Away

Most likely, I will be away for a few days. Not sure. Some things going on I need to take care of...

If do have to leave, I should be back by Friday, the 5th. If not, maybe another time and place...

I appreciate all of your presences in my life...

A Revelation

I've read the Christian bible, a lot of it several times. Everything seems more or less orderly and in place except for one book: Revelations. It just does not fit in the grand scheme of things. I don't think scholars know the identity of the author(s), but if that person lived in our modern world, he could be a writer of fantasy stories or a cultist, probably both.

Let's look at it like this; pretend the entire bible is one lovely stage concert, with each book a verse of lyrics. The aria moves along smoothly, with quiet passages and crescendos throughout, all with the promise of an uplifting climax. In semi-darkness the curtain lifts for the final verse, the sound of trumpets rises from the background, and suddenly the lights blast full on with Lemmy and Motorhead quickly descending to the stage and screaming The Watcher as only a heavy-metal band can. It just does not fit in the grand scheme of things.

If you don't know Lemmy Kilmister, allow me to introduce him via one of his quotes; "I want us to be the kind of band that, if we move next door to you, your grass will die".

This has been an interesting week, but today has been duller than an economics lecture. I haven't made any new friends lately, but none have abandoned me either.

Gotta go; some crap is happening concerning a friend...

You Don't Know Me

Happy Birthday, Dot...

8:00 am--Good morning! This is a glorious Wednesday..., or Thursday..., or Friday...; makes no difference 'cause it is beautiful and beauty is timeless! You too are beautiful and I feel sort of pretty myself!

Nothing like a little rain to dampen the enthusiasm. The heat of summer is broken, and my spirit is lifted. Sometimes, life is a good thing.

For anyone that doesn't know me very well; I was born and live in the south but I am not a southerner. I don't hunt and kill animals for a thrill. A pickup truck is my favorite form of transport, although I don't consider myself a redneck. I do consider myself a hillbilly. Hill people are the antithesis of old south hypocrisy. I wear a ball cap to shade sensitive eyes, not as a fashion statement. I live by no rules, and obey the law when it is convenient. I wear a tee shirt because it is comfortable. My hair is long because it is my "thing". I am slightly dyslexic and I write to help overcome its inconvenience. Being an American gives me the right to dislike America. Being a free thinker gives me the right to be a unique individual; I have never found a leader for my life; I've never looked for a leader for my life. I find hypocrisy in others distasteful..., I've learned to cope with my own.

I like to learn. A day is wasted when nothing new and exciting isn't found and assimilated. Some days, the pursuit of knowledge is all that keeps me caring about anything.

I care for the few old friends I have left, and I care for the few new ones whom grace me with a smile.

1:30 pm--I am listening to Rudy Adrian's MoonWater album.

4:00 pm--I guess I'm about done for today. It is sprinkling rain and I'll probably put off making any photos until tomorrow. I need to get out and shoot some night scenes.

Some Thoughts

An adult is a person who gets up every morning and goes to a place she doesn't want to be and does work she doesn't want to do for someone she doesn't know or doesn't like. She does it because she cares about herself or someone else.

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I find it distasteful to follow someone else's rules; I sometimes rebel at following my own.

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C., I am here anytime you need a shoulder. This photograph is yours, and I thank you for being a true friend.

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The sky is becoming overcast this evening. I did some sky scouting last evening, and have my tripod set up for a promising moon shot through an opening in tree limbs. I guess it isn't to be. A full moon is definitely lovely, but not that important on my itinerary.

Today is and has been Tuesday. All day.

Today, I remember Janie Stout. A wonderful person and wife of my friend Eddie.

Today, I remember Joe Legg. A good man... a kind man.

I remember Joe for his kindness and generosity when I was child.

I remember Janie for making the world a better place for girls and young women.

Both of these people were role models, and will be missed by family, friends, and the communities on which they bestowed their goodness.

Monday

Another Sunday behind me! That is what makes Mondays so delightful.

As a child, I disliked Sundays because I was forced to go to church, while the neighbor kids were able to play and be kids. As a teen, when Elvis appeared on the Ed Sullivan television show for the first time, I was at a church function and I was miserable.

After marriage, children, and domestication, Sunday was a day to fret because I had to go to work on Monday.

After finishing my electrician apprenticeship and beginning my tramp years, Sunday mornings were pensive because I knew that in a few hours I would be hitting the road and heading hundreds of miles away to provide a decent living for my family.

I LOVE Mondays!

Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.
--Dr. Seuss

Drove over to Erwin and on up to the Beauty Spot yesterday. Made a few photos, and went on to the place where artists gather for drawing and painting the mountainscapes. There used to be magnificent views from these sites, but lack of government funding is allowing brush to obscure the best vistas.

We went from there to near the top of Unaka Mountain. I took my new spotter along, and she did very well as I negotiated the sometimes rough and twisting roads. Didn't see much wildlife, but we had a great time. We descended through Limestone Cove, which is a beautiful area in itself.

