Sunday morning notes

-Beijing citizens discussing a Olympics-like more permanent ban on vehicle traffic. Would mean a continuation of blue skies and clean air. Seems like a great idea. Wonder what a comparable sacrifice would be for the citizens of Loogootee/Martin County?

-Number One Son Marty wonders why no comment on John McCain's VP selection. Well, she's young and she's pretty and she looked John in the eye and maybe winked (?!) Bold move by McCain, and mavericky. The regular Republicans are probably wondering what is the guy thinking!? Well, regular Democrats are probably thinking the same. Is this selection comparable to 1984 when Geraldine Ferraro was selected by Walter Mondale? Probably only in the fact that they both happen to be women. The timing of the selection did take Obama off of page one, kinda.

-Watched a bit of the Cubs game yesterday afternoon. First one this year, first baseball game this year. And wouldn't you know that the best team in baseball got themselves beat. Jeeesh...

-College football has started up again and Michigan lost another opening game to a serious underdog at the Big House. My oh my. And Notre Dame opens against San Diego State next week. Odds? How about IU as the best team in Indiana this year?

-Should all past colonialists do as Italy is doing now? Italy to compensate Libya $5B for colonial rule Maybe they already have and Italy is the last of them to get around to doing it. Though I highly doubt that...

-That other guy, Padraic Harrington, contending for the POY in pro golf again missed the cut this week.

Martian Red

Last night's sky as the sun was setting. Cool.

More sky with a bit of Stoll's in the picture.

Little house on the railing

Just for fun. Or, if you want to be a little more serious, put a Bible verse with the picture. I have one in mind.

Late afternoon sun and standing tree

Taken last night from behind #3 tee box.

Window display

Another way to look at web design?

Morning haze

The day started with a haze that shielded us from the sun for a little while.

Storm clouds yesterday

but very little rain. A few large drops at the golf course, a sprinkle in downtown Loogootee. Dang.

Photos by Others: Beach Scene, and Young People on a Corner in Shanghai

from bai huili: bathers on the beach somewhere in Israel

from Boxman: young people on a corner in Shanghai - here

Hillary is Super!

Hillary was super last night. Hope she continues to drum for the Democrats and Obama/Biden.

Things that blow their tops...

wired.com has a fascinating pictorial essay on volcano eruptions.

Wild Things

A kingfisher, another bird who doesn't much like hanging around us humans.

Vector butterfly?

A little guy who knows how to blend in with his surroundings.

Apples galore and the seashell cosmos

Lots of apples on our one apple tree this year. They're organic and looking good. Anybody want them?

There's still color in Diane's garden. How about a little purple and gold for a Monday morning? Seashell Cosmos.

A Monday Morning Mix of Stuff

Of note:

I like Boxman's sense of humor in this photo of a statue (sitting nude) and a lady (?) with an umbrella.

China did a super job with the 2008 Olympics. And we all got a peek into the lives of the most populous country in the world. Very impressive. Hope they continue to improve air quality in Beijing (and elsewhere). Wonder what would happen here in Loogootee or anywhere in America if it was suggested (ordered?) that half the vehicles stay off the streets every other day? Guess we would just use the other vehicle in the garage, right? (We did do a pretty good job of changing habits these past several months when gas prices crossed into the unacceptable zone.)

Did you notice that the other guy in contention for the POY (player of the year) in professional golf did not make the cut at the Barclays?

Marty sent me this link to some great photos from the Olympics.

Democratic convention starts in Denver today. For political junkies, expect there will be a moment or two that tops the Olympic extravaganza of the past eight days. But maybe not. Seems to me this convention matters unlike the ones of the past several years - and I don't know why I fee that way. Just do.

Teenager at rest...

That's Lucas in the midday sun resting in a golf cart.

Swimsuit Competition Winner

Didn't know that such a competition was being held at Lakeview today, but we do have a winner!

End of day photos

Stoll's just about to close for the day late last night as I was leaving the golf course. The hot sun photo was taken from the dam a little earlier. The hot of the day lasted till the sun dropped over the horizon.

The veep pick

Joe Biden is both a smart and a good pick for veep. Would have preferred Hillary or Wes but Barack and Joe will be a great team in the WH.

More Friday Morning in Town: Congestion

Got a caption for this photo? Boy following girl? Casino: go left?

More Friday Morning in Town: Working Men 2

Working men on a Friday morning a week ago. Expect they are doing much the same thing this Friday morning. Recognize the golfer in this picture? For all I know, there might be two of them.

Wary sandpiper

Just off of #7 green. Very skittery bird and does not much like being photographed. Or just doesn't cater to humans.

More Friday Morning in Town: Martial Arts and Marriage

A long time ago I would often confuse 'martial arts' with 'marital arts'. One of those little tricks our minds play on us with certain words. Or maybe it's an eye thing.

More Friday morning in town: Drinks with a couple of smiles

That would be Nancy and Dan. And before you ask: it was casual Hawaii day at the Prosecutor's office.

A love story: The Hidden Blade

Japanese and with subtitles but excellent. The Hidden Blade has love and tenderness, honor and loyalty, humor and even some violence. Super Wednesday morning fare.

