process and more than likely the results will be much the same. I hope my reactions will be slower and more comfortable. After all, it’s how we react and/or ‘deal with it all’ which makes our daily lives (and thus a year) a true blessing.
Enough for now.
Starting J1 this weblog will convert itself into a true photoblog. I’ve toyed with my craft long enough. The daily adventure begins J1.
Peace.
Many people look forward
to the New Year for a
new start on old habits.
Make 2009 different.
Kick the habit.
Rock into shape.
Love your loved ones.
Travel often.
Drink a little.
Live a little.
Smell the coffee.
Gulp the sunshine.
Splash in the pool.
Pop the 4th.
Say hello to Fall.
Boo!
Give thanks.
Pretend to notice Christmas ads.
Start over again.
If you’re lucky.
Best make the 1st your best day.
There is work that is work and there is play that is play; there is play that is work and work that is play. And in only one of these lies happiness.
While storing some crappy-crap-crap today, I found my “current” Hot Wheels collection on a shelf behind some books. Yeah!
Modern day mind you, but ceratinly kewl and ‘hot.’
As you may know, Hot Wheels are die-cast model vehicles manufactured by Mattel and were introduced on September 7, 1968. I was about to turn six when these cars rolled onto the showrooms of a toystore near my home in Memphis, Tennessee. For my birthday I was given several cars — which has fueled my love of cars to this day.
Originally the cars and trucks were manufactured to approximately 1:64 scale and designed to be used on associated Hot Wheels track sets. I had two tracks with all the accessories – including the ‘redliner’ track with lots of turns and running footage. It was a blast to send those cars around the track at lightening speed! I’m still a HUGE fan.
The collection of my youth, long gone, was well over 100 cars (many of which were Matchbox cars, not Hot Wheels). However, I did own the sweet 16 originals. Yes, like many kids my age that was typical. By 1970 (I was 8), the Hot Wheels series introduced a 1:43 scale ‘Gran Toros’ which I thought were stupid and not at all “Hot Wheels.” Umm. While there were 16 models in the first year of introduction, today there are roughly 10,000 different models of Hot Wheels Cars. Yes, I’m still a fan. Hot Wheels ride oneth.
Make each and every day count. Including today, the day-after-Christmas-day. Many folks were out shopping – looking for bargains or winter wearables for next season.
I thought about leaping ahead into next week, contemplating a “New Year’s celebration.” It was mighty easy … in fact, it was about as easy as … well … thinking about it.
I suggest that we remember today – Friday, December 26th – is a gift. We are not guaranteed a ‘next week’ nor the week after that one. For now let’s just remember that 2009 New Year’s resolutions and wonderment can wait … a few more days and we’ll be there thank-you very much.
Santa is due a break from the Holiday action. Really. He’s been taking care of bizness, holding down the toy-fort since way-back, and had his peps on the streets working since just after Halloween. Whew. That’s enough to say enough. Santa, this Bud’s for you.
What is Christmas without all the wonderful scents and warmth of Christmas goodies? The mixture herein helps us discover a wonderful treat that you can make and share with friends and family. There are two methods: a) is from scratch using the ingredients listed below, or b) buy save some time and purchase Weigel’s eggnog, then add rum to taste. I prefer the Weigel’s method because it’s ‘cold separated’ – meaning it is smoother and more flavorful than traditional eggnog. Mele Kalikimaka.
Ingredients
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12 Eggs
-
3 pints Heavy Cream
-
1 cup Sugar
-
1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg
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1 cup Bourbon Whiskey
-
1 cup Cognac
-
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1. Reduce, refine and streamline.
2. When in doubt remove excess.
3. Be budget-minded each month.
4. “Make due.”
5. Plan ahead.
6. Take ALL vacation days.
7. When purchasing find a deal.
8. Save more.
9. Travel a lot, but only for the sake of vacationing.
10. Take bank Holidays off.
“If you want to kill any idea
in the world, get a committee
working on it.”
Charles F. Kettering
“I have a great diet.
You’re allowed to eat anything
you want, but you must
eat it with naked fat people.”
The play was the basis for the 1938 Academy Award winning film directed by Frank Capra. The film cast included several notable stars of the era including James Stewart, Jean Arthur, and Lionel Barrymore. The extended core cast included Edward Arnold, Spring Byington, Ann Miller, Dub Taylor, Charles Lane, Mischa Auer, Eddie ‘Rochester’ Anderson, and the uncredited Arthur Murray.
