Tuesday, March 25, 2008
March 25 -- That's what I get for...
I thought some readers might enjoy this true story that happened to me this afternoon about 6:30 p.m.
I had just finished a meeting on emergency radio communications with some officials at the local hospital, which is right next to campus. As I was walking across campus on my way back to my car to come home, a female coed jogger came up beside me on the sidewalk near Gibbons Hall. I was doing my usual brisk walk, and she was jogging, albeit extremely slowly, in the way that a lot of local coeds jog around campus. I kept up with her for a couple hundred feet. She was in typical garb: loose silk shorts and a jogging bra, even though it was quite chilly. (I won't mention the finer points indicating just how chilly it was, but suffice it to say they were there and they were noticeable.) Just as she came up even with me, she said, "I just want you to know, you're hot!" I was taken aback a little. Although I was in a heavy flannel shirt and heavy pants, I didn't think I was sweating. As we went side by side down the sidewalk, she continued, "No, really, you're the hottest guy I know. Can we get together tonight?" I smiled back and replied, "No, I don't think my wife would like that."
She didn't miss a beat, she said, "Oh, that doesn't matter a bit." I said, "well, it does to my wife, and actually to me, too." She said, "oh, [f-word], I'd love to go to bed with you tonight." I was thinking to myself, Dave, you old gray-haired potbellied dog, you've still got it, haven't you?", but instead I said nothing, just shaking my head. She continued, "Yeah, me too, so what time?" I again said nothing, but smirked and shook my head trying to convey disgust. She then said, "Awesome. Me too. Yeah. Really." She paused, and then said, "Awesome! I can't believe it, like, I thought it was me, and hey, that was last semester, and ... wow, you're kidding.... no sh*t, really?" I stopped in my tracks, and she went on ahead, and that was when I noticed in her other ear, the one opposite me, was one of those little maddening bluetooth phone earpieces. She just kept on talking as she jogged on ahead. Sigh. I should have known better... She'd never even noticed me. Ain't technology wonderful?
(True story, not a rip off of that story about the lady in the restroom. ... I wonder who the lucky guy was tonight...)
Monday, March 24, 2008
Easter Photos...
Okay, here are a few of the family pics from Easter, starting with the famous "club photo". Out of focus a little bit, but I guess you can't fault the security guy too much... at least he tried. And the price was right.
Here are the girls over 30... um, 40? um ....
Here's my favorite.
Mr. Special Operations himself, in civilian garb.
Here's Grandma, our gracious hostess with the mostest...
The Big T...
Mr. T. -- I mean, Mr. B ... er, I mean Mr. A.
Big Brother's is watching...
Little Sister...
Allie was there, too. She did a great job cleaning the floor from where I dropped the icing off my strawberry cupcake.
Mrs. B.
Mr. B. --- he looks more and more like the senior Mr. B. did, as each year goes by...
Mr. B the younger, master electrician, and railroad constructionist extraordinaire...
Here are the girls over 30... um, 40? um ....
Here's my favorite.
Mr. Special Operations himself, in civilian garb.
Here's Grandma, our gracious hostess with the mostest...
The Big T...
Mr. T. -- I mean, Mr. B ... er, I mean Mr. A.
Big Brother's is watching...
Little Sister...
Allie was there, too. She did a great job cleaning the floor from where I dropped the icing off my strawberry cupcake.
Mrs. B.
Mr. B. --- he looks more and more like the senior Mr. B. did, as each year goes by...
Mr. B the younger, master electrician, and railroad constructionist extraordinaire...
Miss B. (great dance video, by the way...)
First cousin (seated) and second cousins... (It's unbelievable how they've changed since I last saw them... wow!)
First cousin (seated) and second cousins... (It's unbelievable how they've changed since I last saw them... wow!)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Saturday Hike up Bear Den Mtn
Friday, I made like a politician and put out 250 pounds of fertilizer in the front yard, side yards, back yard, and the trees in the lower 40. The cost of fertilizer has gone through the roof. Last year, the 50-lb bags were about $4.00 each. This year, the same fertilizer is $12 per 50-lb bag! Unbelievable.
