tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305429432024-03-13T09:57:13.778-05:00OutpostTonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.comBlogger345125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-90234890309989580402018-10-10T17:37:00.001-05:002018-10-10T17:37:21.586-05:00First Assignment<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnGXgLz7ahU/W754ksvdZkI/AAAAAAAAB1E/0onIlz9nM_EdM2AJrsXOYokCQk1n7vB7wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pnGXgLz7ahU/W754ksvdZkI/AAAAAAAAB1E/0onIlz9nM_EdM2AJrsXOYokCQk1n7vB7wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4084.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He understood the first assignment was going to be tough. Teaching in the Inner city as a student teacher gets to the heart of the matter, but this is especially true when you don't have a supervising teacher. It breaks out to be you alone seeking your own solutions unaided.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He would have no reason to suspect that there wouldn't be any teaching supplies either. As Wm. T. would say, "An impossible situation".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Yet Mr. Collins came up with a plan very quickly! He promoted a fund raising plan on the internet for his disadvantaged middle school students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The promotion was a great success and he was able to buy some text books. Now both he and his students have a fighting chance for an education!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-39139272131048119932017-12-06T15:58:00.001-05:002017-12-06T15:58:27.163-05:00Week 49<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwa5FJqcRxc/WihV8eocEoI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SoaYN6J7TXUSurpT4vna1H7yb18JjcW3wCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_1035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jwa5FJqcRxc/WihV8eocEoI/AAAAAAAABzQ/SoaYN6J7TXUSurpT4vna1H7yb18JjcW3wCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_1035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Week 49 began with a note of concern that later was followed up with a real hazard. First, as you can see above in the photo, it appears that beavers are beginning again to construct one of their architectural marvels.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I've known them to put on two shifts when they get really serious. If they build the dam here then it floods my basement, dock, and the general waterfront. The river is higher than normal for this season so I can't get into the river very well and redirect their energies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Yesterday, the power was out as a result of high winds. Normally not a big deal except this time it blew over a tree onto my power line. A couple hours later when it was light, I proudly solved the problem. Pulling the pickup over to use as a platform, I cut the offending sections off with my handy little chain saw and reduced the remains to its natural state of firewood.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The day gets better! At the end of last season, I bought a generator. It had never been tested. So...I fired the bad boy up, and chou wow- a light and heat festival in my cabin. After twenty seven years the implementation of a back-up plan!</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-45460842958679352692017-07-19T12:42:00.003-05:002017-07-19T12:42:46.217-05:00Just for Starters...<span style="font-size: x-large;">The 2017 Cruze is very quiet in fact so quiet that I didn't realize it was shutting down at traffic lights.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It also has keyless entry as long as you have the keys with you. The car is also wired to make it possible for a person to stream music through their phone while they are driving.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">But there is a downside to all these technological advancements. Sometimes the bluetooth signals on a cell phone will interfere with the car's ability to restart. Last month, I found myself stranded at a gas station far from home as other folks kept pulling in and leaving. My bluetooth wasn't connected, but a lot of other ones that were coming and going that day were on. I finally was able to restart by using a remote button on the key fob.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcgxmgjvTJc/WW-XwxA6LpI/AAAAAAAABy4/GNLd2vtinkgqi7F-oOOihIH4h_ZPSBz8gCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3336.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcgxmgjvTJc/WW-XwxA6LpI/AAAAAAAABy4/GNLd2vtinkgqi7F-oOOihIH4h_ZPSBz8gCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_3336.JPG" width="320" /></a></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-10807416946851650392016-09-18T10:16:00.003-05:002016-09-18T10:16:44.547-05:00Elixir<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmduQCIJiRE/V96vQaRnmqI/AAAAAAAABx4/iCMcbKs714cdJr9VrrbMOLGpAuTN0OziACLcB/s1600/IMG_2573.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wmduQCIJiRE/V96vQaRnmqI/AAAAAAAABx4/iCMcbKs714cdJr9VrrbMOLGpAuTN0OziACLcB/s320/IMG_2573.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Empire Happy Hour-</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-55137935245644874742016-09-13T14:03:00.001-05:002016-09-13T14:03:45.768-05:00Antidote<span style="font-size: x-large;"> Traveling the mountains of East Tennessee in my little Cruze has been quite a challenge this year. The car gets great gas mileage (44-46 mpg) but with the little 1.4 engine and the six speed transmission, I often find myself in the wrong gear at the wrong time. What compounds this problem is large pickup trucks that just love to bear down on you and sweep the road so to speak.