This comedy is one of Capra’s best films — and certaily it’s unappreciated. Barrymore is outstanding as the patriarch of the eccentric Vanderhof clan showing his range, playing the polar opposite of the evil Mr. Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life”. Barrymore, who is on crutches throughout the movie, is a man who has dropped out of the rat race and whose only goal in life is happiness – his and that of everyone around him. Arthur never seems to get her due when great actresses are discussed, but she certainly deserves to be mentioned along with the greats. Edward Arnold is excellent as a humorless, money hungry businessman who tries to buy the Vanderhof’s home for his latest business venture. The cast of free spirits who live in, or regularly visit the Vanderhof home make the movie. Poppins, Kolenkhov, Penny and the rest are a hilarious bunch who create a continuous cacophony of joy that greets any visitor to the Vanderhof home. In typical Capra style, things hit rock bottom for the Vanderhof clan before a warm, uplifting end that places a warm smile on your face.
The moral of the story is this: you can’t take it with you. The end.
Floyd Dupwe, Sr., 97, of Jonesboro, died Friday at his home. As a native and life-long resident of Jonesboro, he was instrumental in building several schools in the community. For all of his adult life – and most of his younger years – Floyd Dupwe, Sr. worked with his hands and the earth … if it were organic he loved it. He was a Field Supervisor for Bertig Cotton Company in Paragould for many years and then he later worked as a cotton grader for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Floyd was a vegetable gardener for most of his life and was noted in the community for his tomato’s.
Floyd was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church where he was active in the Knights of Columbus. He was preceded in death by 2 brothers, 1 sister and a daughter-in-law: Kathleen Dupwe. Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Mary Lucy Evans Dupwe, married November 8, 1936. Yes, for 72 years … think about that for a moment.
He is also survived by his daughter and son-in-law: Martha and Mickey Stafford of Jonesboro; 2 Sons and daughter-in-law: Floyd Dupwe, Jr., and Warren and Mila Dupwe, all of Jonesboro; 4 Grandchildren: Sherrie Mitchell, Doug Dupwe, Russell Dupwe and Brian Stafford and his wife, Jenine; and 2 Great Grandchildren: Meagan Mitchell and Cody Dupwe.
My earliest years around Uncle Floyd were highly memorable. Particularly because visits to Jonesboro (from Memphis) were a summer time tradition. My grandmother and great grandmother would pack up the car and then we (including my sister) would take a vacation. Heck, we (my sister and I) were already on vacation because we’re enjoying three months (!) with Momma Sue and Granny. So traveling to Jonesboro for a week (usually in July) was considered a vacation within a vacation. If you know what that is then you’ve lived a good life.
The trip to Jonesboro from Memphis was a slower excursion than it is today. Back in the 60’s, the road was just a two-lane country route from the outskirts of Memphis (West Memphis Arkansas) all the way to Jonesboro. It was lined with small towns, flooded potholes, plenty of ‘parking lot stops’ for slowing moving farm implements and traffic in general. Mid way we usually stopped for a bio break – and for a sweet treat at the “milk shake shack.” I have no idea what the real name of the milk shake shack was, but the peppermint shakes served there were AWESOME.
When we visited Aunt Lucy and Uncle Floyd, we’d spend a whole week with them. Uncle Floyd always wanted to show us his garden and give us a tour of the fields. I thought he was kewl guy because he had a tractor and would haul us around behind it. It felt dangerous and exciting, but in fact it wasn’t. When we visited Aunt Lucy and Uncle Floyd, watermelon and ice-cream made the short list of foods we consumed (these were indeed on the short list of our personal, primary food groups). We’d certainly eat lots of home grown veggies, but the fresh fruits and homemade ice-cream that topped off huge meals were particularly enjoyable.
During our stay, we’d fish nearby ponds, play games at night and ‘just visit.’ There was lots of joy, happiness and love among family. Every person in the Dupwe family, although they are my cousins, were addressed as either aunts or uncles. To this day I still address them with an aunt or uncle preface.
Trips to Jonesboro, Arkansas (as a kid and now as an adult) stand out as some of best memories, and best vacations, of my life.
