Sunday, May 28, 2006

Decatur's Alabama Jubilee

This weekend was the 29th annunal Decatur Alabama Jubilee - they have bands palying all weekend and an arts and crafts show, and food and rides, but the coolest thing is the hot air balloons. They have races Saturday and Sunday morning and then they have what they call the "balloon glow" at dusk each evening. This was the first time I'd ever seen a hot air ballon up-close and personal. And at night - they're absolutely beautiful! The cool thing is - you can walk in and amongst the balloons, right up to the pilots and talk to them, ask them questions and take LOTS of pictures. It was great watching 30 of them inflate as the sun set. Next year I hope I can go watch them take off at surise. And be sure to check out the video (thanks to Photobucket!) of the "Balloon Glow!"






Pictures from the Ren Fest

Here are the photos I promised of last weekend. There's one of Michelle's beautiful hair, and then two of all of us who attended.
And yes, those are real arrows that I have in my brand new quiver (my long bow isn't in the photo).



Thursday, May 25, 2006

Blast from the Past Thursday #15



What? Christin and Joy striking a pose in Black and White. I took quite a few roles of Black and White in my non-digital days.
I LOVE B&W film. So crisp and pure - time tested and true to the art of photography.

Where? On the 2nd floor hallway of the Ponce deLeon Hotel - otherwise known as the girls dormitory of Flagler College. Joy and I's old room #283 is right behind and to the right of me - the one who took the photo.

Why? Probably because I asked them to pose - or "Vogue"

When? Christin and Adam and I think a few others came up to visit Chris and Joy and I at Flagler the first year we were there - so this is definitely my freshman year of college - so that would be 1996 or 1997.

How? See above answer to "Why?"

Labels:

Monday, May 22, 2006

Medieval Times

Sunday I went to the Tennessee renaissance Festival. Had a great time! They had some really nice vendors and I bought a really pretty quiver. Paul and I dined on Turkey legs. We go to see a lady falconer and some full-contact jousting. The horses were beautiful and you could tell they were really loving the attention. One of the knights, all of whom were in real full armor, actually got unseated. I don't think anyone expected it, and I'm sure he has the bruises to show for it today - but it was still pretty cool. I have some fun pictures and maybe even a movie to share when I get them into the proper format (just joined photobucket), but for now here are a few links to play with:

  • The Tennessee Renaissance Festival


  • Jousting
  • Labels:

    Thursday, May 18, 2006

    Blast From the Past Thursday #14

    So this one is really a blast from my past. My Dad had the little drawing blown up and framed it for me. Its hanging in my work office and I see it every day. The inscription on the back reads "You did this when you were 5, Think Big and Always plan ahead!" Love Old Dad and Mom




    What? A very early piece of artwork form a young aspiring artist.

    Where? Lakeland, FL

    Why? Don't remember my thoughts and inspirations for this - But I can make up something... If this was hung in a gallery it might read something like this:
    This piece is from her Yellow Tummy Period, circa 1982. The artist chose to compose the artwork on recycled material, using the finest in notebook paper and Crayola Crayons. The Juxtaposition between the blue lines of the canvas and the green stem lines and height of the overwhelming flower shows her flair for the dramatic and her love of tactile clay. The use of color is flamboyant, balanced and realistic in all but the yellow tummied "purple people eater." (See Yellow Tummy Period -exhibit 2A) I find it fascinating that the artist chose to draw attention to the signature, by the work on the top of the piece, making it seem like she ran out of room by placing the NA above the SABRI, even though she was in complete controll of the artwork.

    When? 1982

    How? Crayons, and a recycled canvas of notebook paper.

    Labels:

    Wednesday, May 17, 2006

    Car Envy







    This past weekend I was able to gawk at some gorgeous cars - walk past them, touch them, photograph them. I got to see a '36 Packard Sedan, a '32 Chevrolet Coup, a '36 Chevrolet roadster, a 1929 Pierce Arrow, '42 Plymouth woodie Station wagon, a 1 1/2 ton Model T truck, a 1941 Pontiac limo, a 1956 Cadillac Elderado Convertable, '56 Chevy Pickup, a '36 Oldsmobile Coup - and there were about 10 more too! I took some snapshots (below) and then some artsy funs shots too (above). Enjoy the pics of the sweet rides.



    The 33 Packard's straight eight


    Wednesday, May 10, 2006

    NEW! Links

    I am in a constant state of adding new links and sometimes making other older ones disappear. Anytime I place a new link under one of my many categories I will add "NEW!" in front of it so you can keep an eye out for my new additions. May I suggest the following NEW link - just added today, not only for the cool surfing, climbing,etc - but the awesome graphics and illustrations that are so interesting

  • NEW! Bend to Baja
  • Sunday, May 07, 2006

    Champagne & Cake in a Cave

    So Saturday was Huntsville Grotto's horizontal (vertical for 4 out of 10 of us) trip to Kennamer Cave. And it was also Michelle's Birthday. Tommy packed some champagne and cups and I packed a cheesecake, candles, and silverware! Michelle thought it was a great and everyone was pleasantly surprised the glass bottle and cake made it through all the crawling at the beginning of the cave. Kennamer is really a neat cave, a bit challenging with a few interesting climbs, but its well worth it for all the pretties and Moby Dick (a breakdown rock the size of a house). I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.



