Weblog 240
September 12, 2010~ 12:30 am
I've had a lovely weekend so far. I took Friday off to have my car inspected and Wayne took off as well, so we made a day of it. (I was so glad! Beside the regular inspection, emissions check and oil change, I thought it prudent to also request that the dealership do the '30,000 mile' once-over, even though I have just beyond 28 thousand miles on it.... especially since we're driving to Gettysburg at the end of the month for a 3 day seminar on Civil War Photography.)
When I dropped the car off at 8:30, they told me they were very glad I was leaving it instead of waiting, since the various flushes of the system take quite a while. (I would have been stuck there watching the wall-mounted TV, eating their free popcorn and sipping coffee for 6 HOURS! LOL!!)
What did we do? We first had the buffet breakfast at Eat 'n' Park (I had TWO filled PLATTERS of eggs and bacon, biscuits, toast......in other words, I indulged in extreme gluttony! And enjoyed every morsel!) Then we drove farther down into South Park and swung by the Animal Preserve. We saw the buffalo, the wading ducks and tossed them bread (which someone had laid out on the grass like paving stones, whole LOAVES of it) - and watched the ducks and the large carp in the pond fight it out over our tossings. But mostly, I marveled at a pair of HUGE geese.....
a male and a female. Geese mate for life, and the male SURE was protective of his mate. They stood about 36 inches tall, and as I approached them, the male raised his head and made airy hissing noises....he was watching over his mate as she napped next to him on the grass, head tucked under a wing. Soon a couple of young mothers who'd brought their rowdy children along, were allowing them to chase the ducks and geese off the grass, and the poor things ran pell mell straight for the pond while the kids shrieked and screamed at them, their mothers paying no mind that their ill-behaved offspring were frightening the birds.... that PISSED ME off!!
Our pair walked off away from the kids and came down the cement path that circles the pond, the male behind, what we could then see, was a badly limping female and he was guarding her from the rear. HOW COULD YOU CHASE AND FRIGHTEN SUCH WONDERFUL BEINGS??? Just LOOK at that face
- the canny intelligence in the eye. Watching us watch them.
As they neared us, I could see that the female had a twisted clubfoot. Whether born that way or broken and just badly knitted, it's impossible to say, but her one webbed foot turned completely inward; she limped along, her mate ever watchful behind her. Then a most amazing thing happened!
(I'd taken for granted that the bread laid out was something that was done every day) -but the GEESE WENT CRAZY WITH JOY when they spied it!! I think it was a new thing for them... they honked and strutted around, yodeling with delight as though they'd found a pot of gold! Wayne and I HOWLED! It was so cute to watch their excitement. They pecked and circled, circled and pecked, watching over their stash and discouraging all comers from approaching. The morning air was fresh and crisp, the critters delightful......the whole experience (except for the humans) felt healing and good.
We then stopped by the Blue Horse for coffee, and on our way to see the Woodville Plantation, we took a side trip into a shopping center to check out the Halloween Store. Man!!! It's a 'seasonal' business that sets up shop every September through the end of October, much like those Christmas Shops that spring up in malls each year. It had animated ZOMBIES and skeletons GALORE! Creepy and dark in there, all the rubber masks leering from the walls... and I LOVED IT! (I was tempted to buy one simple mask called 'Serial Killer', but it creeped me out so badly because of its resemblance to my Uncle Rege, I simply couldn't bring myself to buy it. LOL!)
From there, we made our way to Woodville Plantation.
(We'd so often passed that sign in Heidelburg, but never stopped.) The plantation was originally over 200 acres, with several outbuildings and a beautiful wrap-around veranda......so pretty. This picture was taken in the 1930's
but it looks exactly the same today. The inside has been restored- (we had to peek through the windows, since there were no inside tours that day) but just standing on that long porch and peering through the wavy original glass was wonderful. What I most enjoyed was the CHICKENS! Rare, endangered Dominique chickens (pronounced 'Dominick') --a gorgeous breed with heavy black mottling and banding. They appear 'speckled' --and with their red combs and feet, so attractive to look at.