I’m blessed to have known Floyd Dupwe, Sr., Uncle Floyd, and he will be missed.
Peace.
Ahh, the Holidays. Holidaze? Not really. Prior to shopping some we traveled to Silver Spoon and consumed some lunch-ege and then waltzed to the CRAZY mall for shopping frenzy. What? No line at the Mac store? Go figure. Besides the fact that Dillard’s cannot make the ‘gift card’ thing work (consistently they’ve missed the mark …. at three different Dillard’s – no wonder they are closing stores!), I completed 70% of my shopping. Yeah. Rest time.
We’re not having an office party, but for those who will step into the light of holiday cheer around colleagues, here is my advice:
10. Dress like your a loser: Company parties mean you put your best foot forward, and for many of you, like your job depends on it. Dress for the job you want, not the one you have. But don’t overdress and make your boss look shabby.
9. Loose Lips: Sink a ship and your career fast with a few ill-chosen words. Have an upbeat attitude about the company and employees. Above all else, refrain from the obvious suck up.
8. Using racist, sexist, or other offensive language: “Fool.” If you people turn up the racist channel, move to another dance floor. Or, just excuse yourself and get some fresh air.
7. Hanky-panky: Dipping pens in company ink is inappropriate any time of the year and even more so when you’re in the midst of a party. Keep your hands and comments to yourself.
6. Poor manners: If you drink and drive you will be caught! Good manners will not keep you out of jail. Poor manners at the party — shoutin’ out blah-dity-blahs or inappropriate behavior can torpedo your career. Heck, just a lack of manners can chip away at its foundation. Greet people appropriately, introduce your date, and eat properly.
5. Failing to prep your date: Make sure your date follows the rules and has the same goal in mind — maintain your career status! If our date is too flashy or frumpy, you’ll get dinged. Alert your date to the important players and don’t gossip.
4. Mistreating boss’ spouse or partner: Does this need more detail? An invitation to a slow dance is not appropriate.
3. Ignoring upper management: When they exist, they exist. Don’t approach bosses if at all inebriated.
2. Not showing up: Oooops. Every boss notices an absence. If you plan on being somewhere else – ALERT the boss well in advance.
1. Too much drinkage: This is a classic mistake. Alcohol loosens inhibitions, and is the number one cause of the dreaded ‘Foot in Mouth’ disease. If you feel that you’ve had enough, duck out before you say something stupid. And remember, “buzzed driving is drunk driving. And you will be caught.”
- No Shows – Employees who snub the office party may risk seeming pompous and also miss an excellent networking opportunity. A recent survey by Tickle found that 31% of respondents regretted ‘not showing up’ more than drinking too much (20%) or arriving late (18%).
- Being Clique-y – Holiday parties offers a rare chance to meet employees from other departments and more senior staff in an informal setting. This is a great opportunity to get to know others and make yourself known.
- After-Party Parties – Carrying on after the ‘official’ party can provide workplace gossip well into next year unless you are careful to continue the celebration with a very close-knit group of colleagues.
- Arm Candy Dates – Don’t bring a friend unless you know that guests are invited. Then be careful to choose someone who can converse well with co-workers and superiors – not someone who just looks good in evening wear.
- Not Saying ‘Thank You’ – Be sure to thank the event organizers or – when appropriate – the manager who authorized the party.
Let’s just say that each year I look forward to “making an opportunity” with which I stay at a Ritz Carlton somewhere in the world. This year I’ve enjoyed two. Yeah. No big deal really … I’m certain there are other RC aficionado’s who enjoy an RC experience (once or multiple times per year). The sights and sounds of an RC experience are worthy of sharing, like today’s images captured at the Ritz Carlton Lodge in Greensboro, Georgia. A super-nice setting and wonderful lodging experience. Ritz oneth.
Enclosed herein is a selection of my favorite photos that I took today at the Weigel’s Family Christmas event. More than 170 kids along with Weigel’s chaperons made their way into the Knoxville Salvation Army (gym) to enjoy the celebration. With lots of food, treats, and of course, Santa himself, the event was a huge success. I enjoyed being included because the event reminded me that Christmas is about giving to others without any expectation of a return gift. I’ve not seen nor felt this kind of spirit in many, many years.
It certainly frames Christmas in a new light. Mele Kalikimaka.