Saturday morning, after doing some morning chores, I decided to take the afternoon off and hike up to the top of Bear Den Mountain. This is large sugar-loaf-type mountain at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park, just north of where Skyline Drive turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I parked at Beagle Gap parking area, and took the Appalachian Trail south about 3 miles, gaining about 450 feet of elevation. Starting out about 2 pm, the weather was looking quite nice: bright sunshine and a clear sky. The forecast called for clear skies and temperatures in the upper 40's, with clouds rolling in and rain predicted to start about 8 pm.
At the top of Bear Den Mountain, where all the radio towers are, wow, it was chilly, especially with the wind blowing. Glad I had my coat.
The monopod: This past Christmas, Mom got me a "monopod". It's like a tripod, except that it has only one leg. Basically, it is a collapsible walking stick that you can mount your camera on. With some ingenuity, you can secure the thing to a bush or tree or something, and set the timer on your camera and snap a picture of yourself by running around in front of the lens before the shutter goes off. I carried a long twist-tie to secure the stick to a bush or tree, and got a couple of photos of myself, up near the top of the mountain.
Before I could get down the back side of Bear Den, over towards Calf Mountain, it clouded up bad, and the sky quickly turned ominous. Since I'd failed to put a poncho in my backpack (oversight city: I did have my binoculars, water, some Girl Scout thin mints, map, etc.), I quickly hiked the two hours back up and over the summit, back to the car. I arrived at the car about 6:00 pm, just as the first drops of rain began to fall. I didn't even get my glasses wet.
It rained very lightly all evening, just perfect to soak in and dissolve the fertilizer.
Here's the view from the trail about a quarter mile below the summit of Bear Den Mountain, looking towards Charlottesville.
I can't remember which of my kids it was... but two of kids, individually, on separate occasions, hiked up here with me a while ago, and each time, we stopped to climb this tree.
It is a perfect climbing tree. The lower limbs are only about five feet off the ground, with great climbing limbs all the way up. I believe that perhaps Bryan, and also either Cathryn or Dianna came up here with me, on separate occasions, and we spent an enjoyable few minutes climbing this tree.
I used a long twisty to secure the monopod to an old apple tree branch I found at the edge of a meadow. This is looking southeast towards Schuyler, Virginia, which is where "John Boy" and the Walton family really lived.
The top of Bear Den has a fantastic antenna farm. Here are just two of about ten or more installations up there. The FAA has a site, Norfolk-Southern railroad has a site, ClearChannel has a site, Virginia public television has one, the state highway patrol has one, Comcast has one, AT&T has one, and there is a multi-purpose site, also. In this shot, taken with the monopod tied to a bush, the tower on the right (with all the microwave bubbles on it) is a military and government installation, although it sure looks like a cellular base station on the top. The one of the left is MCI's.
The W4PNT ham radio repeater site is also located up here.
I love walking in the mountains. It'll be even better once the trees turn green again. The rhododendrons and mountain laurel will be blooming in another month or two. I can't wait!
Saturday morning, after doing some morning chores, I decided to take the afternoon off and hike up to the top of Bear Den Mountain. This is large sugar-loaf-type mountain at the southern end of Shenandoah National Park, just north of where Skyline Drive turns into the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I parked at Beagle Gap parking area, and took the Appalachian Trail south about 3 miles, gaining about 450 feet of elevation. Starting out about 2 pm, the weather was looking quite nice: bright sunshine and a clear sky. The forecast called for clear skies and temperatures in the upper 40's, with clouds rolling in and rain predicted to start about 8 pm.
At the top of Bear Den Mountain, where all the radio towers are, wow, it was chilly, especially with the wind blowing. Glad I had my coat.