    The sign for Kennamer



    A cave cricket molting... freaky huh?



    Ethan coming up from the 35' climb up



    Tommy with the Champagne



    Michelle with her Cheesecake Factory White Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake... yummy!



    A piece of eroded formation



    Randy and a cool conglomerate - the other side of this is some really beautiful smooth flowstone.



    Mark and some really big bacon



    Some butterscotch flowstone



    Ethan, Rick, Karl, Jack, Mark, Ohad, Michelle, Tommy and Randy



    Look - Proof that I was actually on the trip

    Tasty Treats from the Far East

    So Paul's friend Mohammad brought a surprise back from home - Jordan to be exact. He brought him a sampler of the most fantastic Jordanian baklava (Greek baklava's got nothing on this stuff!!) Very different, much better tasting and very artsy with its presentation too. If I ever go to Jordan - I'm going to the Kitkat Patisserie on King Hussien Street near the post office!!




    Friday, May 05, 2006

    Blast From the Past Thursday # 13 (belated)



    What? One of my top 5 favorite Birthday cakes (other than the time my parents stuck candles on a pizza, or my Mom's white cake with boiled icing) To say I was a fan of the X Files in high school is a bit of an understatement! I drug a few friends of mine to an X Files convention in Tampa! Even at the beginning of college i was still a big fan. My fervor laxed when David Duchovny's contract was up. And I still haven't watched the last couple of seasons when the "Evil Terminator Guy," Agent Doggett was on.

    Where? Christin's house, Lakeland, FL.

    Why? My birthday - it was a surprise party of sorts - I did have a few hints though so I kind of knew to expect something when I walked in the door.

    When? High school - June 30th - if I counted my candles correctly it would have been my 18th Birthday.

    How? Lots of that Publix (butter-fat) icing and some food coloring - and I'm sure an interesting call to the cake decorator - that most likely included a "What do you want on the cake again?" and an "Are you sure you want some spiders on there?"

    Labels:

    Wednesday, May 03, 2006

    You are from/know/live in Huntsville, AL if...

    Got this from a friend of mine this morning. Its so cute I thought I needed to share it.

    1. You're thinking of just buying a pollen-colored car.
    2. You don't care HOW they do it up north.
    3. Your garage holds two John Deere tractors and a fledgling electronics company.
    4. You can give directions to anywhere within city limits using only Taco Bells as landmarks.
    5. You don't think Lily Flagg is an Easter banner....let alone, a cow.
    6. You know there's no longer an airport on Airport Road....and you used to go to the County Fair where Madison Square Mall is now standing.
    7. Your favorite comeback is, "As a matter of fact, I am a rocket scientist."
    8. The bugs in your computer are boll weevils.
    9. You're unable to make out a grocery list unless it contains (1) Mission, (2) Goals, (3) Milestones and (4) Deliverables.
    10. You know that there is a world of difference between "the mall"
    and "THE MALL....and the Heart of Huntsville isn't another name for downtown.
    11. Your dinner parties have caviar and a grits bar on the same table.
    12. You wrote in "Dilbert" on the '96 presidential ballot.
    13. You've gone to the grocery when a "big storm" was coming only to find everyone has bought all of the milk and bread.
    14. 'Merging' is no more than a computer program.
    15. You have ever got a ticket for doing 41 in a 40 mph zone.
    16. You've actually met a redneck engineer.
    17. You're convinced that turn signals are an option when buying a car.
    18. That cotton field you passed last week is now a new subdivision with homes "FROM" the $180K.
    19. You are a weather expert on Doppler Weather Radar, Armor, and Storm Force, hook echoes and mezocyclones...just from watching all the TV coverage of the weather.
    20. You get excited when they announce that Big Spring Jam has actually booked a band that has had a hit within the last 10 years and the band does not play country.
    21. You consider an on-ramp to Memorial Parkway a nice place to park until the traffic thins out.
    22. You drop an ice cube tray on the kitchen floor, and your kids want to take two snow days off from school....and it's approved by the school board.
    23. You use your gun scope to check out the new comet.
    24. Your kid's first field trip is to Cook's Pest Control, Krispy Kreme Doughnut Co. and any McDonalds.
    25. You know Huntsville International Airport was once called The Jetplex.
    26. You learned to count backwards and thought "lift off" was the last number.
    27.You're afraid to like a restaurant too much because if you do it will close.

    Tuesday, May 02, 2006

    Something to Rave about

    We're getting a new theatre here in Huntsville - opening this Friday.
    (Its going to be pretty darn nice too!)

  • RAVE Motion Pictues