Mr. Robert Hackney owns A Tiki Tattoo – in the heart of Waikiki. The shop is well appointed to serve your needs. Having graced the doorsteps of many shops while on O’ahu, Tiki is way-laid-back and a bit more comfortable with people who are just curious rather than serious about getting inked. When you are ready, they are ready. Of course, an appointment is highly suggested. The shop is a sweet bit of Hawai’i – a true tropical lounge complete with bamboo décor.
I believe they have 5 artists on staff – and a piercing agent as well. I’ve read that celebs like Reverend Horton Heat, Mike Ness of Social Distortion, and Alice in Chains have been inked within the walls of A Tiki Tattoo. None of those folks were there the day I visited.
The enclosed photo/visual aid is a nice tat from the collection of A Tiki Tattoo. Ink oneth.
Always do right. This will gratify
some people and astonish the rest.
→ Mark Twain
In the midst of winter,
I found there was, within me,
an invincible summer.
→ Albert Camus
In some cultures, Monday is held to be the first day of the week. In Asia – because the western calendar system was introduced only during the 20th century – many languages refer to Monday as the “day of the beginning”. For example, Monday is xingqi yi (星期一) in Chinese, meaning day one of the week. The international standard, ISO 8601, defines Monday as the first day of the week. Mondarrific to me. And the photo has nothing to do with Monday – it was taken on a Thursday. But I like the image. Vieweth oneth.
The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise military strike conducted by the Japanese navy against the United States’ naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on the morning of Sunday, December 7, 1941, later resulting in the United States becoming militarily involved in World War II. It was intended as a preventive action to keep the U.S. Pacific Fleet from influencing the war Japan was planning to wage in Southeast Asia against Britain, the Netherlands, and the United States. The attack consisted of two aerial attack waves totaling 353 aircraft, launched from six Japanese aircraft carriers.
The attack sank four U.S. Navy battleships (two of which were raised and returned to service late in the war) and damaged four more. The Japanese also sank or damaged three cruisers, three destroyers, and one mine layer, destroyed 188 aircraft, and caused personnel losses of 2,402 killed and 1,282 wounded. The power station, shipyard, maintenance, and fuel and torpedo storage facilities, as well as the submarine piers and headquarters building (also home of the intelligence section) were not hit. Japanese losses were minimal, at 29 aircraft and five midget submarines, with 65 servicemen killed or wounded.
The strike was intended to neutralize the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and hence protect Japan’s advance into Malaya and the Dutch East Indies, where Japan sought access to natural resources such as oil and rubber. Both the U.S. and Japan held long-standing contingency plans for war in the Pacific which were continuously updated as tensions between the two countries steadily increased during the 1930s, with the Japanese expansion into Manchuria and French Indochina greeted by steadily increased levels of embargoes and sanctions from the United States and other nations.
In 1940, under the authority granted by the Export Control Act, the U.S. halted shipments of airplanes, parts, machine tools, and aviation gasoline, and perceived by Japan as an unfriendly act. The U.S. did not stop oil exports to Japan at that time in part because prevailing sentiment in Washington was that such an action would be an extreme step, given Japanese dependence on U.S. oil, and likely to be considered a provocation by Japan.
Following Japanese expansion into French Indochina after the fall of France, the U.S. ceased oil exports to Japan in the Summer of 1941, in part because of new American restrictions on domestic oil consumption. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had earlier moved the Pacific Fleet to Hawaii and ordered a military buildup in the Philippines in the hope of discouraging Japanese aggression in the Far East. As the Japanese high command was (mistakenly) certain any attack on the United Kingdom’s Southeast Asian colonies would bring the U.S. into the war, a preventive strike appeared to be the only way for Japan to avoid U.S. naval interference. An invasion of the Philippines was also considered to be necessary by Japanese war plans, while for the U.S., re-conquest of the islands had been a given of War Plan Orange in the interwar years.
While the attack accomplished its intended objective, it was completely unnecessary. Isoroku Yamamoto, who conceived the original plan, didn’t know that the U.S. Navy had decided as far back as 1935 to abandon ‘charging’ across the Pacific towards the Philippines in response to an outbreak of war (in keeping with the evolution of Plan Orange). The U.S. instead adopted “Plan Dog” in 1940, which emphasized keeping the Imperial Japanese Navy out of the eastern Pacific and away from the shipping lanes to Australia while the U.S. concentrated on defeating Nazi Germany.