There was volunteer worker there on Friday who's also a Revolutionary War reenactor, and he was putting the finishing touches on a beehive outside oven. He told us they're firing it up for the first time on Sunday. He was kind enough to gave us an impromptu tour of the grounds and pointed out 'Henry', their one rooster. I crowed at him and sure enough, he stretched his long proud neck and let loose with a poultry version of 'Reveille'...."ERRR! ERR ERR! ERR E-R-R-R-RRGH!" I laughed so hard and he kept it up, not to be outdone as though saying, "I'M THE ONLY CROW-ER AROUND HERE!" Our guide told us to be careful of his 'spurs', which are vicious-looking hooks on the backs of the legs. He sure was a proud fellow though, strutting around and following us, the cock of the walk! Here's one of his hens in her coop.
The ladies were docile, clucking softly and walking about, with Henry stealing all the thunder.
Friday was a GREAT DAY! And at 3:00 p.m., my car was finished, and cost MUCH LESS than I'd anticipated, thank goodness. It needed nothing additional this time, no brakes, no tires, no nuthin'. Everything was AOK, and what a relief! (New windshield wiper blades to boot! LOL!)
Saturday evening Wayne and I watched 'Julie and Julia'- a movie we've both wanted to see.
I have to say, as much as I loved Amy Adams when she co-starred once before with Meryl Streep in 'Doubt', that's how insufferably annoying I found her in this film. (Not the fault of the actress, but the writing and the character she plays.) This was one of the most unbalanced, uneven films I've ever watched. It contrasts the colorful, vintage charm of Julia Child's life in 1950's France, and throws it up against what can only we described as a 'Sex In The City' vapidness of the modern day Julie and her always-trying-to-be-likeable husband, and her whiny and self-obsessed friends. It's a movie filled with people talking with their mouths full and making a variety of 'Ummmm's' and 'Yum's'....extremely annoying. I couldn't get past that while Wayne, at the end of the film as the credits were rolling, said he truly enjoyed it. LOL!!! I've come to the conclusion that it's Nora Ephron's fault. (I used to think she was clever and sharp when I was younger, but her 'characters' have not changed or deepened at all with the years.) Her always female protagonists are 'with it' pains in the ass, ever trying to remain around 30 years of age and adorable. It's schtick, and it's old... and I've grown tired of it.
Streep, I at first put down handily as doing a broad caricature of Julia Child, but she grew on me. She's lovable through and through. Her zest for life and her charming relationship with the always-capable Stanley Tucci is a joy to behold. Those parts of the film made watching it worthwhile.
The modern 'computer blogging' parts were excruciatingly 'Ephron'. No one could have been more pleased when the actual 90 year old Julia dismissed her self-obsessed young devotee. LOL!! I liked that immensely. She was right to consider the whole experiment totally irrelevant. It was.
It was a stunt chosen by a completely bored young woman, and its 'achievement' negligible. (To have to delve into a cookbook in order to find meaning or self-worth? Come on!) Get a life I say.... don't steal someone else's.
It's also made me take a look at the extreme narcissism of blogging online. (All of us chattering away........and for what?) If it's simply for attention.. it's crap. If it's a way to self-examine or a way to share the brighter things, a way to diarize... well, fine.... (but I shall go to bed tonight and pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be like Julie.") LOL!! I truly, truly hope I'm not. Amen.
September 13, 2010~ 6:30 pm
Remember the Seinfeld episode of George's father, trying to get hold of his temper by BELLOWING, "SERENITY NOW!!"......lol? Well, after being out of the office on Friday, this was more than a 'typical Monday', so when I arrived back home, I went browsing. What I found was a marvelous site for allowing the pressures of the day to simply drift off......like so many cherry blossoms.
Treat yourself to the stunning photo-walk to Tim Takamatsu's wonderful photos of an out of the way Japanese temple. You'll feel the stress unlayering, the peace (that's already inside, you just have to tap into it) begin to swaddle you in joy. (And make sure you play the small wav file of the bronze gong!) After your 'walk', you might want to check out his other photo albums....his stone lanterns collection, or colorful koi. Click on the 'home' icon in the right bottom of the page. What a gift this is!
