"I hope you're happy now..."

OK... they are electric power lines and not telegraph lines. But they are Blue Birds!!!

Cola Wars Prisoner

The Cola Wars will get their first POW today.... The Coca-Cola employee convicted of cooperate espionage was sentenced to eight years in federal prison for a failed scheme to sell the trade secrets to rival Pepsi for at least $1.5 million.

I'm NOT a big fan of Diet Coke! I prefer Diet Dr. Pepper - if it has to be a low/no calorie soft drink. But I have been tempted to try Coke Zero...

The vending machines in the break room are loaded with various 12 oz. cans and 20 oz. bottles just waiting to quench your thirst. From Vault to fruit juice to Gatorade.

Now, it would seem that the Cola Wars are venturing into uncharted territories - Diet Coke Plus:

What's the plus? Vitamins and minerals! Diet Coke Plus includes "25% of the recommended daily allowance of niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 as well as 15% of the RDA for magnesium and zinc in each 12-ounce serving."

Whodathunkit?!? I can now pass on the veggies --

In just variations of "Regular" Coca-Cola - there is:

• Caffeine Free
• Coke Blak (coffee flavor)
• Coke w/Lime
• Coke w/Lemon
• Coke w/Citra
• Raspberry Coke
• C2 (whatever that is)
• Vanilla Coke
• Black Cherry Vanilla Coke

So, what's the next great variant flavor from the Coca-Cola cooperate folks in Atlanta...

Donkey Parable

The little donkey was old, weak and nearly blind. So it was he stumbled into the old, dried up well behind the barn.

The farmer knowing he couldn’t lift the little donkey out the well, he decided to solve two problems at once. He would fill in the dried up well and bury the little donkey at the same time.

He called his neighbors to bring their shovels to help him in his task. With the first shovels of dirt, the donkey brayed and hollered. With each round of dirt sent down, the screams from the donkey grew louder and louder. The farmer hung his head - but kept throwing dirt down the hole. Then the sound of pain and despair ceased. The farmer encouraged his neighbors to continue.

Meanwhile, deep in the well, the little donkey was thinking his end was near. His yelling was no avail. Shovels full of dirt cascade upon him. His reflexes took over. He began to shake to rid his head of the dirt. Then shaking to free his shoulders, and finally his back – he waited for more dirt to fall. He lifted his hoofs, stomped a couple of times and stood on the newly deposited ground. More dirt, more shaking and again stepping up.

As the hole filled, the donkey continued, slowing gaining elevation. As soon as he was able, the donkey stepped over the edge of the well and walked away.

as told by Bro. Bill this morning

Aren't we just like the donkey in the well sometimes? We all have days when we feel as if we are trapped. We can't get out, and there seems to be a never-ending stream of dirt raining down on us. So when you find yourself down and out by some mistake you made, don’t let others bury you with ridicule and harsh words. Rather, shake them off and STEP UP.

Donkey, from Shrek - Dreamworks

Shadow Dancing

The hummingbird numbers are increasing (slightly). I saw 6, maybe 7 this morning...

Because she doesn't know the words....

South Georgia Fires

A thick layer of smoke hung in the air this morning as I opened the front door for Metro. The wind shift over night has once again sent a pungent reminder that the ordeal for the folk around the Okefenokee is far from over. The sun glowed a orange-red for an hour longer than normal this morning.

Lastest update from Waycross:

Number of acres burned: An estimated 22,000.

Size of the fire: One mile wide; 11 miles long.

The fire is about 25 percent contained.

Number of homes destroyed: 14.

Number of firefighters on the scene: 300.

Fire break: Twelve plows side-by-side cutting a 12-mile-long swath between the fire and Waycross.

Number of injuries: Three firefighters, one with a broken leg, one with a broken wrist and one with heat exhaustion.

Overhead flight restriction by Federal Aviation Administration: 8 miles from fire.

Cost: Undetermined.

Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance: 75 percent of eligible costs.

Number of evacuation areas reopened to residents: None.

State highways closed: U.S. 84 and Georgia 122 in Ware County; Georgia 177 between U.S. 1 and Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Other closures: Ware County public schools; Waycross College; Okefenokee Technical College; Okefenokee Swamp Park.

Happy Mother's Day

The Touch-me-Nots planted on the west wall of the house.

The black iron skillet that was used three times a day.

The crocheting needle that twisted countless yards of yarn.

The African Violets that sat on every flat surface

The many children that called you and Dad:
Granny and Pa.

Chewing Gum that tasted like the press powder of the compact in your purse

The hardwood floors that were so shiny that it hurt your eyes. (they were also the prefect “sock skating” surface).

The worn pages of your Bible on the end table next to the couch

I remember these things. I remember you, Mom!

DE-Construction

The ONE WAY PAIR PROJECT is progressing in Vidalia. Making 1st Street (Highway 280) eastbound and South East Main Street westbound is something that was on the drawing boards for many years. It will not only improve traffic flow through Vidalia, but will make the streets smoother and easier to navigate. One of the major obstruction on 1st Street has always been the railroad overpass between Adams and Church streets. Its low clearance made many trucks with high loads slow down and creep under. And sometimes, when the loads were too high, eighteen wheelers would have to back up and go around - really causing traffic jams. No more. The overpass is now gone.

Above photo taking Friday, April 27

But the next Monday morning, the railroad overpass was no more.

Defination - Traffic: too many cars, not enough asphalt

What's this wet stuff falling from the sky?

The last time we had any rain was April 15.

Lord, Thank you for the rain!!!

Don't Count Your Ducklings Before They Hatch

She had gone pass her due date. We first saw her on the nest the last weekend of March. And we had no idea when she started sitting. But she was at least a week beyond the normal 28 days of incubation.

Sarah removed one of the eggs, with great protest from Mama Duck this morning. It was too light for its size. A whack on the ground revealed the nearly dehydrated contents. An infertile egg. On our return from our afternoon bird watching at the Beaver Pond, we found her off the nest for the first time in over a month. A quick evaulation of the size/weight ratio for the other half dozen eggs revealed the same disappointing results.

No ducklings from this one...

Bird Watching Fun

Click on the one of the birds below to get started. And then, put your mouse cursor over each of the birds to keep them flying and off of the power lines...