Musings Before the Election

I don’t understand the fascination with halloween.    Sales for halloween decorations (including costumes, I would think) are over 3 billion dollars annually, second only to Christmas in decorations.   I know it’s fun for the children, dressing up in the costumes and getting all that C.A.N.D.Y!!   I know I loved it as a child.   But when I was a child, people didn’t decorate their lawns as grave yards, and the grim reaper wasn’t standing at my door frame.   I don’t decorate for halloween at my house, but I do buy some candy for my Angels:

Peppy is dressed as himself.

Devon and Olivia

Ashton and Samara

Olivia 

Now that Halloween has only a few more hours for this year….we embark upon the most wonderful time of the year!

I love Thanksgiving, and most especially Christmas.   In my mind, the two are uniquely and spiritually entwined.  I often have this unexplained depression that rears it's ugly head during the Christmas season, and after much “analyzation” over the years, I have come to believe it’s because of what the Season has become, rather than what it really is.    Even though commercialism has nearly drowned the true Reason for the Season, there are many of those who remember, and who will still give thanks for the birth of our Dear Savior. 

I have already picked out a few little decorations for my office…I’m starting a (cheap) Christmas village. I have the carolers, a mailman, some children, a sleigh, a carousel horse, a tree, and a few other items. I haven’t been able to find a nativity, which is a must. As I was looking around, I noticed there weren’t too many Christ-oriented decorations from which to choose. I am hoping that it’s just early yet. Hoping. One day, I plan to have a very nice Christmas village.

Tuesday is coming!  VOTE.   Vote your conscience; don’t choose according to party, name, color, or gender.   If you are a Christian, ask for God’s guidance.    Above all, pray for this election, that God’s will be done in our land.    It’s time to put America back on the right track.

My Vacation!

My vacation was very nice.   Because I can't figure out how to make the Blogger image insert feature work for me, they are not in the order I'd like.   I am in the process of downloading "Picasa 3," a Google application, and we'll see if I'm smart enough to organize a little better the next time I make a picture entry.

This is Cades Cove at Sunrise.  

You should have been there.  

The foggy sunrise was spectacular.

Color on the mountains.

Metcalf Bottoms, near Gatlinburg.  

Ole Boy and I had a picnic here.

Newfound Gap.  

It was way past peak here, but still very pretty.

This is a fence leading up a walkway to view

Pilot Mountain in North Carolina.

Cades Cove.  

It's just one of those accident shots.  

I was going to snap the deer,

and the bird dives in, lands, and takes off,

just as I am snapping.  

Mingus Mill, in full operation

A half-mile north of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center is Mingus Mill. Built in 1886, this historic grist mill uses a water-powered turbine instead of a water wheel to power all of the machinery in the building. Located at its original site, Mingus Mill stands as a tribute to the test of time.

Bucks fighting in Cades Cove

  

There wasn't a lot of fall color in Mt. Airy,

but there were some very pretty flowers.

Cades Cove again.   

Amazing that there was a lot of color,

and then these bare trees.

I have a lot more pictures...

but I probably won't post anymore.

I hope you enjoyed.

Meet Ole Boy

I am an Andy Griffith Show fan by default; I married Ole Boy, who is definitely a huge Andy fan. Last week, we were on vacation, and one of the places we visited was Mount Airy, NC, Andy Griffith's hometown. (disclaimer: It's the Andy Griffith Show that I like.)

The slideshow on the previous entry (which is not the one I wanted, but it's the only one I could get to work) is pictures from that leg of our journey.    We also visited Southern Virginia, Maggie Valley, NC, Asheville, NC, Gatlinburg, TN and Pigeon Forge, TN.   In "Mayberry," Ole Boy got to meet Betty Lynn, the actress who played Thelma Lou on The Andy Griffith Show.   I believe it was the highlight of his trip.  

We had a great time, and saw some wonderful color!   I'll be posting some of that color on my next entry.    We saw everything thing from "still green" to "past peak" and even "way past peak."   Tomorrow, it's back to the old grind for both of us.    Somehow, I just don't feel ready to go back yet!
 
We also got to have dinner with some special members of my clan, Ruble's family, at Bubba Gumps, where someone told the server that it was Ole Boy's birthday the week before.   (I promise it wasn't me! and I had nothing to do with it!!)    They made him stand on a chair in the middle of the dining room and they tried to get him to shake his booty, but he didn't.    It sure was funny.   There is a pic of him on the chair on the below.
Some more pictures of Ole Boy:
 

Mingus Grist Mill

Pilot Mountain

Birthday Boy at Bubba Gumps.

He was supposed to shake his booty.   He didn't.

The two of us.

Round Robin Photo Challenge

This Round Robin challenge is all about BRIDGES...

:::a little wooden foot bridge over a three foot-wide babbling brook, a drawbridge, a railroad bridge, a stone bridge carved out by the forces of nature, or even that big Golden one over the Bay...feel free to explore alternative meanings of the word. Photograph the bridge of a nose, a game of bridge, or even something metaphorical, such as a bridge between two cultures:::

Since I just got back from vacation late last night...I have several good bridge shots, and I am too tired to just pick one!  

All of these bridges are found in the Great Smoky Mountains.

For more great bridge shots, visit
 The Round Robin Photo Challenge Blog

A Post of Pure Randomness

Some days, I just can’t figure out what I want to be when I grow up.    Then I remember:   I passed “grown up” several years ago.

I told Ole Boy to walk a mile in my shoes.   He said an octopus couldn’t walk a mile in my shoes.   Then I think he mumbled something about giving all my shoes their own bedroom.

I have on “slinky” clothes today.   (Not to be confused with “stinky.”)    Business apparel, if you will.    Unfortunately, I can’t tell if the clinging of the material is the “slinky” feel or static electricity.    Either way, it takes the business right out of my apparel. 

For no particular reason, I pulled a vibrant red leaf off of a tree while walking into work, and then laid it on the banister in the hall as I walked by.    Then I realized the surveillance camera caught the action, and it probably looks like I put litter on the stairwell.   Which, in a way, I ‘spose it was.

I’ve taken some new pictures…and have no gumption to download them onto my computer to share.   Not that I’m stingy…I’m in a funk…which is one reason my blog has been so neglected.  

Part of my funk is my (seemingly) inability to change. 

I have a four day work week this week.   A no-day work week next week.  :::big smile:::

 I changed my blog colors again.    And for some reason, I cannot make my cursor tails work with the new design templates by Blogger .    I really miss my cursor tails.   They made me look cool.    Cooler.

It’s time to get to work, but I’d rather just sit here and muse.   However, since they pay me, and I like my job, I’m going to get to work.

I’ll close with this update:   I’ve gained back just about every pound I lost, and if I could actually reach my hiney, I’d kick it.

Just in case you missed it...