***
(Return To Weekly Archives)
I've had a lovely weekend so far. I took Friday off to have my car inspected and Wayne took off as well, so we made a day of it. (I was so glad! Beside the regular inspection, emissions check and oil change, I thought it prudent to also request that the dealership do the '30,000 mile' once-over, even though I have just beyond 28 thousand miles on it.... especially since we're driving to Gettysburg at the end of the month for a 3 day seminar on Civil War Photography.)
When I dropped the car off at 8:30, they told me they were very glad I was leaving it instead of waiting, since the various flushes of the system take quite a while. (I would have been stuck there watching the wall-mounted TV, eating their free popcorn and sipping coffee for 6 HOURS! LOL!!)
What did we do? We first had the buffet breakfast at Eat 'n' Park (I had TWO filled PLATTERS of eggs and bacon, biscuits, toast......in other words, I indulged in extreme gluttony! And enjoyed every morsel!) Then we drove farther down into South Park and swung by the Animal Preserve. We saw the buffalo, the wading ducks and tossed them bread (which someone had laid out on the grass like paving stones, whole LOAVES of it) - and watched the ducks and the large carp in the pond fight it out over our tossings. But mostly, I marveled at a pair of HUGE geese.....
a male and a female. Geese mate for life, and the male SURE was protective of his mate. They stood about 36 inches tall, and as I approached them, the male raised his head and made airy hissing noises....he was watching over his mate as she napped next to him on the grass, head tucked under a wing. Soon a couple of young mothers who'd brought their rowdy children along, were allowing them to chase the ducks and geese off the grass, and the poor things ran pell mell straight for the pond while the kids shrieked and screamed at them, their mothers paying no mind that their ill-behaved offspring were frightening the birds.... that PISSED ME off!!
Our pair walked off away from the kids and came down the cement path that circles the pond, the male behind, what we could then see, was a badly limping female and he was guarding her from the rear. HOW COULD YOU CHASE AND FRIGHTEN SUCH WONDERFUL BEINGS??? Just LOOK at that face
- the canny intelligence in the eye. Watching us watch them.
As they neared us, I could see that the female had a twisted clubfoot. Whether born that way or broken and just badly knitted, it's impossible to say, but her one webbed foot turned completely inward; she limped along, her mate ever watchful behind her. Then a most amazing thing happened!
(I'd taken for granted that the bread laid out was something that was done every day) -but the GEESE WENT CRAZY WITH JOY when they spied it!! I think it was a new thing for them... they honked and strutted around, yodeling with delight as though they'd found a pot of gold! Wayne and I HOWLED! It was so cute to watch their excitement. They pecked and circled, circled and pecked, watching over their stash and discouraging all comers from approaching. The morning air was fresh and crisp, the critters delightful......the whole experience (except for the humans) felt healing and good.
We then stopped by the Blue Horse for coffee, and on our way to see the Woodville Plantation, we took a side trip into a shopping center to check out the Halloween Store. Man!!! It's a 'seasonal' business that sets up shop every September through the end of October, much like those Christmas Shops that spring up in malls each year. It had animated ZOMBIES and skeletons GALORE! Creepy and dark in there, all the rubber masks leering from the walls... and I LOVED IT! (I was tempted to buy one simple mask called 'Serial Killer', but it creeped me out so badly because of its resemblance to my Uncle Rege, I simply couldn't bring myself to buy it. LOL!)
From there, we made our way to Woodville Plantation.
(We'd so often passed that sign in Heidelburg, but never stopped.) The plantation was originally over 200 acres, with several outbuildings and a beautiful wrap-around veranda......so pretty. This picture was taken in the 1930's
but it looks exactly the same today. The inside has been restored- (we had to peek through the windows, since there were no inside tours that day) but just standing on that long porch and peering through the wavy original glass was wonderful. What I most enjoyed was the CHICKENS! Rare, endangered Dominique chickens (pronounced 'Dominick') --a gorgeous breed with heavy black mottling and banding. They appear 'speckled' --and with their red combs and feet, so attractive to look at.