The monopod: This past Christmas, Mom got me a "monopod". It's like a tripod, except that it has only one leg. Basically, it is a collapsible walking stick that you can mount your camera on. With some ingenuity, you can secure the thing to a bush or tree or something, and set the timer on your camera and snap a picture of yourself by running around in front of the lens before the shutter goes off. I carried a long twist-tie to secure the stick to a bush or tree, and got a couple of photos of myself, up near the top of the mountain.
Before I could get down the back side of Bear Den, over towards Calf Mountain, it clouded up bad, and the sky quickly turned ominous. Since I'd failed to put a poncho in my backpack (oversight city: I did have my binoculars, water, some Girl Scout thin mints, map, etc.), I quickly hiked the two hours back up and over the summit, back to the car. I arrived at the car about 6:00 pm, just as the first drops of rain began to fall. I didn't even get my glasses wet.
It rained very lightly all evening, just perfect to soak in and dissolve the fertilizer.
Here's the view from the trail about a quarter mile below the summit of Bear Den Mountain, looking towards Charlottesville.
I can't remember which of my kids it was... but two of kids, individually, on separate occasions, hiked up here with me a while ago, and each time, we stopped to climb this tree.
It is a perfect climbing tree. The lower limbs are only about five feet off the ground, with great climbing limbs all the way up. I believe that perhaps Bryan, and also either Cathryn or Dianna came up here with me, on separate occasions, and we spent an enjoyable few minutes climbing this tree.
I used a long twisty to secure the monopod to an old apple tree branch I found at the edge of a meadow. This is looking southeast towards Schuyler, Virginia, which is where "John Boy" and the Walton family really lived.
The top of Bear Den has a fantastic antenna farm. Here are just two of about ten or more installations up there. The FAA has a site, Norfolk-Southern railroad has a site, ClearChannel has a site, Virginia public television has one, the state highway patrol has one, Comcast has one, AT&T has one, and there is a multi-purpose site, also. In this shot, taken with the monopod tied to a bush, the tower on the right (with all the microwave bubbles on it) is a military and government installation, although it sure looks like a cellular base station on the top. The one of the left is MCI's.
The W4PNT ham radio repeater site is also located up here.
I love walking in the mountains. It'll be even better once the trees turn green again. The rhododendrons and mountain laurel will be blooming in another month or two. I can't wait!
Cathryn's Camera: Fixed
Okay, Cat-Kim, your camera is fixed. These are some photos I took with it today. Notice: no spots, no smudges, no smears, and no gray areas, on any of these pics. --- Mom and I walked the mile-long walking trail around Weyers Cave park this afternoon, the weather was chilly, but otherwise quite gorgeous.
The view towards Cave View farms, with a clear blue sky.
After the walk around the park, Mom went back home, and I drove east past Grottoes to the Madison Run Fire Road, where I walked a couple of miles up the trails. It was about 40 degrees, enough to make me wish I'd taken a hat.
Here are the stepping stones across the stream at the base of the Furnace Mountain Trail. Does anyone remember the hike we made up to the top of Furnace Mountain one winter, where we took the stoves in our backpack and made some hot chocolate up there sitting on the table rock at the edge of the cliff overlooking the Madison Run valley?
I used the Monopod, twist-tied to a tree.
Another shot using the monopod.
The view towards Cave View farms, with a clear blue sky.
After the walk around the park, Mom went back home, and I drove east past Grottoes to the Madison Run Fire Road, where I walked a couple of miles up the trails. It was about 40 degrees, enough to make me wish I'd taken a hat.
Here are the stepping stones across the stream at the base of the Furnace Mountain Trail. Does anyone remember the hike we made up to the top of Furnace Mountain one winter, where we took the stoves in our backpack and made some hot chocolate up there sitting on the table rock at the edge of the cliff overlooking the Madison Run valley?
I used the Monopod, twist-tied to a tree.