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"> I picked up some big iron from an another era to level the playing field. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8Bdchm2wfM/V9hNaUACD4I/AAAAAAAABxo/OXpwn-U4HeE356zEwcpCppFSi5foFeGgwCLcB/s1600/IMG_2029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--8Bdchm2wfM/V9hNaUACD4I/AAAAAAAABxo/OXpwn-U4HeE356zEwcpCppFSi5foFeGgwCLcB/s320/IMG_2029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-19059234819316908832016-08-06T08:37:00.000-05:002016-08-06T08:37:12.829-05:00Unfit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hlVpOSITsSo/V6XkRmmTI_I/AAAAAAAABxM/JOvq_4fGe30jEr1ufbBP0hAXr1JatUnoACLcB/s1600/IMG_2159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hlVpOSITsSo/V6XkRmmTI_I/AAAAAAAABxM/JOvq_4fGe30jEr1ufbBP0hAXr1JatUnoACLcB/s320/IMG_2159.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Our president was very even handed when he was asked at a press conference what he thought of the Republican candidate. "It is a very responsible job". That really says it all!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Asked again at a later date about "The Donald" the President didn't reply in kind to all the abuse he had received from this particular quarter of the political spectrum.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">He simply stated, "He is unfit for the job".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">If someone had asked me I probably couldn't have stopped talking about how dangerous and crude I think Mr. Trump might be as President. Reduced to one sentence would be that he an unqualified egotist who churns up hate and reacts to criticism with a hot head and thin skin. Not the qualifications necessary to lead an already great nation.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-47953053271051271012016-03-18T11:17:00.001-05:002016-03-18T12:38:22.589-05:00Good Turn on Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9b_MGLKRAvs/VuwopJubSNI/AAAAAAAABw4/WXZuKI_KRpw0A97h83JFIyfI5yLaZgSow/s1600/IMG_1581.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9b_MGLKRAvs/VuwopJubSNI/AAAAAAAABw4/WXZuKI_KRpw0A97h83JFIyfI5yLaZgSow/s320/IMG_1581.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sometime this week, a tree fell from the public landing across </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">the fence and was perched precariously close to the power line going into my house. Couldn't get my chainsaw started which was quite fortuitous since I'm not very good with it anyway. This event called for more skill than I could provide.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought, why not go to the DNR and see if they could take care of it since it was really their tree. In the past, I've always taken care of these situations myself especially when storm damage blocked my driveway. Time for a different approach.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They were very nice when I reported it and said they would take care of it. Well the next day, as I'm driving down the road, I passed a pickup truck with a state seal tattooed on its door. I turned around and went back to the landing and talked to the the guy. I showed him the tree and he said that he would handle it Sunday. It seems the state doesn't allow employees to operate a chainsaw unless there are two people present. Good safety rule I say! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-1003492719595604442016-03-09T12:22:00.002-05:002016-09-13T14:06:34.291-05:00Timing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWcU6cQ2u8o/VuBaegyLXsI/AAAAAAAABwk/SD8OLbW6t0s/s1600/IMG_0312.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EWcU6cQ2u8o/VuBaegyLXsI/AAAAAAAABwk/SD8OLbW6t0s/s320/IMG_0312.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I dislodged this ice chunk from my dock in an attempt to get a pail of water for my cabin. The mallard duck flew in just in time to paddle furiously to avoid being swamped. As he turned the bend, the ice was still on his tail. </span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-73287500755683607382016-03-04T08:05:00.002-05:002016-03-05T20:01:20.269-05:00Truths: Ancient and New<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1exgrs5dN40/VtmHyJ9aB0I/AAAAAAAABwQ/EVV3oU3zMK8/s1600/IMG_3444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1exgrs5dN40/VtmHyJ9aB0I/AAAAAAAABwQ/EVV3oU3zMK8/s320/IMG_3444.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You can't step in the same river twice. Heraclitus </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Nature hates a vacuum. Bacon</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">You can't roller-skate in a buffalo herd. Miller</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-89915159106282876682016-02-29T08:28:00.000-05:002016-03-01T09:27:46.398-05:00Leap Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiTRsygbeNk/VtWYfuyzZ5I/AAAAAAAABv8/_V2oHaVGQEE/s1600/IMG_0021.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RiTRsygbeNk/VtWYfuyzZ5I/AAAAAAAABv8/_V2oHaVGQEE/s320/IMG_0021.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">"He drew a circle that shut me out--</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Heretic, a rebel, a thing to flout.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But Love and I had the wit to win:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We drew a circle that took him in!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Edwin Markham</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-31775650843870489242016-02-28T19:14:00.003-05:002016-02-28T19:18:29.151-05:00...Hold That Thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fKtaEoqhKU/VtONCTeY_xI/AAAAAAAABvo/uhswA1mgScQ/s1600/IMG_1550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4fKtaEoqhKU/VtONCTeY_xI/AAAAAAAABvo/uhswA1mgScQ/s320/IMG_1550.