Super Tuesday

I did...

Franklin, Tennessee

My sister, Sherry, works in downtown Franklin.


Veterans Day Dedication Ceremony (from the Williamson County website)
Date: November 12, 2007
Description: Please plan to attend the dedication of our restored cannon on November 12, 2007 at approximately 10:15 a.m. at the Williamson County Veteran’s Park, at Five Points, in downtown Franklin, TN. This dedication will be prior to the City of Franklin’s Veteran’s Day parade which begins at 11:00 a.m.

Our rare cannon is a 3.2 inch Field Gun Model. The muzzle was manufactured in 1892 at the Watervliet Arsenal in Albany, New York and weighs 832 pounds. The carriage was built in 1887 at the National Armory in Springfield, MA. Both were recently restored by Mr. J.T. Leathers of Murfreesboro, TN.

With her office located just across the street from the Veteran's Park, the High School band assembled and lined up just outside her door. After all the festivities, she took a lunch time walk toward the post office and ran into a trio of older Veterans still milling around. She told them about Dad and his services to our country.

"Well, I see you miss him very much. And since you are not able to give him a hug today, do you mind I give you one?"



If you can read this, thank a teacher...
If you are reading this in English, thank a Vet!!!

Lest we forget...

If you haven't read the Rainbow Bridge Story before, you should and you can read it clicking here.


Got a tissue handy???


Good!!!


On the morning of September 11, 2001, there was an unprecedented amount of activity at the Rainbow Bridge. Decisions had to be made. They had to be made quickly. And they were. An issue, not often addressed here at the Bridge, is the fact that many residents really have no loved one for whom to wait. Think of the pups who lived and died in hideous puppy mills. No one on earth loved or protected them. What about the many who spent unhappy lives tied in backyards? The strays that are force to roam. And, the ones who were abused. Who are they to wait for?

We don’t talk about that much up here. We share our loved ones as they arrive, happy to do so. But we all know there is nothing like having your very own person who thinks you are the most special pup in the heavens.

On that Tuesday morning, six years ago, a request rang out for pups not waiting for specific persons to volunteer for special assignment. An eager, curious crowd surged excitedly forward, each pup wondering what the assignment would be. They were told by a solemn voice that unexpectedly, all at once, nearly 3,000 loving people had left Earth long before they were ready. All the pups, as all pups do, felt the humans’ pain deep in their own hearts. Without hearing more, there was a clamoring among them—“May I have one to comfort?” “I’ll take two, I have a big heart.” “I have been saving kisses forever.”

One after another they came forward begging for assignment. One cozy looking fluffy pup hesitantly asked, “Are there any children coming? I would be very comforting for a child ’cause I’m soft and squishy and I always wanted to be hugged.”

A group of Dalmatians came forward asking to meet the Firemen and be their friends. The larger working breeds offered to greet the Police Officers and make them feel at home. Little dogs volunteered to do what they do best, cuddle and kiss. Dogs who on Earth had never had a kind word or a pat on the head, stepped forward and said, “I will love any human who needs love.”

Then, all the dogs, wherever on Earth they originally came from, rushed to the Rainbow Bridge and stood waiting, overflowing with love to share—each tail wagging an American Flag.

*author unknown and adapted

D'oh

I have never watched an episode of The Simpsons.

I’ll give you a moment to recover…








But I have been exposed to Simpson-ocity over the years. How could one totally avoid it? I do know that Bart is main character in the show and he hasn’t aged a day since the debut in 1989. Physically or Mentally!!!

The Simpson Movie premieres tomorrow and Matt Groening, the creator of the ‘cartoon’ was interviewed on NPR this morning. While the story might intrigue the loyal Simpson fan to rush to theater tomorrow night to spend 8 bucks and 88 minutes – the plot summary by Steve Inskeep give a good reason not.

It's entirely within normal Simpsons behavior that Homer, the family patriarch, pollutes the local lake with pig manure, causes an environmental catastrophe, and finds a lynch mob at his door. And somewhere in the absurdity is a long-running commentary on American family life.

Whose family are we talking about? Not mine, I hope! Normal Simpson behavior? Springfield is definitely not on my list of must visit cities!

*image: I think that must be Homer saying, "D'oh"

Long-Short-Short-Loooooooooooong

Did you hear that? That is the Whistle Code for a train approaching a road crossing. There are nine different series of long and short sounding used for various reasons as engineers and railroad workers shunt a train. But the one that is most hear and most important to the public is Long-Short-Short-Loooooooooooong as the track intersects grade crossing.