Another shot using the monopod.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
March 12: Natural Bridge
Debbie and I decided to take a quick little get-away, so went to Lexington Tuesday night, and spent the day Wednesday at Virginia's Natural Bridge. This is a great little park just over an hour south of where we live. The park features a very nice visitor's center, from which you descend 150 or so stairs into a gorge. There is a mile-long nature trail in the bottom of the gorge, following Cedar Creek. Thomas Jefferson purchased this entire area from King George III in 1774 for twenty shillings. George Washington surveyed the area, and supposedly carved his initials in the rock under the bridge. Here is a picture of the oldest aborvitae tree in the world, supposedly about 1600 years old. The photograph does not do justice to the size of this tree. According to the signs, this type of arborvitae grows only about 1 inch in diameter every 30 years.
Just a few yards from the bottom of the stairs leading from the visitor center is this view of the bridge. The bridge is 255 feet from the stream to the top of the arch. The arch is about 40 feet thick, and U.S. highway 11 runs across the top. The size of this arch is awesome. Click on this picture to enlarge it, and look at the size of the people at the bottom under the bridge.
Debbie took this one while I was standing on a rock in the middle of the stream.
The nature trail continues through the bridge, about a mile, to some very pretty cascades. Here is a picture of the creek in the background.
Along the way is a re-created Indian village, showing how the local Monacan Indians were living about the time Thomas Jefferson purchased the area. The indians built their chickees (huts) inside a stockade called a palisade.
Ain't she sweet?
This is the bridge from the back side. It's still a long way in the background. Wednesday night after dark, we came back and enjoyed a half-hour program starting at 9 pm. They light the bridge with various colored lights and play classical music, with a narration about the seven days of creation from Genesis. You can see the green benches we sat on, just behind Debbie. It wasn't quite as great as the fireworks at Epcot, but it was nice and relaxing nevertheless.
Admission to the bridge park also gets you admission to the Natural Bridge caverns, about a mile away. We visited the caverns also. All in all, it was a great little getaway trip. We'll have to do something like this again soon.
Just a few yards from the bottom of the stairs leading from the visitor center is this view of the bridge. The bridge is 255 feet from the stream to the top of the arch. The arch is about 40 feet thick, and U.S. highway 11 runs across the top. The size of this arch is awesome. Click on this picture to enlarge it, and look at the size of the people at the bottom under the bridge.
Debbie took this one while I was standing on a rock in the middle of the stream.
The nature trail continues through the bridge, about a mile, to some very pretty cascades. Here is a picture of the creek in the background.
Along the way is a re-created Indian village, showing how the local Monacan Indians were living about the time Thomas Jefferson purchased the area. The indians built their chickees (huts) inside a stockade called a palisade.
Ain't she sweet?
This is the bridge from the back side. It's still a long way in the background. Wednesday night after dark, we came back and enjoyed a half-hour program starting at 9 pm. They light the bridge with various colored lights and play classical music, with a narration about the seven days of creation from Genesis. You can see the green benches we sat on, just behind Debbie. It wasn't quite as great as the fireworks at Epcot, but it was nice and relaxing nevertheless.
Admission to the bridge park also gets you admission to the Natural Bridge caverns, about a mile away. We visited the caverns also. All in all, it was a great little getaway trip. We'll have to do something like this again soon.
March 12: Natural Bridge Caverns
Here are a few photos of the caverns. The green stuff is algae that grows under the lights.
Yes, he's real. And he's tinier than the picture makes him out to be. This one is just over two inches long. We saw a couple of them that were only 1 inch long.
These caverns are supposed to be the "deepest" east of the Mississippi. At the bottom point of the visitation tour, we were 378 feet beneath the surface. The large iron content in the soil above causes the red tint to the deposits.
Nice drapery deposits.
In general, Debbie and I thoroughly enjoyed the hour long tour, and saw some very interesting formations. However, there were fewer "fantastic" and impressive formations in this cave than in some others we've seen, such as the Kentucky Down Under caverns, near Mammoth Cave, or even Grand Caverns just a few miles from our home.
Yes, he's real. And he's tinier than the picture makes him out to be. This one is just over two inches long. We saw a couple of them that were only 1 inch long.
These caverns are supposed to be the "deepest" east of the Mississippi. At the bottom point of the visitation tour, we were 378 feet beneath the surface. The large iron content in the soil above causes the red tint to the deposits.