The attack was an important engagement of World War II. Unintentionally occurring before a formal declaration of war (which had been scheduled to be delivered shortly prior to the attack beginning), it pushed U.S. public opinion from isolationism to the acceptance of participation in the war being unavoidable. The lack of warning led Roosevelt to call it “a date which will live in infamy.”
It was cold all day – especially during the 5.5 hours on my bike. YUCKO. Several times I wanted to turn around and return home. Combined with a nagging injured left knee, the adventure wasn’t particularly ‘warm.’ All the mental images I drew from (during my ride) were of the beach (Kailua-Kona), the Pacific and of Hawaiian flowers (because they smell so darn good).
So, my photo of the day is “Pentas lanceolata,” otherwise known as Pentas. Where winters are not too severe, pentas are perennial. They may always be treated as an annual and replanted after danger of frost for long-lasting summer color. Frost? Who mentioned frost? Burr. Let’s just consider the day ‘done’ and move onward. Nuf said.
Aloha.
The Morris Museum of Art, located on the Riverwalk in downtown Augusta, Georgia, is the first museum dedicated to the art and artists of the American South. The collection includes holdings of nearly 5,000 paintings, works on paper, photographs, and sculptures dating from the late-eighteenth century to the present. In addition to the permanent collection galleries, the museum hosts eight to ten temporary special exhibitions every year.
I carried my camera along to snap some interior shots. NOTE: photography is not allowed inside, but because I was touring with the PR director for the Museum — and because I agreed to ‘not’ photograph any painting directly from the front — I was allowed to snap a few room shots. The Morris Museum — it’s a jewel in the midst of downtown Augusta, Georgia. Remember to click on a photo, then click on it again to see the larger image. Enjoy.
The Augusta Canal was chartered in 1845 and completed in 1847, as a source of water, power and transportation for the city of Augusta. It was one of the few successful industrial canals in the American South. During the time of construction, the canal was headed by Henry Cumming and was designed by J. Edgar Thomson. In 1847, the first factories started, a saw and grist mill and the Enterprise Mill, were built. It would be one of many factories that would be built along the Augusta Canal.
By the time of the Civil War, Augusta was one of the few manufacturing centers in the South. The power afforded there led Confederate Col. George W. Rains to select Augusta as the location for the Confederate Powderworks. The twenty-eight buildings, which were the only ones constructed by the government of the Confederate States of America, stretched for two miles along the Augusta Canal. Other war industries started to establish along the canal making Augusta an important center for ammunition and war materiel.
Unlike most Southern cities after General Sherman’s march through the South, Augusta ended the war in better condition. The population had doubled and hard currency was available to fiance recovery. The canal was enlarged in 1875.
A boom era saw the construction of the Enterprise Mill, King Mill, and Sibley Mill, the Lombard Ironworks and may others opened or expanded. Several people who lived on farms moved to the city to work at the mills. Largely employing women and children, the factories led to the rise of mill villages in their precincts. In the 1890s, the city replaced its old water pumping station with impressive structure at mid-canal that is still used by the city of Augusta today. As the electric age began to dawn, Augusta began to turn the canal’s falling water power to drive the first generation equipment. By 1892, Augusta boasted both electric streetcars and street lights — the first Southern city to have these amenities.
Tuesday is the second day of the week according to the international standard ISO 8601, and is situated between Monday and Wednesday. In technical terms, it segues between a yucky-Monday and the humpday-Wednesday.
Snow fell nicely this morning and the XM radio oozed Christmas songs like it was December 24th. I listened happily as if it were Christmas morning. Then the reality of Monday stepped on my warm thought bubbles, crushing them into slush and muck. Ok-Ok, the reality of work is better than the reality of no-work. I get it. However, I want to have MORE fun. Period. Life passes so very quickly and if we are not having fun EVERY day then we’re not living. Right-on? Right-on!
When we mix a little fun with the drama of business, our outlook improves. Did I hear an “amen” on the back row?? The Christmas songs of the morning are ready for replays this afternoon and I’m certainly ready for breezy thoughts of spring. Without living the future “today,” I’ll just enjoy the prospects of snow, the Holidays and time inside with the LGE. That combination is nice. Rambling again, but you get the idea.
Mix some fun in with each day and make life mo’ better. Ahh.
