Sunday, October 9, 2011

Sunrise over Assateague




In a moment of rare cogent thought, we decided to go out and watch the sun rise this morning. I say rare cogent because we actually had the thought in enough time to proceed to our destination in an orderly fashion without rushing. AND with a cup of coffee on our fingers for good measure.



We walked out onto the 1000 foot pier arriving about 10 mints before the big event. We were able to watch the world wake from its slumber and the darkness of the night I've way to light.

I always say that nothing good happens during the middle of then night and so greeting the rising sun is a way to break the hold of night upon the world and bring into the light that which we have tried to hide in the darkness.




It was fun to watch the birds waking as the sun began to rise. I recalled this past summer when we enjoyed so many beautiful sunsets while in St Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. I think I more prefer the sunrise and the promise of the new day to the sunset and the impending day's end.



So here is a shout out to Chris for getting us moving before the sunrise to be in position to document the dawn of the day and reflect on life and the times we share.



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Location:Assateague Way,Berlin,United States

Saturday, October 8, 2011

At the beach

October? Beach? Yeah!

Slipping Out of Town

We slipped out of town last evening for a weekend get-away to the Atlantic shore of Maryland. Aside from being trapped in traffic around Annapolis for over an hour, the trip was easy and we drove most of the way with the top down on Cat, until it got colder than we could stand. It was a bit funny though since my feet were cooking as the heat blew out of the vent and my arms were getting colder in the breeze.

The horrific traffic right at the beginning almost ruined the trip--but we were able to remain civil knowing that it would end at the Severn River Bridge--and so it did. I wonder where it all goes after the bridge.

So we have made our way to a weekend hide-away to enjoy life and reconnect after the frantic pace of the past few weeks.

'Twas a spur of the moment decision--and there is so much happening this weekend right near us.

I wanted to bring Makayla, but is it probably better that she is enjoying a play weekend with cousin Chewie.

OK--so it's 44 degrees outside right now---not really beach weather. But it is supposed to warm up to 75--soon I hope.

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Friday, October 7, 2011

Cats, why?




The other day I was relaxing in my chair and suddenly had this 10 pound furry animal sharing my space. Yes, it was Riordan--the cat who came home.

Riordan seems to enjoy making himself very at home in our laps. I wish I could be that comfortable in my bed, let alone in someone's lap.


Well, after all, he is the cat that came back and so I guess he gets to choose when and where he can recline. Even in my arms, usually while I am researching something on my iPad.

Cats. Why does it have to be cats?

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Look, up in the sky--it's BLUE!




An amazing thing happened yesterday. The sky was the clearest blue that I have observed in almost a month.

No clouds and bright sunshine highlighted the approaching autumn colors in the trees.

No clouds--that was the cool thing. It has been so gray and depressing.

It was so refreshing to see the blue.

I wanted to play hooky from work.

And lay in the sun and imagine that I was on a warm beach somewhere.

But I didn't and stayed at work even though the sky was so clear and blue and inviting.

I hope we have a few more days like that, soon.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

In Need of a Messiah?

I read an interesting article the other day in Newsweek Magazine titled, "Wanted: A New Messiah" that postulated that Americans are searching for a messiah and the next presidential election (2012) is when many expect to find one.

It is sad that we are looking to politicians to be our messiah--when we already have one.

I believe that it shows how desperate we are as a people and a nation. We are expecting our leaders to deliver us from the evil that surrounds us. And we don't even realize that the evil that we are mired in is of our own doing.

Have your heard about the banks raising fees and charging consumers more tot use debit cards? Greed, pure and simple. They can couch it in terms of profit margins and return on investment, but at the bottom is greed, no doubt about it.and it is a reflection of our own greed being reflected in the policies of the banks.

And we continue to fight a losing war against drugs. People are looking to escape from their condition and the drugs and thugs are profiting--committing murder in the open in Mexico. Yet, if we were to stop needing to use drugs to escape, then there would not be a market for the dealers to exploit.

Yes--we need a messiah. Someone to lead us to the promised land. But is is not Governor Christie of New Jersey.

People need hope!

The need to look elsewhere that politicians--like at the real Messiah who came to give us life, and freedom from the penalty for sin.