Many times during the day and night, we can hear the train as it passes the side roads along Highway 341/23. The tracks are just less than a mile from the house at their nearest point and we tend to ignore the sound of the Dissonance Cord as the engines pull the loads of gravel, wood chips and automobiles.

Sarah had just arrived at the Beaver Pond when she heard another sound of warning: The shrill of the sirens of Police, Fire & Rescue and Ambulance. When I arrived home, we rode to the scene about half mile from the Telfair/Dodge county line.

The majority of the emergency crews that responed had already left the area.

The story as reported by 13WMAZ.com:

A log-truck driver, Newell Kitchens, died after his truck collided with a train outside a McRae lumber business, according to Dodge County sheriff Lawton Douglas. The accident happened around 4;25 p.m. outside Sylvan Hardwoods on Highway 341 outside McRae, according to Janice Graham, office manager for the company. She said the train has derailed and driven the truck up an embankment. Douglas says Kitchens was trapped in his cab for nearly an hour but was removed and taken to a local hospital. But, according to Douglas, Kitchens later died. Both Dodge and Telfair county emergency crews responded to the accident.

The two photo above are from the WMAZ website

Stop-Look-Listen. Please be careful around road/tracks crossing!!! The train is much, much bigger and will win in a battle of force!






May the Lord bless the Kitchen's family during this time of loss!

Baby Kalab

http://www.myspace.com/kristyreynolds

That is the url for MySpace page for Kristy Schwade in Tampa, FL

Form her Blurbs:
My Name is Kristy Schwade and my life at this point is not anywhere near normal. My Son, the light of my life is fighting for his very own life in ICU and has been since May 9, 2007. He is suffering from Shaken Baby Syndrome by the hands of someone who is not in anyway related to him or us. I have 100% faith in God that my little boy will be the one that SURPRISES all of the doctors. He is strong and we have to be strong for him.

Read her blogs and her comments.
Listen to the song playing by Casting Crowns.
Look at the photos of Kalab, before his injuries and since he has been in ICU.

But most of all - Pray for Them!!!

AMEN!

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...

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

Onion Festival Emptyness

From Yahoo News:

The Navy Blue Angels were back home Monday to regroup and mourn the loss of one of their pilots, killed in a crash while performing in one of his first air shows with the team.

Witnesses said the plane clipped a stand of pine trees before it went down in a South Carolina neighborhood Saturday. Investigators were still examining the wreckage, and the Navy said it could be three weeks or more before it announces what caused of the crash.

At the Pensacola Naval Air Station, Lt. Cmdr. Kevin J. Davis's parking space was turned into a makeshift memorial with flowers and posters remembering the 32-year-old pilot.

One poster read: "We will always remember No. 6." A small note said: "God bless your soul. Fly high Blue Angel."

Davis was from Pittsfield, Mass., and was in his second year with the Blue Angels, the team known for its high-speed, aerobatic demonstrations, said Lt. Cmdr. Garrett Kasper.

The rest of his squadron decided not to participate in a weekend airshow in Vidalia, Ga., and returned home to tearful reunion with family members late Sunday, Kasper said.

VIDALIA ONION FESTIVAL AIR SHOWPRESS RELEASE

APRIL 23, 2007 VIDALIA – The Vidalia Onion Festival Air Show expresses their utmost condolences to the family of Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis of the United States Blue Angels, who died in a tragic accident at the Marine Corp Air Station Air Show in Beaufort, South Carolina.

While the Blue Angels will not be able to perform in Vidalia, Georgia this weekend, the Vidalia Onion Festival Air Show remains on schedule and dedicates their show in his memory. There will be some of the nation’s best aerial acts including Team Aeroshell, the Air Force A-10 Jet Demonstration Team, a B-2 Bomber and F-117 Stealth flyover, the World Extreme Motocross Stunt Team, the U.S. Air Force Reserve Jet Car and many other exceptional performers.

At the moment I am less than 1/4 mile from the runway at the Vidalia Airport. Onion Festival Officials are making attempts to fill the void. They will not be able. There will be an emptyness feel this weekend by all that attend. It's enough to make even Yumion shed a tear.