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">... I need to make a call. </span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-34787594176898092902016-02-25T09:02:00.001-05:002016-02-25T09:02:15.184-05:00A View Point<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyc9eXFyPPo/Vs8JD0CYDTI/AAAAAAAABvQ/01R_yI2Skb4/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zyc9eXFyPPo/Vs8JD0CYDTI/AAAAAAAABvQ/01R_yI2Skb4/s320/IMG_1530.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Neither the flowers or owls are authentic, but together they look quite natural.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-39761644240841882052016-02-24T11:34:00.000-05:002016-02-24T11:47:05.825-05:00Specialist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-Zx39z2WUc/Vs3auprR5xI/AAAAAAAABu8/Rn3NIJ6maKw/s1600/IMG_0096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K-Zx39z2WUc/Vs3auprR5xI/AAAAAAAABu8/Rn3NIJ6maKw/s320/IMG_0096.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Mei Fong's book, "<i>One Child: The Story of China's Most Radical Experiment", she explains some of the major dislocations this policy caused which are still being worked out through the present generation. Because the cultural revolution was taking place during the initiation of this change, the government only trusted the scientific community. So, guess what...a rocket scientist was put in charge. In my little town the expression to explain that something is very easy is to say, "It doesn't take a rocket scientist." Apparently that isn't the case for human behavior.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-15496393312103945362016-02-23T20:17:00.000-05:002016-02-28T19:21:49.089-05:00Mind's Eye<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhdBJmEXudo/Vs0CtmYpbEI/AAAAAAAABuo/DlAwjbpWhnA/s1600/IMG_1484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OhdBJmEXudo/Vs0CtmYpbEI/AAAAAAAABuo/DlAwjbpWhnA/s320/IMG_1484.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: large;">The heart of a road machine!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-59761628940653350332016-02-05T10:30:00.003-05:002016-02-05T10:30:37.822-05:00Personal Time Zone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvM6aeqODU/VrS8r75vX4I/AAAAAAAABuA/u_REUQ8NaWc/s1600/IMG_1228%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EFvM6aeqODU/VrS8r75vX4I/AAAAAAAABuA/u_REUQ8NaWc/s320/IMG_1228%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colleen woke up this morning half way around the world continuing her great adventure. Living in the desert will be an entirely new experience for her. She did say Rome wasn't that far away by air so the future looks bright for a world traveler.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is one of the texts she sent me this morning. "We walked out to our tiny back yard, and there were four cats waiting for us, haha!" </span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-34294368793397738502016-02-04T20:48:00.001-05:002016-02-04T22:02:28.334-05:00Hope's Birthday<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlrAPEYyjro/VrP-UsplDUI/AAAAAAAABts/wdp7V07eNUk/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rlrAPEYyjro/VrP-UsplDUI/AAAAAAAABts/wdp7V07eNUk/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Hope always seemed to have that metaphysical quality. Not because she could spot spirits, but the ability to forecast the end of events. When she told fortunes it was always in fun and she would dismiss her ability, but when they rang true you just knew, she understood much more then she would ever convey.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-83900415006695023242016-02-04T15:47:00.001-05:002016-02-04T20:41:16.483-05:00Tennessee Wrap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_NN-VVbsxk/VrO1VUt3DAI/AAAAAAAABtY/9OxEkPKi4gA/s1600/IMG_1439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s_NN-VVbsxk/VrO1VUt3DAI/AAAAAAAABtY/9OxEkPKi4gA/s320/IMG_1439.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It would be a good idea for me to start taking travel notes as to not repeat the same mistakes. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Arrived in Elizabethan after a fourteen hour trip. The (GPS) confirmed that it was really set to be a twelve hour jaunt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I turned off the interstate, I made the first mistake which turned out to be costly with both time and energy. I depended on the GPS instead of my AAA maps. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was drawn into two unnecessary states needed to arrive at my destination. Virginia, and state of mind that didn't question the GPS and its choice of endless, rural, two lane switchbacks, in the mountains of Kentucky.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My errors were compounded on my return trip as I again relied on my GPS. When I pressed the home button, it couldn't resist routing me through the adjacent state of Indiana. I've been down that road before on the long way home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-83168261305748325882016-01-23T09:25:00.003-05:002016-01-23T09:25:43.099-05:00Birthday Wish <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0g72y_mA5fM/VqOM6AJ21qI/AAAAAAAABtE/l0ozJck-Tks/s1600/IMG_0904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0g72y_mA5fM/VqOM6AJ21qI/AAAAAAAABtE/l0ozJck-Tks/s320/IMG_0904.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I texted my brother Mike on his 76th birthday today. His response..