Friday morning in town: Men at work

Men at work on the K of C building last Friday morning.

Soft shelled turtle taking a walk...

...up #8 cart path last night just before sundown.

Liz Voeller China photo - non Olympic

Go here to see Liz Voeller and friends, a couple of elders and a friend/interpreter, sitting on a bench 'neath a big shady tree in southwestern China They are far away from the hubbub of Beijing and the Olympics. You remember Liz is Danielle's niece and is currently doing research in Lijiang, China. Her blog here for a perspective of life among the every day Chinese.

Saturday morning water scenes

Foxtails and mist.

Early fisher folk.

Sunset and moon rise

Sunset and moon rise all within a thirty minute period last night. Beautiful.

Ian recovering a beach ball

Taken several days back...

Friday morning in town: Diane...

...buying thistle at Burch's.

Friday morning in town: Other life forms

Porkers taking a ride through Loogootee this morning

Meanwhile, down the street and around the corner, a bird uses a corner post to do some very necessary grooming.

Small Town

Just saw the video of John Mellencamp's Small Town. First time. Number One son Marty is a big fan of his. It's cool though I was not born in a small town (was born here). Was reading the Indy Star story on the opening of the Lucas Oil Stadium - fascinating, amazing, a big place. May I suggest we come up with a new name for the stadium? The present name just doesn't cut it for me. The House that Manning Built Stadium? Nap Town Stadium?

Boats and helicopters

boating in a sea of gold...

more of the helicopter that flew over the golf course the other day...

Blood drive today

2 - 6 pm in Loogootee

Shut up and sing - the Dixie Chicks

Just watched the documentary on the Dixie chicks - Shut up and sing. From Netflix:

Directed by Barbara Kopple (of Harlan County, U.S.A. fame), this documentary centers on country music's The Dixie Chicks and their nationwide vilification over critical statements they made about President Bush in 2003. Over a three-year period, the singers went from darlings of the industry to political targets, receiving constant death threats and being demonized by the national media and denounced by their fans.

Loved it...

The word 'barrel'

Just a little bit ago, Diane came out of the den with the flyer I had created about the special contests at the golf course for the Tuesday Men's League. She was getting after me for my wretched spelling, again, and apologizing for not noticing it a little earlier. Just for your information, the word was 'barrel' and I had slipped another 'l' onto the end of it, making it 'barrell'. Seemed okay to me though I did wonder at the time, Monday afternoon. Bric Parker happened to be out in the parking lot so I asked him if 'barrel' had one 'l' or two. He wasn't exactly sure so he asked Curt Johnson who was just a few cars down. Curt, ever the helpful one, wanted to know how big the barrel was, as if that had anything to do with it. Never did get an answer to my question and by the time I got back into the clubhouse, didn't even remember that I had a question. So, the flyer got printed and the Tuesday Men played their golf and day passed to night and... Well, Diane got herself up on a Wednesday morning and saw the flyer. She's out playing golf now and I don't expect coming across too many misspelled words. And I'm here making sure misspell is spelled correctly - did use only one 's' the first time...

Sky photos

From the golf course late yesterday.

Gate closing time

Caught Noel in the act the other night.

Ian with a fireball

Ian and I walked around the golf course meeting and greeting golfers yesterday right about the noon hour. Ian also had thoughts about fireballs and things. Yes, us adults have to look closely to see the fireball but am sure other eight year olds have no problem in doing so.

Bateman Boys

Greg, Kevin and Chris taking the high ground.

They arrived at the golf course looking for Jim and Wilma. They found them.

Old cars meeting at The Cabin

Breakfast with the grandsons at The Cabin. Bunch of neat old cars were all decked out in the parking lot.

Saturday boaters: tubing and fishing

A couple of photos from Saturday afternoon at the golf course. A couple of vastly different pursuits: a dad with five kids doing some tubing and then the couple quietly drifting along the shoreline casting a line and waiting for a bite.

1st humming birds at new feeding station

We added a bird feeding station, this one for humming birds, just outside our east side living room window. Didn't take long for the little guys to discover its existence.

Sundown sky from our back yard, Notes from China

As I arrived home last night, spotted this opening in the trees that gave me a peek at the western sky.

Daughter Danielle gave me a heads up on one of her nieces who is currently in China and doing some blogging. Here's the link. Neat peek into daily life, both of the tourist (foreigner) and the locals.

The color red

Seen from the parking lot of the dentist's office the other day. Small town America, maybe the World. Does Coca-Cola have big trucks full of soda driving the roads of the world? I expect they do.

More Ian in Town

Ian inside the dentist's office. Lucas is deeper inside the dentist's office, behind closed doors.

Helicopter photo, Boxman photo, and an Irish blessing

It was checking out the power lines this morning as the Seniors played their games.

Here's another photo from Boxman. Talk about living next to the tracks...

And here's an Irish blessing for you:

May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Got a movie in the mail today, one Diane picked out because she liked the title: Before the devil knows you're dead.

Geese arrayed...

well, kinda arrayed.