Nice drapery deposits.
In general, Debbie and I thoroughly enjoyed the hour long tour, and saw some very interesting formations. However, there were fewer "fantastic" and impressive formations in this cave than in some others we've seen, such as the Kentucky Down Under caverns, near Mammoth Cave, or even Grand Caverns just a few miles from our home.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Pictures from DisneyWorld
We stayed at the Contemporary Resort, right in DisneyWorld. This photo spot is provided right at the back entrance door behind the lobby. It comes complete with camera holder so you just set the timer on your camera, set it in the holder, then scurry around front and get your picture taken with your own camera.
Here are Grandma and Grandpa at Downtown Disney.
Here's a night photo of the Contemporary Resort where we stayed. Our room is in the garden wing just to the right of where this photo was taken from.
The main reason why we stayed in the Contemporary Resort is the convenience of transportation. The monorail runs right through the middle of the 4th floor lobby, so you can catch it right there in the hotel and take it direct to the Magic Kingdom. You can also transfer at the monorail station and take the other monorail loop to Epcot. This makes it easy to come back to the hotel in the middle of the day and rest your feet, pick up a jacket, etc.
Here's Grandma and Grandpa at the Disney Animal Kingdom, a world-class zoo and botanical garden. This is on the bridge leading from the gorilla exhibit.
One of the more interesting attractions in the Animal Kingdom is the giant baobab tree, which has all kinds of animal relief carvings on its trunk. That's the baobab tree in the background.
Here is a photo of the picturesque Grand Floridian Resort, which is on the monorail trip from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom. This photo was taken from the Polynesian Resort docks. Dubby and I took a boat from the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian and on to the Polynesian Resort early Sunday morning. A nice quiet relaxing cruise, a perfect way to spend a peaceful Sunday morning.
Here's our hotel, from the same dock, but looking in the opposite direction.
One of the highlights of staying in the park is that you get to ride the monorail at night after the crowds have dispersed. The very front of the monorail is where the driver sits, and he has four passenger seats in the driver's cab compartment. Grandma and Grandpa got the honor of being able to sit in the cab with the driver. Grandpa received an honorary co-pilot license for the monorail. Here is Grandam disembarking after their ride in the cab.
This is one of the best pictures I think I've ever taken.
We got to enjoy a Norwegian folk band outside the Norway pavilion.
Yes, that's really Grandpa sitting at the controls of the video game console. He got to drive a racecar through a simulated futuristic GrandPrix raceway.
Outside the Italy pavilion, we encountered a troupe of players putting on an impromptu sidewalk production of Romeo and Edna.
The troupe selected three members of the audience for some audience participation. Guess who was selected to play the part of Romeo!
We all enjoyed the vacation immensely. The fireworks show at Epcot alone was worth the trip to me. We also got to enjoy the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom (twice), and had a great time there Sunday night until almost midnight.
List of attractions we did:
Downtown Disney, including Pleasure Island and dinner at the RainForest Cafe
Animal Kingdom, including "A Bug's Life" 3D animated theatre, the gorilla exhibit, and innumerable other animal exhibits. I didn't get a photo of the ivy girl, but I believe Dubby might have. We ate at an African-themed restaurant, and walked a relaxing nature trail. The birds were gorgeous, we saw otters, and ... well, it's a zoo.
Epcot: Dinner at "The Land".
Journey of Imagination
The Sea (aquarium), including Turtle Talk (got to see live divers in the tank with sharks and barracuda and tuna!)
World of Energy (dinosaurs!)
Spaceship Earth (yes, it's inside the silver ball!)
China (360-degree surround movie)
Norway folk music, Germany shops, Italy player troupe
The American Experience (very nice movie and audioanimatronic robots)
Innoventions East and West
Debbie and I did the Magic Kingdom morning:
Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain Railroad (runaway mine train roller coaster)
Tom Sawyer's Island
Cruise to Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resort
We all did Magic Kingdom evening:
Space Mountain (roller coaster in the dark)
Carousel of Progress
WEDway people-mover
Haunted Mansion
Mickey's Philharmagic Show (3D movie)
Cinderella's Castle
Main Street USA
and we probably did a few more that I can't remember right now. It was a great trip.