</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">"Thank you it was tough getting here"</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-80520078928669343022016-01-21T17:12:00.003-05:002016-01-21T17:12:54.046-05:00Car Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oTHRyyj9NM/VqFX017Z3OI/AAAAAAAABsw/3gZDn5kTml4/s1600/IMG_0304.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8oTHRyyj9NM/VqFX017Z3OI/AAAAAAAABsw/3gZDn5kTml4/s320/IMG_0304.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got my oil changed and three of the four tires headed in the right direction for a car show in Tennessee. Pictured above is just a few of the cars that will be featured there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Check it out.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-26018669855176833802016-01-20T07:12:00.002-05:002016-01-20T08:34:24.441-05:00Ruminating<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rT2bL9LEAk/Vp95rl2wZoI/AAAAAAAABsc/xqT7DDl9n9Q/s1600/IMG_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9rT2bL9LEAk/Vp95rl2wZoI/AAAAAAAABsc/xqT7DDl9n9Q/s320/IMG_0233.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I paid my house off yesterday and it was really quite an emotional rush! I was financially upside down when I retired and the imbalance needed to be dealt with immediately. It meant living strapped economically for six years and some of my friends and family questioned that draconian concept. As I read years ago, "If a fool persists in his folly, he becomes wise." So... I can't say that I'm any wiser, but it sure is easier to live on my new budget.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-52673634274365226172016-01-19T08:57:00.003-05:002016-01-19T08:58:45.815-05:00Inertia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUQy92hAi2g/Vp4_yp9-AyI/AAAAAAAABsA/7EMWOCoIHqU/s1600/IMG_0302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DUQy92hAi2g/Vp4_yp9-AyI/AAAAAAAABsA/7EMWOCoIHqU/s320/IMG_0302.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Got my driveway plowed for the fourth time this January. </span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is quite the middle class thing to me now. I keep my car in my wife's garage, and knock out orange juice when the opportunity presents itself. Caught in an upward draft of social mobility it would seem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Built a fire this morning as it was only two degrees. Furnace and Eden Pure running at full tilt. I am predicting that the situation will warm before too long.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-38907519885817279742016-01-18T08:57:00.002-05:002016-01-18T10:31:29.013-05:00Habit Forming<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiDgFXMXpjw/VpzupWKdQvI/AAAAAAAABrs/3n1OJPboP4g/s1600/IMG_1432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tiDgFXMXpjw/VpzupWKdQvI/AAAAAAAABrs/3n1OJPboP4g/s320/IMG_1432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This marks the third Monday in a row that we have had a snow storm. About fifty schools in the area were closed from the night before. It is about nine degrees this morning </span><span style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif; font-size: large;">for the third morning in a row. Looks like a pattern might be forming.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The resident duck population now also have the opportunity to race the ice flow which adds a bit of incentive to move along as fast as they can.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-88270018909459367832016-01-17T05:56:00.000-05:002016-01-17T05:56:08.870-05:00The Slide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJ1plV75Jgk/VptySi22-FI/AAAAAAAABrY/kjzIIbjCuMU/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sJ1plV75Jgk/VptySi22-FI/AAAAAAAABrY/kjzIIbjCuMU/s320/IMG_0295.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I Got a new metal roof a few years back. Water was just pouring down the inside walls of my house when the ice would melt to some degree. Now, again when it gets warmer, I can hear these sudden crashes as ice and snow cascade down my new slide. Makes me wonder why I waited so long.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-61532153811628690752016-01-16T08:00:00.001-05:002016-01-16T08:00:31.788-05:00Transfer Case<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ASRPjjMvcXk/Vpo8F_CMd8I/AAAAAAAABrE/k20aeC0Lzqc/s1600/IMG_0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ASRPjjMvcXk/Vpo8F_CMd8I/AAAAAAAABrE/k20aeC0Lzqc/s320/IMG_0046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the mid '70's and early 80's, Bobby Bare put out some incredible long playing records. When the musical world went digital, I did too. This left these great records gathering dust. Unlike many record companies, his didn't transfer the music unto CDs so they could be played in that format.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;">Over an inordinate amount of time, w</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">ith a convoluted process, using retro analogue equipment, I was able to accomplish that task. Musically, the world is now a richer place.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30542943.post-29380629028761349512016-01-15T08:58:00.003-05:002016-01-15T08:58:52.575-05:00Stay of Execution <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehZEPtzgCMg/Vpj42EkmofI/AAAAAAAABqw/s3_Hvg8Zy_w/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ehZEPtzgCMg/Vpj42EkmofI/AAAAAAAABqw/s3_Hvg8Zy_w/s320/IMG_1426.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last chipmunk that gained entry to the Outpost had a very peculiar habit. I didn't discover it until this winter. His game was taking mouse poison and hoarding it in my boot. Not much future in that exercise.</span>Tonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13217916486701592262noreply@blogger.com0