Songs; Blouses; Tattoos

Last evening was karaoke night at the local watering hole. It's a time when the young and middle-aged imbibers make a grand ass of themselves, and we of the AARP generation look on with envious amusement.

I watched the pretty girls take their turn at the mike as the horny wannabe studs whistled their lust. A couple of the ladies brought their lovely selves to my table, with one even borrowing my Dark Side of the Moon ball cap for her performance. I would gladly have allowed her to take my Pink Floyd shirt if she would have given me her pretty blouse and a peek at the contents thereof. It had been a while since fingers like hers went through my thinning locks. She placed a little kiss atop my head and suddenly I was as horny as the thirty-somethings; probably more so.

I stayed only a couple of hours; too much high culture isn't a good thing. Anyway, I was feeling the few beers I drank, so I stopped at a friends house for a bit of socializing. I think she has talked me into getting the tattoo. She was proudly showing her first one, and I must say, it is lovely. I will muse on it a bit more. I know what I want; just making up my mind to do it...

A couple of delightful hours at her trailer home, then back to the same old Flickr. I capped the evening with a toddy of brandy and writing and answering emails.

A very good day indeed.

...beautiful silky shoulder length hair; perfect skin—lightly tanned; captivating green eyes; scrumptious lips; a knockout smile...

Oh, hello. Forgive me. I was just momentarily looking at my reflection in the mirror...

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Went for my annual physical and checkup. Except for the obvious, not half bad.

Happy Birthday, Carolyn.

Today; today; today... What is there to say?
It is cloudy in Dallas but clear here.

Oh, I can say: Happy Birthday, Vanessa. If you have a cake, your dad will help you blow out the candles.


"We do not remember days, We remember moments"
--Cesare Pavese

Dear Fred

Dear Fred,

I'm going to have to say my say today, because tomorrow I will be too melancholy to write about you.

I've been thinking of you a lot lately, and I wish you were here for us to celebrate your birthday and Vanessa's birthday, and Alice's and your wedding anniversary. I'm still stumped as to how you arranged for Nessa to be born on your birthday. Probably the same way you won so many times playing cards: you cheated! Well, you were always smarter than the rest of us anyway.

Alice and Vanessa are such great people. Alice is still a lovely woman and has kept her faith when others might falter. Vanessa has grown into a beautiful woman, worked hard and earned herself a fine education, and though I haven't seen your grandchildren since they were small, they just have to be beautiful too. I think they keep Alice hopping.

I was going to say a few things about the old days, but I am starting to cry... Bless you, Bro.

Forever and ever,
Ken

Home foreclosure filings reported in the U.S. last month more than doubled from August 2006 and jumped 36 percent from July, a trend that signals many homeowners are increasingly unable to make timely payments on their mortgages or sell their homes amid a national housing slump.... Source: Google

Remember a few weeks back when I warned you this was coming?

This can all be traced right to the doorstep of the President of the United States of America. He started a war he knew we could never completely get away from, just to keep the price of oil high. Why would he ever do a dastardly thing like that? He is an oil man! VP Cheney is an oil man. The administration's largest political money contributors are oil men. But you knew this when you allowed him to steal the 2000 election, didn't you? And you still knew this when you re-elected him in 2004, didn't you?

You married him for better or for worse, now you sleep with him!

7:15 am--I am supposed to be getting ready to visit the doctor for my annual physical, but I've decided not to participate at this time. Freedom; it is something I had set aside for a while.

Tis Blue Monday, and I have a zillion things to attend to. Actually, I like Mondays; they put Sundays behind me. Generally on Sundays, I get out and seek photo ops, but yesterday I was somewhat depressed. I actually sat and watched part of a golf game on tv. It definitely wasn't a cure for melancholy.

Today I must do the tax thing. Go to the bank and pay 941 taxes, then back home and pay 1040ES taxes online. I made a mistake on city and county tax forms and I have to redo those. Quarterly state and federal tax reports must be done in a couple of weeks. I'm seriously considering turning this crap over to a professional; but I probably won't.

Somehow today, I have to find time to go to Lowe's and buy some electrical parts. I'll have to pick up some food for the livestock, too.

And during all this, I'll be trying to think of some mischief to get into.

1:00 pm--I've begun reposting some of my old stuff on Flickr; drawings and manipulated photos from way back. Somehow, I'm just not enthusiastic about making photos anymore.

2:45 pm--I'm done for the day!

Sunday, Sunday

9:15 am--Carolyn has gone off somewhere; probably to church. More irony.

I'm alone and the house is quiet except for the clicking, ticking clock. Alone is not such a good thing anymore, especially when I can hear the clock ticking my life away. I used to love it, but lately it has become depressingly oppressive.

6:15 am--Another ambiguous Sunday; a day the Christian world uses to ask forgiveness for the previous week's sins. I wonder why they think God will keep forgiving them for the missteps and wickedness that they insist on committing each day. They may quote scripture that says He is a forgiving God. I can quote scripture that says don't push your luck.