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis (call sign “Kojak”)
Photo and Bio - Blue Angel: Official Website

Lieutenant Commander Kevin Davis is a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Reading Memorial High School in 1992 where he played football and was active with the Civil Air Patrol. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Science with honors in 1996.

Kevin reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida, for Officer Candidate School and aviation indoctrination in September 1996. He completed primary flight training at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, and transferred to NAS Meridian, Mississippi, for intermediate and advanced flight training. While there, he flew the T-2C Buckeye and TA-4J Skyhawk, and received his wings of gold in June 1999.

Kevin reported to Fighter Squadron 101 (VF-101) at NAS Oceana, Virginia, for training in the F-14 Tomcat and was the “Top Stick” in his class. In July 2000 he reported to the VF-11 “Red Rippers” where he completed deployments aboard the aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) and USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). While with the “Red Rippers,” Kevin served as the airframes/corrosion branch officer, air-to-ground training officer and head landing signals officer. His deployments included extended operations in the North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. In July 2003, Kevin transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet through Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125) at NAS Lemoore, California, and then reported to the Fighter Composite Squadron (VFC-12) “Omars,” stationed at NAS Oceana, Virginia. While at VFC-12, Kevin served as a Navy adversary pilot providing valuable air-to-air training for fleet squadrons. In December of 2004, Kevin graduated from the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) as an adversary pilot. During his tour at VFC-12, Kevin worked as the schedules officer, legal officer, FRS/SFARP officer and assistant operations officer.

Kevin joined the Blue Angels in September 2005. He has accumulated more than 2,500 flight hours and 200 carrier arrested landings. His decorations include the Air Medal, two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and various personal and unit awards.

At Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, the site of Saturday's crash, a somber crowd watched Sunday as six jets flew overhead in formation. Smoke streamed behind one of the jets as it peeled away from the others to complete the "missing man formation," the traditional salute for a lost military aviator.

"The spirit of the pilot is in the arms of a loving God," said Rob Reider, a minister who was the announcer for the air show.

I pray that God will bless and comfort his family and his fellow Blue Angels and the support team.

And God bless the U.S.A.

Update:

The crash took place in the final minutes of the air show, said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Walley, a Blue Angel pilot. He said the name of the pilot would not be released until relatives were notified of the death.

“Our squadron and the entire U.S. Navy are grieving the loss of a great American, a great Naval officer and a great friend,” Walley said.

A Navy statement said the pilot had been on the team for two years — and it was his first as a demonstration pilot. The accident was under investigation, the statement said.

Blue Angels - Vidalia Onion Festival - Now in Question???

The 30th Vidalia Onion Festival is this coming week. The Airshow has always been a huge draw. Last year, we had a steak cookout at work on Friday, while the airshow participants when through the practice program. The Blue Angels put on a fine show. Enough to make the heart of any American skip a beat.

The Blue Angels are scheduled to come to south Georgia again. While watching the NASCAR race from Phoenix this evening, I was looking for the Blue Angel website. A news website popped up:

BY BRUCE SMITH
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Saturday, April 21st 2007, 7:34 PM

BEAUFORT, S.C. - A Navy Blue Angel jet crashed during an air show Saturday, plunging into a neighborhood of small homes and trailers and killing the pilot, the county coroner said.

Witnesses said the planes were flying in formation during the show at the Marine Corps Air Station and one dropped below the trees and crashed, sending up clouds of smoke. At least one home was on fire.

Raymond Voegeli, a plumber, was backing out of a driveway when the plane ripped through a grove of pine trees, dousing his truck in flames and debris. He said wreckage hit "plenty of houses and mobile homes."

"It was just a big fireball coming at me," said Voegeli, 37. "It was just taking pine trees and just clipping them."

County Coroner Curt Copeland said the pilot was killed, but did not release an identification. Copeland said there was a lot of debris at the crash site and described the scene as horrific.

John Sauls, who lives near the crash site, said the planes were banking back and forth before one disappeared, and a plume of smoke shot up.

"It's one of those surreal moments when you go, 'No, I didn't just see what I saw,"' Sauls said.

At the Blue Angels command headquarters at Pensacola Naval Air Station the petty officer on duty said he "had no comment at this time."

The phone rang unanswered at the Marine base.

More than 100,000 were expected to attend the air show and the Blue Angels were the main attraction. The elite aerial-demonstration team, which is based at Pensacola Naval Air Station, recently celebrated its 60th anniversary.