Here are Grandma and Grandpa at Downtown Disney.
Here's a night photo of the Contemporary Resort where we stayed. Our room is in the garden wing just to the right of where this photo was taken from.
The main reason why we stayed in the Contemporary Resort is the convenience of transportation. The monorail runs right through the middle of the 4th floor lobby, so you can catch it right there in the hotel and take it direct to the Magic Kingdom. You can also transfer at the monorail station and take the other monorail loop to Epcot. This makes it easy to come back to the hotel in the middle of the day and rest your feet, pick up a jacket, etc.
Here's Grandma and Grandpa at the Disney Animal Kingdom, a world-class zoo and botanical garden. This is on the bridge leading from the gorilla exhibit.
One of the more interesting attractions in the Animal Kingdom is the giant baobab tree, which has all kinds of animal relief carvings on its trunk. That's the baobab tree in the background.
Here is a photo of the picturesque Grand Floridian Resort, which is on the monorail trip from our hotel to the Magic Kingdom. This photo was taken from the Polynesian Resort docks. Dubby and I took a boat from the Magic Kingdom to the Grand Floridian and on to the Polynesian Resort early Sunday morning. A nice quiet relaxing cruise, a perfect way to spend a peaceful Sunday morning.
Here's our hotel, from the same dock, but looking in the opposite direction.
One of the highlights of staying in the park is that you get to ride the monorail at night after the crowds have dispersed. The very front of the monorail is where the driver sits, and he has four passenger seats in the driver's cab compartment. Grandma and Grandpa got the honor of being able to sit in the cab with the driver. Grandpa received an honorary co-pilot license for the monorail. Here is Grandam disembarking after their ride in the cab.
This is one of the best pictures I think I've ever taken.
We got to enjoy a Norwegian folk band outside the Norway pavilion.
Yes, that's really Grandpa sitting at the controls of the video game console. He got to drive a racecar through a simulated futuristic GrandPrix raceway.
Outside the Italy pavilion, we encountered a troupe of players putting on an impromptu sidewalk production of Romeo and Edna.
The troupe selected three members of the audience for some audience participation. Guess who was selected to play the part of Romeo!
We all enjoyed the vacation immensely. The fireworks show at Epcot alone was worth the trip to me. We also got to enjoy the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom (twice), and had a great time there Sunday night until almost midnight.
List of attractions we did:
Downtown Disney, including Pleasure Island and dinner at the RainForest Cafe
Animal Kingdom, including "A Bug's Life" 3D animated theatre, the gorilla exhibit, and innumerable other animal exhibits. I didn't get a photo of the ivy girl, but I believe Dubby might have. We ate at an African-themed restaurant, and walked a relaxing nature trail. The birds were gorgeous, we saw otters, and ... well, it's a zoo.
Epcot: Dinner at "The Land".
Journey of Imagination
The Sea (aquarium), including Turtle Talk (got to see live divers in the tank with sharks and barracuda and tuna!)
World of Energy (dinosaurs!)
Spaceship Earth (yes, it's inside the silver ball!)
China (360-degree surround movie)
Norway folk music, Germany shops, Italy player troupe
The American Experience (very nice movie and audioanimatronic robots)
Innoventions East and West
Debbie and I did the Magic Kingdom morning:
Pirates of the Caribbean, Thunder Mountain Railroad (runaway mine train roller coaster)
Tom Sawyer's Island
Cruise to Grand Floridian and Polynesian Resort
We all did Magic Kingdom evening:
Space Mountain (roller coaster in the dark)
Carousel of Progress
WEDway people-mover
Haunted Mansion
Mickey's Philharmagic Show (3D movie)
Cinderella's Castle
Main Street USA
and we probably did a few more that I can't remember right now. It was a great trip.
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