Some of these people point a righteous finger and proclaim God is angry at His creations and will soon put an end to this sinful world. Somehow, that finger of indignation won't bend enough to point to themselves.

That's one of the good things about being free; a free person has reality. I don't have to worry about Satan poking a pitchfork in my ass while I'm busy fornicating. I do worry about the cuckolded husband threatening my manhood with with his Buck knife, though. I do have to somewhat worry about my wife catching me being overly amorous with some little darling, or darlings, if I'm extremely lucky.

But then, Christians don't worry about Satan as they sin, because the gratification of fornicating offsets any doubts. It isn't until the conscientious fear of eternal damnation sets in that these good people begin to worry. But then, there is always another Sunday morning to make amends.

Yes, I know; true Christians pray every day and thank God for their blessings and ask for forgiveness, even if they haven't knowingly sinned. That is called covering one's ass.

That brings me to a question I often ask myself; do people attend church because they love God and want to worship Him, or is it because they fear Him? My simplest answer to such a complicated question; most do love God, but they attend church because they fear Him. Here, I'm speaking by and large about intermittent church goers, and these people constitute the majority of the Christian world; a big majority.

Just something to think about.

I'm In Denial

For the past week or so, I've been getting an unusual amount of people listing me as a contact on Flickr. I thought it was due to my "online persona" that one of my contacts attributed to me. Being an humble person, I listed these people as contacts too, and thought little more about it.

Then yesterday, I received an email from another Flickr friend telling me that there was a rumor sneaking about that I was some kind of administrator for Flickr's Explore. Explore is for 500 select photographs each day that some person or persons in the higher Flickr ranks consider most interesting.

Explore is something I paid little attention to until a few weeks ago, when some of my contacts began showing thumbnails of their photos that were selected for Explore. The thumbnails went from just a few to several hundred. I usually left these deserving contacts a comment congratulating them for their excellent work.

I answered the email with a denial and this fact; if I was an Explore selector, I believe I could arrange to have one or two of my own photos show up there—deserving or not—and I have exactly none, as far as I know.

The only real "award" that I've received—other than kind words from my friends—for my Flickr photos is "Photo of the Day" in the Best of Flickr group. That, and the possibility having a photo published in an European magazine, is enough for me.

I am not, nor have I ever been a a member of Flickr or Yahoo administration.

I will get back to my thoughts on the Flickr Explore thing later.

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I haven't asked lately: How are y'all doing?

10:00 am--We are getting a good dose of rain today. Maybe it will help make the fall colors be a little brighter. Thanks LA and TX for sending it our way.

I had a good time out making photos Wednesday evening. This is the time of year when light is perfect, if you like to work with defined shadows. And I do. Between about five and six-thirty is the time to have the sun at your back. I didn't get any remarkable photos, but it was fun. I think my butt looks big in my shadow photo, though.

We now have more than 15 squirrels in the backyard. I guess I'm the only one close around that is providing water in this infernal drought. We've taken so much from the creatures; we must do what we can do.

11:15 am--Flickr is having problems.

Carolyn was able to get one of the jobs she bid on last week; the smaller one. We have to pick up the key today. Then off to pick up another key for some weekend work, and to the bank and home.

5:30 pm--Finished those projects and a couple more. Done!

Irony

A tale of irony. My bride of 44 years has a boyfriend. But that isn't the ironic part. The man is a devout Baptist. He is a married devout Baptist. The ironic part. He is a devout, married, Baptist preacher! Can you believe it? Ah, love is a many splendored thing. I guess.

Well, thats all from the world of Wayne today.

Get A Haircut And Get A Real Job...

Yesterday was a rainy, gray CSN day with a Santana side dish; dessert was a a smooth and scrumptious Wes Montgomery. Today...? Maybe some Les Paul and Mary Ford or Village Stompers...?

Yesterday was also a near perfect day for the new me. Gentle rain whispering sweet nothings to soft, dancing leaves; pleasant conversations with friends; a satisfactory evening photograph.

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A late summer indulgence that even a kitchen klutz like myself can make.

Black Bottom Banana Pie

1 package (4-serv. size) JELL-O Banana Flavor Instant Pudding & Pie Filling
1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed
1 (6 oz.) prepared chocolate flavor crumb crust
1 1/2 cups cold half-and-half or milk
1/3 cup hot fudge dessert topping
1 large banana, sliced

SPREAD dessert topping in bottom of crust. Arrange banana slices over dessert topping.
POUR half-and-half into large bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with wire whisk 2 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes or until thickened. Gently stir in whipped topping. Spread pudding mixture over banana slices.
FREEZE 6 hours or overnight, covering with plastic wrap after 2 hours. Let stand at room temperature 15 minutes or until pie can be cut easily. Garnish as desired. Store leftover pie in freezer. Serves: 8 normal people or one me.

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If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.--Will Rogers