Beaufort is about 35 miles northwest of Hilton Head Island.

I read on another news site that it was the Number 6 Aircraft that crashed.

Navy Blue Angel Number 6 minutes before it crashed during an air show in South Carolina.

Smoke rises after the F-18 fell to the earth.

Missing Man Formation by the Blue Angels*

*Official U.S. Navy Photo

Today, we are all Hokies...

From an email I received today!

Can you find your school?

(Click on the Image to Enlarge)

South Georgia Fires

In my April 15th post, I told you about the dry conditions and fire warnings for the region. One of the driest areas is around the Okefenokee Swamp. The Okefenokee is the largest peat-based "blackwater" swamp in North America. The name comes from the Mikasuki word meaning "trembling earth" - referring to the spongy peat bogs.

For a week now, firefighters have been battling two wildfires. More than 1000 people have been forced from their homes and 14 houses have been destroyed. The fire has spread over 45 miles of tinder-dry pine and cypress forest. The fires are now on the edge of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

The larger of the two fires started Monday when a tree fell on a power line. But it has edged toward the wet prairie area and has slowed down and is 30% contained. Higher humidity and decreasing winds have also aided firefighters. But officials worried about stronger wind over the weekend spreading any flames. The cause of the smaller fire was still unknown.

Fire danger map showing drought conditions

The winds this week have been from the west and the northwest. Had they been from the south, we would be smoked over - like we experienced during the Florida fires of 1998.

Southeast Georgia is extremely dry, with rainfall deficits of 6 to 8 inches for the year. We pray for rain and for the safety of the firefighters and the residents of the area.





Including this one:

Pogo the Possum by Walt Kelly

Reflections

My blog usually doesn't reflect the things that most would consider current events. While I watch more news than movies, listen to NPR on my commute to work and read the news websites, I usually just absorb the tit-bits and don't write about them. But what happened yesterday, I am moved to express my feelings.

The news yesterday from Virginia Tech is not shocking to me. Don’t get me wrong – it is a tragedy. In my 50 years, America has changed. Crime, even in small towns, has exploded. The nightly news has become a grocery list of the wrongs that people have committed against their fellow man. We cringe at the reports of yet another injustice done to the innocent. But, the evil that we hear about is not new. Are we just more exposed to it? Everything thought to be news worthy hits the airways. Shock Jocks and Reporters are stirring the pot. Over 24 straight hours of news coverage and counting. And we watch, like the proverbial train wreck, we watch.

I followed the headlines on the Internet yesterday.

12 Killed at Virginia Tech…
22 Reported Dead on Virginia Tech Campus…
32 Dead in the Worst Massacre Ever…

I am afraid that we are yet to see the Worst Massacre Ever!

So… Why did it happen? Can it happen in my hometown? Is the school down the street the next one to have dozens of T.V. news vans with satellite dishes on top in the parking lot?

Why??? Human nature? Can’t people just get along? Why do people feel that they must get even with someone that has wrong them? Where is the Golden Rule? What about forgiveness? In the midst of such disastrous event, where can we turn?

How about God?

I'm praying for my town, my region, my state, my country. I'm praying for what we as Christians have called revival. A renewal of God's Spirit, God's love and God's grace. This is the only way true forgiveness can be expressed and experienced.

For the Victims at Virginia Tech

"If Everyone Cared" by NickelBack

From underneath the trees,

we watch the sky

Confusing stars for satellites

I never dreamed that you'd be mine

But here we are, we're here tonight



Singing Amen, I, I'm alive ( I'm alive )

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive.



[Chorus:]If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died



And I'm singing

Amen I, Amen I, I'm alive

Amen I, Amen I, Amen I, ( I'm alive)



And in the air the fireflies

Our only light in paradise

We'll show the world they were wrong

And teach them all to sing along



Singing Amen, I, I'm alive (I'm alive )

Singing Amen, I, I'm alive...



[Chorus x2]



And as we lie beneath the stars

We realize how small we are

If they could love like you and me

Imagine what the world could be

If everyone cared and nobody cried

If everyone loved and nobody lied

If everyone shared and swallowed their pride

Then we'd see the day when nobody died

When nobody died...



[Chorus]



We'd see the day, we'd see the day

When nobody died

We'd see the day, we'd see the day

When nobody died

We'd see the day when nobody died