We who know this need to help those who are searching just a bit more. And don't thump them with a bible, give them hope and teach them grace. The Messiah is searching for them. That is where we can help.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

October Arrives

Cold rain slapped hard on my face
punctuating the 40 degree bone chilling cold
that greeted me at the door as I
stepped outside to start the day.

October arrived cold and raw
driven rain greeting me on my stoop
dark mornings as the sun lags
by rising later for each new day.

The goblins are waiting for their night
by then darkness will fall
before I get home from work
and the moon will master the evening light

Cold and wet, even my dog resists
it just isn't fun to be in the still green grass
watching the trees don their autumn garb
and then lose it to the ground.

The pool is closed and quiet now
slumbering in advance of the coming snows
waiting for the sunlight to reign again
and shake off the approaching darkness

October, arrived with no applause
and grasped the remnants of summer fun
shaking off the light and plunging
day into ever increasing darkness.

Cold hard rains that too soon turn to snow
and become drifts obscuring the yard
with ice and cold and darkness.
October please, do not long tarry.



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Monday, October 3, 2011

Monday Musings - October 3, 2011

1. Baseball is on to the playoffs. It always amazes me that after playing 162 games, teams can end the season with such similar records.

2. It was cold here to start October. It seemed as if the weather was watching the calendar, too.

3. I ran across an interesting quote: "Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." ~ Napoleon Bonaparte

4. Important safety tip for Maryland driving--apparently as of 1 October, we can no longer even look at our cell phones while we are operating a vehicle--but we can continue to stuff ourselves with a Big Mac and fries. Maryland obviously wants us all to be heavier so the state can spend more on health care.




5. The inspection of the Washington Monument in the aftermath of the earthquake is continuing. I read there are some large cracks in the top. I saw an image of men suspended from safety gear round the secured to the top of the monument. I wonder who went out first without ropes to put the safety ropes around the top?

6. This week the next best sport regular season begins--NHL Hockey. Lets go Pens!

7. Wouldn't it be cool if Congress was run like a major sports team. After a dismal season they could be dismissed and replaced. Oh yeah--they can! It is called an election.

8. Happy new fiscal year (which started Saturday). Maybe we can get a budget soon.

9. The house is quiet now--the games are completed. But yesterday, with the addition of Patrick's big TV the place looked like a sports bar with three different games playing and the Red Zone channel monitoring the progress.


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Sunday, October 2, 2011

Ugly Bug of the Day

As I was out on the back porch yesterday, I spied what is perhaps the ugliest bug that I have ever run across.

Hopefully it dines on stink bugs!

Anyone know whatitiz?




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Location:6155 Rainbow Drive, Elkridge, MD

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Moneyball - Movie Review

Every so often, and it seems to be happening less and less, I view a movie where I really connect with the story and the actors make the characters believable. money ball is one of those rare movies where it all comes together, a compelling true story and good character development.

The movie is based on the book, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game by Michael Lewis. The story is about the Oakland A's major league baseball team during the end of the 2001 season and through the 2002 baseball season through the perspective of the General Manager, Billy Beane, a former baseball prodigy who never made it in the big leagues. After losing the three stars of the team on whose backs they rode the wave to the 2001 playoffs, the team needs to find an innovative way to replace the talent without increasing the bottom line which is the lowest payroll in baseball. The philosophical change, which eventually revolutionizes baseball, is not an easy sell to the staff.

Brad Pitt plays Billy Beane and does a great job building a character that has many competing facets including a daughter with his divorced wife and the demons of his failures as a player. Jonah Hill, who I have never seen in a serious movie before, plays Peter Brand the knowledgeable statical genius who assists Billy in implementing the plan. His character is far less complex, but he provides the counterpoint for the story line.

The movie comes to a predictable conclusion, since it is a true story and I knew the ending. There are a few factual errors, but the movie and the story are very compelling. It is not just a baseball story--it is a story of people and relationships and the reaction to fundamental change is any endeavor.

RECOMMENDATION: See this movie. It is a great and touching story. And mostly true. Billy Beane is still the general manager for the Oakland A's.



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