There was volunteer worker there on Friday who's also a Revolutionary War reenactor, and he was putting the finishing touches on a beehive outside oven. He told us they're firing it up for the first time on Sunday. He was kind enough to gave us an impromptu tour of the grounds and pointed out 'Henry', their one rooster. I crowed at him and sure enough, he stretched his long proud neck and let loose with a poultry version of 'Reveille'...."ERRR! ERR ERR! ERR E-R-R-R-RRGH!" I laughed so hard and he kept it up, not to be outdone as though saying, "I'M THE ONLY CROW-ER AROUND HERE!" Our guide told us to be careful of his 'spurs', which are vicious-looking hooks on the backs of the legs. He sure was a proud fellow though, strutting around and following us, the cock of the walk! Here's one of his hens in her coop.
The ladies were docile, clucking softly and walking about, with Henry stealing all the thunder.
Friday was a GREAT DAY! And at 3:00 p.m., my car was finished, and cost MUCH LESS than I'd anticipated, thank goodness. It needed nothing additional this time, no brakes, no tires, no nuthin'. Everything was AOK, and what a relief! (New windshield wiper blades to boot! LOL!)
Saturday evening Wayne and I watched 'Julie and Julia'- a movie we've both wanted to see.
I have to say, as much as I loved Amy Adams when she co-starred once before with Meryl Streep in 'Doubt', that's how insufferably annoying I found her in this film. (Not the fault of the actress, but the writing and the character she plays.) This was one of the most unbalanced, uneven films I've ever watched. It contrasts the colorful, vintage charm of Julia Child's life in 1950's France, and throws it up against what can only we described as a 'Sex In The City' vapidness of the modern day Julie and her always-trying-to-be-likeable husband, and her whiny and self-obsessed friends. It's a movie filled with people talking with their mouths full and making a variety of 'Ummmm's' and 'Yum's'....extremely annoying. I couldn't get past that while Wayne, at the end of the film as the credits were rolling, said he truly enjoyed it. LOL!!! I've come to the conclusion that it's Nora Ephron's fault. (I used to think she was clever and sharp when I was younger, but her 'characters' have not changed or deepened at all with the years.) Her always female protagonists are 'with it' pains in the ass, ever trying to remain around 30 years of age and adorable. It's schtick, and it's old... and I've grown tired of it.
Streep, I at first put down handily as doing a broad caricature of Julia Child, but she grew on me. She's lovable through and through. Her zest for life and her charming relationship with the always-capable Stanley Tucci is a joy to behold. Those parts of the film made watching it worthwhile.
The modern 'computer blogging' parts were excruciatingly 'Ephron'. No one could have been more pleased when the actual 90 year old Julia dismissed her self-obsessed young devotee. LOL!! I liked that immensely. She was right to consider the whole experiment totally irrelevant. It was.
It was a stunt chosen by a completely bored young woman, and its 'achievement' negligible. (To have to delve into a cookbook in order to find meaning or self-worth? Come on!) Get a life I say.... don't steal someone else's.
It's also made me take a look at the extreme narcissism of blogging online. (All of us chattering away........and for what?) If it's simply for attention.. it's crap. If it's a way to self-examine or a way to share the brighter things, a way to diarize... well, fine.... (but I shall go to bed tonight and pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be like Julie.") LOL!! I truly, truly hope I'm not. Amen.
September 13, 2010~ 6:30 pm
Remember the Seinfeld episode of George's father, trying to get hold of his temper by BELLOWING, "SERENITY NOW!!"......lol? Well, after being out of the office on Friday, this was more than a 'typical Monday', so when I arrived back home, I went browsing. What I found was a marvelous site for allowing the pressures of the day to simply drift off......like so many cherry blossoms.
Treat yourself to the stunning photo-walk to Tim Takamatsu's wonderful photos of an out of the way Japanese temple. You'll feel the stress unlayering, the peace (that's already inside, you just have to tap into it) begin to swaddle you in joy. (And make sure you play the small wav file of the bronze gong!) After your 'walk', you might want to check out his other photo albums....his stone lanterns collection, or colorful koi. Click on the 'home' icon in the right bottom of the page. What a gift this is!
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